Isaac has been brooding ever since his youthful roguish misbehavior. He is convinced he should not be happy. When he meets one of the happiest people he has ever met, Tamsin, even he cannot refrain from feeling some joy. Attracted to her, he tries to fight the inevitable. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Zealous Quill Press for my honest review.

Loved reading the engaging and captivating story. When the broody Baron Droxford, Isaac, meets Tamsin, Issac finds Tamsin enchanting and wants to spend more time with her, but at the same time, Issac doesn't feel he should find happiness due to an incident in his past. Read the highly recommended, wonderfully written, and a must read riveting love story. Can't wait to read the next story in the Rogue Rules series by the phenomenal author, Darcy Burke!

Tropes: sunshine MFC/grumpy MMC; marriage of convenience; Big Secret
Steam level: 3
Part of a series, but OK as a standalone

3.25 stars. This was hard for me to rate, because although it's not badly written, I didn't find it as engaging overall as the previous book in the series. It was low-key and mostly serious throughout, much like MMC Isaac. The MC's teeter on the edge of chemistry, with well-written spicy scenes after a lengthy slow-burn, but their banter lacks a bit of spark, and tbh I found the opening chapters slightly redundant and slow-moving (the word "rogue" was used at least a dozen times). Once the MC's married, Isaac's stubbornness became problematic for me, and was frankly unrealistic for someone with a title in those days.

Granted, Isaac's Big Secret does give him reason to be hard on himself, and the book touches on a topic most HR's tiptoe around: what happens when a rake dallies with someone he can never marry and there are very real consequences?

MFC Tasmin is a likable character (if fairly static). She's been through a lot in her life and keeps hanging in there. I found her dad's character arc to be rather abrupt and hard to fully believe; maybe it should have come later in the book. I was most disappointed, though, that Isaac didn't quite have his arc at the end; I felt that true closure was missing. I realize not all HR's need to have a standard HEA, but I guess I was looking for something more upbeat.

Bottom line: this has some decent steam and emotional moments, but it wasn't quite the feel-good escapism I was in the mood for.

This relies heavily on the “I can’t tell about my past” trope but I found it frustrating since the reader knows the whole secret from the beginning. Tamsin and Isaac are well-developed, but Isaac was too hung up on a former lover for me to like him. If he had been hung up on just his regrets I would have understood but his still being in love with her was unpleasant because the ending and his new feelings for Tamsin felt rushed. If you want a cozy low stakes read this is for you and I’ll be back with higher hopes for book 3.

The rogue rules series is a nice reading about a few silly rules that none of the characters respect.

Every year a group of society friends reunite to spend a holiday together. One of the girls is horribly mistreated by one rogue who happens to be a dear friend of the brother of another girl in the group. After that event all the members decide to protect themselves against the possibility to encounter a rogue as a suitor. This time is Tamsin Penrose’s turn to fall in love and she happened to be interested in Isaac Deverell, Baron Droxford. Both characters were lovely separately in the book before this one, “because the Duke dares”. I personally found that there was some chemistry missing between Tamsin and Isaac. He is a good man deep inside but it takes him longer than I liked to actually value Tamsin for the good she is.

I still want to know the stories of the other members of the group, especially Pandora’s. This book you can read it as a standalone but I encourage you to start with the first one of the series.

Very entertaining book. Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for providing an advanced reader copy.

This is the story of cheerful Tamsin and brooding Isaac. They are attracted to each other but Isaac doesn't plan to marry. Isaac intervenes to save her from an overzealous suitor and they enter a marriage in name only per Isaac's request.

I liked the first half watching their non-courtship courtship progress but the second half seemed a little rushed. For as convicted as Isaac had been about his reasons for the marriage in name only and avoiding intimacy, he reversed course very quickly without much difficulty. I found it a little unbelievable.

That was actually brutal in the emotional department.

Definitely better than the first part! I just love when the hero thinks that he doesn’t deserve love and it is up to the sunshine heroine to convince him that he is wrong.

It was a perfect mixture between lightness and pain. A must read for every historical romance lover!!!

This is the second book in this series and I have read both. This is a good installment and I really enjoyed Tamsin a lot. Isaac's internal monologue of regret got a bit monotonous, which was the part of the book I liked the least. Other than that, it was a really good story that leads to their HEA. Thank you NetGalley and Darcy Burke for an advanced copy for this honest review.

