The fourth installment of the Phoenix Club takes us on a other great adventure of two unlikely people falling in love and finding a way to make it work. Prudence is mistaken for Lady Cassandra and is kidnapped by Bennett who was a villain in the previous book and looks to start out the same in this latest story. He needs to desperately find an heiress to marry so he doesn't end up in the poorhouse and Lady Cassandra is his target, only he ends up kidnapping her companion Prudence. Prudence is in no better position than Bennett, and she thinks him to be her charming savior. She has been using her position as a paid companion to try and find her birth mother. She has no family and no one to lean on and when she meets Bennett, she begins to imagine a beautiful future. But Bennett loves his family dearly and is keeping a dark secrets, ones that could shatter Prudences's dreams and a future with the woman he has grown to love. These two were both complex characters and had such depth to their personalities. They worked really well together and I enjoyed seeing them grow and develop throughout the story. They had wonderful chemistry, and the storyline was intriguing with plot twists that kept me wanting to continue reading till I was done. Another fabulous addition to the series!

I received a free copy via Netgalley and am voluntarily providing my review.

I've always wondered how writers of the historical romance keep their readers engaged when they have the same economic class constraints and social bases, and one way to do that is through character
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This is the fourth book by Darcy Burke I read and in each one I found a singular character almost twisted in their shape, none of her characters responds to the 'typical...type' none
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And it is in that depth that its characters have another character and make unexpected decisions that, although they make you cry or smile like any other book of the genre, leave their mark
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Indecent, is the four book of the Phoenix Club series, and the protagonists show two opposite social sides, the aristocrat who has to support the women of his family with the debts he inherited from his father and on the other hand the young illegitimate daughter, who fleeing from indecent proposals from other employers, finds a position as an companion for other young women during the season
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Both try to maintain their economic and social status, doing everything possible not to fall lower in society
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Bennett has just lost the chance to marry to the Duke Evesham's daughter and acquire the only way to save his family from family debts through her large dowry. Angry at this rejection, he hires a group of men to kidnap her and bring her to a hostel halfway, convinced that she will come to her senses and agree to marry him, only that when he removes her hood she is not Lady Cassandra but her companion Prudence Lancaster
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When he realizes the terribleness of his actions, he can't do anything to reverse it and the weather forces them to spend a few days together in the same room.
Despite the feelings they have for each other, there is the reality of their social places, the personal obligations and the secrets that each one carrie
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I never know what to expect in Darcy Burke's books and I love that, her characters are unique as is the way they end up together. I deeply enjoyed reading it and as always I want to keep reading more in the serie
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Thanks to Darcy Burke and Zealous Quill Press for give me this beautiful book in exchange for my honest opinion

I really liked "Impassionated" in the series (but I found "Intolerable" dull) and picked this one out of the curiosity because of its great reviews but similarly as with "Intolerable" I got stuck on 12% and have a hard time to go on. In general I am not a big fan of series because the first few books are typically based on great ideas and quite interesting, but then the subsequent books are really recycled, a bit forced, a lot of time spent on the previous characters from other books that have very little to do with the current story and the book seem to be more commercial driven. How many great and unique love stories can you really have in one circle?

If you love the series and loved these characters from other books, I am sure you are happy to read about them in any circumstances. But for me, it is just a filler.

If I run out of things to read, I will try to pick it up again because Burke's writing style is very readable, and if I change my opinion, I will edit this review but in general I find many of Burke's books repetitive and a bit tedious. It focuses too much on the physically attraction, and lacks the development of the characters. It often fills a story with repetitive sex scenes. So one always has to read several until that special story. Darcy Burke writes these books faster than making a pancake and it shows. I personally prefer quality over quantity.

Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange of an honest review.

Historical romance full of drama. Fairly predictable with a dark ,brooding hero and a fiesty heroine and problems to be solved.

Thank you NetGalley for another great read. Remember Lord Gastonbury is dispirit for a wife with a dowry to help his family out of debt. He has men kidnap Cassandra and by mistake they get her companion, Prudence. He apologizes for the mistake. After a week together at a small inn they are growing fond of each other. Prudence has a secret she has been trying to find out the information about her past for years. Can they work out a life together? Fun read.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book. I've read about 6 books by this author, and this was tied for my favorite. I highly recommend this book. It was steamy, but still had a great plot to go with the steam.

This is the third Darcy Burke book I have read in this series and I'm afraid it will be the last. I really enjoyed the first book, disliked the second, and was hoping this would turn out more like the first, but alas.

The writing is stilted and awkward and the characters feel uneven. This is a huge point for me and often a make-or-break issue.

