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The Rookery Rogues #1
A Dangerous Invitation
She’s given up on love, and wants only independence…
Torn from her life of privilege by her father’s death, Kate Morgan survives in London’s dark and depraved rookeries as a fence for stolen goods. The last man she ever expects, or wants, to be reunited with is her first love, who promised to cherish, honor and protect her, and instead fled amidst accusations of murder.
He’s the reformed rake determined to win her back…
One drunken night cost Daniel O’Reilly the woman he loved and the life he’d worked so hard to create. If he ever wants to reclaim that life–and Kate–he’ll not only have to prove he’s innocent of murder, but convince the pistol-wielding spitfire that he’s no longer the scoundrel he once was.
Together, they’ll have to face a killer. Time is running out…
Torn from her life of privilege by her father’s death, Kate Morgan survives in London’s dark and depraved rookeries as a fence for stolen goods. The last man she ever expects, or wants, to be reunited with is her first love, who promised to cherish, honor and protect her, and instead fled amidst accusations of murder.
He’s the reformed rake determined to win her back…
One drunken night cost Daniel O’Reilly the woman he loved and the life he’d worked so hard to create. If he ever wants to reclaim that life–and Kate–he’ll not only have to prove he’s innocent of murder, but convince the pistol-wielding spitfire that he’s no longer the scoundrel he once was.
Together, they’ll have to face a killer. Time is running out…
350 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2013
229 people are currently reading
1276 people want to read
About the author
Erica Monroe
31 books161 followersUSA Today Bestselling Author Erica Monroe writes dark, gritty historical romance. Her current series include Gothic Brides (Regency Gothics), The Rookery Rogues (pre-Victorian gritty working class romance), and Covert Heiresses (Regency spies who are the children of a duke). She was a finalist in the published historical category for the prestigious Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Romantic Suspense, and her books have been recommended reads at Fresh Fiction, Smexy Books, SBTB, and All About Romance. When she's not writing, she's drinking coffee, reading comic books, or watching televison. She lives in the suburbs of North Carolina with her husband, two dogs, and two cats. Visit Erica online at ericamonroe.com and sign up for her new release newsletter at: hyperurl.co/emnl.
Erica does not read Goodreads messages or respond to invitations. She rarely checks Goodreads.
Erica does not read Goodreads messages or respond to invitations. She rarely checks Goodreads.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
March 1, 2014
I wish I'd been a beta for this one, because I feel like a lot of what I didn't like could have been fixed fairly easily, making this a much more enjoyable book (at least for me!)
I wanted it to be better because I loved the start. The setting, the heroine, even the plot - all intriguing.
But I couldn't STAND the hero. I'm all for flawed characters, but I like the flaws to be acknowledged. In this case, apparently we were just supposed to ignore that he's an asshole. He ditches the heroine without a word of explanation and comes back to town after three years absence and expects to just pick up where they left off. His reasons for wanting to be with her are all selfish - she keeps him sane, etc., and he never stops to think whether he's a good thing for HER. (And when the plot makes it clear that he's NOT a good thing and his very presence puts her in serious danger, it doesn't really seem to matter). When she says she needs time to think about things (he's been gone for three years, back for a week or two) he acts like it's a personal insult. When she finds out things about her father and needs time to adjust, THAT's all about him, too. He was completely selfish and self-centered and I think she'd have been much better off far away from him.
There were a few other little niggles, too. Like at the end of the book, a police officer just suddenly appears at the exact right time and just happens to know all about everything... and somehow the heroine thinks he's going to arrest her, but I'm really not sure what evidence the officer would have on her. And I was disappointed that the book didn't FULLY commit to a few things that would have made the story bolder - like after a bunch of foreshadowing about the heroine having been a whore, the book backs down and it turns out she was just tricked into going to a whorehouse and (maybe? maybe not?) raped while there. I'm not saying that wouldn't be traumatic, but I think the character would have been a hell of a lot more interesting if she'd actually been a prostitute. And the hero was an acknowledged drunk and on the night of the murder was apparently too soused to know what was going on... but then the book backs away from THAT, too, and it turns out he was drugged in order to be so out of it. Grrrrr.
I hope the author writes more, because this felt authentic and I really liked the idea of reading a historical about 'normal' people rather than nobility. But this one just didn't work for me.
I wanted it to be better because I loved the start. The setting, the heroine, even the plot - all intriguing.
But I couldn't STAND the hero. I'm all for flawed characters, but I like the flaws to be acknowledged. In this case, apparently we were just supposed to ignore that he's an asshole. He ditches the heroine without a word of explanation and comes back to town after three years absence and expects to just pick up where they left off. His reasons for wanting to be with her are all selfish - she keeps him sane, etc., and he never stops to think whether he's a good thing for HER. (And when the plot makes it clear that he's NOT a good thing and his very presence puts her in serious danger, it doesn't really seem to matter). When she says she needs time to think about things (he's been gone for three years, back for a week or two) he acts like it's a personal insult. When she finds out things about her father and needs time to adjust, THAT's all about him, too. He was completely selfish and self-centered and I think she'd have been much better off far away from him.
There were a few other little niggles, too. Like at the end of the book, a police officer just suddenly appears at the exact right time and just happens to know all about everything... and somehow the heroine thinks he's going to arrest her, but I'm really not sure what evidence the officer would have on her. And I was disappointed that the book didn't FULLY commit to a few things that would have made the story bolder - like after a bunch of foreshadowing about the heroine having been a whore, the book backs down and it turns out she was just tricked into going to a whorehouse and (maybe? maybe not?) raped while there. I'm not saying that wouldn't be traumatic, but I think the character would have been a hell of a lot more interesting if she'd actually been a prostitute. And the hero was an acknowledged drunk and on the night of the murder was apparently too soused to know what was going on... but then the book backs away from THAT, too, and it turns out he was drugged in order to be so out of it. Grrrrr.
I hope the author writes more, because this felt authentic and I really liked the idea of reading a historical about 'normal' people rather than nobility. But this one just didn't work for me.
May 10, 2017
This review also appears at All About Romance: http://allaboutromance.com/book-revie...
Erica Monroe’s début historical romance, A Dangerous Invitation, takes us into the back alleys of London in an engrossing tale of betrayal, redemption and second chances. Kate Morgan has been forced into the rookeries through the bankruptcy of her father’s company, which happened as a direct result of her father’s defense of Daniel O’Reilly, an employee accused of the murder of a co-worker. Daniel fled and Kate’s life turned upside down – her father died, she was left destitute and she is eking out a survival for herself serving as a fence for stolen goods. Daniel is an alcoholic who fled the false accusation of murder, abandoning Kate in the process. Now recovering from his addiction, Daniel is determined to restore his good name and rebuild his relationship with Kate. Can he convince her that he’s worthy of a second chance?
The majority of historical romances set in London tend to feature upper class citizens. In contrast, this story shows the seedy underbelly of society. The characters here are thieves, beggars and prostitutes, people struggling to make a living and stay afloat in a world that cares nothing for their situation. It’s clear that author has researched the time period well. The attention to detail in the setting – the language, idioms, images and descriptions of everyday life bring the reader fully into the story and into the daily lives of the poor and those eking out a survival as best they can. Yet it is not told in a depressing manner, but rather with a matter-of-factness that enables readers to immerse themselves into the life being lived.
Kate’s situation is heartbreaking and shows the narrow edge of survival for people of her class. The ruin of her father’s company, his death, and her gender leaves her without many options. But to her credit, the drastic change in her circumstances forces her true character to the surface. Kate is a strong confident woman who will do what she must to survive. She has no qualms about her new chosen profession or about the company she keeps; she is courageous, daring and suffers no fools. Daniel’s re-appearance in her life evokes strong emotions but she is wary of trusting anyone, especially him.
