Cover Image: Lord of Fortune

Lord of Fortune

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Member Reviews

Dashing adventurer meets intelligent woman and sparks fly. Penn Bowen is determined to prove that a valuable museum artifact is a fake, Amelia Gardiner is equally determined to prove him wrong and authenticate an object that was found by her own grandfather. It's a recipe ripe for romance, add some dastardly conspirators and a couple of secret societies and Burke creates a ridiculous and thoroughly entertaining romp.

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Many times as I was reading this book, I thought I was in a Regency episode of Destination Unknown (one of my favorite shows). Artifact searching, danger, intrigue, romance, throw in some villains and it makes for a very nice read. Then again I don't think I have ever read a Darcy Burke book that I didn't like. Lord of Fortune is the third in her Legendary Rogues series and a wonderful section to the series. Penn Bowen and Amelia Gardiner meet after he retrieves a dagger that belonged to her late grandfather. Unfortunately, it is stolen from both of them. Penn challenges the authenticity of the dagger and it's mate, the Heart of Llanllwch. Amelia argues his standpoint, since her grandfather found it and donated it to an museum. This is the start of a partnership that will develop into more. As stated before this is a delightful read, full of all the things I love in a good read. It does not matter if you have read the first two books in the series, but they do provide helpful background. There is at least one more in the series and it sounds like a doozy of a read.

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A nice book but I read better books by Darcy Burke already. I couldn't connect with the leads nor did I really feel pulled into the story. Unfortunately.

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This is book three in the Legendary Rogues series. I haven’t read the previous books in this series and felt like I was missing something as I started reading this book. The characters weren’t very intriguing so it kept getting harder to be focused on the story. I really like the Untouchables series from this author but I wouldn’t recommend this particular book.

* I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review*

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This well written tale has romance, action, adventure, and intrigue.
The storyline of the search for mythical ancient artifacts and love connection move along at a quick pace with plenty of action, intrigue, and some hot steamy scenes to keep up interest through to the end. Although I didn't feel the romantic connection between Penn and Amelia as much as I would have liked, all in all, it was a good read.
This is a standalone, happily ever after story with a character primed for the next in series of which I look forward to reading.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for my honest opinion.

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~~Reviewed by Shell~~

This is book 3 in the Legendary Rogues, I haven’t read the first two and I found you can read this book as a standalone. So if you like books which have drama, mystery, intrigue and romance, then you will love this book.

From the start I loved Penn, he loves nothing better than finding new artefacts and its while he was finding a new treasure that he comes across Amelia, well she is in disguise and is pointing a gun at him, because what he found is what Amelia wants.

Amelia is such a strong and determined lady. She also had a close relationship with her grandfather, that she cannot believe Penn when he says that the artefact in the museum is a fake, and for Amelia, she is determined to prove that Penn is wrong, and from here Penn and Amelia join forces.

The romance between Penn and Amelia was a slow build up and you get the impression it wasn’t forced. Also in the book, there were two twists, which you aren’t expecting, and for me, this kept my interest in the book.

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This was a bit slow to get into but it was worth it. The characters are intriguing. The storyline is adventurous and entertaining.

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Lord of Fortune by Darcy Burke is definitely not what I expected from reading the excerpt about it. I liked the characters for the most part and the adventures that Penn and Amelia go on are interesting. The characters in this story are well developed and engaging and the author describes the scenes in the book vividly. I wasn't expecting the treasures they were seeking to be "enchanted" so that part was a little hard for me to believe along with two different factions of people seeking to protect the treasures of Arthurian legends. The book does contain romance, alpha male heroes, villains, legends, and more. It just wasn't a story that I cared for personally but it was well written in my opinion.

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What an adventure! I adore Penn and Amelia’s journey toward each other. This story delivers on adventure and romance. There are so many twists and turns I couldn’t put it down. I can’t wait for the next book in this series.

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Darcy Burke never ever disappoints. I have loved this series from the beginning. This installment was just as wonderful as the previous two. Penn and Amelia were a fantastic couple and I thoroughly enjoyed their adventures. I can't wait to see what Burke has in store for those of us who love this series.

