This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

I have been following along with the Phoenix Club books and have enjoyed each one and love how they lead into the next story line and the previous lead characters are still in the books.

This time, Prudence, who has been the companion for Fiona and then Cassandra has her turn at love. We meet up again with the "villain" of Cassandra's story, Bennet, and find that he really isn't that much of a villain and what is behind his need for a rich heiress.

There are a few secrets that we learn that kind of tie in relationships and introduce us to a new "villain" for the next book, Viscount Warfield. I am guessing that he will not really be a villain or will be changed over the course of the next story. I am looking forward to that one!

Anyway, this one was hard to put down and I had to read it straight through as there was so much that Bennet and Prudence had to overcome to get their HEA and to even realize that there was love between them! And I did guess right on who was the one to start the nasty rumor about Prudence!

This book had alot going on and I am torn in liking it versus that it was just ok.
I actually liked the first third of the book, the characters were great, storyline was intriguing and then....it got awkward.
Spoiler alert--

The first time Bennet and Pru are in bed is just so weird. I felt absolutely no chemistry between them, the dialogue was something from a first-time author, and Pru's naivety was so eye-rollingly frustrating, I was tempted to stop right there. But I went on. It did get better between them but sadly I never felt the chemistry between them. And as the book went on, I disliked Pru more and more.

Now the book does start to pick up after they return to London around the 35% mark but it does so like a whirlwind with so much happening so fast and people coming and going that it all felt like a blur.
If I hadn't read the book prior to this one and known something about Pru and Cassandra, Lucien, and the rest, I think I would have been a bit lost and not as committed to the characters or to reading this. Since I had read the prior book, I was a bit more invested I think.

Overall I did enjoy this book, I liked the characters, I did like the storyline but the way in which it was presented was a bit jarring and the main characters needed to have something more than physical between them.
I would recommend for those reading the series and would say it's a 4 star rating, but as a stand alone, it's just ok and I think not as enjoyable and that some people who didn't know Darcy Burke's writing would be put off so I'd give 3 stars.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 for this rating system.
I received an advanced copy in exchange for my review.

Though Darcy Burke has many books in her repository, Indecent is the first one I am reading. It is the 4th book of her Phoenix Club series and is a historical romance.

In this book, we meet Viscount Bennet St. James, who is in dire need of money and is prepared to marry a heiress for that reason, and Miss Prudence Lancaster, who is lady's companion to Lady Cassandra, the daughter of a Duke. Bennet gets the "bright" idea of having Lady Cassandra abducted and then later elope with her, as she doesn't seem receptive towards him. But the ruffians, hired to abduct her, instead abduct Prudence in a case of mistaken identity. This mistake leads to Bennet and Prudence getting to know one another and getting attracted to each other. Will Bennet carry on with his original plan of marrying someone with money? What happens with Prudence after they go their separate ways? What is the future of their love?

The author takes us through these questions in an engaging manner. Bennet is a likable and pitiable man; he is a decent man going through trying circumstances and the pitfall, that is his family, is not very helpful to him either. He is vulnerable and filled with uncertainties. One can't help but feel sorry for him. Prudence is a product of her upbringing and she has lots of hidden pockets. Her station in life has her oscillating between two worlds and had her doubting her self-worth most of the time. I can't say I understood many of her life choices but can accept that it is just the way she has been written. Overall, they are both likable characters whom I can get behind totally.

Darcy Burke has an entertaining style of writing; she manages to pull the reader in with her characters and their various conflicts. I was almost always with the characters and had a good hold on their motivations and priorities. She manages to make the characters human and real. The pace of the story was spot on in most places and dragged a bit in some places. It started off sharply but towards the end I didn't have much patience with the amount of pondering the principal characters were indulging themselves in.

Though this book is part of a series, I was able to follow it completely and it can be read as a stand-alone. But the author has caught my interest with the other characters too and I definitely am sure to check out the other books in the series. In fact, I am sure the foundation for the next book has been laid with Prudence's friend Aida being the protagonist and I can't wait to read that book.

Thanks to Netgalley, Darcy Burke and the publishers for this ARC. All opinions in this review are my own with no influence whatsoever.

