I thoroughly enjoyed this book; its captivating narrative held my attention from start to finish. The characters, with their depth and complexity, added a layer of intrigue that kept me engaged. The story's pacing was well-crafted, maintaining its enthralling quality throughout. My investment in the central couple persisted through the highs and lows, evoking a range of emotions. The supporting characters played a crucial role, enriching the overall narrative. This love story proved to be precisely what I needed to read at this moment—a well-written and entertaining tale that I highly recommend.

The Legend of a Rogue by Darcy Burke is a quickly read adventure. Elspeth collects oral stories and when she stays at the inn she hears rumours about a mystical fiery sword that was seen on the battle field in Culloden her curiosity is awakened. Coincidentally, a man she met two years ago is also staying at the inn. She wonders if she can trust him because he never came back and because he seems to have several aliases. He wonders if he can trust her because he's got secrets he wants to keep and enemies he wants to avoid. Sooner rather than later, the enemies catch up with them. It was an entertaining, quick read.

What a fun novella! The Legend of a Rogue is a prequel to Darcy Burke’s Legendary Rogues series, which I wasn’t aware of when I originally picked it up. It being a prequel didn’t dampen my enjoyment at all, and has made me keen to check out the rest of the series.

This isn’t quite Regency, set more around mid-century shortly after the Battle of Culloden (1746), but it has that kind of Regency-vibe to it that I tend to love, though it stands out for being set in Scotland and away from the ‘ton’ as Regency readers would be familiar with. Elspeth Marshall is a storyteller, collecting legends and tales to recount and write. When she meets Roy, he enchants her with a story of a mystical sword, and with his kisses. He leaves Elspeth with promises to return, but two years later she has given up hope of ever seeing him again.

Until, travelling with her aunt, Elspeth is trapped by poor weather at an inn. There, she sees Roy again, and discovers the sword might actually be real. And Roy’s name isn’t Roy, it’s Tavish – and he’s looking for the sword. He isn’t the only one, however.

This novella was a romp – there’s some nice action towards the end, and we get plenty of time to indulge in Elspeth and Tavish’s relationship. Although he keeps a fair bit from her, he has his reasons, and eventually they work together to find the sword and keep it out of the wrong hands. There was a little bit too much repetition, with Elspeth for one part constantly thinking about what he’s kept from her and realising he has his reasons, then two pages later thinking about what he’s kept from her and realising he has his reasons…but other than that it really was a delight.

Burke’s writing keeps you swept up in the moment, and the dash of fantasy added here really compliments the relationship itself. I liked how much agency Elspeth had, pushing for what she wants and not afraid to stand up for herself, and the way the characters around the main couple were fleshed out. The ending was a lot of fun, too, as Tavish has to find a way to defeat the villains searching for the legendary sword.

If you’re looking for something fun to sit down with and devour in an afternoon, this works well, and will undoubtably keep you gripped.

Thank you to Darcy Book Publishing for providing me a copy of this book via NetGalley. Reviews remain my own.

A very quick yet highly entertaining adventure filed with witty and engaging charters and undeniable passion. Was a great read from beginning to end.

This book was really a lot of fun, and I feel like I'm coming a little late to the party with this series. The romance between Elspeth and Tavish felt a little rushed, but I think that might have more to do with the shorter length of the story than any failing in the story itself. The mystery and intrigue are absolutely top notch. For me, this book does stand very well on its own, but I can see how knowing a little bit about the series itself would be helpful to understand some of the dynamics at play. And now, having read this book, it has reignited my desire to read this whole series.

A beautiful novella that was just that sweet spot I needed to get me intrigued for a series.

Elspeth Marshall is a storyteller. She loves learning stories, and writing them down, and telling them to others. So, when a man appears that could possibly give her the story of a true legendary sword, she's not one to back down from the challenge. Unfortunately, said man stirs up her other desires, as well - and then he disappears without any warning. Can she forgive him when they cross paths again - and are the legends of the sword in Culloden true?

Seriously, this tale was short and sweet and hot, and it managed to pack a powerful punch in just a handful almost of pages - so to speak. It had fights, and legends, and intrigue. And it also had steamy as heck scenes and delightful dialogues. The main characters were also wonderful to read about, so that was a bonus, and their chemistry was off the charts. They pulled off the classic "love at first sight" trope without trying too hard.

I'm curious to see more of this series, and explore the possibilities of all those promised artifacts!

***I was given an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinion stated in this review is solely mine, and no compensation was given or taken to alter it.***

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for allowing me to read this!

I loved Historical Fiction. I was instantly intrigued by the synopsis of this book. This book drew me in by the first chapter, I got to explore through the eyes of our main character and this is always my favorite way to discover these details of the story and, it was done very well in this book. I really enjoyed this book and the plot. This author did amazing. I loved the writing style.

this was a great start to a historical novel, it was a great plot and I enjoyed the romance that was happening between the two characters.

This was a quick and enjoyable read. The story moved quickly with a lot of action and romance. The main characters Elspeth and Tavish have a lot of chemistry.

The Legend of a Rogue by Darcy Burke is an intriguing story. The main characters Elsbeth and Tavish are unique, believable and delightful; their characters grow and mature throughout the tale. I highly recommend all of Darcy Burke's works. This is my new favorite.

Elspeth knew what she wanted, and who, Tavish was a delectable delight she couldn’t resist, but first, he had some explaining to do she knew his answer would be the deciding factor in if they had a future together. Tavish knew he was on thin ice, he knew his answer would tell if they had a life together or not. A delightfully sweet, endearing, and enticing read.

