This was cute and I thought their banter and connection was really adorable. I loved how he protected her and stood up for her with her father. The friendships were interesting and well done. And I loved their efforts to make stolen moments together.

A quick read with everything you're looking for in a historical romance.

Spice factor! If you like spicy then this book will not disappoint. If you don't then read for the romance which was short and sweet! Great and fun read overall!

Thank you to NetGalley and Zealous Quill Press for the arc.

I enjoyed reading this book, the second in the Rogue Rules series. The story centers around the romance between Tamsin Penrose, a young woman who spends most of her time in Cornwall, taking care of her widowed father, and Baron Droxford, aka Isaac Deverell. They meet during an annual trip Tamsin has taken with her friends, in an idyllic seaside estate. They both feel an attraction to each other, but Isaac is resistant to pursuing any type of relationship because of something in his past. Tamsin, on the other hand, finds out through a letter from her father that he has agreed to a betrothal between Tamsin and an unknown gentleman. This is a surprise to Tamsin, who long believed that she would be a spinster.

The relationship between Tamsin and Isaac eventually develops into a physical relationship, which was satisfyingly spicy. Very spicy. And then feelings get involved, then complications and secrets are exposed.

I really liked Tamsin's character. She was very positive and forthright. Isaac got to be annoying with his brooding self, but he was playing the part I suppose. I'm looking forward to reading more from Darcy Burke.

A good Regency historical romance. Good characters and an interesting plot. A good evening or vacation read.

This is historical romance and is the second in an interconnected series.

Our female main character lives a pretty isolated life with her father and she's resigned herself to spinsterhood with just this one month in the summer with her friends to look forward to.

Only her father is now sending a mysterious suitor to the house to meet her while she is having a little bit of a connection with the broody baron.

When the suitor arrive and won't take no for an answer, our Baron defends her publicly. Which obviously means they now have to get married.

This was pretty enjoyable, it's quite short, under 300 pages. I've read other Darcy Burke books but don't think I've read the first one of this particular series but didn't feel I missed anything.

The title is very appropriate because the man is all about the brooding, that is essentially his main characteristic because he did bad things in the past and now regrets it very much. So this is very much grumpy sunshine!

3.5 stars, a quick enjoyable read

The most delightful thing about Because the Baron Broods is its heroine, Tamsin. She’s the sunshine in this grumpy/sunshine romance, but Burke avoids giving her the dread overly perky nature that can go along with this trope. Tamsin is positive and yet measured, starry-eyed and yet grounded. She kept me turning the pages in this book.

Her hero, Isaac, is one of these characters who did something regrettable in his youth and spent years buried in self-atonement. I understood why he felt that way, and while the crux of this story is his transformation through Tamsin coming into his life, it felt like he clung to his old habits a bit too long.

Tamsin succeeds in part by being refreshingly true to her nature. So many times in romance, if one character says or does something, the other character completely believes them. Tamsin avoids that trap, trusting her instincts and contradicting statements or positions from multiple characters that need to be corrected. She drives this story, so it’s no wonder when Isaac can no longer resist her; I couldn’t resist her any more than Isaac could!

"Because the Baron Broods" by Darcy Burke is about Tamsin Penrose and Isaac Deverell, Baron Droxford. Tamsin, who spends her summers with her grandmother and friends in a charming seaside town, is full of optimism and joy, contrasting sharply with Isaac's serious and brooding demeanor. Isaac, a dedicated landowner and government worker, is not looking for romance but finds himself drawn to Tamsin's infectious happiness.

Their paths cross when Isaac visits friends at the shore, and Tamsin makes it her mission to bring some light into his life. When a meddlesome busybody spreads rumors about them, they are forced into an engagement. This sudden betrothal sets the stage for their evolving relationship. Tamsin gradually integrates herself into Isaac's life, helping him confront his past and embrace their future together. Despite their differences, they find common ground and mutual affection, leading to a heartwarming conclusion.

The novel effectively captures the push and pull of their relationship, the tentative steps towards love, and the challenges they face. The pacing uneven, with a slow start and ending felt rushed.

A broody man with a hidden heart of gold and a heroine who glows with optimism to conceal hurt and rejection… what’s not to love? Well written historical romance that hits all the high notes of the genre making for a satisfying read. It is super spicy and open door, window, and cottage.