And then there is Daniel. Such a flawed hero! He knows full well that his addiction to gin has cost him everything – his good name, his employment, his relationship with Kate, and his complete memories of what happened the night a man was killed and he was blamed for it. Believing the hangman’s noose was in his future, he abandoned Kate to her fate and continued down the path of alcoholic destruction. Eventually his memories of Kate haunt him and lead to an epiphany that he has to give up gin to save himself. Daniel knows how much his betrayal has cost Kate, and how much he must do to redeem himself in her eyes. I love the portrayal of his character. He continues to struggle with alcohol as is realistic for any recovering alcoholic. He is dogged and determined to prove his worth and clear his name. It’s this ability to admit his mistakes and fight to be a better man that makes him hero material.
Kate and Daniel have an explosive sexual chemistry. Despite their rocky history, their attraction to each other is undeniable. Daniel wants to recreate and strengthen what they had before while Kate fights the memory of their lovemaking. This creates a delicious sexual tension and as a result, the ensuing and inevitable love scenes are steamy and believable.
There are several intriguing secondary characters in this story – on both sides of the law. The suspenseful plot proceeds at a fast pace as the mystery of the murdered man is uncovered and the danger to Kate and Daniel increases. Readers will find themselves unable to put the story down as it races to its conclusion.
A Dangerous Invitation has everything I want in an historical romance – an excellently researched setting, wonderfully realistic flawed characters, steamy love scenes, fast paced action and an overwhelming feeling of complete satisfaction at the end of the story. Knowing there are more novels in the Rookery Rogues series is the icing on the cake.
Favorite Quote:
'I cared about you Daniel, I would have run away with you.' Those thoughts rose up, gossamer threads to be snipped by rusted scissors when she remembered their place.
Erica Monroe’s début historical romance, A Dangerous Invitation, takes us into the back alleys of London in an engrossing tale of betrayal, redemption and second chances. Kate Morgan has been forced into the rookeries through the bankruptcy of her father’s company, which happened as a direct result of her father’s defense of Daniel O’Reilly, an employee accused of the murder of a co-worker. Daniel fled and Kate’s life turned upside down – her father died, she was left destitute and she is eking out a survival for herself serving as a fence for stolen goods. Daniel is an alcoholic who fled the false accusation of murder, abandoning Kate in the process. Now recovering from his addiction, Daniel is determined to restore his good name and rebuild his relationship with Kate. Can he convince her that he’s worthy of a second chance?
The majority of historical romances set in London tend to feature upper class citizens. In contrast, this story shows the seedy underbelly of society. The characters here are thieves, beggars and prostitutes, people struggling to make a living and stay afloat in a world that cares nothing for their situation. It’s clear that author has researched the time period well. The attention to detail in the setting – the language, idioms, images and descriptions of everyday life bring the reader fully into the story and into the daily lives of the poor and those eking out a survival as best they can. Yet it is not told in a depressing manner, but rather with a matter-of-factness that enables readers to immerse themselves into the life being lived.
Kate’s situation is heartbreaking and shows the narrow edge of survival for people of her class. The ruin of her father’s company, his death, and her gender leaves her without many options. But to her credit, the drastic change in her circumstances forces her true character to the surface. Kate is a strong confident woman who will do what she must to survive. She has no qualms about her new chosen profession or about the company she keeps; she is courageous, daring and suffers no fools. Daniel’s re-appearance in her life evokes strong emotions but she is wary of trusting anyone, especially him.
And then there is Daniel. Such a flawed hero! He knows full well that his addiction to gin has cost him everything – his good name, his employment, his relationship with Kate, and his complete memories of what happened the night a man was killed and he was blamed for it. Believing the hangman’s noose was in his future, he abandoned Kate to her fate and continued down the path of alcoholic destruction. Eventually his memories of Kate haunt him and lead to an epiphany that he has to give up gin to save himself. Daniel knows how much his betrayal has cost Kate, and how much he must do to redeem himself in her eyes. I love the portrayal of his character. He continues to struggle with alcohol as is realistic for any recovering alcoholic. He is dogged and determined to prove his worth and clear his name. It’s this ability to admit his mistakes and fight to be a better man that makes him hero material.
Kate and Daniel have an explosive sexual chemistry. Despite their rocky history, their attraction to each other is undeniable. Daniel wants to recreate and strengthen what they had before while Kate fights the memory of their lovemaking. This creates a delicious sexual tension and as a result, the ensuing and inevitable love scenes are steamy and believable.
There are several intriguing secondary characters in this story – on both sides of the law. The suspenseful plot proceeds at a fast pace as the mystery of the murdered man is uncovered and the danger to Kate and Daniel increases. Readers will find themselves unable to put the story down as it races to its conclusion.
A Dangerous Invitation has everything I want in an historical romance – an excellently researched setting, wonderfully realistic flawed characters, steamy love scenes, fast paced action and an overwhelming feeling of complete satisfaction at the end of the story. Knowing there are more novels in the Rookery Rogues series is the icing on the cake.
Favorite Quote:
'I cared about you Daniel, I would have run away with you.' Those thoughts rose up, gossamer threads to be snipped by rusted scissors when she remembered their place.
December 18, 2013
I honestly don’t know where to begin with this review. Do I start with my praise of it, tell you the synopses or just shout GET IT! READ IT! NOW!
After I was done reading it, I just sat there, absorbing it all and the only coherent thought in my head at that time was, this is a début?!
If you like your romances with a lot of fairy tale dust, light prose and plenty of fluff, saccharin sweetness, don’t bother with this amazingly realistic, character driven story of true love.
The name of this series, ‘The Rookery Rogues’ tells you exactly what to expect, only if you know what the word ‘rookery’ means, and Wikipedia says this:
“A rookery was a colloquial term given in the 18th and 19th centuries to a ....Thanks for jumping to b2b to finish reading my review....
http://bookworm2bookworm.wordpress.co...
*Melanie for b2b
*Book provided by the Author.
After I was done reading it, I just sat there, absorbing it all and the only coherent thought in my head at that time was, this is a début?!
If you like your romances with a lot of fairy tale dust, light prose and plenty of fluff, saccharin sweetness, don’t bother with this amazingly realistic, character driven story of true love.
The name of this series, ‘The Rookery Rogues’ tells you exactly what to expect, only if you know what the word ‘rookery’ means, and Wikipedia says this:
“A rookery was a colloquial term given in the 18th and 19th centuries to a ....Thanks for jumping to b2b to finish reading my review....
http://bookworm2bookworm.wordpress.co...
*Melanie for b2b
*Book provided by the Author.
June 6, 2015
This was a good book. I enjoyed it. It is way different than you normal historical romance. There are no balls, teas, rides in Hyde Park, house parties etc. It's strictly set in the Rookery with all the thieves, public houses and refuse on the streets.
I really liked the heroine, she was strong, smart, witty and took no crap from anyone. I liked the hero as well, but I have to say I am not a fan of gingered haired hero's. Just doesn't sound sexy to me.
The story line and plot were solid! I liked the mystery of finding out who really killed Tommy Dalton, and all the other underlying discoveries (I don't want to give away spoilers) . There was a lot of fantastic dialogue though out the entire book.
I will definitely read the next book in this series. I like that its different from the normal HR.
I really liked the heroine, she was strong, smart, witty and took no crap from anyone. I liked the hero as well, but I have to say I am not a fan of gingered haired hero's. Just doesn't sound sexy to me.
The story line and plot were solid! I liked the mystery of finding out who really killed Tommy Dalton, and all the other underlying discoveries (I don't want to give away spoilers) . There was a lot of fantastic dialogue though out the entire book.
I will definitely read the next book in this series. I like that its different from the normal HR.
April 6, 2017
3.5 stars rounded up.
I was attracted to this book because it was set in the London Rookeries, with no balls, no society, and a lot of crime and grime. I was impressed that Ms Munroe didn't at any point pull her punches in describing the setting, peppering it with stench and sewage, abject poverty, gin hells and gin drinkers, and crime in abundance. Her research was brilliant, her ability to evoke the time and place really great. This was Dickens's Oliver Twist and not the prettied-up version of the musical.
I loved the many colourful (and often hateful) secondary characters too. I really liked the way she used history (the Italian child resurrectionist case). I liked the way she showed the many injustices of the life (especially for women) and demonstrated that in such a life crime is not necessarily wrong, it's simply another way of surviving. There was no moral lecture, but the lessons were there all the same.
