Once I started this book it reminded me how much I enjoy read Darcy Burke's books.
Fanny and David meet for the first time in the country and share their first kiss. After they both return to London they find out they both lied about their identity. In love they face obstacles that seem impossible to overcome, but love can make anything possible. A great page turner that kept me up all night to finish.

I enjoyed reading this well-written book. Francis "Fanny" Snowdon met David Langley when she was staying at her sister's estate over Christmas. Only, Fanny told David that she was a housemaid and he told her that he was an apprentice to a steward. There was an instant attraction that continues when the unexpectedly meet in London.

There is bad blood between the Snowdon and Langley families that may ruin their HEA. Will Fanny and David get their HEA?

I just loved the characters in this book. Fanny and David were great characters and the supporting characters just made this book a wonderful read.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher.

Darcy Burke is a must buy author for me. I love this whole series! This book has something for everyone, laughs, heat, tension, romance, and a HEA!

Fanny and David meet by chance, each claiming they are someone else, and share a kiss. Months later they meet at a ball and the reality that each had lied about who they really were was evident but the attraction was still there. The book is well written and tells of their future encounters and the love that grows between them. There is a HEA but not before his mother threatens to reveal information about Ivy’s past and his uncle tries to murder her. There is a lot that happens in the book and I would recommend it for a great read.

I’ve really enjoyed earlier books in this series, so I was honestly disappointed when The Duke of Kisses fell kind of flat for me. Fanny, sister of Ivy, Duchess of Clare, was a character I just couldn’t warm to, mainly because she didn’t seem to have any defining characteristics of her own except ‘clumsy’. She starts studying ornithology because the hero is interested in it. She gets involved with charities because that’s what her sister enjoys. I never really got any sense of what Fanny enjoyed, what she wanted out of life.

David, Earl of St. Ives, was much more interesting. A deathbed promise to his father to marry a girl he’s never met has him massively conflicted when he falls for Fanny instead of his intended bride, though to be honest I was never quite sure why he’d never met the young woman in question before. It wasn’t quite explained.

David and Fanny’s first meeting was charming, but there was a certain amount of insta-love the reader is expected to buy into, and considering I never figured out who Fanny really was despite being privy to her inner thoughts, I really didn’t buy into David’s romance with her either. And considering Fanny has personal knowledge of gentlemen who debauch young women and then fail to keep promises, through her sister’s prior experience, her eagerness to sleep with David frankly came across as naive and reckless at best, at worst making her look like the kind of woman who’d probably be called a brazen hussy if she wasn’t the heroine of the story.

A generations-old family conflict was resolved far too easily to be a real conflict, leaving the end of the story to limp to an unsatisfying conclusion.

This won’t put me off reading more of Darcy Burke’s books because I know just how well she can write and just how great most of her characters and plots were, but I honestly wish I’d given this one a miss. Two stars.

I really, really, really enjoyed The Duke of Kisses. Even though the heroine’s nickname is Fanny. I adored our hero, David, who while momentarily conflicted eventually figures out who and what he wants, and goes after it. It’s also nice to encounter a hero who is sensitive and considerate and kind from the get-go. Frances was lovely, and I was very much entertained by her conversations with her friends. I can’t believe this is my first Darcy Burke book, but I’m probably going to be adding the other ten books from the Untouchables series to my TBR for the new year.

Enjoyed it
Darcy Burke is one of my go-to authors.

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

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

AS much as I usually love Darcy Burke's books from the first to the last page ... this one was a fight. I really felt no connection to the heroine - Frances. In the beginning, it's something new because she is living with her sister - a love story we all enjoyed reading - but Frances herself is ... well ... quite ordinary. David Langley, Earl of St. Ives, doesn't want to marry the woman his family picked for him but he falls in love with Frances ... well, we've had this storyline quite often already and I really did not feel like there was something new about it.
All the other Duke stories were thrilling, fast in tempo and I loved the female leads for their wit and the males for their charm. But with these two ...

4.5 stars - This is a great read! It has heart, unexpected levels of heat and a little Romeo and Juliet style hate to keep things interesting. I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading more of the series!

I received an ARC of this book, from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Duke of Kisses by Darcy Burke is an entertaining romance. This historical brings out a dark past that has haunted two families. When two young people met at Christmas time, they found something most don't. Love...Neither one expected to see the other around later, so each told a bold lie. It wasn't until circumstances brought them to London, that they find out the real truth. A blossoming romance that excites and intrigues readers, like myself...I could not help but to become more intrigued by the couple. Dashes of humor, suspense, and heat are included. 

Darcy Burke brought two old families together in a single romance tale. Years of hatred, anger, and despair fixed. All it took was one time to fall in love. Both the Lady and Duke of Kisses find themselves stuck by family duty. Only they let it go for the chance to be together. Their happiness comes first. Themes of family, love, second chances, and forgiveness are explored throughout this piece. It was a read that kept me reading all night long.

