Untamable Rogue

Rogues Club #4

by Annette Blair

Ashford Blackburne, Fifth Earl of Blackburne, does not care where he marries and plants his seed, so long as he does both before Christmas when his tyrannical grandfather’s archaic ultimatum runs out. Jilted, drunk, and challenged to a high-stakes poker game, Ash loses the game, but wins the consolation prize: a guttersnipe bride and a wedding at gunpoint. For her part, Larkin McAdams has loved Ashford Blackburne since she was a child. She’ll make him a good wife. She does not need much—a cot, a warm blanket ... a monthly bath.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Regency, Christmas, Historical Fiction, Fiction

320 pages, ebook

First published October 1, 2004

About the author

Annette Blair's romantic comedies owe their beginnings to a root canal and a reluctant trip to Salem Massachusetts. Though she had once proclaimed she'd never write a contemporary, she stumbled into the serendipitous role of Accidental Witch Writer on that trip. Funny how she managed to eat her words even with an aching jaw. Magic or destiny; Annette's Bewitching Romantic Comedies became her first National Bestsellers.

Her August '07 release, SEX AND THE PSYCHIC WITCH, the first in her Triplet Witch Trilogy, hit the #1 bestselling spot for contemporary romance-humorous on Barnes & Noble. It also hit B & N's overall bestseller lists for mass market and fiction mass market and #7 for romance mass market, topping Nielsen BookScan and Borders Bestseller lists as well.

Reviews

[Aneca · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although the story is called A Christmas Baby it's not set during the Christmas season. It refers to a baby that should be born before Christmas.

A desperate rogue, a consolation prize of a guttersnipe bride, and an untimatum to be met... a bride with a babe in her belly by Christmas. Not an easy task when the bride's been riding a pig.

What's a rogue to do? Give her a bath... to begin with...

I had read two books of this series previously and found them too modern in tone for my tastes. This one was no exception. Lord marries inkeeper's daughter that he "wins" in a game of cards where everyone was drunk and her father cheated. He proceeds to make her his bride because he will only receive his grandfather's fortune if he gets married and has a baby till Christmas. It's the kinf of plot that I could read and enjoy if the dialogue, the setting, the behaviours were according to their time. Unfortunately none of that happens here and to top we are introduced to a 6 year old child who talks like she is 15...

Grade: C

[gremlinkitten · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice close to the Rogue series, if, and I hate be redundant, a bit unoriginal. The characters were nice, there were some funny moments, and the plot was good, but it didn't touch me like other romances do. However, I did like the whole Christmas thing at the end, it was cute if rather saccharine.

One of my main problems was that this series must have the worst editors. In all four books there are missing quotation marks, sentences that aren't clear, and misspelled/or forgotten words. I would hope that these would be minimal.

[Caroline]

I got this as a free download and I've not read anything before by this author so I thought I would give it a try. I'm still in too minds about whether I really am enjoying it. I find Lark quite annoying as she states near the start that she really likes him and makes sure that he has to marry her but then in the next minute she's trying to run away from him (constantly).

Anyway will continue to read and will see how things go.

I'm afraid that I've given up on this book. I may well re-try it at another date.

[Zrinka Jelic · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm afraid this book left me baffled. After reading the first book in the series and loving it, I can't explain what happened to the author's smooth prose I fell in love in her first book. This book has many missing and/or misplaced words in the sentences, missplaced quoatation marks, awkwardly worded and unclear sentences, dissconnected scenes, no scene breaks to indicate POV switches (there were some head hoping in the first book but it was done expertly, not the case here) or change of scenes (eg in one scene they are in bed making love, in the very next sentence her dancing instructor arrives? Which actually happened days later but it read as if he came right at that moment.And there's lots like this all throughout the book) Lark's and Ash's voices(as well as every character in the book) sounds the same. It's impossible to distinguish who spoke. Lark speaks as an uneducated woman in one sentence and in the very next one as somoene of high upbringing. In my opinion this book just didn't live up to the first one.

[Suzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I downloaded this book because it was being offered by amazon for free, and figured I had nothing to lose. I am very glad I did- it is a charming story, and I could not put it down. This is my first book by this author, and even though this was book four in a series I am unfamiliar with, I enjoyed every minute. Will definately add this book to my favorites list, and check out more by this author. The only drawback- poor editing. Boldface type in strange places, punctuation errors, and other editing mistakes do occasionally hamper the story and breaks the reader's concentration. This would be my only negative thought on the book. Hope you enjoy as well!