I really don't like that Bennet keeps thinking about this "dark secret" in his family's past. It's clearly a form of mental illness -- perhaps bipolar disorder -- and I realize mental illness wasn't well-understood in this period but the way it's treated here feels a bit like a caricature and not respectful.

Also, this whole setup is weird. Bennet is a nice guy -- the text says this often -- but also he hires thugs to kidnap someone to force her to marry him? And he feels bad afterward when they kidnap the wrong person but he also just sorta blames that family dark secret and doesn't take responsibility for it? It's like "oh no I made a terrible impulsive decision -- I guess it was this dark curse and I'm doomed and how long will I have my sanity oh no???"

The "attraction" between them feels very forced in the beginning. I don't know if that continues because I bailed on the book at around 20% which is long enough to know if I'm going to like something.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Zealous Quill Press for providing an e-arc for review.

Indecent is a charming rags to...well, to slightly less-ragged rags story about a lady's companion and a destitute viscount who find love in very unlikely circumstances. Both characters had secondary roles in previous books in the series, though I've only read a couple of those novels. You can enjoy this tale as a standalone, though reading at least the third story would be beneficial; Bennett figured prominently (and not too positively) in that one.

The story starts off with Prudence bound and blindfolded in a carriage, headed who knows where. She's surprisingly more irritated than frightened, and she's furious when she finally reaches her destination, a small country inn, where Bennett awaits her. Well, not her precisely. He thinks he's kidnapped Cassandra, his former almost betrothed (and the young lady Pru is a companion for). He's desperate to elope with Cassandra as he needs her dowry desperately; he inherited debts and a house full of eccentric relatives to support. He's horrified to discover that the men he hired (a) got the wrong woman, and (b) that Pru was treated so abominably by the men he hired to perform the kidnapping.

To make things worse, the two end up stuck at the inn for several days due to severely inclement weather. Over those days, however, they get to know each other better and find that they really like each other. And eventually, their friendship becomes intimate. Unfortunately, Bennett needs to marry an heiress, and Prudence definitely is not one. Back in London, they regretfully go their separate ways, Bennett to hunt for an heiress, and Prudence to assume another companion position. However, fate has other plans...

Prudence is delightfully pragmatic and unflappable; she's also very competent. Bennett is kind but also somewhat flustered by his situation. The two balance each other out beautifully if unexpectedly. It's hard not to root for them.

The story has an HEA, but there are a few threads left dangling. I expect the threads will be tied up in the next novel, which is blatantly teased throughout this one.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Thanks!

3.5/5 ⭐️

The course of true love…clearly starts with a kidnapping 🙄. Slightly hapless, and definitely poor, Viscount Glastonbury, is desperate. He decides that the best way out of his financial woes, is to kidnap an heiress.💰 Unfortunately, the lady’s maid, Prudence, is dumped before Bennent instead.

Of course, the weather turns🌧, and they are stuck together at the small inn. Their chemistry is evident as they enjoy getting to know each other, despite the odd circumstances of their encounter.

Definitely not an auspicious start, but Pru is way more forgiving than I would’ve been. But I do like that she’s not a push over. She’s strong and has found herself employment, and isn’t afraid to tell Bennent that his plan was villainous. I felt like this part could’ve been more fleshed out - Pru is very forgiving, maybe a little too quickly.

But the romance is really sweet, until you get to the spicy scenes 🔥. This was a cute and fun read. I recommend if you enjoy regency romances!💐

✨Thank you to Netgalley and Zealous Quill Press for the free copy of the ebook. I’m leaving this review because I want to!✨

Burke doesn’t disappoint. I so far think this one is the best I’m the series!

Meet Bennet St James, the Viscount of Glastonbury, unfortunately his father wasn’t very good with money, and when he inherited he was buried in debt. He had to marry a girl with a dowry.
Prudence Lancaster is a companion, and encounters Bennett under unusual circumstances. We’re forced to spend a few nights together.
They returned to reality and couldn’t get each other out of their mind.

I don’t want to say anything more, but it’s got a lot of mystery and I just couldn’t keep it down! It’s amazing and the best one in the series yet. I can’t wait till the next one,

Whenever reading historical romance, I can’t help but wonder how I would have lived my life in that era. Well, I certainly would be a member of the Phoenix Club!

I highly enjoy Darcy’s stories about the dukes and viscounts, who are not all what they seem and the feisty women who want to enjoy freedom in their life and in their choice in marriage.

