The Rogue

Devil's Duke #1

by Katharine Ashe

Lady Constance Read is independent, beautiful, and in need of a husband—now. The last man on earth she wants is the rogue who broke her heart six years ago, never mind that his kisses are scorching hot…

Evan Saint-André Sterling is rich, scarred, and finished with women—forever. He’s not about to lose his head over the bewitching beauty who once turned his life upside down.

But Constance needs a warrior, and Saint is the perfect man for the job. Only as a married woman can she penetrate Scotland’s most notorious secret society and bring a diabolical duke to justice. When Constance and Saint become allies—and passionate lovers—he’ll risk everything to protect the only woman he has ever loved.

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Regency, Adult

369 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published February 23, 2016

About the author

Katharine Ashe is the USA Today bestselling author of historical romances reviewers call “intensely lush” and “sensationally intelligent,” including two Amazon's Best Romances of the Year. A professor of history and popular culture, she writes fiction because she adores the grand adventures and breathtaking sensuality of historical romance. For more information, please visit her at http://www.katharineashe.com.

Reviews

[WhiskeyintheJar · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for the Key to my Heart square for Romance Bingo.

"Now, pray show me how to use this instrument to wound a man."
He could not move. "You speak of wounding a man like it means nothing to you."
"On the contrary. It means everything."
There it was again in her voice: the sharp edge of fear coated in determination.
"Have you?" he said.
"Wounded a man?"
"Wounded the man that you wish to wound?
Her throat constricted in a movement so jarring that it swept the air from Saint's lungs. He hated that she had been hurt. He hated the man that had hurt her. He hated that he had not been there to protect her then, and that he had no right to protect her now.

Read the Falcon Club books before you attempt this, no seriously, you're going to want to have read them. And do a refresher before you start this one.

"I need you," she whispered as the night gave way to pale sunlight filling up the room. "I need your kindness and strength and gentleness. I did not know that there were men like you." She stroked her fingertips on the counterpane between them, but she could not bring herself to touch him. "I love you."

This heroine would not work with any other hero but Saint. Confusion over Falcon club stuff hindered me and this felt a little more dry than what I'm used to from Ashe. Still good but not my favorite.




Soooooooooooob. I was (heartlessly!) denied an arc for this on Edelweiss. Will someone who is infinitely cooler than I am request it, read it, and post all about it so I can wrap myself up in jealousy/sadness and roll around on the floor this holiday weekend?

[Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I originally gave a 4-star rating, but sadly, the more I thought about it, the less I liked the book (at least to the degree that I originally had). 3 stars.

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

The Rogue by Katharine Ashe
Book One of the Devil's Duke series
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: February 23, 2016
Rating: 3 stars
Source: eARC from Edelweiss

***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***

Summary (from Goodreads):

Lady Constance Read is independent, beautiful, and in need of a husband—now. The last man on earth she wants is the rogue who broke her heart six years ago, never mind that his kisses are scorching hot…

Evan Saint-André Sterling is rich, scarred, and finished with women—forever. He’s not about to lose his head over the bewitching beauty who once turned his life upside down.

But Constance needs a warrior, and Saint is the perfect man for the job. Only as a married woman can she penetrate Scotland’s most notorious secret society and bring a diabolical duke to justice. When Constance and Saint become allies—and passionate lovers—he’ll risk everything to protect the only woman he has ever loved.

What I Liked:

This book was probably my most anticipated historical romance novel of Winter '16. I adore Katharine Ashe and her books - especially her Prince Catchers series - and I'm quite excited about this new series. This book was decently good, somewhat disappointing but not terrible.

Saint is a warrior, formerly in the military, now teaching others how to use a sword. He's the best swordsman in the region, better than anyone in Scotland and England. When he's hired to teach Lady Constance, a woman who broke his heart six years ago, he is going to refuse. She rejected him years ago! But six years ago, Constance had to. She's never forgotten Saint, after all these years. She wants him to teach her to fight, because she wants to be able to protect herself while she attempts to figure out who is killing young woman. Someone in one of Scotland's secret society is behind the murders, and Constance is going to find out who - with Saint's help.

Best part of this book was SAINT. Oh. My. Goodness. Saint is easily one of my favorite historical romance heroes, definitely in my top five at the very least. Saint is so complex and honest and noble and selfless and chivalrous and protective. He is kind and very, very intelligent. Usually the brooding types are a little cliche, but Saint is a strong, silent, brooding man, a man of few words. I adore his protectiveness, as well as his kindness.

Saint is not willing to teach Constance, at first, because he doesn't want to reopen old wounds. Years ago, they exchanged a few heated kisses which affected both of them very much. Six years later, Saint doesn't want to interact with her. But I love that he consents to teach her. I love how he is noble and gentlemanly about it, and insists on chaperones while he teaches her. He won't touch her, won't provoke her, but he has never stopped wanting her, after all the years.

Constance is part of the Falcons club, and she's been trying to pin the blame of the murder of innocent young girls on a duke. She thinks the duke, or whoever is responsible for the murders, is part of a secret society, and she needs to gain entrance to that society. But she can't do it without a husband. And she wants to be well-prepared. Saint teaching her how to use a sword, dagger, and hand-to-hand combat is beneficial, and Constance picks up the skills quickly. But she wants more from Saint than combat knowledge.

I actually didn't like Constance. She was up and down for me - annoying sometimes, likable at other times. See below for my opinion on her. However, I can respect a woman who will plot and scheme for what she wants (to find the murderer). I can respect a woman who wants to defend herself.

The secret society and finding the murderer story was very interesting, and had me very anxious. Katharine Ashe did a great job of building this part of the book! The mystery was well-written and I was highly engrossed.

Despite my obvious dislike for Constance, I LOVED the tension between her and Saint. The chemistry was sizzling! Six years did nothing to diminish Saint's feelings and attraction for her, and definitely vice versa (if anything, Constance wants him even more than before). There are some really steamy scenes in this book.

Another thing I liked, despite not really liking Constance, was how complex her character is, especially in terms of a deeply personal event that happened to her. Something terrible happened to her. Saint is a huge part of her regaining parts of herself that she lost; she trusts him, and he helps her learn to protect herself in more than one way. See? Saint is awesome. Saint is wonderful.

Saint is the reason why this book is getting 3 stars, and not 2.5 stars -> 2 stars.

Overall, I'm pleased with this book. I definitely didn't like it as much as I hoped, but I think my expectations were too high. It was a good read though!

What I Did Not Like:

This is one of those books that, the more I think about it, the more I realized that I didn't enjoy it quite as much as I thought. You know when you finish a book and you're honestly SO relieved about the ending? That was why I originally rated this book more positively - the ending was very HEA-like. But... Constance kind of ruined the book for me, I'm realizing.

I never liked Constance, from the start. She really doesn't think about how her actions affects Saint - and when she does, she brushes it off, and doesn't care. Selfish much? I almost wanted her to end up alone.

The thing is, she's WAY too independent for this time period. Way too free. She has too much freedom and power, and it's probably because she's a member of the Falcon club, and she gathers information for the club. Her father knows, hence why she has so much "freedom" (her father uses her to get information). But her character just doesn't fit in this time period. She's too independent. Too modern. It goes beyond feisty. She doesn't know her place. I would LOVE Constance much more if she were a character in a twenty-first century adult romance novel (contemporary), not a nineteenth century (I think we're in the 1800s?) heroine.

She's a schemer and a strategist and she hurts Saint in the process. She wraps his life around hers but in a way that leaves him no choice. She basically turns him into her b****, and I felt bad for him. He's such a bada** warrior, taken with a lady who broke his heart years ago, and she's using him and taking advantage of him.

Honestly, as soon as she messed with Saint (directly or indirectly), I wasn't her biggest fan. And she's been messing with him for six years ago. She plays way too many games, she's way too scheming, and she takes advantage of Saint time after time. I don't like how she toyed with him, how she kept doing things that weren't fair to him. I won't say anything too specific, but you'll find it hard to like Constance. She had good moments though. I suppose people might like her BECAUSE of her scheming, but I didn't like how it made Saint feel.