Yesss. Great book. I just love Darcy. I’ve been reading her books since 2012 and love them! Always a great read

This was quick moving and highly enjoyable novella. I like how it is a prequel to a series and gives a fantastic start to the meatier books in the series. The theme of legends and myths is intriguing and the author does a great job bringing them to life.

I don’t normally read novellas because I find authors try to shove too much into them. However, this book is an exception! I loved it! There is just the right amount of plot, suspense and interest to keep me turning the page.

As I've gotten older, I've developed a real appreciation for romance series like this. Darcy Burke always write an engaging, fun story and I found this to be no exception to that.

I really enjoyed this one.

The plot was entertaining and fast paced, I found the ending seemed a bit rushed, but that did not detract from my appreciation of this novella.

This book is part of the "Legendary Rogues' series; I read out of order but found, again, that that did not diminish my appreciation of this story.

My thanks to Darcy Burke, Darcy Burke Publishing, and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

SUMMARY
Storyteller, history enthusiast Elspeth Marshall loves to research and share her stories with her community. One day, Elspeth is telling the story of Ranulf and Hilaria when she lays her eyes on Roy Williams. Elspeth distractedly finishes her story and then approaches Roy. After chatting for a bit, Roy tells Elspeth his own story of the Lann Dhearg or red blade which is the twin of the well known Dyrnwyn or blue sword. Roy explains that he has business to attend to, kisses her, and assures her he will visit her again soon.

Two years later…

Elspeth spots Roy in a tavern, except his name isn’t Roy and he pretends he doesn’t know who she is. She confronts Roy/Tavish and he shares with her how he lost his family heirloom, the Lann Dhearg he had told her about. Elspeth and Tavish interview people in the town to learn the whereabouts of the missing sword in hopes of finding it before a group of a villainous group gets their hands on it.

REVIEW
What I liked:
This short read packs a lot of punch. There were lots of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing throughout the book. The characters were well developed, I really enjoyed the heroine. Elspeth is an independent, smart, driven woman who knows what she wants. With her growing older there is pressure from her aunt to get married and is in no hurry to get married, that is until Tavish appears.

This is a love at first sight romance that is passionate while still keeping to the conservativeness of the time period. This is perfect for readers who aren’t looking for an overly steamy romance. Although this is an instalove story, Elspeth and Tavish do have some trust issues that they have to work through.

It warms my heart to read about a strong female character that isn’t afraid to call a man out on his wrongdoings. Tavish was intriguing at the fair when you first meet him and then he gives Elspeth the cold shoulder which just breaks your heart. Tavish took a while to win me over; however, once you know his backstory you understand he has much bigger problems to attend to.

Notes to the Reader:
In the prologue of this book, the author throws a lot of names and concepts at you. For disciplined readers or Darcy Burke fans will stick with this book; however this may be a big commitment to learn for a novella for some readers. If you can wrap your brain around the background of the prologue then the rest of the book flies by.

Final Thoughts:
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. The author delivered on the promise of the title of the book. The quest for the sword was the major focus of the book, the romance was just an added bonus. I really want to read the rest of the series to see if any of the Thirteen Treasures or these characters make an appearance throughout the series.

Adventure, legends, treasures, a mystical sword and a journey to a romance that will have you turning the pages at warp speed. What more can you ask for? RIght, Perfect!

At a meeting in the past, storyteller Elspeth hears a story of a magical sword of legend told by a handsome man Roy Williams and she is intrigued. Claiming he will return, it is not until two years later that they run into each other at an Inn when she confronts him wanting to know more about the sword. Lost at the battle of Culloden, Elspeth becomes determined to find the relic.

Roy, who goes by several names, has his true motives to find the sword and as the two search, the adventure begins! An organization that is after it also, makes this journey twist and turn with excitement. Who will find it first and can they find love on the way? Excellent!

I liked the concept for this book but sadly it didn’t wow me.

It was well written with some interesting parts but it didn’t quiet hit the mark to make this one for me to recommend.
The idea behind the old tales and a secret one no one knew about was an idea I enjoyed but felt that maybe it could have been played on a bit more.

Over all an enjoyable short read and definitely one I can see being loved by many

A Scottish lord, with many alias (one of them close to Bruce Willis's character in the Die Hard series) , is enchanted (figuratively, not literally) by storyteller, Elspeth Marshall, while on his quest to find his missing mystical sword, which he lost in battle. Little did he know that two years later, on his way to claim her, that he would put her life in peril, while she would be the one to find the sword. The characters are wonderful and well developed and the story a fast paced adventure with friends and danger coming from unlikely places.

While I have read several of the author's series ,I have not yet read the Legendary Rogues series, so this prequel is a great place to start. I received an ARC from NetGalley.com and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.

Another great Darcy Burke story! I wasn't sure what to expect at the beginning, but it turned out to be a great read - perfect if you are looking for a little adventure (especially good on a rainy or snowy night). Elspeth is a perfect heroine - smart, independent, and resourceful. When she finds herself in danger she doesn't just accept it and wait to be saved, she works to free herself and protect others. Tavish is a great character, but I found that what I liked about him was how he treated Elspeth. He tells her the truth about who is and what he is doing which is ultimately what probably saves her in the end. I'm not sure if the little nods to Die Hard (Tavish fighting in his bare feet and cutting his feet and then the villain falling out a window to his death) were intentional, but they were appreciated! This book definitely makes me want to read the rest of the series.