Ruark Hannigan, Earl of Wexford, vowed to his dying father that he would not wed until he was 30. By that age, he should know his heart, but he can't stop thinking about Cassandra Wexford and their steamy kisses in a cupboard at her brother's Phoenix Club. He thought he was in love before, but did it ever feel like this? Cassandra, the daughter of a duke, is being pressured by her father to marry this Season, but the only man she feels an attraction for is the Earl of Wexford--a man her father has forbidden to court her. Can these two keep away from each other or is their attraction too strong to defy even a ducal order?

I really liked Cassandra--she was fiesty, saucy and knew her own mind. She tries hard to be the proper young lady, but it's so hard when Ruark is around. She can't get the Irishman's passionate kisses out of her mind. Ruark tried to be so honorable and stay away from Cassandra, but it was only when another gentleman was ready to propose did he realize that his love for Cassandra was real and forever. Ms. Burke does a good job of moving the plot forward at a good pace. It took a while for these two to find their HEA. Warning--there are some graphic sex scenes in the story. I can't wait to read Prudence's story next.

Closets are very popular when hiding. The first kiss between Lady Cassandra and Ruark Hannigan, Earl of Wexford is known as "the incident." They were suppose to forget about it, but it is not working. Ruark is a Irish/British
Earl which means he has one strike against him when it comes to the Duke of Evesham, Cassandra's father. Ruark promised his father he would not marry until he was thirty. Cassandra says she can wait, but he is not sure if his love will last. Ruark is a likable person, but he has his faults. It just takes his mother's advice for him to figure it out. Another great read in the series!

This is Cassandra and Ruark’s story. Cassandra sneaks into the Phoenix Club. She hides in a cupboard. Ruark finds her. They enjoy a passionate interlude. Ruark promised his father he wouldn’t marry until he is thirty which is three years away. Cassandra is looking to marry this season. There are many issues in their relationship. I can’t wait for the next book in the Phoenix Club series.

Rating: 3.5 stars

**

"How can you be sure that I'm different?"

"Because I am."

"You aren't afraid your emotions will change?"

He shook his head firmly. "Not anymore. I can't see the future, but I can feel it. I expect to love you more in fifty years that I will in five and more than I do today."

**

Well, well, well — another day, another Regency romance novel that I finished in less than four sittings ;)

Full disclosure: I’ve never actually read a Darcy Burke book before, but I’m a huge fan of Julia Quinn, so I thought I’d give it a go. I must admit that I found the first chapter a little rushed and confusing (there were five names introduced in the first 3 paragraphs), but I muscled through, and I’m happy that I did.

If you like:
• Roguish, charming earls (hi, Wexford)
• Headstrong heroines (@Cassandra)
• Fake courtships
• “Brother’s best friend” trope
• Steamy scenes in carriages

…then you’ll absolutely like this!

I liked Burke’s ability to hook you with intense drama; the whole book kind of felt like a Regency episode of “Gossip Girl,” where people are regularly caught making out in closets and running across town to stop dangerous boxing matches. I was gripped right from the start.

That being said, I did find the dialogue a little stilted at times (at one point, Cassandra’s brother literally says to the romantic hero, “You’ve promised not to wed until you’re thirty, remember?” – like yes, I think Wexford probably remembers that salient detail in his life lol), and I found the random use of some archaic words startling (I was so thrown whenever someone said “mayhap”), but I was so hooked by the drama that I knew I needed to finish the book.

Overall, I’d say it’s worth a read if you’re into Regency romance!

**I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.**

Even if Cassandra is only in her first season, her father seems impatient to see her married. But his grumpy ways towards potential suitors are destroying every possibility to find a good man who may be able to love her. So she asks Lord Wexford, one of her brother’s best friends, to pose as a suitor to draw other candidates. But the attraction between them is feigned or real? While Ruark struggles with his own internal demons, he may very well lose Cassandra, and this would be intolerable…
As all Darcy Burke’s books, this one is very well written and enjoyable. But maybe I was spoiled by the previous book of the series, because I have to confess that I didn’t like this one as much as I loved Impassioned. Anyway, I liked the characters and the way Ruark’s “problem” was dealt with. As it’s often the case in romance books (and in life, I’d say) women are the strongest characters and Cassandra is no exception. She’s a young woman who knows what she wants and what she’s worth. Ruark, on the contrary, despite his buoyancy, wit and charming manners, is very insecure. I appreciated the fact that he strived to clear his mind by speaking to the most important people of his life. It doesn’t happen often in a romance novel, and I liked it.
So, all in all, this book is a really pleasant addition to the Phoenix Club series and I look forward to reading the next book!

