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Romancing the Rules #1
Rules for a Rogue
Kit Ruthven's Rules (for Rogues)
#1 Love freely but guard your heart, no matter how tempting the invader.
#2 Embrace temptation, indulge your sensual impulses, and never apologize.
#3 Scorn rules and do as you please. You are a rogue, after all.
Rules never brought anything but misery to Christopher “Kit” Ruthven. After rebelling against his controlling father and leaving the family’s etiquette empire behind, Kit has been breaking every one imaginable for the past four years. He’s enjoyed London’s sensual pleasures, but he’s failed to achieve the success he craves as London’s premier playwright. When his father dies, Kit returns to the countryside and is forced back into the life he never wanted. Worse, he must face Ophelia Marsden, the woman he left behind years before.
After losing her father, Ophelia has learned to rely on herself. To maintain the family home and support her younger sister, she tutors young girls in deportment and decorum. But her pupils would be scandalized if they knew she was also the author of a guidebook encouraging ladies to embrace their independence.
As Kit rediscovers the life, and the woman, he left behind, Ophelia must choose between the practicalities she never truly believed in, or the love she’s never been able to extinguish.
#1 Love freely but guard your heart, no matter how tempting the invader.
#2 Embrace temptation, indulge your sensual impulses, and never apologize.
#3 Scorn rules and do as you please. You are a rogue, after all.
Rules never brought anything but misery to Christopher “Kit” Ruthven. After rebelling against his controlling father and leaving the family’s etiquette empire behind, Kit has been breaking every one imaginable for the past four years. He’s enjoyed London’s sensual pleasures, but he’s failed to achieve the success he craves as London’s premier playwright. When his father dies, Kit returns to the countryside and is forced back into the life he never wanted. Worse, he must face Ophelia Marsden, the woman he left behind years before.
After losing her father, Ophelia has learned to rely on herself. To maintain the family home and support her younger sister, she tutors young girls in deportment and decorum. But her pupils would be scandalized if they knew she was also the author of a guidebook encouraging ladies to embrace their independence.
As Kit rediscovers the life, and the woman, he left behind, Ophelia must choose between the practicalities she never truly believed in, or the love she’s never been able to extinguish.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2016
107 people are currently reading
444 people want to read
About the author
Christy Carlyle
54 books559 followersFueled by Pacific Northwest coffee and inspired by multiple viewings of every British costume drama she can get her hands on, USA Today bestselling author Christy Carlyle writes sensual historical romance set in the Victorian era. She loves heroes who struggle against all odds and heroines who are ahead of their time. A former teacher with a degree in history, she finds there's nothing better than being able to combine her love of the past with a die-hard belief in happy endings.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
November 2, 2016
'Rules for a Rogue' by Christy Carlyle is book one in the "Romancing the Rules" series. This is the story of Christopher “Kit” Ruthven and Ophelia Marsden. Kit left home and Ophelia about four years ago to pursue his play writing career. Kit and Ophelia had been friends and bordered on being a couple...but up and left. Kit father never really wanted them together which added to Ophelia feelings being hurt when Kit left and she never heard from him again. So when he returns home to attend the funeral of his estranged father funeral he seeks out Ophelia. Kit has never forgotten her and is taken back about the bitterness she seem to have toward him.
This was just another great story by Ms. Carlyle!! I have loved her writing and this one didn't disappoint! "My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."
This was just another great story by Ms. Carlyle!! I have loved her writing and this one didn't disappoint! "My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."
March 17, 2017
2.5-2.7 stars?
Another tough one to review. Why do I always end up reading those, and then writing an essay about them? Anyway, Rules for a Rogue! Well, first of all, I didn’t think the hero was much of a rogue even though he was a playwright (why didn't we see more of the theater world???) rebelling against his strict father’s expectations. This conflict, and the fact that both the hero and heroine were writers, could have been really interesting and/or flails inducing, in fact this book had a lot of could-of’s and herein laid the problem.
The story for the most part revolved around a rebellious son’s return to the small village he had hoped never to see again following the death of his father. Kit comes home to find many things the same and even more that are different: chief among them being his childhood friend and purported love of his life, Ophelia. This is where it gets murky. You see I would have been all for former sweethearts reuniting after years apart and I did get that to a point. What I didn’t like was the overall execution of it, as well as the many what I felt were missed opportunities for character growth.
I was disappointed that Kit and Ophelia were not dripping with unresolved sexual tension and the mixed up feelings I had been hoping for, at least at the start. In fact their reunion fell so flat I questioned where the hell they were gonna go from there.Thankfully their connection deepens with time but still, I wasn’t 100% invested in them as a couple. It’s made clear that Kit had never really fallen out of love with Ophelia and vice versa. But what really niggled at me was Kit’s expectation that Ophelia should’ve either given up her life to follow HIM and HIS dreams to London or had pined for him all this time. Seriously? Of course Kit being a man was free to do as he pleased without facing any consequences while his sisters and Ophelia were left behind to pick up the pieces because they as women didn’t have the luxury of running away, something his eldest younger sister Sophia touches upon briefly which I wish had been expanded on even further by Ophelia but it was not. Of course Kit didn’t understand any of this at all. This type of blissful male ignorance painted Kit as quite selfish and he didn’t really change much as the story progressed, not as much as I would’ve liked anyway. Don’t get me wrong, Kit wasn’t a bad guy. In fact I liked that despite his tough childhood, he wasn’t jaded or broody. Still, his sense of entitlement combated his naturally charming nature, in effect making his character not totally likable, but also not to be hated either.
And then there was Ophelia, who out of everyone suffered the most by the lack of follow through on the author’s part. After Kit left, brokenhearted Ophelia closed herself off and embraced a life of practicality instead. I liked the idea of this contradiction of her character as she had (supposedly) been a little hellion in her youth. There were still tiny rebellions she committed here and there, most notably being her book Miss Gilroy’s Guidelines for Young Ladies which empowered women to be more than the roles society dealt out to them. This sounds like a fabulous heroine, right? Well…not so much. We were told constantly that Ophelia had this inner fire that matched her Titian red hair but unfortunately I never saw much of it. Every time I thought Ophelia might unleash all her pent up ire and let Kit have it, she held back. If anyone deserved a telling off it was Kit and the fact that Ophelia only ever partially spoke her mind a couple of times made ME angry for her. There was this ONE scene however where Kit and this baron douche are literally having a ‘SHE IS MINE!!!’ contest with Ophelia standing RIGHT THERE during it all we got this (sort of) proactive response:
Despite all my complaints, there were a lot moments in the book that made my heart happy. Like Kit’s line of home being wherever Ophelia was or how he was always looking for her when they were apart. I thought their chemistry too, though wonky at the start, picked up steam as I read more, helped out by the fact that Christy Carlyle writes such OMGFANTASTICAMAZING love scenes. I also really enjoyed the supporting cast, of which I could see LOTS of sequel bait. There was Grey, the debauched aristocrat moonlighting as a stage actor, lovelorn Milly who dabbled in archery, Kit’s ice queen sister Sophia, free spirited youngest sister Clarissa and proper, stuffy Adamson. Ophelia's bookish sister Juliet was another standout, though she’s too young to have a romance just yet. I look forward to (hopefully) reading their stories in the future.
Another tough one to review. Why do I always end up reading those, and then writing an essay about them? Anyway, Rules for a Rogue! Well, first of all, I didn’t think the hero was much of a rogue even though he was a playwright (why didn't we see more of the theater world???) rebelling against his strict father’s expectations. This conflict, and the fact that both the hero and heroine were writers, could have been really interesting and/or flails inducing, in fact this book had a lot of could-of’s and herein laid the problem.
The story for the most part revolved around a rebellious son’s return to the small village he had hoped never to see again following the death of his father. Kit comes home to find many things the same and even more that are different: chief among them being his childhood friend and purported love of his life, Ophelia. This is where it gets murky. You see I would have been all for former sweethearts reuniting after years apart and I did get that to a point. What I didn’t like was the overall execution of it, as well as the many what I felt were missed opportunities for character growth.
I was disappointed that Kit and Ophelia were not dripping with unresolved sexual tension and the mixed up feelings I had been hoping for, at least at the start. In fact their reunion fell so flat I questioned where the hell they were gonna go from there.Thankfully their connection deepens with time but still, I wasn’t 100% invested in them as a couple. It’s made clear that Kit had never really fallen out of love with Ophelia and vice versa. But what really niggled at me was Kit’s expectation that Ophelia should’ve either given up her life to follow HIM and HIS dreams to London or had pined for him all this time. Seriously? Of course Kit being a man was free to do as he pleased without facing any consequences while his sisters and Ophelia were left behind to pick up the pieces because they as women didn’t have the luxury of running away, something his eldest younger sister Sophia touches upon briefly which I wish had been expanded on even further by Ophelia but it was not. Of course Kit didn’t understand any of this at all. This type of blissful male ignorance painted Kit as quite selfish and he didn’t really change much as the story progressed, not as much as I would’ve liked anyway. Don’t get me wrong, Kit wasn’t a bad guy. In fact I liked that despite his tough childhood, he wasn’t jaded or broody. Still, his sense of entitlement combated his naturally charming nature, in effect making his character not totally likable, but also not to be hated either.
