A fun sweet read! Highly recommend.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for my ARC.

Unfortunately this book didn't work for me. I found it to be repetitious. I really like Darcy Burke but I don't think this series is for me.

This is entertaining, romantic and a little steamy. The day Cassandra snuck into her brother's club she somehow found herself hiding in a closet, and kissing someone. When Ruark saw that he had been kissing his best friends little sister, he resolved to forget about the kiss they shared. Unfortunately, it wasn't that easy to forget. And the next time they found themselves alone, they kissed again. All might have been well, if Ruark hadn't made a certain promise when he was 6. Drama unfolds when Cass is courted by another man, one her father actually likes. Ruark is a very kind, considerate and loyal man. Cass is strong, confident and determined. I enjoyed reading this very much.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. This is my honest and voluntary opinion of it.

Another great addition to the phoenix club series by Darcy Burke. Her writing and ability to craft characters keeps you turning the pages. She definitely knows how to write a spicy historical. Looking forward to reading more from her.

The characters are likeable, the story kind of meh. It just didn't stand out in any way. This was a did not finish for me.

Since the first book in the series, I have been looking forward to both Cassandra and Ruark's stories. This was a highly enjoyable read. It's a slow-burn, steamy romance with a sweet heroine and a reluctant hero.
I adored Cassandra from the beginning. I liked Ruark but I thought he was a bit annoying when he started to get cold feet about Cassandra! I think his reluctance was drawn out a bit too much.

While I enjoyed this addition to the series, I did not find the male MC very likable. He had bouts of selfishness and impulsivity that came across as bordering red flag territory. Apart from that, it is a lovely story and I appreciate how Burke tackles subjects involving human emotions - this book seems to address grief and loneliness most. That is not to say this is a heavy read - it was enjoyable and I am glad it is part of the series. I look forward to the next book that promises to delve deeper into other hardships that do not often seem to be addressed in historical romances.

I received an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Intolerable is a fun regency romance. I enjoyed the conflict between Ruark and Cassandra. He's promised not to wed yet but is struggling to keep to that promise. Cassandra wants to be obedient to her father but that means she will lose Ruark. Such a conundrum. Seeing how they work out their insurmountable conflict kept me turning the pages.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own. #Intolerable #Netgalley

Historical romance,part of a series involving the Phoenix Club. Above average story with much of the usual scenarios ,featuring lively heroine and handsome,brooding hero.

When a wonderful and unexpected gift fell into Raurk hands, he was in a quandary. What an uphill battle he had on his hands, finding faith in himself and having to know who and what he was capable of looked pretty dour. Things looked pretty bleak for him both mentally and physically. This author never fails to deliver. It was an intoxicating, enjoyable, and entertaining read.

I've been waiting for Cassandra's sorry and boy it did not disappoint. Ruark should definitely be commended for trying to uphold his vow to his father but love is a hell of a thing. And conquers all

When the Earl Of Wexford, looses his heart to Lady Cassandra, his best friend's sister there is nothing but trouble in store for both of them! Its such an exciting book, Wexford had made a promise (at the age of six) to his father that he wouldn't wed until he was 30. But Cassandra has stolen his heart. This book doesn't disappoint and it's so much fun to read the romance between the two. After all he's Irish.

I love Dracy Burkes books, I often can't keep them down, If you love historical romances she's the one you need to read, she's got the perfect balance between action adventure and a lot of romance.

I have read both the books of the Phoenix Club series, and I loved them. I was excited to read the third installment. This book focuses on Wexford and Cassandra’s romance.
The characters of Lady Cassandra Westbrook and Ruark Hannigan, Earl of Wexford are the protagonists of this story. I have read the previous installments, so I was interested to see these characters get their own story. Cassandra and Wexford had a moment in a closet a while ago. Since then, they have kind of walked on eggshells around each other. Cassandra’s father wants to get married this season much to her frustration; she doesn’t want to hurry. Cassandra asks Wexford to pose as a potential suitor to buy time for her and find a suitable match.
Their romance is not exactly slow-building because of their history, but it didn’t seem unrealistic either. When they start spending more time together, which they have avoided since their moment, the sparks start flying left and right. The story has a nice flow and tone that keeps you engaged. I wish Cassandra and Wexford got more time together in some parts of the story. Wexford has a soul-searching arc, while Cassandra is more of a flat character. It works well in the context of the story, though I feel. The setting and the romance make it really difficult to put the book down once you start.
The story delivers exactly what it promises; an engaging and passionate historical romance with good characters. I have enjoyed the writing style of Darcy Burke; it has an ease to it. The pace and flow of the writing don’t stagger, and it keeps you hooked. I can’t wait for the next installments. It is the kind of story you could read over the weekend. It’s a sweet historical romance, I enjoyed it.

