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.

I enjoyed this story, the writing style is essential but effective and characters are charming, witty, almost tangible.
The only problem I had with this prologue (it's sort of a novella, 140 pages long) is that I have not read the series first. And, at times, I felt lost in a familiar but not completely known world. 

I suggest starting the series with book 1 "Lady of desire" and, eventually, go back and read "The legend of a Rogue". The name of the series is "Legendary Rogues".

This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

Wow, lots of drama, intrigue, and romance as Tavish (Roy) and Elspeth search for a sword missing during the battle of Culloden and this is no ordinary sword!  A bit of the paranormal added in and you have a fascinating story which is hard to put down.

Still not sure what I think of Carrie's chamber of sorrows, it could be a good reminder of the horrors of war or it could just be a bit creepy!

I enjoyed the action as Elspeth and Tavish stry to stay ahead of the secret order that is also hunting for a sword but it is not the sword they think it is but still dangerous in the wrong hands.

Great HEA!

A legend behind a legend! Fans of King Arthur 🤴  and romance 🥰 will thoroughly enjoy this fantastically imagined romance between a historian/storyteller and her rogue Lord fighter. 

Thank you @netgalley and @darcyburkeauthor for the eArc of the new #legendaryrogues collection. This one went heavy on myth and light on character building so I rate it a solid 💫💫💫💫/5 

There was steam, action and intrigue all nicely combined in a neat and tidy 140 pages. 

#december2020 #historicalromance #romancereadersofinstagram #romancebooks #romanceaholic #darcyburkepublishing #darcyburke #kingarthur #knightsoftheroundtable #outofprint #redbull #lunchbreak #kindlereader #advamcedreadercopy #bookishmommyblog

This book was okay. I've read a couple of Darcy Burke books before but this one fell short for me, I really thought I was going to enjoy it but I didn't.

It has to be underlined that the quality of the drama, adventure and suspens is interesting in The Legend of a Rogue, as well as the dialogues are well displayed. The only "but" is the period. It is difficult to relate to the story at the given time, because the context is not rich enough. The language, the everyday life and the way the protagonists conduct their love affair seems hardly logic with the time. The great extend of description of costumes is fine, but, in my opinion, not enough. 
I will read contemporary setting of actions from Darcy Burke as I enjoyed the rythme and structure of the story telling. 
I received a copy from NetGalley, all opinions are mine.

Elspeth and Tavish have a wonderful story and a connection that has lasted over two years without seeing one another. When strangers start looking for the mysterious fire sword; Tavish knows he has to find it first. Elspeth records stories and between the two of them adventure awaits. Readers will not be disappointed in this book.

Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔
Sensuality: 🔥🔥
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑
Number of Sex Scenes: 🍆🍆

This story is also found in the holiday anthology A Very Highland Christmas, though it seems to be under a different title (Highland Hearts).

This is my first Darcy Burke. I would definitely try her again, especially since this was only a novella length.

This was overall a fun, quick read. I think it’s hard for novella’s to feel like complete stories sometimes but I wasn’t left with that feeling here. It felt like a whole story.

Elspeth adores stories. She hunts them down and commits them to memory and page. She meets Roy , who charms her with a story of a legendary sword and also leaves her with a kiss. It’s years before she meets him again, though his name has changed. She is determined to find out his secrets.

Give this book a try if
- You want the prologue to the League of Rogues series
- You like a mix of kisses, action, and mystery
- You want a novella length read
- You want Scotland in the mid 1700s – around the battle of Culloden
- You want a splash of second chance romance and unrequited love (though neither of these themes are too strong in the book)
- Lighter steam – 4 kisses and 1 full scene
- You love stories of legend and myths. While I wouldn’t characterize this as paranormal or anything, bit does have a hint of magic.

I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an advance reader copy of this story.

The Legend Of A Rogue, by Darcy Burke, is available at booksellers on 12-1-2020.  The story is set as a prequel to the Legendary Rogues series.  The characters were likable, the story outlandish, and the reaction of everyone in the plot. unbelievable.  In other words it was an enjoyable read on a Sunday afternoon.

#DarcyBurke  #Netgalley  #TheLegendOfARogue  #LegandaryRogues  #historicalromance  #romance  #mythologicalromance

I wasn’t aware this was a prequel to a series until after I’d started reading it and though it CAN be read as a standalone, I feel like I would  have gotten more out of it if I’d already read the series. I felt kind of lost at points, especially in the beginning. It felt a bit info-dumpy. The info-dumping definitely lessened after the prologue but I still couldn’t really get into the story, even though I wanted to. 

I also couldn’t really get into the romance, which was extremely disappointing as that’s what I was most excited for. I just didn’t feel the chemistry between our two main characters. Plus, their romance happened way too quickly. I just couldn’t believe the depth of feelings they supposedly had for each other after such a short time. 

The one thing I did really like about this was our main character, Elspeth. I loved her passion for collecting and recording and telling stories. She was also quite funny and unashamed about her desire towards Tavish, which I always appreciate, especially in historicals. 

Overall, this just fell a little flat for me. But I do think if you’ve read other books in the series and enjoyed them, you’d probably like this one too.

The Legend of a Rogue by Darcy Burke is a charming prequel that introduces the Welsh legends and those both good and bad seeking the thirteen treasures. I enjoyed the historical romance that has politics, mystery, danger, suspense, action, and romance. Tavish Crawford and Elspeth Marshall do not know each other very well at the beginning of the story but after a misunderstanding is clear up they stand together in the search for his family’s legacy sword, Lann Dhearg which was lost to Tavish during a battle. 

I appreciated how these two worked together against other who also wished to have the sword. This strengthens their relationship which lead to a more appealing plot in which they were not sidetracked by division. I haven’t read anymore of the series or know much about the Welsh legends, yet The Legend of a Rogue makes me to do read and discover more. An excellent introduction to a series that I hope to follow. 

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I don’t know if it was just me, but I didn’t get to finish it. I can tell it woulda been a quick read but the book just wants for me, I tried to keep reading but I felt like I was forcing myself. I didn’t buy the romance and the story just didn’t do it for me. I feel maybe if this was a book and not a novella everything coulda been played out nicely

Elspeth is a storyteller and she also records oral histories of stories she is told. She meets Tavish during one of her storytelling sessions and he tells her of a legendary flaming sword, Lann Dhearg. She is very intrigued by his story, but even more intrigued by the man. He promises her he will return for a visit on his way back through the area, yet he fails to deliver on the promise. On her way back from Inverness with her Aunt, she sees him at the inn where they are staying for the night. He is going by a different name and acts as though they’ve never met. As luck would have it, two gentleman are talking about the sword that Tavish had told her about. Their paths intertwine again, and even though she is very much attracted to him, she fears she can never trust him again. 

If you like a good Scottish historical romance with a little folklore mixed in, you will find this book to be of interest.  I always enjoy reading stories set in Scotland during this time period. The plot is good and it moves at a fairly rapid pace. I really the book enjoyed except for the graphic sex scenes. There is very little foul language used, but violence is strong in the story. I would recommend this book to the adult reader who likes Scottish tales and can handle the sex scenes.

This was a quick and easy read.  Novellas are always tough for me to review but I thought Burke did a good job of creating enough backstory on the main characters in the short amount of time she had, to keep me invested and interested in what was going to happen for them.  

Definitely pick this one up if you enjoy Burke's other books.  This has action, swoons, and interesting characters...all my favorite pieces of a historical romance!