The series keeps getting better. Sabrina and Constantine Westbrook marriage was arranged, not a great beginning, They barely knew each other and both were told that the other didn’t even want to marry. So of course things were awkward, plus Sabrina suffers from anxiety, knows nothing of the marriage bed. Con has been brought up to be a Duke one day and will do his duty as his father commands.
After two years of leading basically separate lives, Sabrina surprises her husband with a visit to London demanding that Con bed her till she has a child. Con wonders who is this women!
Love the way the characters grow and work to solve the anxiety and awkwardness. Not quite in the way one would expect but they both are desperate to make their marriage work. It is part of a series, but can be read as a standalone.
Thank you #Netgalley and #DarcyBurke. I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an Advance Reader Copy of this story.

This story definitely turned out to be a little different from what I was expecting (in a good way). I loved both of these characters pretty much right from the start. At first I thought I was not going to be a big fan of Constantine's, but his POV narration granted insight that quickly had me changing my mind. Sabrina's transformation may have been a little too easy but I liked her so much that I don't mind. It was also interesting to see that it was Con taking charge of their relationship outside the bedroom (by working to getting to know her and court her the way they didn't have the chance to before getting married) and Sabrina taking charge of their relationship inside the bedroom. This book really makes you wonder how different society would have been had women been educated about their bodies and told they were allowed to enjoy sex. The ball the couple hosts offers some good levity and shows how much of a team they had started to be. I understood why Con gets upset upon learning the complete truth of what had been going on, but was also glad to see how quickly that was resolved. I also really enjoyed the relationships between Lucian and Con and between Sabrina and Mrs. Renshaw - they were supportive without being patronizing. I'm definitely looking forward to the next book in this series!

Impassioned is the second book in the Phoenix Club series by Darcy Burke. Burke is a new to me author so I haven't read this first in the series. I found that it also worked well as a stand alone book. Immediately after finishing, I couldn't wait to look up the next book in the series. Impassioned does the second chance trope brilliantly. I was really rooting for the hero and heroine from the beginning.

Constantine and Sabrina were married two years prior but then spent nearly all time apart since. It was interesting to me how the author showed both hero and heroine and growing into themselves in tandem. The characters needed each other to become their best versions. The story had plenty of steam and crazy cat hijinks. I adored the secondary characters in the story and hope to hear more from some of them. Cassandra's book sounds like so much fun. Also, can we get a Lucien and Evie book please?!? I can't wait to check out more books by Darcy Burke in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Darcy Burke for sending me the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fantastic take on what happens after the classic “marriage of convenience” trope. The story is about Sabrina and Constantine learning to be a couple, but also features meddling friends, “helpful” family and a little bit of fake identity hilarity. That said, the major conflict is in the dueling personalities and misunderstanding within the marriage, and not some big external drama. This makes the story feel more real and relatable while also fulfilling the “glamorous fantasy” aspect that readers expect from a good romance. Overall this book is sexy and sweet as it shows our fair protagonists learning to manage their issues and how to be better partners.

I really loved the idea of this book. Constantine was my favorite character in Improper and I was waiting for his own story!
In nearly two years of marriage, Sabrina Westbrook has barely spoken to her husband and shared a bed even less. Both activities would require they actually live together. As it is, the Earl of Aldington attends to his seat in the House of Commons, while she and her crippling social anxiety tend to his country house and gardens.
Heir to a dukedom, Constantine Westbrook knows his duty: to country, to family, and to the shy, retiring wife whose beauty stole his breath the moment they met. Whose arousing, enticing body he’s never seen in the light of day. Or any light at all.
However, there’s something different about the woman who shows up in London unannounced. For the first time in their marriage, Sabrina has a request. No, a demand. But wanting and having are two different things. And to give Sabrina her heart’s desire, they’ll both need a few lessons in love…
I enjoyed this book a lot, mostly the second half. Sabrina doesn´t seemed quite real to me, though. She can be this shy anxious wallflower one moment and a sexual goddess the next one. It’s beautiful the way they get to know each other as husband and wife. He is stiff and proper, but also considerate and so so patient. Almost too much. This story is about finding oneself before trying to build a relationship. It’s a beautiful and emotional journey with amazing sexy times and really interesting side characters.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

