Very well developed characters, lovely developed story. As usual a good book. I read everything by Darcy and it's always amazing.

This is the conclusion of a romance quartet. I had not read the previous three books in this series, though I have read other work by Burke. I can't say that this was a favorite. This book mixes elements of traditional historical romance novels with Arthurian legends and magic, which is apparently real in this world. The plot here took precedence over fully logical character decisions and I did not find the story particularly satisfying in the way of a good romance, or in the way of a good Arthurian fantasy. The whole thing was just awkward.

Although I really enjoyed Darcy Burke's Wicked Dukes, I had a hard time to finish Captivating the scoundrel.
I think this is partly because I didn't realize this was the fourth book of the Legendary Rogues series. Having missed out of the other stories, I had some difficulty to get into the story of the treasures of king Arthur and his knights.
So Gideon's quest felt a bit strange and since I didn't know of Timothy Foliott's past and intentions, the first part of the story was hard to understand. I could relate to Daphne Foliott however. A scholar in her own right,with a quick mind and a sharp wit. So,when Daphne and Gideon start to team up,the story started flowing. And with
some twists and turns, some drama and suspense, the story takes off wonderfully.
So, in all, three out of five stars from me, with a recommendation to read the whole series to better enjoy this one.

Daphne Foliot has always known she’ll be married off to a man who, like her, descended from one of King Arthur’s fabled knights. That doesn’t mean she wants to be, even if it is her beloved father’s wish. Raised without a mother, she owes everything to the man who encouraged and funded her education and supports her dream of becoming the first female member of the Order of the Round Table. But when she suspects her chosen husband is a traitor to the Order, she plans to expose his treachery, regardless of their extraordinary mutual attraction. Heir to the thirteen treasures of Britain, Gideon Kersey vows to do anything to protect his family’s legacy from a secret society bent on exploiting the items for personal gain, including marry a woman he doesn’t love. Except she ignites a passion he was certain died with his first wife, and when the truth behind the Order’s objectives threatens everything Daphne knows, Gideon must fight to save her—and any future they hope to share.
This was another great book by a great author. I loved both characters. The story was great and I read through it pretty quickly. I highly recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

The Story in 4 Sentences or Less: Daphne Foliot is going to be married to a man who is descended from one of King Arthur’s knights, even if she doesn’t want to marry. But when she meets her Gideon Kersey, her intended, she can’t deny their mutual attraction or the fact that she suspects him of being a traitor to the Order of the Round Table. Gideon is willing to do anything to protect his family’s legacy from a secret society that wants to exploit the thirteen treasures of Britain, even if it means entering a loveless marriage with Daphne. As they both uncover the truth behind the Order’s objectives Daphne’s world is turned upside down and she has to depend on Gideon to get her out alive.





Like It? Hate it? Love it? Why? I’ve missed some of the books in this series but other than not knowing previous characters well, I found Captivating the Scoundrel easy enough to follow and I really enjoyed the story. So much so that I’m going to pick up the books I missed.

Daphne really jumped out at me when she first appeared, she was ambitious, intelligent, and determined. I loved that she was a lady scholar in a time where women were nothing more than pawns to be given over in marriage. Technically her father is using her as a pawn but Daphne isn’t going down without a fight and that’s a trait I enjoy in a heroine. If I had one complaint about her it was that despite having had to travel to study and having to converse with various people, she was ridiculously naïve about life and she came off as child like to me. You would think she would have been less trusting and more suspicious given her occupation.


Reading between the lines I was able to figure out that Gideon wasn’t always such a staunch opposer to the Order. Captivating the Scoundrel is his redemption story. I gathered Gideon was quite the villain but now he’s trying to do what’s right and that makes him much more interesting. I love a good bad boy goes good romance but what I wasn’t anticipating was just how vulnerable Gideon is. He seems like such a force to be reckoned with and he is when it comes to battle but when it comes to reconciling with his past, he was less confident. That element added to his character depth and his growth by the end was so satisfying. Especially since he started off very high handed and bossy and ended up becoming more of a leader.

Together Gideon and Daphne made a pretty great team. She’s the brains and he’s the brawn, just kidding they’re both do some heavy lifting which is what I like to see in these kinds of romances. They’re both team players and Gideon learns quickly not to underestimate Daphne’s ability to help him. And they’ve got great chemistry despite starting off on opposite sides. The romance was a slow burn even with the sizzling chemistry but you know what? It worked here. I enjoyed the mystery, the adventure, and the romance so it was a win-win situation for me.


