Title: Since the Marquess Demands
Author: Darcy Burke
Series: Rogue Rules #6
Page Length: 326
Pub. Date: Jan. 29, 2026
Publisher: Zealous Quill Press
Synopsis: Ellis Dangerfield has recently learned her life is a lie. Desperate to start afresh, she applies for a position as secretary to a demanding, widowed marquess. Never mind that she must pose as a man to get the job—Ellis is hiding far worse secrets.
After losing his wife—and, perhaps more gutting, learning of her unfaithfulness—Roman Garrick has sworn off human connection. To avoid his pain, he buries himself in rebuilding his family’s ruined fortunes. When he discovers his brilliant new secretary is actually a woman, he should dismiss her immediately. Instead, he’s captivated.
Faced with an unwanted and dangerous attraction, Roman and Ellis struggle to maintain their professional relationship while also trying to resist their desires. Neither is willing to compromise the vows they’ve made to remain emotionally aloof. But when Ellis reveals the truth of her scandalous parentage and a shocking secret from the past surfaces, their chance at happiness hangs in the balance.
I just adore the Rogue Rules series, and this is a great addition to it. Ellis and Roman have a swoon-worthy love story that begins as Ellis poses as a man to work as a secretary for Roman, a marquess. She never expects to fall for him, but that’s exactly what happens, and I do not blame her one bit. Roman is a fantastic hero! I loved his intelligence, his sense of responsibility, and especially his opinions on women who want careers and purpose beyond marriage. That aspect of his character really stood out to me and made him even more appealing.
Ellis is great too, and so easy to root for. She and Roman both go through a lot of emotional growth over the course of the story, as they face the traumas from their pasts. For Ellis, after learning the truth about her parentage, her entire world is turned upside down. She is shaken and hurt, but she doesn’t give up or fall apart. Instead, she looks for a way forward, even if it means disguising herself as a man to survive and start over. Ellis is capable, smart, and observant, but she also hides a lot of herself, both literally and figuratively.
Of course, I adored the romance between Ellis and Roman. It was so swoon-worthy!! Their growing attraction is filled with longing, temptation, and a lot of restraint, which added so much sexual tension to the story. I loved their connection, their sizzling chemistry, and their shared love of books and literature. Their relationship feels like a partnership, and I love how supportive they are of each other. They seem to understand and accept each other on a deep level that’s even more special considering everything they’ve both been through.
I also really loved Roman’s in-laws. They are so wonderful. Warm, loving, and supportive, they bring a sense of family and comfort that contrasts nicely with how isolated both Roman and Ellis feel at times. There are major found family vibes, and though Ellis feels alone for much of the book, she finds there are many who love and stand by her. The plots involving the publishing house, Roman’s sister-in-law, and the past generation’s mistakes were also intriguing, and it was interesting to see how certain elements of the story connected in unexpected ways. It definitely added more complications to an already complex situation!
Overall, this was such an enjoyable read. It had romance, emotion, secrets, and some great messages about literature, sexism, and more. Darcy Burke remains my most-read historical romance author for a reason, and this book is another reminder of why I love her stories so much!
- bluestocking FMC
- widow MMC
- secret identity
- forced proximity
- family secrets
- found family
Darcy Burke is the USA Today Bestselling Author of sexy, emotional 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. Join her Reader Club at http://www.darcyburke.com/readerclub.
A native Oregonian, Darcy lives on the edge of wine country with her guitar-strumming husband, their two hilarious kids who seem to have inherited the writing gene, two Bengal cats and a third cat named after a fruit. In her “spare” time Darcy is a serial volunteer enrolled in a 12-step program where one learns to say “no,” but she keeps having to start over. Her happy places are Disneyland and Labor Day weekend at the Gorge.
