Thank you, NetGalley for this. I love curling up with a "bodice ripper" just like anyone else. And while I did enjoy this book, it was REALLY hard for me to connect with the main character and therefore sympathize with her struggles or any challenge she meets. There was the feeling that with this book, I was told things rather than shown them throughout the writing.

Just no. This book made me cringe. I had to stop reading at 40%. I knew it would not get better and my sanity was worth more than finishing this book.

Thank you NetGalley. I love Darcy Burke books. Sabrina arrives in London from their country estate without notice. Constantine is surprised to see her. She tells him she is there to produce an heir. She will stay until she is pregnant and then go back to the country. Constantine begins to court her as he realizes they have never gotten to know each other. His brother offers her a membership in the Phoenix Club. Con does not have that and becomes somewhat jealous. Can they see their way through the ups and downs of this late courtship? Love and opening up to each other will help a bunch.

While I liked quite a few aspects of the book I did not like that a majority of the relationship issues come from the two not talking to each other, it probably would have been a less complicated relationship if they had had a screaming match. The club activities to help seduce her husband were just not for me.

What a Enjoyable story! From the first page to the last you will spellbound by Impassioned, second in the series of Phoenix Club series. With the appearances from characters who you found a special place in your heart from the previous novel. Darcy Burke has given readers a book that is well-written and well paced, with flawed characters who manage to grow and yet retain their personalities which captivates you from the beginning until the very end it with great cast of characters that come off the pages and pull you into this emotional ride that keeps you involved until the very end, sizzling passion, heartfelt dialogue, family strife and with an enjoyable plot that brings this read together perfectly!

Okay, first and foremost, this author is one of my favorites, but this book didn’t meet the quota for me. I thought Con and Sabrina’s relationship was truly beyond immature and naive. They not only acted naive but stupid, which I didn’t find amusing. It only began to show its potential from the last couple of chapters.

Sabrina and Constantine, Earl and future Duke, are married but spend no time together. Sabrina prefers the country and Constantine prefers to be in London, attending to his duties at the House of Lords. Then Sabrina shows up in town, unannounced, and has a few demands. She has Constantine wonder who this bold woman is, and he wants to get to know her. 💁🏼‍♀️

This is a really sweet book! Ultimately, they both want something different than what they’ve had in their marriage up to this point. Except neither of them know how to change status quo. With a couple of helpful friends, they start to actually admit to each other that they want a real marriage and partnership.

There are moments when I was so frustrated by them both! They both struggle to communicate what they want to each other. But it’s a very sweet (and a little bit steamy 🔥) seeing them start their real relationship, despite having been married for two years already! 💍

I really enjoyed their dynamic and this story pulled at my heartstrings, wanting them to be brave enough to open up to each other. 💗

If you enjoy regency romances, then I definitely recommend checking this book out!💕

✨Thank you to Netgalley and Zealous Quill Press for a free copy of the ebook. I’m leaving this review because I want to!✨

What a beautiful book about second chances. Sweet story and sweet end. Highly recommended. You will enjoy it.

It was a good book. The author makes the characters come to life. It was a good and fast read.



Thank you Netgalley for giving me an ARC

This book is a bit of a twist on a second chance romance. And since it's common knowledge that I'm a sucker for a second chance, I was invested in this story before it had even started. This couple suffered from a severe lack of communication. It's a novel approach that brings them together, but one that almost backfired. Constantine and Sabrina came so close to breaking my heart. I spent nearly the whole book wanting to hug the pair of them tight, promising that everything would get better. I love a happy ending, and this one made me happier than most.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley.

This book started off a bit slow, and I hated Con in the beginning but as the book evolved into the most beautiful love story between a husband and wife. The author never disappoints
If you love historical romances and love when the hero stands up for his wife you will love this book! I’m excited to read the next one in the series. Cassandra’s story. Is next.
But I hope the author gives Evie a story as well.

This is book 2 of the Phoenix club and is a masterpiece. I love this couple. Our heroine is Sabrina. Poor thing--so she's been married off in the traditional way and basically lives a hermit type existence out in the country. Her hubby, our hero, Constantine, is aloof and lives apart from her except for a couple of get togethers a year. Finally, Sabrina has had enough of this, decides to take her life into her hands, and gets in Constantine's face to demand a child. He agrees to it, but the true story is all of the growth in each of them to find their way to an HEA. Love it!

I loved this story and can't wait to read the rest of the series. Con and Sabrina based their lives on miscommunication. I really didn't like the Duke and how Con let him string him like a puppet. I'm eager to hear more of Lucien and Evie and also Cassandra.

