It's always surprising when a Rake thinks they are horrible yet won't take the innocence of a lady. Quite gentlemanly if you ask me. Especially when it's the Lady who is asking the Rake to take it.
I love that we get to witness Anthony's growth in, A Duke Will Never Do.

This is one of the best redemption stories I have ever read. Anthony is so down on himself for what he perceives (and probably rightly so) is a wrong that he thinks he could have prevented. You might remember Anthony from a previous story – he was not a very likeable person. Well, don’t tell Jane that because she is a genuinely good person who holds Anthony up and boosts his self-confidence. I love their interactions. Sweet and sexy. The scene at the end shows Anthony as the gentleman that he truly strives to be. Loved it!

This book opens up with a handsome man unconscious on Jane Pemberton's doorstep. From there, you know it has to be good. Jane quickly comes to realize she recognizes him as her friend, Sarah's, brother Anthony. Anthony has had a difficult year after the death of his parents and some other personal issues. Jane, herself, has not had it easy having recently declared herself a spinster and moving out of her parents house to live out her days on her own. The two come together and find they have more in common than they might think.

Burke writes a fun, sexy tale about two people who are feeling lost and alone. It is a joy to see them come together and reconcile their pasts in their own ways. While this book is part of a larger series, it reads well as a standalone. I would definitely recommend.

I absolutely loved Anthony and Jane. It was such a feel good romance that absolutely had me in chains. So this book focuses on Jane who is a self-confessed spinster who rescues a rake (my words) Anthony who she proposes a very steamy preposition ( so not dropping spoilers). You need to read it 😊

This is my favorite book so far of The Spitfire Society. Ms. Burke has written an entertaining and uplifting story of loss, grief, pain and redemption. When Anthony Colton ends up on Miss Jane Pemberton's doorstep severely beaten, Jane has him brought inside and installed in one of the guest chambers in her home. Having declared herself a spinster, she enjoys the quiet and solitude of her home, but Anthony begins to awaken her desire for something more. She nurses him back to health and he can't thank her enough. As a "payment" she wants him to make love to her. It was a great premise to the journey these two lonely people travel to their happily ever after. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

I raced through book 2 in the Spitfire Society series, A Duke is Never Enough, within a few hours, and as soon as the next book became available to review, I knew I needed it. This time around we follow Miss Jane Pemberton as she has announced her spinsterhood, and is enjoying living alone, in the new Marchioness of Ripley's home. One day, she discovers that Anthony, Viscount Colton, is lying unconscious on her front step, and she immediately takes him in and nurses him back to health. While under her care, Anthony finds himself becoming sober, and not missing his old roguish ways, and, above all, feeling comfortable and herself for the first time since he inherited his position and his parents were murdered. When Jane comes to him and asks Anthony to teach her how to be intimate, he finds it difficult to be a gentlemen and refuse her. When he returns home, all of his demons come rushing back, and it seems that he is being blackmailed over the murders of his parents, and returns right back to where he was. Can Jane help him to discover who is extorting him, or will he spiral out of control once and for all.

Now, I loved the previous book in this series, but I think this one was even better. Jane and Anthony had always intrigued me, and I felt their story was perfect for the two of them. Jane, who had had five failed seasons, felt so much pressure from her parents, and particularly her mother, and it was just too much for her. When Phoebe married Marcus at the end of the last book, she offered Jane her house, and it was the freedom that Jane had always needed. When Anthony lets slip that there had been a rumour of a scandal involving Jane during her first season, which is the reason she was basically put on the shelf as time went on, she's furious, and wants to find out who spread it, and why they would do that. I loved this part of the story, as well as the mystery surrounding Anthony's blackmail. Anthony has always felt guilt over his parents deaths, as he should have been the one travelling to the country when they were murdered, because of a gambling debt he couldn't repay. With Jane by his side, he finds it possible to confront his demons, and work to discover the extortionist and get justice for what was done.

The chemistry between Jane and Anthony is fantastic, and it was refreshing how many moments of friendship there was, and not only lust and desire. Their relationship developed from mere acquaintances, to friends, to lovers, in a natural manner, and it was perfect for this book. Also, how cute were Daffodil and Fern, what with how they treated Anthony, and how they pined for him after he left. Darcy is definitely becoming a favourite author of mine, and I can't wait for her next book!

This was my first read by Darcy Burke, and I will definitely come back for more.

What I loved most about this story was the way the two main characters found strength in each other. Each were dealing with their past tragedies, and their relationship was built on an openness and trust. I love the sort of love story where it's "us against the world." And even though they had some real heavy things to deal with (particularly the hero, Anthony), I didn't find the story overwrought with angst. It was still full of humor and felt light and fun to read.