Lady Cassandra is a strong and independent woman and she will make sure that her needs come first when deciding her future, which her father is both pressuring and hindering her current search for a husband. Ruark is an earl and a romantic at heart, every few years he finds himself falling in love with a new woman, but it never lasts long, on his father's death bed he promised him that he would not wed until he turned 30, which Ruark has kept this vow close to his heart. Cassandra and Ruark are constantly in each other's social circles, because Ruark happens to be her brother's best friend, also a handful of weeks back (a reference to a moment in the first book in the series) they shared a forbidden kiss and neither of them care forget about it. Cassandra and Ruark's love story is one of sweetness as they slowly start to spend more time together, share quick passionate moments and learn to fall in love.
I really enjoyed that this was just a really lovely lighthearted novel, that explored and questioned a bit about what love truly is to someone. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Cassandra has to marry, and her overbearing father is looking for suitors for her, and so she and her brother's friend set out to have a fake relationship, only both of them can't forget a kiss that they had before. I liked Cassandra but her brother Lucien made me upset a couple of times, he did in last book too, but the way he treated his so-called friend was uncalled for, but it made me respect and like Ruark more. Ruark had promised his dad when he was really young that he would not marry til he was 30, however that has not stopped him from falling in love, but has stopped him from getting in deeper, but now there is Cassandra, and he is still not 30, which is ridiculous. Problems occur, feelings are hurt, but eventually all is ok.

I adored Cassandra! She was that rarest of strong heroines who was able to be both fierce and kind. And I think she was exactly the kind of heroine Ruark needed. Someone without her backbone of steel, and he would have unwittingly walked all over her. Someone without her inherent sense of self worth, and he wouldn't have valued her enough to see the treasure he had found. Someone without her sweetness, and he wouldn't have been tempted long enough to overcome his father's deathbed promise. I spent this book alternating between wanting to smack Ruark upside his head and wanting to hug the stuffing out of him, he so easily managed to both frustrate me and break my heart. I loved his epiphany moment, when he finally realized what all his feelings for Cassandra meant. Now, I’m desperate to find out the truth about Prudence’s disappearance.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley.

Thank you to Zealous Quill Press and Netgalley for the ARC.

I had no idea this was the third installment in a series and immediately felt as if I were missing something because within the first few pages we are introduced to characters who, I assume, are from other books with established storylines. Other than that, the story was enjoyable and I loved getting to see Ruark and Cassandra fall in love despite her father not approving and his vow not to marry until he turned thirty.

Lady Cassandra should be focused on finding a husband but she keeps remembering a secret kiss that she shared with her brother's best friend the Earl of Wexford. To gain more attention on the Marriage Mart she asks the Earl of Wexford to pose as a potential suitor, unfortunately, she can't stop thinking about him.

This is the 3rd book in the Phoneix Club series which I am really enjoying. I really enjoyed the romance between Cassandra and Ruark. I liked seeing their romance develop, their relationship was kind of forbidden because Ruark was her brother's best friend and Cassandra's father did not approve. I enjoyed seeing the brother's best friend trope in a historical setting.

I am looking forward to continuing on with this series and I want to read more books from this author as I really enjoy their writing and the characters that they create.

2 stars

Burke has a light, humorous style reminiscent of Christi Caldwell but I’m sad to say I had quite a few issues with Intolerable.

It’s probably a case of - it’s not you, it’s me, as I know I’m very picky with my historical romances.

While it’s clear the author is well versed in the time period, I’m an absolute stickler for accuracy and this just didn’t come up to par for me.

Certain references early on raised my hackles and left me uncomfortable as I read on. A conversation early on between recently married and single women about homosexuality just didn’t ring true with me. While I enjoy books that are well rounded with references to LGBT themes I don’t believe young ladies in Regency time periods would automatically understand what this is and was left disappointed by the characters’ immediate acceptance of it. After all, regency ladies usually knew nothing of what sex was until their wedding day. I would have loved to have seen Burke delve more into that topic and handle it appropriately.

The dialogue is very lack lustre and too modern in places. Terms such as “coffee shop” felt wrong to me which would have been referred to as a coffeehouse or coffee tavern. (You can see how picky am I)

Characters actions didn’t seem to match their motivations and seemed contrived to make the plot work. The grumpy duke made no sense to me. If he’s putting that much pressure on her to marry why be so hostile to every suitor? This is never explained satisfactorily.

Overall the book lacks depth for me. I wanted to see and understand how the characters had gotten to this point in the story. This felt like cardboard cut outs parading around regency England.

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Quite romantic but not as sexy as the previous book in the series and although it gave me feels it wasn’t as deep or moving as I would have liked. It felt a little superficial. Like Ruark and Cass loved each other but I’m not so sure why or how. I would love to read the rest of the series but this one wasn’t my favorite.