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Dalton Family #1
To Con a Gentleman
He was her target. She was his diversion. Falling in love was never something they wanted.
As a con woman who has spent her entire life fending for herself on the streets of London, Rose Wakefield knows how to scam a gentleman out of his money without ever getting caught. That's until she knocks on the wrong earl's door and is faced with Carver Ashburn Earl of Kensworth and not the notorious rake she thinks she is approaching.
Carver is a good man, but even a good man will not pass up an opportunity to escape his grief. What better way to avoid his feelings than to play into a con woman's ruse and offer to marry her?
Things only grow more complicated when Carver sweeps Rose off to his family estate and circumstances force them both into continuing the ruse. Carver needs to protect his family, and Rose needs to protect herself - and her heart.
With so much set against them, will Rose and Carver have a chance at love and freedom? Or is the possibility of more heartache not worth the risk?
As a con woman who has spent her entire life fending for herself on the streets of London, Rose Wakefield knows how to scam a gentleman out of his money without ever getting caught. That's until she knocks on the wrong earl's door and is faced with Carver Ashburn Earl of Kensworth and not the notorious rake she thinks she is approaching.
Carver is a good man, but even a good man will not pass up an opportunity to escape his grief. What better way to avoid his feelings than to play into a con woman's ruse and offer to marry her?
Things only grow more complicated when Carver sweeps Rose off to his family estate and circumstances force them both into continuing the ruse. Carver needs to protect his family, and Rose needs to protect herself - and her heart.
With so much set against them, will Rose and Carver have a chance at love and freedom? Or is the possibility of more heartache not worth the risk?
Audible Audio
First published November 1, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 1,202 reviews
September 11, 2023
Sarah Adams deals with an exciting plot in this novel. This is the first book in the Dalton Family series. She tells us the story of Rose Wakefield, who is a trickster, and who scams gentlemen out of their money intelligently.
Rose was never caught before. But all her plans go haywire when she decides to trick Carver Ashburn, Earl of Kensworth. She loses her grip on the whole plan initially when she goes to the wrong Earl, thinking of him as someone else. Carver is considered a gentleman, but he decides to continue with Roses’s ploy to escape from grief due to some unfortunate events in his life.
Will Rose ultimately deceive Carver? Will Carver intelligently handle Rose’s ruse? Was taking Rose to his family estate a foolish decision? Will both of them fall for each other? Sarah Adams will reveal the answers to all these questions in this novel.
What I learned from this book
1) How can love failure alter your perspective towards life?
I read in some book a long time ago that you are a winner by default if your first love fails miserably, teaching you some vital lessons in life. I don’t know in what sense the author mentioned it in that book. But it is indeed true in many people’s lives, and many world leaders today strangely belong to this category. But there is another side to this picture where people become scared to enter into a relationship after a breakup.
There is no ideal response to a breakup as it varies from individual to individual according to their personality. But no one can deny that a breakup can make you a stronger person if you have a good personality and can learn from your mistakes. We can see how a breakup has affected Rose in this novel.
2) What is the best way to know the character of a person?
The best way to know the character of the person is by seeing how they react to people who cannot stand up as equals for their rights, like
1. The disabled
2. The elderly
3. Their subordinates
We can see the author beautifully showing the purity of the protagonist’s character in the following words.
3) What is the reason for the pessimistic attitude of people?
It is mainly the bad experiences that make people pessimistic. We can see that through Rose’s character in this book
My favourite three lines from this book
What could have been better?
There are certain sentences like the above one that look ok superficially but is problematic when we think deeply.
Rating
3/5 This is an enjoyable, fun read you can finish quickly. I can’t point out anything extraordinary in it, but it still will be a decent choice for those who love to read Regency romance.
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Rose was never caught before. But all her plans go haywire when she decides to trick Carver Ashburn, Earl of Kensworth. She loses her grip on the whole plan initially when she goes to the wrong Earl, thinking of him as someone else. Carver is considered a gentleman, but he decides to continue with Roses’s ploy to escape from grief due to some unfortunate events in his life.
Will Rose ultimately deceive Carver? Will Carver intelligently handle Rose’s ruse? Was taking Rose to his family estate a foolish decision? Will both of them fall for each other? Sarah Adams will reveal the answers to all these questions in this novel.
What I learned from this book
1) How can love failure alter your perspective towards life?
I read in some book a long time ago that you are a winner by default if your first love fails miserably, teaching you some vital lessons in life. I don’t know in what sense the author mentioned it in that book. But it is indeed true in many people’s lives, and many world leaders today strangely belong to this category. But there is another side to this picture where people become scared to enter into a relationship after a breakup.
There is no ideal response to a breakup as it varies from individual to individual according to their personality. But no one can deny that a breakup can make you a stronger person if you have a good personality and can learn from your mistakes. We can see how a breakup has affected Rose in this novel.
“No matter how much she liked him, she would never let herself grow attached to him or anyone else. Having someone to love meant having someone to lose. She didn’t care to have that happen again.”
2) What is the best way to know the character of a person?