And then there was Ophelia, who out of everyone suffered the most by the lack of follow through on the author’s part. After Kit left, brokenhearted Ophelia closed herself off and embraced a life of practicality instead. I liked the idea of this contradiction of her character as she had (supposedly) been a little hellion in her youth. There were still tiny rebellions she committed here and there, most notably being her book Miss Gilroy’s Guidelines for Young Ladies which empowered women to be more than the roles society dealt out to them. This sounds like a fabulous heroine, right? Well…not so much. We were told constantly that Ophelia had this inner fire that matched her Titian red hair but unfortunately I never saw much of it. Every time I thought Ophelia might unleash all her pent up ire and let Kit have it, she held back. If anyone deserved a telling off it was Kit and the fact that Ophelia only ever partially spoke her mind a couple of times made ME angry for her. There was this ONE scene however where Kit and this baron douche are literally having a ‘SHE IS MINE!!!’ contest with Ophelia standing RIGHT THERE during it all we got this (sort of) proactive response:
“I’ve been waiting for you for four years.”Um, no. Well, yes, thinking before making a life altering decision is good but so is telling those two arrogant idiots to go fuck themselves. I wanted Ophelia to SEIZE control of her life and what SHE wanted, not let men dictate what she should and should not do. Basically I wanted her to practice what she preached in her book. Maybe I read it wrong and Ophelia was all quiet strength and resilience which would’ve been fine, but in my opinion she was not all that she could’ve been. Perhaps part of the problem was that we were seeing Ophelia a lot of the time through Kit’s eyes when in truth, he didn’t really know her anymore. He built her up so much in his and our minds that the real Ophelia was bound to come up short by comparison. In fact for most of the book it was as if Kit and Ophelia weren’t falling in love with each other all over again, but holding on to the people they used to be instead of the people they had become. What did end up working romance-wise was that they had become sort of an opposites attract in that Kit lit Ophelia’s fire and Ophelia grounded Kit in reality. Still, I think things overall could’ve been done better. Or maybe I’m just too damned picky.
Every word hurt, cutting deep into the pain she thought she’d put aside. The past hurt was altered now, tangled with all they’d shared. She had no wish to hurt anymore, but she didn’t want her choices taken from her either. Didn’t want two men---three if she counted her father’s machinations with Dunston---deciding her future.
“I need time to think.”
Despite all my complaints, there were a lot moments in the book that made my heart happy. Like Kit’s line of home being wherever Ophelia was or how he was always looking for her when they were apart. I thought their chemistry too, though wonky at the start, picked up steam as I read more, helped out by the fact that Christy Carlyle writes such OMGFANTASTICAMAZING love scenes. I also really enjoyed the supporting cast, of which I could see LOTS of sequel bait. There was Grey, the debauched aristocrat moonlighting as a stage actor, lovelorn Milly who dabbled in archery, Kit’s ice queen sister Sophia, free spirited youngest sister Clarissa and proper, stuffy Adamson. Ophelia's bookish sister Juliet was another standout, though she’s too young to have a romance just yet. I look forward to (hopefully) reading their stories in the future.
November 4, 2016
“Rules for a Rogue” is the first book in Christy Carlyle’s Romancing the Rules series, and I have to say that it was the cover that got me to read this one. That blue dress reminded me of Scarlet’s portrait in Gone with the Wind, and the setting looked like somewhere I wanted to be. So pretty! Imagine how excited I was to find out that this book is not Regency (although I do love some Regency, I love historicals that depart from that particular time period) AND the main couple take part in my two main passions in life: theatre and books.
The Story
Kit is a playwright/actor who is forced to take responsibility for his family’s interests due to his father’s death. This new responsibility brings him home where he faces a former sweetheart that has never been far from his mind: Ophelia. Ophelia, or “Phee” as her friends call her, teaches young ladies the ways of society while secretly authoring a book which brings all that into question. She must support her family, though, and those pressures are leading her to consider a proposal from a rich neighbor for which she feels nothing.
My Thoughts
This story unfolded a little slowly for me, but the slow build did allow for the character’s emotional connection to feel more real than it sometimes does. I wish I knew more about why it didn’t work out for them in the past; it makes no sense that he would have left her. Also, what prompted Phee to write the book, and how did she go about getting it published? What are Kit’s plays about? These things niggle at my mind. I was so glad to read something in the Victorian time period and thought the author could have done even more with that. I was never bored while reading, but felt like the book was full of “almosts”. There was almost a really sexy scene; there was almost a real revelation about how he held onto her all those years, and there are more examples.
The Good
Both Ophelia and Kit are great characters that you really root for. The subplot about her book was particularly interesting to me, and I loved the openings of each chapter. Some of the secondary characters grew in interest to me toward the end of the book, and I look forward to seeing who she writes about next.
The Bottom Line
This is a pleasant historical with a great “second chance” trope for two enjoyable and well-developed characters. It is nice to visit a different time period, and I will definitely be looking forward to the other books in the series. 4 stars
The Story
Kit is a playwright/actor who is forced to take responsibility for his family’s interests due to his father’s death. This new responsibility brings him home where he faces a former sweetheart that has never been far from his mind: Ophelia. Ophelia, or “Phee” as her friends call her, teaches young ladies the ways of society while secretly authoring a book which brings all that into question. She must support her family, though, and those pressures are leading her to consider a proposal from a rich neighbor for which she feels nothing.
My Thoughts
This story unfolded a little slowly for me, but the slow build did allow for the character’s emotional connection to feel more real than it sometimes does. I wish I knew more about why it didn’t work out for them in the past; it makes no sense that he would have left her. Also, what prompted Phee to write the book, and how did she go about getting it published? What are Kit’s plays about? These things niggle at my mind. I was so glad to read something in the Victorian time period and thought the author could have done even more with that. I was never bored while reading, but felt like the book was full of “almosts”. There was almost a really sexy scene; there was almost a real revelation about how he held onto her all those years, and there are more examples.
The Good
Both Ophelia and Kit are great characters that you really root for. The subplot about her book was particularly interesting to me, and I loved the openings of each chapter. Some of the secondary characters grew in interest to me toward the end of the book, and I look forward to seeing who she writes about next.
The Bottom Line
This is a pleasant historical with a great “second chance” trope for two enjoyable and well-developed characters. It is nice to visit a different time period, and I will definitely be looking forward to the other books in the series. 4 stars
December 8, 2016
Kit and Phee were close friends and very nearly lovers before he left the country life for the siren call of London and the thrilling life of a playwright. During those next four years apart, Kit and Phee both tried to convince themselves that they were not hurt by the decision and could move on, but when the death of Kit’s father brings him back home to settle the estate, the past doesn’t seem so much in the past between these two. Can they get their feelings sorted out and make a go of it again or are they destined to remain apart?
I very much enjoyed Rules for a Rogue and I credit most of that to the fact that the situations that unfolded within the story did not feel contrived, but were instead natural and believable. I wasn’t required to suspend reality for one moment. Kit leaves for the city because he doesn’t fit into his father’s strict rules at home and he wants the thrill of the stage in the great city of London, yet he leaves behind his heart as well. His father’s death was due to a long-standing illness, not some sudden onset, and Kit returns home with the plan to just put his family back together then return to the city…that is, until he runs into Phee again. Meanwhile, Phee has a secret; she has penned a guidebook for young ladies that pushes the envelope toward modernity and she doesn’t want her close-minded community to find out that she is the author. Her secret and Kit’s family’s business dealings come together in a way that could bring them closer or set them farther apart and I liked how both Kit and Phee vacillated between the possible outcomes here. I felt that the right balance was struck here between a few light, comedic moments and the more serious elements that contributed to the believability of the story.
I really enjoyed the characters in this novel. Carlyle makes each one into a full figure – even the peripheral characters like Kit’s sisters, Phee’s sister and aunt, and both of their friends. Very quickly each had a distinct personality that was anything but cookie-cutter. While on the outset they might represent tropes (the hard-headed heroine, the rogue, the spinster friend, etc.) there are so many layers here that you have the ability to peel back as the story goes on to discover more complexities that previously thought. Even the “villainous” character isn’t a representation of evil; rather in Carlyle’s hands he is more of a persistent prig that causes our couple hardship by getting in the way rather than intentionally wreaking havoc. Additionally, I believed in the character’s motives. Both Phee and Kit have been hurt and are trying to protect their hearts, but also make the hard decisions to do what is right by their families, and each other. We also have just enough back-story to fill in the details of their relationship before Kit went to London to make the reader understand just what they gave up in that decision.
In continuing with the trend about believability in this story, the romantic element here was spot on. The author did not need to spend ample time in the build up as these two had been nearly lovers in the past, but did need to give the readers something to connect with first. It was sweet, but needed and didn’t feel all that scandalous despite how it would have been perceived by society.
Often I don’t pay much attention to the quotes that can sometimes appear at the start of each chapter or section because they are too oblique for me to pick up on the reference while reading the chapter – not so here! The majority of the chapters begin with either an excerpt from one of Ruthven’s Rules books or, alternatively, Miss Gilroy’s guidebook for young ladies. These two books do play a significant role in the greater story arc and each rule or guideline directly connects to an action taken by either Kit or Phee in that chapter. There was a clear purpose here an I appreciated it.
Overall, I was very satisfied with this story as I just ate up the pages and was left wanting more.
A copy of this book was received in exchange for an honest review; the thoughts and opinions are all my own. This review was previously posted at The Maiden's Court blog.
I very much enjoyed Rules for a Rogue and I credit most of that to the fact that the situations that unfolded within the story did not feel contrived, but were instead natural and believable. I wasn’t required to suspend reality for one moment. Kit leaves for the city because he doesn’t fit into his father’s strict rules at home and he wants the thrill of the stage in the great city of London, yet he leaves behind his heart as well. His father’s death was due to a long-standing illness, not some sudden onset, and Kit returns home with the plan to just put his family back together then return to the city…that is, until he runs into Phee again. Meanwhile, Phee has a secret; she has penned a guidebook for young ladies that pushes the envelope toward modernity and she doesn’t want her close-minded community to find out that she is the author. Her secret and Kit’s family’s business dealings come together in a way that could bring them closer or set them farther apart and I liked how both Kit and Phee vacillated between the possible outcomes here. I felt that the right balance was struck here between a few light, comedic moments and the more serious elements that contributed to the believability of the story.
