I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this book.
This historical romance is well written. The main characters are extremely likeable and as a reader it's easy to empathise with their situation. Graham and Arabella have good chemistry together and I was relieved that the story ended the way it did. Not having read any of Darcy Burke's books before I can see the world that she has created and where other characters might be headed. It's a great start to the new series and I'll be keeping an eye for more.
3.5 stars

This was another fun read by Ms. Burke. Graham Kinsley never expected to inherit the Halstead dukedom, but he finds himself saddled with a debt ridden title and no way to pay off the debt. He believes the former duke was swindled out of large amount of money and there's only one clue to find the swindler. When he meets Miss Arabella Stoke, he learns her family has suffered the same fate. Graham and Arabella agree to combine forces to bring the scoundrel to justice and recover their lost fortunes.

Graham and Arabella were both well-defined characters and their love of family was front and center throughout the book. Their destitute circumstances are basically the only obstacle that keeps them apart in the book. That was a little light plot wise, but it didn't stop them from falling for each other. I actually thought the Marquess of Ripley was a much more interesting character and I look forward to reading his story.

I absolutely adored this charming historical romance novel. It was beautifully written and engaging and the story sucked me in completely. There was good character development for Arabella and Graham and I felt I was transported back to the 1800s. At times the dialogue felt a little modern but apart from that I have little criticism. I loved the slow burn romance build up and felt the disappointment between the H/h when they found out neither had any money. There was interesting and amusing banter between the main characters and their small set of friends and yet these side characters did not detract from the central romance - rather they enhanced it. I assume the author is writing books about all the friends - which I look forward to reading. There are some steamy sex scenes that are tastefully written, and a very nice HEA. Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

I've read several of Darcy's other books, so I'm always interested in what she's writing. Especially when it's a new series.

I liked Arabella and Graham well enough. They're both good people who are loyal to their families and friends. I liked that they worked together to figure things out and that Graham was open to Arabella taking an active role. There are several characters from the previous series and it was fun to see them again.

Plot wise, it was a bit bland. There's a lot of inner monologue and some telling instead of showing. Sadly, I didn't really get the jump from friends to lust to love between Arabella and Graham and that left me wanting more. As much as I liked the characters, I didn't really care what happened to them outside of their HEA.

Overall, it was a good start to a new series and I'm definitely eager for Phoebe and Ripley's story.

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

Secretary Graham Kinsley never expected to inherit a dukedom, but now he finds himself saddled with one, and riddled with debt. He has one month to repay the bank loan or he'll lose the unentailed property lovingly designed by his great, great grandfather. The new Duke of Halstead is determined to prevent this and restore his legacy, and marrying an heiress is the best solution he can come up with. When he meets Miss Arabella Stoke, he finds himself enchanted. Unfortunately, she is also impoverished and in need of a wealthy suitor to save her family, and in a hurry given her father's failing health.

If they work together, they may be able to recover their fortunes from the swindler who ruined them. If they can keep their hands off each other. As they get closer to finding the swindler, it becomes even more apparent that they'll both have to make some tough decisions, and risk broken hearts.

I loved that Arabella wasn't the typical simpering, blushing miss and Graham wasn't the typical impoverished, low born man elevated to luxury. These two had some unusual circumstances you don't read about much and that was refreshing. Their story was also very realistic in that there was no perfect, pretty solution and that was also refreshing. We're also left with a few loose ends to hold until the next book and I'm very much looking forward to it after how much I loved this one.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Smart, independent, family-oriented are all words that describe Arabella. She knows what she wants and even though there is some trepidation, she goes after it. Love these characters in stories. Graham is just too sweet and how could you not like him. Theirs is a story of “we can’t, but we need”. Their friends are great and when they are talking you feel like you are sitting there with them. A wonderful love story.

Looking forward to Ripley and Colton’s stories (and Phoebe and Jane)!

Graham and Arabella are so cute together. Graham is not used to the social expects of being a Duke. The way that she helps him without belittling him is perfection. I liked how the end of this book ties into the next book in this series. Now I can't wait for it to come out.

I received an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review

Sweet and spicy, with one of the more affable heroes and daring heroines I’d seen in a while. Darcy Burke never disappoints and this new series looks intriguing... watch this space!

Will two persons who have been wronged find a future together or be torn apart forever.

I do love Mrs Darcy Burke writing style, the words flow easily and her characters are always more complex than they appear at first, and they are the kind whom always try to save the day.

Arabella and Graham find themselves sharing the same circumstances, both reaching bankruptcy because of bad investments by their kin. And in London society when reaching destitution, wealthy spouses if often the answer, too bad their attraction can bring nothing to another as they are both in need of money.
Arabella who once loved a man her family considered not worthy of her, has now very few other choices left than find a willing rich husband-to-be, if only it could be the charming new titled Duke of Halstead.
Graham Kinsley inherited unexpectedly a dukedom his family has been banished generations ago. But it is not the prize he could have expected as it is debts ridden. He can only hope the lovely lady who bewitched him is the heiress is seeking after.
So when both learn of their common situation, will their combined efforts be enough to regain their family’s loss.
I loved both main characters, they were straightforward and true to themselves, and once their secret was known by the other, they left poise behind and work together, even take risk to protect another. Both will face danger and ruin to save another.
Arabella is not afraid to go for what she wants, even if I find her bit too bold for the period, she is one to be admired for her honesty.
Graham having been a commoner before coming to be titled, is a good man, he assumes his duties probably better than his predecessors and tries to set everything right. And he will without any gratification sacrifices himself if it can save the woman he came to love.

What I do love in Mrs Burke’s stories is that not everything resolve in the heroes’ way, as not everything is black and white.
Now I am very much eager to learn more about Ripley, there is something about him that calls me.

A 4.5 stars read.

I was granted an advance copy by the author but I had previously to It preppy own copy. Here is my true and unbiased opinion.

https://m.facebook.com/429830134272830/photos/a.431529027436274/443817702874073/?type=3&source=54&ref=bookmarks