This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Darcy Burke will award a $25 Amazon/BN GC + swag to a randomly drawn winner (swag US/Canada only). Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Incorrigible flirt Acton Loxley, Duke of Wellesbourne is in need of a duchess. En route to greet a potential bride, he encounters a most intriguing and captivating widow who completely distracts him from his task. However, she disappears before he can deepen their acquaintance. Acton begrudgingly goes to meet his bride, unaware she and the widow are one and the same.

When Persephone Barclay’s younger sister is compromised, Persephone must wed before the scandal spreads. Her parents scramble to present her to the Duke of Wellesbourne; except he’s precisely the kind of rogue she has now vowed to avoid. Taking flight to avoid a match, Persephone runs straight into her would-be betrothed and pretends to be someone else. But dash it all, the duke proves to be irresistibly charming! If she remains in his company, she’ll end up in the wicked scoundrel’s clutches.

Even worse, her second attempt at escape lands her in increasingly poor circumstances. With nowhere to turn and her safety at risk, she may have to accept help from the one man who threatens her resolve—and her reputation.

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She gave him a dubious look as she plucked up her glass and gently tapped it to his. “Friends? It’s a trifle early to make such pronouncements, isn’t it? Perhaps we won’t get on at all.”

Acton laughed before sipping his Madeira. “I’m confident we shall.” He gave her one of his most dazzling smiles. “So confident, in fact, that I’d make a wager on it.”

She arched a brow. “How would that work?”

“I’ll wager a pound that by the end of the evening, we’ll be laughing and jesting so much that our cheeks hurt. That will mean we are friends.”

“A pound?” she looked at him as if he were daft.

Acton realized that was excessive. “A shilling?”

She shook her head. “No wagers.”

Was that because she didn’t like to gamble, or because she couldn’t afford it? Acton took in her simple costume, a dark brown traveling dress buttoned to her throat, and her lack of adornment. She wore no jewelry, not even a comb in her hair. No wedding ring either. Didn’t widows typically wear those?

“Who awaits you at home?” she asked. “Your wife?” There was an edge to the question, as if she expected an affirmative answer and had therefore judged him a cheat.

Acton swallowed a bite of roast beef and took a drink of wine to wash it down. “She might be, actually. Not that she’s my wife. Yet. I’m to meet someone to see if we will suit.”

About the Author:Darcy Burke is the USA Today Bestselling Author of over sixty captivating, compelling historical and contemporary romance. Darcy wrote her first book at age 11, a happily ever after about a swan addicted to magic and the female swan who loved him, with exceedingly poor illustrations. Her novels have been translated into five languages and are also available as audio books. Join her Reader Club at https://www.darcyburke.com/join.

A native Oregonian, Darcy lives on the edge of wine country with her guitar-strumming, teacher husband, artist daughter, and writer (yes!) son. They’re a crazy cat family with two Bengal cats, a small, fame-seeking cat named after a fruit, a rescue Maine Coon with attitude to spare, an adorable former stray who wandered onto their deck and into their hearts, and two bonded boys who used to belong to (separate) neighbors but chose them instead. You can find Darcy in her comfy writing chair, folding laundry (which she loves), or enjoying game night with the family.

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This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Darcy Burke will be awarding the first two books in the Wicked Dukes Club series (One Night for Seduction and One Night of Surrender) – US winner’s choice of ebook or print, and international winner ebook only, to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Benjamin Nash, Marquess of Creslow, must marry, for he is the last of the family line. Desirous of a business arrangement instead of a love match, he hires a matchmaker, but on the way to the May Day festival where he will meet her, as well as his matches, he encounters an alluring lady who may suit him perfectly…

After her husband’s death left her a pauper, Rebecca Sweet relied on family for help and in return guided two of them to successful marriages. Engaged with her first real client, she plans to present him a gaggle of young ladies eager to wed. But when she realizes the marquess is the same dashing gentleman she met on the way to the festival, the task becomes far more complicated. Attraction simmers between them, however Nash wants a loveless marriage and Rebecca would only wed again for love. She must find him a bride before she loses her heart forever.

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Rebecca didn’t want his concern. She didn’t deserve it, especially about this. “Our relationship must remain professional.”

“There is nothing saying so.” Edging closer, the marquess lifted his hand as if he meant to touch her. Rebecca recoiled.

