This is a lovely novella set during the holiday season. It's the second of three in this series. Each one seems to focus on one of the siblings and their love match.

The Gift of the Marquess deals with the heartbreak of infertility struggles. Poppy and her husband, Gabriel have been unable to conceive during their three years of marriage. The sense of loss and melancholy has caught up to Poppy. Meanwhile, Gabriel is also sad at their inability to have children. However, he also feels a sense of relief since he is terrified of losing Poppy and a baby in childbirth.

The story revolves around this couple finding their way through heartbreak to common ground. It also sets up the next book about Poppy's brother. I look forward to seeing what his story is.

Thank you to NetGalley for this reader's copy.

This was a fast-paced, swoon-worthy read, that I found I did not want to put down! The story was original and exciting with characters that were realistic and likable. It is everything you could want in a delightful stroll through the pages of a historical romance and more!

I loved the cover. I liked the book but it wont be memorable for two reasons : plot and character development. 3.5 stars only.

This is book two of Burke’s Love is All Around series but worked fine as a standalone. It also had very minor mentions of the holiday season so I didn’t feel out of season reading it in January. Its a short book that was easy to breeze through in a couple of hours.

Not really a second chance romance, the two MCs are married, passionately in love, yet are both dealing with the issue of infertility. So CW: there is a lot of talk about infertility, death in childbirth, fostering, and stillborn or miscarriages.

They have lots of steamy encounters, and most of the action revolves around their charity work near their country estate where unwed mothers and others are taking in to a house and set to learn skills.

This wasn’t one of my favorite Burke’s, I think in part because it deals with difficult topics that I didn’t feel prepped for. I also found some of the writing to be stilted. But generally, if you are prepped for the subject matter there is a lot to love. Both the MCs are strong, loving and devoted to each other. Its nice to read a “during” romance rather than a beginning, and especially helpful for those readers who have been through their own relationship struggles and can relate to how challenging it can be to work on trauma while still letting your partner in.

The historical details are well drafted and make a compelling picture, rising the stakes and complimenting the main conflict. There are some nice secondary characters and a richness to the marriage that isn’t always played out by the dialogue. However, I found it entertaining and easy enough to read and finish over a few hours.

There is a level of bittersweetness to the book that may be to the taste of some readers, and the ending does have a HEA. I don’t want to spoil the end, but I have to admit the whole book I was fearing it would end up the way it did. Again, I think this would be really challenging for a reader who has struggled with infertility so I would urge precaution.

★★★★★★
4 out of 6 Middle of marriage conflict over infertility in a winter set novella

Darcy Burke’s books are always a joy to read with this one being no exception. An easily read romance with an interesting storyline, a fabulous hero and a smart and beautiful lady. A recipe for a relaxing night’s reading snuggled up on the sofa.

The second book in a lovely series, While characters' motivations really make much more sense if you have read the first one, although it is not essential to enjoyment of the story.. The focus here is on Poppy and Gabriel and her deep desire to be a mother. The character's are very well portrayed and the reader will very much enjoy the journey to their happily ever after!

The gift of the marquis is so much more than I expected it to be. It is very different than any book I have previously read that was a historical romance. The story begins with a couple that’s deeply in love, but unable to conceive. The only angst, is that she is devastated that they can’t have a child and he is relieved because he lost his mother his sister and she lost her mother all to childbirth. I am happy that even though they spent some time not on the same page, it didn’t last so long that it impacted their love or your perception of their love. I really enjoyed this short book very much recommend it.

The Gift of the Marquess features a wonderful romance between a couple unsure how to fix the problems in their relationship despite their love for one another.

Poppy, The Marchioness of Darlington, wants nothing more than to be a mother, but after three years of trying it is unlikely her dream will happen. After discovering her husband, Gabriel, doesn’t share in her loss, the pair grow distant. And when an expectant mother arrives at the local institution for single women and mothers where Poppy volunteers, her longing for children only deepens driving her and Gabriel further apart. Gabriel has been relieved Poppy hasn’t been able to conceive as after losing his mother and sister in childbirth, Gabriel can’t bear losing Poppy as well. But with the divide between them deepening, Gabriel is desperate to repair their relationship and will do anything to get back the relationship they’ve lost.

I haven’t read many historical romances that follow an already married couple, but I have to say I really enjoyed it. Poppy and Gabriel’s relationship has mostly been a positive one and the pair obviously love each other a great deal. For the first three years of their marriage, Poppy was unaware of Gabriel’s hope they wouldn’t have children and it obviously crushes her when she finds out as being a mother has always been a dream of hers. Gabriel’s lack of communication on that front was a bit frustrating but I understood his unwillingness to talk about it. Ultimately I enjoyed watching the couple work through their issues and come out a stronger couple because of it.