I really enjoyed the characters in this novel. Carlyle makes each one into a full figure – even the peripheral characters like Kit’s sisters, Phee’s sister and aunt, and both of their friends. Very quickly each had a distinct personality that was anything but cookie-cutter. While on the outset they might represent tropes (the hard-headed heroine, the rogue, the spinster friend, etc.) there are so many layers here that you have the ability to peel back as the story goes on to discover more complexities that previously thought. Even the “villainous” character isn’t a representation of evil; rather in Carlyle’s hands he is more of a persistent prig that causes our couple hardship by getting in the way rather than intentionally wreaking havoc. Additionally, I believed in the character’s motives. Both Phee and Kit have been hurt and are trying to protect their hearts, but also make the hard decisions to do what is right by their families, and each other. We also have just enough back-story to fill in the details of their relationship before Kit went to London to make the reader understand just what they gave up in that decision.
In continuing with the trend about believability in this story, the romantic element here was spot on. The author did not need to spend ample time in the build up as these two had been nearly lovers in the past, but did need to give the readers something to connect with first. It was sweet, but needed and didn’t feel all that scandalous despite how it would have been perceived by society.
Often I don’t pay much attention to the quotes that can sometimes appear at the start of each chapter or section because they are too oblique for me to pick up on the reference while reading the chapter – not so here! The majority of the chapters begin with either an excerpt from one of Ruthven’s Rules books or, alternatively, Miss Gilroy’s guidebook for young ladies. These two books do play a significant role in the greater story arc and each rule or guideline directly connects to an action taken by either Kit or Phee in that chapter. There was a clear purpose here an I appreciated it.
Overall, I was very satisfied with this story as I just ate up the pages and was left wanting more.
A copy of this book was received in exchange for an honest review; the thoughts and opinions are all my own. This review was previously posted at The Maiden's Court blog.
November 16, 2016
As reviewed at Roses Are Blue: http://wp.me/p3QRh4-s1
3.5 Stars
Christopher (Kit) Ruthven and Ophelia (Phee) Marsden were neighbors and sweethearts in the small town of Briar Heath. Kit's overbearing, controlling father and his desire for independence led Nick to London to pursue his dream to be a playwright, leaving a broken hearted Phee behind. Kit embraced his new life, and eventually found a measure of success. Still, every night, part of his ritual is to look out in the audience from the stage, hoping to see Phee's face in the crowd. He never does
Phee was shattered when Kit left. Though he regularly writes to her, she never replies, except for one brief line, encouraging him to follow his heart. When Phee's father dies, she has to devise a way to support herself and her sister, so she tutors pupils. But Phee has another secret occupation - she is an author of a book of rules for young ladies. However, it's not the typical old fashioned rule book, as the one published by Kit's father, it's a modern version. Phee is smart enough to realize that if her pupil's parents knew she was the author of this scandalous version, she would surely lose her position as their tutor.
Just as Kit has received an offer to write for a very prestigious theatre owner, he learns that his father has died, and he's required to return home to Briar Heath. Kit wants no part of his father's publishing business, and plans to sell it as soon as he can. As soon as he ties up loose ends, and assures himself that his sisters are fine, he plans to return to London, and the life he's come to love. But first, he must see Phee.
It's obvious that Kit and Phee have never stopped loving each other, but will that be enough? Their lives and desires have taken different paths, and Phee now has a marriage offer from a local baron - a chance for a family of her own. RULES FOR A ROGUE is one of my favorite tropes - a second chance at love. I admire Phee for her strength and the way she carried on despite her broken heart, and I totally understand why she chose not to answer Kit's letters. I was a little less sure about Kit, as he seemed more able to move on into a new life, yet he wanted to cling to Phee and his first love. Their journey to happy ever after is not smooth, but the obstacles and compromises along the way make the victory that much sweeter. This is my first read by Christy Carlyle, and I enjoyed this book very much. The flow was good, the characters realistic, and she has a lovely writing style. I will definitely be reading her future work.
3.5 Stars
Christopher (Kit) Ruthven and Ophelia (Phee) Marsden were neighbors and sweethearts in the small town of Briar Heath. Kit's overbearing, controlling father and his desire for independence led Nick to London to pursue his dream to be a playwright, leaving a broken hearted Phee behind. Kit embraced his new life, and eventually found a measure of success. Still, every night, part of his ritual is to look out in the audience from the stage, hoping to see Phee's face in the crowd. He never does
Phee was shattered when Kit left. Though he regularly writes to her, she never replies, except for one brief line, encouraging him to follow his heart. When Phee's father dies, she has to devise a way to support herself and her sister, so she tutors pupils. But Phee has another secret occupation - she is an author of a book of rules for young ladies. However, it's not the typical old fashioned rule book, as the one published by Kit's father, it's a modern version. Phee is smart enough to realize that if her pupil's parents knew she was the author of this scandalous version, she would surely lose her position as their tutor.
Just as Kit has received an offer to write for a very prestigious theatre owner, he learns that his father has died, and he's required to return home to Briar Heath. Kit wants no part of his father's publishing business, and plans to sell it as soon as he can. As soon as he ties up loose ends, and assures himself that his sisters are fine, he plans to return to London, and the life he's come to love. But first, he must see Phee.
It's obvious that Kit and Phee have never stopped loving each other, but will that be enough? Their lives and desires have taken different paths, and Phee now has a marriage offer from a local baron - a chance for a family of her own. RULES FOR A ROGUE is one of my favorite tropes - a second chance at love. I admire Phee for her strength and the way she carried on despite her broken heart, and I totally understand why she chose not to answer Kit's letters. I was a little less sure about Kit, as he seemed more able to move on into a new life, yet he wanted to cling to Phee and his first love. Their journey to happy ever after is not smooth, but the obstacles and compromises along the way make the victory that much sweeter. This is my first read by Christy Carlyle, and I enjoyed this book very much. The flow was good, the characters realistic, and she has a lovely writing style. I will definitely be reading her future work.
November 14, 2016
This is the first of a new series and a sweet romance to start it off. I definitely adore childhood friendships that blossom into love and then getting second chances when they meet again after heartbreaks.
As you know, Kit has left his father's publishing empire behind to make a name for himself as a play-writer and never wants to return to a life of etiquettes and rules demanded by his father. But when he left he also left behind his younger sisters and the one woman that loved and understood him, Ophelia. Once he made it to Lonodn, life wasn't as grand as he expected there as a writer and semi actor. Although he found himself part of the Merrick theater family, he never really fitted in. Not to say that the Merrick theater wasn't good, it just wasn't as popular as another rival theater, Fleet's, one that he has always wanted to write for. But the folks at Merrick's were friendly and asked no questions about each others' past which suited him well. Kit also became close friends with lead actor, Jasper Grey, a rogue who posses family wealth, but lives the life of an actor, and a very good one. We'll get to see more of him soon I hope. But as Kit is not really a gentleman and yet not a common workman, he hoovered between the social class, but back home, his family name is deemed celebrity status. Finally when he gets an invitation to present an outline of a new script from Fleet's theater, he got word of his father's passing and knew he had to get home to his sisters and take care of some last minute business, especially with his father's etiquette empire. Play-writing will have to wait. But as he anticipates his homecoming, he's also nervous and expecting to see Ophelia. To his dismay, his return came with a cold shoulder from his sister Sophia and indifference from Ophelia for leaving.
After Kit left to pursue his dreams, leaving her heart broken, it didn't make matters any better when her father also passed leaving a home with much needed repairs in its wake. She has lived a life as a spinster caring for her younger sister and tutoring young misses in lady etiquettes, despite her own misgiving in those lady etiquette rules. So what does she do? In the heat of her anger while reading one of the Ruthven Rule book of Etiquettes for Ladies, she pens a book reputing all the rules and etiquettes of which Kit's father has made his empire from. Now she held secrets of her own and when Kit returned unsure about selling his father's empire, of which is trying to build a case calling plagiarism on the "Miss Gilroy's Guidelines for Young Ladies," she is worried. Not to say that Kit still stirs something within her that she hoped have long been dead.
I really like Kit's personality and character. I thought he was refreshing and a nice clean break from all the common heroes of historical romances. Not that they are bad heroes, Kit was just different and wasn't a typical hero sort of hero: a brute, a rogue, a scoundrel, a softy with a tough guy mask on.... etc, etc .... alpha male. He was just simply him. Not rebellious like everyone make him to be, just free spirited and making life un-stuffy. Fun, happy, laid back, and relaxed. He also wasn't hiding anything, aside from his thoughts, and he us true and honest through and through. And I adore his passion to give Ophelia space but also fight for her too. What I loved the most was how much he loves his sisters and how much he wants them to know that they're free from the etiquette rules of their father. Sophia was a toughy to get out of her shell because she had been put in a position where she had to do all the work Kit had left behind so it was understanding why she was hard on Kit. But at the same time it was also sad that she felt like she had to keep it together and hold the front line so that they wouldn't fall. However, seeing Kit with the youngest sister, Clarissa was truly sweet. He really wants her be a kid and have the freedom to have fun, especially when he knew he didn't get that opportunity. So I do hope to see them have their own stories, especially Sohpia's.