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much. aside from being a good romantic story, it was really funny. I laughed a lot. The heroine was different than usual, being the daughter of a tavern owner who gambles her off to an Earl who needs a wife in order to fulfill his grandfather's edict of-no baby by Christmas,, no fortune. zBut although Lark has loved Ash from afar from childhood, she does no make it easy for him. When you read about the parsnips and the blanket hornpipe, i will guess you will laugh as heartily as I did. Recommended.

[Kath · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story deserves more than 5 stars. I was captured after only reading the first paragraph in Jewels of Historical Romance and I had to purchase the full novel. What a wonderful story teller and writer Annette Blair is, I started the full novel late last night and read till the early hours this morning and couldn't wait to get back to Ash and Lark. There was lots of humour, I was laughing out loud, and I admit to sheading a tear of two aswell.
I would highly recommend the HR.... Absolutely loved it !!!

[♥Aicha~high~on~books♥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has some of the funniest sexual euphemisms I have read in a while. I had a good laugh at places but the story as such was not that great. I found the writing a little choppy and confusing at times. The story has a vague pygmalion-ish feel to it , though not very pronounced.
However it comes across as a pretty original piece of work in terms of the writing, if not the plot.
I do recommend it but not very strongly.

[LadyCalico · Rating 1 out of 5]

This piece of crap was so horrible, I don't even know where to begin. I think I will just nominate it for worse book ever written. Recommended only for people who find domestic violence and obnoxious behavior entertaining. Senseless tripe! I'm glad to delete it from my kindle and am hoping it didn't leave any smell behind.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ashford Blackburne is the Earl of Blackburne but he has gambled away and misused all his money. In order to receive a much needed inheritance from his grandfather he must marry and have a child on the way before Christmas. He has tried to convince several women of his acquaintance to help him in his endeavors but none would bite. Then he loses a bet and is awarded a young woman named Lark from a pub owner who was her father.

Lark is undisciplined but very intelligent and proves a match for Ashford who finds her fascinating and unwilling to bend to his will. Sparks fly but each comes to their senses before Christmas.

A fun read to a not so surprising ending.

[Rebekah Carulli Hanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love this story! I believe Ash and Lark are my favorites out of the 4 stories. The characters are endearing and realistic. I laughed so hard at some of Lark’s misconceptions of sex and even he’d own body. Annette drew me in from the beginning and kept me reading late into the night. I highly recommend the Rogues series. R. K. Hanson

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was not one of my favorite Annette Blair books. The story warms up- but at the beginning I wanted to punch both main characters, and I find that I want some element of danger in my historical romances. Not horrible, not her best.

[Lisa Baffi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars!!

I love the humor in this love story. I loved how lark and ash brought their trust out in each other. Lastly, I loved the happy ending.

[Andrea Minier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book!

I love this series. Annette Blair is a wonderful story teller. It makes you want to jump in and be apart of them.

[Suzanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not for me

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was up and down for me, couldn't consistently get into it.

[Karen Kuhn · Rating 4 out of 5]

rated R

[stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good end of the day read

If you like historical romance, then you'll like this. The characters are relatable. It was charming with a good mix of drama and some humor.

[Trudy Miner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ashford Blackburne needs his inheritance in order to clear his debts and in order to get his inheritance his grandfather said that he must marry and have a child on the way by Christmas! When his latest "fiancée" jilts him at the altar, Ashford and his cronies go to their favorite pub to drown their sorrows. There, the pub owner offers him his daughter if he loses the card game he's playing against the wily pub owner. Larkin, who sees a way out of the misery she's been living, is a pickpocket and cardsharp and makes sure that Ashford loses; suddenly, he's married to Larkin and they are on their way to his country estate! Now he has to transform this dirty, disheveled girl/dressed as a boy into his countess. Larkin, who has never known a woman's touch, knows nothing about a woman's body and it's left up to Ashford to explain these things to her before she'll even consider bedding him based on what she thought happened to her sister. Larkin, despite her upbringing, shows herself to be a caring stepmother to the children who come into their care and she becomes the darling of the staff. However, will she become pregnant by Christmas and fulfill Ashford's grandfather's demands?

This story was by turns humorous and touching. There were parts that seemed unbelievable too. But it was an enjoyable story nonetheless.