The best way to know the character of the person is by seeing how they react to people who cannot stand up as equals for their rights, like
1. The disabled
2. The elderly
3. Their subordinates
We can see the author beautifully showing the purity of the protagonist’s character in the following words.
“She would never have expected that a man like Lord Newburry would be affectionate toward his serving staff.”
3) What is the reason for the pessimistic attitude of people?
It is mainly the bad experiences that make people pessimistic. We can see that through Rose’s character in this book
“She knew her heart could never be trusted when it came to real life. Emotions and attachment to people only lead to pain, heartbreak, and vulnerability in the end. Those were things Rose never desired to feel again. She preferred to be in control of her life at all times. The only way to truly do that was to remain as unattached to people around her as possible.”
My favourite three lines from this book
“She was realizing that it was possible to both hate someone and find them funny at the same time.”
“Why should I bring up the past with my future?”
“His expression was too serious to be serious.”
What could have been better?
“How could a woman be both so appealing and so very obnoxious at the same time?”
There are certain sentences like the above one that look ok superficially but is problematic when we think deeply.
Rating
3/5 This is an enjoyable, fun read you can finish quickly. I can’t point out anything extraordinary in it, but it still will be a decent choice for those who love to read Regency romance.
—————————————————————————
You can also follow me on
Instagram ID - Dasfill | YouTube Channel ID - Dasfill | YouTube Health Channel ID - Dasfill - Health | YouTube Malayalam Channel ID - Dasfill - Malayalam | Threads ID - Dasfill | X ID - Dasfill1 | Snapchat ID - Dasfill | Facebook ID - Dasfill | TikTok ID - Dasfill1
April 4, 2024
The kind of clean historical romance I want to read!
I found this in my library's audio collection and I had forgotten that Sarah Adams had a historical romance duology!
Since she used to be known for writing super witty, sweet, clean romances, I figured this book would fall under that. It totally did!
It was a quick start following conwoman, Rose. She goes to a Duke's house to try to con him but ends up getting conned a bit herself when he convinces her to come to his family home. Carver, knows Rose is trying to con him, so he uses that to his advantage to mess with her and bring her home to his family.
This was truly so funny and I highly recommend! There was depth, humour, found family, and grief. Sarah Adams handled it so well! I wish my library had the second one!!
It was clean and no language at all.
I found this in my library's audio collection and I had forgotten that Sarah Adams had a historical romance duology!
Since she used to be known for writing super witty, sweet, clean romances, I figured this book would fall under that. It totally did!
It was a quick start following conwoman, Rose. She goes to a Duke's house to try to con him but ends up getting conned a bit herself when he convinces her to come to his family home. Carver, knows Rose is trying to con him, so he uses that to his advantage to mess with her and bring her home to his family.
This was truly so funny and I highly recommend! There was depth, humour, found family, and grief. Sarah Adams handled it so well! I wish my library had the second one!!
It was clean and no language at all.
May 16, 2025
4.5
I love discovering new authors, almost as much as discovering new favorite books. I really enjoyed To Con a Gentleman, it is definitely being added to my 'read again' shelf and I look forward to reading more by Ms. Adams. This was reminiscent of those old traditional regencies (that I love) by Valerie King, Joan Overfield and a bit of Georgette Heyer.
This book is filled with charm, likable characters that have a lot of depth, a nice flowing writing style that sucks you into the story and makes the world around you disappear. If you know me, you know I love a good "meet cute" and this one, between Rose and Carver was just so much fun. I enjoyed all their scenes actually, full of fun, tension and loads of chemistry.
Overall, this was an entertaining read, I'd consider it Regency-Lite, but one I'd recommend to any regency fan.
Content:
Clean romance, kissing
no language or violence
Similar Books You May Enjoy...
I love discovering new authors, almost as much as discovering new favorite books. I really enjoyed To Con a Gentleman, it is definitely being added to my 'read again' shelf and I look forward to reading more by Ms. Adams. This was reminiscent of those old traditional regencies (that I love) by Valerie King, Joan Overfield and a bit of Georgette Heyer.
This book is filled with charm, likable characters that have a lot of depth, a nice flowing writing style that sucks you into the story and makes the world around you disappear. If you know me, you know I love a good "meet cute" and this one, between Rose and Carver was just so much fun. I enjoyed all their scenes actually, full of fun, tension and loads of chemistry.
Overall, this was an entertaining read, I'd consider it Regency-Lite, but one I'd recommend to any regency fan.
Content:
Clean romance, kissing
no language or violence
Similar Books You May Enjoy...
April 23, 2020
If you are looking for an historically accurate romance, this isn't it. If you want an enjoyable, light, and fun ride, then I highly recommend.
I gobbled this one down in one sitting. I dropped my Kindle Unlimited subscription a while ago. I might have to rethink that decision if this is the type of book I can expect to get.
I gobbled this one down in one sitting. I dropped my Kindle Unlimited subscription a while ago. I might have to rethink that decision if this is the type of book I can expect to get.
January 9, 2020
The plot of this book was fun and amusing with a bit of a Cinderella vibe, but the conflicts in the story were far too easily resolved that it wound up being a bit anti-climatic.
