Another Duke in the series and just as entertaining as the others. We have Sarah and Felix's books and I hope you have been following series to know who these two are and also because some of the characters of the previous books were included. Sarah has known Felix all her life since he was her brothers best friend. Sarah's parents were on a mission to get her married and ended up humiliating her in front of Felix by asking him to marry her, yeah a little out there he was against it since he is never going to marry even though you would think he would need an heir but he has a cousin that he plans to pass that off to. Sarah would like to get married but only for love and she already has plans to support herself in the even that she does not find herself a love, however tragedy strikes having her and Felix closer than ever and dealing with feelings that they never had before..Now we need Anthony's story. Sarah did frustrate me at times...

Rcvd an ARC at no cost to author..(netgalley) voluntarily reviewed with my own thoughts and opinion ( )

dustraction ( )

Hats, events and love!

I must admit to finding the Duke of Distraction sort of distracting. How can such a seemingly strong storyline become less?
I applauded Sarah Colton's desire to setup her own millenary establishment as a safeguard for her future if she remained a spinster. I was appalled by her willingness to give up not only her dream, but the promises she'd made to a milliner's assistant. Sadly lacking sense of loyalty here. (Oh wait, I don't really need a job not like the assistant milliner I was about to poach!)
But the games Sarah played with Felix Havers, Earl of Ware, who has "vowed never to love", her seduction of him, was just a bit too over the top for me.
Mind you she is fighting the curse for all young women of the period (a least in many romance novels) of having her parents decide whom she would marry within a set timeline. So what's a girl to do?
Felix, with all his deeply hidden hangups, is endearing and he brightened up the way. Thankfully Sarah's noted hat design gift is given a nod. That pleased me.
Presenting all the cast for a final curtain call was not really necessary, but hey, on the other hand, why not?

A NetGalley ARC ( )

The Duke of Distraction by Darcy Burke
The Untouchables # 12

Friends to lovers and falling for the sister of one’s best friend are the tropes this book centers on with Sarah Colton being pressed by her parents to find a husband “or else” they will and her brother’s best friend, Felix Havers, Earl of Ware, offering to find her a man she would be able to fall in love with. Little did they realize at the beginning of this book that their friendship could lead to so much more. With Sarah wanting to marry for love and Felix never wanting to marry at all it took them some time to find their HEA but it was fun watching their relationship progress.

This story had horse races, friendship, a house party, kissing games, couples from previous books, a woman who knew what she wanted, a man who thought he knew what he didn’t want, horrible relatives, expectations, dreams, grief, loss and a whole lot more. The writing and plotting was well done and the story flowed smoothly.

I enjoyed the story and hope to go back and read the first four books in the series at some point in the future. I am eager to see what the author will write next as I see there is a new series in the making.

Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.

3-4 Stars ( )

Count on Burke to break a heart as only she can. Just when you think the pain is too much, she gives a reason to smile again. Embittered by love, Felix and Sarah are about to discover that no one is immune to it's power. Although not as passionate as some of the previous books in the series, The Duke of Distraction proves it can definitely hold it's own. Sarah and Felix have a romance that was years in the making and their hearts have decided to finally take flight. Can they friendship survive the obstacles that stand in the way? This couple will get under the skin before they steal your heart. What started as slow is destined to leave a lasting impression. ( )