Book Review: Improper by Darcy Burke

The Phoenix Club Book 1

"Darcy Burke delivers sensual historical romance infused with charm, wit, intriguing characters and the kind of period details that make the stories come alive." -New York Times Bestselling author Amanda Quick

Society’s most exclusive invitation...

Welcome to the Phoenix Club, where London’s most audacious, disreputable, and intriguing ladies and gentlemen find scandal, redemption, and second chances.

Dissolute rogue Tobias Powell, Earl of Overton, has just inherited a sheltered, proper young ward for whom he must find a husband. And that is only the start of his problems. His father’s will demands Tobias marry within the next six weeks, or he’ll lose his mother’s house, a treasure so dear that Tobias can’t consider defeat. Surely he can rehabilitate his scandalous reputation, secure a match for his ward, and find the sophisticated woman of his dreams before it’s too late. Except his ward is a hellion who cannot behave. She can, however, make him laugh.

Provincial Miss Fiona Wingate is eager to swap her boring small town for an exciting London Season. Until she realizes her new guardian, a dashing earl, plans for her to wed with the utmost haste. Fiona has no interest in marriage—she’s only just been liberated from her lifelong isolation! But when she causes a near scandal and Tobias comes to the rescue, an unexpected attraction sparks between them. Except romance between a guardian and his ward would be most improper…

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My Review:

I was instantly enchanted with the idea of The Phoenix Club: “where London’s most audacious, disreputable, and intriguing ladies and gentlemen find scandal, redemption, and second chances”. And after meeting the founding members, I was equally enchanted with them and learning their stories. We start with Tobias, who’s still fighting his father’s control, even beyond the grave. Fiona was and wasn’t what I was expecting. She has the wide-eyed innocence of a country miss but she somehow developed her own opinions and a spine of tempered steel. They made an excellent pairing together, pushing one another to be better people. Even daring Society to be better. There are lots of sparks between them; all that pushing and daring often didn’t go easily. I imagine I can see so many of the possibilities this series is opening up and I can’t wait to read more about them.

I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book through NetGalley.

Other books in the series

Invitation (The Phoenix Club #0.5)