I liked the characters, especially Carver's family. But they are quite a bit too understanding of a con woman in their midst that it's not really quite believable. But then so is the plot and the historic tone, you should go into this book with a grain of salt. Read this book if you're looking for a light and fun story.
What ruined my enjoyment of this book for me, was the progression of the romance and just how awful Carver turned out to be. I loved his character when the book started. He had such a great sense of humor and was so unflappable even when some woman shows up at his door trying to extort some money from him. He just shrugs it off and frazzles her instead. But then turned into a disappointment, while still being portrayed as the hero of our book. No, thank you. Actions speak louder than words. As for the romantic progression, it's a bit insta-love for me and they're both just constantly obsessing over their attraction to each other.
And although I didn't particularly love this book, I would try reading another book by this author.
_____
I was able to read this book with my Kindle Unlimited membership.
I liked the characters, especially Carver's family. But they are quite a bit too understanding of a con woman in their midst that it's not really quite believable. But then so is the plot and the historic tone, you should go into this book with a grain of salt. Read this book if you're looking for a light and fun story.
What ruined my enjoyment of this book for me, was the progression of the romance and just how awful Carver turned out to be. I loved his character when the book started. He had such a great sense of humor and was so unflappable even when some woman shows up at his door trying to extort some money from him. He just shrugs it off and frazzles her instead. But then turned into a disappointment, while still being portrayed as the hero of our book. No, thank you. Actions speak louder than words. As for the romantic progression, it's a bit insta-love for me and they're both just constantly obsessing over their attraction to each other.
And although I didn't particularly love this book, I would try reading another book by this author.
_____
I was able to read this book with my Kindle Unlimited membership.
September 21, 2023
Second read. 4.5 stars.
I loved this on the second read. The narrator was a bit slow so I actually listened at 1.3 speed and it was perfect.
This is a touching story about two people who find each other by accident. A man broken-hearted over his first love's death and a woman who has been conning rich folks out of their money to help pay for orphans. Is she "too good"? Maybe. But I loved her anyway. I wish this book had a little more depth to it, but it's still a really fun read.
I loved how the two brought out the fun sides in each other. And how the guy confuses the crap out of the conwoman. And then they become honest and compatriots with each other.
I wasn't a big fan of this badass woman needing to be rescued at the end. She's been taking care of herself for a long time. But it does make sense from a perspective of making her know she's loved and cared for.
The dude mourns his first love but it didn't ruin the new story for me at all. Sounds like he was a one-woman man. Until he met the heroine who surprised him in every way.
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First read. So good! Loved the idea that the hero flipped the switch on the heroine and dragged her into further complications. Was a fun read, especially since both of the main characters are super decent peep.
I loved this on the second read. The narrator was a bit slow so I actually listened at 1.3 speed and it was perfect.
This is a touching story about two people who find each other by accident. A man broken-hearted over his first love's death and a woman who has been conning rich folks out of their money to help pay for orphans. Is she "too good"? Maybe. But I loved her anyway. I wish this book had a little more depth to it, but it's still a really fun read.
I loved how the two brought out the fun sides in each other. And how the guy confuses the crap out of the conwoman. And then they become honest and compatriots with each other.
I wasn't a big fan of this badass woman needing to be rescued at the end. She's been taking care of herself for a long time. But it does make sense from a perspective of making her know she's loved and cared for.
The dude mourns his first love but it didn't ruin the new story for me at all. Sounds like he was a one-woman man. Until he met the heroine who surprised him in every way.
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First read. So good! Loved the idea that the hero flipped the switch on the heroine and dragged her into further complications. Was a fun read, especially since both of the main characters are super decent peep.
Read
June 30, 2022На любителките на някогашните романтики по “Холмарк” и на сладките романтични комедии ще се хареса. Както и на търсещите съвършено неангажиращо и добре оформено и поднесено лятно четиво, в което да няма нито зрънце драма или стрес, а най-сериозната неприятност за героите е да изтърват лъжичката за следобедния чай. Този вид фикция никога не е била моето нещо, макар напоследък тъкмо тези тропи да са масово популярни. Стремеж към една свръхневинна идилия, която никога не е съществувала. Дали тази тенденция е показателна за решението на Върховния съд в САЩ?…
Корицата на Фиделия Косева е просто неустоима - направо ми иде да си я сложа в рамка и ми завъртя главата от пръв поглед! ❤️
Корицата на Фиделия Косева е просто неустоима - направо ми иде да си я сложа в рамка и ми завъртя главата от пръв поглед! ❤️
September 8, 2024
4 Stars ✨
Historical Fiction
“When we have more to give, I think that we have a responsibility to give it. Especially if what is needed is compassion and sympathy.”
London 1815
Rose has been an orphan since she was five. Forced to take care of herself she starts making small thefts until she cons a con artist. He having pity on her, takes her under his wing and teaches her all she needs to know to make it on the streets. When she arrives to pull a con on one of the most prominent members of society, she doesn’t realize she’s made a mistake but Carver knows exactly what she’s doing and plays along. He also may need her in the days to come.