CW: Manipulative Parents, Social Anxiety, Deception
This was my first book by Darcy Burke and therefore also my first book in The Phoenix Club series. This didn’t diminish my enjoyment of the story in any way and if the plot of this book sounds attractive to you but you are reluctant to read the series out of order I would be tell you to put aside those worries and encourage you to pick the book up anyway.
I am not always a fan of marriage-in-trouble romances but this one was a fun an exciting twist on that troupe with our characters both experiencing attraction to each other before they were married but their manipulative parents planted seeds of doubt and after disastrous experiences in the bedroom at the beginning of their relationship both have been distant and reluctant to try to fix the relationship for fear of being rejected. Sabrina has had enough of the distance that has developed in her marriage and comes to London on a mission to finally have a baby and realize her dream of being a mother.
Her husband is busy between being an active member in parliament and keeping his father happy as the heir and eldest son. Surprised by his wife’s arrival and the complete transformation she has gone through from the shy woman he married to the bold woman who demands he give her a child the two now need to get to know each other once again. I believe that is why I enjoyed this marriage-in-trouble story more than I typically do. These two had been married for two years but still don’t know each other very well as a result of poor communication and the fact that they had both lived to please other people their entire lives.

The main characters were quite loveable despite the mistakes they make along the way and their family members who move in and out of the story are also fascinating to hear about, adding quite a depth to the story telling. While I didn’t always find the depiction of social anxiety to be completely accurate I appreciated that it was included in the story and appreciated reading that representation in a historical romance novel. I am giving this book 4 stars and would recommend it to people who enjoy marriage-of-convenience or marriage-in-trouble romances.

One of my favorite plots in historical romance is that of a married couple still figuring out their way after they have said the "I do's".

The Earl and Countess of Aldington, Constantine and Sabrina Westbrook, had so many misconceptions going into their marriage that it was sure to be like sailing through murky waters with no knowledge of a way out.

With the help of Constantine's brother, Lucien, and his partner in crime, Evie, (and possibly more?) the awkward newlyweds started to navigate their way towards a true partnership.

This was an enjoyable and quick read.

3..5 Stars
In an arranged marriage Sabrina and Constantine barely know each other, truly living separate lives. Sabrina has decided to confront her husband in hopes of changing the situation.
I struggled a bit in the first part of the story. Sabrina has anxiety and Constantine is emotionally distant so I definitely felt the awkwardness of their relationship.
The pace picks up in the second half as they both work through finding themselves and try to discover if they can have (or want) a real marriage.
With a little help from his brother Lucien and friend Evie will they be able to have a true marriage?
A steamy HEA romance.
I received this book in exchange for a review on NetGalley.

Constantine and Sabrina Westbrook, Earl and Countess of Aldington, had an arranged marriage and continue as polite strangers. In two years of marriage, they've barely spoken or bedded, communicating infrequently through letters. Sabrina comes to town determined to push past her social anxiety and take her place in society and at her husband's side. Con is perplexed by this new version of his wife but perhaps they can begin again with the courtship they never had in the first place.

This is the third book in the Phoenix Club series. I haven't read the others and did wonder if I was missing out on information about the club and Con's family; however, the previous couples don't play a role and this story can stand alone.

I had mixed feelings at the beginning of the story. Sabrina and Con were uncomfortable with each other, and I certainly took that in as a reader. Their marriage was strained and sleeping together wasn't a magic switch that fixed their lives. I would have liked to know more about how Sabrina battled her anxiety because it felt like she just "decided" to get over it and did.

I really enjoyed the second half of the story, though. The couple began to reset their relationship and get to know one another. I also liked that the story was focused on their connection rather than external conflicts.

Tropes: Second Chance Romance

* I received an ARC and this is my honest review. #Impassioned #NetGalley

I recieved a free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book.
Sabrina has anxiety and struggles to be in a crowd until one day she decides that she wants a child. Arriving in London and demanding a child, Constantine doesn't know what to make of his wife.
I liked Sabrina and Constantine and their evolving relationship. There wasn't much of an outside complication to their marriage.
4 stars.

This was very sweet fun. There were anachronisms and implausibilities, but overall the story was pleasant and good-hearted. It's always nice to see a married couple give each other a chance and grow together to make a happy relationship!

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

3.5 of 5 stars

This is the second book in the Phoenix Club series and I had mixed feelings about it. Miscommunication is the theme of this story. Sabrina Westbrook is a nervous young woman who startles easily and when she is forced to marry Constantine, she had no one to tell her what to expect. Constantine was crushed when he found out that Sabrina did not want to marry him and so he closes off his feelings. With their wedding night a disaster, Sabrina decides to stay in their country estate. Two years later, she's travels to London to demand Constantine give her a child. It's Constantine's turn to be startled by the change in his formerly timid wife. Can they work together to improve their marriage and give Sabrina the child she desires?

