Their love may change the world, but their secrets could topple a dynasty. More medieval than regency, Captivating the Scoundrel is a fiery read. Burke thrusts readers into an intricately woven tale of drama, mystery and passionate romance. Gideon and Daphne never meant to fall in love. They just couldn't help themselves. I never meant to lose my heart. I just couldn't help myself. Once started, it must be finished. An imaginative adventure. ( )

This was the fourth book in the series but can be read as a standalone since I have not read the previous books. It sucks you in and is an interesting tale, but you have to pay attention from the very beginning so that you do not get lost. Gideon was on an adventure and he wants to fix mistakes he has made and ends up doing that with Daphne, these two had a love hate relationship but I so respected her. She was no pushover and not a nit wit, they were actually perfect for each other..Enjoy!

Rcvd an ARC at no cost to author..(netgalley) Voluntarily reviewed with my own thoughts and opinions. ( )

Legendary Rogues--a Regency era treat!

A dramatic conclusion to the the search for the search for the Thirteen Treasures of the Knights of the Round Table. "items gathered by Arthur and his knights for one of their own—Gareth—so that he could win his bride.”
Gideon Kersey is a direct descendant of Gareth and he has a plan to regain the dagger, one of the treasures, from Timothy Foliot the power behind the shadowy Camelot group, all descendants from Arthur's Knights, who are pursuing the treasures for their own ends.
Gideon and his friends want to reunite all the treasures and take them to safety.
Unfortunately Gideon is drawn into Foliot's plan to marry his daughter to Gideon thus securing the sacred bloodline to Foliot's descendants.
His daughter, Daphne is unaware of her father's obsession and has been pursuing her own studies of Morgan Le Fay and the cloak of invisibility. This is the part that really won me over as Morgan Le Fay or Morgana has always fascinated me and I find Burke's explanation of her role in the Arthurian cycle very pleasing.
Daphne is intelligent, focused and compassionate, also brilliantly sneaky when needed. That she's very attractive and there seems to be a startling alchemy between the two is something that Gideon fights as much as he is able.
Gideon needs the cloak to carry out his plan, and that search is an eye opener.
I found this last in the series a fascinating romp as the intrigue continued, with some very big surprises along the way.
Once again, I winged my way through this entrancing finale to the 'Legendary Rogues' and enjoyed every moment!

A NetGalley ARC ( )

Captivating the Scoundrel by Darcy Burke
Legendary Rogues #4

This is one book I believe would have benefited by my having read the first three books in the series. It was okay without having read them but the references to previous stories, the people in them and the treasures found would have provided more backstory and depth for me while reading this book had I read the others first. That said, this book does tie up the quest to find the thirteen treasures, deals with a secret society and an evil offshoot within the society, has some magic and romance and action aplenty. The romance between the couple is rather pushed by Daphne’s father and she is willing though Gideon is not interested at all...for the most part. There is a happily ever after ending and the bad guy gets his comeuppance with the myth and quest all tied up with a bow. Again, I would recommend reading all of the books in order if you can but this book does give you the gist of the preceding books so you can follow this story fairly well.

Thank you to the author for t he ARC – This is my honest review.

3-4 Stars ( )

This story just sucks you in from the very first word on the very first page and then holds you hostage long after you’ve read the last word. It is an exciting and intricately woven tale of romance, adventure, and mystery. The writing is excellent, the characters are all admirable, and I’m sorry that this is the last book in the series.

The series revolves around the Thirteen Treasures and the people who are seeking them – either to protect the treasures or to control them. These treasures date from the time of King Arthur, Merlin and Morgana and each is enchanted so that only a direct descendant of one of the Knights of the Round Table can wield their power. Each of the previous books dealt with a couple pursuing and finding one of the treasures – and this book deals with what happens with the treasures that have been found and the ones that have not. While you could read this as a standalone book, you would be missing a lot of details that I think are needed to enjoy the story. So, it is my opinion that this series needs to be read in order - besides, they are ALL great books.

Gideon, a direct descendant of one of the Knights of the Round Table, has been featured in the other books as more-or-less a villain. I think you could see his gradual metamorphosis from a staunch supporter of the villain in the series to a staunch opponent in this book. It was lovely to see him grow into his full potential in this story. He had a horrid father (you learn how bad in the previous books) who drove Gideon’s mother away. So, he had to deal with abandonment issues beginning when he was just eight years old. He had a deep, deep resentment of his mother for abandoning him and then his father brainwashed poor Gideon into believing he was just like his father. It took him a long time to realize that he wasn’t like his father and to try to change things. Then, you add in the villain of the series, who saw Gideon’s vulnerability and exploited it and you have a really mixed up young man. So, I have been anxiously awaiting this book to see Gideon in all his glory.

Daphne Foliot is an Arthurian scholar who is obsessed with Morgan le Fey. Daphne’s mother went missing when she was eight, but she was fortunate to have a very loving and supportive father who encouraged her pursuits. She’s small in stature, but large in intellect and chafes at not being allowed to be in the Order of the Round Table secret society to which her father belongs.

Timothy Foliot is Daphne’s father, but he isn’t the man she believes him to be. He’s the leader of an organization called Camelot, who want to find the treasures and use them for their own advantage. The Order of the Round Table want to protect the treasures, but Camelot wants to USE them, and both the treasures and Camelot are very dangerous things! Foliot is a madman, a fanatic, and very cunning.

Gideon Kersey has seen and even participated in some despicable things for the Camelot organization and he’s now seen them, and the leader, for what they are. He has every intention of obtaining the treasures and hiding them from all of mankind – for all time. His relatives, who found the treasures in the earlier books, have given them to Gideon to use as he sees fit in order to protect all of the treasures. It is Gideon’s plan to give those treasures to Foliot in order to gain his trust and then steal them back when he no longer needs Foliot. All Gideon needs to do is to find The Cloak that turns the wearer invisible.

After Gideon gives Foliot The Heart and Dyrnwyn (sword), Foliot informs Gideon that he wants him to marry his daughter. Gideon has no intention of marrying anyone, but he doesn’t dare let Foliot know that.

When Gideon and Daphne meet, there is a definite attraction – but Gideon knows he cannot trust the daughter of his enemy. He wonders if she knows what her father is, but as he gets to know her more, he decides she couldn’t possibly know. He knows that she’ll realize what her father is at some point, and he is really sorry that she’ll have to go through that.

The adventure is off and running for Gideon and Daphne and their journey to love is a really lovely one. They jaunt all over the country, hiding and escaping and fighting their attraction for each other. However, in the end, when a choice has to be made, it was made on the side of love.

I have read all of the books in this series and have loved all of them. That is true of this book as well. I loved catching up with the characters from the previous books and meeting new characters like Gwyneth from Brue Cottage.

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"I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher." ( )