The Wicked Dukes Club series is a collaboration by Erica Ridley and Darcy Burke and you get the best of both writers. Each book is a standalone with an HEA but I would recommend reading them in order to get the very best out of them.

One Night of Surrender centres on the Duke of Eastleigh, Valentine Fairfax, co-owner of the Wicked Duke pub. Val is really kind hearted and offers his residence to Lord Barclay and his family as their London residence is being refurbished. As they move in Val meets his long time acquaintance from his days at Oxford, Isabelle Cortland, who is now the governess to Barclay’s daughters.

Isabelle is a widow and has been left penniless by her gambling husband. Val is also a widow and has always held strong feelings for Isabelle. Together they learn to love and trust again.

It is a great story with well-developed characters, great banter and plenty of romance.

I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review. All views are my own.

The Wicked Dukes Club collaboration series by Erica Ridley and Darcy Burke is a great idea with two amazing writers! As second in the series, but the first for Ms. Burke, One Night of Surrender is the other half of co-owner of the Club, The Duke of Eastleigh, Valentine Fairfax. Val has a generous hearts and offers his bachelor residence to a friend, Lord Barclay, and his family to share while their own London home is being prepared. Almost immediately, Val re-meets a former friend and lover, Isabelle Cortland, who is now governess to Barclay’s daughters.

Isabelle and Val had been close while he was a student at Oxford and she lived with her father there. They both tried not to let others know of their previous connection, but they still had such strong feelings for each other, it was more than just a little difficult. Through the course of the story, Isabelle, is dismissed from service to the Barclay children. Val takes her to his grandmother and sister’s home to stay while she is deciding what to do.

I love the way he bungled his marriage proposal and walked away alone. So like a guy to not get it. Both of them had married during the ten years apart. Both had determined never to marry again. But, the best laid plans . . .

I already love this series and the way Ridley and Burke had each put their distinctive styles together to keep us entertained.

What a sweet story! I love this series "The Wicked Dukes" it's like being there during the regency amongst the genteel peerage. I sometimes wish I was born during the Victorian era, reading these books somehow feels like I'm actually there, interacting with characters. I'm looking forward to the next series.

Isabelle and Val’s story of a love that lasted through the years. The characters were strong, I especially liked the independence of the women in the story. Can’t wait to read the next in the series! I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the next novel in the Wicked Duke series. One of the founders, Valentine Fairfax, Duke of Eastleigh, has his tale of romance, though his love in from 10 years ago, the one who got away. Isabelle Cortland met Val 10 years ago. Through their encounters, they had a passionate night together before going their separate ways. They meet again, both different from that time, but yet still have the passion and desire to be with the other. Isabelle enjoys her independence, has no desire to be a mistress, and wants to run her own school. Dreams have a way a changing though when new opportunities arise. Val had a disastrous marriage, with no desire to wed again, yet he is still kind and compassionate, willing to help others. As Val and Isabelle reconnect, the begin to see that the love they felt for the other never disappeared, even if they did not realize it at the time. Will their past experiences, which shaped them as they are now, impact them from the future they could have together?

I received an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

Fairly short novel, not much room for character or narrative development but is sweet and sexy romp. Perfect escapism. 3.5 rounded up

This is the second in a series with Erica Ridley and Darcy Burke called Wicked Duke's Club. I've read the first by Ms. Ridley and enjoyed it and Ms. Burke's story is very entertaining as well. This is a second chance romance which i usually don't care for but something about the heroine/hero made this one believable and quite good. Each book is a standalone with an HEA and a story that makes sense on it's own. I have enjoyed both these books so far and plan to read the others. These are full length, but don't seem to drag on and on like some do with needless filler. These books tell a story with some angst, romance and history. I recommend them all.

I was given an ARC in exchange for my opinion. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a good love story but doesn't want to feel like it takes way too long to read it or you can't stay interested. This is interesting.

Darcy Burke hits it out of the park again! I love her writing and her series and this one does not disappoint! Another great historical romance. Thank you for the ARC!

Well-educated governess Isabelle Cortland thought never to again lay eyes on Valentine Fairfax, the Duke of Eastleigh, after they shared a night of passion 10 years ago during Val's days at Oxford, where Isabelle's father was a warden. Now she and her charges and employer are guests in Eastleigh's London townhouse for a fortnight during which she hopes to avoid him. Isabelle has long dreamed of opening a school for girls and she can't risk her reputation now, not even for the man she's never forgotten.

After wading through a terrible marriage with a wife who wasn't faithful to him, Val has been wary of the temptations of women. He won't risk love again and yet when the woman he's never gotten over turns up in his house it seems like a gift and he doesn't want to squander it. Things have always been different with Isabelle and if there's a chance for them to make each other happy, maybe they should take it. They both just have to decide to take that risk.

I usually have mixed feelings about second chance romances because I just wind up feeling sad about all the wasted time they could've been together and weren't. These two loved each other since they first met but it took them ten years and much heartbreak to realize it and I think that made the timing work. When they were reunited, it rapidly became apparent to both of them that they couldn't be apart again and that was lovely. They were both vulnerable and both took a chance on risking their hearts anyway and questioning what they thought their dreams were.

We're introduced to a couple more characters in this one that I think we'll be seeing later on in the series and I can't wait. I loved this one and I think we're off to a great start so far.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Isabelle seems to be having a hard time in her life. The hits keep coming. Val tries to help her, but some of the times he causes more problems. One Night of Surrender, was fun to read.

4.5☆
Loved it!
Darcy Burke is one of my go-to authors.

What I liked:
The writing style
The characters
Part of a series: Wicked Dukes Club
Standalone
HEA
Epilogue

I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

I believe this is one of the most romantic stories I have read in a long time. Val and Isabelle are great characters who want to reach out (although Val has a harder time) and just do not know where they want their relationship to go. Val is a darling and we could all do with someone wanting to take care of us without the stipulation of a return favor. I was blown away by how much emotion was present in this short story. Lovely.