Chills

Distinguished Rogues #1

by Heather Boyd

The Distinguished Rogues ~ Book 1


Jack Overton, Marquess of Ettington, is at his wits end dealing with his twin sister’s distress. Under her name, he’s summoned Constance Grange, his vexing former ward, to London to act as his sister’s companion for the season. Although Pixie’s debt-ridden state comes as a complete surprise, what disturbs him more is his sister’s plan to find her a wealthy husband to pay off her overwhelming debts. And—despite his availability, wealth and title—he’s shocked to be overlooked for the position of Pixie’s husband.


With a nickname like Pixie, Constance Grange should be used to disasters, but debt collectors pounding on the Marquess of Ettington’s door demanding payment is beyond mortifying. Given the precarious state of her finances and the previously unknown loss of her family estate, her choices are either incarceration in debtors’ prison or turning fortune hunter to secure a wealthy husband. Yet the man that comes to her rescue more times than she cares to think about is unavailable, betrothed, and her former guardian Jack—the cold-hearted marquess.


A regency historical romance novel.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Regency, Historical Fiction, Ebooks, Fiction

302 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2011

About the author

USA Today Bestselling Author Heather Boyd believes every character she creates deserves their own happily-ever-after—no matter how much trouble she puts them through. With that goal in mind, she writes steamy romances that skirt the boundaries of propriety to keep readers enthralled until the wee hours of the morning. Heather has published over sixty regency romance novels and shorter works full of daring seductions and distinguished rogues. She lives north of Sydney, Australia, with her trio of rogues and a four-legged overlord. To learn more visit www.Heather-Boyd.com

Reviews

[Bianca · Rating 1 out of 5]

I haven't been reading much as I've been binge-watching The Killing on Netflix and the French open. I began reading this looking for something lighter. I must say I was entertained for a while as I wasn't paying much attention. It's riddled with cliches, inconsistencies, ridiculous scenarios and characterisations. Romance writers of the world, here's a cheap tip: want to stand out in this crowded market? You should try coming up with an MC who's not grumpy, brusque, moody and someone who's got a sense of humour? Try it. You may be surprised.

The piece de resistance that made me laugh out loud was this: By the time they reached Hintley House, Jack had his inappropriate lust in hand. . 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣 Sorry, I'm a bit childish. I mean, really ... this is a Regency/ Victorian romance or whatever they're called. I hope I didn't pay more than $0.99.

It's so difficult to find good lighter reads ...

[Chelsea · Rating 2 out of 5]

More reviews available at my blog, Beauty and the Bookworm. Most are longer than this.

While Boyd's novel An Accidental Affair was delicious, Chills left a lot to be desired. It was, simply put, boring. Nothing ever happened; the main characters spent the vast majority of the novel dancing around each other, taking one step forward and two steps back, and it was just disappointing. The sister's story should have been the main plot; that would have been much more interesting and made for much deeper character development. An Accidental Affair will lead me to read the other books in this series, but I sincerely hope they are better than Chills. (Also, the title. Why? No one got chills in this book. Well, one person did, but that was from falling into a pond, and I doubt that's the source of the title.)

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 stars
This book is about as historically accurate as...as...words fail me. As books not set in that era.
But of course, one does not read books like this for historical accuracy. Unfortunately, the story contained the great flaw of its genre (IMHO): it failed to keep up the romantic tension. Plots like this always have such intriguing premises and delicious tension for the first half. Then the hero and heroine give into their lust and it isn't interesting any more.
People who make out all the time are not interesting in real life. They are even less interesting in literature.
That said, half a star extra because I really did like Jack. I liked Jack because my love languages are touch and gift giving and he clearly shares both of those. So I developed quite a soft spot for him.
Otherwise, if you like third-wheeling with amorous characters, you might like this. If you'd sooner do literally anything else, probably not for you.

[Candace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pixie and Jack

Constance "Pixie" Grange is being bullied by her man of business. Jack Overton, the Marquess of Ettington, stops the bullying. Pixie informs the Marquess she plans to marry Cullen Brampton within a month, Jack is against the marriage. He convinces Pixie to hold off the wedding and stay until his sister, Virginia, is more herself. Because of her mother's debt, Pixie decides not to marry Brampton. Instead, she and Virginia compile a list of eligible bachelors who have the funds necessary to pay off her mother's gambling debt. Pixie just has to marry one of them. Jack agrees to help Pixie in her search for a husband if she will stop arguing with him over every little thing. He is displeased to not find his name on the list. Pixie is distressed over the whole situation.