But I did have issues with the story. We first see Kate defending herself with her pistol against a pending attack. It turns out her 'attacker' is Daniel, her lost love, accused of murder, Newgate escapee who abandoned her to her fate. Daniel has returned to clear his name, and he's horrified to discover that Kate, whom he'd imagined would be happily married, is now forced to operate as a fence. And here was my first problem. Daniel was only in Dorking. He is connected - well connected - with the underworld. Yet he claims to have known nothing. And worse - for let's not forget this is a romance. He actually dumped her in the hope she'd marry into money - yet he claims she's his true love - and I'm not sure which was worse, his hoping she'd marry, or his not really knowing her well enough to understand that she would make her own life rather than rely on another man.
I really liked Kate. I loved that she didn't just let Daniel reclaim her, though I must admit, in the early part of the story where she was sighing and almost succumbing, I got quite annoyed with her. Luckily, she quickly came to her senses and realised what an a*se (to use her own language) he'd been.
Daniel took much loner to come to his senses, and I have to say, I never really warmed to him. He assumed he'd come back, apologise, and Kate would fall into his arms. This, I thought was both brave to write and pretty realistic too, for his character. But what I got fed up with was how long it took for him to realise she wasn't going to play ball (no pun intended!).
The thing is, as they both recognised, they were very different people from the ones who'd been in love. But though they both said as much, the romance wasn't a rediscovery, it was based on the fact that they couldn't resist each other, and this, I felt, was an opportunity missed. It would have been so much more satisfying for them NOT to have felt so strongly at the start, and to have fallen in love again against their wills - though to be fair this is kind of what happened with Kate. So what I guess I'm saying is that my main problem was Daniel. In the end, I felt he simply didn't deserve her.
That said, this was an excellent take on the Regency genre, and an exciting and brave one, and I'm really glad that I read it. Highly recommended for those who aren't squeamish!
I was attracted to this book because it was set in the London Rookeries, with no balls, no society, and a lot of crime and grime. I was impressed that Ms Munroe didn't at any point pull her punches in describing the setting, peppering it with stench and sewage, abject poverty, gin hells and gin drinkers, and crime in abundance. Her research was brilliant, her ability to evoke the time and place really great. This was Dickens's Oliver Twist and not the prettied-up version of the musical.
I loved the many colourful (and often hateful) secondary characters too. I really liked the way she used history (the Italian child resurrectionist case). I liked the way she showed the many injustices of the life (especially for women) and demonstrated that in such a life crime is not necessarily wrong, it's simply another way of surviving. There was no moral lecture, but the lessons were there all the same.
But I did have issues with the story. We first see Kate defending herself with her pistol against a pending attack. It turns out her 'attacker' is Daniel, her lost love, accused of murder, Newgate escapee who abandoned her to her fate. Daniel has returned to clear his name, and he's horrified to discover that Kate, whom he'd imagined would be happily married, is now forced to operate as a fence. And here was my first problem. Daniel was only in Dorking. He is connected - well connected - with the underworld. Yet he claims to have known nothing. And worse - for let's not forget this is a romance. He actually dumped her in the hope she'd marry into money - yet he claims she's his true love - and I'm not sure which was worse, his hoping she'd marry, or his not really knowing her well enough to understand that she would make her own life rather than rely on another man.
I really liked Kate. I loved that she didn't just let Daniel reclaim her, though I must admit, in the early part of the story where she was sighing and almost succumbing, I got quite annoyed with her. Luckily, she quickly came to her senses and realised what an a*se (to use her own language) he'd been.
Daniel took much loner to come to his senses, and I have to say, I never really warmed to him. He assumed he'd come back, apologise, and Kate would fall into his arms. This, I thought was both brave to write and pretty realistic too, for his character. But what I got fed up with was how long it took for him to realise she wasn't going to play ball (no pun intended!).
The thing is, as they both recognised, they were very different people from the ones who'd been in love. But though they both said as much, the romance wasn't a rediscovery, it was based on the fact that they couldn't resist each other, and this, I felt, was an opportunity missed. It would have been so much more satisfying for them NOT to have felt so strongly at the start, and to have fallen in love again against their wills - though to be fair this is kind of what happened with Kate. So what I guess I'm saying is that my main problem was Daniel. In the end, I felt he simply didn't deserve her.
That said, this was an excellent take on the Regency genre, and an exciting and brave one, and I'm really glad that I read it. Highly recommended for those who aren't squeamish!
December 15, 2018
This was a fun book! The historical aspect was really interesting; I could tell a lot of research went into the story, and it was nice to not have it just be a bunch of high society folks, but it felt a bit long and dragged in some spots. Overall I still enjoyed it, so I’d give it 3.5 stars.
August 15, 2016
“Before you came back, I knew exactly where I stood. There were lines, clearly demarcated and categorized. Things I promised myself I’d never do again if I wanted to survive, and I lived by that code. It’s kept me alive.”3.5 stars
“Some lines are meant to be crossed, Katiebelle.” His voice dipped lower, a caress to her tired body. Their eyes locked. Heat sizzled between them, an almost palpable spark. Slowly, his face inched closer to hers. “Live dangerously.”
No amount of fighting or sensible decisions would save her now. “Devil take it all.”
I’ll start off first by saying how refreshing it was to read an HR set COMPLETELY away from the ton-ish set and featured aristo-free characters. The dark and gritty world of the rookeries was well portrayed and I commend Erica Monroe for entrenching us in this rarely explored netherrealm. My one main criticism was that her writing could read as scattered at times, not fully cohesive. Plus there were so many people and plottish things going on that it could get a bit overwhelming trying to keep track of it all. Still, the mystery and intrigue of the main plot managed to keep my interest when the romance failed to do so (more on that later). Personally I liked the author’s prose but I just thought I should throw a warning out there for those who probably wouldn’t be so tolerant.
Next we have the romance. I don’t know what didn’t work for me exactly, all I know is that somewhere along the way, I was totally disconnected from it and didn’t really care whether Kate and Daniel ended up back together or not. Maybe because they had so much baggage and shit to sort through that I didn’t see it working out since they kept going around in circles about what went wrong in the past. Also, Daniel himself was not the most sympathetic of heroes. I did feel bad about what happened to him, but he constantly came across as rather selfish and whiny. And the way in which he seemed to NEED Kate’s validation at every turn was grating. But I think that was just a part of his addictive personality, he substituted gin with Kate and it wasn’t healthy. Daniel did eventually (emphasis on EVENTUALLY) come to realize that Kate wasn’t the cure-all solution to his problems and that he alone had to WANT to be better. Still, I wish there had been a little more oomph chemistry-wise between the couple.
Unlike Daniel, I thought Kate was a fantastic heroine all-around. She was beautifully flawed, stubborn, fierce and had a penchant for pointing her pistol at anyone and everyone. Her journey from shipping magnate’s spoiled daughter (which is touched upon in the prequel novella), to complete ruination, escaping a whore house and finally becoming a fence for stolen goods was a little out there and not wholly believable but between her and Daniel, I did FEEL her personal growth more so than his and that’s always a big plus for me. The bad times in her life didn’t defeat her and instead made her stronger, what’s not to admire about that?
I don’t have much else to say other than that I enjoyed this book, but LOVED the world. I saw sequel bait in a quite a few different characters so I’m really excited to see which of them Erica Monroe decides to explore further.
**Note: I HIGHLY recommend you read the prequel novella A Wayward Man before reading A Dangerous Invitation as it really lays the groundwork and sets the overall tone going into this book. I actually tried to read book 1 without reading the novella first and I was completely lost, couldn’t get a feel for the story at all. So yeah, READ THE NOVELLA FIRST Y’ALL.
October 28, 2014
When I say I've read this book, I mean I got 20% of the way through it before I did that thing that is rare for me - I put it down and turned to something else. I just could not take any more, I'm afraid. It's not something I am happy about, since I know how much work goes into writing a book and I wish to support an author as much as I can.