Phee, was very likable. She is independent but also held herself well against obstacles. She used to be fun and out going when Kit was around to break all the rules with her but when he left, her world changed and she had to fit into what society demanded from a young lady. Be proper and follow the rules of etiquettes for ladies. She makes lists to keep herself in order and in place so that she wouldn't lose control. She loves her sister dearly and her sister is definitely one smart young lady. A mathematician! Plus, Phee has a close friend and confidant, Milly. Milly definitely is an interesting secondary character full of surprises and secrets of her own, love and heartbreak, and of course, partner in crime schemer. She's also smart, a bookworm, and thoughtful. I definitely want to see her story too. Phee was just a delight to read and seeing her rebuff Kit's charm was exhilarating.
Both Kit and Phee were made for each other with lots on their plate and lots to fight for. Having them reconnect again truly made the story great because we just didn't get to read about their past but got to see them getting to know each other, in the present, and falling in love again which made the story all the more sweet.
So, if you haven't read Ms. Christy Carlyle's stories, she has a great writing style and easy to follow plot, this is one great story to start with. You'll definitely fall in love with Kit and Ophelia.
As you know, Kit has left his father's publishing empire behind to make a name for himself as a play-writer and never wants to return to a life of etiquettes and rules demanded by his father. But when he left he also left behind his younger sisters and the one woman that loved and understood him, Ophelia. Once he made it to Lonodn, life wasn't as grand as he expected there as a writer and semi actor. Although he found himself part of the Merrick theater family, he never really fitted in. Not to say that the Merrick theater wasn't good, it just wasn't as popular as another rival theater, Fleet's, one that he has always wanted to write for. But the folks at Merrick's were friendly and asked no questions about each others' past which suited him well. Kit also became close friends with lead actor, Jasper Grey, a rogue who posses family wealth, but lives the life of an actor, and a very good one. We'll get to see more of him soon I hope. But as Kit is not really a gentleman and yet not a common workman, he hoovered between the social class, but back home, his family name is deemed celebrity status. Finally when he gets an invitation to present an outline of a new script from Fleet's theater, he got word of his father's passing and knew he had to get home to his sisters and take care of some last minute business, especially with his father's etiquette empire. Play-writing will have to wait. But as he anticipates his homecoming, he's also nervous and expecting to see Ophelia. To his dismay, his return came with a cold shoulder from his sister Sophia and indifference from Ophelia for leaving.
After Kit left to pursue his dreams, leaving her heart broken, it didn't make matters any better when her father also passed leaving a home with much needed repairs in its wake. She has lived a life as a spinster caring for her younger sister and tutoring young misses in lady etiquettes, despite her own misgiving in those lady etiquette rules. So what does she do? In the heat of her anger while reading one of the Ruthven Rule book of Etiquettes for Ladies, she pens a book reputing all the rules and etiquettes of which Kit's father has made his empire from. Now she held secrets of her own and when Kit returned unsure about selling his father's empire, of which is trying to build a case calling plagiarism on the "Miss Gilroy's Guidelines for Young Ladies," she is worried. Not to say that Kit still stirs something within her that she hoped have long been dead.
I really like Kit's personality and character. I thought he was refreshing and a nice clean break from all the common heroes of historical romances. Not that they are bad heroes, Kit was just different and wasn't a typical hero sort of hero: a brute, a rogue, a scoundrel, a softy with a tough guy mask on.... etc, etc .... alpha male. He was just simply him. Not rebellious like everyone make him to be, just free spirited and making life un-stuffy. Fun, happy, laid back, and relaxed. He also wasn't hiding anything, aside from his thoughts, and he us true and honest through and through. And I adore his passion to give Ophelia space but also fight for her too. What I loved the most was how much he loves his sisters and how much he wants them to know that they're free from the etiquette rules of their father. Sophia was a toughy to get out of her shell because she had been put in a position where she had to do all the work Kit had left behind so it was understanding why she was hard on Kit. But at the same time it was also sad that she felt like she had to keep it together and hold the front line so that they wouldn't fall. However, seeing Kit with the youngest sister, Clarissa was truly sweet. He really wants her be a kid and have the freedom to have fun, especially when he knew he didn't get that opportunity. So I do hope to see them have their own stories, especially Sohpia's.
Phee, was very likable. She is independent but also held herself well against obstacles. She used to be fun and out going when Kit was around to break all the rules with her but when he left, her world changed and she had to fit into what society demanded from a young lady. Be proper and follow the rules of etiquettes for ladies. She makes lists to keep herself in order and in place so that she wouldn't lose control. She loves her sister dearly and her sister is definitely one smart young lady. A mathematician! Plus, Phee has a close friend and confidant, Milly. Milly definitely is an interesting secondary character full of surprises and secrets of her own, love and heartbreak, and of course, partner in crime schemer. She's also smart, a bookworm, and thoughtful. I definitely want to see her story too. Phee was just a delight to read and seeing her rebuff Kit's charm was exhilarating.
Both Kit and Phee were made for each other with lots on their plate and lots to fight for. Having them reconnect again truly made the story great because we just didn't get to read about their past but got to see them getting to know each other, in the present, and falling in love again which made the story all the more sweet.
So, if you haven't read Ms. Christy Carlyle's stories, she has a great writing style and easy to follow plot, this is one great story to start with. You'll definitely fall in love with Kit and Ophelia.
November 18, 2016
I received a copy of this title to read and review for Wicked Reads
5 Stars.
If you're a historical romance fan, you know there are tropes that are generally included in the novel. A feisty heroine (either a feminist in the making or marriage-minded), either a stuffy or roguish hero, siblings dependent on the H/h, death in the family where the man becomes the head of the household, a past (together), scandal, debt, an unwanted love interest the H/h wants out of the picture, one in the couple dragging their feet, and a ball where something either good/bad happens. On top of all that, there are always a few couples introduced who will get the next few books.
Rules for a Rogue is no different, having each and every trope mentioned above. However, Kit & Ophelia did give the reader a fresh take, which had me reading voraciously until almost the end.
Kit & Phee have been friends since they were children, but Kit's overbearing father was controling, so he left Phee behind to start a career as playwright in London. While Kit loved Phee, he broke her heart.
Phee is a strong woman. After losing her mother when she was a teenager, leaving Phee to raise a toddler little sister, then her best friend whom she thought she'd marry one day left for the limelight. After all that, her father passed, leaving Phee as the breadwinner. A single female in England, whose options are marriage or allow the house to fall down around her head. But Phee, she is made of sterner stuff, and she refuses to marry for money. She's a survivor, and she found an ingenious yet scandalous career as an etiquette writer (writing the opposite of what a good lady should be). The only problem, Phee is a tutor to fine young ladies, teaching the archaic tenets she doesn't believe in.
Kit is a scoundrel, a playwright who loves the stage, but his heart is always seeking Phee. When his father passes, he's thrust back into Phee's orbit.
What follows on the pages is a cat & mouse game. Will-they-or-won't-they. Tension. Hunger. Lust. Love. With a ton of angst, I was pulled right into the story and didn't stop until I'd finished the novel. One of the brightest spots for me was the female empowerment. All the women supported each other, true friendships were forged, and the siblings wanted nothing but the best for each other. Nothing catty, silly, grating on the nerves to read. With the rules Phee believes young ladies should live by, it was icing on the cake to see all the women rally around one another in support.
The following didn't affect my rating, because it's found in most historical romances. The book was slightly too long, repetitious. Too much indecision for an empowered woman. Too much running away instead of just getting to the heart of it, purely because to do so would have shaved off the page-count. One or two times in a novel, I won't even notice. Near the end of the novel, I was very close to just skipping to the ending, because it was pretty much events that wouldn't have happened- again -if someone would have been honest/decisive/took what they wanted with their empowered self, both on Phee's and Kit's part.
*Note: not a ton of purple prose, over-description, or right-clicking to change words via the thesaurus. I felt the need to mention this, as some hisro readers love those things. I don't, which is why I was entertained without having to wade through the tedium.
Recommended to Christy Carlyle fans and readers of Historical Romance. I can't wait to read the next in the series, no doubt featuring Sophie and Grey- sounds like another deliciously angsty read on the horizon.
5 Stars.
If you're a historical romance fan, you know there are tropes that are generally included in the novel. A feisty heroine (either a feminist in the making or marriage-minded), either a stuffy or roguish hero, siblings dependent on the H/h, death in the family where the man becomes the head of the household, a past (together), scandal, debt, an unwanted love interest the H/h wants out of the picture, one in the couple dragging their feet, and a ball where something either good/bad happens. On top of all that, there are always a few couples introduced who will get the next few books.
Rules for a Rogue is no different, having each and every trope mentioned above. However, Kit & Ophelia did give the reader a fresh take, which had me reading voraciously until almost the end.
Kit & Phee have been friends since they were children, but Kit's overbearing father was controling, so he left Phee behind to start a career as playwright in London. While Kit loved Phee, he broke her heart.
Phee is a strong woman. After losing her mother when she was a teenager, leaving Phee to raise a toddler little sister, then her best friend whom she thought she'd marry one day left for the limelight. After all that, her father passed, leaving Phee as the breadwinner. A single female in England, whose options are marriage or allow the house to fall down around her head. But Phee, she is made of sterner stuff, and she refuses to marry for money. She's a survivor, and she found an ingenious yet scandalous career as an etiquette writer (writing the opposite of what a good lady should be). The only problem, Phee is a tutor to fine young ladies, teaching the archaic tenets she doesn't believe in.
Kit is a scoundrel, a playwright who loves the stage, but his heart is always seeking Phee. When his father passes, he's thrust back into Phee's orbit.
What follows on the pages is a cat & mouse game. Will-they-or-won't-they. Tension. Hunger. Lust. Love. With a ton of angst, I was pulled right into the story and didn't stop until I'd finished the novel. One of the brightest spots for me was the female empowerment. All the women supported each other, true friendships were forged, and the siblings wanted nothing but the best for each other. Nothing catty, silly, grating on the nerves to read. With the rules Phee believes young ladies should live by, it was icing on the cake to see all the women rally around one another in support.