I would like to thank netgalley and Zealous Quill Press for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

An enjoyable instalment.

Because the Baron Broods is the second book in Darcy Burke’s Rogue Rules series. Tamsin Penrose has grown up largely isolated with her neglectful father in Cornwall so she looks forward to the one month of the year she gets to spend with her friends and grandmother. Generally content with her lot in life, when her father sends a message that he has found a groom for her Tamsin finally starts to think about marriage and a family for herself. Despite being abandoned by her mother at a young age Tamsin has taught herself to always look for the best in everyone and keep a sunny outlook on life. So why is she so drawn to the taciturn, serious but charming Baron who is almost her exact opposite in nature?
Isaac Deverall, Baron Droxford has spent years mired in misery for actions in his youth that he has regretted. He cannot forgive himself and does not feel as though he deserves happiness. So when he meets the perpetually sunny Miss Penrose he is fascinated but wary.
When circumstances force the two into matrimony can Tamsin’s sunshine banish Isaac’s darkness for good?
This is a true opposites attract romance and it is satisfying to see them reach their happy ever after. Tamsin is a lovely character. She has had her share of tragedy and sadness but is always upbeat. She is so understanding of Isaac’s issues [even though she is kept in the dark for the majority of the book] and has the patience of a saint!
Isaac also had a lot of guilt and grief to overcome. He is in essence a very honourable man and finds it difficult to forgive himself for past mistakes. I did understand his actions when he was so young but did feel that if he was so tortured he could have attempted to rectify it when he became a Baron and had a lot more authority rather than just sinking into his broodiness.
This is a real slow burn of a romance – the first kiss was at 70% - but the attraction is evident from the start and when it does get steamy it gets very steamy! I liked that the character development was for both Isaac and Tamsin. Tamsin realises that she uses her positivity to sometimes deny or brush away all negativity instead of facing issues and Isaac realises that he cannot live in the past forever.
I received an advance review copy from Netgalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

I find it interesting that the "rogue" for the second book in the series wasn't really a rogue at all. He may have had a pretty big regret from his youth, but he lived the with the guilt and shame from that mistake for nearly a decade. And even in that mistake he didn't engage in the relationship just for fun, he did really care for the woman. And, although their relationship would have made for its own romantic story, during the time in which this takes place it just wouldn't have happened. That's actually a pretty brave stance for an author to take because it goes against the often-used "love crosses classes" types of stories we want to believe in. As for the romance here between Isaac and Tamsin, it's a pretty good one. Both characters have substance to them and they do make for a great opposites attract story. It was interesting that they had somewhat similar upbringings - fathers who left much to be desired in the parenting department - but completely different reactions to those upbringings. Tamsin tries to look for the positives the world has to offer while Isaac first sought out affection/love and then retreated into himself when that fell apart. It was nice to have all the characters together at the beginning as Isaac and Tamsin were establishing their initial friendship and attraction. I liked the simplicity of how they came to be together as well. They actually spent time together and learned about one another. There was an attraction, but that was really secondary to them developing true feelings for one another. There's a little bit of redemption for Tamsin's father which was kind of nice. Although the early days of their marriage were a bit rocky, it was a very believable storyline based on who these characters were and what they had each gone through in their lives. For fans of other Darcy Burke projects, there's also a fun little reference to the Marrywell books.

Grumpy baron Isaac meets sunshine cousin of a viscount Tamsin on the annual trip to a seaside town. They’re total opposites, but still drawn to each other, and no one in their friend circle seems to understand the connection. Isaac is mostly grumpy and serious because a youthful indiscretion left him feeling guilty and ashamed of his actions. Tamsin is just trying to stay happy and optimistic despite her aloof father and a mother who abandoned their family. They somehow end up getting engaged because a busybody lady catches him defending her from an over-persistent suitor. And then they go through with the arrangement even though Isaac insists on keeping his emotional distance from Tamsin. It takes a lot of persistence and kindness on Tamsin’s part to get Isaac to open up to her and to the possibility of happiness.