I assume the author is American. I'm assuming this because she thinks that leaving London for Dorking (which, by the way is in Surrey and NOT in Sussex) would make him safe from the police who are looking for him in connection with a high profile murder. I am under the impression that crossing from one state to another in America can put one beyond the reach of the law. However, it doesn't work like that in England. If you're wanted here, you're not safe here. Anywhere. Had Daniel left for Europe, Ireland, America, India... he would have been safe while he sorted himself out. In Dorking, or indeed in Sussex, he would have been a fugitive, and actually more likely to be arrested than if he was in the middle of London, since Dorking was a smallish market town and Sussex has always been rural, and therefore he would have been more noticeable.
Sloppy research aside, the main flaw was that I just did not care for the characters. They didn't engage me at all. And by the time I left them, I couldn't care less who did what, why or how.
That said, I haven't written Ms Monroe off. She isn't a bad writer, and it is refreshing to come out of the ballrooms once in a while. I daresay other books will be enjoyable. It's just a pity she was let down by this one.
I assume the author is American. I'm assuming this because she thinks that leaving London for Dorking (which, by the way is in Surrey and NOT in Sussex) would make him safe from the police who are looking for him in connection with a high profile murder. I am under the impression that crossing from one state to another in America can put one beyond the reach of the law. However, it doesn't work like that in England. If you're wanted here, you're not safe here. Anywhere. Had Daniel left for Europe, Ireland, America, India... he would have been safe while he sorted himself out. In Dorking, or indeed in Sussex, he would have been a fugitive, and actually more likely to be arrested than if he was in the middle of London, since Dorking was a smallish market town and Sussex has always been rural, and therefore he would have been more noticeable.
Sloppy research aside, the main flaw was that I just did not care for the characters. They didn't engage me at all. And by the time I left them, I couldn't care less who did what, why or how.
That said, I haven't written Ms Monroe off. She isn't a bad writer, and it is refreshing to come out of the ballrooms once in a while. I daresay other books will be enjoyable. It's just a pity she was let down by this one.
January 15, 2014
This is a personal reminder to review this book, so...uh, it'll come soon. (OTL)
Meanwhile, if you're reading this, check out this picture of a cute bunny: http://dailypicksandflicks.com/2011/1...
Meanwhile, if you're reading this, check out this picture of a cute bunny: http://dailypicksandflicks.com/2011/1...
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January 28, 2016
There were many things that I liked about this book and a few things that I didn't.
Basically this is a second chance romance with a murder mystery. Kate and Daniel were in love and betrothed three years ago, before their lives were destroyed by a murder and the downfall of her father's shipping business. Daniel was accused of murder and ran without a word to Kate. Kate was beyond hurt by his leaving and then six months later her father died and his company went bankrupt - leaving her penniless and homeless. She learned to survive in the rookeries and has made a life for herself, that doesn't include Daniel.
Daniel has spent the better part of the last three years drinking and whoring his life away. He is innocent of the murder - but in my mind - guilty of betrayal. He has sobered up and now wants to clear his name and reclaim Kate. He wants to be worthy of her and seems shocked that she doesn't want to have anything to do with him. He convinces her to help him clear his name and they work together to uncover the real murderer.
So here is what I did like. I liked that Kate and Daniel are just regular people, not nobility. I liked that Ms. Monroe shared enough information about their past relationship to give me an idea of why they each reacted as they did. I thought the writing was very well done and the mystery was thought provoking and not oblivious. I liked how she handled Daniel's addiction and recovery. I thought the love scenes were timed perfectly and very warm. I loved the secondary characters of Atlas and Jane (I would read a book about either of them). I liked that the villain(s) get their comeuppance and that Kate and Daniel get a HEA.
What I didn't like was Daniel's behavior for most of the book and how he behaved during their time apart - I have a hard time sympathizing with a drunk who left the only woman he "loves" without a word and then proceeds to drink himself to death and sleep with countless (the authors word - not mine) other women. I get that he was trying to be noble and left her so she could marry and have a better life - but the sleeping around while he "loves" her seemed wrong. And I also agree with other reviewers who said he didn't give Kate enough time to process the huge amount of information dumped on her. He was self centered and in my opinion unfair to her - he left her without a word, doesn't contact her at all for 3 years and then expects her to just accept him at his word without any questions? Seriously? I also have to mention that my mother read this book and was upset that the author kept saying Dorking was in Sussex - My mom is from a small town in Kent, England and knows Dorking very well - it is in Surrey - NOT Sussex.
When all is said and done I thought this was a decent read and I would recommend it. I will definitely read the rest of the series and keep an eye out for this author.
Basically this is a second chance romance with a murder mystery. Kate and Daniel were in love and betrothed three years ago, before their lives were destroyed by a murder and the downfall of her father's shipping business. Daniel was accused of murder and ran without a word to Kate. Kate was beyond hurt by his leaving and then six months later her father died and his company went bankrupt - leaving her penniless and homeless. She learned to survive in the rookeries and has made a life for herself, that doesn't include Daniel.
Daniel has spent the better part of the last three years drinking and whoring his life away. He is innocent of the murder - but in my mind - guilty of betrayal. He has sobered up and now wants to clear his name and reclaim Kate. He wants to be worthy of her and seems shocked that she doesn't want to have anything to do with him. He convinces her to help him clear his name and they work together to uncover the real murderer.
So here is what I did like. I liked that Kate and Daniel are just regular people, not nobility. I liked that Ms. Monroe shared enough information about their past relationship to give me an idea of why they each reacted as they did. I thought the writing was very well done and the mystery was thought provoking and not oblivious. I liked how she handled Daniel's addiction and recovery. I thought the love scenes were timed perfectly and very warm. I loved the secondary characters of Atlas and Jane (I would read a book about either of them). I liked that the villain(s) get their comeuppance and that Kate and Daniel get a HEA.
What I didn't like was Daniel's behavior for most of the book and how he behaved during their time apart - I have a hard time sympathizing with a drunk who left the only woman he "loves" without a word and then proceeds to drink himself to death and sleep with countless (the authors word - not mine) other women. I get that he was trying to be noble and left her so she could marry and have a better life - but the sleeping around while he "loves" her seemed wrong. And I also agree with other reviewers who said he didn't give Kate enough time to process the huge amount of information dumped on her. He was self centered and in my opinion unfair to her - he left her without a word, doesn't contact her at all for 3 years and then expects her to just accept him at his word without any questions? Seriously? I also have to mention that my mother read this book and was upset that the author kept saying Dorking was in Sussex - My mom is from a small town in Kent, England and knows Dorking very well - it is in Surrey - NOT Sussex.
When all is said and done I thought this was a decent read and I would recommend it. I will definitely read the rest of the series and keep an eye out for this author.
June 23, 2015
Hard book to review. Interesting plot twist to a historical romance, in that Hero and Heroine are flawed; she is a fence for stolen goods living in the London Slums and he is a recovering alcoholic addicted to gin. There was good character development in places, but the middle portion of the book has too much repetition, agonizing and whinging from both key characters.
I found the writing oddly uneven in places. There were some paragraphs of good prose, but in several places there were puzzling or incorrect use of words that slowed my reading considerably.
For example, in one place the author has written "His arm was slung across Kate's torso, her chestnut locks spilled out over his pillow in the most succulent display he'd ever seen."
Ok I could understand if she or her body were succulent (meaning full of juice, moist, ripe) but in this sentance how can that describe her hair? Is this an incorrect word or just awkward word placement? Either way, figuring out this meaning bogged down my reading considerably.
I also had to read the following passage several times regarding a character who "...would face trial by jury if arrested, they'd need some impregnable evidence to get him to that point."
OK maybe irrefutable or incontrovertable evidence, but impregnable again feels awkward and required several re-reads.
I know the whole book is not in the following florid style, but enough of these confusing clunkers are in the book that they became mildly amusing enough to share with my husband as an exmaple of 'please no'!