Ms. Burke has written a different type of miscommunication trope story. Both Con and Sabrina takes drastic steps to improve their relationship, but I found it a little far-fetched especially Sabrina's role as the sexual tutor. While I did find those interactions a different way to ramp up sexual tension, the possibility that it could all backfire in a spectacular way was very possible. Con finally started to change his uptight personality and court Sabrina the way he should have done when they first married. I wasn't much of a fan of him though, but I did love Sabrina. Here was a woman who knew what she wanted and was not afraid to go after it even if it made her more anxious than ever. I'm anxiously waiting to read the next book and hope it's Lucien's story.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

"'Cry, scream, rail, do whatever you must,' she said sotly but with an edge of steely determination that was perhaps more soothing than anything else she was doing."

This novel had perhaps the most ridiculous plot I've ever read. You know that trope where the whole plot is based around a misconception? This is kind of like that except with two secondary characters and a setting that are basically nothing more than plot devices.

That said, it was refreshing to read a romance novel where having sex one time doesn't magically make the entire relationship better. I did like the two MCs, but really think this could've benefited from a strong, guiding editor.

Despite being a communications major, I often find myself at a loss for words and unable to express my thoughts. There are times when the prospect of not speaking at all sounds far better than saying the wrong thing. That being said, these are the most incompetent idiots I've ever read about. Oh my God, how can your communication skills be this poor?

I think miscommunication trope is pretty alright. I mean, you'd probably have a hard time ever writing conflict without adding in two characters misunderstanding each other, but sometimes it's like, "Really?" Like, it's not possible to be this dumb. I won't believe it. The whole time I'm sitting here watching these buffoons in love do the craziest (and, wow, I mean craziest. why did they think any of that was a good idea?) things and then I'm hit by the splash of cold reality saying "This is a regency romance! Who cares about logic or even smart protagonists!" and I am automatically cured of my smartass-affliction.

I have no idea what else to say. Do people read these books critically? I just think they're fun and insane most of the time. The protagonists are decent enough people (we will not speak about the dreaded false pretenses) and the...romance...was fun enough. It's an alright book as far as regency romances go.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an advanced reader's copy

This was a really sweet second chance romance in a marriage of convenience.

Constantine, Earl of Aldington, is estranged from his anxious wife, Lady Sabrina. He visits her twice a year at their country house and endures awkward marital relations. Two years into their marriage, Sabrina decides she needs to get over her agoraphobia and anxiety and be a true wife and Countess to Con in London. She comes in and demands her marital rights and it's sort of funny to see Con run away in fear.

I didn't love the first book in this series, because I thought the two main characters were immature. And while Con and Sabrina struggled with their own issues, I couldn't help but root for them. I really thought this was going to be a steamy book where a wife tricks her husband into having sex with an anonymous stranger (but really her) and initially I was disappointed when that didn't happen. But I quickly fell in love with the sweetness of their courtship and their efforts to clear up their marital discord in the bedroom. There is some hiding of secrets but things come out and they are resolved quickly. There's not a lot of sex, for a couple working on their sex life. But it didn't detract from their story.

Anyone who has been married will tell you, it's not a fairytale. Telling your partner you aren't satisfied or what you want isn't any easier just because you got married. So I really appreciated the richness of this story and the efforts both went through to fall in love in their marriage.

I also really love the side characters Lucien and Evie. They really added a lot to the story and helped sketch out more of the mystery of the Pheonix club. I really can't wait for their books and I am dying to know who they fall in love with - is it each other, someone else?!?!

A study in seduction, or will he let pass by their second chance at love …

After the opening chapter, I pitied Constantine’s life yet once his estranged wife entered the scene, I wondered who was truly in the wrong.
He in fact appears to be the one who keeps people at arms-length, making assumptions and not really trying to reach the others like his wife.
He is for a great part responsible for the misery of their marriage. He was the acknowledged one about the marriage bed, yet he did not even try to make it less awkward to his young new bride.
I even became angry at him when instead of trying to smooth things with his bride he chose the coward way and did not even attempt to get to know, understand her. He did his duty in the worse way possible and left. How could he expect a young woman with no experience nor knowledge of what to expect to reach to him if he did not try the same.