I love this series and this is another wonderful outing. It’s a great story, quite intricate with lovely characters. I really liked him in particular and it was as good to see many of the other characters from earlier books.

You can read it as stand alone but the rest of the series is really great so I’d recommend reading them all

Really enjoyed the next book in this series. Not taxing on the brain, just to enjoy for what it is. If you love recency romance then this is the book for you.

The Duke of Kisses is another wonderful story in Darcy Burke’s Untouchables series. Fanny met David shortly after she came to live with Ivy and West, the Duke of Clare. They were both out for a walk and some time alone. There was an instant attraction and a kiss that neither would forget. Later when they meet again at a ball in London, that attraction is still there. David and Fanny make a great couple, but there are some serious obstacles to their courtship that may be difficult to overcome.

Fanny and David are delightful characters, on their own and as a couple. They are intelligent, honest (well, David might not have come clean about everything at first), kindhearted, and determined. They are comfortable with each other. Their story is charming and romantic. There is unpleasant history between the families that makes the parents harsh and disagreeable. There is danger in a scandalous secret.
Why is David called the Duke of Kisses? Fanny can tell you. This is an enjoyable read. I highly recommend this book and the series.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The review and opinions are my own.

Although this is the 11th book in the ‘Untouchables’ series, it works perfectly as a standalone, and though characters from earlier installments are present, they are well-rounded enough to belong in this story too, without adding confusion to a reader coming to the series fresh. It’s as though each character really is part of this little world, which works really well to make this feel realistic and engaging. I’d definitely be interested in checking out some others in this series.

Our main characters are Fanny Snowden, a clumsy, bookish, strong-willed girl, and David, the Earl of St Ives, a soft-but-strong cinnamon roll who loves birds. The two of them meet by accident and share a romantic kiss before they know each other’s identities, and are shocked when they meet again in society as Earl and sister to a Duchess! I loved that the two of them fell for each other so hard to begin with – I was almost left wondering what obstacles there could possibly be to their relationship, as they seemed to get along so well! Still, obstacles there are…

One thing that I really appreciated in this book was that both Fanny and David were upfront about their feelings the whole time. So many times in romance you have lovers who refuse to communicate, leading to confusion over whether or not they actually like, let alone love, each other – but here these two are always supportive of each other and always open about their attraction. They have secrets, of course, because this is a romance novel, but the reader never doubts that they are utterly smitten with each other. To see such a nice, sweet, openly loving hero is quite something! I really, really liked David’s characterisation and wish we could get more cinnamon roll heroes! He reminded me a little of Alistair from Dragon Age, but with a love of ducks instead of cheese…

This is just such a cozy read – even though there is the requisite amount of peril, there are plenty of genuinely lovely moments. It’s just so nice to see such a sweet and healthy relationship on the page. There’s space for them to be silly and cute with each other, as well as arch and banterous (the more usual form of dialogue). Aw, they were just so cute! A great read for a pick-me up. Five out of five cats.

The Duke of Kisses, David to Fanny, or St. Ives to Frances Snowden, at first, seems to be the perfect fit for kissing and possibly courting. They keep meeting and kissing, in addition, to somewhat clumsy, but laughable accidents. David quickly makes friends with other gentlemen of the ton as Fanny makes friends with ladies who might help her open a workhouse for women who need assistance.

Ms. Burke begins to share with us more details about David and how he became an Earl so young. How the loss of his father and the promise David made to marry a family friend’s daughter is going to cause problems with our deliriously happy couple.

One of Fanny’s new friends is Arabella Stokes and her mother. Of course just to complicate the situation, Arabella is the young lady David promised his father, upon his deathbed, that he would marry to unite their families. To make matters a bit worse, David’s mother shared this tidbit with Arabella and her mother. Now they are expecting the marriage, even kind of insisting on it.

David, Fanny’s perfect man, seems to become a very confused gentleman. He promised his father, but he is taken with Fanny. David does not know how he can go back on his word. With time to think about his conundrum, David realizes is is in love with Fanny and does not want to be without her. This is just the first half of the book!

Ms. Burke continues to keep you enthralled. You know David and Fanny will reach their HEA, but the road is definitely long, winding and fraught with heartache. Throw in David’s passion for studying birds and racing. Add in Fanny’s passion for assisting women with a workhouse that helps them rather than holds them back. Include other couples from The Untouchables series and you have a great book! This is one you will not want to put down until you see our sweet kissers reach that HEA. This is one series that does not need to end. There are so many amazing rogues and ladies that still need to be brought together!

Darcy Burke continued to shine in Duke of Kisses. Fanny and David's story was truly a joy to read. Once I started I couldn't put it down. I cannot wait for the next one.