I loved this book, and am loving the series. Now I want more on Prudence, Lucien, Evie and MacNair... possibly others...
I enjoyed seeing the kinder side to Cassandra's father, but it took a while to see it.
Darcy Burke's historical romances are all highly recommended, don't forget to check out the rest in the series.

I haven't read a single book by Darcy Burke that I haven't loved, some more than another but without a doubt each one has its own beautiful way to love.
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In intolerable Cassandra is the little sister of Ruark Wexford's best friend and although he liked her, he had not set his eyes on her until the moment of the incident a few months ago, an incident that both agreed not to mention and above all things to leave behind. But with her father hindering every possible suitor that approaches, Cassandra can't think of a better person with whom to carry out a false courtship scheme to attract more potential husbands.
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He is a bachelor who besides being Irish and a great boxer likes to flirt with anyone. She is the youngest daughter, the spiciest and funniest young woman of the whole season, and while she tries to find her place in society and a husband that fits her well, she must go the extra mile to not to fall in her scheme.
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as always in his books there are misunderstandings and very good characters and steamy scenes. But the story of Ruark and Cassandra is more about how to distinguish love from a simple infaution and the truth of taking the risk.
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Thanks to Darcy Burke and Zealous Quill Press for give me this great book in exchange for my honest opinion

Having met Cassandra in the previous book and seeing her rebellious spirit regarding marriage I couldn't wait to find out what her story would be. This book definitely did not disappoint in that regard. I understood Ruark's desire to keep his promise to his father, but I kept wanting him to think more about his feelings towards Cassandra and stop being so wishy-washy with her. I loved the scene with his mother towards the end and was so glad when she finally got through to him about what it means to love someone. I agreed with Ruark, I wish he had had that conversation sooner. My only serious issue with Cassandra was that she was telling Ruark "I love you enough for the both of us" and "I'll wait for you" and then the second she found out something not so great about him she tossed him aside and decided she never wanted to see him again. Had she really been so in love I would have hoped she would have sought out Ruark to find out the truth rather than just accepting what her brother had told her. Ruark's poem was so sweet and it showed he had really listened to his mother. I was glad that Cassandra was the one who left her comfort zone to go find him rather than him having to make some big public romantic gesture. The only thing that may have made this book even better would have been more with Lucien, Con, and Sabrina.

So far I've been enjoying this series. I cannot wait to find out what happened with Prudence!!

I was looking forward to Cassandra’s story but hers and Ruark’s is… not my favorite in the series. Now, I’ve never come across a Darcy Burke book that I didn’t like; I just didn’t love this one.

Intolerable is title number three in the Phoenix Club series, but if you come across this one first without reading the previous books, don’t fret. It works fine as a stand-alone.

I’m looking forward to the next in this series.


Thanks to Zealous Quill and NetGalley for an eARC of this title. Opinions shared are influenced by nothing other than my reading experience.

Will his promise to his sire lead him only to misery …

A sweet tale of two lost people who in their core they know what they want but have to decide if they can settle for less or none.
Cassandra in some way long to leave behind her domineering father, but will she have to sacrifice her possible chance at love, and Ruark who falls in and out of love as swiftly as one change of clothes, can he trust ever his feelings to be true and to last for once.
Cassandra while she had some doubts at the beginning, perfectly understandable as her feelings were just burgeoning, rapidly accepts her emotion for what it is, a sentiment, if natured and protected correctly, to last a lifetime.
Ruark has been misled by his promise to his dying father when he was only a child. He is unsure as his feelings deepen for someone if they will endure as time passes. So each time, he leaves and the longing dies out. Why he feels so lost when once again his chest organ beats faster and stronger when his best friend’s sister is near. Does he let her be, even when she seems to return his sentiment. And will he by tomorrow feel the same.
He is torn between his present passion and his fear to hurt her when he might not love her anymore.
But as their romance is forbidden by everyone around them, how to determine if their sentiments are true or only enhanced by the proscribed side.

A lovely tale of seizing one’s chance at love as nothing in life is without risk.
4 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 onscreen foreplays and lovemaking scenes.