What a delightful surprise this was. I liked the rom com feel in a historical novel. I wasn’t sure it would work, but it had me laughing out loud in the beginning and all in between. It was goofy and fluffy - I loved it. There was so much more to Rose than her con artist persona and she really finds herself. I also really liked Carver and his patience- not to mention his adorable loving family. I thought the writing was easy and simple to follow along with the plot. Overall, quick , clean and fun read- would recommend.
Historical Fiction
“When we have more to give, I think that we have a responsibility to give it. Especially if what is needed is compassion and sympathy.”
London 1815
Rose has been an orphan since she was five. Forced to take care of herself she starts making small thefts until she cons a con artist. He having pity on her, takes her under his wing and teaches her all she needs to know to make it on the streets. When she arrives to pull a con on one of the most prominent members of society, she doesn’t realize she’s made a mistake but Carver knows exactly what she’s doing and plays along. He also may need her in the days to come.
What a delightful surprise this was. I liked the rom com feel in a historical novel. I wasn’t sure it would work, but it had me laughing out loud in the beginning and all in between. It was goofy and fluffy - I loved it. There was so much more to Rose than her con artist persona and she really finds herself. I also really liked Carver and his patience- not to mention his adorable loving family. I thought the writing was easy and simple to follow along with the plot. Overall, quick , clean and fun read- would recommend.
August 3, 2024
I LOVED this story! It’s so good! Carver and Rose are great together! I love their chemistry and they crack me up. I also liked Carver and Oliver’s relationship! Overall a great entertaining story!
June 17, 2024
this was really cute! it got put on the back burner for a little while but i’m regretting that. i loved it!!
the star off is probably for some of the miscommunication and third act situations. (idk i just couldn’t give it five stars)
anyways i really loved this! don’t have much else to say, except you should definitely read it if you want a period romance!
the star off is probably for some of the miscommunication and third act situations. (idk i just couldn’t give it five stars)
anyways i really loved this! don’t have much else to say, except you should definitely read it if you want a period romance!
November 23, 2024
Rating: 4 Stars.
Steam: 1 out of 10.
Triggers:
Love Triangle:
Cheating:
HEA:
I really liked this book, the humor, the story, the bits of mystery, everything was really good, I really recommend it. This is a clean romance, that is, without smut. The most that happens is a kiss and honestly I loved it, I was getting tired of the amount of smut thrown at me in all the books. The romance is really cute, without a doubt a book worth reading, the chemistry between the couple is great!
Steam: 1 out of 10.
Triggers:
Love Triangle:
Cheating:
HEA:
I really liked this book, the humor, the story, the bits of mystery, everything was really good, I really recommend it. This is a clean romance, that is, without smut. The most that happens is a kiss and honestly I loved it, I was getting tired of the amount of smut thrown at me in all the books. The romance is really cute, without a doubt a book worth reading, the chemistry between the couple is great!
December 1, 2019
This was a fun book to read. It's wonderful to read a Regency Romance with an original plot. The characters were flawed and delightful. I loved the sarcastic humor! I look forward to reading more from Sarah Adams in the future.
November 19, 2019
I really enjoyed this story!! It was so much fun. The characters were so awesome! It was an original story idea with heart and depth. I LOVED our heroine! Rose was just the kind of leading lady I wanted. Carver was just the man for her. I liked it from the very beginning and just loved it the more I read, until the end which was a little wonky. Ends are so hard sometimes! There is what you expect and think you'll find and sometimes books aren't what you think and this one was a little too much exactly what you expect. But it didn't take away from my enjoyment of this story. This is a proper romance that is for 14 and up.
May 21, 2022
Given that regency romances are not my genre of choice, I didn’t have high hopes going in to To Con a Gentleman. Happy to report that this book exceeded my expectations, and more!
It was just so CHARMING. Rose and Carver are going to live rent free in my head for a long time - I loved their banter and, despite only a couple of chaste kisses throughout the book, the tension was through the ROOF.
Some other things I loved:
• how Carver knew Rose was lying from the beginning. I appreciate that there wasn’t this big reveal halfway through the book and that Carver knowing helped guide their banter.
• how Rose was a thief and a con, but for only the purest of reasons.
• Oliver. Can’t wait to read his and Elizabeth’s book next!
I easily binged it in one sitting - literally could not put it down. Highly, highly recommend!!
It was just so CHARMING. Rose and Carver are going to live rent free in my head for a long time - I loved their banter and, despite only a couple of chaste kisses throughout the book, the tension was through the ROOF.
Some other things I loved:
• how Carver knew Rose was lying from the beginning. I appreciate that there wasn’t this big reveal halfway through the book and that Carver knowing helped guide their banter.
• how Rose was a thief and a con, but for only the purest of reasons.
• Oliver. Can’t wait to read his and Elizabeth’s book next!
I easily binged it in one sitting - literally could not put it down. Highly, highly recommend!!
April 25, 2020
Oh my. This book just absolutely, 100% hit the spot for me!! Such an enjoyable regency romance. I don’t even know how I stumbled across this author but I’m so glad I did!! I loved her style of writing and she wrote characters with great wit, chemistry, and such a romantic and at times emotional story.