Broody Baron Droxford, a man with a hidden past, finds himself captivated by the radiant Tamsin. When a domineering suitor threatens her, Droxford steps in, igniting a scandalous connection. Bound together, they must navigate their contrasting backgrounds to find love. Will their pasts destroy their chance at happiness?

I love Tamsin’s optimism and her openness to new experiences. Droxford is haunted by trauma, and she’s patient with his difficulties. His internal struggles make up most of the obstacles in the book.

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

A little broody-sunshine. I've found myself a new author! This book was a lovely relaxing read for the weekend. The characters are well developed and the relationship seemed to play out naturally. I haven't read the first book in the series, but I'll be circling back to do it now. I'm nearly certain that reading out of order didn't effect my experience.

I'm really enjoying this series about two groups of friends. This can be read as a stand alone though. I really enjoyed Tamsin's optimism and always trying to see the best even when her father treats her pretty badly. I was a bit sad about how Isaac's story played out, I kept having to remind myself he was a teenager when it happened. What I really liked was that he didn't just fall in love and everything was all OK, he still feels deeply about his past but he is trying to work for his future. Really enjoyed the book and can't wait to read the next one.

A wonderful book!

The characters are the stars here. The author really knows how to develop characters and make them feel like real people. I felt the romance was also realistic. It was lovely seeing these opposites get together.

Can’t wait for book three! It sounds so good.

Spicy as always - the Heroine is relatable and the Hero charms. Classic Darcy Burke fun and fire. Liked the rake to romance transformation.

Because the Baron Broods is the second book in the Rogues Rules series of interconnected regency romances. Miss Tamsin Penrose, accustomed to her secluded life in Cornwall, is surprised when her reclusive father arranges a betrothal for her. Meanwhile, brooding Isaac Deverell, Baron Droxford, encounters Tamsin during his annual seaside retreat and is captivated by her cheerful personality. Droxford is hiding a dark secret from his past, but can he overcome his past and Tamsin's suitor to be with her?

Although this is the second book in the series, I hadn't read the first book and I don't think I was missing any context. This book does a really good job of naturally summarising the events of If the Duke Dares, and providing all the information you need for this book so it worked well as either a good standalone or as a good entry point to the series.

I enjoyed Tamsin and Droxford's relationship, and how she was able to read his emotions and help him, which only increased their connection. However, I don't like miscommunication very much in my romances, or keeping secrets outside of an enemies-to-lovers romance, so I spent a lot of the book hoping Droxford would just tell Tamsin about his past. His change of heart was rather abrupt as well.

The beauty of a series of interconnected standalones is that every book is unique and its success depends on the main characters of that book and the specific plot. I really enjoyed the writing of this book and the interesting side characters who will be main characters in later books. I'm really excited to read the next in the series as I like Gwen as a character and the blurb looks really interesting so I can't wait to read more in this series.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC from NetGalley but this is my voluntary and honest review.

"Because the Baron Broods" by Darcy Burke stands as the second installment in her captivating Rogue Rules series, which centers around a group of close friends. I find such series particularly delightful, having thoroughly enjoyed both books thus far and eagerly anticipating more. Burke's skillful character development allows readers to deeply empathize with their emotions and motivations, immersing them in the story's world.

The narrative introduces us to Tamsin Penrose, a beacon of cheerfulness, who crosses paths with the reserved and introspective Baron Droxford, Isaac Deverell. While Tamsin eagerly anticipates her annual seaside retreat with her closest companions in their quiet town, Isaac prefers solitude and work over socializing, often retreating home after a few days.

Isaac's somber demeanor is rooted in a past trauma that remains concealed, known only to his closest confidant. Despite his reluctance towards love and marriage, Tamsin's sunny disposition captivates him. However, a misunderstanding leads to a hasty announcement of their impending marriage before they can explore the potential of their relationship.

Burke masterfully portrays the complexities of Tamsin and Isaac, shedding light on their respective struggles and familial dynamics. Their journey from friendship to love is portrayed with sweetness, poignancy, and passion.

For enthusiasts of Regency romance, I wholeheartedly recommend this book. It offers a delightful blend of compelling characters, camaraderie, introspection, personal growth, and of course, romance and ardor.

Full disclosure: I received an advance review copy free of charge, and this review reflects my genuine thoughts and opinions.