I have been granted an advance copy by the author, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

Ruark Hannigan, Earl of Wexford, aged six promised his dying father not to marry until he was thirty. Since then he’s fallen in and, then quickly, out of love multiple times. But then there’s a stolen kiss in a cupboard with Lady Cassandra Westbrook, younger sister of one of his best friends. Surely he’ll follow his usual pattern.

Lady Cassandra wants to fall in love and for someone to love her after the loneliness since the death of her mother. But then why has she put off her season until she’s almost twenty-two. Her father strikes fear into any potential suitor, and especially dislikes the Irish Earl.

This is a typical regency romance, two characters who will inevitably end up together after overcoming the obstacle (his refusal to marry for at least three years and her father’s dislike of him). There are the usual lust filled scenes (although Lady Cassandra is certainly less innocent than the usual heroine). The completely arbitrary wait until your thirty promise, made by a six year old annoyed me more than it should. It was an enjoyable enough bit of romance, if you ignore all the obvious historical inaccuracies.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

Intolerable is…tolerable, I guess? I really started second guessing my decision to request and review this when I started this and had no memory of its pretty much forgettable predecessors. While it is a stand-alone, the typical response when reading an ongoing romance series is enjoyment at the connections between characters. I found I had none. These books have such intriguing premises, so in spite of my vow to give up on series where I’m just not feeling the momentum, I stubbornly persisted with this one, to no avail.

Like the previous one, the conflict seems to hang on one or two thin elements, in this case the fact that Ruark promised not to marry before thirty, Cassandra is dealing with her managing father and inept brothers, and that Casandra is his best friend’s sister and therefore Off Limits (by God, save me from men who think only their “bro code” matters and not the desires of the sister!) Thankfully, the latter isn’t as big a plot point as in some other stories, but there was little else that was memorable…at least in the amount I managed to drag myself through.

The characters themselves are all right, but I expect I will also not remember them for very long after I’ve put this book aside.

I will not be continuing with the series, as it’s clear that while I‘ve liked some Darcy Burke books in the past and hope others in the future will work out better, that this one is just not for me. However, if you have enjoyed the series thus far, I think you will like this one more than I did.

This is such a charming and sweet, low angsty love story about two people learning what love means to them. Darcy Burke's writing is accessible, conversational in tone, and well paced, and all of this works hand in hand to easily draw the reader into this delightful love story. I really love the characters that embody this world, Burke has done a wonderful job of crafting each one of them, making them kind and compassionate people and very supportive of those they care for. This series has been an absolute delight so far because of these characters and the fun situations they find themselves in at the Phoenix Club, and Burke does a lovely job of showing us glimpses of past couples and hinting at new couples, while keeping the central love story for the current novel as the main focus.

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. It was fun to watch Cassandra and Ruark spend time together, trying to fight their attraction and then giving into it. Both of them do feel the stirrings of love and I really liked that they both wanted to be contentious of each others wishes and hopes. Cassandra did not want to pressure Ruark into breaking his vow to his father and Roark did not want to ask Cassandra to wait around for him. Obstacles do come up to tear this couple apart and during their separation they are both able to reflect on their love for the other and what that actually means, and I really liked this element because they were able to both decide that their love was true and that they would choose that person to spend the rest of their life with.

This was such a sweetly charming novel about two people falling gently in love and learning how to accept and grow that love in their own hearts. I would highly recommend this novel and this series, you do not have to read them in order but if you do there is better character pay off and growth. I am so looking forward to the next installment in this series!

Another book featuring the Pheonix Club, a place where second sons and women can gather to be themselves. This time it was Lucien's sister Lady Cassandra who's struggling to find what she wants in a match before she's forced into a loveless marriage by her father.

Ruark, Earl of Wexford, has been warned off multiple times by Lucien but is drawn to Cassandra after a kiss in a cupboard weeks earlier. He's sort of ambivalent to women in general, falling in and out of love easily so his motives aren't trusted by Cassandra's brothers. He's forced to figure out and prove that Cassie is the one that he wants.

I go back and forth on the couples in this series. I didn't love Ruark's dilemma. I loved their attraction to each other and them overall as a couple but didn't love that his faithlessness was the obstacle they had to overcome. Overall it was an enjoyable read even if I wanted to hit Ruark over the head.

I really want Lucien's story and hope it's great.