This was the final book of a trilogy, and I do think I would have enjoyed it more had I read the other two books first. This Spitfire Society seemed more like a side story, or at least relied upon a prior understanding of it to appreciate it's significance. And it seemed that Anthony's story was fleshed out more in prior books. So, at first it felt that I was suddenly at a party where everyone but me knew each other. Once I adjusted to the fast pace of the story, I rather enjoyed it. I finished the story in a single afternoon, which I find deeply satisfying and will definitely read more from this author in the future.

Definitely an enjoyable historical romance! Very fast paced, full of steamy moments, and all together heartwarming. You pick up a story like this for the fun and romance aspect of it all but I also really enjoyed the realistic portrayal of the grieving process the hero goes through.

Will his guilt be the end of their burgeoning relationship...

I have witnessed Colton spiraling down since the murder of his parents, his remorses weighting heavily on his conscience. Why he is in auto-destruction mode, engaging in damaging excesses.
And while his presence on Jane’s entry steps will remain a mystery, it might be the act of his salvation.
He might have stoped gambling but he drinks to oblivion, and he seems to have gone to far this time. Yet, his recovery is not one of a few hours of sleep. Between his self-reproach and his need of stiff drinks to numb his mind, he will need a greater impulse than friendship to clean his slate.
Jane is a newly auto proclaimed spinster, preferring her social ruin to living in the fringes of the yin’s marriage mart.
I was all along with Jane, I understood her anger, her need to right in some way the wrong done. Even she would never have been able to repair the damages and get back her lost years and her shattered dreams, she needed closure for the feelings to have be unworthy.

What a wonderful soul Jane is, she is sweet, caring but also forthright, not afraid to ask or even follow her heart. And running after Anthony is not an easy task when he is so devoted at his self destruction. Jane’s strength is in her devotion to those she cares for, refusing to let go when she senses they need her.

Mrs Darcy Burke with this last book in this series, close the page of Anthony’s downfall in a very satisfying manner and opens the door to many more tales.
5 stars

I was granted an advance copy by the author, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

A Duke Will Never Do is the third in the Spitfire Society series from Darcy Burke. Jane Pemberton has decided to declare herself a spinster and shake off the shackles of society. She’s moved out on her own and intends to start living her life for her own pleasures. When Anthony, Viscount Colton, turns up on her doorstep beaten and incapacitated she brings him in to nurse him back to health. The two form a friendship that blossoms in to more, but can the secrets of Anthony’s past be put to rest for the couple to have their happily ever after?

I came into this series with the second book, A Duke is Never Enough, so I was excited to see Phoebe’s friend Jane get her story told. Jane is a sweet and unassuming woman who has spent her life pleasing others. She longs for something more than a life lived pleasing others, and she’s finally gotten the courage to grab that life for herself. I wasn’t sure how I’d like Jane as a heroine of her own story, because she’s a bit timid in the other book, but I was pleasantly surprised at how much inner strength and fortitude she had in her own book. I loved that Jane was carrying on with the Spitfire ideals and trying to do good in the world with charity projects as well as enjoying freedoms previously denied to her.

Anthony was a bit of a rouge in the previous book and I didn’t have high expectations for his character to win me over. In the previous book he’s prone to drinking, fights, and sleeping with sex workers. However, I do usually love a reformed rake, so I shouldn’t have been suspicious that Burke could turn Anthony into a proper romance hero in this book. I loved the raw vulnerability we get to see in Anthony’s character as he mourns the loss of his parents and his guilt over their passing. His wastrel ways are a direct reflection of his need to numb the soul crushing grief, and his ability to share that grief with Jane was one of my favorite parts of this book.

This book isn’t all about regrets and secrets, Burke also give us a wonderful and passionate affair between these two characters. Her ability to write the chemistry between Jane and Anthony is precisely the kind of “show don’t tell” style of writing I want in a novel. I love when an author is skilled enough to give me a love story that feels visceral, because I want to feel the highs and the lows with equal amounts of depth. Burke does this in spades with this book, and it was one of the most satisfying reads I’ve had this year.

I enjoyed this book so much, that I only found one miner issue in the entire novel. For me, the resolution between Jane and Anthony felt a bit rushed for my taste. I won’t give anything away, but you know that moment when the hero has been a bit of a jerk and must grovel his way back into the heroine’s good graces? Well, we get those scenes in this book, but call me a masochist, I wanted Jane to make Anthony squirm a bit more. I know he was having a hard time already, but I think Jane deserved a bit more and the grovel didn’t quite fit the crime for my taste.

