The Duke of Lies by Darcy Burke
The Untouchables #9

I didn’t want this book to end! I love this series and the addition of this book was a delight to read!

Verity has shaped a life for herself with her young much loved son she loves that will one day be Duke of Blackburn. To say she is happy her husband will soon be declared deceased is an understatement. She is eager to claim a life that has never really been her own as her father has always been more interested in himself than in her and her husband of three months was entirely despicable. Her plans for the future that do NOT include her husband Rufus…and then…who should appear on her doorstep but…Rufus…but…boy has he changed!

As the two get reacquainted she is more and more confused by how nice he is. How generous. How very much changed he seems to be. How could this have happened? Can it be true? And, why would she be attracted to the man she once loathed and wished dead?

Well, I really do not want to give away any of this delightful story beyond saying that I loved Verity, Kit, Beau and the rest of the cast both new and old. I was thrilled at the way the story worked out and am eager to read whatever comes next!

NOTE: As I read I was reminded of the movie Somersby with Richard Gere and Jodie Foster…thankfully the ending of this book was much happier than that movie!

Thank you to the author who bequeathed me an ARC through NetGalley – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

I had read and enjoyed some of Darcy’s contemporary books and had no idea that she was writing historical as well, so when I saw her name on NG, I had to request.

I loved Verity and Rufus. I loved her strength and her smarts and her want for things to have changed. Rufus is charming and sensitive. Their chemistry is not instant, which I enjoyed. I was so happy to see their relationship grow out of trust and friendship.

Plot wise, it wasn’t quite what I was expecting, it was better. The truth of what is going on is shared fairly early and it was intriguing to read the layered reveals. I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, but I love that Verity and Rufus were always truthful and communicating.

Overall, it was quick and highly and enjoyable read. I’m disappointed that I somehow missed this entire series, but I’m planning on going back to read them.

**Huge thanks to Darcy Burke for providing the arc free of charge**

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley to read in exchange for a fair review. Duke of Lies by Darcy Burke is the 9th book in her The Untouchables series. It could be read as a stand-alone but I’ve very much enjoyed the series and suggest reading them all. Verity Beaumont, Duchess of Blackburn has been getting along just fine since her very nasty husband disappeared almost 6 years ago, she is raising her son and taking charge of the dukedom so the last thing she expects is his return claiming that he was impressed and taken onto a privateer’s ship. Rufus Beaumont has returned home a changed man, so much so that Verity is questioning if he is really her husband and if he isn’t who is he and where is her husband? Secrets, lies and a couple of mysteries make this very steamy romance one that will keep you hooked till the last page. Publishing Date May 29, 2018

I read and loved the other books in this series and after having met Verity in the Duke of Ruin's story where she attended....oh, well, did you read it? Otherwise, I'll better not tell more about my first meeting with Verity.
Let's just say that I met and loved her in that book and I was thrilled to find her story in this one. Okay, I wasn't thrilled when I learned more about her marriage and her life with her husband and I really feared for her, when he suddenly reappeared. What an.... yup. That one.

Verity's story had a lot of potential to go wrong or to be too predictable because with certain stories you expect certain things to happen but instead Mrs Burke led me on a merry chase. Whenever I thought that I had finally figured out what had happened and where it would lead us (apart from a happy ending, I take it that we all take that as a given, right?) in the end, something else happened. With some twists and turns and some real villains, Darcy Burke once again kept me on my toes and I couldn't stop reading.

Up to now I've read most of the books in this series and they just keep being amazing! Each couple and its story are unique and convincing, the stories simply draw you in and never fail to entertain.

Always fun to read a Darcy Burke book. Once again she brings us secrets, deceptions and love. She keeps you guessing and wondering what twist is coming next. The characters are delightful and entertaining. It was especially nice to see some of the other dukes and duchess from previous books. Anxiously waiting to see who's next.

I received a copy from the author and from NetGalley; this is my honest review. #TheDukeOfLies #NetGalley
-Romance, mystery, suspense, some fun in between; a good mix.
-I love the way Kit and Verity met; how she was weary of him and he was mesmerized by her.
-I liked how the drama didn't stretched too long (the lies, the real story, etc.).
-I liked how close friends and family can really show how they love you by doing something out of their way to help you.
-I loved how the friendship, respect, and love between Kit and Verity (and even Beau) was gradual, and not force one way or the other.
-I thought it a bit weird they wanted to get married back home instead of in London, right where all their friends were at the present time.
-Funny: At first, I couldn't remember who Verity was, nor Beau, until the menagerie came into the picture!
-Justice prevails!

I do believe that ‘The Duke of Lies’ which is the 9th book in this series, is one of the best year. Darcy Burke goes from strength to strength.
Verity Beaumont’s life takes a very unexpected turn, when her husband, Rufus Beaumont, Duke of Blackburn, suddenly walks back into her life after being absent for the past six years. She has wished him dead (as would any of the readers) given his cruelty to her. The only good thing that he had done was to disappear before her son Beau was born, allowing Beau to believe him ‘a hero’. However, Rufus appears very changed and Verity soon begins to fall in love with the man that she has always believed was someone other than Rufus. This was a great read and had me enthralled until the very end. It was also so good, to see characters from previous books reappear as part of Verity’s circle of friends.
I received an advanced review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Another great book by Darcy Burke. I have really enjoyed this entire series. In Duke of lies we have Verity and her son Beau who are happy on their own after Veritys husband went missing six and a half years ago. It was no real loss since he was an abusive ass. Suddenly a man shows up who looks exactly like her missing husband but is a kind person. I’m not a huge fan of this trope and although there was nothing new here I still enjoyed it.