Indecent basically goes on with the story from Intolerable: after Lady Cassandra and Prudence went to the fight between Ruark and Bennet, Prudence went home, wearing Lady Cassandra’s cloack, so that Cassandra could secretly meet Ruark. The story starts with the kidnapping of Prudence by Bennet. It was however, his intention to kidnap Lady Cassandra. In Intolerable we had already seen that Bennet had been courting Cassandra. We hadn’t read, however, what Bennet’s reasons where for his courtship. But now we find out: he needed her dowry. Desperately. But now, after kidnapping the wrong woman, he has managed to create an even bigger mess. If word comes out that he is only in the marriage mart for a dowry, he will not be able to find himself a bride. Prudence has a problem: if she tells anyone what has happened, her name will be ruined. And she will never get a position as a lady companion again. Therefore, she proposes to keep the kidnapping a secret.

But then the storm hits and they find themselves stranded together in a remote inn. Of course, romance is slowly burning and we see a different side of Bennet. Combined with the mystery of Prudence’s parents, Darcy creates yet another wonderful story of the Phoenix club’s members. I do hope that Darcy will reserve a story for Lucien as well, because he is just the best character!

The next story, Impossible, will be about Prudence’s best friend Ada however. I can’t wait.

Five out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

I received "Indecent" from Netgalley and voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. Darcy Burke has done a fabulous job with this story where a series of unfortunate events brings two people together. This is the fourth book in this series and focuses on Bennet St. James, Viscount Glastonbury, and Prudence Lancaster, a lady's companion. Both characters learn how to better explore and express their emotions and then handle unexpected situations.

I loved reading this story. Although it's part of a series, it can be read as a stand alone. It will make you want to read the rest- fair warning! So much happening- secrets uncovered. Just wow!

This story was yet another emotional and sexy journey with characters from the circle of friends and family we have become acquainted with in previous books. In this book the hero is the male who was found to be without money in the last book, and we find out his story now. He is quite a man and you can't help feeling for the guy. He, of course, falls for the penniless companion to all of these recently wed women. She has also had a difficult time of things and in each other they find something special. I am not usually one for spoilers so I'm going to simply say that shocking things come out and yet those things can make happily ever after possible. It's quite a journey to get there and i loved every moment. I love her writing, getting lost with the characters and not wanting to come back out. #netgalley #indecent

Indecent is the latest book in the Phoenix Club series. You'll want to read the entire series. We always buy Darcy Burke for our library.

I have been waiting to read Bennet and Prudence's story since reading the other books in the series. I have loved them all and am so happy to report that the love story between Bennet and Prudence lives up to my expectations. I can highly recommend all of the books in this series. They are soooo good! Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy - I was so happy to get to read and review this before it was released!

A great addition to The Phoenix Club and I enjoyed seeing characters from previous books as well as Bennet’s aunts. These characters added to the lovely romance between the two main characters.

Transformation of the villain Viscount Glastonbury into lovable Bennet who is a victim of circumstances in life. The last book in the series picks up from where the previous one ended where Prudence went missing. An intriguing read. The book maintains good pace and captures the readers interest quickly. I love the books by Darcy Burke.

Loved reading this book unwinding the mystery of Prudence's disappearance and finally Bennet and Prudence finding love.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and I am posting my review voluntarily

Bennet and Prudence meet under a.very awkward circumstance. He mistakenly kidnaps her thinking she is an heiress. Prudence was the companion. They are stuck at an inn due to weather. They enjoy a night of passion. They must part ways because Bennet is a viscount with a estate riddled in debt. He needs to marry an heiress. When they get back to London many situations arise. Prudence finds out she is the daughter of a countess and a viscount. She is pregnant with his baby. They decide to marry even though she can’t provide him with the needed money. I love the Phoenix Club series. Can’t wait for the next book in the series.

This book was such a delight!

A goal of mine this year is to read adult historical romances-- I have only read two HR (many years ago) and they were young adult, so I'm glad this title was my first step into this spectacular world.

I will preface by saying I have not read the prior titles of this series, and I don't personally think it took anything away. The author does an excellent job of introducing and evolving these characters, so I never felt out of the loop. I got to know and embrace well these characters. They drove the plot and I was glad to be along for the ride (and that disastrous kidnapping attempt, haha!). This was a delightful romance, and I especially enjoyed the individual arcs away from the romance. The main characters were all very well developed.

I only had one major qualm, it didn't detract from the overall enjoyment, but it was something I noticed in my reading: there is a certain stiffness in both narrator voices. I felt almost a warmth was missing, and due to it, never fully hooked into the protagonists' romance. Nevertheless, I want to emphasize just how well written and plotted this book was.

I am very glad to have read it!