Blog Tour ~ If the Duke Dares - Rogue Rules by Darcy Burke

 IF THE DUKE DARES

by Darcy Burke 

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GENRE:  Regency Historical Romance 

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BLURB:

Incorrigible flirt Acton Loxley, Duke of Wellesbourne is in need of a duchess. En route to greet a potential bride, he encounters a most intriguing and captivating widow who completely distracts him from his task. However, she disappears before he can deepen their acquaintance. Acton begrudgingly goes to meet his bride, unaware she and the widow are one and the same.

 

When Persephone Barclay’s younger sister is compromised, Persephone must wed before the scandal spreads. Her parents scramble to present her to the Duke of Wellesbourne; except he’s precisely the kind of rogue she has now vowed to avoid. Taking flight to avoid a match, Persephone runs straight into her would-be betrothed and pretends to be someone else. But dash it all, the duke proves to be irresistibly charming! If she remains in his company, she’ll end up in the wicked scoundrel’s clutches.

 

Even worse, her second attempt at escape lands her in increasingly poor circumstances. With nowhere to turn and her safety at risk, she may have to accept help from the one man who threatens her resolve—and her reputation.

 

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EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT

“I am not leaving you alone. What sort of cad do you take me for?” She shot him a look of wry surprise, and he nearly laughed. “Don’t answer that, for I already know: an exceptional one. Still, I am the cad who is watching over you until you return home. Won’t it be easier if we just become friends?”

She stared at him. “A young lady cannot be friends with a known rake.”

 

“We can out here on the edge of England, where it’s unlikely anyone knows who we are.”

 

“You think because you called yourself ‘Mr. Loxley’ that no one will realize who you are? Especially since you used your real name over at the New Inn?”

 

“No one from the New Inn is going to speak to anyone here and vice versa.” Except the stable master at the New Inn knew he was lodging here because Acton’s horse was there. Damn. Still, it probably didn’t matter.

 

Probably.

 

She leaned back in her chair and studied him a moment. “I don’t understand your motivation here. A rake suddenly behaving like a gallant knight?”

 

“I am a duke,” he managed to whisper the last word. “It is my duty to care for those—” He stopped himself before he said beneath him. Good God, he sounded pompous. And privileged, just how she’d described a rogue. Honestly, he reminded himself of his father. Had he been a rogue? Most probably. “To care for others. Besides, you aren’t a stranger—our mothers are dear friends.”

 

Her nostrils had flared when he’d abruptly cut himself off. “So, you feel beholden?”

 

“Must you take everything and turn it into a negative?” He immediately wished he could take that back. Given what he knew of her parents, negative might be the norm for her. “My apologies. I can’t begin to know what has brought you to this point where you feel as if you’ve no choice but to run into danger.”

 

“You really think my behavior is dangerous?”

 

“It certainly isn’t safe, not for a young lady.”

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links: 

Darcy Burke is the USA Today Bestselling Author of over sixty captivating, compelling historical and contemporary romance. Darcy wrote her first book at age 11, a happily ever after about a swan addicted to magic and the female swan who loved him, with exceedingly poor illustrations. Her novels have been translated into five languages and are also available as audio books. Join her Reader Club at https://www.darcyburke.com/join.

 

A native Oregonian, Darcy lives on the edge of wine country with her guitar-strumming, teacher husband, artist daughter, and writer (yes!) son. They’re a crazy cat family with two Bengal cats, a small, fame-seeking cat named after a fruit, a rescue Maine Coon with attitude to spare, an adorable former stray who wandered onto their deck and into their hearts, and two bonded boys who used to belong to (separate) neighbors but chose them instead. You can find Darcy in her comfy writing chair, folding laundry (which she loves), or enjoying game night with the family. Visit Darcy online at http://www.darcyburke.com and follow her social media: Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/darcyburkefans, Instagram at http://www.instagram/darcyburkeauthor, and Pinterest at http://www.pinterest.com/darcyburkewrite.

 

If the Duke Dares website link: https://geni.us/IftheDukeDares

 

If the Duke Dares buy links

 

Amazon: https://geni.us/IftheDukeDares-Amz

Apple: https://geni.us/IftheDukeDares-App

Barnes & Noble: https://geni.us/IftheDukeDares-BN

Google Play: https://geni.us/IftheDukeDares-GP

Kobo: https://geni.us/IftheDukeDares-Kobo

 

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GIVEAWAY:

Darcy Burke will award a $25 Amazon/BN GC + swag to a randomly drawn winner (swag US/Canada only)

 

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