Constantine is quite a bore, he has few friends and does not really partake in the social swirl, he once decided he would never feel something for another being because he lost his mother, since he just exists, never really living. And because of his closeted heart, his young wife suffers.
Sabrina was my hero, she went against everything she was told, she faced her fears head held high to reach her one goal, to assuage a bit of the loneliness her marriage with the aloof cold Earl of Aldington has damned her too.
She is not exempt of flaws but she does try to better herself. To go against her instincts to hide.

Hopefully with some clues and hints plus the help of friendly meddling people, he gets his epiphany and decides to reform himself into a different husband. The journey is not an easy one as like Sabrina, he will have to go against what he has been taught, to face his own demons and decide what is worth.
A moving and sensual trip to reach the other’s heart and learn about oneself.
5 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 onscreen lovemaking scenes.

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

Impassioned, is quite different from other books I've read. I really enjoyed reading it. Cassandra changes a lot throughout the book. Constantine is very happy and lucky by that.

I appreciate the author’s touch when handling the topic of mental health, the pain that can occur when one is misunderstood, and the peace that comes from having another person seek to know us. This was communicated well throughout Impassioned, an interesting take on a marriage between two seemingly incompatible people who seek to find happiness and traverse life together, through whatever means it takes. Five wholehearted stars to Impassioned by Darcy Burke.

I received an ARC courtesy of NetGalley. The opinions are mine alone.

4.5 stars

Great Book, heartily recommend. Its the second in the series and we are back to the promise of the book 0.5

Constantine is a bit stuffy and under the thumb of his domineering father. His wife Sabrina is shy and the marriage hasn't got off to a great start. Lucien and Cass, Cons siblings play their part as does Evie, the ex courtesan who helps mentor Sabrina in the dress and attitude that is expected of a Countess. We learn a bit more about the crusty father and potential love interests for Cassandra

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

Impassioned is a lovely historical romance and the second book in The Phoenix Club series by Darcy Burke. This story is unique in that the main characters are already married. However, their relationship did not begin as a grand love affair. Theirs was an arranged marriage, and after two years, they are basically estranged. However, Sabrina wants a child and is desperate to connect with her husband, so she leaves their country home where she lives and comes unannounced to their home in the city where Constantine resides. There she demands that Constantine fulfill his husbandly duties and get her pregnant.

Constantine is shocked when Sabrina, his timid and shy wife, unexpectedly arrives, and he’s even more stunned when she demands sexual relations. Their encounters are always formal and awkward, and they are few and far between. What has accounted for the change in Sabrina? Can the couple get past their problems and find a happy future together?

Constantine and Sabrina are well-developed protagonists, and I enjoyed their love story. At the start of the story, Constantine is cool and aloof, and his dispassionate attitude is known by all. He is controlled and poised, and he rarely lets things get under his skin. He is a serious man involved in politics, and he bears a lot of responsibility. Throughout the story, he changes quite a bit as he realizes what he truly wants in life. Sabrina struggles with anxiety and has spent much of her time trying to blend in instead of standing out. Uncomfortable in social settings and in situations where she doesn’t know the other people involved, Sabrina has anxiety attacks and often retreats. However, throughout the story, she faces her struggles and tries to manage them. I like that the author introduced a smart, caring, and capable woman with a realistic issue that affects many people.

I love the romance between this married couple. They are both inexperienced and uncomfortable, yet it’s obvious that they both want the same things. Miscommunication, lies, anxiety, and family pose problems for Sabrina and Constantine, yet their chemistry is ever-present. Both Sabrina and Constantine have spent their lives doing what was expected of them. They are both very much defined by societal and familial expectations because they both yearned for approval and acceptance. However, Sabrina and Constantine both begin to act on their own needs and desires instead of the expectations of people who don’t really understand or know them. I love how they slowly get to know each other and fall in love despite the fact that they’ve been married for two years. Their attraction to each other is palpable, and their feelings are strong.

Constantine and Sabrina receive help from the owners of The Phoenix Club, one of which is Constantine’s brother. I love this club and its owners. They have such a desire to help others, and they work hard to provide and outlet for people who feel like they don’t belong. The Phoenix Club is the antithesis of the other social clubs in this town and is a great backdrop for some of the more spicy scenes in the story.

This is a wonderful addition to The Phoenix Club series, and I’m excited to see who will be the focus of the next story. There were hints of possible love connections in this story that I found particularly intriguing, and I’m hoping we’ll see more of these characters in future books. Though this is the second book in the series, it can easily be read as a standalone. However, if you did read the first book, you’ll be delighted to know that many of the characters in it are also in this one. Thanks so much to NetGalley, Zealous Quill Press, and the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.