Highly recommend!!
Content: clean
Highly recommend!!
Content: clean
Read
August 15, 2020DNF at 50%. No star rating. I’m having a hard time staying interested. Both MCs have negative motivation to never fall in love.
October 19, 2020
To Con a Gentleman was such a fun read, and it was exactly what I need to read at this moment. It wasn't the most realistic but it transported me to the world of Carver and Rose and it was just what the doctor ordered for me! I'm looking forward to reading Olivers and Elizabeth's story.
April 14, 2023
3.5 stars! This is my second book by this author! I enjoyed it and it was a quick read but wasn’t anything spectacular! Good palate cleanser.
December 10, 2025
To Con a Gentleman by Sarah Adams is a historical romance about a London con artist named Rose Wakefield who stumbles into the wrong Earl’s home and finds herself forced into a fake-marriage ruse with a grieving aristocrat, Carver Ashburn, Earl of Kensworth and learns that love might grow out of deception and second chances when each is at their lowest.
What struck me from the first pages was how Rose’s life on the streets shaped her into a woman fiercely protective of her independence, resourceful, and wary of kindness. Her decision to con a wealthy gentleman felt practical, not cruel, a matter of survival. Meeting Carver, a man weighed down by grief and disillusionment, turned that plan upside down. Their banter had real spark: Carver knows exactly what Rose is up to early, which gives their exchanges a delicious tension, and yet the slow thaw in their defenses felt tender and believable. As they navigate the charade, then something more, the novel explores themes of identity, trust, grief and redemption in a way that made me root for both Rose and Carver.
That said, I also felt a few hesitations store up in my heart as I read. The romance sometimes moves quickly in a way that strains realism: Rose and Carver go from wary strangers to deeply invested lovers in what feels like a short span, and certain conflicts like Rose’s criminal past vs. aristocratic acceptance resolve more easily than I would expect given the rigid social context. The historical authenticity is loose and the plot leans heavily on “fairy-tale” convenience rather than realistic obstacles.
Overall I would give To Con a Gentleman 4 out of 5 stars. It charmed me with warmth, witty dialogue, and emotional honesty even in the midst of its more implausible turns. For someone who loves a light-hearted, cozy Regency-era romance with found family, grief and healing, and a con-artist heroine who’s more than a trope, this book delivers exactly the kind of escape that feels soothing and hopeful.
What struck me from the first pages was how Rose’s life on the streets shaped her into a woman fiercely protective of her independence, resourceful, and wary of kindness. Her decision to con a wealthy gentleman felt practical, not cruel, a matter of survival. Meeting Carver, a man weighed down by grief and disillusionment, turned that plan upside down. Their banter had real spark: Carver knows exactly what Rose is up to early, which gives their exchanges a delicious tension, and yet the slow thaw in their defenses felt tender and believable. As they navigate the charade, then something more, the novel explores themes of identity, trust, grief and redemption in a way that made me root for both Rose and Carver.
That said, I also felt a few hesitations store up in my heart as I read. The romance sometimes moves quickly in a way that strains realism: Rose and Carver go from wary strangers to deeply invested lovers in what feels like a short span, and certain conflicts like Rose’s criminal past vs. aristocratic acceptance resolve more easily than I would expect given the rigid social context. The historical authenticity is loose and the plot leans heavily on “fairy-tale” convenience rather than realistic obstacles.
Overall I would give To Con a Gentleman 4 out of 5 stars. It charmed me with warmth, witty dialogue, and emotional honesty even in the midst of its more implausible turns. For someone who loves a light-hearted, cozy Regency-era romance with found family, grief and healing, and a con-artist heroine who’s more than a trope, this book delivers exactly the kind of escape that feels soothing and hopeful.
January 30, 2021
DNF 50 %
I'm deeply sorry but I didn't like it. I couldn't finish it.
And yet, the beginning very VERY good! Well written, characters well introduced, potential intrigues, etc. I was instantly hooked! As a writer myself whose one weakness is the first chapter, I even took notes of how it was done. That's how good the first chapter was!
Sadly, the rest of the book went downhill. At least to me.
Sadly, once our two main characters Rose and Carver met, everything felt incoherent. There was instalust. Ok! I don't mind it that much since it is natural and happens often but here in this case, it made both leads feel out of character.
So, Rose is a loner and as soon she is meeting someone hot and nice, she suddenly feels attracted? At the beginning, she confused Carver for a guy who she believed was a asshole who had abused many ladies. How could she fall so easily when she still believed she had that type of guy in front of her?
And Carver! He is a widow who has still not gotten over the death of his wife. Almost depressive. How could he feel suddenly attracted by someone he barely knows when he was still mourning someone else? And overall, someone he knew was a criminal who looked for his money?
Yep! Just unbelievable to me.
Also, the way the characters interacted never made me feel like I was in the Regency Era. Of course, I am not expecting authors to write like Jane Austen but I read historical romance because I love the period atmosphere, so I want a little effort in the dialogue. Just the use of nickname turned me off.
Also, if Rose is truly an intelligent thief who has learnt it all about nobility, how could she not know about the Daltons? It is too much plot convenience. In particular since there wasn't that much dukes at the time, so, she should be able to learn more about them with the activity she is practicing.