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

I've come to expect an entertaining historical romance when I pick up a book by Darcy Burke, and this one was no exception. This is the 2nd book in her Rogue Rules series, wherein a group of friends have sworn to avoid "rogues" after one friend is left broken-hearted by a rogue. Of course, as soon as they agree on their rules of avoidance, the old "never say never" rule pops up to make it difficult to stick to their pledge.
Isaac, the baron here, does indeed brood. Over the course of the story the reason becomes clear - after an incident at university he's left feeling like the worst sort of rogue and undeserving of love. He's determined to remain a (grumpy) bachelor for life. In walks the sunshine in this grumpy/sunshine story, Tamsin. She's spent her life on the Cornwall coast, living with her widowed, reclusive father and taking care of him. But she's an eternal optimist, determined to make the best of whatever life throws at her, including the surprising news that her father has decided to marry her off to a "mystery suitor". Of course opposites attract, misunderstandings ensue, and it's an enjoyable journey to their inevitable destination. I'm already looking forward to the next book in this series.
Thanks to Netgalley and Zealous Quill Press for providing a digital copy for an unbiased review.

✨✨2.5✨✨

Sadly I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the first book.

While there was a well developed group that was built up from the first a lot of the dialogue felt a bit stilted and formulaic. Often things were unnecessarily repeated, so a certain topic would be discussed multiple times which just felt like it was dragging down the pace of the story.

I enjoyed the two leads being paired together and how the book examined beneath their surface level personalities to look at why they behaved that way and if it was healthy for them to do so. The first half of the book was better paced and I enjoyed seeing their scenes together and how their relationship develops.

However once into the second half everything seemed to stall. Isaac had decided to tell his secret but then out of nowhere decides Tamsin doesn’t need to know so he’s just going to not tell her and avoid her. Again the stilted nature of the dialogue really hurt the relationship development to me here as despite their relationship progressing I didn’t really feel it.

I likely will continue the series but I’m not as anxiously anticipating it as I previously was.

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

After the match making schemes of Darcy’s Matchmaking Chronicles, Darcy has now started a new series: Rogue Rules Series.

Contrary to the matchmaking chronicles, we now have a few ladies who are determined not to wed, since all of the men are rogues and they are not to be trusted. After Persephone, we now meet Tamsin. She is a friend of Persephone, but she is not from the ton. However, she spends a month each year near her friends with her grandmother. She is a happy-go-lucky girl, always smiling and cheering. Since her father can’t afford a Season, she has made peace with the fact that she will become a spinster.

And we have Isaac, the little bit morose friend of Perspone’s brother. When Tamsin is accosted by one of her father’s old friends, Isaac makes the mistake of introducing Tamsin as his bethrothed to the woman, better known als Mrs. Loose Lips…

As you can imagine, a scandal is on the horizon. Especially since Isaac has some secrets of his own. What will Tamsin and Isaac do? Can they save themselves and each other? Find out in this wonderful read.

Four out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

A typical Regency romance by Darcy Burke. A variation on a theme but enjoyable nonetheless. Readers do love a brooding handsome hero, a beautiful and feisty heroine and this book ticks all the boxes.

This story was not my cup of tea. I didn't connect with Tamsin but did feel her father went over the top. Isaac, hmm. I think he felt bad but not bad enough to take any responsibility for what he had done.

I am such a huge fan of Darcy Burke. I was so excited to get to read the 2nd book in the Rogue Rules series. I absolutely loved this story. Isaac has a past full of secrets he feels guilty about. Tasmin was abandoned by her mother and had a father who was emotionless with her. They are opposites, he is stern and downhearted while she is optimistic and full of joy. Despite circumstances that have thrown them together they find their way into each other's heart. As always, Burke creates amazing characters that are so full of life. The slow story to find their love makes a great adventure for us to join. You will love this book. I can’t wait to read more.

This book is for people who enjoyed reading/watching Bridgerton. I loved the chemistry between Tamsin and Isaac and the way their characters developed throughout the book.
It is not something that you read everyday. Especially the fact !spoiler! That they decided not to get pregnant that fast unlike many other books where you already know: "ah ok they're going to get pregnant and that's the happy end" , Darcy Burke managed to write a refreshing happy end that suited the book.
Definitely will recommend "Because the Baron Broods" to my friends!

Another great regency romance for this author. Completely different not personalities come together as this marriage of convenience becomes a marriage of love.

Because the Baron Broods in the second book in Darcy Burke's Rogue Rules series. You could read as a standalone but the first book in the series is equally enjoyable and they pair well together. I find that Burke excels in her character development. She's been an auto-buy for awhile and this book just confirms it. This is a slow burn that ultimately has a great payout. Tamsin and Isaac seem like opposites in the beginning but end up proving to be a match.