Sooo... the heroine kind of ruined the book for me. AGAIN, if she were in modern-day contemporary romance novel, I would be her biggest fan. But as a heroine in a historical romance novel, I don't think she's an authentic and believable heroine, and I don't like her.

Would I Recommend It:

Even though I didn't like Constance, I actually do recommend this book, at least for Saint! I'd read this book again and again, if only to experience Saint's perspective, and all of the beautiful and kind and wicked things that he did. However, do NOT make this your first HR novel, for the newbies to HR. This isn't a must-read in general (for you veterans), though I wish it were.

Rating:

3 stars. I'm kind of disappointed! Maybe my expectations were too high. I don't mind sassy heroines in historical romance novels, but Constance is completely anachronistic. I adore Saint and wish this book could have been a little more enjoyable if only for him. I do think I'll be reading the next book in the series, The Earl, despite misgivings.

[Caz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've given this an A- at AAR, so that's 4.5 stars rounded up.

Although The Rogue is the first in a new series by Katharine Ashe, it is also a continuation of her earlier Falcon Club series, which featured a group of former spies as they attempted to adjust to new, “normal” lives. Three of the five members of the Club are happily settled, and now it’s the turn of the single female member of the group – Lady Constance Read – to step into the limelight as she works to unmask a devious killer.

Six years earlier, Constance met and fell in love with a handsome, enigmatic young man with whom she indulged in a brief flirtation and exchanged some passionate kisses. But then real life intruded upon their romantic idyll and they never saw each other again. In the intervening period, Constance became a member of the Falcon Club, her high rank as the daughter of a duke giving her entrée to anywhere she wanted and the opportunity to gather useful information as she worked her way around the ballrooms and drawing rooms of the ton.

Even though she has now officially “retired” from the Club, Constance is still working to ferret out wrongdoing, and is now investigating the murders of two young women whose bodies were discovered on the nearby estate of the Duke of Loch Irvine which is close to her own family’s estate in Scotland. The duke is the subject of many salacious rumours which have dubbed him the “Devil’s Duke”, whispers that speak of the practice of satanic rituals and pagan sacrifices; and Constance has determined to discover the truth, expose the murderer and protect other young women against suffering the same fate. In order to do this, she must get close to the duke, and given her father’s stipulation that she must wed before her twenty-fifth birthday in a few weeks’ time, marriage to the Devil’s Duke would seem to provide her with an ideal solution to both problems.

Frederick Evan Sterling (known as Saint) is widely known to be the finest swordsman in England, and has begrudgingly travelled to Scotland with his cousin, Lord Michaels, who is in love with a young woman who resides in Edinburgh. Believing that to have been the reason for their journey north, Saint is annoyed to discover that Michaels has instead brought him to Scotland in order to repay a debt incurred years earlier – a debt which has now been called in by the Duke of Read, who wants to employ Saint to teach his ward to fence.

Needless to say, Saint is not amused, although he can see the irony of the situation in his being invited back to the house from which he was barred six years previously. When the duke explains that his daughter Constance is to be Saint’s pupil, he immediately refuses and suggests His Grace finds someone else. But the Duke of Read is a wily, clever man who won’t take no for an answer and whose motivations are unclear to say the least. I admit that I was a little skeptical at the idea that the daughter of a duke would be encouraged to learn to fence, and by her father, no less. Indeed, it seemed to me that Constance had rather too much freedom given her position, especially considering that this is a point in time when ladies were expected to do nothing other than to look lovely, embroider quietly and get pregnant. But even though I was only a few chapters into the book, the plotline and Ms Ashe’s writing had already grabbed me and it was clear from what I’d already read that Saint was going to turn out to be an extraordinary hero, so I decided to reserve judgement and see how things panned out.

As the story progresses and we learn more about Constance and her past and her relationship with her father, we do indeed discover exactly why she has been allowed to do the things she has, and it’s rather ugly and not at all what one might have expected. I don’t want to say too much – spoilers! – but the degree of freedom she has been allowed turns out to be a double-edged sword and forces her to make a lot of difficult reappraisals.

While this is very much a plot-driven tale, Ms Ashe has achieved a splendid balance between the adventure and the romance, which is never overshadowed by the central mystery. Saint and Constance never got over each other, in spite of the fact that she has been engaged in the interim, so they are both very wary around one another, circling and sizing each other up metaphorically even as they are doing the same thing physically during her fencing lessons. The mystery plot is very intriguing, but I should point out here that it is not resolved in this book – I didn’t really mind that as the central couple do get their HEA, but this is obviously a storyline that is going to run throughout all the books in the series so we’re going to have to wait for a while to find out how it ends.

The characterisation is excellent throughout, and I was pleased that my initial assessment of Saint – that he was going to be something special – was borne out. He really is a wonderful hero; gorgeous, athletic and with an aura of quiet but complete confidence that is incredibly sexy. But he’s more than that; there is a beautiful honesty about him, an ability to see his own vulnerabilities and a true nobility to his character that is just devastating. He’s a man of fairly few words, and we don’t spend a huge amount of time in his head, but the way his character is developed and revealed is a masterclass in showing and not telling; we learn who and what he is through his actions, whether it’s pushing Constance to her limits in their lessons, showing her that in order to overcome her fears she has to face them, or simply through his need to care for and about her. As an example of the latter, on her birthday he gifts her with an exquisitely crafted new bow (she is an accomplished archer) with a single white rose “twined about its string” – which is so utterly perfect a gesture in the context of the story that it made my heart hurt.

Unfortunately, however, Constance is rather more difficult to warm to, because she comes across as rather cold and manipulative. She’s a complex character, and it’s clear from the outset that she has been hurt in the past and puts up walls to avoid letting anyone get close – even (perhaps especially) Saint. I admired her courage and her determination to proceed with her investigation in spite of her fears; and in both that and her initial “unlikeability”, she reminded me a little of Leigh in Laura Kinsale’s The Prince of Midnight – a strong woman who doesn’t baulk at manipulating the hero when she feels she needs to. But on the positive side, she and Saint agree that there should be honesty between them when it comes to the investigation and the chemistry between them is electric, right from their very first meeting in the prologue when it’s immediately evident that these two people are fated to be together.

Even with those slight misgivings about the heroine, The Rogue is a compelling read and one I have no hesitation in recommending. Katharine Ashe’s writing is lyrical and almost poetic in places, the plotting is tight, the romance is sensual and beautifully developed; and Saint is easily one of the finest romantic heroes I’ve read in quite some time.

[Zoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all, my thanks to Daniella who saved me from my post The Raven Prince depression by encouraging me to participate in a buddy read. :D Thanks hon!

The Rogue, is my 2nd book from Katherine Ashe. My impression of Ashe was that I really liked the way she played with words, the writing, so to speak. She had an imaginative and creative way with words which I appreciate in writers. It helps me to visualize the scenes and makes the scenes come to life for me.

That particular observation of her writing, appears to be true after a second book from the writer. The best thing about this book was the tension between Saint and Constance. They had chemistry, which made the relationship a compelling one. I enjoyed reading about Saint and Constance and Saint was a great hero. Gallant and steady, not mopey, but yearning with dignity.

When I was reading this book I was frequently questioning my intelligence, because I was confused. I felt that there were lot of background stories that I was missing, about the Falcon Club. I felt that a lot of events that happened in Constance's life after she left Saint were necessary knowledge to appreciate Constance as a character. Since I did not read any of the Falcon Club books, I was often lost. I did not understand why Constance behaved the way she did. I did not understand a lot of things she said with undertones. What exactly happened between Saint and Constance was blurry at best, I was completely at sea as to what had happened between them 6 years ago. All in all, while I really liked the tension in their relationship, I was confused about Saint and Constance as characters. I could not figure them out. At one moment they said: "oh I am going to leave", the next moment they said: "oh if you think I am leaving you are mad". This happened frequently for me in the book for both characters. They seemed very inconsistent to me. Often they said or did something, which led me to believe that they were going in a certain direction, and what they did was exactly the opposite. It was very disconcerting. I felt like I was being manipulated by both Saint and Constance. At one point they were angry then 1 second later they had laughters in their eyes. It was frustrating like hell.