The following didn't affect my rating, because it's found in most historical romances. The book was slightly too long, repetitious. Too much indecision for an empowered woman. Too much running away instead of just getting to the heart of it, purely because to do so would have shaved off the page-count. One or two times in a novel, I won't even notice. Near the end of the novel, I was very close to just skipping to the ending, because it was pretty much events that wouldn't have happened- again -if someone would have been honest/decisive/took what they wanted with their empowered self, both on Phee's and Kit's part.
*Note: not a ton of purple prose, over-description, or right-clicking to change words via the thesaurus. I felt the need to mention this, as some hisro readers love those things. I don't, which is why I was entertained without having to wade through the tedium.
Recommended to Christy Carlyle fans and readers of Historical Romance. I can't wait to read the next in the series, no doubt featuring Sophie and Grey- sounds like another deliciously angsty read on the horizon.
November 3, 2016
A completely sweet feel-good romance that is perfect for that “I’m having a bad day” reading option.
Christopher Ruthven, son of the empire that created the Ruthven Rules of Etiquette turned his back on the family empire to pursue his own heart – working as a playwright. He’s living the high life in London, and built himself quite a reputation, but none of that comes with success in his own endeavors. Now, with the death of his father, the family business needs and requires him to return, and Kit returns home with less than wonderful expectations.
Ophelia Marsden is supporting herself by tutoring young ladies, after refusing an offer of marriage and the death of her father. Chafing against, yet working publicly within, the rules that constrain women, she’s also the authoress of a guide for women that encourages them to explore their own independence and find self-direction while ignoring (if not upending) the Ruthven Rules.
The history between Ophelia and Kit is a checkered one, she was expecting a proposal that never came as he was off to pursue other interests (and women). But all is not lost for Kit: he does feel remorse for his callous treatment of Ophelia, and hopes that they can coexist as acquaintances, if not actually friendly. Years have honed Ophelia’s reactions to a fine point, while not quite bitter, she is tottering on that edge, and the return of the one who shattered her girlish dreams is not a welcome sight.
This journey of discovery was wonderful: both have to come to recognize strengths and weaknesses, the changes brought by time and experience. Ophelia’s refusal to bow to Kit’s efforts without having him actually see who she is, what she believes and, most importantly, how she does NOT need him but may want him in her life is wonderful. A wholesale change from the “I’m mad at you but you brought flowers and said pretty words” moments that turn so many women’s hearts in historical romance.
Well-developed characters with a heroine who is solidly out of her time in her beliefs and willingness to share those ideas, and she’s not afraid of making a point. Often with humorous results. Kit was humbled, something he needed, and brought to see the error of his ways, and the change in his approach to women, Ophelia, life and work were wonderful.
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
Christopher Ruthven, son of the empire that created the Ruthven Rules of Etiquette turned his back on the family empire to pursue his own heart – working as a playwright. He’s living the high life in London, and built himself quite a reputation, but none of that comes with success in his own endeavors. Now, with the death of his father, the family business needs and requires him to return, and Kit returns home with less than wonderful expectations.
Ophelia Marsden is supporting herself by tutoring young ladies, after refusing an offer of marriage and the death of her father. Chafing against, yet working publicly within, the rules that constrain women, she’s also the authoress of a guide for women that encourages them to explore their own independence and find self-direction while ignoring (if not upending) the Ruthven Rules.
The history between Ophelia and Kit is a checkered one, she was expecting a proposal that never came as he was off to pursue other interests (and women). But all is not lost for Kit: he does feel remorse for his callous treatment of Ophelia, and hopes that they can coexist as acquaintances, if not actually friendly. Years have honed Ophelia’s reactions to a fine point, while not quite bitter, she is tottering on that edge, and the return of the one who shattered her girlish dreams is not a welcome sight.
This journey of discovery was wonderful: both have to come to recognize strengths and weaknesses, the changes brought by time and experience. Ophelia’s refusal to bow to Kit’s efforts without having him actually see who she is, what she believes and, most importantly, how she does NOT need him but may want him in her life is wonderful. A wholesale change from the “I’m mad at you but you brought flowers and said pretty words” moments that turn so many women’s hearts in historical romance.
Well-developed characters with a heroine who is solidly out of her time in her beliefs and willingness to share those ideas, and she’s not afraid of making a point. Often with humorous results. Kit was humbled, something he needed, and brought to see the error of his ways, and the change in his approach to women, Ophelia, life and work were wonderful.
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
January 2, 2017
Rules for a Rogue was a feel-good Victorian era romance that had me cheering on the hero and heroine from the very start. The pairing of childhood friends Kit, a rogue with a genuine heart, and Ophelia, a proper miss with a hidden secret, was fun and felt so very right.
‘Nothing had changed. He wanted to kiss her now too. Hell, kissing was only the start of what he wanted to do with Ophelia. He was a wretch. A carnal beast, as one lady had once called him. Though, in fairness, she’d meant it as a compliment.’
I’ve quickly become a fan of Christy Carlyle’s writing in the past year or so and Rules for a Rogue is a great example why. Not only does she lend an authenticity to the historical aspects of her stories but she also has a way of combining characters who share passion and interests, making them truly seem like real couples. Plus this was set in the Victorian age, when so many dramatic changes were happening in women’s rights. That was a big factor with Ophelia’s book of guidelines she wrote under a pen name, as a way to inspire young women to think for themselves, have their own dreams and goals, and to use their voices to be heard.
Read More
__________________________
Original Notes:
Rules for a Rogue was a tender, sweet Victorian era romance that brought together two childhood friends, giving them a chance to renew the relationship that ended suddenly four years prior. While there might not have been a huge amount of drama, this was a feel-good story that was sweepingly romantic and had me cheering on the hero and heroine from the start. Full review to come.
‘Nothing had changed. He wanted to kiss her now too. Hell, kissing was only the start of what he wanted to do with Ophelia. He was a wretch. A carnal beast, as one lady had once called him. Though, in fairness, she’d meant it as a compliment.’
I’ve quickly become a fan of Christy Carlyle’s writing in the past year or so and Rules for a Rogue is a great example why. Not only does she lend an authenticity to the historical aspects of her stories but she also has a way of combining characters who share passion and interests, making them truly seem like real couples. Plus this was set in the Victorian age, when so many dramatic changes were happening in women’s rights. That was a big factor with Ophelia’s book of guidelines she wrote under a pen name, as a way to inspire young women to think for themselves, have their own dreams and goals, and to use their voices to be heard.
Read More
__________________________
Original Notes:
Rules for a Rogue was a tender, sweet Victorian era romance that brought together two childhood friends, giving them a chance to renew the relationship that ended suddenly four years prior. While there might not have been a huge amount of drama, this was a feel-good story that was sweepingly romantic and had me cheering on the hero and heroine from the start. Full review to come.
May 24, 2018
Rules for a Rogue was fine. The writing's good, and I really enjoyed elements of the concept. The only issue is that I never felt remotely invested in Phee and Kit. They bore me. They were in love as children but he went to London to pursue playwriting and acting and left her behind in their hometown, breaking her heart, but they've both continued to love each other. They spend freaking forever dancing around each other, and she refuses to trust him again, which is reasonable, but also really irritating when you know how this is going to go.
Neither one quite felt like real people to me either. The show was constantly stolen by the side characters and their obvious future ships: the odious Dunstan and the not-standing-for-his-shit Milly, the lascivous Grey and the logical Sophia, and even the morbid Clary. All of them were so much more interesting than the main two, who fail to feel fully fleshed out.
Aside from feeling mild the entire time, I really have nothing to overtly criticize about this book. I think there's promise here, especially because I loved the competing books of guidelines for young ladies and that a subplot of it is all about innovation in publishing. I just hope I ship the ship in book two.
Neither one quite felt like real people to me either. The show was constantly stolen by the side characters and their obvious future ships: the odious Dunstan and the not-standing-for-his-shit Milly, the lascivous Grey and the logical Sophia, and even the morbid Clary. All of them were so much more interesting than the main two, who fail to feel fully fleshed out.
Aside from feeling mild the entire time, I really have nothing to overtly criticize about this book. I think there's promise here, especially because I loved the competing books of guidelines for young ladies and that a subplot of it is all about innovation in publishing. I just hope I ship the ship in book two.
June 12, 2017
Actual Rating: 4.5
**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book.**
A man who hates to follow rules meets a woman trying to change them.
Kit is doing exactly what he wants to do. He's left his father's stifling expectations behind to pursue a career as a playwright in London. But when the responsibilities suddenly land on Kit's shoulders, he's thrust back into the life he left behind. The properties and businesses to manage, the social constrictions, and the house that Kit never really thought felt like home.
The only upside to being back is the presence of Kit's long lost love. The woman who haunts him day and night. The girl he never really got over and the one he regrets leaving behind. If he's going to be stuck putting on his father's many hats, he might as well get to enjoy one aspect of his new life.
It's just too bad that Ophelia wants nothing to do with him. After he abandoned her four years ago, to run off to the city, Phee has had time to come to terms with his choice. And he didn't choose her. Besides, she has enough to worry about as she tries to stay financially afloat while secretly penning a controversial guide for young ladies and avoiding matrimony to a snobbish pursuer. She doesn't have time to add an old flame to the mix. If only her heart agreed with her head...
This is the first book of the series but I read the second book first for a tour. I actually won this paperback copy in the same tour and since I loved A Study in Scoundrels, I was super excited to start this story. And while I liked the second book just a smidgen more, this was still a really good read!
