Member Reviews

Show me a new Darcy Burke novel (please!) and I'll very happily read it - I love her stories 🙂

Juliana Sheldon is an independent young widow, and Lucas Trask, the Viscount Audlington and heir to an earldom, meet during a snowstorm, sparks fly and soon the cold winter night is nothing compared to the heat that the two generate. Lucas, making a Seriously Dumb Decision, leaves and when Juliana awakens, he’s gone. She’s angry, he feels like a fool for leaving without a word, and thinks of her often.


Two years later - they meet up again at the matchmaking house party thrown by mutual friends and the sparks that were initially there haven’t burned themselves out, they’ve grown even stronger…

Some of my favorite tropes here -
* Romance while trapped in an inn during a snowstorm,
* Hostess with matchmaking on her mind throws a house party,
* One night stand turns into something more
* Second chance

Despite Lucas being a walking, talking red flag I really enjoyed the coupling of he and Juliana. The entire story was a lot of fun and this quick read also has a nice amount of heat (open door scenes) to help warm you from the seriously cold winter days right now!

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4-4.5 Stars! Darcy Burke never disappoints! Super cute second chance romance. This is the 3rd book in the ‘Matchmaking Chronicles’ series but can be read as a standalone. I really liked the main characters, Lucas & Juliana. They had tons of witty banter, a love/hate/love relationship, good chemistry, and some steamy ‘sexy times’ scenes. I love a good, strong female character, especially in this era of time. Juliana didn’t take sh*t from nobody! Haha! I loved her because she knew how to hold a grudge & I’m the same way. Women like us make those who dare go against us, rue the day they screwed us over! Ha! I just sound evil now. Anyway, Lucas was sweet & made some dumb choices but he IS a man, so what do you expect?! Ha! Kidding! (Kind of) I really enjoyed this book and loved the HEA epilogue ending! Definitely recommend this book. Interesting, entertaining & definitely worth reading!
*I received this at no charge & I voluntarily left this review.*

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Julianna and Lucas have a brief affair while snowed in at an inn, but Lucas leaves without explanation. When they meet up at a house party two years later, she wants nothing to do with him. Can he convince her that they belong together?

If you like steamy Regency, this book is for you. The plot is interesting and endearing. I was happy to see Julianna stand up to Lucas for his treatment of her.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

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Julianna is a widow disappointed after a one night stand who uses this emotional setback to restart her life. Lucas has now decided to find a wife and set aside his rakish ways, and when he reconnects with Julianna at a house party a year later he thinks this is the perfect opportunity. She’d rather shut him down at every turn for leaving without saying goodbye and has no interest in marrying again, and he has a secret.

I enjoyed the first two books in this novella series. The Rigid Duke is still my fave of the Matchmaking Chronicles, but this one has fun tropes. One night stand, one bed, second chance, reformed rake falls hard. Julianna half-heartedly wants to punish the viscount for leaving her and he enjoys every minute of it. The subversion of the secret baby trope was nicely done. Highly recommend for regency romance novella fans.

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I really enjoy Darcy Burke books! I was really excited to get The Runaway Viscount as an ARC from Netgalley. I've read the other books in this series, and really enjoyed them!
The Runaway Viscount has so many of the tropes that I love-- inn romances, a house party, second chance romance, a baby... it was so fun to read! The dialogue is good but almost a little too simple, but I did not mind because I liked the plot a lot! I really liked Juliana, and how she was not quite quick to forgive, but then open to forgiveness. Lucas was sweet and hard to imagine as a rake-- I liked him a lot as well! I thought his name sounded familiar and I was trying to remember if he was in any other Darcy Burke books, but I read a lot of HR so I'm not sure.
The plot was really good and this was a really enjoyable book to read. I have enjoyed this series and this may be my favorite so far! There's just enough strife (not a lot, but just a little to make it interesting) for this reader who isn't into a lot of strife or angst. I love a HEA and I wish we had more of the epilogue, but that is every epilogue when I like a book and the characters! I can't wait for the next book in this series, the little bits we got in The Runaway Viscount about them and the teaser paragraph has me eagerly awaiting!
I recommend this book for HR fans, this is a fun, fast entertaining read!

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A second chance romance with great characters with well written chemistry and romance. It is a short story and is fine as a stand alone read. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

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The Runaway Viscount by Darci Burke is the first book I’ve read from this author. I have to confess, I’ve expected more from an USA TODAY Bestselling Author. If you take away all the sex scenes, the story of Lucas and Juliana fits in a few pages, with front and back covers. The story is hollow and predictable.

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with an ARC to review.

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I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
The Runaway Viscount is the third installment in Darcy Burke’s Matchmaking Chronicles. It works well as a stand-alone, but it has the same charm I liked about the first two. However, it should also be noted that The Bachelor Earl, previously marketed as a prequel story to another Burke series, The Untouchables, has since also been rebranded as book two of this series, despite its release predating that of book one.
The couple here have an interesting dynamic, given it involves Lucas running away multiple times when he’s seemingly been on the precipice of some romantic promise to Juliana. However, he’s the opposite of a ruinous scoundrel; he’s trying to turn over a new leaf and leave his rakish past behind him…although he does have some secrets that motivate him to behave as he does. Juliana is also interesting, and I like how she responds to her initial hurt by toying with him a bit when they’re reunited.
While there are some rough moments, what with navigating their pasts and their secrets, and figuring out how to trust each other, it ultimately comes together nicely. And like previous books in the series, I like that it touches on less conventional ways for a couple to be together and build a family, especially as Juliana is infertile.
This is a nice short read, and I’m excited for what’s to come in the series next. If you enjoy historical romance, I recommend picking this up!