And why Carver's family accepts her so easily? At the time, the rank and reputation of a betrothed were of high importance! They would have wanted to know which family she belongs to and the engagement would have provoked some scandals and a fear of too important gossips that could hurt the family's reputation! Honestly, too many important issues overlooked.
And since Carver was a widow, why the family wasn't questioning anything? They should have thought that it went too fast. They should have wondered why she hadn't been presented to them before? They would have wanted to know if at least Rose knew that he had lost his first love. How Rose has never slipped the name Newsburry with them? This would have exposed the fraud totally but somehow, they got lucky.
In conclusion, everything was too easy! I was starving for conflicts!
And sadly, instalust became instalove. Rose was someone stubborn about staying on her own, then she felt deeply connected to this man and his family after one day. Carver is literally threatened by Rose with a pistol but he is still attracted to her. Hum... She is dangerous and she has tried to con you! Wake up!
Also, I truly despised the writing style. Too much telling. In particular with the emotions. Don't tell me there was something they couldn't explain, show me that through a truly deep character development.
In the middle, the story just disappointed me. Many people seem to have enjoyed it, so it could be your thing. You may give it a try. Carver is still a sweet love interest while it is important. Overall, I was bored and had nothing to make me want to finish it. This makes me sad.
I'm deeply sorry but I didn't like it. I couldn't finish it.
And yet, the beginning very VERY good! Well written, characters well introduced, potential intrigues, etc. I was instantly hooked! As a writer myself whose one weakness is the first chapter, I even took notes of how it was done. That's how good the first chapter was!
Sadly, the rest of the book went downhill. At least to me.
Sadly, once our two main characters Rose and Carver met, everything felt incoherent. There was instalust. Ok! I don't mind it that much since it is natural and happens often but here in this case, it made both leads feel out of character.
So, Rose is a loner and as soon she is meeting someone hot and nice, she suddenly feels attracted? At the beginning, she confused Carver for a guy who she believed was a asshole who had abused many ladies. How could she fall so easily when she still believed she had that type of guy in front of her?
And Carver! He is a widow who has still not gotten over the death of his wife. Almost depressive. How could he feel suddenly attracted by someone he barely knows when he was still mourning someone else? And overall, someone he knew was a criminal who looked for his money?
Yep! Just unbelievable to me.
Also, the way the characters interacted never made me feel like I was in the Regency Era. Of course, I am not expecting authors to write like Jane Austen but I read historical romance because I love the period atmosphere, so I want a little effort in the dialogue. Just the use of nickname turned me off.
Also, if Rose is truly an intelligent thief who has learnt it all about nobility, how could she not know about the Daltons? It is too much plot convenience. In particular since there wasn't that much dukes at the time, so, she should be able to learn more about them with the activity she is practicing.
And why Carver's family accepts her so easily? At the time, the rank and reputation of a betrothed were of high importance! They would have wanted to know which family she belongs to and the engagement would have provoked some scandals and a fear of too important gossips that could hurt the family's reputation! Honestly, too many important issues overlooked.
And since Carver was a widow, why the family wasn't questioning anything? They should have thought that it went too fast. They should have wondered why she hadn't been presented to them before? They would have wanted to know if at least Rose knew that he had lost his first love. How Rose has never slipped the name Newsburry with them? This would have exposed the fraud totally but somehow, they got lucky.
In conclusion, everything was too easy! I was starving for conflicts!
And sadly, instalust became instalove. Rose was someone stubborn about staying on her own, then she felt deeply connected to this man and his family after one day. Carver is literally threatened by Rose with a pistol but he is still attracted to her. Hum... She is dangerous and she has tried to con you! Wake up!
Also, I truly despised the writing style. Too much telling. In particular with the emotions. Don't tell me there was something they couldn't explain, show me that through a truly deep character development.
In the middle, the story just disappointed me. Many people seem to have enjoyed it, so it could be your thing. You may give it a try. Carver is still a sweet love interest while it is important. Overall, I was bored and had nothing to make me want to finish it. This makes me sad.
November 11, 2019
Sweet, unique regency romance you can’t put down!
I absolutely loved this book and cannot wait for more from Sarah Adams. Not only was the plot new and interesting, and the secondary characters well-developed and wonderful, but the main characters were perfect. Their inner demons are so real and you can feel the pain they are working through, but their personalities are so very fun to read about. Carver was charming, sardonic, and GOOD. And Rose was kind-hearted, stubborn, and fiery. You just rally behind these two and it is SO satisfying to read about their unfolding love story.
I absolutely loved this book and cannot wait for more from Sarah Adams. Not only was the plot new and interesting, and the secondary characters well-developed and wonderful, but the main characters were perfect. Their inner demons are so real and you can feel the pain they are working through, but their personalities are so very fun to read about. Carver was charming, sardonic, and GOOD. And Rose was kind-hearted, stubborn, and fiery. You just rally behind these two and it is SO satisfying to read about their unfolding love story.
August 20, 2024
Basically a clean historical romance - that is all.