4.5☆
Loved it
Darcy Burke is one of my go-to authors.

What I liked:
The writing style
The characters
Kit
Part of a series: The Untouchables
Standalone
HEA
Epilogue

I look forward to reading the other books in this series.

I totally loved it. Such a wonderful addition to this fantastic series, I think it’s the best book so far, in what is the best historical romance series right now.

The story was a bit unexpected, the characters gorgeous and I loved the ending. It really is a wow book!

What’s it About? Verity, the Duchess of Blackburn has endured domineering and downright abusive men all of her life, her father and then her husband but when her husband disappears soon after they’re married Verity is relieved and feeling more free and at peace than she ever though possible. Until he returns six years later, a very different man that the one Verity married. Rufus Beaumont, Duke of Blackburn wants to claim his place and his family but he is determined not to be the man Verity remembers. Just as it seems that he may have the life he’s always wanted, the truth about him comes out and he finds he has to prove to Verity that not everything about them is a lie.




Overall reaction to the book? I do love the husband-thought-to-be-dead-but-suddenly-comes-back-different theme in romance because it can lead to one of two things: A bad man who has “seen the light” and is determined to fight an uphill battle to win back his wife, or a bad man who doesn’t come back and whose place is taken by an identical relative (twin, cousin, etc) for some reason or another and he ends up falling in love with said bad man’s wife.


The Duke of Lies takes it a bit further by weaving an interesting tale of greed, extortion, murder, and mystery into the romance between Verity and her not so dead husband. Darcy Burke was able to pull off both a mystery and romance in a way that had me up reading late into the night!


Poor Verity, I felt so bad for her at the moment she realized her husband was back from the dead and that her dreams of peace and freedom are going up in smoke. Though she doesn’t outright say it, she was abused by her husband early on in their marriage, verbally and I gather physically sometimes. She was treated little better than a broodmare and then abandoned when her husband decided he wanted to carry on his affairs and gamble and drink. Her relief at his disappearance had her battling some guilt over her thoughts but I liked that she didn’t try to act pious or saintly by feigning worry about the disappearance of a man who was definitely better off dead. Her honest reactions endeared her to me even as she tried to handle her situation with grace and dignity. I could literally feel her need to scream when her husband appeared again. I wouldn’t have blamed her if she had thrown herself on the floor and cried. She wasn’t a hysterical female though she sure had reason to be, and when several bombshells are dropped on her throughout the story, she soldiers onward without the slightest tantrum. I really liked her because of that and because she survived a husband who was a monster for sure.


And then he wasn’t a monster anymore. Yep, the dearly not so departed husband did a complete 360 from the cruel monster Verity remembered to an unsure, respectful, and dare I say caring man who wanted to claim the life that he should have had, and that includes winning over a frightened, and suspicious Verity. There aren’t any flashbacks to Verity’s early days with her husband but from the little hints the author gives, he was something else. This “new” version of him couldn’t be more different. He’s almost in awe of his life, his wife and their son. He is considerate of her needs for once and I really had nothing to compare this guy to because there is a lack of flashbacks and no prologue so it was like getting to know him for the first time.


Here’s the thing about The Duke of Lies though, that huge secret that the duke is carrying around? It’s revealed early on, heck, if you’re paying close enough attention you can guess what it is on your own. At first I was a little disappointed that that bombshell was revealed so early because I love a good intrigue BUT, in the end there was a reason it happened that way and I did see that it gave Verity and her duke time to adjust and build a new relationship that was based on mutual respect, affection, and friendship. Not to mention that these two had to be a strong united front for the crap storm that was coming their way. And it is a BIG crap storm. So big points to Darcy Burke for handling everything not only in a timely manner, but in a way that gave these two characters a chance to fall in love and face conflicts together instead of using it tear them apart and create unnecessary drama. The circumstances were dramatic enough!




Click It or Skip It? Click It. I obviously missed out on what sounds like a good series. I could kick myself because I REALLY want to read the previous books now. Don’t pass up The Duke of Lies though or else you’ll end up kicking yourself.

I received this novel from net galley and the publisher for an honest review. Thank you!!
I have read several novels by Ms. Burke and I enjoyed this one. It brings characters from the previous novel, The Duke of Ruin and focuses on Verity's story. Verity Beaumont suffered from a domineering father and then a husband. When Rufus Beaumont, Duke of Blackburn disappeared, Verity was glad he was out of her and her son's lives. She enjoys her freedom and plans on making sure her son becomes a good man. However, when he reappears over 6 years later, Verity is shocked and fearful of him, yet he looks like her husband, but his mannerisms are unlike him. Rufus says he has changed, that he was imprisoned on a ship against his will, but he has an ulterior motive. Rufus lies to Verity, for he has no intention of staying. However, as he spends time with Beau, "his son", and Verity, "his wife", he longs for more than the sea. He wants to stay with them and be a family. However, Rufus has many secrets. There are a few who know those secrets and will resort to blackmail and extortion to get what they want. Will Rufus come clean to Verity and be the man he knows she deserves and figure out the truth that some are desperate to hide?

This is one lie that is better than the truth. Kit (Rufus) has secrets, some of them are rather shocking. The way that Verity handles the truth is wonderful. I really enjoyed, The Duke of Lies.