The author describes a love scene between the Hero and Heroine starting with "...They kissed like adrift sailors... "
I'm sorry what? Sailors are in a little boat asea and kissing??
Have to admit the whole sentance is somewhat agonizing..."They kissed like adrift sailors, their lips the only raft to keep them afloat in stormy waters..."
This convoluted prose made reading what had the bones of a good story a real slog, and I admit I skimmed the last half to get to the HEA. Final Rating: 2 stars.
I found the writing oddly uneven in places. There were some paragraphs of good prose, but in several places there were puzzling or incorrect use of words that slowed my reading considerably.
For example, in one place the author has written "His arm was slung across Kate's torso, her chestnut locks spilled out over his pillow in the most succulent display he'd ever seen."
Ok I could understand if she or her body were succulent (meaning full of juice, moist, ripe) but in this sentance how can that describe her hair? Is this an incorrect word or just awkward word placement? Either way, figuring out this meaning bogged down my reading considerably.
I also had to read the following passage several times regarding a character who "...would face trial by jury if arrested, they'd need some impregnable evidence to get him to that point."
OK maybe irrefutable or incontrovertable evidence, but impregnable again feels awkward and required several re-reads.
I know the whole book is not in the following florid style, but enough of these confusing clunkers are in the book that they became mildly amusing enough to share with my husband as an exmaple of 'please no'!
The author describes a love scene between the Hero and Heroine starting with "...They kissed like adrift sailors... "
I'm sorry what? Sailors are in a little boat asea and kissing??
Have to admit the whole sentance is somewhat agonizing..."They kissed like adrift sailors, their lips the only raft to keep them afloat in stormy waters..."
This convoluted prose made reading what had the bones of a good story a real slog, and I admit I skimmed the last half to get to the HEA. Final Rating: 2 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 11, 2015
* ARC provided by author/publisher via NetGalley (via anthology/box set, Tempted by His Touch)*
Wow―*this* is why I love to try different anthologies. What a great intro to a NTM author! I read several HRs almost back-to-back in recent weeks so A Dangerous Invitation was a palpable (and welcomed) change in tone & storyline. Aside from it truly being a romantic suspense, definitely darker w/ an alcoholic H, romance & storyline set in London’s underbelly, and incorporation of true events re: ‘resurrection men’ in England during the early 1830s.
Full review to come (still debating whether to bump up rating).
NB: Believe that the anthology/box set is 99¢ until 21-Sept-2014. Also, altho not necessary, some may want to first read the prequel novella, A Wayward Man. Seems currently free at most major retailers. :)
Wow―*this* is why I love to try different anthologies. What a great intro to a NTM author! I read several HRs almost back-to-back in recent weeks so A Dangerous Invitation was a palpable (and welcomed) change in tone & storyline. Aside from it truly being a romantic suspense, definitely darker w/ an alcoholic H, romance & storyline set in London’s underbelly, and incorporation of true events re: ‘resurrection men’ in England during the early 1830s.
Full review to come (still debating whether to bump up rating).
NB: Believe that the anthology/box set is 99¢ until 21-Sept-2014. Also, altho not necessary, some may want to first read the prequel novella, A Wayward Man. Seems currently free at most major retailers. :)
December 28, 2013
I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for a fair review.
I enjoyed the story of Daniel and Kate. It involves redemption, mystery, and a bit of action. Kate is a bada** in her own right, and that was very cool. We know her background was far more privileged than her current life. We're introduced to Kate with her gun in hand and walking home in the slums. The author gives a detailed view of the life Kate lives now.
I like that Kate didn't immediately forgive Daniel upon his return. She didn't blindly believe in his innocence or accept his apologies. While I'm all for forgiveness, his trespasses require groveling. I think the author allowed for a good amount of that.
I would also say, this book had a lot of historical accuracy. This is mostly assumption on my part, as it's not my most read genre. There were many descriptors throughout that led a feeling of authenticity to me.
I'd recommend this for anyone interested in an historical romance utterly lacking in tea parties, dukes, and doilies, but full of adventure, mystery, and love.
I enjoyed the story of Daniel and Kate. It involves redemption, mystery, and a bit of action. Kate is a bada** in her own right, and that was very cool. We know her background was far more privileged than her current life. We're introduced to Kate with her gun in hand and walking home in the slums. The author gives a detailed view of the life Kate lives now.
I like that Kate didn't immediately forgive Daniel upon his return. She didn't blindly believe in his innocence or accept his apologies. While I'm all for forgiveness, his trespasses require groveling. I think the author allowed for a good amount of that.
I would also say, this book had a lot of historical accuracy. This is mostly assumption on my part, as it's not my most read genre. There were many descriptors throughout that led a feeling of authenticity to me.
I'd recommend this for anyone interested in an historical romance utterly lacking in tea parties, dukes, and doilies, but full of adventure, mystery, and love.
March 1, 2014
I have a very small threshold for forgiving men who leave the women they supposedly love abandoning them to their fate in a world that is incredibly hostile to them. I don't believe that a man who does the above truly loves you and I think you should never take them back because if they did it once, what stops them from doing it again?
That's right. Nothing.
Women should leave these type of men behind because they are unreliable little boys who will never bring you security. Also, once your trust in a person is completely broken you can fix it but you can still see the cracks in that m***rf***ng reflection.
That's right. Nothing.
Women should leave these type of men behind because they are unreliable little boys who will never bring you security. Also, once your trust in a person is completely broken you can fix it but you can still see the cracks in that m***rf***ng reflection.
January 9, 2015
Nope, nope, nope. Not because it's terribly written or repetitious or for any of those obvious reasons. It was just really boring. Entirely set in the 'underworld' but without ever capturing a sense of what that means. Didn't care about the H/H. Sex was nothing at all to write home about. Got to about 74% and I just didn't want to read on. I didn't care. I don't care. I never got to the HEA. Life is just too short. This was like the book equivalent of a shrug. So: my first DNF in quite some time and my first ever one star.
January 28, 2014
this was a new author for me, and I have to say, I liked her. The story moved at a good pace and had just the right blend of romance, angst and action. I'll admit, the heroine, Kate, took a little too long for my liking to realize she wanted to be with Daniel again, but it all worked out in the end.
I'm actually looking forward to seeing if Atlas gets his own book :)
ARC received from the publisher via Netgalley
I'm actually looking forward to seeing if Atlas gets his own book :)
ARC received from the publisher via Netgalley
February 25, 2016
I got this book FREE from Amazon. I did not and do not plan on reading the other books in the series. Not sure if it is able to be read as a stand-alone but that is my plans. This was a good book. I enjoyed it. It is way different than you normal historical romance. There are no balls, teas, rides in Hyde Park, house parties etc. It's strictly set in the Rookery with all the thieves, public houses and refuse on the streets.
April 15, 2014
Gritty, emotional, with engaging characters who jump off the page, and a satisfying, complicated romance. I know "jumping off the page" is a cliche, but it works with this book. As far from Regency ballrooms and country houses as you can imagine, and the depiction of life in the London rookeries and slums makes for fascinating reading. A winner from a talented romance author who knows her stuff.
January 28, 2014
Yay, yay, yay! Finally had enough time to finish the book! It was sooo good. I want a book about Atlas and his background next!
August 27, 2014
Quitting at 25%. Nothing about this book makes me want to read further - finding it really slow and dull and neither of the main characters interests me much.
June 14, 2015
3.5 stars. Enjoyed the change of historical scene from Dukes And Governesses to the sordid world of the London Rookeries circa 1830. Shows potential as a series.
October 23, 2017
DNF 37%
I don't read many Historicals which is why starting is always a sort of a struggle to get used to the archaic language. With this one it was no different and yet as the story progressed I realized I'm having a hard time mainly because I'm not interested enough in the MCs. After reading about a third I decided I'm not invested enough in the story and the difficult language was not making it any better..