Click It or Skip It? Click It. I’ll be going back to read the books I missed but I still feel I got the most out of this book.

I received a free copy of Captivating the asciundrel in exchange for an honest review. This book was well written, but the plot wasn't that appealing. Daphne and Gideon were a very interesting duo, and made the book more enjoyable. This was a mediocre read for me.

I usually fall head over heels for Ms. Burkes books but this one was a bit difficult for me. I took a while to get into it. The characters and the story are well written and entertaining. I guess I just didnt find the characters engaging for me. This in no way will stop me from reading and loving her books, past present and future :)

Book 4 in Darcy Burke's "Legendary Rogues" series. Daphne Foliot is a descendant of one of the fabled knights of the round table. This is a fact that has played heavily upon her heart from the time she was a child, for she has always known that she would marry another descendant of the same round table. But that's not saying that she actually wants to marry him... Daphne is a woman who wants to marry for love, but her father wishes her to obey his command and marry where he deems fit.
The man for the job is none other than Gideon Kersey, heir to the thirteen treasures of Britain. Gideon has sworn a solemn vow to protect his family from anyone who would exploit one of these thirteen treasures for personal gain. Some sacrifices must be made... including marrying a woman he does not love. As a widower he's sworn off love and happiness, until he meets a woman who stirs a passion deep within his heart.

a splendid historical romance by Ms. Burke. Well-rounded characters and solid writing. The storyline was compelling and i enjoyed the story.

I've read all of the books in this series and have enjoyed them all. The added history and legends of King Arthur have made them so interesting. The usual mean girls and ignorant young men of the ton have been replaced with scholars, researchers and people too busy to purposely slight someone over nothing. The slights are much more serious than that.
This is the story of Gideon and Daphne. Gideon is a descendant of one of King Arthur's knights and is searching for artifacts. He has had tragedy and hardship in his life and deserves happiness. Daphne is the daughter of a man who is also searching, but for less honorable reasons.
This is a HEA story that will keep your attention to the end.

Fun and intriguing historical read. Daphne and Gideon’s families descended from the knights of King Arthur and a marriage has been arranged between them. The hunt is on for treasure that wield power and Gideon wants to find them and protect them from the Order. Who will find them first? Entertaining read with great chemistry and a story with plenty of twists and turns. I liked it.

Book Title: Captivating the Scoundrel
Author: Darcy Burke
Pub Date: January 29, 2019

***ARC was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher for a fair and honest review***

Overall Rating: 3.5/5 A regency romance with tales of King Arthur’s knights and a touch of magic woven in.

Heroine (Daphne Foliot): 3.5/5 She is the daughter of a madman who wields a lot of power. Daphne proves to be adept at lying when needed and is a scholar bent on proving Morgana was a healer rather than a evil sorceress.

Hero (Gideon Kersey): 4/5 He is a viscount who just inherited an earldom from his father. He has a talent for finding lost treasures and can even evoke the magic within them.

Plot: 3/5 Gideon works for Foliot, a madman bent on re-creating Camelot. Gideon has seen the error in trusting him before the book’s start but must keep up appearances. To test his loyalty and because Gideon is a descendent of one of Arthur’s knights, he forces Gideon into marrying his daughter Daphne. Daphne and Gideon set out on a quest to find another treasure, but can they also find love along the way?

Personal Review: The premiss is super creative, and I liked it a lot. But the plot was a tad unfocused, I wish Daphne’s need to prove Morgana’s past as a healer played more into it than Morgana just being related to Gideon. Yes it connected the plot threads but Daphne’s didn’t serve the greater narrative. I also would have like the different treasures to have been used more, especially the heart after Gwyneth mentions it was originally given to a women. Gideon had faked using it on Daphne twice and it feeds mad Foliot’s delusions but it never is truly used. I assumed after that interaction that Daphne or Gwyneth would have to use it but nope. The story ends without anyone actually using it.

A little magic, a legend and lost treasures are the base of a story that's totally captivating. At first at odds with each other, Daphne and Gideon join as a team to find objects that belong together in the legend of the burial site of a great knight As they find more clues, it becomes apparent that to stay together they need to marry. Daphne's father is the evil villain and wants the marriage and Daphne and Gideon wonder why. I wanted to zip my way through this one. I haven't read the other books in the series. I have no doubt that they are as strong and entertaining as this one.