This book takes place over the same time period as the first book in the series, The Red Hot Earl. We get to see several of the scenes from the first book in a new point of view as well as new scenes due to the focus on a different couple. I enjoyed seeing Ash and Bianca again as those two are simply perfect for each other. We learn a bit more about Calder and why he is the way he is in the series. I’m definitely looking forward to his story and the groveling he’ll have to do to make up for his bad behavior.

Overall The Gift of the Marquess was a great read and I’m looking forward to reading the third book in the series, Joy to the Duke, soon.

This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

This book kind of overlaps the first book as we see Ash and Bianca's story in bits while we learn what was going on with Poppy and Gabriel. We learn that there was tension between them because Poppy was not pregnant in their three years of marriage and Gabriel finally told her that he was glad since his mother and sister died in childbirth.

This is the problem that Poppy was dealing with when she went to the party with Bianca in the first book in this series.

Most of the book is Gabriel trying to deal with his fear of losing another woman to childbirth and then losing the chance to adopt a baby when Dinah decides to keep her baby.

The story does have a HEA as well as setting the scene for Calder and Felicity in the next book where we will learn the secrets of their past!

Another Duke series about Christmas, whoohoo! I love the historical romance with the fancy Dukes in breeches. So, when Darcy Burke had a new serie: Love is All Around, I had to request it on Netgalley. The three books are about the Stafford sisters Bianca and Poppy and their cold hearted brother Caldwell.
The timing of the stories is parallel, so while Bianca is trying to solve the issue of the party of St. Steven's Day, Poppy is having problems at home. After three years of marriage, Poppy still hasn't become pregnant. So, she fears she will never be able to conceive. And although working at the women's shelter is fulfilling, she still misses the prospect of having a child of her own. Gabriel finds it hard to confess to Poppy that he is a little relieved that Poppy is not able to get pregnant. After all: all the women in his life have lost their lives while giving birth. Torn apart by their different points of view, Gabriel is searching for a way to make Poppy happy. So when a single mother is at the women's shelter, who doesn't want to keep her baby, Gabriel hopes to find a way to adopt the little one. Afraid to get Poppy's hopes up, he secretly tries to arrange the matters.
Poppy is convinced that Gabriel is having an affair: sneaking of to visit other women, without mentioning it to her. Hiding documents and looking guilty are sure signs that she is losing the man she loves.
Is it too late for their love? Or will the Christmas spirit help them find love again? A wonderful read, keep your tissues ready! Four out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to the author for this opportunity.

The Gift Of The Marquess, by Darcy Burke, was available at booksellers in October of 2019. Gift is book two in the Love Is All Around series. A Christmas trilogy based loosely on favorite holiday stories. This is The Gift Of The Magi, in essence only. I'd been waiting to find out what mysterious thing was wrong with Poppy, I'm a little disappointed. Of the three stories, this is my least favorite. Don't get me wrong, it's a good book, well written. I just never engaged with the characters. There were a little too much, too nice, too helpful, to humble, too everything. I understand now why our heroine was so quiet and upset all through book one.

Poppy Kirkwood, Marchioness of Darlington, is childless after 3 years of marriage. She's consumed with baby fever. She's got a great husband, enough to eat, nice family, but she's not enjoying any of it. Her kind of obsession made it hard for me to love her, just like. Her husband, Gabriel, is ok with the way things are, unusual for a peer. He's scared of the high fatality rate with childbirth. When Poppy comes to terms with things, he goes off the deep end. In the end things work out and we get an HEA. The story really is lovely and sweet, maybe I'm just bah-humbug this season.

#DarcyBurke #Netgalley #TheGiftOfTheMarquess #LoveIsAllAround

Quick entertaining histori romance about a married couple Gabriel and Poppy, Married for three years, they are in love but childless, Poppy is struggling with accepting that she may never be a mother, whilst Gabriel is secretly relieved that he won’t lose her in childbirth as he has traumatised memories of the death of his mother and baby brother, and his sister, through childbirth. When Poppy removes herself from helping at the home for poor mothers and children that they both support, Gabriel realises it is because of their childless state. Will the arrival of a ill pregnant maid be the solution to their unhappiness, or will they have to work at their relationship and find a way to accept their fate together.

I loved that this book was about a happy marriage, not a new relationship, as that is quite rare in this genre. The story showed how in every long term relationship it is important to work at understanding each other, and working through your feelings in a way that doesn’t hurt your partner, and allows them to support you.

The story arc was entirely predictable but sweet and enjoyable to read nevertheless. Their were a couple of teasers for the next book, featuring Poppy’s brother the Duke of Calder - who seems to be a grumpy and tormented soul.

Novellas are not my favourite because they are over too soon, but this was a sweet story.

THE GIFT OF THE MARQUESS is the second book in the Love Is All Around series. The three stories in this trilogy are all happening simultaneously, so you could read them in any order, but I recommend you read them in the order of release.