Overall, I’m giving this book a 4 only marking down for the small issue I had with the ending. I loved these characters and the plot was intriguing enough to keep me very engaged. Lately, I’ve been struggling to enjoy historical romances, and I’m pleased to say that this book and its predecessor have helped to pull me out of that funk. Darcy Burke is a new to me author and I’m excited to read more from her. If you’re a fan of Sarah MacLean, Tessa Dare, or Sophie Jordan and you’ve never heard of Darcy Burke do yourself a favor and pick up this series today.

~ Lindsey

Will post on blog closer to release date

Another regency romance with a difference from Darcy Burke. A perfect read for a sunny afternoon in the garden. Very likeable, but troubled characters, but as usual, the path to true love comes to a satisfactory end.

A Duke Will Never Do is the third in the Spitfire Society series from Darcy Burke. Jane Pemberton has decided to declare herself a spinster and shake off the shackles of society. She’s moved out on her own and intends to start living her life for her own pleasures. When Anthony, Viscount Colton, turns up on her doorstep beaten and incapacitated she brings him in to nurse him back to health. The two form a friendship that blossoms in to more, but can the secrets of Anthony’s past be put to rest for the couple to have their happily ever after?

I came into this series with the second book, A Duke is Never Enough, so I was excited to see Phoebe’s friend Jane get her story told. Jane is a sweet and unassuming woman who has spent her life pleasing others. She longs for something more than a life lived pleasing others, and she’s finally gotten the courage to grab that life for herself. I wasn’t sure how I’d like Jane as a heroine of her own story, because she’s a bit timid in the other book, but I was pleasantly surprised at how much inner strength and fortitude she had in her own book. I loved that Jane was carrying on with the Spitfire ideals and trying to do good in the world with charity projects as well as enjoying freedoms previously denied to her.

Anthony was a bit of a rouge in the previous book and I didn’t have high expectations for his character to win me over. In the previous book he’s prone to drinking, fights, and sleeping with sex workers. However, I do usually love a reformed rake, so I shouldn’t have been suspicious that Burke could turn Anthony into a proper romance hero in this book. I loved the raw vulnerability we get to see in Anthony’s character as he mourns the loss of his parents and his guilt over their passing. His wastrel ways are a direct reflection of his need to numb the soul crushing grief, and his ability to share that grief with Jane was one of my favorite parts of this book.

This book isn’t all about regrets and secrets, Burke also give us a wonderful and passionate affair between these two characters. Her ability to write the chemistry between Jane and Anthony is precisely the kind of “show don’t tell” style of writing I want in a novel. I love when an author is skilled enough to give me a love story that feels visceral, because I want to feel the highs and the lows with equal amounts of depth. Burke does this in spades with this book, and it was one of the most satisfying reads I’ve had this year.

I enjoyed this book so much, that I only found one miner issue in the entire novel. For me, the resolution between Jane and Anthony felt a bit rushed for my taste. I won’t give anything away, but you know that moment when the hero has been a bit of a jerk and must grovel his way back into the heroine’s good graces? Well, we get those scenes in this book, but call me a masochist, I wanted Jane to make Anthony squirm a bit more. I know he was having a hard time already, but I think Jane deserved a bit more and the grovel didn’t quite fit the crime for my taste.

Overall, I’m giving this book a 4 only marking down for the small issue I had with the ending. I loved these characters and the plot was intriguing enough to keep me very engaged. Lately, I’ve been struggling to enjoy historical romances, and I’m pleased to say that this book and its predecessor have helped to pull me out of that funk. Darcy Burke is a new to me author and I’m excited to read more from her. If you’re a fan of Sarah MacLean, Tessa Dare, or Sophie Jordan and you’ve never heard of Darcy Burke do yourself a favor and pick up this series today.

A Duke Will Never Do features a fairly common plot trope in Regency Romances, and while it's not one that I would normally pick up, I am so glad that I got a copy of Darcy Burke's latest! An independent heroine and a hero who needs healing in more ways than one, these characters grow and change and bring out the best in each other over the course of the romance, and that's the kind of story we all need right now! 5 Stars!

Thank you NetGalley for providing this arc for review.

I had super fun reading this romance novel as I got sucked into the story from the very beginning. I love how strong of a character Jane is. I also like all the side characters and want to know more about them! This is the first book I read from Darcy Burke and I already know I am going to read more of her books.

I would definitely recommend this book if your craving historical romance!