Thank you to Darcy Burke, NetGalley, and Zealous Quill Press for this eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
#netgalley #darcyburke #BecauseTheBaronBroods #ZealousQuillPress #RogueRules

In the book Because the Baron Broods By Darcy Burke Tamsin Penrose, a young lady who grew up only with her father, having been abandoned by her mother at an early age, is spending a month with her grandmother as per the arrangement that came about after her mother's departure. She spends time with her friends there, who are also her agemates. According to her and her upbringing, she plans to spend the rest of her life as a spinster. But on this particular trip, she happens to meet with Isaac Deverell, Baron Droxford, who is charming but withdrawn and sad, a situation brought about by a dark past that must remain a secret no matter what. Tamsin now finds herself making it her obligation to draw out the joy that she believes is buried deep within him, as she is familiar with sad situations in her life. The more they meet, the more Isaac finds it hard to keep away from her. But there's something that he does not know: Tamsin is already betrothed to her father's friend, who arrives at one of the social events and demands the company of his betrothed, who is none other than Tamsin, and now Isaac has to take action lest he lose this particular battle.

My favorite aspect of the book is the fact that it is like a continuation of If the Duke Dares, a book written by the same author. I can relate well to the characters, as I was familiar with them in the previous book. That is the very thing that I like most about the book. I also like the way the book explores the highs and lows of love, with the characters having gone through difficult childhood experiences but each dealing with them differently. And now, having met each other in their different worlds, they have to make a choice of whether to take a journey of healing together. I also like Isaac as a character; because despite the inner turmoil, I admire that he is still kind and loving to those around him. It is funny seeing how he struggles to figure out whether to stay away from Tamsin or give in to his desire to be with her.

Readers who are not into steamy romances will find that the sexual content is a bit too much, but other readers might enjoy it.

I rate this book Because the Baron Broods By Darcy Burke, 5 out of 5 stars as the plot was extremely captivating, and the style of writing this particular author engages in is fascinating. using the character of a previous book added such an interesting notch to the book.

I recommend this book to those who love steamy historical fiction books. Due to the adult content, this book is only suitable for adults. It will also be perfect for those who have enjoyed reading a copy of If the Duke Dares, written by the same author, as well as those who love follow-up books that are written as a series. Additionally, I recommend it to those in need of healing from past traumas and difficult life experiences that leave them with guilt and an inability to give themselves a second chance, especially as far as love is concerned. The book is about healing from past traumas through finding love that reaches deep down and brings about buried happiness when it is least expected.

How good is this book!? I sometimes forget just how much I enjoy this author, and then I happen across one of her books, and it all comes rushing back hahah!

Another brilliant story in the rogues series. Our heroine just has the most wonderful outlook on the world. Very "it's OK to be who you are" rather than trying to force others to conform. So accepting of our brooding Baron, who was a complete goner before anyone knew what was happening.

So many sigh worthy moments. I don't know how anyone couldn't love this couple, and the amazing growth they bring to each other.

A wholly satisfying read!

I received a complimentary ARC vis Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. But I'd have happily bought it!

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this ebook and this is my freely given opinion.

This is book 2 of the Rogue Rules and the story of two people who grew up in homes and lives where perhaps they were not given the love, comfort, and security they should have as children, but coped with it in different ways. Isaac, Baron Droxford, sounds like he grew up motherless and with a very ascetic, stringent vicar father, also not expecting to inherit the barony. When he gained a measure of freedom, independence, and the friendship of peers, as a young man at Oxford, he went a bit wild with the freedom, and fell in love with a young miss, and had an affair with her. This lead to some deep seated regrets that changed his perspective on life and how to live it. Since then, he has become brooding, and eschewing any pleasures in life, feeling that he is undeserving of love, goodness, and pleasure.

Miss Tamsin Penrose also grew up motherless, and under the care of her very introverted, work-centric father. Except in her case, her mother abandoned her father and her. But despite the emotional scars left by this, and the general neglect and emotional withdrawal of her father, Tamsin took a different stance in life from the baron and looks for joy and sunshine.

So at face value, these two people appear to be as different as night and day. But as they share time together, as they spend time together at their friend's annual gathering, they come to appreciate each other more and develop a bit of a friendship. Isaac feels attracted to Tamsin both physically and emotionally, but is determined that he does not deserve anything more, and is determined that once their sojourn at the seaside is over, he would stop seeing Tamsin and let their growing attraction lapse.

Of course plans go awry, and the two of them end up up in a situation misconstrued by the gossips, and compromised into marriage. This forces greater intimacy and sharing of their emotions and pasts on a deeper level, which of course shows each other their shared experiences and vulnerabilities, and deepening their connection and love.

But while Isaac does share more of his emotional vulnerability with Tamsin, he is fearful of sharing his greatest shame with her, and this creates a significant barrier in their growing relationship.

A very bitter sweet, grumpy-sunshine romance about two people with a lot of childhood emotional trauma and unresolved issues. Isaac feels he is a rogue and undeserving of love, comfort, and family because of his past mistakes. Tamsin tries to see the joy in everything, and they seem to need and complement each other.

A story that had more emotional feels than I expected for a historical romance...

4 stars out of 5