Kate Morgan's life changed in a blink of an eye. She was wealthy, the daughter of a successful merchant. She and her father were a team, working together and having each other's backs since she was a little girl when her mother left them. She fell in love with Daniel O'Reilly who also worked for her father. They were already engaged to be married when all hell broke loose. Daniel was charged with murder of another worker, from there the business crumbled, her father's health deteriorated until he died and she was left with nothing except for her father's great coat and handgun. To take care of herself she needed to learn a trade - thieving. But she has made it work for the past three years since Daniel escaped from prison before his trial.
After three years living with his sister, Daniel is back in London to clear his name and mostly to get the love of his life back. It's not easy but with Kate's help and his best friend he believes it's possible. Too bad Kate is so reluctant to trust him in any sort of way..
The story is told from both Kate and Daniel's POV. Daniel had a lot to deal with as well. He isn't the perfect guy, he deals with alcohol addiction and the consequences of his actions not only to Kate but to his little sister. Inside I could see he is a good guy but he was also quite lost back then, 3 years ago, even if things SEEMED perfect for him. I liked him actually. Kate on the other hand I was getting tired of. The passive aggressive was too dominant in her behavior. I could see why she would rather be alone than trust in Daniel again, but her behavior towards him was too overly emotional or rather aggressive even when he was just trying to help her or do the right thing. I couldn't stand hearing her say one more time that she can care for herself and she would shoot anyone getting in her way. As Daniel's best friend wisely said - She has no skill in hand to hand combat so her handgun is a nice add but it's not the ultimate solution to any given problem.. She was a combination of naive and overconfident somehow, I don't really know.
When I got to right around 37% I realized I'm not interested enough in the mystery and actually the romance part isn't that appealing considering my general annoyance of Kate which is why I decided to let this one go. The pace was okay I guess, maybe a bit slow with a lot of emphasis on the surrounding and side characters - which confused me truthfully, couldn't remember who is who or if we've heard of them before.
This just wasn't my kind of book. It's a personal opinion naturally. I'd say if you're not into Historical - pass, if you are maybe give it a shot. Beware that unlike a lot of Historicals this one doesn't portray the high class of the rich who can get away with right around anything - but with the poor and unfortunate. Those who need to break the law to survive the night.
More Reviews HERE
I don't read many Historicals which is why starting is always a sort of a struggle to get used to the archaic language. With this one it was no different and yet as the story progressed I realized I'm having a hard time mainly because I'm not interested enough in the MCs. After reading about a third I decided I'm not invested enough in the story and the difficult language was not making it any better..
Kate Morgan's life changed in a blink of an eye. She was wealthy, the daughter of a successful merchant. She and her father were a team, working together and having each other's backs since she was a little girl when her mother left them. She fell in love with Daniel O'Reilly who also worked for her father. They were already engaged to be married when all hell broke loose. Daniel was charged with murder of another worker, from there the business crumbled, her father's health deteriorated until he died and she was left with nothing except for her father's great coat and handgun. To take care of herself she needed to learn a trade - thieving. But she has made it work for the past three years since Daniel escaped from prison before his trial.
After three years living with his sister, Daniel is back in London to clear his name and mostly to get the love of his life back. It's not easy but with Kate's help and his best friend he believes it's possible. Too bad Kate is so reluctant to trust him in any sort of way..
The story is told from both Kate and Daniel's POV. Daniel had a lot to deal with as well. He isn't the perfect guy, he deals with alcohol addiction and the consequences of his actions not only to Kate but to his little sister. Inside I could see he is a good guy but he was also quite lost back then, 3 years ago, even if things SEEMED perfect for him. I liked him actually. Kate on the other hand I was getting tired of. The passive aggressive was too dominant in her behavior. I could see why she would rather be alone than trust in Daniel again, but her behavior towards him was too overly emotional or rather aggressive even when he was just trying to help her or do the right thing. I couldn't stand hearing her say one more time that she can care for herself and she would shoot anyone getting in her way. As Daniel's best friend wisely said - She has no skill in hand to hand combat so her handgun is a nice add but it's not the ultimate solution to any given problem.. She was a combination of naive and overconfident somehow, I don't really know.
When I got to right around 37% I realized I'm not interested enough in the mystery and actually the romance part isn't that appealing considering my general annoyance of Kate which is why I decided to let this one go. The pace was okay I guess, maybe a bit slow with a lot of emphasis on the surrounding and side characters - which confused me truthfully, couldn't remember who is who or if we've heard of them before.
This just wasn't my kind of book. It's a personal opinion naturally. I'd say if you're not into Historical - pass, if you are maybe give it a shot. Beware that unlike a lot of Historicals this one doesn't portray the high class of the rich who can get away with right around anything - but with the poor and unfortunate. Those who need to break the law to survive the night.
More Reviews HERE
February 10, 2018
Address to the Negative Reviews
I am a huge sucker for 2nd chance love stories, so I knew, even with some negative reviews, I would love this book. I was not disappointed. The plot was unique and engaging, the characters well developed and real, the setting was well described and intriguing. Below I address some of the critical reviews to hopefully give others a better idea of what to expect if they read this book.
It does not take place in the nobleman’s ballroom, it has a dark, and to some depressing, setting & subject. If you only prefer the lighter/fluffier romances I would think about skipping this one.
Many reviewers claimed boredom. While it was long, for my taste, I was never bored. The plot was very original (especially for a regency romance). Unless you aren’t a fan of historical romances I just don’t see how you could be bored.
There were some grammatical mistakes, like amendable instead of amenable, and the common ebook mistakes. Not enough to distract me from an enjoyable read.
Some reviewers had a problem with Daniel. He could have done a better job at admitting his past and present mistakes. He only really apologized to Kate once and it was so brief I got angry at him. He also found Kate at fault for things she really wasn’t. Her fiancé breaks her heart, her close friend betrays her, and then she finds out her father might not be who she thought he was. All she is asking for is a little time and Daniel acts like it is a huge betrayal and that she has chosen her father’s memory over him. But, she offered to leave London with him, to marry, and have a family, basically everything Daniel has claimed to want, and he turns her down in order to clear his name. Then decides to leave London anyways on his own.? But, as a whole he was a strong, determined, and sexy hero.
Some reviewers didn’t like Kate, mad she can’t make up her mind. I think she was disappointed by everyone she once depended on and has learned that the only person she can truly depend on is herself. Is she supposed to trust Daniel (an abandoner and a drunk) just because he says he has changed? But, she loves him and wants to trust him. Wants to let someone in. Wants someone to lean on. That’s a hard decision, and I don’t blame her for being cautious with her heart especially when it has led her astray in the past.
Several reviewers had a problem with the amount of sex. I thought it enhanced the plot instead of hindering it. There were 2.5 detailed scenes that were well written, and steamy. Though it was a little flowery/poetic at times. At one-point Kate compares the act to loading her pistol with a ram-rod, and the climax to the explosion of the bullet. Just, ew. Lol!
Was this book perfect? No. But, it met and exceeded my expectations and I look forward to reading it again.
Romance-5/5 Steaminess-4/5 Explicitness-4/5
I am a huge sucker for 2nd chance love stories, so I knew, even with some negative reviews, I would love this book. I was not disappointed. The plot was unique and engaging, the characters well developed and real, the setting was well described and intriguing. Below I address some of the critical reviews to hopefully give others a better idea of what to expect if they read this book.
It does not take place in the nobleman’s ballroom, it has a dark, and to some depressing, setting & subject. If you only prefer the lighter/fluffier romances I would think about skipping this one.
Many reviewers claimed boredom. While it was long, for my taste, I was never bored. The plot was very original (especially for a regency romance). Unless you aren’t a fan of historical romances I just don’t see how you could be bored.
There were some grammatical mistakes, like amendable instead of amenable, and the common ebook mistakes. Not enough to distract me from an enjoyable read.
Some reviewers had a problem with Daniel. He could have done a better job at admitting his past and present mistakes. He only really apologized to Kate once and it was so brief I got angry at him. He also found Kate at fault for things she really wasn’t. Her fiancé breaks her heart, her close friend betrays her, and then she finds out her father might not be who she thought he was. All she is asking for is a little time and Daniel acts like it is a huge betrayal and that she has chosen her father’s memory over him. But, she offered to leave London with him, to marry, and have a family, basically everything Daniel has claimed to want, and he turns her down in order to clear his name. Then decides to leave London anyways on his own.? But, as a whole he was a strong, determined, and sexy hero.