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I usually love a Grace Burrows book, but this bogged down early for me, with the Camelot relics and groups , and never really picked up for me. I liked the couple, but hated the storyline. I had not read the prior book, but since it seems to involve similar story lines, I’m not really interested in it. The book is well written, and I enjoy Welsh and Arthurian legend, but have no fondness for secret societies, much less several in one book..

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An action packed historical read. Penn works for a museum and is an adventurer hunting down artifacts until Amelia inserts herself in the middle his fun wanting to keep her grandfather’s legacy intact. Plenty of drama, danger and intrigue ensue. As well as some heated chemistry between Penn and Amelia. Will they find out the truth about the Heart of Llanllwch? Enjoyable characters and an entertaining read. I liked it.

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LOVED it. Some of it was a little far-fetched for them to be traveling together, but I really enjoyed the story. I wish we had gotten some answers about Kersey but I hope he gets his own book as well!!!

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Darcy Burke is a favorite of mine, her stories are intriguing, adventurous and romantic. Beautifully written tale of lost treasure, a bit of danger, flawed characters, adventure and romance. It has elements of predictability, with some twists and turns, I was not surprised with the villain, however, I was surprised with the outcome. The main characters are definitely flawed but I enjoyed watching them come to terms with their romance. An interesting story! Not my favorite for this intriguing series. As part of a series, I would recommend reading the other two books in this series, so as not to feel as though you're missing something important. If you enjoy tales the round table, Treasures of Camelot, Indiana Jones type of stories, treasure hunting, then you will enjoy LORD OF FORTUNE.
I received a complimentary copy of this book, however, all opinions are mine alone.

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3.5 out of 5 stars

I am a big fan of stories that include treasure hunts and this one is full of it, it was an interesting journey and the ride was easy and I was mostly happy as a whole. The main characters were flawed, but their chemistry was good enough to redeem that. The pace wasn't too fast or too slow for me, though I wish the relationship between the main characters had been a little more developed and that the characters had begun having romantic intentions towards each other sooner. I will happily wait for Gideon's book because the poor guy had the rug pulled from under his feet and he handled things very well. The book is not of my favorites from this author, but it was good. To be fair I had no problem reading the book, but I just didn't love it as much as the other which is the reason I am giving it 3.5 stars

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I received a copy from the author and NetGalley; this is my honest review. #LordOfFortune #NetGalley
-This is the best story yet in the series. I really, really loved it.
-You start reading the book and you feel like you just fell into an Indiana Jones' movie. A simple act is happening but with so much descriptions that you think you're there with Penn!
-I loved the chemistry between Penn and Amelia; you could just feel it, like you're a third wheel or something.
-Lots of action and adventure, deceptions and surprises, but also lots of wrapping up and answers. The unresolved questions are hopefully left for Gideon in the next book.
-Don't miss out and buy the book!

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So much conspiracy surrounding King Arthur and his round table of knights, that the legends travel through generations!

Thank you to netgalley for offering me an eARC to voluntarily read in exchange for an honest review. Darcy Burke is a favorite Historical Romance author that I have enjoyed for years; so imagine my delight in the opportunity to read her newest book Lord of Fortune, book #3 of Legendary Rogues collection. Don’t worry, this book is a great stand-alone if you have yet to read any other within the collection.

The meat: The story launches the reader straight into our main characters’ meet-cute. Amelia and Penn are both interested in one thing, an antiquity. An amazing Arthurian historical artifact that we soon find out is hunted by others besides Amelia and Penn. With similar interests the two deside to work as a team. Their professional relationship soon blossoms into much more. Unfortunately, they both carry extreme baggage keeping them from what they both wish for.

There is conspiracy, trust issues, romance, mysteries and adventure all wrapped together within this story. I give this book a 4 out of 5 simply because I didn’t find myself completely devouring the story like I have with so many other Darcy Burke books.

