Dramatic, traumatic and romantic collide in an emotional tale of soul searching and second chances. The Duke of Ice is about facing fears and owning up to mistakes. Life's greatest fear is of the unknown. Things we can't control, but always weigh on our minds. Ms. Burke always creates great characters, but for me Nick proved to be breathtaking. The tortured soul with so much love to give, but a ton of guilt to bear. My heart broke for him. Love should be a beautiful adventure, but for him it seemed to be the beginning of something much darker. A lifetime of pain. Violet was the light at the end of the tunnel. She was the key to a mystery years in the making. All he has to do is trust his heart and open his soul. Darcy Burke went in an unexpected direction, but delivered one of her most human tales to date. Violet and Nick will leave readers breathless. ( )

Oh, goodness.

I was torn throughout this book with wanting to hug Nick (which of course he wouldn't allow anyway) and wanting to hit him upside the head. He is tortured and gloomy and all that one could hope for in an angsty hero, but ohmygosh man, it's not all about you! The whole "I'm cursed, therefore everyone I live will die" attitude seemed a bit immature for someone of his age and experience. And then when he almost does what he decides to do toward the end? Even knowing this is a romance and he couldn't possibly do that I was almost in tears. Poor Violet! Fortunately he has a true friend in Simon ( The Duke of Ruin ) who manages to pull his head out of his arse in time. Even more fortunately, Nick does a fantastic grovel.

As he should!

The Duke of Ice definitely had me turning the pages, anxious to find out how Nick and Violet would get to their HEA--even when I was frustrated with what they were doing, I couldn't stop reading. Ms. Burke sets up the next book nicely (just what are Diana and Simon doing???) and it seems that the other two debutantes Violet encounters at the house party are also being set up for future series heroines, which gives us much to look forward to. Though this one is the seventh in the series, it would work just fine as a standalone since there is very little (if any?) past series characters or stories here.

Rating: 4 stars / B+

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. ( )

The Duke of Ice by Darcy Burke
The Untouchables #7

Young love thwarted
Second chance given
Will it be taken or squandered?

Eight years before this book begins Nick and Violet met and fell in love. With his prospects only being a mister without a title, well, Violet’s parents whisked her away to marry another – and she let them. So, when the two meet at the house party they do know one another but neither is the young, hopeful, easy person they once were. There is attraction. There is conversation and there is a kiss or two shared BUT will there be more?

Nick went to war, lost many of his loved ones and feels “cursed” and unwilling to love again. He is not as easy to approach or as spontaneous or smiling but is his old warm self really gone forever encased in the icy exterior he presents to the world? His friend Simon, Duke of Romsey (or Ruin as some call him) has not given up on him and as a result the two are off to a house party together.

Violet had an unhappy marriage to a man that did not love her and in more than one way abused her. She was happy to be rid of him though unhappy he had to die in order for her to be free. When she sees Nick the feelings of love she never surrendered are reignited and Simon encourages her to try to break through the ice surrounding the man she has continued to love.

The house party has games, events, conversations; young girls on the marriage market, older women that are “mean girls” and the potential for all to get to know one another. The hostess is hopeful that she will be able to provide ‘the’ event that will elevate her social status. The young women and their parents hope for introductions to men that might be suitors of a suitable sort. Nick hopes that rumors about Simon can be squelched and is willing to be there for his friend…just as Simon is there for Nick. After the house party there is a sense of…well…an unsettled sense for both Nick and Violet. Nick is beginning to thaw but has not thawed enough by the end of the party. The two meet again and things improve…until a wrench or two are thrown into the mix and then…misgivings arise and almost thwart true love forever…almost…until good friend Simon arrives to sort of save the day.

At times Nick baffled me. I know he had suffered much but for a smart man he seemed somewhat not-so-smart…or fearful…or…something. Violet seemed to lack the fire to pursue what she really wanted and a bit too accepting of fate. The fact that they found a HEA was satisfying not only to them but to me, too ;)

I am eager to find out what Simon tells Diana and how the two of them manage their HEA and as their story is up next…hope to find out soon!

Thank you to the author who provided me an ARC of this book via NetGalley – This is my honest review.

4 Stars ( )

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley to read in exchange for a fair review. The Duke Of Ice is the 7th book in Darcy Burke’s The Untouchables series. It can be read as a standalone but the series is very enjoyable so I would recommend reading them all. Nicholas Bateman met Miss Violet Caufield in Bath 8 years ago and they fell passionately in love. Her parents however purchased a title for her and quickly married her off to Viscount Pendleton. Now Nick is a Duke a title he never expected to inherit and is known as the Duke of Ice and Violet is widowed after a very unhappy marriage. They meet again at a house party the Nick has been dragged to by his good friend Simon the Duke of Romney aka the Duke of Ruin. Will the two star-crossed lovers be able to overcome their difficult pasts and find love once again? I enjoyed reading this story not just for the romance but also the friendships in the book between the two Dukes and Violet and her friend Hannah the hostess of the house party. Steam level medium high, publishing date December 26, 2017. #TheDukeOfIce ( )