Some reviewers didn’t like Kate, mad she can’t make up her mind. I think she was disappointed by everyone she once depended on and has learned that the only person she can truly depend on is herself. Is she supposed to trust Daniel (an abandoner and a drunk) just because he says he has changed? But, she loves him and wants to trust him. Wants to let someone in. Wants someone to lean on. That’s a hard decision, and I don’t blame her for being cautious with her heart especially when it has led her astray in the past.
Several reviewers had a problem with the amount of sex. I thought it enhanced the plot instead of hindering it. There were 2.5 detailed scenes that were well written, and steamy. Though it was a little flowery/poetic at times. At one-point Kate compares the act to loading her pistol with a ram-rod, and the climax to the explosion of the bullet. Just, ew. Lol!
Was this book perfect? No. But, it met and exceeded my expectations and I look forward to reading it again.
Romance-5/5 Steaminess-4/5 Explicitness-4/5
November 24, 2017
Erica Monroe is such a fun and happy person when you meet her. It's hard to imagine such a dark book coming from her. Unlike other Historical Romances taking place in ballrooms and Hyde Park.
If that is the kind of story you are looking for this isn't the book for you.
This story takes place in the underworld of London. It is in the seedier side of town, St Giles, Seven Dials, the Rookeries - all the places where danger is as common as sunshine. The streets are filled with whorehouses and gin mills. As Ms Monroe has written it you can almost smell the stink of the streets.
This book is filled with thieves, pick pockets, murderers and body snatchers/ resurrectionists. In the midst of all this darkness Kate Morgan and Daniel O'Reilly try to overcome their past. She was the daughter of a merchant and he worked for her father. They were betrothed until he was accused of murdering a fellow employee. He escaped and it has been 3 years since they have seem each other. Kate's father died soon afterwards leaving her penniless and on the streets where she supports herself as a fence for stolen goods.
When Daniel returns to clear his name and find the love of his life, Kate must choose between her former love or her belief in her father's innocence. In the 3 years since he has been gone, Daniel has overcome his addition to gin.
This is a long, hard book to read but if you can make it through it is well worth the time.
If that is the kind of story you are looking for this isn't the book for you.
This story takes place in the underworld of London. It is in the seedier side of town, St Giles, Seven Dials, the Rookeries - all the places where danger is as common as sunshine. The streets are filled with whorehouses and gin mills. As Ms Monroe has written it you can almost smell the stink of the streets.
This book is filled with thieves, pick pockets, murderers and body snatchers/ resurrectionists. In the midst of all this darkness Kate Morgan and Daniel O'Reilly try to overcome their past. She was the daughter of a merchant and he worked for her father. They were betrothed until he was accused of murdering a fellow employee. He escaped and it has been 3 years since they have seem each other. Kate's father died soon afterwards leaving her penniless and on the streets where she supports herself as a fence for stolen goods.
When Daniel returns to clear his name and find the love of his life, Kate must choose between her former love or her belief in her father's innocence. In the 3 years since he has been gone, Daniel has overcome his addition to gin.
This is a long, hard book to read but if you can make it through it is well worth the time.
April 5, 2016
(Original post at Doing Some Reading)
Debut authors are always etchy for me. Yes, they’re new and I’m very intrigue with the presentation of their debut books but sometime they fail at it. But I do always give them a try and even a couple more tries after because, I either love their series, the characters, their writing skills, and story telling, or sometimes I just want to give them another try because it won’t hurt to give them another chance.
And this one is a huge hit for me. I have been “following” Ms. Erica Monroe for awhile now. I’m not sure for how long but I have been waiting for this release since I first stumbled onto her blog/site when she was still in the process of writing it and man, I was blown away by the synopsis of it.
I mean, hello, Grave Robbers? Body Snatchers? Count me in!
Ms. Monroe did so much research for this book that I…I’m just wowed by it. She had facts in her story to back up all of the research she had did and she mixed it into her story, this story, very well. Many people, readers, complain about stories not being “Historically correct” and Ms. Monroe, I thought did a very great job, a super fantastic job in pulling and adding the needed and known facts into her work to make it real.
I personally have done my own research about the Grave Robbers and Body Snatchers and all those famous criminals during those times once upon a time in school, so it was really really exciting to see that and re-read those small bits of information in this romance. I mean it really had a huge part in this story and over all for this series I believe.
Yes, I should be reviewing the book and story but I am!! All these bits and facts just makes me super ecstatic about this book because of all the research that was put into it for it to become Alive~ Okay, that was in Frankenstein but it works! I just love it!
So we have Kate whom was raised in a well family by a father who worked in the shipping company, but then everything went wrong one night when her father’s assistant Daniel was accused of murdering a fellow employee. Dissembling his body in a horrifying way. Daniel then ran away leaving everything behind including Kate to the hounds. You see, Kate and Daniel were preparing to get married and when he ran, her whole world came crashing down not so long after that. Her father’s company crumbled, her father then dies with little to no penny left to his name plus, a ruined reputation to his and her name, and Kate ends up in the streets defending for herself. But she grew to know the streets of the dark side of London and worked her way to save, protect, and steal from the riches to survive. She made it her living. Then one day a dead man came back into her life and turned it back on its head once more. Daniel.
Daniel felt guilty for ruining Kate’s life and abandoning her to the sharks and criminals of London. So when he got news that he can clear his name from a “spy” from the dark side of London, he took it and sought out Kate for her help. But of course it wasn’t that easy, Kate wasn’t the Kate he knew during their younger years and she isn’t willing to help him despite knowing that he wasn’t a murderer, sort of. She wasn’t willing to work with an accused and wanted murderer or be a target herself from those working on the darker side of London. Either way Daniel isn’t leaving her behind again and is even trying to penetrate her closed heart to get her to see or feel for him once again, like he still does for her.
All I can say is that there are lots of angst in this story. Yes, it revolves around death and murder and dark corners of the London streets and all, but it worked and it worked for their love story. Of course they’re both somewhat stubburned and like to keep things to themselves, in their heads, but they know there are sexual tensions and attraction there. Hehe
Once the investigation gets underway to the murder, it just gets better and better! And when danger approaches and revelations come undone……….It turns the whole story upside down.
I love that we got to see lots of changes in Kate’s character, which I really enjoyed. It showed her from a young and loyal girl who dreamed of living a life that is protected and secure from the dangers of the world with Daniel to living in fear, afraid and full of anger at the world and the people, and then to the hatred towards Daniel when he came back. But as we all know it Daniel starts to penetrate her cold and hard exterior and she starts to live again even if she’s still in the dark and well, she became a strong and loving woman. Which leads to her and Daniel’s HEA with a full character change and development and a new look at life and love.
Daniel, I have always loved him. Yes he made some mistakes in the past but they were very understandable. And after years on the run and working his butt off to find the culprit, he was willing to risk his life to return to the ring and to the girl he loved. I love the way he thinks. I felt the same way about Kate too but Daniel just has so much love towards Kate that I just… I love him. I also love that he isn’t pushy. He lets Kate do her own thing but at the same time is very protective of her and I really loved that.
Oh, one thing I loved about this story is that the characters are commoners. Yes! Regular working people. I know that there are many Historicals set during this time frame with lots of smoking hot dreamy aristocrats with titles. From Marquesses to Dukes, Viscounts to Earls, Lords and Barons, Sirs and gentleman. Yes, I love them all! But gosh I just love common men as heroes~ And this is one books with a sexy common hero.
So, if you love common heroes and ladies, this is one for you. And of course remember it’s a dark and gritty story surrounding death, murder, some suspense, and a lot of angst, kind of. So if you’re not up to that, don’t try this fantastic book and give it a poorly written review because it was too…..dark. Just don’t, that wouldn’t be fair.
But if you love those kind of stuff like I do! Go for it!
This eARC was provided by the author.