I found this story delightful. The main characters feel real and the secondary characters are more than cardboard cutouts. There are two romances in this novel -- one between Jack and Pixie and a second between Virginia and Lord Bernard Hallam. The plot is simple. Virginia and Bernard's subplots came mighty close to overshadowing the plot. Ms. Boyd does a good job of wrapping up all the loose ends. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

[Eve · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this one. The characters were well written, their chemistry was good and the concept worked well. I haven’t much to say besides that. Although, I will mention that it did manage to drag a tad nearing the end just because Pixie STILL didn’t know the truth about the supposed fiancé and was just being stubborn. Still an entirely fun read.

[N.N. Heaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happens when a devastatingly handsome Marquess falls for his former ward who's his twin sister's best friend and companion? That's exactly what happens in Chills by Heather Boyd. A Regency romance with plenty of drama, schemes, misunderstandings and double entendres to fill a ballroom. I enjoyed every minute of it. The emotional attachment between Jack (Marquess) and his twin sister touched me deeply. The multiple POVs filled in the storylines and I particularly enjoyed when Pixie (former ward) discovered a quite scandalous book amongst Jack's leather-bound books.

The only thing I didn't understand was the title. Chills? It didn't make any sense to me and if I was honest, still doesn't to this day.

My Rating: 5 stars

Reviewed by: Mrs. N

[Natward1 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't finish after page 18. This may be an okay read but I absolutely cannot stand it when authors make their lead females so uptight and pissy. I like awesome, fun female leads that have a wide variety of emotions and personality traits and don't get mad over every little thing. Especially when they are provoked. It shows uniqueness and is interesting. But By page 18, the only emotion pixie has had is anger toward the marquess. And why? Oh well of course it's because he helps her with the bill collector and offers to continue to help her. The nerve!!! I know I get bitchy when people try and help me too! *heavy sarcasm*. I get that these two have a past, but since we are given zero background as to what has happened between them all I see is just another huffy, indignant female with a stick up her ass. As far as I can see, the marquess has been her ward all growing up and in that time he made sure her estate was always in order. If the author wanted to have pixie be angry at him she could at least give her a good reason presently. Pixie does mention that she hates his arrogance which would be fine, but since the only thing I've seen so far from her is unwarranted over-reactive anger, I don't care to read her story. She should be used to his arrogance by now and just take it with a grain of salt. But shes all grinding her teeth and clenching her fists and imagining doing harm in several different ways to him on basically every page so far and for no good reason. Being annoyed with him is one thing. But wanting to do him bodily harm takes it to an exaggerated and annoying level. Having anger and passion is fine, but when it's the only thing I've seen in 18 pages, she comes off as a one note character. No layers. Boring and lame. Boo to uptight females!

[HR-ML · Rating 3 out of 5]

This took place in 1813.

Titled/ rich Jack wanted assistance w/ his mentally
fragile widowed twin, Virginia, from his former ward
Constance. Va. & Con were friends. Con thought Jack
a bully at times. His father had an alcohol history &
her family was ruined by gambling & overspending.

Jack reminded me of a boy who took the wings off
butterflies just because he could. Jack was moody &
overbearing toward his sister and Con. Several times
in the book it felt like taciturn Jack left Constance
hanging. He seldom made Con feel secure, financially,
emotionally or otherwise.

I skipped ahead & went back in this book. Constance
would have been better served by a less dramatic
& more communicative love interest.

[Ursula · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok.
This went around and around and around, covering mostly the same ground. It could have been half the length and a better book. A few sexy times, not badly written. I just couldn't get into it.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

UGH

Poorly written for starters. Nonsensical and silly at times. The language and behavior are not consistent with the time period. I will not read more of her work.

[Merry · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can only add to what has already been written by other reviewers. It was boring. I can handle that it was written as a modern romance with a nod to historical props. But how many times can Pixie wail that they are going to the poor house.

[Coco.V]

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[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

For me, this book was okay, but easily forgettable. It wasn't a story that captured my attention and drew me in. There was no big conflict in the story, and it felt like this book was a prime example of "poor communication" between characters. Starting out, the heroine was soooo angry at the hero for literally NO reason. It was silly, and when the big reveal takes place about what really happened to create such an upset for the heroine, it was incredibly anti-climatic and left you feeling like "Wait, what? That's it?? Seriously? Ookayy then, that was an awful lot of anger for nothing." She's also described as being a "pixie" but except for being short, her personality doesn't really seem to fit with her nickname. The hero, on the other hand, has a reputation amongst the ton as being very arrogant and cold-hearted. Yet he displays none of these characteristics and seems very kind and thoughtful. The characters didn't fit with how the author introduced and described them. It was a disappointing read.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chills is the first installment in the Distinguished Rogues series. It is a Regency Romance with a best friends brother trope. The story is a interesting one but I don't understand the reference of the title and sometimes the characters didn't match up with their description. In this book you really get 2 stories, one just as interesting as the other. I look forward to reading the other books in this series...