July 13, 2022
This was unexpectadly intriguing.
I went into this blindly, not even spending a minute to read the summary. And the beginning was exactly what I needed to be hooked to the story.
What I liked
~The characters
Interesting characters with many dimensions. Each one has their struggle and their strengths and we see their journey towards understanding each other but also their own mind.
The heroine was unique with traits that I long to see into the main characters each time I read a book. She was selfless and focused on the things that mattered to her. I liked her energy, the way she would jump headlong into the action and she would try to make everything better, even if that meant that she would not be well.
The hero was another story completely. He is the one that had the longest way towards the aknowledgement of his problems. His character development was distinct and inspiring. The problem he is facing is a serious one and I must say that the author dealt with it pretty well.
~The romance
The chemistry of the characters becomes obvious from the very first chapter. They complete each other and their minds are on the same page. The circumstances of their first meeting were hilarious and you are sucked in the story from the way their dialogue smoothlly rolls along the lines.
~The ending
Well, a bit expected and unrealistic but I liked it all the same. It leaves behind a happy feeling.
WHAT I DID NOT LIKE
~And of cource, as is my problem with almost every single clean regency romance, there was no action. Or at least not enough for me to feel the thrill that usually acompanies it. I am sure the amount of action contained would be perfect for someone else, but for me... I just needed more drama, some blood here and there, some tears.
~Another point I would like to make, similar to the previous one, Why make a thief heroine and not use that to make some action happen? So, you see, we have that thief, that is an expert in her job, that has a gun strapped under her dress AND YET her gun is never used, we don't really see her in difficult situations that would show her abilities as a thief, we never see her running, hiding, shooting, stealing SO WHY MAKE HER A THIEF AT ALL!
It was as if being a thief was simply a title.
That is all. I don't think I will remember this story in the future but it was a great way to pass my time. It was an enjoyable read and I surely recommend it.
I went into this blindly, not even spending a minute to read the summary. And the beginning was exactly what I needed to be hooked to the story.
What I liked
~The characters
Interesting characters with many dimensions. Each one has their struggle and their strengths and we see their journey towards understanding each other but also their own mind.
The heroine was unique with traits that I long to see into the main characters each time I read a book. She was selfless and focused on the things that mattered to her. I liked her energy, the way she would jump headlong into the action and she would try to make everything better, even if that meant that she would not be well.
The hero was another story completely. He is the one that had the longest way towards the aknowledgement of his problems. His character development was distinct and inspiring. The problem he is facing is a serious one and I must say that the author dealt with it pretty well.
~The romance
The chemistry of the characters becomes obvious from the very first chapter. They complete each other and their minds are on the same page. The circumstances of their first meeting were hilarious and you are sucked in the story from the way their dialogue smoothlly rolls along the lines.
~The ending
Well, a bit expected and unrealistic but I liked it all the same. It leaves behind a happy feeling.
WHAT I DID NOT LIKE
~And of cource, as is my problem with almost every single clean regency romance, there was no action. Or at least not enough for me to feel the thrill that usually acompanies it. I am sure the amount of action contained would be perfect for someone else, but for me... I just needed more drama, some blood here and there, some tears.
~Another point I would like to make, similar to the previous one, Why make a thief heroine and not use that to make some action happen? So, you see, we have that thief, that is an expert in her job, that has a gun strapped under her dress AND YET her gun is never used, we don't really see her in difficult situations that would show her abilities as a thief, we never see her running, hiding, shooting, stealing SO WHY MAKE HER A THIEF AT ALL!
It was as if being a thief was simply a title.
That is all. I don't think I will remember this story in the future but it was a great way to pass my time. It was an enjoyable read and I surely recommend it.
July 17, 2022
This was another sweet romance by Sarah Adams. Rose is a thief living in London. She was orphaned as a child and has done what was needed to survive. The latest target she has is a Lord who impregnated a maid and Rose decides to pose as said maid to try and get money out of him to keep his bastard child a secret. Unfortunately Rose shows up at the wrong house and meets Carver, the heir to the dukedom.
Carver decides to not tell Rose that he is not the man she thinks he is and ends up playing along with her little rouse. Eventually they end up back at his family estate where things take a turn. They both discover who the other one is and use each other to get what they need. Rose needs money and Carver needs someone to help distract him from the painful memories that surround his parents home.
I liked both the main characters and thought they were a really cute couple. But I’m never a fan of the whole fall madly in love after knowing each other like 3 days. I know it’s a romance novel and it’s not supposed to be realistic but that always bothers me in books! Like how do you know you really love someone after you’ve only meet them a few days ago.
Besides that the story has fun banter between characters and a lot of the secondary characters are a wonderful edition to the story. The book does deal with tough subjects like miscarriage and death of a loved one. I also think the book could have used a few steamy scenes but I think all romance novels need those 😂
Carver decides to not tell Rose that he is not the man she thinks he is and ends up playing along with her little rouse. Eventually they end up back at his family estate where things take a turn. They both discover who the other one is and use each other to get what they need. Rose needs money and Carver needs someone to help distract him from the painful memories that surround his parents home.