I... can't believe I finished this. I liked the characters well enough, but I think most of my interest was from the first book in this series which I really liked. This one just felt... dull. The plot was incredibly thin and the conflict and angst were laughable. I feel like this one should have been a short story, not a full novel. There just wasn't enough substance. Also some of the characters - like Cassandra's father - had weird personality flip-flops. The writing was nowhere near the quality of the first in the series and I found myself reading around the words to get to the tidbits of story that were actually interesting. The final flaw, and what cemented the rating for me, was that once I turned the last page I could hardly remember the characters' names or the plot.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Zealous Quill Press for providing an e-arc for review.

So good to be back at the Phoenix Club!

One thing's for sure, this author really knows how to write a standalone romance that is exquisitely linked to the other romances - both previous and upcoming - in the same series. The earlier characters aren't just occasionally mentioned; they're active supporters in the subsequent books as much as the current book's main characters were active participants in the earlier books. This careful attention to detail really adds a solid layer of authenticity to the community of friends and the unique club in which their friendships find a home.

Cassandra is already known to us as Con and Lucien's sister, and in this story her father is pushing her to marry before the Season is out. Trouble is, she wants to hold out for the kind of love she's seen embodied in her eldest brother's marriage and in that of her friend, Fiona. Mostly, she just wants the autonomy to choose her own future for her own reasons.

There are two main suitors for her hand: the mysterious Viscount Glastonbury, of whom her father approves, and the seemingly reluctant Earl Wexford, her brother Lucien's best friend who has been repeatedly warned off of pursuing a future with Cass by both Lucien and their father.

Ruark knows that he'll eventually have to marry to produce an heir for the Wexford earldom, but he promised his father that he wouldn't marry before he was old enough to know his own mind. A few failed relationships in the past have convinced him that he still can't differentiate between love and infatuation, so he wants to be careful not to lead Cass on to thinking there's more to their friendship.

This was an unusual "attraction isn't enough because reasons" trope because both of them are open and honest about their feelings, almost to a fault, and they completely understand the other's position, allowing for a true friendship to solidify first before they were ready to risk anything more.

No real villains here, which was a refreshing direction, just two people trying to figure out what love is and how to be sure you've found the right match. The HEA for Ruark and Cass was delightful, and the surprise twist at the end beautifully left us hanging to read the next couple's upcoming adventure.

I love the Regency period, and nobody writes these romances better than this author. Start with this one, this series, or work your way through her entire catalogue - I guarantee you'll find every romance as delicious as the last. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

Another great story by Darcy Burke and a welcome addition to this series, couldn’t put it down. A historical romance which is also friends to lovers story. Looking forward to reading the next book.

This checked off everything I look for in a book. Was not disappointed. Really enjoyed this book. I will read more from this author. Must read. Historical fiction oh yeah.

I found this book quite dull. I read the previous one in the series that had an unusual and interesting plot, so I knew most of the characters, and that was the only reason why I managed to get through most this book, but even then I left a remaining 20% unread.

Burke's writing is easy to read but it is based on the superficiality, lust and soft porn, and I might be growing out of it. Most of this book only consisted of some charming but a lot of tedious dialogues, too many and not very developed characters, and nothing really happening apart from the obsession on sex. The whole premise is based on one accidental kiss and then following obsession to repeat it and eventually to get into each other pants. In many of Burke's books, the hero does get into her pants no matter what circumstances and often before the proposal, the heroine is a complete virgin but quite wicked to play off some Kamasutra scenes and then every chapter is more or less draws on detailed and often repetitive sex scenes until the proposal or the marriage takes place.

If you are looking for beautiful historic romance with deep and meaningful love, honor, and bravery, I highly recommend Sian Ann Bessey instead. If you are looking for books with never ending hot albeit sometimes quite repetitive sex scenes, Burke's books are excellent on that.

Thanks to NetGalley for the free copy in exchange of an honest review.

As it has been so far with this series, Intolerable was impossible to put down!

Cassandra's father is pressuring her to marry, but she can't seem to forget a secret stolen kiss with the Earl of Wexford, Ruark. Who also happens to be her brother's best friend and fellow Phoenix Club member. As they try to forget it ever happened, inveitably they conitnue to be drawn to each other.

I loved the real friendship they shared that went beyond their attraction, which was fierce and intense on its own. Naturally, leading to steamy stolen moments throughout the book. From serious conversations to light hearted banter, it was a pleasure to follow along as love blossomed.

Though my favorite book in the series is the second, Sabrina and Con's story Impassioned, I love them all, and can't wait for more!

Thanks to the publisher and netGalley for allowing me to read and review this ARC!