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Book #3 in the series Legendary Rogues, Lord of Fortune is another much waited instalment of the Bowen's saga. It can be read without knowledge of the previous books, though. The main characters of Book #1 appear now, but with a minor role.
Penn Bowen, the adopted son of Rhys Bowen (#1, The de Valery Code or Lady of Desire), is a treasure hunter who finds much more than some of the objects that would be part of the Thirteen Treasures, gathered by King Arthur.
Amelia Gardiner, whose grandfather had found one of the Treasures in the past (a Heart with special powers) and handed it in to a museum in Oxford, comes to find Penn when he has just found another of the Treasures - a Dagger, which would "cut the powers" of the Heart. While the two of them fought for the dagger, another group (one of the secret societies who claim to protect the Treasures) arrives and steals the Dagger. Penn and Amelia have to join forces in order to find the Dagger and uncover secrets related to the Treasures.
In spite of some minor problems (the story dragged a little at the beginning; there were so many mysterious things that I thought they wouldn't be solved in this book; the reappearance of Gideon was kind of strange), I'm really anxious to read Gideon's story - I hope it won't take a long time, Ms. Burke
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Darcy Burke’s Lord of Fortune is an intriguing adventure with mystery and great personalities. She wrote Amelia Gardiner as a woman who came into herself through difficulty. Penn Bowen’s character grew from a child who had his own difficulties, as well.

The Arthurian legend is wrapped throughout this book in which Amelia and Penn are searching for the Heart of Llanllwch while trying to retrieve a dagger her grandfather had hidden for safe keeping. She believes the genuine heart was found by her grandfather and is in the Ashmolean Museum. Penn contends it is a fake and wants to find the genuine heart. All of this comes together following the theft of the dagger while both of them are trying to retrieve it. Amelia even wears men’s trousers on her adventures. It takes a bit of time for them to openly trust each other, especially after Amelia shoots Penn’s servant, Egg.

Penn is one of those men every woman wants to be around - handsome, independent, caring and just a great guy. He cares about those around him. He even wants to forgive Gideon, who has treated him badly.

Gideon, cousin to Penn, who was raised by a cruel father and abandoned by his mother. Penn and Gideon sort of grew up together, spending time together. Gideon has made his fair share of mistakes, but is really a great guy at heart. The ‘Camelot’ group of which Gideon is familiar, is trying to bring all of the Arthurian antiquities together for ‘protection.’ To compile difficulties, someone from Amelia’s past shows up and is working against Amelia and Penn.

Ms. Burke has written this as third in the series, but can be enjoyed as a stand alone, too. You will love the way Amelia and Penn’s love keeps them together.

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Penn had never like rules!

Ok, I'm so glad I followed this up after reading a great review. I loved it!
I loved Amelia Gardiner and Penn Bowen.
I loved the whole mystery of the thirteen treasures associated with the Arthurian legends.
"The Thirteen Treasures were items gathered by Arthur and his knights for one of their own—Gareth—so that he could win his bride.”
Of course Glastonbury gets a mention!
The beginning dives straight into the mystery of two particular treasures the Heart of Llanllwch and an iron dagger, which features in the elusive Legend of Ranulf and Hilaria.
Penn is bent on proving that these two artifacts are actually fake. Amelia, as it turns out is the granddaughter of the man responsible for finding these two treasures. She is just as determined to prove they are the real deal.
We swing right into action from the first moment, as our dare devil hero and treasure hunter Penn, is painfully acquiring the dagger hidden in a sharp rock formation, he is relieved of it by a mysterious person who appears from nowhere. Then almost immediately, a third group appears to overpower Penn, his manservant and the mysterious thief to take the dagger for themselves. These could be men sent from a group called the Order of the Round Table, who see their duty as hiding these treasures so that they remain in the realm of legend. But within the Order is another shadowy group--Camelot all descendants from Arthur's Knights, who are pursuing their own nefarious type ends. The mystery deepens almost immediately.
So maybe it's a tad twee in places but the storyline, but the action and the steamy romance all make up for that. Penn had never liked rules, Amelia feels the need to set some between them-- and therein lies the push and pull of their attraction to each other. Another marvelous hook!
I winged my way through this and enjoyed every moment!

A NetGalley ARC

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