[Angie ~aka Reading Machine~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Earl Ashford "Ash" Blackburne is need of a bride in order to inherit Blackburne Chase from his grandfather. When he's left at the altar again he fears ever finding a bride to meet his grandfather's demands. Larkin "Lark" McAdams is pickpocket and in love with Ashford already. Ash has a night of gambling and drinking where he takes a bet losing he gains a bride. Larkin is stunned by her father's deceit yet willing to make the sacrifice. Will Ash meet his grandfather's demands? Will Larkin and Ash become a true couple? Your answers await you in Untamable Rogue.


I just adore this series. I sincerely wish there were more books in this series. Annette Blair sets a beautiful backdrop for her storytelling. The characters are completely memorable and joy to read. I've definitely put this author on my must buy and read list.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spoiler Alert!!!
Blackburn needs to get married to and produce an heir by Christmas to satisfy his grandfather's demands to inherit the estate. He is desperate to so since his mother has had an stroke and doesn't want to move her since he thinks his going off to war caused it. Larkin has been in love with him most her life, just seeing glimpses of him on his visits to her father's inn. Her father puts her up in a card game and she fixes it so he loses and gets her as a wife. She is very scruffy and at first is against all bathing. She agrees to his conditions though including the heir if he promises to adopt her late sister's boy Micah.
They fight but he teaches her to be a lady and they fall in love and decided to not go their separate ways at the end of their original agreement.

[Marilyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

From gutter-snipe to countess in less than a year. Sounds intriguing and it should have been but it wasn't. The h, Lark, goes from a shrieking hell-cat with a vocabulary to make a sailor blush and kneeing balls along the way to becoming a loving, understanding stepmother while inbetween her husband, Ash, enlightens her regarding the meaning of her "monthlies", the differences between a man and a woman and about how to "make babies". I don't know if this was supposed to be a comedy, a romance or a sex manual. If some of the latter scenes were cut, the novel would have been reduced by at least a third.

[Paraphrodite · Rating 3 out of 5]

This had a tavern wench/pickpocket turned lady together with a marriage of convenience - beget a baby for an inheritance theme. There are better examples of such stories but this one is still quite enjoyable. I liked all the kids throughout this series that helped the rogues "find" themselves. This book ends with a Christmas house party with 19 kids!!!! If as the author has indicated that there might still be upcoming books on the unmarried rogues, I hesitate to think how many kids they will end up with!!

[Zena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was looking at how many times this particular series has been reprinted - that it is several times must tell you just how good and how popular these books are.
But back to this particular one. As usual Annette Blaire has given each of the main characters strong personalities. She writes with a fantastic sense of humor and describes each scene so cleverly that I couldn't help but picture each one in my mind's eye.
If it's romancing, drama, mystery and intrigue, family life and well earned friendships you love to read about, then this story has it all.
Another beautiful tale, well told!

[Melgogs · Rating 5 out of 5]

As with the other Annette Blair books I have read, I devoured this book in less than a day. It was a bit hard to get into in the beginning, as I am not really into books from different centuries. I get stuck on the language used and sometimes find it hard to get past that. But with this book, it didnt really seem to be an issue. I love how Blair connects you to the characters and makes you want to root for them.

[Missy Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really hate it when I accidentally read a book in the middle of a series. But I love it when the book is so good I can't wait to read the others. This regency romance about Lark and Ash was a great historical romance. I LOVED Lark. She is spunky, and everything a heroine should be, while Ash is an awesome hero. This would be a five star review if there weren't typos in the book, mostly quite a few punctuation issues. As for the story itself, awesome!

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

All of these books are the same - what's nice about them is that they are easy reads and a continuous story melded around a group of men formed in the war - they all look out after one another and their families, and its nice to read about good things happening to good people - even though its period fiction.

[Dawn-Desiree · Rating 1 out of 5]

I tried to be nice with this book, but OMG ..... The story premise lead me to believe a good story to unfold. Unfortunately this was not the case.
The book was poorly edited and I never felt like I cared about either character. I finished the book to say that I did, not because I intrigued by it. I would say give this book a pass.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like a good historical romance every once in a while and I really enjoyed this one. I loved the humor and storyline. Lark was hilarious and I love how Ash was always up to challenge whatever that may be. I liked how the other Rouges and their families were including in the story. So good storyline, sweet baby making and a HEA.

[Dawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Last Rogue in the series. It was a fun read, but no depth, which is o.k. if that is what you are going for. They adopt street urchins...which is always comical. This one was about introducing Christmas to the Rogue group.