It’s not hard to determine, based on the title, that this story is going to be patterned after The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry. That particular story is one of my favorite Christmas standard, but don’t assume you know the ending just because you know the classic.

The story of Poppy and Gabriel made me feel…. So many feelings! I was married over four years before my one and only little miracle came along. (He’s 31 now!) So, the melancholy and longing, the jealousy, and the misplaced anger are long remembered and easily recalled.

I wanted to read faster to find out what would happen. I wanted to read slower and savor every moment. I wanted it to never end and I couldn’t wait to get to the next book. This is why Darcy Burke is now counted among “must read” authors.

Note: While I received this book as a gifted ARC via NetGalley, my opinions are my own and are given freely.

Being a mother, I felt sad for Poppy's inability to conceive and the hollowness it brought to her. Gabriel's reaction is also understandable at a time when many women died in childbirth.
I enjoyed reading this story and felt that it touched on a subject that effects many a modern day women as well.
Through much sadness, strife and misunderstanding, Poppy and Gabriel persevere.
I recommend this book for those looking for a good, quick read. Bravo to Ms. Burke on another excellent book.
Thank you Darcy Burke, Darcy Burke Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

quick novella, set at christmastime in the Darcy Burke universe. Established relationships are hard, especially when they're starting at odds, but it managed to resolve things for the couple, while still leaving doors open for others.

This is the second book in the Love is All Around trilogy. After reading both the first book and now the second book, I have mixed feelings. I like the writing style and the pace of the books. You can settle in and hop right in to comfortable read. However, I feel that the author tackles some heavy topics, bullying, Tourette's Syndrome and inability to conceive, and I'm not sure that is what I was expecting when I started reading. I am looking forward to the next book to see how these characters will end up. I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Gift of the Marquess has a theme many couples deal with daily. This is a Love is All Around is a very enjoyable series. We met the Stafford family in the first book, The Red Hot Earl, and learned then there was something seriously wrong with the Duke. Both sisters are worried about him. Now in Poppy’s romance we get more a bit more of his story.

About this book, I love that Ms. Burke delves into the life of Poppy (formerly Stafford) and her husband, the Marquess of Darlington. Having been married for three years and not able to conceive causes a rift in their relationship. There were so many ways Ms. Burke could have gone with their situation. To me, the importance of loving each other no matter the circumstance was super important in making this a great book.

Both the Marquess and his wife have a philanthropic side that is not for show. They seriously want to help the less fortunate. You see it over and over as they help others.

There are some extremely sensual parts to their relationship explored in this book. So, if you are looking for a ‘clean’ book, this is not it. With the buildup of the Duke’s issues, I am looking forward to his and Felicity’s story.

The Gift of the Marquess by Darcy Burke is another fabulous and unique tale in a long line of great stories by Ms. Burke. This is not just a simple happy tale. The characters are complex with depth and troubles that drive them in unusual paths apart and together. Another trait of her books which is true here as well is the delightfully unique characters both main and supporting.
I highly recommend all Ms. Burke’s books. Yet this is one of my favorites!

Poppy is a young woman consumed by her unfulfilled desire of a child. After almost three years of marriage, the fact of not being pregnant saps her spirit and she’s at a time when she can only think of that. She’s closed herself a little for the last few weeks, when she used to go and help at the poorhouse for women and children in the neighboring village. When she understands her husband isn’t dissatisfied with the situation her reaction is logical, and she’ll need time to understand his point of view and have hers evolve.
Gabriel is eaten away by the death in childbirth of his mother, his sister, and Poppy’s mother, and he’s terrified by the idea the same thing could happen to his wife, but he never told her. He’s sad and sorry his feeling hurt Poppy and he understands quickly her point of view even if he has trouble overcoming his fear.

I liked that both communicate a lot, even if they sometimes need some time or a little external help to decide to talk. I also liked that when poppy sees her husband meeting a woman in a neighboring cottage, she hurries to understand what’s happening even if she suspects them to be having an affair. Both end up finding a solution that would satisfy their diametrically opposed desires, that is fostering or adopting one or several needing children.

On the negative side, three deaths in childbirth in only two generations is a lot in the same family, even if it was for the hero’s fear to be really understandable for the reader – I read novels where just one death justified this fear very well. And the moments where the couple, one after the other, explains to the young woman mentioned in the synopsis that if she doesn’t want her baby they could take it but if she wants it that okay all the same, could seem strange or even coercive. But in fact my only regret is that this cute story that ends well on all points of view is a bit too short.

Although, I enjoy historical romance this seemed a little far fetched. I don’t believe a member of the ton would be so excited to have an adopted heir and not his own. Although, it’s sweet he wouldn’t want to lise his wife in childbirth. With all the steamy scenes it didn’t balance for me. Just, didn’t seem right for the period.