The plot was actually two-fold. We had Kit's lack of desire for taking over his father's publishing company that led to him trying to find a way to sell it, while he also had his prior playwright job to contend with. And we also had Ophelia's secretive pursuit of publishing her scandalous ladies' guidelines that clashed with her tutoring responsibilities. There was a lot going on even without the added love story.
The romance was full of ups and downs as Kit tried to become reacquainted with Phee and she attempted to avoid him. It was cute to watch the couple attempt to hide their feelings from everyone, even each other, at times. There were many stolen kisses and hidden caresses. The buildup for the sexual tension was nicely done.
One thing that really surprised me was Ophelia's strength of character. She didn't lay down and take what the world handed to her, even though it would have been the proper thing to do in that time period. She challenged the rules and went toe-to-toe with Kit over his treatment of her. Even when things looked bleak, she didn't just wallow in her self-pity. I love a strong heroine.
I also found Clarissa's character to be highly entertaining. Her morbid painting scenes? It was downright hilarious. I hope her story is told in the future since her brother and sister's now have been.
In closing...
That's two rogues down and hopefully many more to come. 4.5 suns!
Full review on blog: http://uptildawnbookblog.blogspot.com/2017/06/review-rules-for-rogue-by-christy.html
**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book.**
A man who hates to follow rules meets a woman trying to change them.
Kit is doing exactly what he wants to do. He's left his father's stifling expectations behind to pursue a career as a playwright in London. But when the responsibilities suddenly land on Kit's shoulders, he's thrust back into the life he left behind. The properties and businesses to manage, the social constrictions, and the house that Kit never really thought felt like home.
The only upside to being back is the presence of Kit's long lost love. The woman who haunts him day and night. The girl he never really got over and the one he regrets leaving behind. If he's going to be stuck putting on his father's many hats, he might as well get to enjoy one aspect of his new life.
It's just too bad that Ophelia wants nothing to do with him. After he abandoned her four years ago, to run off to the city, Phee has had time to come to terms with his choice. And he didn't choose her. Besides, she has enough to worry about as she tries to stay financially afloat while secretly penning a controversial guide for young ladies and avoiding matrimony to a snobbish pursuer. She doesn't have time to add an old flame to the mix. If only her heart agreed with her head...
This is the first book of the series but I read the second book first for a tour. I actually won this paperback copy in the same tour and since I loved A Study in Scoundrels, I was super excited to start this story. And while I liked the second book just a smidgen more, this was still a really good read!
The plot was actually two-fold. We had Kit's lack of desire for taking over his father's publishing company that led to him trying to find a way to sell it, while he also had his prior playwright job to contend with. And we also had Ophelia's secretive pursuit of publishing her scandalous ladies' guidelines that clashed with her tutoring responsibilities. There was a lot going on even without the added love story.
The romance was full of ups and downs as Kit tried to become reacquainted with Phee and she attempted to avoid him. It was cute to watch the couple attempt to hide their feelings from everyone, even each other, at times. There were many stolen kisses and hidden caresses. The buildup for the sexual tension was nicely done.
One thing that really surprised me was Ophelia's strength of character. She didn't lay down and take what the world handed to her, even though it would have been the proper thing to do in that time period. She challenged the rules and went toe-to-toe with Kit over his treatment of her. Even when things looked bleak, she didn't just wallow in her self-pity. I love a strong heroine.
I also found Clarissa's character to be highly entertaining. Her morbid painting scenes? It was downright hilarious. I hope her story is told in the future since her brother and sister's now have been.
In closing...
That's two rogues down and hopefully many more to come. 4.5 suns!
Full review on blog: http://uptildawnbookblog.blogspot.com/2017/06/review-rules-for-rogue-by-christy.html
February 9, 2025
Heroine: Ophelia Marsden, 24. Nickname: Phee. Has a tutoring business and has published a successful book under a pen name.
Hero: Christopher Ruthven, 28. Nickname: Kit. A playwright who has inherited his father’s publishing company.
Date: 1894
How they meet: Kit and Phee met off-page as kids. They had been in a relationship, but Kit’s father was opposed to the match. Due to the strained relationship between Kit and his father, Kit left home for London, also leaving Phee behind. They have not seen each other in 4 years.
What happens: Kit returns home after his father’s death and goes to see Phee. She reluctantly allows him into her home, but is determined not to let him break her heart again. Kit is planning to sell his father’s publishing business. He has no idea that Phee has authored a book published by a rival publishing company and that her book is competition for one of his father’s best sellers.
Verdict: This is the second book I have read by this author, and have decided they aren’t for me. My issues with this book are similar to the one I previously read in that it feels too modern to be a historical romance and also I didn’t connect with the characters or truly understand what motivates them. There are sudden changes of heart that just aren’t explained and it makes it seem like the heroine in particular doesn’t know her own mind. This read fine as a standalone.
Steam level: steamy and explicit
Rating: 3 stars
Hero: Christopher Ruthven, 28. Nickname: Kit. A playwright who has inherited his father’s publishing company.
Date: 1894
How they meet: Kit and Phee met off-page as kids. They had been in a relationship, but Kit’s father was opposed to the match. Due to the strained relationship between Kit and his father, Kit left home for London, also leaving Phee behind. They have not seen each other in 4 years.
What happens: Kit returns home after his father’s death and goes to see Phee. She reluctantly allows him into her home, but is determined not to let him break her heart again. Kit is planning to sell his father’s publishing business. He has no idea that Phee has authored a book published by a rival publishing company and that her book is competition for one of his father’s best sellers.
Verdict: This is the second book I have read by this author, and have decided they aren’t for me. My issues with this book are similar to the one I previously read in that it feels too modern to be a historical romance and also I didn’t connect with the characters or truly understand what motivates them. There are sudden changes of heart that just aren’t explained and it makes it seem like the heroine in particular doesn’t know her own mind. This read fine as a standalone.
Steam level: steamy and explicit
Rating: 3 stars
June 8, 2017
I liked this book. I especially liked that neither the hero or the heroine were titled. He was a playwright and she was a young author who lived frugally. As much as I love reading about dukes and ladies, I also enjoy when the focus is on other members of society. I also enjoyed the second chance storyline and the childhood friends tropes.
There were several interesting secondary characters that I would have liked to have seen more of. I was expecting at least one breakout secondary storyline, but nothing developed. I did find this book lost some momentum with the main characters caught in a static cycle that lasted too long. However, I would be interested to read more books by this author.
I received a copy of this book as part of a giveaway package from I'd Rather Read. I was not asked to write a review.
There were several interesting secondary characters that I would have liked to have seen more of. I was expecting at least one breakout secondary storyline, but nothing developed. I did find this book lost some momentum with the main characters caught in a static cycle that lasted too long. However, I would be interested to read more books by this author.
I received a copy of this book as part of a giveaway package from I'd Rather Read. I was not asked to write a review.
December 28, 2016
Originally posted on the blog What the Cat Read.
This was my first foray into Carlyle’s writing, and while I can say that I found this title to be a fairly good read, I was not as engrossed in the story as much as I would have liked. This does not mean that I do not recommend this book to fans of Carlyle’s other novels or to those readers who enjoy historical romance, nor does it mean that I will not be looking into Carlyle’s writing and pursuing this series and her other novels more in the future. I fully intend to give her other titles a read and am actually looking forward to the next book in this particular series because I’m curious to see who the main characters will be for that one. That having been said, let me get on with my review for this particular book.
I’d like to first start off by saying that after reading this book I feel compelled to give it three paws and a tail wave of approval because there were several things that I liked about the story, but there were some elements that prevented me from rating it higher. For the purpose of this review, I’d like to first discuss what worked for me and then talk a bit about what didn’t.
I really liked Ophelia. I found her to be a caring, driven, passionate person. She cares greatly about protecting and providing the best life she can for her sister Juliet (in the book I was provided Ophelia had a sister, not a brother as conveyed in the synopsis above) and her aunt. The fact that she has been hurt before makes her guard her heart more than other ladies would but that doesn’t prevent her from wanting to make sure those she loves are happy and living their lives to the fullest. I loved that she was a firm believer in young ladies speaking their minds, following their hearts, and more, and it tickled my whiskers to know that she was responsible for a book of Guidelines for young ladies to follow. She was certainly one of my favorite characters in this story. Kit, meanwhile, is more carefree, less inclined to follow expectations, and though he wants to pursue a life in the theater, he also wants to make sure his sisters are taken care of. While I wouldn’t necessarily call him fully reliable, he at least makes an effort to try and be responsible where his late father’s business is concerned and eventually finds a balance between his duty and desire. As a couple, both Ophelia and Kit are great for each other. I’d be tempted to say they balance each other out and provide the push each of them need to follow their hearts and flourish. Their relationship is pretty steamy, once they finally let go and allow it to happen.
I loved the siblings in this book, both Ophelia’s and Kit’s, and I must confess that I’m greatly looking forward to hopefully seeing more of them in future books. Actually, I’m rather hoping that book #2 in the series features Sophia because I found her to be an intriguing character and one I’d like to definitely learn more of. Likewise Clary, Kit’s youngest sister and Juliet, Ophelia’s sister, were both enjoyable and I think would allow for some fun books later on if the opportunity arises.
The premise of this book is pretty straight forward and I really liked that a part of the story centered around Ophelia’s book and the uproar it caused. I especially liked that most of the chapters started with a passage either from the Ruthvan Rules or Gilroy’s Guidelines. These passages set the stage for the chapters they proceeded and also helped shape the characters as I was reading.