I really enjoyed Daphne and Gideon's story. I had not read the previous books so I was a little lost at first; however I soon found myself staying up to finish this book. It won't disappoint! One is very naive and the other has a very harsh outlook so they balance out nicely. I would definitely recommend starting with book 1 first.

I loved that this story did not follow the typical, historical romance 'formula'. It was a very unique tale that immediately drew me in. Not only is this a very well-written book with wonderfully-interesting characters, but the suspense builds at just the right pace as the story unfolds.

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley & Intrepid Reads in order to read and provide a voluntary and honest review, should I choose to do so.

Gideon and Daphne where thrown together to accomplish one thing. With secrets Gideon knows together they could change history and change the world. But their love is strong and together they conquer their worse enemy. Enchanting magical story.

I enjoyed the mystery in this book very much, and soaked up all the information about the Arthurian Legend, it really held my attention, I was less keen on the romance elements in this book.

Gideon Kersey is a descendant of the knights of the round table, and has joined a secret society called the Order of the Round Table, he is hunting for the thirteen treasures reputed to be part of the Arthurian legend, he is determined to reunite all the treasures, and prevent them being exploited for personal gain by the head of an organisation within the order called Camelot, Gideon has had an eventful life, his mother abandoned him when he was a baby to live with her lover, and he saw once a year, his father was a rake and a libertine, and encouraged him to follow in his footsteps. He was reformed by marriage to Rose, who died shortly after they wed, and he still mourns her and is determined to be a better man, and to never wed again.

Timothy Foliot is the head of Camelot, and obsessed with the Arthurian legend, he wants the thirteen treasures under his control, and employs a legion of henchmen to help him. He is obsessed with all things medieval, and is determined to arrange the marriage of his only child, Daphne, to a titled descendant of the original knights. He is determined to undermine the rest of the order and take control.

Daphne has also grown up without a mother, she is a scholar, also well versed in Arthurian lore, and keen to be accepted into the order herself, as the first woman, she is also hunting for information on her area of Arthurian study. She is allowed quite a lot of freedom by her father, and often travels for research purposes posing as a married woman. She loves her father dearly, and doesn’t understand why her mother left her.

Her father is keen for her to wed Gideon, and they are instantly attracted to each other, however, Gideon fights this hard. Daphne and Gideon agree to join forces to progress both their quests, and in the process, they agree to a betrothal. As their quests continue, they are married in truth, and as they uncover more of the mystery, Daphne comes to realise that her father is not the loving kind man he seems, Gideon finally lets go of his anger over being tricked into marriage, and they succeed in their quest together.

I found the romance a little unsatisfying for a couple of reasons, the will they/won’t they at the beginning of the book seems too contrived. I felt that the resolution of the issue of Daphne forcing Gideon’s hand wasn’t convincing either. Gideon is angry and resentful at first, then he isn’t, the path to this change of attitude is not explained and felt inconsistent to me.

Overall I found the suspense part of this book really captured my attention, but the romance was a little unsatisfying.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Also posted on Goodreads

Brilliant....absolutely brilliant!!! Words can't even describe how much I loved this story. I've always had a weakness for anything to do with Camelot and all of its mysteries. I fell in love with Gideon and my heart ached so much for him and what he'd gone through. He redeems himself in this book and in a big way! Daphne is so perfect for him and I just loved her as well. I literally could not put the book down, the whole story was so captivating. It makes me wish I could have been with them to find the thirteen treasures of the Knights of the Round Table, how awesome would that be!! There is action and intrigue throughout the story and lots of passion as well. Honestly, I could picture it all happening like it was a movie, that's how action packed this story is. I also have to say the author, Darcy Burke, really outdid herself with this one:)

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily giving an honest review.

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!

Captivating the scoundrel is the 4th and final book in Darcy Burke’s Legendary Rogues series. I had not read any of the other books and could follow the story but I do think it would be better to read the series in order. The story focuses on the legendary King Arthur and his 13 Treasures.

It is fast paced with great dialogue and well developed characters. The main character, Daphne Foliot has been told by her father that she must marry a descendant of King Arthur. Gideon Kersey, is that suitor and he is being forced to marry Daphne, in order to retrieve one of the treasures.

I really enjoyed this book and although the ending was a little unbelievable I would still recommend it. I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review. All views are my own.