Suffice it to say that in terms of characters, I really did not get Saint and Constance.

Then the mystery, I really muddled through the mystery. I didn't know what it did for the story. They were never really in danger. The real danger was that Saint could have been hanged for something he didn't do. Constance's investigation seemed childish and I had the impression that this so-called mystery was taking over the story. Again, it could be the fact that one must have read previous Falcon Club books to fully appreciate the mystery and Constance as a character. I was more confused than anything else.

The correspondence between Lord Grey and Lady Justice seemed extremely redundant to me. I have no idea why the correspondence has to be in the story, except that Lord Grey and Lady Justice appeared to be flirting out of sexual frustration but they disguised it in bantering. If there is going to be book for Lord Grey and Lady Justice, I won't be reading it. I kind of just wanted to tell them to get a room and get it over with already. Please stop writing these meaningless letters.

The story itself is a second chance at love kind of story. Constance met Saint when she was 18 (Saint's age unknown, or I missed it) and they immediately took to each other. It was kind of romantic and Saint was SO HOT in the prologue. Then we jump forward, 6 years later, when Saint was invited by Constance's father to tutor her in fencing. Saint was a master swordsman, I loved that, but I believe I am repeating myself, Saint was so hot. lol

So Saint and Constance reunited, both had been trying to avoid each other. Why they fell out with each other was not really explained. I do not know for sure what did not work out, other than the fact that Constance was not willing to marry someone who did not have a title. She was the daughter of a duke after all. But fall out they did. Now Constance wanted to learn how to use a dagger because she was planning on some investigation. She thought she would need to defend herself. Saint started teaching her and with the investigation came with danger at parties. At one of those parties Saint and Constance were caught kissing and Constance found out the truth about her father and her upbringing. As an outcome of that revelation, she married Saint. Some background stories came to light about Constance and Saint was ever the saint, being ever patient with Constance. Danger, threat, scandalous party and prosecution of a murder not committed by Saint, blackmail, rescue and reconciliation. The end.

I thought there were a lot of details that were not necessary but they were there. And the details I would have appreciated were absent. The characterization was inconsistent, the mystery kind of bland. The best thing was the chemistry between Saint and Constance, and it had everything to do with how hot Saint was.

All in all this book got me out of my depression. I did not hate any of the characters, praise to the God. The storytelling style is a bit jumpy for me, I am not sure I like it. But the writing itself is imaginative and fluid. I enjoyed the writing immensely.

[Jan]

My first book by Katherine Ashe, and sadly, I wasn't able to finish it. A few chapters in and I was just skimming........

It's #1 in a series, so I thought it would be fine, but I didn't really notice it's also #4 in another series. My bad, I guess. As a number of other reviewers have already pointed out, it's pretty confusing if you haven't read the other series. I just didn't get it. Who were these people? What was going on?

I also struggled with Ms Ashe's writing style. I did not get drawn in to the story or find myself particularly interested in any of the characters. It started to seem too much like hard work to go on, so I gracefully bowed out. Perhaps one day I'll try another book by this writer, but not just now.

I found this book on a list called Interracial Historical Romance. My intention was to read it as my March 2020 book for the Romance Across The Ages challenge, Diversity theme. Unfortunately, I did not see any sign of interraciality in the section I read. It certainly did not form a big part of the story, if it was an element at all.

So I did not enjoy what I read, and it didn't seem to meet the challenge criteria. I will look for another book for the challenge instead.

[Crystal's Bookish Life · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sadly did not love this one. The concept was great, and the hero, but the heroine was literally one of my least favorites I've ever read. More thoughts in my weekly video because I have a lot of them lol

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Rogue is the opening novel in Katharine Ashe's newest series, The Devil's Duke. However, bear in mind that this is also book number four in Ashe's Falcon Club series. In fact, the heroine of this tale, Lady Constance Read, is the club's only female member- code name Sparrow.

I have been highly anticipating this novel and while there are other books of Ashe's that I have liked better (I love her Prince Catchers series and Twist series), this was still a satisfying ride, written in a luscious, complex voice that is uniquely Ashe.

The story begins with a Prologue that takes place when Constance and Saint are both young, trusting, and without scars. Their chemistry is immediate and as a reader you sense the inevitability of their relationship. No amount of time, regrets, or social restrictions is going to keep this couple apart regardless of the trials they face within the pages of the novel. Chapter 1 then opens several years later as circumstances bring Saint and Constance back together for the first time in six years. It has been a long six years for both of them and the insecurity, inner pain, and desperate longing are quickly brought to the fore. Now, be forewarned that this is not a character driven novel. Rather, Constance and Saint are drawn together by the threads of an intricate, suspenseful mystery that will weave throughout each of the books in this new series.

The mystery centers around missing young women, a secretive cult, and one enigmatic duke. Constance feels a personal responsibility to find the young women and Saint's protective instincts draw him into the thick of things as he tries to understand how she has changed and what she is involved in that has made her so afraid. What I love about Saint is how he empowers Constance. In Romanceland, so many reviewers complain about how heroes often toe the line of verbal, physical, and emotional abuse, tearing heroines down instead of building them up. This is not the case here. Saint is drawn into a situation he doesn't want to be in, often as a result of Constance herself, but instead of bitterness or anger, Saint always responds with kindness, patience, and fidelity. While Constance is a character who has made numerous appearances in several of Ashe's other books, it is her hero, Saint, who steals the show. I never warmed up to Constance, but I think Saint is Ashe's most delightful hero yet.

I will admit that I have been a fangirl of Ashe's for a while now so I have read nearly her entire back list and all books in which Constance and Saint have made prior appearances. With that said, the plot and the character cast here were still difficult for me to follow. If this is your first time reading Ashe or you have not read her other Falcon Club books, there may be parts of this one that will confuse you. I would recommend binging on her earlier books before you tackle this one.

Additionally, if you like for your stories to wrap up neatly, be forewarned that you will not get that here. This is the first book in Katharine's new series, where the mystery of the missing women and the mysterious duke threads throughout. Constance and Saint finish their own personal quest and have their HEA, but the big picture is far from complete for the reader. We will just have to await Book 2 (The Earl) for that!

Overall, I enjoyed this book, mostly because I loved Saint's character. At first, I couldn't get a read on him because he is a man of few words and we are not treated to his thoughts that often. However, now that I have had time to digest the story, I must say that Ashe fleshed him out just right. His nature is revealed to us by his actions, be it grueling fencing lessons where he pushes Constance to find her inner strength or his willingness to be drawn into dangerous situations simply because he recognizes that Constance needs closure to heal scars from the past. Saint is a man of action and that is how we grow to know him. It was special to read and to be honest I did not realize the gift until after I had finished the novel. There was some unevenness with the plot (I struggled with the character list and the ending was choppy), but I would read it over again just to watch the development of Saint's character. In Saint, Ashe created a perfect hero for the modern reader.

So, here is the bottom line:
-This was not my favorite of Ashe's novels because there was so much going on and I did not like Constance (she is complex and damaged, and I couldn't fully support the actions she took).
-If you are new to Ashe, try her other Falcon Club novels first, which will help you with the plot threads and characters in this one.
-There are explicit sex scenes (several of them) for those who aren't veterans of the Avon romance.
-Saint is a wonderful character. He made the book special and is one of my favorite heroes ever. If you have read Ashe's other novels and are on the fence about this one, read it simply for the pleasure of meeting Saint.

I will now be eagerly awaiting the arrival of The Earl :) Happy reading!

I received this book from the publisher through Edelweiss. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review!

[Daniella · Rating 2 out of 5]

(2.5 rounded down to 2.)
Buddy read with the fabulous Zoe!

Yeah... I just don't get it why some writers feel the need to put sex scenes between the hero and other women in romance novels. I guess other readers are okay with that, but I'm not. Sorry.

Aside from that MAJOR problem, there was the whole wishy-washy relationship between the H and the h, and the whole confusing Falcon Club business. The plot was really convoluted and hard to get into.

It's a pity I can't give this a higher rating. Ashe's writing was superb, but this was just difficult to read.