All these elements made this book a decent read, and I would have loved to have been able to rate the book on these alone, but unfortunately there were other elements that kept me from becoming fully involved in the story. The pacing of the novel was slow which resulted in a long build up of both Ophelia’s and Kit’s relationship and the overall climax itself. I found myself fighting the urge to skim ahead to see if things picked up at all, and a few times was tempted to put the book aside and move on to something else entirely. Likewise I found the plot to be predictable and the overall feel of the characters to be flat in the end. I know this might sound a bit odd seeing as I said earlier that I liked both Ophelia and Kit, and I stand by my words where they are concerned. But in terms of complexity, they were lacking. And the inclusion of Lord Dunstan as an antagonist didn’t work well for me, especially where his resolution was concerned. He had the potential to be a truly despicable person, and while he was forceful and a bit of an ass, I feel like Carlyle could have made him even more of a dislikeable character and expanded more on the conflict between him and Ophelia. What conflict there was between them wasn’t nearly as insurmountable as I was expecting it to be. Things just fell flat for me toward the end of the book, and it all wrapped up a bit too nicely/easily.
Despite this, I have to admit that the book is a sweet read and I feel that most readers will enjoy the story. This is just one of those books that didn’t work as much as I would have liked for myself, but I would definitely encourage others to give it a try and discover the book for themselves.
This was my first foray into Carlyle’s writing, and while I can say that I found this title to be a fairly good read, I was not as engrossed in the story as much as I would have liked. This does not mean that I do not recommend this book to fans of Carlyle’s other novels or to those readers who enjoy historical romance, nor does it mean that I will not be looking into Carlyle’s writing and pursuing this series and her other novels more in the future. I fully intend to give her other titles a read and am actually looking forward to the next book in this particular series because I’m curious to see who the main characters will be for that one. That having been said, let me get on with my review for this particular book.
I’d like to first start off by saying that after reading this book I feel compelled to give it three paws and a tail wave of approval because there were several things that I liked about the story, but there were some elements that prevented me from rating it higher. For the purpose of this review, I’d like to first discuss what worked for me and then talk a bit about what didn’t.
I really liked Ophelia. I found her to be a caring, driven, passionate person. She cares greatly about protecting and providing the best life she can for her sister Juliet (in the book I was provided Ophelia had a sister, not a brother as conveyed in the synopsis above) and her aunt. The fact that she has been hurt before makes her guard her heart more than other ladies would but that doesn’t prevent her from wanting to make sure those she loves are happy and living their lives to the fullest. I loved that she was a firm believer in young ladies speaking their minds, following their hearts, and more, and it tickled my whiskers to know that she was responsible for a book of Guidelines for young ladies to follow. She was certainly one of my favorite characters in this story. Kit, meanwhile, is more carefree, less inclined to follow expectations, and though he wants to pursue a life in the theater, he also wants to make sure his sisters are taken care of. While I wouldn’t necessarily call him fully reliable, he at least makes an effort to try and be responsible where his late father’s business is concerned and eventually finds a balance between his duty and desire. As a couple, both Ophelia and Kit are great for each other. I’d be tempted to say they balance each other out and provide the push each of them need to follow their hearts and flourish. Their relationship is pretty steamy, once they finally let go and allow it to happen.
I loved the siblings in this book, both Ophelia’s and Kit’s, and I must confess that I’m greatly looking forward to hopefully seeing more of them in future books. Actually, I’m rather hoping that book #2 in the series features Sophia because I found her to be an intriguing character and one I’d like to definitely learn more of. Likewise Clary, Kit’s youngest sister and Juliet, Ophelia’s sister, were both enjoyable and I think would allow for some fun books later on if the opportunity arises.
The premise of this book is pretty straight forward and I really liked that a part of the story centered around Ophelia’s book and the uproar it caused. I especially liked that most of the chapters started with a passage either from the Ruthvan Rules or Gilroy’s Guidelines. These passages set the stage for the chapters they proceeded and also helped shape the characters as I was reading.
All these elements made this book a decent read, and I would have loved to have been able to rate the book on these alone, but unfortunately there were other elements that kept me from becoming fully involved in the story. The pacing of the novel was slow which resulted in a long build up of both Ophelia’s and Kit’s relationship and the overall climax itself. I found myself fighting the urge to skim ahead to see if things picked up at all, and a few times was tempted to put the book aside and move on to something else entirely. Likewise I found the plot to be predictable and the overall feel of the characters to be flat in the end. I know this might sound a bit odd seeing as I said earlier that I liked both Ophelia and Kit, and I stand by my words where they are concerned. But in terms of complexity, they were lacking. And the inclusion of Lord Dunstan as an antagonist didn’t work well for me, especially where his resolution was concerned. He had the potential to be a truly despicable person, and while he was forceful and a bit of an ass, I feel like Carlyle could have made him even more of a dislikeable character and expanded more on the conflict between him and Ophelia. What conflict there was between them wasn’t nearly as insurmountable as I was expecting it to be. Things just fell flat for me toward the end of the book, and it all wrapped up a bit too nicely/easily.
Despite this, I have to admit that the book is a sweet read and I feel that most readers will enjoy the story. This is just one of those books that didn’t work as much as I would have liked for myself, but I would definitely encourage others to give it a try and discover the book for themselves.
November 19, 2022
Really two and a half stars.
November 27, 2016
***I received this book for free from Tasty Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
***Actual rating: 3.5 stars
Having heard of Christy Carlyle in the past but never having read her books, I was immediately interested when given the opportunity to review the first novel in her brand new series, Romancing the Rules. The novel, entitled Rules for a Rogue, is out now, and it introduces the Ruthven family, an affluent but untitled Regency family known for its publishing endeavors, specifically the publication of a series of rather strict etiquette books known collectively as the Ruthven Rules.
I was instantly intrigued by the two main characters, not to mention the fact that this is a second-chance romance (one of my favorite tropes).
Kit Ruthven has spent the past few years avoiding anything to do with the family business. He’s started to make a name for himself as a playwright, but just when he is given the opportunity to write for one of London’s top theater groups, his father dies and he is left to take charge of the business and of his two sisters. Kit’s character has all these unresolved parental issues, and the fact that he has responsibilities he can’t shirk as head of the family is really brought home to him through the course of this novel, so it’s interesting to see how his character evolves from first chapter to last. There’s a bit of growing up that happens in the course of the several weeks in which this novel takes place, so that by the end of it, Kit is a hero worth swooning over in terms of inner strength as well as in looks and charm.
Ophelia Marsden, or Phee, as she is known to those closest to her, comes from a completely different place emotionally. Her father has died some years past, and she has become the main provider for her family, but times are hard and purses are tight for her, her sister, and the maiden aunt who takes care of them. She is a woman of independent thought and deep-running passion, but she has reined herself in tightly for the sake of making a living as a tutor to young girls. She is being pressured to accept a loveless proposal for the sake of her family, but the free spirit in her, while caged, keeps her dithering. So where Kit comes from an emotional headspace where he thinks only of himself and then grows to think of others, Phee has been living for others and must learn to follow her heart.
The result is a sweet dichotomy of personalities and mindsets that come together and find a way to make love work. Because at no point in this novel do we ever think that Kit and Phee no longer love each other, despite having been apart for four years. So the happy ever after at the end is not a question of will they so much as how.
I think if I had one criticism about this book, it’s that it’s a bit of a slow burn novel. The romance is sweet and well worked out, but I would have liked to have more of a sense of urgency in the read; I think part of the effects of knowing so solidly that the characters would make their love work in the end left me in no hurry to keep turning pages.
Still, if you’re looking for a relaxing Regency romance read that’ll leave you smiling and still give you the awwws, Rules for a Rogue is a good choice. In fact, it’s a great book to bring on vacation or to curl up with on a lazy Sunday.
***Actual rating: 3.5 stars
Having heard of Christy Carlyle in the past but never having read her books, I was immediately interested when given the opportunity to review the first novel in her brand new series, Romancing the Rules. The novel, entitled Rules for a Rogue, is out now, and it introduces the Ruthven family, an affluent but untitled Regency family known for its publishing endeavors, specifically the publication of a series of rather strict etiquette books known collectively as the Ruthven Rules.
I was instantly intrigued by the two main characters, not to mention the fact that this is a second-chance romance (one of my favorite tropes).
Kit Ruthven has spent the past few years avoiding anything to do with the family business. He’s started to make a name for himself as a playwright, but just when he is given the opportunity to write for one of London’s top theater groups, his father dies and he is left to take charge of the business and of his two sisters. Kit’s character has all these unresolved parental issues, and the fact that he has responsibilities he can’t shirk as head of the family is really brought home to him through the course of this novel, so it’s interesting to see how his character evolves from first chapter to last. There’s a bit of growing up that happens in the course of the several weeks in which this novel takes place, so that by the end of it, Kit is a hero worth swooning over in terms of inner strength as well as in looks and charm.
Ophelia Marsden, or Phee, as she is known to those closest to her, comes from a completely different place emotionally. Her father has died some years past, and she has become the main provider for her family, but times are hard and purses are tight for her, her sister, and the maiden aunt who takes care of them. She is a woman of independent thought and deep-running passion, but she has reined herself in tightly for the sake of making a living as a tutor to young girls. She is being pressured to accept a loveless proposal for the sake of her family, but the free spirit in her, while caged, keeps her dithering. So where Kit comes from an emotional headspace where he thinks only of himself and then grows to think of others, Phee has been living for others and must learn to follow her heart.
The result is a sweet dichotomy of personalities and mindsets that come together and find a way to make love work. Because at no point in this novel do we ever think that Kit and Phee no longer love each other, despite having been apart for four years. So the happy ever after at the end is not a question of will they so much as how.
