Series: The Phoenix Club #2
Author: Darcy Burke
Published August 24th 2021 by Zealous Quill Press
Goodreads Synopsis
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.
In nearly two years of marriage, Sabrina Westbrook has barely spoken to her husband and shared a bed even less. Both activities would require they actually live together. As it is, the Earl of Aldington attends to his seat in the House of Commons, while she and her crippling social anxiety tend to his country house and gardens.
Their arrangement is quite civilized, and their letters are painfully polite. Their twice-yearly visits are…awkward. But, if Sabrina can muster the necessary courage, all of that is about to change. Starting tonight.
Heir to a dukedom, Constantine Westbrook knows his duty: to country, to family, and to the shy, retiring wife whose beauty stole his breath the moment they met. Whose arousing, enticing body he’s never seen in the light of day. Or any light at all.
However, there’s something different about the woman who shows up in London unannounced. For the first time in their marriage, Sabrina has a request. No, a demand. But wanting and having are two different things. And to give Sabrina her heart’s desire, they’ll both need a few lessons in love…
Goodreads
Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.
For two years, Sabrina Westbrook has been the Countess of Aldington, but she never wanted to marry, and her relationship with her husband, Constantine, is awkward to say the least. But Sabrina is adamant that it is all to change. She wants children, and she's willing to overcome her social anxiety to become the Countess, and future Duchess she needs to be, as well as submitting to her husband's attentions, if there's going to be any children. Constantine Westbrook fell head over heels with Sabrina when they met, but learning that she was forced into the marriage, and how cold she is when they're together, has made him see her less and less. But when Sabrina turns up in London, unannounced, demanding a baby, and so different from the woman he married, Constantine is blown away. Can they reconcile their differences, and fall in love, or is their marriage doomed?
After reading other books by Darcy, I was drawn to this one, and though I liked it, I wasn't completely blown away by it. The characters were okay, but I didn't really like Constantine, or how angry and cold he was. He blamed Sabrina for not wanting to marry, but never spoke to her about it, or about her life with her cruel parents. This book was definitely one where if they had just talked about their issues, everything would've been solved. Sabrina was so much better, and I liked how she was stepping out of her comfort zone, and becoming a new and improved version of herself, but not too different that she lost everything that made her Sabrina. The plot line definitely picked up after the half way point, and by then I was more invested in the plot line. I'm glad I have a copy of the next book, because Constantine's sister, Cassandra, definitely intrigues me.
Dates Read:
November 10-12 2021
Rating
3 Stars