“Please don’t. There can’t be a repeat of what happened at Clipstone Hedge. This is a business arrangement. I can’t help you find a bride if you’re going to flirt with me or send me seductive glances or even if you try to comfort me. Anyway, I’m fine. In fact, I’d appreciate if you could keep your nose out of my personal affairs.”

He exhaled. “All right. I would like to make one final comment about that evening, if I may. No, I’m going to do it anyway.” His gaze locked with hers, and he spoke in a soft, sensual tone that stirred a keen yearning inside her. “I regret not spending the night with you. I do hope you’ll find someone else to finish what we started—you deserve that after the husband you had.”

“You shouldn’t say such things.” Now she wanted to be proper? After what she’d allowed him to do to her in that library? Her body heated.

“I will still hope we can be friends,” he said with a faint smile. “When you find me a bride, perhaps I can repay the favor by finding you a lover.”

Her breath caught when he spoke that last word. Willing her ardor to cool, she lifted her chin. “I expect payment for my services, not a trade of favors.”

He chuckled, his eyes sparkling in the afternoon sun. “Fair enough. I’d still be glad to help—in any way you deem necessary. For you see, Mrs. Sweet, whether you like it or not, I think we are friends. Only a friend will be able to ensure I don’t choose a poor marchioness.”

About the Author:USA Today Bestselling Author Darcy Burke loves history, her family, and cats (not in that order). She’s published over fifty captivating, compelling historical and contemporary romance novels and novellas. It all started with The Magic Swan when she was 11 years old, a happily ever after about a swan addicted to magic and the female swan who loved him—with exceedingly poor illustrations. She still has plenty of ideas and writes (it seems) constantly in between hanging with her family, playing games, listening to the Dave Matthews Band, bingeing period TV shows, and chilling with her seven rescue cats. Join her Reader’s Club.

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Darcy Burke will be awarding an ebook copy of book 1 of the Phoenix Club series, IMPROPER, to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

If Bennet St. James, the Viscount Glastonbury, doesn’t find a bride with a sizeable dowry, he’ll be in the poorhouse along with his interminable number of female relatives—all of whom he loves but are a drain on the negative fortune his father left when he died of a broken pocketbook. Desperate, he hatches a scheme to snare an heiress only to be foiled by a most vexing and alluring—and unfortunately equally destitute—paid companion.

Lady’s companion Prudence Lancaster is single-minded about finding her mother and filling in the missing pieces of her life. But a villainous viscount interrupts her plans, and his surprising charm and understanding tempts her in the most indecent ways. Soon, she’s dreaming of the future instead of wallowing in the past.

But when Bennet shares a dark secret, her hopes are dashed. For he won’t break the promise he made to his family, even if it means losing the greatest love he’s ever known.

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“You didn’t have a good relationship with your father?” she asked.

His jaw tightened. “It was difficult. He was difficult. His legacy includes insurmountable debt, an estate in disarray, and other…things.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. It doesn’t seem you’re having much success with your efforts at fixing whatever he did.”

“Yes, thank you for that,” he said with as much sarcasm as she’d done earlier.

They glowered at each other over the table, each sipping their drink. Prudence hadn’t meant to prick his ire. She was too caught up in her own irritation. This was why emotions were to be avoided.

“My goodness, but the love between you is evident to any observer,” Mrs. Logan, who’d somehow arrived at the table noiselessly, remarked. She beamed at them as she set down a basket of rolls as well as plates before each of them. “How lovely. I’ll be back with some ham.”

As she hurried off, Prudence arched a brow. “Evident,” she remarked softly.

“Evidently.” He smirked. “You are correct about everything. I am despicable, and it was a horrible plan.”

About the Author:

Darcy Burke is the USA Today Bestselling Author of sexy, emotional historical and contemporary romance. Darcy wrote her first book at age 11, a happily ever after about a swan addicted to magic and the female swan who loved him, with exceedingly poor illustrations.

A native Oregonian, Darcy lives on the edge of wine country with her guitar-strumming husband, artist daughter, and imaginative son who will almost certainly out-write her one day (that may be tomorrow).

They’re a crazy cat family with two Bengal cats, a small, fame-seeking cat named after a fruit, an older rescue Maine Coon with attitude to spare, and a collection of neighbor cats who hang out on the deck and occasionally venture inside. You can find Darcy at a winery, in her comfy writing chair, or binge-watching TV with the family.

Her happy places are Disneyland, Labor Day weekend at the Gorge, Denmark, and anywhere in the UK—so long as her family is there too.

Buy the book at Amazon.

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