Never Have I Ever With a Duke (The Spitfire Society #1)

Never Have I Ever is book 1 in the Spitfires Society series by Darcy Burke. I thought this book started off very strong. Graham Kinsley has inherited an insolvent dukedom and he must find a wealthy heiress to rescue him. Arabella Stokes family has been financially devastated as well and she must also find a wealthy man to wed. But when sparks fly between Graham and Arabella what are they to do when being together means they lose everything. The trop of someone needing to be rescued from financial ruin through marriage is common enough and probably very common during this era of history. I liked the character of Graham. But not everything about him made sense. Hes employed himself for years as a trained secretary so managing an estate comes as second nature to him. The underlying mystery to me is why doesnt he just instantly sell his estate Brixton Park? He claims that his attachment is very deep and very personal, but that doesnt make sense when Grahams ancestral line has been ignored for four generations. Another mystery is Grahams relationship with his father. One of the reasons that Graham claims he wants to keep Brixton Park is because his father had cared about it. Sell the one thing Grahams father had cared about the most aside from his late wife and beloved son? But then later in the book we find that his father didnt care enough about Graham to prepare him to take over the bankrupt estate. Granted the villain in the story declares the following so it may not be true, The money is gone. Furthermore, His Grace didnt care. He suspected there would be no return, but as he was not long for this world, he said it would be your problem and he didnt give a fig if you were bankrupted or not. A father who loved his son but at the end of his life didnt care to prepare him for the insolvency of his inherited estate? It didnt make sense.
I liked the various male relationships that Graham has. A number of characters are from Burkes other novels in the Untouchables series: The Duke of Seduction, The Duke of Kisses and The Duke of Distraction. Anthony The Viscount Colton is mentioned briefly in The Duke Distraction but he plays a more prominent role in this book as a friend of Grahams along with the Marquess of Ripley.
As for the romance between Graham and Arabella I felt it was too compressed and quite frankly too modern. There wasnt enough sexual tension building up to the climax of the characters coming together. I felt more could have been done to enhance the relationship and their attraction for one another. There just didnt feel like much depth there. I have enjoyed Burkes Untouchables series immensely. Im afraid this book fell a bit short for me.

Will two persons who have been wronged find a future together or be torn apart forever.

I do love Mrs Darcy Burke writing style, the words flow easily and her characters are always more complex than they appear at first, and they are the kind whom always try to save the day.

Arabella and Graham find themselves sharing the same circumstances, both reaching bankruptcy because of bad investments by their kin. And in London society when reaching destitution, wealthy spouses if often the answer, too bad their attraction can bring nothing to another as they are both in need of money.
Arabella who once loved a man her family considered not worthy of her, has now very few other choices left than find a willing rich husband-to-be, if only it could be the charming new titled Duke of Halstead.
Graham Kinsley inherited unexpectedly a dukedom his family has been banished generations ago. But it is not the prize he could have expected as it is debts ridden. He can only hope the lovely lady who bewitched him is the heiress is seeking after.
So when both learn of their common situation, will their combined efforts be enough to regain their familys loss.
I loved both main characters, they were straightforward and true to themselves, and once their secret was known by the other, they left poise behind and work together, even take risk to protect another. Both will face danger and ruin to save another.
Arabella is not afraid to go for what she wants, even if I find her bit too bold for the period, she is one to be admired for her honesty.
Graham having been a commoner before coming to be titled, is a good man, he assumes his duties probably better than his predecessors and tries to set everything right. And he will without any gratification sacrifices himself if it can save the woman he came to love.

What I do love in Mrs Burkes stories is that not everything resolve in the heroes way, as not everything is black and white.
Now I am very much eager to learn more about Ripley, there is something about him that calls me.

A 4.5 stars read.

I was granted an advance copy by the author but I had previously to It preppy own copy. Here is my true and unbiased opinion.

When Graham Kingsley was secretary to the Earl of St. Ives, he made a good living and was happy. Now he has inherited a title. He is the Duke of Halstead, the impoverished Duke of Halstead. As much as he hates it, he needs to marry for money.

Not long ago, Miss Arabella Stoke was to marry David, Earl of St. Ives. He fell in love with and married another. Arabella holds no grudge because she believes in marrying for love. Unfortunately, her family is in dire straits, and, as much as she hates it, she must marry for money.

Graham and Arabella meet at the home of Phoebe Lennox, a wealthy heiress (just what Graham is looking for), the founder of the Sptifire Society (a group of women who intend to be very independent), and a friend of Arabella. Two things happen when these two meet. One, they discover that their financial problems may have been brought about by the same swindler. Two, even though a match between them seems impossible, they fall in love. Can they find the swindler and recoup the money he cheated them out of? Can they each move aside while the other makes an advantageous match? Quite a dilemma they face. They may need help.

Never Have I Never With a Duke is a wonderful start for a new series. I love Graham and Arabella. They are duty-bound, determined to do what is right for those who depend on them, and absolutely meant for each other. I love the way they put their heads together to solve the swindler puzzle. Now if they can just figure out that happily ever after thing. With a strong cast of secondary characters, friends and family, they might just find a way. Besides the worrisome dilemma, this is a quick and entertaining story, cute and fun. I happily recommend it.

I received an ARC of this book from the author and publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

First in a brand new series, The Spitfire Society
Features Arabella – one failed engagement, needs to marry money to keep her family out of debtors prison, who wants to become part of the ‘Spitfire Society’ of ladies who’ve vowed not to marry, but knows she needs to marry, and Graham – who has just inherited a bankrupt estate and needs to marry an heiress to save the family estate. He’s spent his life as secretary, and appeared in previous book, and never expected to inherit as he was a distant relation, but has to retain the properties as it was his father’s dream.
story builds slowly, and both discover they’ve been duped in an early ponzi/pyramid scheme. There is definite, strong attraction between the two from their first meeting, you know they’ll likely to end up together, but given their issues you can’t see how.
am looking forward to how this series develops

Isabella and Graham are both such nice people but they are both broke but too proud to tell anyone and need to marry immediately to save their family and property. After meeting accidentally in the park they decide to help each other to recover their money which has been taken by a swindler. Unfortunately they get distracted by their attraction to each other and not just by kisses!.
This book is amusing and you get to meet some interesting characters along the way .and eventually love wins.

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