The book follows the story of Fanny and David, two strangers that met one cold December afternoon, shared a magical moment and never thought they meet again.
When fate puts them back together, secrets are revealed, family feuds are discovered and David and Fanny have to overcome challenges and dangers to be together.
I enjoyed this book a lot. It has a good flow, nice supporting characters that were leads in previous books (or the ones following this) and two wonderful main characters. Both Fanny and David are kind human beings and they deserve their happy ending.
The ending seemed a little rushed to me, but sometimes that is the case with the resolution of the main conflict in this book.
Overall, a great reading experience.
*I was given an ARC of this book in NetGalley*

Stour’s Edge, Suffolk England - December 1817

Frances (Fanny) Snowden is meandering through the countryside when she encounters a handsome man. It has just begun to snow and she realizes she might be lost. Fanny has been living with her sister, Ivy, who is married to West, the Duke of Clare.

The man Fanny has met calls himself David. Not ready to identify herself further, Fanny says she’s a housemaid and he says he’s an apprentice to a steward. They chat as he shows her the way back to her sister’s home. They then share a passionate kiss and part their ways.

London - April 1818

David Langley, seventh Earl of Ives, is still trying to settle into his new role as Earl. At Brooks’s, he meets a man named Anthony, heir to a Viscount. Anthony persuades him to attend a ball with him and dance with some of the young ladies. Anthony’s friend, Felix, the Earl of Ware, will be joining them. David realizes he will soon be seeking a young woman to be his Countess, but he cannot stop thinking about Frances, the housemaid he met last Christmas. When Fanny and David meet at the ball, they are both thrilled to see one another again. They had truly become infatuated with one another. As they see one another, it appears that Fanny is a bit of a klutz and trips often.

David’s mother and uncle come to London where the woman reminds him that his father wanted David to marry the daughter of his best friend, Miss Arabella Stoke. Caught in the moment of his father dying, he promised the man he would marry her. Now, he feels trapped. But David loves Fanny and knows in his heart that she is the one for him. Can David leave behind the promise he made to his dying father and seek out the one woman who has stolen his heart?

This is a delightful book with some great twists that will keep the reader turning pages. I enjoyed it very much and am a fan of Darcy Burke. Well done!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The Story in 4 Sentences or Less: Thanks to her sister who is now a duchess, Frances Snowden has a future that doesn’t involve being forced to marry her parents’ neighbor, all she has to do is decide what she wants. Things get a tad complicated though when she meets and kisses a stranger while out walking and she decides she wants him, only to find out he’s not exactly who she though he was, he’s David Langley, the Earl of St. Ives. Meanwhile David was set to marry the woman his parents chose for him at birth but after kissing Fanny he realizes he wants more out of life. Of course, just as he and Fanny are about to make things official, an old feud between their families comes to light making things complicated and possibly dangerous.




Like It? Hate it? Love it? Why? I’ve been waiting for Fanny’s story for what seems like forever and it was definitely worth the wait. The Duke of Kisses is passionate, tender, engaging, and humorous in all the right places, I enjoyed getting to know Fanny and David and revisiting with some previous characters.


Fanny is just a delight, she’s intelligent, she’s compassionate, and even when she thinks she’s out of options she doesn’t give up. She also loves animals so that's a big plus for me too. She's definitely more of an intellectual character than one driven purely by actions. David is very similar to Fanny in that he also has a kind heart. He is the most un-aristocratic aristocrat in the series in my opinion. I could have easily confused him for a working man had other characters not reminded me every time they addressed him by his title. His most admirable trait however has to be his supportive attitude towards Fanny. He isn't condescending, he doesn't go around beating his chest to prove he is the superior man around her, he's just himself and he makes Fanny feel comfortable in her own skin without even trying. As a couple they just worked so well because they had the feeling of knowing the other would be there to catch them if they fell. So romantic.



The one thing that did kind of befuddle me was the conflict between their two families. It was thrown in there in the last third of the book and then quickly wrapped up just in time for the happy ending to happen. It was an interesting conflict but because it was just tossed in all of a sudden it felt more like a desperate attempt to garner some drama and mystery when it would have been better to have been introduced much earlier in the story and build that mystery and suspense until the end. But it really wasn't something that kept me from enjoying David and Fanny's romance.



Click It or Skip It? Click It. David and Fanny are a truly romantic couple that I loved meeting.

I am enjoying this series. So I am hoping you are keeping up, yes that can be read as a standalone because I started with the last book, and am planning to start from beginning. We have Fanny who is a Duke's sister now, but she came from a non titles family. She had met David previously months ago and they shared a kiss that neither of them can forget about. They meet at a ball and realized that they both had lied about who they really were, but were so happy to see each other that they planned to act on their interest. The problem is that David is kind of betrothed to Ms. Stokes, he had promised his dad he would marry her only he does not want to honor that promise, but that is not the only problem, come to find out that their families are enemies...Grab a copy and find out what happens.! Enjoy!