Jack, Marquess of Ettington, is extremely worried about his twin sisters mental health. He uses her name and writes his former ward, Constance Grange and asks her to come to London to be her companion for a season. Upon Pixie's arrival the debt collectors start showing up and it's a surprise to her and the Ettington family. Pixie and Virginia come up with a plan for her to marry for money to keep her out of debtors prison, so a list of names is written and Jack is irritated by the plan but even more angry that his name does not appear on the list.

Constance Grange was given the nickname Pixie by Jack when she was just a child. She is humiliated by the debt collectors bullying her about her mama's gambling debts. Pixie's choices are limited when she finds out that her family estate cannot be sold. To keep from going to prison she becomes a fortune hunter to find a wealthy husband and one that will stand up to her mother. She rules Jack out because of his cold hearted arrogance and his betrothal to an unknown woman. Yet he keeps coming to her rescue each and every time something happens and with each incident she realizes he doesn't have a cold heart after all...

[Letschat1974 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/3.5 stars (enjoy Maureen Driscoll, Elisa Braden, Sophie Jordon, Samantha Holt, Stacy Reid)

The development and interest in main characters and secondary characters was enjoyable. I really did like the H/H for this book; very well paired as a couple. You also get a secondary romance with sister and friend.

I loved the writing around the women empowerment (it wasn’t over the top for me). Badass women rock.

writing style is easy to follow, humorous moments, the give and take dialogue enjoyable.

Romantic/sexual content (kissing, oral, love making scenes) was throughout the book. Nothing over the top; again nicely intertwined in the story. 2.5/5 hotness and steam.

I love series around family members or a group of friends. I love the series even more when the author intertwines those characters throughout the book series (it’s a pet peeve when authors don’t do that because what’s the point of the series and introducing the characters if they are not going to interact throughout the series).

would recommend this book and series (you don’t have to read them in order however it wouldn’t hurt to read them in order to get the full story throughout the series).

You can definitely tell the writing difference from her first book in this series which I felt was a little too long and incomplete storyline.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars raised to a 4. This is pure, unadulterated chick lit set in Regency England. Constance, our heroine, comes to London to visit her friend at her brother’s town house. She and Jack, a Marquis, have known each other since childhood and have a somewhat tempestuous relationship with the addition of a strong attraction to each other. Their antics, coupled with those of his sister and her gentleman friend, will keep anyone with an interest in this genre involved. Thanks to the author and publisher for an e-Galley for an honest review.

[Lizette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very realistic characters & relationships, had me laughing

That many things are not as they seem is true in life and is delightfully captured in this story. The contrasts within Constance and Virginia, and between them are revealed as the story evolves. The same is true of Jack and Bernard. Each of the four has a significant challenge to handle, and eventually does as surprises unfold and communication between them occurs overtly, subtly, and realistically. The supporting characters are believeable and surprising. The realism is a delight.

[Diedra Drake · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a decent historical romance. I liked some parts, hated other bits, and was surprised to find that it was, overall, a double-romance with two couples for an outcome. Jack and Pixie are great characters, but I felt like they spent too much time fighting against the obvious for two smart people who like to speak their minds and blurt things out.

Honestly, I liked that second couple enough to want either a longer book out of this one or a separate book for them. I do like the setup for book 2 that comes in with Lord Daventry (one of my favorite characters from this book), but as much as I'd enjoy giving it a chance, I'm wary because of some of the reviews.

[Odera Abajue · Rating 2 out of 5]

FINALLY finished a book again

[Virginpat · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5

[Janejellyroll · Rating 2 out of 5]

Incredibly dull.

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

Jack and his twin sister Virginia look after their friend Constance/Pixie...even though Jack no longer sees her as a child and Virginia has been lost in her own troubles. Constance's mother has put their family in a lot of debt and she believes a rich husband is her only way to stay out of jail. Jack is upset that his name wasn't on the eligible list and helps Pixie in her pursuit while also trying to seduce her.

This was very boring and way too long. The two main characters love each other but do everything possible to show that they don't. Also, the connection between the twins was weird, just too strong to be believable without a supernatural twist. I just didn't care for this one.

[Joan]

I ended up skimming through the last 6% or so of this book. The characters never really came alive for me, and the seemingly endless 'falling in love' aspect was far too drawn out. I never felt any real conflict either. Several things were mentioned and then conveniently forgotten such as the house, and the debts and the mother.