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Charming romance with lots of heart!

Juliana, a young widow, meets Lucas, Viscount Audlington, in the middle of a crowded inn during a snowstorm. A predictable fling followed by a pre-dawn departure leaves Juliana referring to him as the Runaway Viscount as she quickly tries to put him out of her mind. Nearly two years later, however, they're both at the same house party - the very same party hosted by Lord and Lady Cosford that was the setting for The Bachelor Earl - and since matchmaking is very much on Lady Cosford's agenda, it's all Juliana can do to torment Lucas with her constant refusals until their undeniable chemistry brings them together again.

But Lucas has developed a secret in the time they spent apart, and he doesn't quite handle that secret with as much openness as he should have, especially once they became serious about each other. Still, I was delighted with the turn of events, except, of course, the tragic carriage accident, but it was a unique twist that tested both his commitment and her willingness to open her heart to new challenges.

I loved going back to the house party again, especially after having read Lord and Lady Cosford's story in the "Duke in a Box" anthology. The continuity between this book and The Bachelor Earl is outstanding, with the same scenes being portrayed from the different characters' points of view. Darcy Burke has long been one of my go-to authors for historical romance, and this book beautifully displays her exquisite writing talent.

Lucas and Juliana's HEA is followed by a years-later epilogue, which was very satisfying. I highly recommend this charming romance, along with everything in this author's catalogue. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

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A treat of a second chance romance with great characters with well written chemistry and romance!

<b>Characters:</b>
Juliana is a independent widow who after a less than romantic marriage wants nothing more to maintain her freedom. I liked that she was firm in what she wanted but also wasn't too prideful to admit when her feelings changed. Lucas is a recovering rake with a kind heart who is finally settling down and looking for a wife. I liked that he was always honest about his feelings and was upfront with Juliana about them.

<b>Plot:</b>
I loved this concept! Thought second chance at love isn't my favorite trope I knew from the first chapter that this was going to be one I enjoyed. Their flirting was fun and their connection felt genuine. Their 'reunion' and the light angst between them was also equally enjoyable. I also liked that the conflicts in this story weren't drawn out or made overly dramatic. It allowed the story to feel warm and lighthearted.

<b>Secret Sauce:</b>
From their first interaction Juliana and Lucas had amazing chemistry. The banter was well written and I liked both of their characters.

<b>Rating:</b> I give this book a <b>4/5🌟 rating.</b> I recommend this story to anyone looking for a good romance with light spicy and fantastic characters. I look forward to reading other works by this author since I enjoyed this one so much.

I gave this honest review in exchange of an advance copy of this book via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

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The Runaway Viscount is a rollicking good time! The pace is fast, with our hero, Lucas Trask (Viscount Audlington), and heroine, Juliana Sheldon, having a brief liaison while snowed in at an inn for the first two chapters, set in January 1802. Then Darcy Burke puts the breaks on things with a devastating conclusion to their time together. Things pick up in October 1803. The roller coast of their relationship takes off from there.

What I thought was going to be a painful journey full of hurt feelings was actually an entertaining trip with some humor and misciviousnes along with frank discussions between our characters of what they need and want in their lives. Juliana was hurt by how their time at the inn ended, but she is not devastated by it. She has carried on and found ways to enjoy her independent life as a widow of means. Lucas moved on himself, but has experienced a modicum of pining. When they come back together, the spark is still there.

Infertility is dealt with in this story and while I thought it could have been continued, the happily ever after makes sense and is very sweet.

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I loved the storyline of this book! Juliana Sheldon, a widow, is stuck at an inn in the middle of a snowstorm. She meets Lucas Trask, Viscount Audlington. When a family arrives, she offers to share her room with him. After spending a few days together, he leaves without telling her. She is upset with him for not saying goodbye.
A couple of years later, they meet at a house party. She is still angry with him, and he has never forgotten her. This is a wonderful love story with a few unexpected twists.

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Historical romance, Regency England. Book 3 of the Matchmaking Chronicles series. Juliana and Lucas meet at an inn during a snowstorm and have a tryst on their second night there; the next morning, Lucas has disappeared without a goodbye. They meet again two years later at a matchmaking house party (the same party as in The Bachelor Earl) and reconnect. However, there’s a smidge of drama when Lucas runs away, yet again, for some untold emergency. But at least he left a note this time. Another really quick read here and relatively low-angst.

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A lovely romantic read!

Lucas and Juliana met two years ago and spent a passionate night together before he ran away without any contact. So when Juliana meets him at a house party and although he wants to rekindle their romance, she is still angry at him leaving without a goodbye.

Lucas is now looking for a wife and never forgot Juliana but trying to persuade her to be his wife after admitting he has fallen in love is proving to be harder than he anticipated.

Enjoy this fun and romantic read with some steamy moments sure to warm your heart with their HEA

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Widow Juliana becomes snowed in with rake Lucas and sparks fly. When he disappears without a word the next morning she refers to him as “The Runaway Viscount”. Several years later when they run in to each other at a house party they both admit they never have forgotten each other. This time, however, Juliana makes it harder for him to get close since she is still hurt by his previous actions. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Zealous Quill Press for my honest review.

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Lovely short book or long novella. I would have done a few things different with the plot but it was charming. The house party aspect was interesting and the love story very nice. I did think she forgave him a bit fast, but it was a short book!

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Their first meeting had tremendous effect on their lives. Their second meeting had them figuring out what they had, temporary lust or love everlasting. Their discovery leads them to a family full of love and acceptance. Very enjoyable read as both main characters are witty and playful.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and leaving my review voluntarily.

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