[Lover of Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance

The Rogue is the first installment in a exciting new series by Katharine Ashe. This was a quite enjoyable read, We are taken first to when the pair first meet six years previous. There is some question as to what really drives them apart however that I felt wasn't ever truly revealed. So I would have preferred to have seen that instead of references to it. But then we see them meet up again six years later. Tension is a bit high between them, considering how much they have cared for each other. What was really fun about these two is how much alike that they are. Both stubborn and prideful, fighters in their own ways. So you can imagine the explosive chemistry these two would have especially since they have serious history with each other. There are some misunderstandings of course, but when it comes down to it...they stick together.

What I really liked about this story was seeing how they reconnect with each other, learn about healing and forgiveness and make a future together. This author has a fun writing style, and I loved the way she developed the plot in this story. The characters are both so likable in many ways. I honestly am not sure which one I loved more our hero or the heroine. Both have a certain spirited nature and have witty personalities and their bantering seemed to be very engaging. Loved the flow of the romance here and I am eager to see more of what Ashe has in store with this series.







Of the dozen men in the room, he was the only man she should not be staring at. He was not a lord. Not an heir to a fortune. Not a scion of impressive lineage or a favorite of the prince. He wasn’t even really a gentleman.

Yet she could not look away.

It shouldn’t have mattered; a hidden niche was an excellent place from which a young lady could spy on a risqué party. Until someone else discovered it.

Unless that someone else were the right someone else.

For four nights now no one had noticed her peeking from a door that could barely be called a door in the corner of the ballroom. These passages had been fashioned in an earlier era of rebellion, and everybody had long since forgotten them.

Except her.

And now him.

A quality of familiarity braided with danger commanded the breadth of his shoulders and the candlelight in his eyes as he watched her. Yet she did not duck back into the dark passage and escape. She had no fear that he would know her. Like the women who had actually been invited to the party, her mask hid the upper half of her face. Anyway, she knew no one in society. Her father had not yet taken her to London, only deposited her here at Fellsbourne, where he imagined her safe in the company of his dear friend’s family. Where she had always in fact been safe. Teased, taunted, treated like an annoying younger sister, and very carelessly acknowledged. But safe.

Until now.

Not removing his eyes from her, the stranger unfolded himself from the chair with predatorial grace. He moved like a hunter, lean and powerful and aware. Not entirely human. Even at rest he had watched the others, disinterested in the amorous flirtations of the other men and the women here to entertain them, yet keen-eyed. Like an elven prince studying mortal beings, he observed.

For four nights she had wondered, if she were one of those women would he be interested in her? Would he seek her attention? Would he touch her as the other men touched those women—as she longed to be touched—held—told she was special—good—beautiful?

She was wicked to her marrow.

Wicked to want a stranger’s notice. Wicked to relish the thrill in her belly as he walked

straight

toward

her.

Under normal circumstances her tongue was lithe enough. But normal circumstances had never in her wildest misbehaviors included a man with eyes like his—green, clear and shining, moonlight cast upon the waters of a forest spring. Perhaps he was not entirely human. This wasn’t Scotland. But England had its fair share of mystical beings too.

When he stood within no more than two wicked feet of her, her tongue failed.

“You were staring at me,” he said in a voice like fire-heated brandy—rich, deep.

“You were staring at me.” The low timbre of her own words startled her.

“One of us must have begun it.”

“Perhaps it was spontaneously mutual. Or it was coincidence, and both of us imagined the other began it.”

“How mortifying for us both then.” The slightest smile appeared at the corner of his mouth that was beautiful. Beautiful. She had never thought about men’s mouths before. She had never even noticed them. Now she noticed, and it did hot things to her insides.

“Or fortunate,” she ventured. She was grinning, showing her big teeth. But she couldn’t care. A young man was smiling at her, a young man with sun-darkened skin and whiskers cut square and scant about his mouth, like a pirate too busy marauding to shave for a day or two. Not very mystical, true. His hair was the color of ancient gilt, curving about his collar and swept dashingly back from his brow. A military saber hung along his thigh, long and encased in dark leather. Its hilt glittered.

He was staring at her lips, and so she stared at his. Giddy trills climbed up her middle.

Kisses.

His lips made her think of kisses. Want kisses. Kisses on her mouth. Kisses on her neck like those that the loose women got from the other men. Kisses wherever he would give them to her.

Wicked wicked wicked.

“Dance with me,” he said.

She darted a glance into the ballroom. All of the women wore costumes, scanty, sheer, slipping from shoulders beneath gentlemen’s bold fingertips. Jack was throwing a masquerade for his friends and these women. Women she should not envy.

She should not be here. She should be at the dower house a quarter mile distant, where Eliza had drunk whiskey with dinner and now snored comfortably by the parlor fireplace.

“I cannot dance tonight,” she said with more regret than she remembered ever saying anything.

“Cannot? Or will not with me?” His tongue shaped words decadently, as though the syllables were born to kiss his lips and taunt her with what she could not have.

“If I could, I would only with you.”

He seemed to study her face: her too-big eyes, her too-small nose, the mouth that was too wide, brow that was too spotted, and cheeks that were too round. She knew her flaws, and yet he seemed to like studying them.

“What is your name?”

“I haven’t one.” Not that she could tell a stranger with elven eyes and pirate whiskers.

He smiled, and it was such a simple unveiling of pleasure that her heart thumped against a couple of her ribs.

“I will call you Beauty,” he said, then his brow creased. “But you have heard that before.”

“Then I suppose I must call you Beast,” she replied. She liked the tingling tension in her belly that he had deposited there with only his smile.

“For what I’m thinking now, you should,” he said . . .


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[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Rogue by Katharine Ashe is a 2016 Avon publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the author/publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.


This is the first book in the Devil’s Duke series, but you will recognize the main characters from some of the author’s previous novels.


Constance was raised unconventionally by her father and destined for great things within his club. However, six years ago, Constance encountered the dashing Evan Sterling and was spoiled to any other man. Despite all her father’s machinations she has steadfastly refused proposal after proposal.

That is all about to change, however, because in order to maintain control over her mother’s inheritance, she must wed before her twenty-fifth birthday. Her father has even chosen the groom for her, a man she suspects of committing dark crimes amid rumors of a secret society.

And Sterling? As fate would have it, he has been commissioned to teach Constance to use a sword in order to defend herself. The six years they have been separated melts away in an instant and the two once more find themselves unable to control the fire that rages between them.


Constance is a woman ahead of her time in many ways, yet is still used as a pawn by the men in her life, and sadly, is scarred both externally and internally. Yet, she exhibits an incredible amount of bravery and intelligence which makes her a character I could cheer for. Here, with the help of Sterling, she is at last able to break free from those chains, and in the process receives the one thing she wishes for above all others… true love.

Sterling…well, what can I say? This guy was the most intriguing hero I’ve encountered in some time. For some reason, he reminded me of Sir Percy in the Scarlet Pimpernel. Maybe it was all that sword play and disguises, but it was also his sharp wit and biting humor. I fell in love with him the very same moment Constance did. He is so funny, sharp, valiant, and honorable, he literally took my breath.

But, this story also has a very dark tone at times, with Constance and Sterling attempting to penetrate an underground club for married couples only, hoping to discover who murdered a young woman, and what happened to two other women who have gone missing. To complicate matters further, it would seem Sterling is being framed for the murder. Can they uncover the truth before Sterling is charged with the crime and will they live to tell to the tale?

Katherine’s writing style sucks me into her stories right away. I sit down thinking I will read a chapter or two, only to find myself so utterly spellbound by the story, I come to my senses an hour later, realizing I have read nearly half the book. This book was no exception and I must say, I believe this series is going to rock your world.

This story moves at a quick pace showcasing the art of fencing and swordsmanship, and dabbling a little in the tantalizing world of disguises which always tends to lend a more erotic tone to a story. As many people can attest to, I love the scarred hero, and I like the darker tones in historical romances much more than the ones with pompous Dukes and Earls and silly virginal girls trying to defy polite society. I like a historical romance with a little danger and intrigue, a story with a little meat on its bones if you will, and this story has that, but it is not too heavy.

Constance and Sterling have a delightful chemistry amid all the serious problems they are dealing with, and exhibit some very humorous and sharp witted banter that was pleasing and charming.

Overall the story is well balanced, flows nicely, is deeply engrossing, and highly entertaining.

4.5 stars

[OLT · Rating 3 out of 5]

(2.5 stars) Well, I'm not quite sure what to think about this book by Ashe. With a romance across social borders, the murder of some young women and a possible Satanic club involved, endless scenes of the H teaching the h how to fight with sword and dagger, and even a traumatic event in the h's past that she needs to work through, it perhaps bit off more than I could chew.

Not only that but, since I have never read any of Ashe's Falcon Club series, half the time I felt as if I were at a party where all the other guests were friends and I didn't know anybody. Awkward for me. Not awkward enough that I couldn't follow the story but still there were sections I couldn't seem to see the need for, since they didn't really help move the plot along. I assume they were there for faithful readers to catch up with familiar characters?

Perhaps I read this on a day when I was particularly dense and it's not the book's fault at all. However, I found the romantic relationship to be a puzzling hot/cold/hate/love/indifference thing depending on the given moment (even moments within those moments) and it developed rather unevenly, even though it was clear from the beginning that the attraction between the two was very great. They needed a really good sit-down-and-talk-it-all-out session at the beginning.

The other uneven development was the mystery. That could have been interesting but the H's and h's investigation of it was desultory and rather bumbling, going places and doing things that would obviously (to me) not lead to any breakthroughs, especially their actions at the very end which were just plain stupid. And, perhaps again due to my denseness, I didn't find the resolution to the mystery to be satisfactory. Well, perhaps my brain had just turned off by then.

Most of the book was spent on H and h working on developing her fighting skills. Too many pages, too much time. I found it boring and tedious. How to hold the dagger, how to move, where and when to strike, how to store the dagger on your body when not in use. (OK, the storage of said dagger was a bit interesting because it led to a rather sexy, touchy-feely moment, but still...

There's also a lot of anachronistic language here. "Feeling the burn" after a workout session? 'Nuff said. But that's par for the course nowadays in recent romances so let's forget about that. However, this is not one of Ashe's best books. I like her Twist series much more. That one is clever and unique. The other series I like better is her The Prince Catchers. However, I'll give this new series, Devil's Duke, one more try with the next one about "Peregrine" and "Lady Something" (oops, sorry, forgot her moniker).

[Mei · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mmmmm... what to say? I liked it. Didn't loved it.

I was slightly annoyed by the heroine and her high-and-mightly opinion of herself. I was almost pitying her when was discovered how much her father has groomed her for his own goal and how he used her, even presenting it as giving her very much unusual independence for that period. She grow up being treated more like a male heair then like a weak and meak female. She is very good with a bow, she knows how to fight, how to scheme and how to spy.... very, very unusual!

It woud have made her a great heroine if not for her feeling of omnipotence...

Saint, on the other hand was much more likable character. Al least for me. He was excellent with treating her in an unexpected way thus gaining, step by step, her attention.

Not that he needing much to get it, since they had a very brief, but powerful, period together when they were young.

Their story was interesting, but the background story not so much... They look for two missing girls, but at the end they don't find them, even if they destroy a nasty club of twisted indiviuals who sacrifice young woman. They are just reassured that they're OK and that's it!!!

So, I would give 4 stars for their story, but only 1 to all the rest, thus my 3 stars!

[Caz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review from 2016

B for narration; A- for content.

I was so pleased when I saw that The Rogue was coming out in audio format. I read and loved the book earlier this year; it’s a beautifully written, sensual and tender romance combined with a dash of mystery and boasts one of the most wonderful romantic heroes I’ve read in quite some time. While it’s a continuation of the author’s Falcon Club series, the book also marks the beginning of the Devil’s Duke trilogy; so while some of the characters from the earlier books are referenced and make cameo appearances, it’s perfectly possible to enjoy The Rogue as a standalone.

Six years before the start of the story proper, Lady Constance, eighteen-year-old daughter of the Duke of Read, meets and falls in love with a mysterious, stunningly handsome young man. They enjoy a gentle flirtation and exchange some passionate kisses during the two weeks they manage to meet in secret, but it’s not long before they are discovered and Constance’s love is sent away.

In the years that followed, Constance became a member of the Falcon Club, an exclusive group of aristocratic spies dedicated to rooting out those among their own class intent on the betrayal of England’s interests. With the war against Napoléon ended, the members of the group have now retired; some have married and moved on, but Constance continues to work against wrongdoers and is currently investigating the disappearances of a couple of young women from the area around her Scottish home.

Suspicion falls heavily upon the somewhat reclusive Duke of Loch Irvine, widely rumoured to be the head of a secret society that practices pagan sacrifice and satanic rituals. Constance is determined to find out the truth and to protect other young women from meeting similarly terrible fates, and, when she learns that the duke is seeking a wife realises that this might be her ticket to discovering the truth. Her father insists she marry before her twenty-fifth birthday in a few weeks; marriage to the “Devil’s Duke” will enable her to get to the bottom of the mystery of the vanishing girls.

Frederick Evan Stirling, Chevalier St. André – known as Saint – is the finest swordsman in England, and has travelled to Edinburgh with his cousin, Lord Michaels, who is desperately in love with a young woman who lives there. Believing this to have been the only reason for their journey, Saint is not pleased when he discovers that Michaels owes a debt to the Duke of Read which the latter has called in and wants repaid in the form of fencing lessons for his ward.

The irony of now being invited back to a house from which he was summarily banished six years ago isn’t lost on Saint, but the realisation that the duke’s ward is also his daughter sets the seal on his refusal. The duke is a wily old fox and won’t take no for an answer, but Saint is adamant. Until, that is, he discovers the reason that Constance wants to learn to defend herself against a man. No matter how bitter he still is at the way they were forced to part, and the fact that she refused to see him on the one occasion he tried to contact her, Saint knows he couldn’t live with himself if anything happened to Constance, so he grudgingly agrees to give her some lessons in self-defence.

There’s quite a lot going in in this story, yet Ms. Ashe has achieved the perfect balance between her mystery plot and the romance. The romantic and sexual tension between Saint and Constance crackles from the start, and it’s very clear that they have never really fallen out of love with each other, despite the fact that Constance was betrothed for a time during their separation. The bulk of their story is thus one of two people who have been burned by love finding their way back to each other and learning to trust one another. It’s not an easy process. Constance can be a difficult heroine to like because of the way she tries to manipulate Saint and of the way she stubbornly clings to the walls she has set up in order to stop anyone getting close to her. It’s clear that she’s been badly hurt in the past and that her determination to get to the bottom of the mystery about the disappearances is motivated by more than simple altruism; but even knowing that, she can come across as cold and prickly. On positive side, however, her strength of character and determination to proceed with her investigation in spite of her fears are admirable qualities.

But this is Saint’s show. In him, Katharine Ashe has created a truly memorable hero who stands out as being just that bit different from most of the other heroes in the genre. He’s gorgeous of course, but there’s a wonderful honesty about him, the sense that here is a man who is fully confident in himself and who isn’t afraid to own his vulnerabilities. His aura of competence is incredibly sexy and his support of Constance – whether it’s his insistence on pushing her to her limits in their training sessions, or the way he lends her his quiet strength and shows how deeply he cares about her – is sure to melt even the iciest heart.

Saskia Maarleveld is a narrator who has been on my radar for a while but to whom I haven’t yet listened. I admit to some trepidation – as I said in our monthly picks post for June, this is one of those audiobooks whose success hinges completely on the narrator’s characterisation of the hero – and the combination of a new-to-me narrator and a book I loved could have been a recipe for disaster.

I’m pleased to report, however, that it wasn’t a disaster, as Ms. Maarleveld proved to be an accomplished performer whose mezzo-range, slightly husky voice is nicely expressive and easy on the ear. Her pacing in both narrative and dialogue is good, and she differentiates effectively between all the characters – mostly by means of accent and timbre, but with a slight lowering of pitch to characterise the men which works well. I wasn’t completely happy with her interpretation of Saint, however, because while most of the time her portrayal is pretty good, there are times she delivers his dialogue in an almost monotone which loses something of the wit and playfulness in his character that is so clear on the page. The story is set in Scotland, so most of the characters are given suitable accents, some of which, like Constance’s, are fairly light, some of which, like her father’s, are stronger. Ms. Maarleveld maintains the Scottish accents reasonably well, although in speeches that are longer than a couple of sentences, I noticed that they tend to veer to the west and end up on the other side of the Irish Sea. Overall though, the narrator delivers a strong performance and as a result, I’m certainly not averse to listening to her again.

Katharine Ashe’s prose is lyrical and quite beautiful; and she has the ability to create very strong, believable connections between her heroes and heroines and to pen witty, humorous dialogue that never feels forced or unnatural. If you’ve never tried one of her books before, I can definitely recommend The Rogue, which is a terrific story, full of action, mystery and romance and featuring a hero who will stick in your mind for quite some time after the book has ended.

[Dana Alma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb! The Rogue by Katharine Ashe will be hailed in 2016! What an incredible book to kick off the New Year! Provocative, witty, and sexy characters bring this extraordinary historical romance to life. This duel of wits is sure to please the connoisseur of historical romance. Constance and Saint come alive as readers are taken on an imaginative journey of mystery and love. Saint is the sexiest of beast and Constance gives historical romance its new "it girl".
The Rogue will leave readers with a lasting impression.
I can't wait to read more from Katharine Ashe!

[Ang · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 4th book in the Falcon Club series and also the start of it’s own series, The Devil’s Duke. As the beginning book in a series, it is an exciting start and I’m eager to read the next one. As the 4th book in the Falcon Club series, it is confusing and frustrating as it does not offer the reader any opportunity for recall but jumps right in as if the last book in that series was published months ago instead of over three years ago. Due to this fact, I not only found myself completely lost in the first half of the book but also due to the complexity of Ashe’s writing, which if you aren’t paying attention to every paragraph, you can miss an important detail that can be referenced throughout the book. I must have done this, as I had a hard time understanding what happened between Saint and Constance six years ago and it’s mentioned briefly in the earlier part of the book and then revealed in sprinkles as the story enfolds. When I went back and re-read the first half and found myself less lost at least. There were too many themes which were not connected well, so this contributed to it being hard to follow as well.

The story has a darker element to it as well that is a bit of a surprise as readers who have been reading the Falcon Club have seen Constance as a strong and solid character and eagerly awaiting her story. I won’t spoil the storyline but it does add an edge to an already edgy story. I think Ashe treats this storyline very well, however, it makes the already complex relationship between Constance and Saint even more complex and I think this element did not need to be included in the story.

All that being said, this is a good story with a very compelling, mysterious and hot hero who just smolders off the page. He is an enigma yet his desire and love for Constance cannot be denied. He wants to protect her and others who come into his life and that makes him the perfect hero in my mind. Plus, he fences which makes him even sexier. I enjoyed the chemistry between Constance and Saint in the fencing lesson scenes.



Definitely a good read and enjoyable, just know that you should be alert when reading it and expect a darker story than that from Ashe’s earlier works. Ashe writes so beautifully and I so prefer eloquent prose over elementary. I am eager for the next in the series and reading more from one of my favorite authors.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

[Ursula · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid 3.5 stars on this, my second read.
The hero, Saint, was rather wonderful- all gallant and enigmatic, yet tortured and complex.
Heroine was a bit of a drama queen who had made some incredibly stupid choices in her life but soldiered on, trying to do good. And spent a bit too much time trying to live up to the expectations of what I felt was a manipulative and cold bastard of a father.
Ashe's writing is wonderful, as always, but then, I love an elegant and lyrical text. For some, it may be a bit too much, and sometimes I was a bit frustrated by the sub-text. I found myself trying to guess what was meant by the character, which is not a bad thing and stops me being lazy. A lot of HR states the bleeding obvious, so I always have to adapt to Ashe's different style, where what is not said is as important as what is actually articulated.
Nevertheless, the story has lots of interesting layers, and I have found this series consistently interesting. A highlight is always the correspondence between Lady Justice and the head of the Falcon Club- they are a constant delight.

[Erica Chilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this title to read & review for Wicked Reads

3 Stars.

After the body of the review is a rant & warning rolled into one. Please read it if you are new to this author, or have not read the Falcon Club series. I just hope you are reading this review prior to purchasing The Rogue if that is the case.

I will admit, The Rogue would have most definitely been rated higher if I hadn't been so confused (explanation below). I enjoyed Katharine Ashe's writing style and voice, and would read more by this author in the future. Perhaps go back to her previous works to enlighten myself and remove confusion.

Narrated by Lady Constance & Saint, The Rogue was a compelling read. The hero and heroine were both witty, with their conversations being a battle of the wills, with a backstory that was glossed over because it was no doubt included in previous books (see rant).

Lady Constance is a strong female character, independent yet not of the era in regards to her behavior as an heiress. Not that I minded, as it gets tedious to read vapid characters looking only to marry as their motivator in life, instead of working on oneself.

Saint is hard of heart, because of a previous slight by our heroine (this was part of my confusion, as this wasn't fully fleshed out in this novel, because parts of the backstory were glossed over, as the author assumed we had prior knowledge via the other series I had not read. This was not the treatment of the first in a series)

Lady Constance's father, whom I truly enjoyed. He was an intelligent man who loved his daughter & didn't treat her as property, or a disposable nuisance who needed to be pushed off on to another man. In his quest to make his daughter happy, he draws the H&h together for fencing lessons.

Constance wishes to marry in order to gain access to a club which surrounds the mystery of the story (two missing maidens), while her father needs her to marry in order to receive her inheritance, wishing it to be in her control, not her husband's. As I said, he was a great dad in that regard, unlike most fathers portrayed in historical romances. Needless to say, the very man Constance wants to investigate is the man her father chooses for her to marry.

The Rogue was filled with a lot of intrigue, complex storylines, all of which wasn't buried beneath the romance. While our couple receives their HEA, it is not the end of the major thread tying all the books together. Which is what brings me to the rant below, because this series ties to the previous one, which I didn't know existed until hit with frustration and confusion while struggling to read.

Will I read more by this author? When I get time, I will go back to the beginning, then reread this title with fresh eyes. Otherwise, this book will not make the impression it was meant to make.

Do I recommend this title to other readers? Yes, I believe this was one of the better historical romances I've read in regard to the romance not being the major driver to the story, but no less important, while the mystery was not just quickly resolved as a means to draw the romance to the fore. Word to the wise, read the warning below.

_________________


WARNING

I am writing this at 20%, where I will edit it upon completion, because I had to state this while in a state of frustrating confusion. To be honest, I don't know if I will continue on at this point because I'm that resentful now.

This would not be an issue unless the series of books are complicated stories woven together, where information is necessary for the overall entertainment and enjoyment of the reading experience. But The Rogue is not a standalone, nor the first in a new series, and it is highly complicated with a large mystery/suspense thread.

I requested to review this upon seeing it was the first in a new series, as Katharine Ashe is a new-to-me author. This cannot be stated boldly enough. The Rogue is NOT the first in a new series If you read it as such, after not reading the Falcon Club series, you will be utterly lost.

BOOK FOUR The Rogue is book 4, and I have no idea why it's not listed as such anywhere on Edelweiss or Goodreads. It should be listed as, The Rogue (Devil's Duke #1, Falcon Club #4) as a clear warning to new readers to hightail it back to the Falcon Club first.

Struggling to read through name-dropping, event upon major event mentioning, not to mention the odd transition from the prologue to the present when the reader didn't have nary a clue who was narrating or how it connected, I deduced this was a sister series.

The knowledge from the previous series is absolutely necessary. Absolutely. Necessary. & the publisher and author should take responsibility in using the blurb and series titles to inform new readers as such.

I honestly didn't even know the narrator's name until someone else called her as such, like it was a huge secret during the section titled Heiress, and I realize why that was after checking out reviews, which then spoiled the storyline for me. Where I find out in a review that Constance is someone also called Sparrow, which is not once stated in 20% of The Rogue.

Courtesy of Becca's review... Lady Constance Read, is the club's only female member- code name Sparrow... <= I have absolutely NO idea what that even means, as it's not once mentioned in the 20% of The Rogue I've read thus far. Events that must have occurred are glossed over in passing like I'm omnipotent.

There are passages of names and events listed, as if the reader should just know what's going on, with no lead-in or explanation. Even readers of the other series should get a bit of history for the sake of flow. (Edit: the majority of early reviews, while high-rated, agreed they needed to reread the Falcon Club series to get a better handle on the first in the Devil's Duke. Several state they would be confused if they hadn't read the other series at all, since they were confused as it is)

I'm far from daft- I'm a writer and novelist myself. I've even read books in the middle of the series after requesting for review, and I was not THIS confused.

& it's a pity, because if I wasn't stopping to digest things I have no prior knowledge of, or ability to find out without going out and buying an entire series of books and reading them while in the middle of this book and on a tight deadline, I would have felt the story well-written and entertaining.

The actual mystery, which I have no idea if it's actually a mystery and not a thread from the prior series that had been resolved or opened, is intriguing.

I don't know if it's the author, or the publisher, but as a reader expecting to read the first book in a new series, only to be dropped mid-action into things I don't understand... that is not fair. Had I spent $7.99 on an ebook or paperback, I would have been LIVID.

After reading a passage name-dropping not one but three characters I've never seen nor heard of by 20%, I came here to the reviews to figure out why I felt so daft, only to discover this is actually BOOK FOUR of a series.

After reading all the raving reviews, I feel a bit resentful, because as a new reader, I'm missing out on a compelling read because of false-advertising and a blurb that doesn't do anything to explain the contents of the story.

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first two books in Katharine Ashe's Twist series, which are unique, funny and clever, but The Rogue takes her work to a new level. In this novel she shows her immense talent, not only for penning a sensual and satisfying romance but also a darkly plausible and dangerous mystery with a twist. My only real complaint would be that although this is the first in a new series, it refers to events, letters and characters from another series, the Falcon Club which I have not read and therefore, it took a bit of time to work out who some of the secondary characters were. I managed eventually, and as I adore Ms. Ashe's eloquent style, my enjoyment was only a little compromised.

The characters in The Rogue are terrifically well developed, good and bad alike; but I especially liked the principled, charismatic and drop-dead-gorgeous Frederick Evan Chevalier de Saint-André Sterling, known as Saint, and the beautiful, talented but flawed Lady Constance Read. The story begins in England with these two meeting six years before the main body of the story commences. Each is immediately smitten with the other and they spend a fortnight meeting clandestinely. Circumstances, not least the difference in their stations - he a colonial merchant's son, she the daughter of a duke - tears them apart, but neither forgets the other and it is obvious from the outset that they are destined to be together.

Six years later the story moves to Edinburgh and the two meet again; apparently by coincidence, older and wiser and with much water under the bridge. Constance's father, a very powerful and manipulative Scottish duke, has arranged for a fencing master to instruct his daughter, and he chooses the best there is. As this happens to be Saint, he and Constance are re-united. At first it seems that the events which took place six years previously will prove to be a barrier; Constance had hurt Saint badly and he has no wish for his bruised heart to be bared to her again. And so he vehemently refuses the commission - even veiled threats from the Duke have no effect initially. Eventually though, Saint is worn down after glimpsing the vulnerability and inexplicable fear hidden beneath the façade of the outwardly courageous and independent Constance.

The background story of missing girls, secret rituals and murder throws a dark and sinister shadow over the tentative relationship developing again between Saint and Constance. There are misunderstandings, but fortunately, these don't drag on. The couple eventually learns to trust and work together to infiltrate and attempt to destroy the evil that lurks within the higher echelons of Edinburgh society, culminating in a violent conclusion, although this is by no means the end of the story which will continue in future books.

It has to be said that there are times the story veers too close to the modernistic; perhaps a woman in the nineteenth century might not have been quite so independent and fearless, but this is explained in a way that's good enough for me. However, whilst I do not mind this slight bending of the rules regarding women of the period, I do mind some of the modern terms such as: "block and a half"..."a piss poor job"...
In spite of that, however, such is my admiration of Katharine Ashe that I continue to be a big fan, and will wait impatiently for book two in the Devil's Duke series. The Rogue is highly recommended. 4.5 stars

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book was too long and would have benefited from hacking the prologue off. It was unnecessary, and it made the constant secret keeping frustrating, especially because the characters constantly swore they couldn't lie to each other. The beginning could have lost several scenes, and I found that Dylan in particular didn't add much. Some plot threads clearly seem to be setting up a mystery arc for this whole series, but they also needed to be tied in to this book maybe better than they were. There felt like an awful lot of hiding the ball for how much time the characters and book spend reviewing the evidence, too.

Also? This book was also a lot darker than I expected, and certainly darker than the previous Falcon Club books. The sadism and rape stuff particularly was awful, and I thought this book seemed more violent in general than Katharine Ashe's other books have been. And, much as it pains me to say this, some of it felt gratuitous. The background plot is horrifying, basically, though I AM curious to see where it's all going. Though clearly our enigmatic Scottish duke must be doing something to help women, and was doing it with the help of Saint's older brother?

That said, I really liked Saint and Constance. Their chemistry was incredibly well done and well handled, even if there did seem to be a whole lot of scenes being like, look, they are super hot for each other and together! I liked that Constance was a strong, independent woman and thinker who was also vulnerable and complicated and willing to admit that she likes her lifestyle and would prefer not to live another. I liked that she thought that women were as capable as men, even if their tools had to be honed differently and that she told people that too. And I also liked that she asked for help when she needed it. Saint was less characterized, but honestly he was a good man who loved his brother and his cousin, who loved Constance with no reservation, and treated her like an equal and sometimes that's really all you need to know about a character.

This is really a 3.5 star book, and I rounded down because I'm not kidding when I say I think it was fifty pages too long. But I think now that we've sort of established this mystery, I'm excited to see where this series goes. I find Katharine Ashe's series always get a bit better as they build up, and I hope that trend continues.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is simultaneously the first book in Katharine Ashe's new series, A Devil's Duke, and the 4th book in her Falcon Club series. It features the dashing, delicious Evan Saint-Andre Sterling and the lovely agent Sparrow, aka Lady Constance Read.

Saint is one of my favorite heroes of all time. He is a very good man. Also handsome and sexy. He loves Constance and has since he met her several years ago. Constance loved Saint when they met, but she was engaged to a now deceased lord. She is in Scotland trying to discover who is behind the disappearance of several girls. Saint has been hired by her father, a Duke, to give her fencing lessons.

I do not like plot spoilers and this book has a complicated love story, disappearances and murders to solve that I won't ruin. Except, I will probably spoil a little bit here because I feel Constance has been misunderstood in some reviews. Remember when you read historicals that try to be true to the time period, women did not have the rights we do now. You can't expect a heroine in the 1800's to act as if it's 2016. Constance did not have a good childhood and was sent to England to live with family friends as her mother had an illness. She saw little of her parents. Her father is a very manipulative, powerful man. She was also abused by a man, not Saint, she cared for and thought could be trusted.

I have read an ARC and can honestly say it may be the best book Katharine Ashe has written. I'd give it more than 5 stars if I could.

[Celia {Hiatus until August} · Rating 5 out of 5]

Confesso que me senti um pouco indecisa como classificar este livro.
Gostei, e muito em algumas partes mas o inicio baralhou-me, achei um pouco confuso.
Houve partes que me senti bastante perdida.
Este livro é como um livro deve de ser quando faz parte de uma colecção, o problema é que apenas foi editada em Portugal a segunda parte da série, e neste caso, faz toda a diferença.
Imensas personagens são mencionadas, com uma intimidade que, para quem não leu a série anterior sente-se perdida.
Sinto que não apreciei o livro como devia porque não iniciei com a série Falcon Club, em que este livro é o quarto. Existem lacunas que apenas conseguiriam ser preenchidas se lermos primeiro a outra série. Esta é um complemento da série Falcon Club. E, mais uma vez, fico sem entender como funcionam as editoras em Portugal e como tratam as colecções.
Não deviam ser editados livros aleatoriamente que pertencem a colecções. Acaba por prejudicar o livro em si.

[Vanessa Silva Martins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Opinião em breve :D

[Sophie Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intriguing start to a new series! Katharine Ashe is one of my favorites. Her penmanship is masterful, proving the point that words, when strung together correctly, can lead to a truly sublime reading experience.

Before I go any further, I should mention that this book, while being the first book in its own series, is actually the fourth book in The Falcon Club series. I realized this when I was half way through it and did a bit of research because I felt as though there were characters that I was supposed to know from other books. I've only read the first book in The Falcon Club series and that was a really long time ago, so I would certainly recommend grabbing all of those books first as I'm sure it will lead to a more satisfying read.
That being said, the suspense Ashe created in The Rogue - the mystery that the hero and heroine had to solve - kept the pages turning late into the night!

Lady Constance is a member of a secret society that specializes in gathering information in order to find missing people. Six years before the story's setting, she meets Saint, and loses her heart. But there are obstacles in the way of this couple's happiness - a manipulative father, a couple of fiancees, and Saint's inferior birthright. The two part with broken hearts and resentment, only to meet again when Saint is hired by Constance's father as her fencing instructor.
The two engage in a cat and mouse tug-of-war scenario because of all the emotions at play. Both felt hurt and betrayed by the other, and yet there's that irresistible pull that neither can deny. Watching them come to terms with their feelings and start trusting each other again, was extremely satisfying. And as they unite to find a villain responsible for the sudden disappearance of several young women, they form a partnership that gradually takes them to that happily ever after that neither dared hope for.

In short, this was a wonderfully romantic read from an exceptional author!

[Susan Gorman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. Ashe’s is an excellent storyteller. Her deeply romantic writing style and attention to historical detail lend itself to this story as the reader becomes immediately immersed in the novel. I could visualize Haiknayes Castle and the six -pointed star carved over it's front door. I felt the couple’s desire for each other as each scene unfolded. And, I believed that I was watching Saint teaching Constance how to fence in Lord Read's ballroom.

The author does an excellent job crafting the novel's heroine and hero. Lady Constance Read is an agent for the Falcon Club who has been tasked with solving the murders of two young woman who were murdered on the grounds of Haiknayes Castle. Saint is an honorable man, a soldier and a master swordsman who has been hired to teach Constance the art of self defense. The couple shared a passionate kiss six years ago that neither has forgotten. I wondered if this couple would be able to rekindle their relationship or if Saint would let her go. Constance learns to trust Saint and they are both pulled into the mystery of the missing women. Saint puts Constance's safety before his own and vows to protect her because he loves her unconditionally.

The Rogue is an intricately woven story which combines the quest for the kidnapper’s identity with Saint and Constance’s love story. The novel has an original and very intriguing storyline and there were several clever plot twists and turns. The last one hundred pages are very suspenseful and the writing is superb. Each of the author’s words adds to the building tension within the novel and leads to its fabulous conclusion.

If you are looking for a fabulous regency read, I recommend The Rogue!

[Jaci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazing addition to her repertoire. The reason I love her writing so much is that she puts so much into the process. Her research is astoundingly accurate, her plots are complex and exciting, her characters have such depth and her writing is so poetic {ie “Not removing his eyes from her, the stranger unfolded himself from the chair with predatorial grace. He moved like a hunter, lean and powerful and aware”) I just have to go back and read it again. Her writing sings to me.

I have been waiting for Constance’s and Sterling’s story, and it does not disappoint. From the Prologue to the Epilogue you can see that they are meant to be together. Constance is Sparrow, a member of The Falcon Club and Sterling is a recurring character from “I Loved A Rogue”. Sterling is a strong, independent man who makes his own way in the world with his sword and even though he show a calm exterior to the world, it seems his self-control disappears around Constance. Constance also shows an unruffled exterior but inside she is full of fear and insecurities that she hides from everyone.

There is a murderer on the loose and woman disappearing and Constance is willing to sacrifice herself on the altar of Marriage to get close to the Devil she thinks is responsible. Along comes Sterling and both their plans for the future are thrown into disarray. This story has it all….Murder, Kidnapping, a couple of really nasty villains, but most of all it is a love story for the ages.

Katharine is truly a gifted writer and I enjoy her books tremendously. If you have not read any of her books you are missing out on one of the best in the Historical Romance Genre.

Received a Complimentary copy of this book by the Publisher for an honest review.


[Jultri · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5. Muddled all around. Inconsistent characters especially that of the heroine. The blurb is wrong. He did not break her heart, it was the other way around. She was already betrothed to a good man and dear friend albeit one she did not have romantic feelings for. She engaged the hero in a prolonged flirtation and possibly more, and they were discovered. He left because she was not his to stay for. He came back for her after her betrothed's death but she inexplicably refused to see him, and yet she claimed to join the Falcon Club to track his whereabouts. She had supposed PTSD after a bad experience with a past lover, her only previous lover, who gave her pain and no pleasure. But she aggressively sought her pleasure from him twice, the first time really using him as a sex prop without any active participation from him. Then after those two episodes, every time she pulled him near, she suddenly was overcome by fear of the act- almost like an afterthought. Made no sense and was utterly unconvincing. I could go on and on, but I am now late to start my morning. Saint was a saint, and he saved the book.

[Keri · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars If you haven't read the Falcon series, then I wouldn't start with this book, because it is extremely related to that series and hard to follow, IMO, without having read that series first. I did get through this book and in the end it was a good book, but I struggled over halfway through the book piecing Constance's history together with Evan's. I still don't know think that I got all the nuances of it. I am debating on picking up the prior series, something for the future maybe. This book was uneven in the fact that there were sweet moments and then POW, Catherine's history would come back and slam into the couple. The writing was good, it was just presented or set up in a strange way to me.

[Ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Não foi mau, mas confesso que não gostei mt 😕.
Entre as 2,5⭐️ e 3⭐️

[Mia 50’s girl · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn’t understand anything. Who even is Lady justice?? This wasn’t a romance, but a mystery novel.

[Gaele · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to preface by stating that I’ve never met a book from Katharine Ashe that I didn’t like, and while some took longer for me to lose myself in her world, I’ve also never found it difficult to grasp the basics in the backstory that gives depth to her characters. As this is the first in a new, yet contains characters from another series, this ability to use the information Ashe provides to sort everyone on their shelves was useful.

I enjoyed both Saint and Constance, for very different reasons. Saint was that solidly male, chivalrous and honorable to a fault protective of all things in his purview character: complex, layered and just stubborn enough to not realize that his happiness is there – waiting. A man of few words, he’s not broody in that emo way that makes you want to reach out and smack him, but the moments hide a brain in which ALL the wheels are turning, as he fights with his demons, mostly self-created. On the other hand, Constance is bold and daring, her confidence is often undermined by the position she must take in society. Using her looks and brains to full effect, this member of The Falcon Club is also far more complex than anyone would initially expect.

With a mystery surrounding a secret society and some missing young women, the plot tension is off the charts: Constance’s focus is split between her concern for the mystery and her increasing desire for Saint, still, and her inability to ignore it or the reasons that have her hesitating. She feels deeply, and as old wounds poke their tendrils of insecurities and doubt into her head and heart, the tension from the will they or won’t they felt brittle and ready to shatter. Saint is not immune to Constance or his desire for her, six years have passed and neither one has truly forgotten, or recovered, from the feelings and desires awakened then. Every look, every interaction between them sparkles and sparks with the tension between them – and when they FINALLY take a chance to quench the thirst…. Grab a cold drink. You’ll need it. Steamy and seductive, the words they don’t say are written ALL over their moments together. Chemistry that is atomic in intensity, you just know that these two are destined for together. Well, if they can get over their own stumbling blocks.

A wonderful story that did, in fact, fill in many of the holes I had from not reading earlier titles in the Falcon’s Club series, although I will be rushing out to get that series onto my shelf. Another finely written story from Ashe, providing a mystery that could stand as a story alone, but heightens and fuels Saint’s protective nature, pushing him and Constance together until they both realize the inevitable.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
This review was originally posted on I am, Indeed