Impassioned is book 2 in Darcy Burke’s “Phoenix Club” series and I enjoyed this story a lot. What do you get when two people are forced to marry, the male with a persona of cold-hearted & dispassionate, the female a walking ball of anxiety who is likely afraid of her own shadow? You get a passionless cold miscommunication mess and that is even before discussing the bedroom action … or lack there of as it is between our two MC in this story. Now these two need to come out of their safe zones and learn to be what the other needs.

This is a fun story about finally learning to be yourself and being strong enough to ask for what you need. It is also a very sexy story and watching these two learn how to please the other made for some hot as hell scenes!

Overall a sexy and fun opposite’s attract versus arranged marriage romance that makes for a fun read!

4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️| 5 Flames 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

The blurb and the beautiful cover gave me very much high hopes for the story, but it did not deliver.

This is a historical romance and it features a married couple, Con and Sabrina. They have been married two years but have only seen each other a few times. They have many many issues, the biggest is communication. In this story Sabrina decides she wants a child and comes to Con and asks him for one. But he knows he scares his wife so its the last thing he wants.

But Sabrina is one tough cookie and with the help of Con's brother and his friend they try to give her confidence and get him to give her a chance for a real marriage.

This was an interesting read. Its a different kind of story than I am used to in reading historicals. At times I skimmed a little because the early part of the story starts out slowly. But as the book picks up, I really enjoyed the story.

Impassioned features an amazing romance with a woman who wants more out of her loveless arranged marriage.

In the two years she has been married, Sabrina Westbrook has barely spoken to her husband. That would require them to actually be in the same house, something they rarely do. But Sabrina wants something more from her marriage which has her traveling to their home in London to make her husband a scandalous proposal. Constantine Westbrook, the Earl of Aldington, has always been charmed by his wife but their marriage got off to a less than stellar start. When his wife appears on his doorstep with a shocking proposition, Con doesn't know what to make of this new version of the woman he married.

As the heir to a dukedom, Con has been raised to always think of his duty first and to avoid anything scandalous. I have to admit, when we first meet Con's character I wasn't too sure about him. He's a bit of a bore who can't stand up to his overbearing father. Throughout the book, he definitely becomes more likeable and more of his own person rather than his father's shadow. Sabrina was an absolute delight from the start. She has crippling anxiety that she is determined to move past and she goes with the fake it until you make it method. I enjoyed watching her expand her horizons and how she was ultimately doing all of it because she wanted to and not for anyone else.

Con and Sabrina's marriage was arranged and due to a miscommunication, Con was under the impression she didn't want to marry him which led to them being pretty much estranged. In reality, Sabrina didn't want to marry anyone but she did actually like Con. When Sabrina first appears in London, it's incredibly apparent that these two don't know how to talk to each other. Ultimately they both get help from Con's younger brother and I enjoyed watching their relationship develop. Despite this being a romance between an already married couple, it's almost like a new romance due to the estrangement. Ultimately I was happy with the way the pair worked out their issues and where their relationship was by the end of the book.

Overall Impassioned was an excellent read and I will definitely be picking up the next book in the series, Intolerable, soon.

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is book 2 in the Phoenix club series. I have to say this one has been my favorite so far. In this one we have Con who has been working hard to impress his father. He married Sabrina then really didn’t have anything else to do with her. Sabrina describes that she has had enough and wants a real marriage. I loved how they learned to love each other such a good read.

This is the second installment of Ms. Burke's The Phoenix Club series. This story is a little bit different than most Regencies in that the hero and heroine are already married. Married, but not in love, in fact they are estranged and living separately. Miscommunication plays a big part in that, but that all begins to change when Sabrina arrives at Constantine's London home and makes it clear that he is to do his duty and get her pregnant. Constantine is shocked, to say the least, as their encounters have always been polite and informal. Despite the outward coolness between them, there is no doubt about the chemistry that they share.
This is a wonderfully written story full of plot twists and misunderstandings. It was great to see the characters find their way back to each and realize how much they really want to be together. I think it was an enjoyable book, and I am looking forward to continuing the series.

I received a complimentary advanced reader's copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

I am loving the idea of the Phoenix Club!

Poor Sabrina and Constantine, both so lost on personal levels. Each with their own anxiety and due to stellar parenting for both (choking on sarcasm), an inability to communicate with the other. Arranged marriages seem to often leave the couple at a definite disadvantage. They don't take time to get to know one another's likes, dislikes, opinions, how tea is taken, just to name a few leaving them virtual strangers once wed. I thought the solutions they were given after approaching Lucien were strokes of genius, if a bit high handed.

As they each gained a better understanding of themselves, they were able to reach out to the other. Yes, misunderstandings were involved, but without them there can't be great epiphanies and grand gestures. I loved seeing Sabrina coming into her own...standing up for herself, asking for what she wants, going toe to toe with her father-in-law and finally her mom. It was beautiful to read.

Disclaimer: I received a complementary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in anyway.