I liked both the main characters and thought they were a really cute couple. But I’m never a fan of the whole fall madly in love after knowing each other like 3 days. I know it’s a romance novel and it’s not supposed to be realistic but that always bothers me in books! Like how do you know you really love someone after you’ve only meet them a few days ago.
Besides that the story has fun banter between characters and a lot of the secondary characters are a wonderful edition to the story. The book does deal with tough subjects like miscarriage and death of a loved one. I also think the book could have used a few steamy scenes but I think all romance novels need those 😂
September 16, 2021
ADORED THIS.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
Such a sweet regency romance! It’s probably my favorite one that I’ve read in years. I love Sarah Adams writing and story telling.
I absolutely loved the banter between Carver and Rose. Goodness, that’s what more regency romances need. A bit of snark and moments to make me laugh. The plot for this was interesting and unique to most regency romances I’ve read. It was fun to have Rose to be a thief and con artist (with good intentions). Add in Carver, a strong, charming man with a tender heart and I was smitten with the romance.
The story was intriguing and I never wanted to stop reading. Having dinners, going to balls, romantic interludes on the roof, horse riding, so much was here. The story didn’t drag, but flowed easily. I love the intensity of emotions and substantially romantic. I wanted to be swept away and this was exactly what I got.
Overall audience notes:
- Regency romance
- Language: none
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: falling from a horse, physical
- Content Warnings: loss of loved one(s), mention and discussion of a past miscarriage, depictions of grief and depression
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
Such a sweet regency romance! It’s probably my favorite one that I’ve read in years. I love Sarah Adams writing and story telling.
I absolutely loved the banter between Carver and Rose. Goodness, that’s what more regency romances need. A bit of snark and moments to make me laugh. The plot for this was interesting and unique to most regency romances I’ve read. It was fun to have Rose to be a thief and con artist (with good intentions). Add in Carver, a strong, charming man with a tender heart and I was smitten with the romance.
The story was intriguing and I never wanted to stop reading. Having dinners, going to balls, romantic interludes on the roof, horse riding, so much was here. The story didn’t drag, but flowed easily. I love the intensity of emotions and substantially romantic. I wanted to be swept away and this was exactly what I got.
Overall audience notes:
- Regency romance
- Language: none
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: falling from a horse, physical
- Content Warnings: loss of loved one(s), mention and discussion of a past miscarriage, depictions of grief and depression
May 31, 2020
If you are looking for your next comedic regency romance this is the book for you! I laughed, I cried, this book was a joy all the way till the end.
Rose sets out to con a know rake. However, I soon discovered that the man she was conning was not the rake she thought he was, rather he was the introverted Earl of Kensworth. When Carver realizes she is trying to con him, instead of clarifying who he is, he decides to plays along and much hilarity ensues. I think I laughed for a solid hour at their banter and the entire situation. As the characters are forced to get to know each other what starts out as more of a business deal becomes so much more.
Lovable characters, with a sweet, bantering romance, an enjoyable plot and good writing. This book was a delight. My only complaint was that in ended, rather abruptly. I wish that the end was a little longer to help me come down from the exciting plot. Over all I loved this book and am looking forward to reading more by Sarah Adams!
Rose sets out to con a know rake. However, I soon discovered that the man she was conning was not the rake she thought he was, rather he was the introverted Earl of Kensworth. When Carver realizes she is trying to con him, instead of clarifying who he is, he decides to plays along and much hilarity ensues. I think I laughed for a solid hour at their banter and the entire situation. As the characters are forced to get to know each other what starts out as more of a business deal becomes so much more.
Lovable characters, with a sweet, bantering romance, an enjoyable plot and good writing. This book was a delight. My only complaint was that in ended, rather abruptly. I wish that the end was a little longer to help me come down from the exciting plot. Over all I loved this book and am looking forward to reading more by Sarah Adams!
October 30, 2019
When I started this book I seriously had my doubts that I was going to enjoy it. I didn’t just enjoy it, I loved it!! In fact, I had a hard time putting it down. It was completely different to what I was expecting. I loved the character development! Of ALL the characters & I am eagerly looking out for a sequel! Please let there be a sequel - I want to find out how Elizabeth’s story turns out. As well as Oliver’s... and Kate’s haha
This was a clean, wholesome read with plenty of fun & just the right amount of drama. The hero & heroine are both spunky & the chemistry between the two is brilliant! If you love Regency Era novels with happy endings you are going to adore this one!
I received an ARC of this book & am not at all obligated to leave a review. This is entirely my own impression of the story. I loved it! I’m sure you will too! Enjoy 😃
This was a clean, wholesome read with plenty of fun & just the right amount of drama. The hero & heroine are both spunky & the chemistry between the two is brilliant! If you love Regency Era novels with happy endings you are going to adore this one!
I received an ARC of this book & am not at all obligated to leave a review. This is entirely my own impression of the story. I loved it! I’m sure you will too! Enjoy 😃
June 21, 2021
Wholesome period romance but unremarkable and forgettable.
December 13, 2022
Oh I really enjoyed this! Regency elegance, hidden secrets and plentiful pointed banter.
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