Not rating at this time.

[Skye Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read a preview of this at the end of ' Wicked mourning' and was hooked!! I'm not usually a fan of this type of old english romance so please take that as a complement Heather! I will be looking for more of your work :)

[Linda Kay · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love the way the characters were developed, and I really liked the beginning of the story. But, I do NOT like The graphic sex or the coarse language in the book. I like pure reads and clean reads and I probably will not buy another book by Heather Boyd.

[Jean · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring trope, does not follow social conventions of the period. Another modern story clothed in regency clothes. Just irritating and not worth the time nor money!

[Chenelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn’t stop

I enjoyed the chemistry between Pixie and Jack. The love scenes were well written and filled with passion. Strong characters

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

I LOVED the characters but as others mentioned, it was a slow burn. Too slow. But still really enjoyable, just really well drawn H/h with appropriate emotional depth.

[DKC · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this first book in the Distinguished Rogues series.
I liked several things about the story: the twin-sympathy connection appealed to me; the friction between the hero and heroine based on the change from friend, to guardian, to an undefined relationship; the trauma recovery after an abusive marriage (though it seemed bizarre that no one knew anything about Orkney's proclivities - there would've been a trail of victims somewhere for crying out loud); the two guys who are struggling with their love for the women they would do anything for; and Pixie's inner conflict of shame and feeling like a fraud being in London while her mother gambles them into prison.

Those all interested me and kept me going. However, I don't think it's a good indication, when I start looking at how many chapters are left in the book, halfway through.

Basically, it would have been a little better as a novella, rather than full novel. Things could've compressed down in the timeline - Cullen's appearance, the Scaling's attempts, etc. The author dragged things out to 29 chapters, and threw in a ridiculous epilogue (I think this is the second so-called regency I've read in as many months where the author had to throw some silly, over-the-top, nyah-nyah scene in public at the end. Yawn!). All that, and never once does Pixie's mother show her face in the story. One of the key motivators for me, as I was cheering for Jack's success, was the thought that the author would show exactly how Jack would deal with the profligate gambling of her mother, and that same woman's disdain and venomous slander against him. Nope, she's relegated to nothing more than a poisonous, vague influence -- and one of the main reasons Pixie is in such dire straits. Come on! I could have cared less if we saw the Scalings get their comeuppance; I wanted to see him set Mrs. Grange straight. Sigh

So, that's why I can only give it 3 stars, despite the interesting premise and characters. The heat level was acceptable, although it got dragged out until I nearly thought I was reading a "no sexy-sex here" book. The author made it seem like Pixie was so completely unaware of her own physicality or of others, that she literally had to find an illustrated book to figure out what she might be feeling was physical attraction. (Draw her a map, someone?)

I may keep going in the series, mainly because there was a good teaser for the next book at the end of this one. But I'm hoping I see more of a heroine's character development in the next one -- a little less pouting, please! I've never found that particularly winsome...

[_ paralivreando_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Constance se encontra em uma maré de azar. Tudo o que sua família havia conquistado já não lhe pertencia, embora fosse culpa de seus próprios pais. Além disso, sua mãe afundou-as ainda mais ao resistir a própria realidade gastando além do que possuía.
A única alternativa que Pixie encontra, é seguir os conselhos de sua melhora amiga Virgínia e conquistar alguém que pudesse lhe sustentar e refrear sua mãe rebelde. Entretanto, a cada dia e em cada baile, a lista dos homens que poderiam resolver seu futuro diminui e viver seus últimos dias na cadeia parece ser a luz do fim do túnel. (Isso foi dramático!!😅)
Mas todos os seus problemas não chegam nem perto do que sua amiga Virginia viveu no passado, e por isso, satisfazer os desejos dela e vê-la sorrir, incentiva Pixie nessa empreitada, mesmo que ela já não esteja se sentindo digna de qualquer coisa.
Tudo isso deixa Constance cega o suficiente para não conseguir perceber que seu ex-guardião se sentiria mais do que honrado ter o nome dele em sua lista, por isso Jack terá que se esforçar para provar a Constance que ele não é tão velho e rabugento quanto ela o descreve.
Constance terá que sobreviver aos acidentes que são lhe impostos para que sua humilhação seja mais desagradável a cada dia, além de entender seus sentimentos e o novo comportamento de Jack para com ela.
Mesmo o livro sendo de Constance e Jack, o leitor irá acompanhar a superação de Virgínia de um passado violento e abusivo; a conquista de Bernard de seu amor verdadeiro após um grande período de dor e insegurança; e uma verdadeira amizade que transpassa anos e distâncias.
Um livro encantador e uma série que promete grandes emoções !