The Duke of Ruin is the eighth instalment in Darcy Burke’s The Untouchables series. I have read one book in this series but it’s not necessary to read them in order. Each stand well on its own.
This book follows directly after the Duke of Ice, which I have not read. The story begins with Simon, the Duke of Romsby, notifying Diana Kingman that her fiancé has jilted her. Faced with a scandal not of her making, Diana seeks to escape London and her brutish father.
Haunted by the death of his wife and unborn child, Simon feels honour bound to help Diana. Faced with threats of kidnapping, Simon cannot bear the thought of more scandal. The two must wed to save each other.
I am a huge Regency fan and it this point I consider myself an expert on the tropes that authors use. When a story involves a Duke, they normally have a dominant personality. While Simon is no shrinking violet, he is not your typical Duke. He is quick to emphasis that Diana is the one in control. He will follow her choices and give her the freedom to decide her own life. An opportunity she has never had.
I am exhausted of all the insta-love romances or stories where the relationship is based on lust that are flooding the market now. In this book Simon and Diana grow fond of one another and start to strongly value each other’s well-being and happiness. While lust is certainly a factor in their relationship, they care for each other first and foremost.
While I would have preferred if the erstwhile fiancé had suffered a little for his careless actions the positives far outweigh the negatives.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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