Bennet St. James, Viscount Glastonbury, needs a bride with a dowry. His father mismanaged the estate and gambled all the money away. He must take care of all his female relatives who depend on him. After Bennet loses the prize fight with Ruark Hannigan, Earl of Wexford, Bennet became desperate. He did not want to lose Cassandra and her dowry. He is afraid she will marry Ruark. He decides to have Cassandra kidnapped. He is sure he can convince her to elope with him. Unfortunately the men Bennet hired to kidnap Cassandra grabs her lady’s companion, Prudence Lancaster, instead. What will Bennet do? Prudence has no money or dowry.

Bennet is not really a bad person. He is desperate. Prudence and Bennet end of spending a week together at the inn because of bad weather and his destroyed carriage. Bennet is quite charming. He is truly repentant. He acts without thinking. He cannot believe that he became so desperate that he had someone kidnapped. During the week they are stuck together, they begin to see each other in a new light. They slowly start to fall in love. Unfortunately Bennet needs money and cannot marry for love. Bennet is able to get Prudence back to London without her reputation being ruined. Now Bennet can begin looking for an heiress again. Will Bennet actually marry an heiress? Will he follow his heart and marry Prudence instead?

Indecent is the fourth book in the Phoenix Club series. The book does not disappoint. The story flowed and kept me interested. I look forward to the next book in this series. Darcy Burke has built a series with wonderful characters that you care about. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

Excellent story line, loved all the ups and downs. I couldn’t put it down. I do have a few bits of constructive criticism. There were a couple of editing errors that pulled me from the story, the beginning of the book took too long and the ending was too quickly resolved. I felt like we didn’t get to explore their real feelings for each other enough or his relationships with his Aunts/cousins. I would have loved to have seen more of their married life, how they fix his situation. Some of the story still felt a bit unresolved to me. Can’t wait to read the next one.

Indecent
Darcy Burke

Okay, I loved it. I’ve read the previous three books in the series and enjoyed them, but this one was just amazing.

So we’ve seen Prudence throughout the series. She has been a pretty significant secondary character throughout all of the Phoenix Club novels. I remember meeting her in the first one and liking her immediately. In the third book, we learn that she’s eloped, which is one heckuva surprise to us because she’s never even mentioned a man. I won’t lie; it fooled me. But, as you learn in this book, it’s a case of mistaken identity, and she’s actually been kidnapped by, of all people, Viscount Glastonbury, who I absolutely loathed in the previous book. What’s more surprising is the fact that I ended up LOVING him by the time I was several pages into this book, Darcy Burke is a wizard! It happened so quickly, I was not even prepared. I went from gritting my teeth whenever his character was mentioned in the previous book to hoping to see his name in this one.

This book goes into depth about why he’s been such a horrible fake person, as well as providing more about Prudence’s mysterious past (which we’ve gotten hints of throughout the books).

I love Darcy Burke’s writing. She’s very good at closing up potential plotholes without rushing things. What I really like is how she ensures that characters are fleshed out three-dimensionally in prior books before giving them their standalone novels. I felt invested in Prudence from the previous books, even though she was a secondary character in those. I didn’t feel like she was just thrust on us to round out a series—Darcy Burke really has a way of introducing characters that will become more important in subsequent books without just dropping them onto the reader. This keeps me coming back to her series. I actually cared what happened to Prudence in the previous book, making me more than ready for the story to continue in this one.

Overall, this one gets a strong 4.5 rating and I also purchased it for my own library. And I cannot wait for the next book in the series.

Well I liked it better than the first book in the series, but just by a little bit. We have a kidnapping gone wrong, a woman who forgives and falls in love with her kidnapper, a man who’s family apparently had some mental instability, a pregnancy, a squirrel, an agreement dissolved, a mother and noble family found, and that’s not even all of it. I think the novel suffers from too much thrown in it. I really just want to see who Lucian ends up with.

I received this arc from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Indecent by Darcy Burke

This is another book based around the Phoenix Club. It follows the series but this book seems to let it down by losing it’s pizazz. The previous romances seemed impassioned the one between Prudence Lancaster and Viscount Glastonbury was very dull with no sparkle similar to a damp firework.

Very slow and drawn out start and the second half had everything crammed in.

Sorry Darcy a rather disappointing and slow going 2.5/5

I Loved It! Fourth in The Phoenix Club series brings the characters who found a place in your heart are back. Indecent will hold you captivated from the moment you begin the journey until the very end.  Darcy Burke has written a story that has a great cast of characters that come off the pages and pull you into this emotional ride that keeps you involved until the very end, sizzling passion, it is smoothly written, dealing with unnerving situations, with a superb plot that is filled with tension-building twist and turns and setbacks that will keep you entralled from the beginning to the end in this outstanding story!

This book picks up where the last book left off. Bennett Glastonberry, Viscount and impoverished suitor, attempts to kidnap Lady Cassandra, only to find himself trapped for 6 days at an inn with her lady's companion, Prudence. It's hate at first sight until their attraction grows over the course of their confinement. Unfortunately, Bennett needs an heiress to take care of his eccentric relatives and Prue is searching for her real mother and penniless.

The first couple of chapters and their confinement really dragged for me. It's probably about 25% of the story and not much happens. But after that, they return to London and the story picks up and Lucien and the Phoenix Club make an appearance.

I really liked this story and loved it more after their relationship became more high stakes. There are a lot of things that are keeping them apart but they can't stay away from each other. It makes for an enjoyable read. I am really eager for Lucien's story, he's really the most compelling member of the Pheonix Club.

I have read all the books of the Phoenix Series so far. I was so excited to receive a copy of Indecent (The Phoenix Club #4) by Darcy Burke from NetGalley. Indecent follows the romance of Bennet St. James, Viscount of Glastonbury, and Prudence Lancaster, Lady's companion. Prudence has always been an enigmatic character in the series from the start and so was Bennet. Both the characters are not are simple as they might come across. I think this makes their chemistry very real and in a way, grounded.
The start of their story is weird; Bennet mistakenly gets Prudence kidnapped. Upon learning his mistake, he promises to get her back safely. They are stuck together for a couple of days due to the weather and things start heating up. Both these characters have had a difficult upbringing, especially Prudence, she does find peace in the end. It was surprising to learn about Bennet's secret and his behavior and obligations are understandable. Their romance and chemistry are a highlight of the novel for me. It just seems easy and natural. I like the depth and layers of characterization for Prudence as well as Bennet; they never seem flat.
The romance, characters, pace, and setting are done really well. Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down and finished it in a day. I enjoyed Indecent and cant wait for the next installments of Phoenix Club.

This series is starting to gain momentum. The way the desperate and destitute Viscount of Glastonbury, Bennet St. James, meets Prudence Lancaster, who is no better off than himself, is definitely unique. So much so, that the middle of the book paled in comparison when it got bogged down in repetition of not believing each one could have feelings for the other.
Luckily it picked back up at the end as both characters had greatly matured and were able to express their true selves to both themselves and those around them.
The next pairing in the series seems to be a good match and I am looking forward seeing the momentum of the Phoenix Club build.

This is a stay up until 3am, unputdownable, delicious story. 

The characters! The story! *chefs kiss* Perfection! This story spectacularly wraps the series. I cannot recommend it enough. Darcy Burke is, as always, amazing. Indecent is an emotional roller coaster! There are so many unexpected twists. 

Darcy never disappoints, but this one was over the top. I have thoroughly enjoyed every bit of this series. It is a "read the whole thing in a weekend" kind of series. A perfect way to spend a Valentine's day. :)

The interactions between Bennet and Prudence were fun and electric, and I was rooting for them all the way.

Indecent is the fourth book in The Phoenix Club series by Darcy Burke. Bennet St. James has a lot of relatives depending on him and estates to keep afloat, and he needs buckets full of money to make it happen. His only hope is to marry an heiress. And since time is running out, Bennet decides to just abduct the lucky lady and convince her to marry him. As luck would have it, he steals the wrong lady and ends up with Prudence, companion to his original target, Lady Cassandra. Bad weather forces them to spend time together in a small inn where they are the only customers.

Bennet didn’t leave a good impression behind in the previous book, Intolerable, and he doesn’t start off too well in this one either. He certainly surprised the socks off me in this book. Bennet gave new meaning to the word “solicitous”. He took extra good care of Prudence to make up for the fact that he had kidnapped her.

Prudence knew what she wanted and she wasn’t afraid to ask for it. A few interesting surprises sprung up along the way to spice things up. I loved Bennet’s crazy family. He never abandoned them, no matter what, and they supported him right back.

I enjoyed this book a lot more than its predecessor.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This review is also posted on my blog at https://hookedbythatbook.com

Indecent is the forth book in the Phoenix Club series and tells picks up where Intolerable left off… which turned out to be with Viscount Glastonbury accidentally kidnapping Prudence Lancaster, the destitute companion to his target!

Well of all the kidnappers I’ve read about, Glastonbury has to be one of the kindest and most desirable… I think I got Stockholm syndrome from this kidnapping, because I was fully on the side of Glastonbury and Prudence making a go of it!

I fell for this kind and bumping kidnapper as all his plans are foiled from the wrong girl being nabbed to the broken carriage and snowstorm that strands them together at an inn. And as for Prudence, her backbone and heart made her a heroine you wanted to root for on the way to her HEA!

But it was not as easy for these two… obviously, Glastonbury was after Prudences wealthy charge, he needs money and he can’t let his heart get in the way of taking care of his family and estate. That would be a tough pill to swallow, but Pru totally understands and accepts this! These two! My heart went out to them!

I don’t want to give away many other details… but they have a wild ride full of surprises and revealed secrets on the way to their HEA.

I was surprised at how easily I fell for this pairing, they may be my favourite of the Pheonix Club yet!

Though this is the 4th book of the series, author Darcy Burke does a great job setting up the characters and the background to have new readers jump in at this point, making this book easily read as a standalone.

Indecent by Darcy Burke was released January 25th, 2022.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#Indecent #DarcyBurke #Netgalley #pinkcowlandreads

From Rags to Romance

Indecent opens with a satisfying scene in which our kidnapped heroine, Prudence, displays she has a very fine backbone as she verbally defenestrates her kidnapper, who has accidentally plundered the wrong woman. Indeed, Prudence says everything I as a reader was hoping she would and does everything short of physical harm (the only tiny disappointment in a great first chapter; I was hoping she would kick him where it hurts, because he certainly seems to deserve it, at least initially).

Darcy Burke's magic, of course, is that within the span of a few dozen pages both Pru and the reader will have forgiven the truly repentant Bennet, penniless Viscount of Glastonbury, who really does seem to have committed kidnapping out of sheer desperation rather than a rakish or evil streak.

Indecent takes the "forced proximity" trope to an interesting extreme. For the first third of the novel, we are trapped with Prudence and Bennet at the inn, due to all manner of misfortune, from rain to violent trees. While they are eventually extricated from the inn, this sequence leaves the reader convinced of Pru and Bennet's ultimate suitability for one another. The love they share is, as the adorable innkeeper's wife keeps saying, so plain to see, whether they see it yet or not.

It was a nice surprise when the story wound up having more intrigue and minor mysteries than I had anticipated! As the fourth book in a series, I found it very easy to enjoy without having read any of the others though it did leave me wanting to go back and "meet" characters like the intriguing Lucien from the start. My first Darcy Burke but won't be my last!

One Sentence Summary: A very realistic romance with convincing chemistry and complex characters

Steam Level: Steamy

I wanted to like this but I could never get over the fact that they met because he kidnapped her. I'm sorry but this was incredibly cliché to the point where even the troops were not fun to read because it was so obvious what was going to happen. I did not feel that the two main characters had any chemistry so I'm sorry but this was just not worth my time.

I thought that this was a great book and I really did enjoy the storyline!

The characters in the book were great and really well developed and I loved the interaction between them.

It was a slow burn romance that had trust, feelings and circumstances that all needed to change to have a chance of love coming true.

It is 4 stars from me for this one, highly recommended!

the novel immediately kicks off and goes straight to the action when one of main characters gets kidnapped.

overall, it's very slowburn and that type of hr novel when character wants to marry one person for money or prestige but fall in love with someone else instead on the way. so if you are fan of this trope, definitely go for it!

there is a plotwist in second part of the book that made the story even more interesting and at least, me, didn't expect it at all.

since this is already a fourth book in series, im now tempted to read previous books as well.

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

An awesome continuation to the series. I really felt for Prudence and Bennet. I was happy with the ending, and I can't wait for the next instalment.