Rating: 4.5
Debut authors are always etchy for me. Yes, they’re new and I’m very intrigue with the presentation of their debut books but sometime they fail at it. But I do always give them a try and even a couple more tries after because, I either love their series, the characters, their writing skills, and story telling, or sometimes I just want to give them another try because it won’t hurt to give them another chance.
And this one is a huge hit for me. I have been “following” Ms. Erica Monroe for awhile now. I’m not sure for how long but I have been waiting for this release since I first stumbled onto her blog/site when she was still in the process of writing it and man, I was blown away by the synopsis of it.
I mean, hello, Grave Robbers? Body Snatchers? Count me in!
Ms. Monroe did so much research for this book that I…I’m just wowed by it. She had facts in her story to back up all of the research she had did and she mixed it into her story, this story, very well. Many people, readers, complain about stories not being “Historically correct” and Ms. Monroe, I thought did a very great job, a super fantastic job in pulling and adding the needed and known facts into her work to make it real.
I personally have done my own research about the Grave Robbers and Body Snatchers and all those famous criminals during those times once upon a time in school, so it was really really exciting to see that and re-read those small bits of information in this romance. I mean it really had a huge part in this story and over all for this series I believe.
Yes, I should be reviewing the book and story but I am!! All these bits and facts just makes me super ecstatic about this book because of all the research that was put into it for it to become Alive~ Okay, that was in Frankenstein but it works! I just love it!
So we have Kate whom was raised in a well family by a father who worked in the shipping company, but then everything went wrong one night when her father’s assistant Daniel was accused of murdering a fellow employee. Dissembling his body in a horrifying way. Daniel then ran away leaving everything behind including Kate to the hounds. You see, Kate and Daniel were preparing to get married and when he ran, her whole world came crashing down not so long after that. Her father’s company crumbled, her father then dies with little to no penny left to his name plus, a ruined reputation to his and her name, and Kate ends up in the streets defending for herself. But she grew to know the streets of the dark side of London and worked her way to save, protect, and steal from the riches to survive. She made it her living. Then one day a dead man came back into her life and turned it back on its head once more. Daniel.
Daniel felt guilty for ruining Kate’s life and abandoning her to the sharks and criminals of London. So when he got news that he can clear his name from a “spy” from the dark side of London, he took it and sought out Kate for her help. But of course it wasn’t that easy, Kate wasn’t the Kate he knew during their younger years and she isn’t willing to help him despite knowing that he wasn’t a murderer, sort of. She wasn’t willing to work with an accused and wanted murderer or be a target herself from those working on the darker side of London. Either way Daniel isn’t leaving her behind again and is even trying to penetrate her closed heart to get her to see or feel for him once again, like he still does for her.
All I can say is that there are lots of angst in this story. Yes, it revolves around death and murder and dark corners of the London streets and all, but it worked and it worked for their love story. Of course they’re both somewhat stubburned and like to keep things to themselves, in their heads, but they know there are sexual tensions and attraction there. Hehe
Once the investigation gets underway to the murder, it just gets better and better! And when danger approaches and revelations come undone……….It turns the whole story upside down.
I love that we got to see lots of changes in Kate’s character, which I really enjoyed. It showed her from a young and loyal girl who dreamed of living a life that is protected and secure from the dangers of the world with Daniel to living in fear, afraid and full of anger at the world and the people, and then to the hatred towards Daniel when he came back. But as we all know it Daniel starts to penetrate her cold and hard exterior and she starts to live again even if she’s still in the dark and well, she became a strong and loving woman. Which leads to her and Daniel’s HEA with a full character change and development and a new look at life and love.
Daniel, I have always loved him. Yes he made some mistakes in the past but they were very understandable. And after years on the run and working his butt off to find the culprit, he was willing to risk his life to return to the ring and to the girl he loved. I love the way he thinks. I felt the same way about Kate too but Daniel just has so much love towards Kate that I just… I love him. I also love that he isn’t pushy. He lets Kate do her own thing but at the same time is very protective of her and I really loved that.
Oh, one thing I loved about this story is that the characters are commoners. Yes! Regular working people. I know that there are many Historicals set during this time frame with lots of smoking hot dreamy aristocrats with titles. From Marquesses to Dukes, Viscounts to Earls, Lords and Barons, Sirs and gentleman. Yes, I love them all! But gosh I just love common men as heroes~ And this is one books with a sexy common hero.
So, if you love common heroes and ladies, this is one for you. And of course remember it’s a dark and gritty story surrounding death, murder, some suspense, and a lot of angst, kind of. So if you’re not up to that, don’t try this fantastic book and give it a poorly written review because it was too…..dark. Just don’t, that wouldn’t be fair.
But if you love those kind of stuff like I do! Go for it!
This eARC was provided by the author.
Rating: 4.5
January 29, 2019
Wow....I'm sitting here after finishing reading this book and my emotions are all over the place. This is the first historical romance I read that the hero and/or heroine are not from the earldom or dukedom, etc....this story takes place on the other side of the "fence", in the London slums. I didn't know if I'd like this book but I ended up loving it, just because it made me aware of how absolutely horrible it must have been to live like they did, never knowing where the next meal was going to come from and having to do whatever it took to survive.
Kate and Daniel had been in love but then Daniel was accused or a murder he didn't commit and ran away, leaving Kate having to face losing everything she had, even her father. She becomes a very strong woman who can take care of herself and when Daniel comes back to town, asking her to help him uncover the real murderer, she holds him back with the wall she's built around her heart. What follows is filled with intrigue, suspense, heartbreak, angst...and love.
One can tell the author has done her job researching life in the Rookery, the case of the Italian Boy and the Resurrection men....not pleasant subjects but real life happenings. I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Kate and Daniel had been in love but then Daniel was accused or a murder he didn't commit and ran away, leaving Kate having to face losing everything she had, even her father. She becomes a very strong woman who can take care of herself and when Daniel comes back to town, asking her to help him uncover the real murderer, she holds him back with the wall she's built around her heart. What follows is filled with intrigue, suspense, heartbreak, angst...and love.
One can tell the author has done her job researching life in the Rookery, the case of the Italian Boy and the Resurrection men....not pleasant subjects but real life happenings. I look forward to reading other books by this author.
September 16, 2020
This book got 4 stars because although it started off interesting, the characyers never seemed to be real. I know the author did a lot of research for this novel, for me there was just a bit too much cant vocabulary to ingest. I also had times during the stkry when i got bored. I had to walk away from the very depressing depiction of life for the "unwashed" of England. Made me wonxer how they came to inhabit so mu h of the new worlds discovered in the 200 years before this story timeline. I really have trouble believing such people settled America, Australia, New Zealand, and were involed in India and China.
January 19, 2023
Daniel O’Reilly is back in London to prove that he didn’t murder a man three years ago for no reason other than being in the wrong place at the wrong time. But first he needs the help of his ex-fiancé, Kate, to prove his innocence. The two of them set out on this mission with different perspectives but things come to a head in more ways than one. The side characters add a flavor to this story centered in the rookeries of London in the 1800’s during a time when men called resurrectionist where selling bodies to doctors for anatomy classes. This made the story more interesting and compelling by adding that flavor into the mix
January 31, 2018
A Dangerous Invitation by Erica Monroe
Book starts out with Kate Morgan has been followed and now she has a gun to his body...and she finds out it's Daniel. She knows of his past.
Story also follows Daniel O'Reilly who had left London because others wanted their goods back and he dind't have them or kill Tommy.
They try to solve the mystery of who had actually killed Tommy.
Being buried alive, whoa such details. Sex scenes and they figure out what really happened to not only Tommy but her father.
Book starts out with Kate Morgan has been followed and now she has a gun to his body...and she finds out it's Daniel. She knows of his past.
Story also follows Daniel O'Reilly who had left London because others wanted their goods back and he dind't have them or kill Tommy.
They try to solve the mystery of who had actually killed Tommy.
Being buried alive, whoa such details. Sex scenes and they figure out what really happened to not only Tommy but her father.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews