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The Secret Life of Scoundrels #2
Along Came a Rogue
THE WICKEDEST SECRET...
Major Nathaniel Grey is free to bed whomever he wants, whenever he chooses, and that's exactly how he likes it. His only loyalties are to country and the two friends he served with—brothers he'd do anything for. So when one of them is gravely injured and asking for his little sister, Grey will move heaven and earth to bring her home. He's greeted not by the gangly girl he remembers, but a stunningly beautiful woman holding a loaded musket. And he's utterly captivated by her...
IS A SECRET SEDUCTION
Once upon a time, Emily would have loved nothing more than a stolen hour with her brother's best friend, the dashing officer who captured her heart and soul. But things are different now—and so is she. Gone is the eager young woman who believed in love. In her place is a widow weighed down with secrets who desperately needs to disappear before they're revealed. But Grey's sinfully sexy smile offers protection unlike anything she's ever known, tempting her to risk everything . . . even her heart.
Major Nathaniel Grey is free to bed whomever he wants, whenever he chooses, and that's exactly how he likes it. His only loyalties are to country and the two friends he served with—brothers he'd do anything for. So when one of them is gravely injured and asking for his little sister, Grey will move heaven and earth to bring her home. He's greeted not by the gangly girl he remembers, but a stunningly beautiful woman holding a loaded musket. And he's utterly captivated by her...
IS A SECRET SEDUCTION
Once upon a time, Emily would have loved nothing more than a stolen hour with her brother's best friend, the dashing officer who captured her heart and soul. But things are different now—and so is she. Gone is the eager young woman who believed in love. In her place is a widow weighed down with secrets who desperately needs to disappear before they're revealed. But Grey's sinfully sexy smile offers protection unlike anything she's ever known, tempting her to risk everything . . . even her heart.
323 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 23, 2016
76 people are currently reading
1485 people want to read
About the author
Anna Harrington
41 books772 followersI fell in love with historical romances and all things Regency—and especially all those dashing Regency heroes—while living in England, where I spent most of my time studying the Romantic poets, reading Jane Austen, and getting lost all over the English countryside.
When I read my first Regency romance in 2012, I was hooked and longed to create my own independent and spirited heroines and dashing heroes. The best part of writing historical romances is falling into history—to live in the world of Regency England through my characters, with dazzling balls, beautiful dresses, and gorgeous houses that I would otherwise never be able to experience. I love the period’s rich history and find that all those rules of etiquette and propriety can be worked to the heroine’s advantage…if she’s daring enough to seize her dreams.
In addition to earning my degrees in the U.S., I have studied theatre in London, Mexican history in Guadalajara, and Spanish in Ecuador. I am an avid traveler and have enjoyed visiting schools and volunteering with children's organizations in Peru, Ecuador, Thailand, and Mexico, and I have amassed thousands of photos I unleash on unsuspecting friends who dare to ask about my travels.
I love to be outdoors! I've been hiking in Alaska, the Andes, and the Alps, including one week spent dangling off the via ferrata in the Italian Dolomites, and I love whitewater rafting (when I don't fall in!). I earned my pilot’s license at Chicago Midway (To all the controllers in Chicago Center—I greatly apologize for every problem I caused for you and Southwest Airlines), and it is my dream to one-day fly in a hot-air balloon over Africa.
I adore all things chocolate, shamelessly dive into ice cream of any flavor, and guzzle Kona coffee by the gallon. A Doctor Who fanatic (everyone says my house is bigger on the inside), I am a terrible cook who hopes to one day use my oven for something other than shoe storage. When I'm not writing, I like to spend my time trying not to kill the innocent rose bushes in my garden.
When I read my first Regency romance in 2012, I was hooked and longed to create my own independent and spirited heroines and dashing heroes. The best part of writing historical romances is falling into history—to live in the world of Regency England through my characters, with dazzling balls, beautiful dresses, and gorgeous houses that I would otherwise never be able to experience. I love the period’s rich history and find that all those rules of etiquette and propriety can be worked to the heroine’s advantage…if she’s daring enough to seize her dreams.
In addition to earning my degrees in the U.S., I have studied theatre in London, Mexican history in Guadalajara, and Spanish in Ecuador. I am an avid traveler and have enjoyed visiting schools and volunteering with children's organizations in Peru, Ecuador, Thailand, and Mexico, and I have amassed thousands of photos I unleash on unsuspecting friends who dare to ask about my travels.
I love to be outdoors! I've been hiking in Alaska, the Andes, and the Alps, including one week spent dangling off the via ferrata in the Italian Dolomites, and I love whitewater rafting (when I don't fall in!). I earned my pilot’s license at Chicago Midway (To all the controllers in Chicago Center—I greatly apologize for every problem I caused for you and Southwest Airlines), and it is my dream to one-day fly in a hot-air balloon over Africa.
I adore all things chocolate, shamelessly dive into ice cream of any flavor, and guzzle Kona coffee by the gallon. A Doctor Who fanatic (everyone says my house is bigger on the inside), I am a terrible cook who hopes to one day use my oven for something other than shoe storage. When I'm not writing, I like to spend my time trying not to kill the innocent rose bushes in my garden.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
May 22, 2016
'Along Came a Rogue' by Anna Harrington is book two in the "The Secret Life of Scoundrels" series.
This is the story of Major Nathaniel Grey and Emily (Grey's best friends sister).
Grey has no real past as he was an orphan who has struggled on the 'fringe' of society most of his life after making up a childhood that would pass him along as something more that an abandon baby/orphan. Now we find that his best friend has been hurt and he wants his sister Emily by his side. Grey and Emily were caught kissing when they were both young and were quickly separated and haven't seen each other in years.
Emily had moved on and married and has since just became a widow. When Emily doesn't come running to her brother side Grey shows up to make her.
But we find that things aren't what they seem with Emily. Can Grey help Emily and also get her to her brother? Grey also finds that Emily has turned into a very attractive women that he is find impossible to stay away from.
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This is the story of Major Nathaniel Grey and Emily (Grey's best friends sister).
Grey has no real past as he was an orphan who has struggled on the 'fringe' of society most of his life after making up a childhood that would pass him along as something more that an abandon baby/orphan. Now we find that his best friend has been hurt and he wants his sister Emily by his side. Grey and Emily were caught kissing when they were both young and were quickly separated and haven't seen each other in years.
Emily had moved on and married and has since just became a widow. When Emily doesn't come running to her brother side Grey shows up to make her.
But we find that things aren't what they seem with Emily. Can Grey help Emily and also get her to her brother? Grey also finds that Emily has turned into a very attractive women that he is find impossible to stay away from.
Please follow more reviews at the below sites:
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1... http://sissymaereads.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/sally.mae.39...
http://booklikes.com/
https://romancebookreviewforyou.wordp...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/17091...
https://twitter.com/soapsrus68
https://www.pinterest.com/u2soapsrus/
July 11, 2016
It would've gotten 4 stars without that bit of noble idiocy at the end. I just hated that both characters took turns thinking they weren't good enough *sigh*
February 27, 2016
Reviewed for herding cats & burning soup.
5 Reasons Along Came a Rogue was Fabulous!
What a beautifully done romance. Cover to cover Along Came A Rogue was lovely, exciting and oh so very romantic. The quick of it is that Emily's brother has been gravely injured and his only request is for Emily to come to his bedside but for reasons of her own she's not come yet so Nathaniel decides he's going to make it happen. His best friend wants his sister...he's gonna get his sister even if Nathaniel has to drag her kicking and screaming across the country side to make it happen. Little does he know the danger he's about to set loose!
And now why it was amazing...
1. Opening paragraph. It killed me. The surprise, the naughty, the omg I wanna know more! In the shadows of the private opera box, Nathaniel Grey lowered the glass of whiskey from his lips and smiled down at the beautifully coiffed head bobbing at his crotch.
2. The hero! Grey is a rogue but sweet and caring and dreamy. I fell for him completely and how he was with Emily. Especially after finding out her big secret and what had truly kept her away from her family. He was an orphan who fought his way to a successful career in the military and hid his upbringing with a fierceness. I just loved him completely and that his social status was 'beneath' hers. It made for an interesting issue.
3. Emily was a wonderful heroine too. She's hiding a big secret and has so much on her plate but she held herself together with class and kept her head. You could see the good in her heart and I loved that when she found out HIS secret she wasn't phased either. She was a heroine you could root for and that I could easily see being friends with.
4. The heat is AMAZING. These two have some serious chemistry and they put their time together as they travel from her country home to London to GOOD use. It's delicious, sexy and shiver-worthy.
5. Fast paced adventure! This was an exciting book! There's always something happening and I loved the energy and feel. Harrington held me completely captive. It's such an amazing feeling when that happens. The journey they went on both physically and emotionally was just such a ride! There was a good bit of danger as well and while I figured it out fairly early on it was still so good!
6. Okay and adding one extra in. I just loved the romance of these two. They have a different dynamic because of her secret but it was beautifully done and so incredibly touching. Everything about them just grabbed my heart and left me smitten.
All in all, Harrington is proving to be an amazing voice in the historical world. Along Came A Rogue was beautifully done. Plain and simple this is a gorgeous romance that'll leave you sighing in delighted pleasure.
September 17, 2016
I've given this a B- at AAR, so that's 3.5 stars rounded up.
This second book from new author Anna Harrington is an enjoyable story with an engaging central couple and a steamy romance that is based around one of my favourite tropes – that of youthful would-be lovers who come together some years later and discover they never really got over each other. That aspect of Along Came a Rogue works well in the sense that the author shows clearly that there is a strong bond between the protagonists, despite their separation; but while the book is very readable and well-written, the pacing is uneven, there are places where things could have been tightened up and there is one particular plot point that is redundant.
Five years before the book begins, sixteen-year-old Lady Emily Matteson became infatuated with the dashingly handsome Captain Nathaniel Grey, a friend of her brother’s. Even then Grey had the sort of reputation to cause the respectable matrons of society to want to lock up their daughters; added to which he is a nobody – the son of a blacksmith who has made his own way in life through dint of hard work, he is doubly unsuitable as a match for a well-bred young lady. Not that anything so permanent crossed his mind when Emily one day asked him to kiss her so that she would know what to do when she had a suitor. Against his better judgement, Grey gave in to her pleas, only to be thrown out of the house at gunpoint when they were discovered in a full lip-lock.
Five years later, and now a major, Grey has been relieved from active duty due to an injury and has been offered a prestigious position in Spain, one he is keen to take up as soon as possible. But his plans are changed abruptly when his good friend Thomas Matteson is attacked by thieves and severely injured. With death hovering close by, Thomas begs Grey to fetch Emily from her home in Yorkshire. The last time they saw each other was years ago, and they quarreled – and Thomas wants desperately to see her. Grey sets off immediately and arrives at Snowden Hall travel-stained and weary only to be shot at and threatened by a harpy he doesn’t immediately recognise as the “stick with blond braids” he’d kissed all those years ago. And when he does recognise her, he’s stunned to discover that the vibrant, happy young woman he left behind has become a woman haunted by fears she won’t disclose and whose immediate reaction to his presence is to try to push him away.
Ms Harrington creates a potent atmosphere of tension and menace in these early chapters, and achieved a good balance between making me want Emily to confide in Grey and let him help her, and not wanting the suspense to come to an end too soon. She wisely opts not to drag it out, but once we find out why Emily is behaving as she is, and after she and Grey have to flee her home to escape the danger, the story starts to drag until it reaches the last few chapters.
Once Emily and Grey have left Yorkshire and she has told him about her situation, the plot shifts to concentrate more on their relationship and on the … I was going to say development of the romance, but to be honest, this is another place the book falls down, in that the author places a great reliance on the fact that Grey and Emily were smitten with each other before and it doesn’t take much to rekindle those embers. In spite of Emily’s initial hostility and Grey’s determination to get to the bottom of it, the mental lusting gets going speedily, and not long after that, the lusting – and the relationship – turns physical. The love scenes are sensual and well-written, but – again, there’s a but – the inclusion of several of them as the couple journeys to London slows the pacing and I was tempted to skim them.
The biggest problem I had with the story, though, is with Emily’s sudden realisation late on in the story that if Grey were to abandon his posting to Spain and remain in England with her, he would come to resent her because she has tied him down and stopped him doing all the things he wanted to do with his life. I really dislike this sort of self-sacrifice and the “I know what is best for you” attitude adopted by those characters who attempt to martyr themselves because they are convinced they will make the person they love miserable. Grey is initially presented as the “love ‘em and leave ‘em” type – he even tells Emily that he uses women for sex and that’s all he wants, giving her the chance to change her mind about becoming his lover. But he comes to realise that he’s changing and that some things are more important than his career, while Emily is regressing emotionally for reasons that are ridiculously flimsy. She tries to get Grey to believe she no longer wants him because she has a position to uphold in society and he is a commoner – he does have a bee in his bonnet about the fact that he is barely tolerated by the ton, and gets his own back by bedding bored society wives – but he knows her better than that and won’t give up.
And this brings me to the redundant plot point I mentioned. Grey has always told his friends that he is the son of a village blacksmith, whereas in fact, he’s an orphan. I’m not sure what difference this knowledge would have made to them or to his career, but when Emily rejects him, he decides he needs to find out the truth once and for all. He confronts his benefactor, and finally discovers the truth of something he has long suspected and which suddenly makes him a more eligible match for her. I can’t say much more without spoilers, but suffice to say, it makes no sense and the story would have been better off without it.
In spite of my criticisms, Along Came a Rogue is by no means a bad book and I’m going to give it a qualified recommendation. The writing is generally strong, and the fact that I enjoyed it as much as I did given its faults, says something about Anna Harrington’s abilities as a storyteller. Grey’s character growth, in particular, is handled well and even though I wanted to smack some sense into Emily in the latter parts of the book, they make a well-matched couple and I came away from the novel satisfied that they had each got what they deserved.
This second book from new author Anna Harrington is an enjoyable story with an engaging central couple and a steamy romance that is based around one of my favourite tropes – that of youthful would-be lovers who come together some years later and discover they never really got over each other. That aspect of Along Came a Rogue works well in the sense that the author shows clearly that there is a strong bond between the protagonists, despite their separation; but while the book is very readable and well-written, the pacing is uneven, there are places where things could have been tightened up and there is one particular plot point that is redundant.
Five years before the book begins, sixteen-year-old Lady Emily Matteson became infatuated with the dashingly handsome Captain Nathaniel Grey, a friend of her brother’s. Even then Grey had the sort of reputation to cause the respectable matrons of society to want to lock up their daughters; added to which he is a nobody – the son of a blacksmith who has made his own way in life through dint of hard work, he is doubly unsuitable as a match for a well-bred young lady. Not that anything so permanent crossed his mind when Emily one day asked him to kiss her so that she would know what to do when she had a suitor. Against his better judgement, Grey gave in to her pleas, only to be thrown out of the house at gunpoint when they were discovered in a full lip-lock.
Five years later, and now a major, Grey has been relieved from active duty due to an injury and has been offered a prestigious position in Spain, one he is keen to take up as soon as possible. But his plans are changed abruptly when his good friend Thomas Matteson is attacked by thieves and severely injured. With death hovering close by, Thomas begs Grey to fetch Emily from her home in Yorkshire. The last time they saw each other was years ago, and they quarreled – and Thomas wants desperately to see her. Grey sets off immediately and arrives at Snowden Hall travel-stained and weary only to be shot at and threatened by a harpy he doesn’t immediately recognise as the “stick with blond braids” he’d kissed all those years ago. And when he does recognise her, he’s stunned to discover that the vibrant, happy young woman he left behind has become a woman haunted by fears she won’t disclose and whose immediate reaction to his presence is to try to push him away.
Ms Harrington creates a potent atmosphere of tension and menace in these early chapters, and achieved a good balance between making me want Emily to confide in Grey and let him help her, and not wanting the suspense to come to an end too soon. She wisely opts not to drag it out, but once we find out why Emily is behaving as she is, and after she and Grey have to flee her home to escape the danger, the story starts to drag until it reaches the last few chapters.
Once Emily and Grey have left Yorkshire and she has told him about her situation, the plot shifts to concentrate more on their relationship and on the … I was going to say development of the romance, but to be honest, this is another place the book falls down, in that the author places a great reliance on the fact that Grey and Emily were smitten with each other before and it doesn’t take much to rekindle those embers. In spite of Emily’s initial hostility and Grey’s determination to get to the bottom of it, the mental lusting gets going speedily, and not long after that, the lusting – and the relationship – turns physical. The love scenes are sensual and well-written, but – again, there’s a but – the inclusion of several of them as the couple journeys to London slows the pacing and I was tempted to skim them.
The biggest problem I had with the story, though, is with Emily’s sudden realisation late on in the story that if Grey were to abandon his posting to Spain and remain in England with her, he would come to resent her because she has tied him down and stopped him doing all the things he wanted to do with his life. I really dislike this sort of self-sacrifice and the “I know what is best for you” attitude adopted by those characters who attempt to martyr themselves because they are convinced they will make the person they love miserable. Grey is initially presented as the “love ‘em and leave ‘em” type – he even tells Emily that he uses women for sex and that’s all he wants, giving her the chance to change her mind about becoming his lover. But he comes to realise that he’s changing and that some things are more important than his career, while Emily is regressing emotionally for reasons that are ridiculously flimsy. She tries to get Grey to believe she no longer wants him because she has a position to uphold in society and he is a commoner – he does have a bee in his bonnet about the fact that he is barely tolerated by the ton, and gets his own back by bedding bored society wives – but he knows her better than that and won’t give up.
And this brings me to the redundant plot point I mentioned. Grey has always told his friends that he is the son of a village blacksmith, whereas in fact, he’s an orphan. I’m not sure what difference this knowledge would have made to them or to his career, but when Emily rejects him, he decides he needs to find out the truth once and for all. He confronts his benefactor, and finally discovers the truth of something he has long suspected and which suddenly makes him a more eligible match for her. I can’t say much more without spoilers, but suffice to say, it makes no sense and the story would have been better off without it.
In spite of my criticisms, Along Came a Rogue is by no means a bad book and I’m going to give it a qualified recommendation. The writing is generally strong, and the fact that I enjoyed it as much as I did given its faults, says something about Anna Harrington’s abilities as a storyteller. Grey’s character growth, in particular, is handled well and even though I wanted to smack some sense into Emily in the latter parts of the book, they make a well-matched couple and I came away from the novel satisfied that they had each got what they deserved.
February 13, 2017
3.5 stars!
Whooooo. Anna Harrington sure can write hot love scenes. Especially when they involve baths, carriages or scaling a bedroom window via rope (yes, this actually happens).
An easy read with wonderful prose and characters, there was much enjoy about Along Came a Rogue (love that title by the way). However, I did find that Emily and Grey’s romance was a bit lacking. I think it was the quickness of how they went from not hearing from nor seeing each other in years to ohmygod I want you FOREVER that made their relationship not 100% believable. But their potent chemistry and the many sweet moments they shared constantly had me forgetting the issues I had with them, or the plot. Their pull was just too good to deny!
I’ll definitely be reading Edward and Kate’s (they were so darling here!) book next and I’m really looking forward to Thomas’s story in April. His heroine’s going to be a highwaywoman apparently? BRING IT ON!!!!
Whooooo. Anna Harrington sure can write hot love scenes. Especially when they involve baths, carriages or scaling a bedroom window via rope (yes, this actually happens).
An easy read with wonderful prose and characters, there was much enjoy about Along Came a Rogue (love that title by the way). However, I did find that Emily and Grey’s romance was a bit lacking. I think it was the quickness of how they went from not hearing from nor seeing each other in years to ohmygod I want you FOREVER that made their relationship not 100% believable. But their potent chemistry and the many sweet moments they shared constantly had me forgetting the issues I had with them, or the plot. Their pull was just too good to deny!
I’ll definitely be reading Edward and Kate’s (they were so darling here!) book next and I’m really looking forward to Thomas’s story in April. His heroine’s going to be a highwaywoman apparently? BRING IT ON!!!!
March 2, 2016
Originally posted on Adria's Romance Reviews
* A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for the purpose of an honest review.
Along Came a Rogue is a swoon worthy romance that had me wanting to go right back to the beginning and read it all over again once I reached the end.
Basically the story begins when one of Major Nathaniel Grey’s best friends is seriously hurt and begins to ask for his sister. Grey promises to bring her to him no matter what but when Grey arrives at her home she’s not in the friendliest of moods and she’s not the skinny little girl affectionately known as “Brat” anymore. Instead Grey finds that Emily is a grown woman and while she might have once been thrilled by the prospect of spending time with him, her childhood crush, now all she is to be left alone with her secrets.
From the moment they met up again I just knew that Grey and Emily’s romance was a romance that was worth reading and savoring. With each page I grew more and more convinced that Along Came a Rogue was going to be one of those rare books that made me fall madly, deeply in love with the beginning, middle and happy end of Grey and Emily’s romance. I fell in love with the love story. If that makes sense. There was such a connection between the two characters that went far beyond the physical and it just worked so well for these characters. Anna Harrington knew just how to portray both personalities in a way that left no doubt that Grey and Emily were meant to be together. I’ve rarely ever been this enamored with a couple! And Grey made the word “brat” seem like the tenderest of endearments.
Each scene flowed so nicely into the next that it made my reading experience smooth and uninterrupted but it was what was happening in each scene that held my attention. There was never a dull moment in this book whether it was Grey and Emily’s growing romance or the suspense of why Emily felt she had to carry a musket on the day she was reunited with Grey.
I obviously missed the first book in the series but I didn’t have any trouble following along with this story and while the previous book’s couple, Edward and Kate Westover, the Duke and Duchess of Strathmore do appear in this book, there isn’t anything that would spoil me from reading their story. Then there was Emily’s brother, Thomas who had such a strong, loving bond with his sister that it added to my already enjoyable experience.
Final Verdict: Along Came a Rogue is a beautifully written romance with an underdog hero and a determined heroine that you can’t help but fall in love with. I can’t say enough good things about this book. Definitely a “Best Read” pick. The first one this year actually.
* A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for the purpose of an honest review.
Along Came a Rogue is a swoon worthy romance that had me wanting to go right back to the beginning and read it all over again once I reached the end.
Basically the story begins when one of Major Nathaniel Grey’s best friends is seriously hurt and begins to ask for his sister. Grey promises to bring her to him no matter what but when Grey arrives at her home she’s not in the friendliest of moods and she’s not the skinny little girl affectionately known as “Brat” anymore. Instead Grey finds that Emily is a grown woman and while she might have once been thrilled by the prospect of spending time with him, her childhood crush, now all she is to be left alone with her secrets.
From the moment they met up again I just knew that Grey and Emily’s romance was a romance that was worth reading and savoring. With each page I grew more and more convinced that Along Came a Rogue was going to be one of those rare books that made me fall madly, deeply in love with the beginning, middle and happy end of Grey and Emily’s romance. I fell in love with the love story. If that makes sense. There was such a connection between the two characters that went far beyond the physical and it just worked so well for these characters. Anna Harrington knew just how to portray both personalities in a way that left no doubt that Grey and Emily were meant to be together. I’ve rarely ever been this enamored with a couple! And Grey made the word “brat” seem like the tenderest of endearments.
Each scene flowed so nicely into the next that it made my reading experience smooth and uninterrupted but it was what was happening in each scene that held my attention. There was never a dull moment in this book whether it was Grey and Emily’s growing romance or the suspense of why Emily felt she had to carry a musket on the day she was reunited with Grey.
I obviously missed the first book in the series but I didn’t have any trouble following along with this story and while the previous book’s couple, Edward and Kate Westover, the Duke and Duchess of Strathmore do appear in this book, there isn’t anything that would spoil me from reading their story. Then there was Emily’s brother, Thomas who had such a strong, loving bond with his sister that it added to my already enjoyable experience.
Final Verdict: Along Came a Rogue is a beautifully written romance with an underdog hero and a determined heroine that you can’t help but fall in love with. I can’t say enough good things about this book. Definitely a “Best Read” pick. The first one this year actually.
May 12, 2016
Anna Harringtons second book establishes her ability to write intriguing and endearing characters. Nathaniel and Emily drag your heart along on their tumultuous road leaving you rooting for them the whole way. Twists and turns keep you on your toes and your nose to the binding. I have been a lover of romance novels for 15 years and it's rare I find a new author who can keep me wondering what comes next and looking forward to the next book in a series. Harrington accomplishes the impossible with little effort from page one. If you are looking for a novel that is more than just romance but a journey of friends and compatriots this novel is for you.
I was given a free copy for my honest opinion.
I was given a free copy for my honest opinion.
October 14, 2024
I loved ❤️ this book's storyline. I loved ❤️ the suspense in this story. I loved ❤️ the hot 🔥 & steamy scenes. I loved ❤️ Grey. I felt sorry for Grey. I loved ❤️ Emily. I felt sorry for Emily. I loved ❤️ the ending. Awesome job Ms. Harrington.
March 1, 2016
Anna Harrington brings readers the second book in her Secret Life of Scoundrels series, Along Came a Rogue. This one is quite the steamy read even from the first paragraph! It's easy to see why Harrington is quickly becoming an author to keep an eye on in the historical romance genre. Compelling characters with plenty of secrets, a touch of mystery and tons of action both in the bedroom and out. A great new book from Anna Harrington!
What I liked:
Regency romances are all about the splendor and opulence of the ton. It's about decorum and the proper way to do things. Anna Harrington's writing adheres to a lot of those norms that readers expect from a Regency author, but she isn't adverse to taking a few risks either. I thought this story showed a lot of confidence in the author's ability to sell her story to her audience. She may be writing about earls and marque's and the like, but she also writes about rogues and orphans. The balance between what the ton expects and what the ton gets was just perfect in this one.
Emily has a big secret, that may determine her future in every way. Nathaniel has a big secret that could deter everything he has ever worked for in his life. This story is about secrets and how they define the characters in the book. Grey is a rogue that operates on the outskirts of the ton, enjoying the benefits, but not really being a part. I loved the fact that Harrington makes the reader think he doesn't really care about that, but then shows that he does. Emily is his best friends little sister. A stolen kiss sets her life in a spiral, and now her life is threatened. She is not longer the brat, Grey once knew. But a strong and capable woman. Great characters all around! Multi-faceted and intense.
Thomas is practically on his death bed and all he wants is his sister. Grey takes it upon himself to retrieve the young widow, but gets a whole lot more than he bargains for. There was plenty of action in this one, in the bedroom and out. Emily and Grey are instantly reminded of a kiss they shared when she was just a girl. The intensity of their attraction ramps up throughout the book and gives the reader a lot of swoon worthy moments. But, there is a touch of mystery here as well. Emily's husband was murdered and she is in danger. Grey wants to protect her but his station in life is nothing compared to hers. I loved the balance and the way the author was able to focus on the romance, but still keep the mystery alive, throughout.
Something to remember:
This one starts off racy from the get go. The opening paragraph is somewhat graphic even for a romance. But I think the author had to establish Grey as a real rogue right off the bat. Someone who doesn't care about the conventions of the ton or about the feelings of the women he entertains. I liked that spicy start. I was intrigued and wanted to know more about this man. I was amazed at how he went from scoundrel to attentive lover throughout the book. Even if the first page makes you blush... don't stop reading... it's a good thing.
Bottom Line:
This is a great book by Anna Harrington. I had not read the previous book in the series and still felt right at home with this one. It was engaging and a bit naughty. The hero and the heroine have a lot of secrets that could change everything for them and that makes for an intense read. The big secrets are handled well and the reader will find this one very satisfying. Great balance and complex characters. A great addition to this series!
What I liked:
Regency romances are all about the splendor and opulence of the ton. It's about decorum and the proper way to do things. Anna Harrington's writing adheres to a lot of those norms that readers expect from a Regency author, but she isn't adverse to taking a few risks either. I thought this story showed a lot of confidence in the author's ability to sell her story to her audience. She may be writing about earls and marque's and the like, but she also writes about rogues and orphans. The balance between what the ton expects and what the ton gets was just perfect in this one.
Emily has a big secret, that may determine her future in every way. Nathaniel has a big secret that could deter everything he has ever worked for in his life. This story is about secrets and how they define the characters in the book. Grey is a rogue that operates on the outskirts of the ton, enjoying the benefits, but not really being a part. I loved the fact that Harrington makes the reader think he doesn't really care about that, but then shows that he does. Emily is his best friends little sister. A stolen kiss sets her life in a spiral, and now her life is threatened. She is not longer the brat, Grey once knew. But a strong and capable woman. Great characters all around! Multi-faceted and intense.
Thomas is practically on his death bed and all he wants is his sister. Grey takes it upon himself to retrieve the young widow, but gets a whole lot more than he bargains for. There was plenty of action in this one, in the bedroom and out. Emily and Grey are instantly reminded of a kiss they shared when she was just a girl. The intensity of their attraction ramps up throughout the book and gives the reader a lot of swoon worthy moments. But, there is a touch of mystery here as well. Emily's husband was murdered and she is in danger. Grey wants to protect her but his station in life is nothing compared to hers. I loved the balance and the way the author was able to focus on the romance, but still keep the mystery alive, throughout.
Something to remember:
This one starts off racy from the get go. The opening paragraph is somewhat graphic even for a romance. But I think the author had to establish Grey as a real rogue right off the bat. Someone who doesn't care about the conventions of the ton or about the feelings of the women he entertains. I liked that spicy start. I was intrigued and wanted to know more about this man. I was amazed at how he went from scoundrel to attentive lover throughout the book. Even if the first page makes you blush... don't stop reading... it's a good thing.
Bottom Line:
This is a great book by Anna Harrington. I had not read the previous book in the series and still felt right at home with this one. It was engaging and a bit naughty. The hero and the heroine have a lot of secrets that could change everything for them and that makes for an intense read. The big secrets are handled well and the reader will find this one very satisfying. Great balance and complex characters. A great addition to this series!
November 21, 2024
This is only my 3rd book by Anna Harrington. I really liked her 1st book in Dukes of Darkness series so went back to my notes and saw that I had read book 1 in this series back in 2021. I didn't get more because I thought she was a bit expensive. I average 300 books a year and anything over $5 is too much. I’ve learned over the years to get the expensive books with amazon credits and buy them on double points days. 😊
WOW, I knew this was going to be good when I read the first paragraph of the first chapter. I loved Nathanial and Emily. Nathanial sounded so freakin’ hot. I love how he called her “brat”. So sexy. I loved their chemistry and their storyline. It gave it a little bit of suspense at the beginning and the question it brought about. They were so hot together. I just loved it. Definitely adding it to my favorites reads list for October. Definitely a recommend. Can't wait for book 3.
WOW, I knew this was going to be good when I read the first paragraph of the first chapter. I loved Nathanial and Emily. Nathanial sounded so freakin’ hot. I love how he called her “brat”. So sexy. I loved their chemistry and their storyline. It gave it a little bit of suspense at the beginning and the question it brought about. They were so hot together. I just loved it. Definitely adding it to my favorites reads list for October. Definitely a recommend. Can't wait for book 3.
February 18, 2016
This is the first book I have read by this author and I enjoyed it. Emily and Grey are strong characters and the plot was smooth and well paced.
Grey knew Emily since she was a young girl, being best friends with her brother. Her brother is wounded and wants to see his sister, so Grey goes to bring her home. What he finds is a beautiful woman who is hiding secrets and whatever she is hiding terrifies her. They are attracted to each other and since she is a widow, there is no obstacles to them becoming lovers.
The sex scenes are hot and they become more and more attached to each other. He will do anything to protect her, even risk his own life for her. The mystery of the person who wants her dead is intriguing and the action is edge of your seat reading.
The love story is inspiring and the HAE is awesome.
Received this complimentary copy from the publisher for an honest review.
Grey knew Emily since she was a young girl, being best friends with her brother. Her brother is wounded and wants to see his sister, so Grey goes to bring her home. What he finds is a beautiful woman who is hiding secrets and whatever she is hiding terrifies her. They are attracted to each other and since she is a widow, there is no obstacles to them becoming lovers.
The sex scenes are hot and they become more and more attached to each other. He will do anything to protect her, even risk his own life for her. The mystery of the person who wants her dead is intriguing and the action is edge of your seat reading.
The love story is inspiring and the HAE is awesome.
Received this complimentary copy from the publisher for an honest review.
May 1, 2016
Hot hot hot!!! I loved this book!! (And not just because of the steamy bits!) I loved the chemistry between Nathaniel and Emily and of course the mystery just draws you in. I love the fact that there was little references to the characters that we fell in love with in the first book yet these characters were just as lovely.
The author's writing is beautiful and always a great read. Along Came a Rogue has romance, mystery, and adventure. Oh and a sensual bath scene. What more could you want really?
The author's writing is beautiful and always a great read. Along Came a Rogue has romance, mystery, and adventure. Oh and a sensual bath scene. What more could you want really?
May 20, 2016
As, usual, Ms. Harrington takes her readers on a well-written, wild, romantic ride, featuring well-rounded characters. The carriage love scene--Oh, my stars! A mystery and happy endings. My only complaint is I wish the "mystery" could have been more developed earlier; but it's a good one. Romance fans will not be disappointed.
May 25, 2016
This book was Amazing from beginning to end! I read it in one sitting! Took my 5 hours, I just could not put it down for anything! The characters are both fun and stubborn. I can't wait to read other books by Ms. Harrington!
“I received a free, advance copy of this book from the publisher via hardcopy in exchange for my unbiased review.” (less)
“I received a free, advance copy of this book from the publisher via hardcopy in exchange for my unbiased review.” (less)
April 24, 2016
I loved reading "Along Came a Rogue". Once I started reading I couldn't put the book down. The book was full of romance and suspense. The book also contained several unexpected twists. Well written and wow, just wow!!
April 21, 2016
I again read in just a day or two. So enjoyed.
April 23, 2016
One of the best suspenseful romances I have ever read. This is a never put down type of book from start to finish.
May 5, 2016
Loved it!
June 7, 2016
Loved it! Wonderful book.
September 28, 2020
Cynical rake discovers his best friend's sister is a) grown-ass babe; b) assertive widow; c) complex individual who contains multitudes. Looks within his own self! Grows as a person!
June 19, 2025
3.3.
March 19, 2016
I have been hearing great things about this new-to-me author, so I knew I had to try her out. It seems this is a "modern" historical series, in that it's a bit more steamy than your traditional historical romance. That fact was established very quickly, with the first sentence of this book:
Nathaniel Grey is a survivor with a secret. An orphan boy who fought his way out of a difficult childhood masquerading as the son of a blacksmith, he obtains a commission at the age of 18 to make a name for himself in the military. As a member of the Scarlet Scoundrels squadroon, he finds another kind of family in his squadroon brothers. However, while he may be thick as thieves with dukes and marquesses, Major Grey still walks the edge of society. He's not good enough for the nobility and has reached too far above the lower classes to be considered one of them. This does not stop women from flocking to his bed, and he has developed quite the reputation as a womanizer and ravisher of bored wives and widows. I loved Nathaniel. He was deliciously sensual for a historical hero, yet he had an air of vulnerability to his character as well. I also like see male camaraderie like what exists between Nathaniel, Thomas and Edward... brothers forged in war, loyal to a fault, and deeply connected friendships without being a he-man woman-haters club.
Emily Matteson Crenshaw is the recently widowed sister of Thomas Matteson, Marquess of Chesney. Emily and Nathaniel have a bit of history - an incident that nearly ruined Grey's friendship with Thomas and had longstanding effects on Emily's life and future. I sympathized with what Emily endured during and after her marriage, yet I didn't like that she wanted to blame Nathaniel for the unintended consequences of her own rash act... especially since he had no knowledge of her circumstances. Luckily she gets over that fairly quickly and didn't turn into an annoying heroine. I loved the playfulness and passion that Grey brought out in Emily, even though she became somewhat self-sacrificing and stubborn towards the end. Even though you know the couple is most likely going to have a HEA, I was still glad when Emily and Nathaniel got theirs. I wold love to see an epilogue at the end of the series showing where the couples are a few years down the road.
The mystery/suspense aspect of the plot was subtle at times, but it also helped to move the story along. I haven't yet read the first book, Dukes Are Forever, but I am excited to do so now. There was some character crossover in this story, but I didn't feel like I was lost as I was reading, so I think you will be fine if you are starting in the middle like me.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Forever/Grand Central via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 4 stars / 3 flames.
In the shadows of the private opera box, Nathaniel Grey lowered the glass of whiskey from his lips and smiled down at the beautifully coiffed head bobbing at his crotch.This provided such a great image of the scene, as well as our hero's persona and rakish demeanor.
Nathaniel Grey is a survivor with a secret. An orphan boy who fought his way out of a difficult childhood masquerading as the son of a blacksmith, he obtains a commission at the age of 18 to make a name for himself in the military. As a member of the Scarlet Scoundrels squadroon, he finds another kind of family in his squadroon brothers. However, while he may be thick as thieves with dukes and marquesses, Major Grey still walks the edge of society. He's not good enough for the nobility and has reached too far above the lower classes to be considered one of them. This does not stop women from flocking to his bed, and he has developed quite the reputation as a womanizer and ravisher of bored wives and widows. I loved Nathaniel. He was deliciously sensual for a historical hero, yet he had an air of vulnerability to his character as well. I also like see male camaraderie like what exists between Nathaniel, Thomas and Edward... brothers forged in war, loyal to a fault, and deeply connected friendships without being a he-man woman-haters club.
Emily Matteson Crenshaw is the recently widowed sister of Thomas Matteson, Marquess of Chesney. Emily and Nathaniel have a bit of history - an incident that nearly ruined Grey's friendship with Thomas and had longstanding effects on Emily's life and future. I sympathized with what Emily endured during and after her marriage, yet I didn't like that she wanted to blame Nathaniel for the unintended consequences of her own rash act... especially since he had no knowledge of her circumstances. Luckily she gets over that fairly quickly and didn't turn into an annoying heroine. I loved the playfulness and passion that Grey brought out in Emily, even though she became somewhat self-sacrificing and stubborn towards the end. Even though you know the couple is most likely going to have a HEA, I was still glad when Emily and Nathaniel got theirs. I wold love to see an epilogue at the end of the series showing where the couples are a few years down the road.
The mystery/suspense aspect of the plot was subtle at times, but it also helped to move the story along. I haven't yet read the first book, Dukes Are Forever, but I am excited to do so now. There was some character crossover in this story, but I didn't feel like I was lost as I was reading, so I think you will be fine if you are starting in the middle like me.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Forever/Grand Central via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 4 stars / 3 flames.
March 14, 2016
Posted on What I'm Reading
I finally finished Along Came A Rogue by Anna Harrington. I was aiming to finish before it released, but with the move and all it got push to the back burner. Which was sad, because it was good from the beginning to the end. I mean when you start off with the hero getting his cock suck right at the beginning you, it definitely grabs your attention. Yes, there are a few more steamier parts of the story, but that's not the story. Actually, Along Came A Rogue is more about the rogue doing his friend a favor.
Seriously, Nathaniel Grey was asked by his long time friend, Thomas Matteson, to go and fetch his sister. Thomas and his sister, Emily, haven't been talking for years, but when you are starring at your possible death you want to make amends. When Nathaniel gets to her she was getting read to flee, due some circumstance. She's a bit fearful of her life after the death of her husband. Emily suspected that her husband was murder, but didn't have proof. Anyway, she was fearful they might come after her when they found out the circumstance of her well-being. Oh yeah, her husband was the heir to a Marquess. Anyway, Emily is trying to stay her course, but Grey wasn't having any of it. Plus, have the dynamic of the two lusting after one another. I love rogues/rakes in books, because they have their own code of honor. You wouldn't think that of Grey who basically uses women, but when it comes to Emily he tries to protect her. Quite lovely. However, even a rogue can't resist her charms. Grey does warn her off, but when push comes to shove he can resist Emily. So, the journey back to London is definitely adventure for the two. I do love how Grey worries about Emily so much so that he was willing to give up his career for her. Of course, Emily freaks out about that and worries that he's doing it for the wrong reason. We get a chasm between the two. As stubborn these two are, they believe are doing what is right.
Anyway, Along Came A Rogue is definitely a great read. You have danger and adventure, and two people who are perfectly for one another. Yet, one is afraid to become a ball and chain to the other for fear of resentment later in life. However, the adventure that was originally planned might be the adventure the one needs. Poor Grey he had a hard time trying to convince Emily that she was the adventure he craved. Yep, Anna Harrington is an author worth checking out.
Copy provided by Forever Romance
Rating:
4 1/2 Stars
I finally finished Along Came A Rogue by Anna Harrington. I was aiming to finish before it released, but with the move and all it got push to the back burner. Which was sad, because it was good from the beginning to the end. I mean when you start off with the hero getting his cock suck right at the beginning you, it definitely grabs your attention. Yes, there are a few more steamier parts of the story, but that's not the story. Actually, Along Came A Rogue is more about the rogue doing his friend a favor.
Seriously, Nathaniel Grey was asked by his long time friend, Thomas Matteson, to go and fetch his sister. Thomas and his sister, Emily, haven't been talking for years, but when you are starring at your possible death you want to make amends. When Nathaniel gets to her she was getting read to flee, due some circumstance. She's a bit fearful of her life after the death of her husband. Emily suspected that her husband was murder, but didn't have proof. Anyway, she was fearful they might come after her when they found out the circumstance of her well-being. Oh yeah, her husband was the heir to a Marquess. Anyway, Emily is trying to stay her course, but Grey wasn't having any of it. Plus, have the dynamic of the two lusting after one another. I love rogues/rakes in books, because they have their own code of honor. You wouldn't think that of Grey who basically uses women, but when it comes to Emily he tries to protect her. Quite lovely. However, even a rogue can't resist her charms. Grey does warn her off, but when push comes to shove he can resist Emily. So, the journey back to London is definitely adventure for the two. I do love how Grey worries about Emily so much so that he was willing to give up his career for her. Of course, Emily freaks out about that and worries that he's doing it for the wrong reason. We get a chasm between the two. As stubborn these two are, they believe are doing what is right.
Anyway, Along Came A Rogue is definitely a great read. You have danger and adventure, and two people who are perfectly for one another. Yet, one is afraid to become a ball and chain to the other for fear of resentment later in life. However, the adventure that was originally planned might be the adventure the one needs. Poor Grey he had a hard time trying to convince Emily that she was the adventure he craved. Yep, Anna Harrington is an author worth checking out.
Copy provided by Forever Romance
Rating:
4 1/2 Stars
March 24, 2017
I'm reading this series in descending order and having seen him in book 3, I thought Mayor Nathaniel Grey would be more honorable than that. Don't get me wrong, he was a good hero. It's just that it felt like he only became one when he began to feel something for the heroine. And I'm not a fan of how the story began, with Nate having a tryst at the opera with a married woman. At first he seemed arrogant and kind of a rogue. Not the villain kind, just a seducer with few scruples, but gradually, we discover he's not as shallow or emotionless that he wants to believe. There's a gentleman underneath, he just needed the right woman to show his potential.
Emily felt in love at sixteen when she first met Nathan Grey. They shared a kiss but went on separate ways after that. Her mother arranged to send her away. Emily married a man she didn't love, who left her alone at home most of the time. Now her husband is dead but she's not more happy nor free.
Nathaniel purchased an officier commission at 18, but an injury forced him to quit and he became a war office agent.
When Emily's brother and Nate's friend is shot and seriously injured, Grey have the task to pick her up and bring her to Thomas's bedside. But before they arrive, they'll find pleasure in each other, Emily will fall in love again and have her heart broken.
Emily keep two secrets. One is easy to guess by her behavior. Nate keep secret as well, about his origins and invented a new identity for himself.
Even if I liked their foreplay games, I thought the first half of the book was too slow because there's too many thoughts about sex and then too many sex scenes. And I find it hard to believe that Emily felt comfortable that early in being naked in front of the hero. I wrote in a other review not long ago that I like when heros give heroines pet name but in this case, I didn't like that he was still calling her brat, even in bed, and that it's the same nickname her brother give her.
Obviously not my favorite of the series but I still think that Anna Harrington bring something different and I would recommand it no problem.
Emily felt in love at sixteen when she first met Nathan Grey. They shared a kiss but went on separate ways after that. Her mother arranged to send her away. Emily married a man she didn't love, who left her alone at home most of the time. Now her husband is dead but she's not more happy nor free.
Nathaniel purchased an officier commission at 18, but an injury forced him to quit and he became a war office agent.
When Emily's brother and Nate's friend is shot and seriously injured, Grey have the task to pick her up and bring her to Thomas's bedside. But before they arrive, they'll find pleasure in each other, Emily will fall in love again and have her heart broken.
Emily keep two secrets. One is easy to guess by her behavior. Nate keep secret as well, about his origins and invented a new identity for himself.
Even if I liked their foreplay games, I thought the first half of the book was too slow because there's too many thoughts about sex and then too many sex scenes. And I find it hard to believe that Emily felt comfortable that early in being naked in front of the hero. I wrote in a other review not long ago that I like when heros give heroines pet name but in this case, I didn't like that he was still calling her brat, even in bed, and that it's the same nickname her brother give her.
Obviously not my favorite of the series but I still think that Anna Harrington bring something different and I would recommand it no problem.
July 14, 2017
This review was originally posted on Nelle's NightStandI've been looking forward to this one for a while!
The opening line is fantastic!!
"In the shadows of the private opera box, Nathaniel Grey lowered the glass of whiskey from his lips and smiled down at the beautifully coiffed head bobbing at his crotch."
It gives it a little dirty connotation to the book but basically proves what a rogue Nathaniel is and how different he is with Emily! And he very much is!
Emily brother is tragically injured and as he lays dying, he begs for his sister. Nathaniel is determined to fulfill his best friends last wish.
He's just not expecting to be shot at when he goes to retrieve his friends recently widowed sister!
Emily and Nathaniel have a bit of a background and tons of chemistry. Emily is hiding a huge secret and doesn't want to endanger her family and fights tooth and nail to NOT return to London.
Nathaniel succeeds in getting her in the carriage and the have some steamy scenes along the way.
Nathaniel is so sexy, sweet and protective of Emily. He is hiding a secret of his own and I love that when they each learn the others secrets they both take them in stride!
Anna Harrington has taken the historical genre by storm! Witty, original characters and a steamy plot wins out!
May 9, 2016
In the second book in the Secret Life of Scoundrels series by Anna Harrington we read about Nathaniel Grey's romance with Emily who is his best friend's little sister. I couldn't keep my excitement in when her brother Timothy deciphered what was going on between them. I absolutely loved the way he reacted too. It made me wish I had an older brother lol! I think that is what strikes me the most in this story is the relationships between Emily, Timothy, and Nathaniel because if it wasn't for Nathaniel finding Emily and bringing her to her wounded brother then they may have never reunited. If it wasn't for Timothy requesting his friend Nathaniel to find her than she and Nathaniel wouldn't have fallen in love.
I really enjoy romances like these where the guy falls for the girl he has known all his life and never notices her until she grows up and becomes a woman. I'm rating Along Came a Rogue 5 out of 5 stars because I couldn't seem to put the book down and I couldn't help but fall in love with Nathaniel. I love the fact that he had to fight to convince Emily to marry him and not the other way around. Finding out who his real family is in the end is the cherry on top.
After reading the 3 books in the Scoundrels series. I have to say that Along Came a Rogue is my favorite book in the series.
I received this ebook free of charge via Netgalley from the publishers in exchange for my honest review.
I really enjoy romances like these where the guy falls for the girl he has known all his life and never notices her until she grows up and becomes a woman. I'm rating Along Came a Rogue 5 out of 5 stars because I couldn't seem to put the book down and I couldn't help but fall in love with Nathaniel. I love the fact that he had to fight to convince Emily to marry him and not the other way around. Finding out who his real family is in the end is the cherry on top.
After reading the 3 books in the Scoundrels series. I have to say that Along Came a Rogue is my favorite book in the series.
I received this ebook free of charge via Netgalley from the publishers in exchange for my honest review.
April 15, 2016
I loved the story of Nathaniel and Emily. Nathaniel was left at an orphanage as a baby, so can never truly be part of society. When he comes to fetch the widowed Emily to her brother, Thomas’, bedside and ends up rescuing her in the process, she quickly claims his jaded heart. The “brat” has become an enchanting and brave young woman. Emily had a crush on Nathaniel as a teenager and now, as an adult, her feelings quickly grow much deeper. She sees beneath Nathaniel’s roguish exterior to see the loyal and loving man underneath.
Nathaniel believes that he is not worthy of marrying Emily, but he soon realizes that he cannot live without her and begins a campaign for Emily to accept his proposal. Emily refuses, not because she sees Nathaniel as not worthy or because she doesn’t love him, but because she fears he would not be happy being “tied down” to her and forced to abandon his foreign service.
As these two navigate their feelings for each other and the danger surrounding Emily and her unborn child, we will find out if both can overcome their past to build a future together.
This is the first book of Anna Harrington’s that I have read and certainly won’t be the last. Her characters are well-developed and strong. Their struggles are realistic and it is easy to become invested in the story. It is fast-paced and there is never a dull moment. I would highly recommend this, especially if you are a fan of Regency-era romances.
Nathaniel believes that he is not worthy of marrying Emily, but he soon realizes that he cannot live without her and begins a campaign for Emily to accept his proposal. Emily refuses, not because she sees Nathaniel as not worthy or because she doesn’t love him, but because she fears he would not be happy being “tied down” to her and forced to abandon his foreign service.
As these two navigate their feelings for each other and the danger surrounding Emily and her unborn child, we will find out if both can overcome their past to build a future together.
This is the first book of Anna Harrington’s that I have read and certainly won’t be the last. Her characters are well-developed and strong. Their struggles are realistic and it is easy to become invested in the story. It is fast-paced and there is never a dull moment. I would highly recommend this, especially if you are a fan of Regency-era romances.
August 2, 2017
This book was published on 23 February 2016.
Major Nathaniel Grey has no fortune and no family name to rightfully belong among the quality. His access to the ton was due to her association with his former colonel in the Scarlet Scoundrels, the Duke of Strathmore and his friendship with Thomas Matteson, the Marquess of Chesney. His rank and his friendship with members of the peerage are not enough to secure standing in the upper ten thousand. Grey is indifferent to this. He lives up to his scandalous, rakish reputation. The genteel ladies of the ton, who knew him as a runaway son of a blacksmith, regard him with contempt.
Emily Matteson, sister to Thomas, holds Grey in high esteem and in deepest of affection. Her parents disapproved of the match and sent her away to boarding school.
They met again years later, Emily, now a widow of the murdered Andrew Crenshaw, who fears for her safety and sanity.
Emily and Grey war with their mixed emotions for each other. This doesn't hinder Grey to protect Emily and her unborn son.
I re-read this story of Nathaniel and Emily and family. This novel is interesting, with the characters embroiled in debauchery, deceit, dark secrets, betrayal, murder, kidnapping, but also deep friendship, loyalty, generosity and undying affection.
This was a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are mine. This is an honest review.
Major Nathaniel Grey has no fortune and no family name to rightfully belong among the quality. His access to the ton was due to her association with his former colonel in the Scarlet Scoundrels, the Duke of Strathmore and his friendship with Thomas Matteson, the Marquess of Chesney. His rank and his friendship with members of the peerage are not enough to secure standing in the upper ten thousand. Grey is indifferent to this. He lives up to his scandalous, rakish reputation. The genteel ladies of the ton, who knew him as a runaway son of a blacksmith, regard him with contempt.
Emily Matteson, sister to Thomas, holds Grey in high esteem and in deepest of affection. Her parents disapproved of the match and sent her away to boarding school.
They met again years later, Emily, now a widow of the murdered Andrew Crenshaw, who fears for her safety and sanity.
Emily and Grey war with their mixed emotions for each other. This doesn't hinder Grey to protect Emily and her unborn son.
I re-read this story of Nathaniel and Emily and family. This novel is interesting, with the characters embroiled in debauchery, deceit, dark secrets, betrayal, murder, kidnapping, but also deep friendship, loyalty, generosity and undying affection.
This was a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are mine. This is an honest review.
March 7, 2016
The wait for Nathaniel Grey’s story is over! He is the spy introduced in Ms. Harrington’s first book DUKES ARE FOREVER. I am enjoying this new author and she didn’t disappoint with this the second entry in her, THE SECRET LIFE OF SCOUNDRELS SERIES . This is a standalone novel but we are treated to glimpses of Kate and Edward from the first book.
This is a story of two lovers from different social classes who feel they have no hope of finding their Happily Ever After. Emily feels that if she encourages Nathaniel to give up his dreams of adventure then he will eventually resent her. Nathaniel comes to realize that his dreams mean nothing if they don’t include Emily. But how to convince her? That is what keeps us turning pages along with the suspense of who is out to harm Emily.
We are fortunate in that the third book in the series, HOW I MARRIED A MARQUESS, is available for preorder and to be published April 26, 2016. It is the story of Emily’s brother, Thomas, who is also Edward and Nathaniel’s best friend.
I received this book free for review from the publisher.
http://ladeetdareads.wordpress.com/
( Deet’s review of Dukes are Forever here: https://ladeetdareads.wordpress.com/2... ).
This is a story of two lovers from different social classes who feel they have no hope of finding their Happily Ever After. Emily feels that if she encourages Nathaniel to give up his dreams of adventure then he will eventually resent her. Nathaniel comes to realize that his dreams mean nothing if they don’t include Emily. But how to convince her? That is what keeps us turning pages along with the suspense of who is out to harm Emily.
We are fortunate in that the third book in the series, HOW I MARRIED A MARQUESS, is available for preorder and to be published April 26, 2016. It is the story of Emily’s brother, Thomas, who is also Edward and Nathaniel’s best friend.
I received this book free for review from the publisher.
http://ladeetdareads.wordpress.com/
( Deet’s review of Dukes are Forever here: https://ladeetdareads.wordpress.com/2... ).
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