I think if I had one criticism about this book, it’s that it’s a bit of a slow burn novel. The romance is sweet and well worked out, but I would have liked to have more of a sense of urgency in the read; I think part of the effects of knowing so solidly that the characters would make their love work in the end left me in no hurry to keep turning pages.
Still, if you’re looking for a relaxing Regency romance read that’ll leave you smiling and still give you the awwws, Rules for a Rogue is a good choice. In fact, it’s a great book to bring on vacation or to curl up with on a lazy Sunday.
November 7, 2016
Ophelia “Phee” Marsden has a secret, one she can’t afford – literally- to get out. However, she doesn’t let worry or fear stop her from mission- modernizing society and its perpetual rules. She’s not trying to overthrow the crown or anything. She just wants women to understand they have options concerning their own lives.
Kit and Phee once loved each other, and although neither will openly admit it at first – to anyone- they still do. However, times have changed, and Phee’s life holds a lot more responsibility than it did four years earlier when they were together. Kit left her to pursue his dream of becoming a famous London playwright, and although she understood his desire to get from beneath his father’s firm hand, she didn’t understand why he never visited her. She felt abandoned, and as if he never cared like he claimed.
Although Kit has been out chasing his dream, Phee was always in his mind. Not a day went by that he didn’t think of her. When he returns home after his father’s death, his only goal was to settle his affairs and make sure his sisters were taken care of. He knew how difficult it would be if he saw Phee again. Unfortunately (and fortunately) for him, his heart won the war, although his brain was a worthy adversary.
This book started out very interesting. Although it was obvious (thanks to the rules of a romance) that the two would wind up together, it’s the “how” that captivates. The first few chapters were perfectly paced, but eventually the north winds shifted south. Halfway thru, I found myself skimming thru the thick narrative to get back to the interesting parts. And yes, things did pick back up. The characters were actually pretty interesting, and I must say that Grey (Kit’s friend) was quite roguishly charming. He stole every scene he was in, which was perfect for the character who happened to be an actor. He didn’t overshadow anybody, but he did bring life to the scenes he was in. Clarissa (Kit’s sister aka Clary) is quite intriguing as well. I know there’s something more to her, and I’d actually like to find out what. Her unique interests were a nice twist to a historical.
Overall, it was an ok read.
Kit and Phee once loved each other, and although neither will openly admit it at first – to anyone- they still do. However, times have changed, and Phee’s life holds a lot more responsibility than it did four years earlier when they were together. Kit left her to pursue his dream of becoming a famous London playwright, and although she understood his desire to get from beneath his father’s firm hand, she didn’t understand why he never visited her. She felt abandoned, and as if he never cared like he claimed.
Although Kit has been out chasing his dream, Phee was always in his mind. Not a day went by that he didn’t think of her. When he returns home after his father’s death, his only goal was to settle his affairs and make sure his sisters were taken care of. He knew how difficult it would be if he saw Phee again. Unfortunately (and fortunately) for him, his heart won the war, although his brain was a worthy adversary.
This book started out very interesting. Although it was obvious (thanks to the rules of a romance) that the two would wind up together, it’s the “how” that captivates. The first few chapters were perfectly paced, but eventually the north winds shifted south. Halfway thru, I found myself skimming thru the thick narrative to get back to the interesting parts. And yes, things did pick back up. The characters were actually pretty interesting, and I must say that Grey (Kit’s friend) was quite roguishly charming. He stole every scene he was in, which was perfect for the character who happened to be an actor. He didn’t overshadow anybody, but he did bring life to the scenes he was in. Clarissa (Kit’s sister aka Clary) is quite intriguing as well. I know there’s something more to her, and I’d actually like to find out what. Her unique interests were a nice twist to a historical.
Overall, it was an ok read.
October 12, 2016
I enjoyed this book very much! Though I would consider it somewhat of a "beach read" for its lighthearted plot and how quick it was to read, I think it would be a lovely book to read when you're having a down day. Christy Carlyle brings feminism and old-school romance together to create a witty, banter-filled story of two childhood sweethearts who fall in love all over again.
Christopher "Kit" Ruthven has been away from his home for four years, working in London to pursue a career as a playwright. Though he enjoys the theater immensely, he has never forgotten about his lost love, Ophelia Marsden. When he receives word that his estranged father has passed away, he is eager to return to his childhood home and have the chance to see Ophelia again. However, he's in for a surprise when he finds Ophelia bitter over their separation. It will take all of his charm to win her hand, and her heart, again.
Kit was such a fun character! I haven't read many books where the hero is a playwright, and it was a fun new experience for me. His charming efforts to win Ophelia's heart were entertaining to read, especially when she was so steadfast in rebuffing him. It's always more fun when the heroine sticks to her guns and makes the hero work for her heart. Ophelia was someone I felt I could easily be friends with - she's friendly, unafraid to be different and has the confidence to stand up to those who would change her. I was cheering several times as I was reading.
This was a very enjoyable book and one I hope you will give it a try. I'm excited to see who the next book focuses on. Sophia (Kit's sister) and Grey (Kit's friend), perhaps? I hope so!
**I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.**
Christopher "Kit" Ruthven has been away from his home for four years, working in London to pursue a career as a playwright. Though he enjoys the theater immensely, he has never forgotten about his lost love, Ophelia Marsden. When he receives word that his estranged father has passed away, he is eager to return to his childhood home and have the chance to see Ophelia again. However, he's in for a surprise when he finds Ophelia bitter over their separation. It will take all of his charm to win her hand, and her heart, again.
Kit was such a fun character! I haven't read many books where the hero is a playwright, and it was a fun new experience for me. His charming efforts to win Ophelia's heart were entertaining to read, especially when she was so steadfast in rebuffing him. It's always more fun when the heroine sticks to her guns and makes the hero work for her heart. Ophelia was someone I felt I could easily be friends with - she's friendly, unafraid to be different and has the confidence to stand up to those who would change her. I was cheering several times as I was reading.
This was a very enjoyable book and one I hope you will give it a try. I'm excited to see who the next book focuses on. Sophia (Kit's sister) and Grey (Kit's friend), perhaps? I hope so!
**I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.**
November 11, 2016
Rules for a Rogue by Christy Carlyle is one of the best series of the year and a definite 5 Stars! I absolutely loved this book! So filled with suspense, love and deep passion. Kit Ruthven's been living in London for the past several years, he's a playwright and spends much of his days behind the stage. He dreams of making it big and seeing his plays on some of London's biggest stages. However, he gets word that his father has passed away. His father owns a publishing house and his Ruthven Rules has sold many copies and some women have greatly disagreed with these "rules", including his childhood friend Ophelia. Ophelia has had a rough life after the loss of her father, she refused to enter into a marriage without love. Instead, she supported herself and her sister and struggled to maintain her families homestead. She's written her own "Rule Book" and it's been accepted by a publishing company and ready to launch when she runs into none-other-than Kit Ruthven. Kit was the love of her life as she grew up, but he also broke her heart. Preferring the London stage to her. However, unbeknownst to her, Kit's longed for her all these years. Can the two rekindle what had begun in their youth? Can Ophelia forgive and open her heart to the one man who's held hers in the palm of his hands all these years?
Christy Carlyle has given us yet another wonderful story and fantastic series that will keep you up all night reading! I can't wait for the next book in this amazing series. Carlyle brings us amazing deep characters, vivid scenery and a plot that is so thick and detailed with lots of amazing twists and turns! I welcome you to grab a cup of tea, curl up and read Rules for a Rogue, you will not be displeased!
Christy Carlyle has given us yet another wonderful story and fantastic series that will keep you up all night reading! I can't wait for the next book in this amazing series. Carlyle brings us amazing deep characters, vivid scenery and a plot that is so thick and detailed with lots of amazing twists and turns! I welcome you to grab a cup of tea, curl up and read Rules for a Rogue, you will not be displeased!
November 9, 2016
Kit and Phee grew up together and nearly became lovers before Kit chose to follow his dream of becoming a playwright. Kit left the country, and Phee, to chase his dream in London. Phee was heartbroken and Kit spent every day of the next four years hoping to see her again, but unwilling to return to the country and the obligations his father saw for him there. After his father’s death, though, he returns home and finds the spark still there.
I really enjoyed Rules for a Rogue. Kit, Phee & the rest of the cast of characters were fully developed people and I found nearly all of them quite relatable. The characters could have fallen into stereotypes, but Ms. Carlyle was able to turn them into multi-faceted people. Milly, for example, was, on the surface, the token spinster friend. Beneath the surface, though, she was much more than that – a brilliant confidant and co-conspirator, capable of love and heartbreak, strength and sensitivity.
It suffers slightly from the same fate of all second-chance-romances – the audience doesn’t get to watch them fall for each other initially. Ms. Carlyle got around this a bit by still including their meet-cute and allowing them to get to know each other all over again without ignoring their past. I found myself rooting for Phee & Kit all the way through. The romance is definitely not lacking.
Rules for a Rogue will keep you sighing, cheering, and swooning all the way to the end.
4.5 stars.
I really enjoyed Rules for a Rogue. Kit, Phee & the rest of the cast of characters were fully developed people and I found nearly all of them quite relatable. The characters could have fallen into stereotypes, but Ms. Carlyle was able to turn them into multi-faceted people. Milly, for example, was, on the surface, the token spinster friend. Beneath the surface, though, she was much more than that – a brilliant confidant and co-conspirator, capable of love and heartbreak, strength and sensitivity.
It suffers slightly from the same fate of all second-chance-romances – the audience doesn’t get to watch them fall for each other initially. Ms. Carlyle got around this a bit by still including their meet-cute and allowing them to get to know each other all over again without ignoring their past. I found myself rooting for Phee & Kit all the way through. The romance is definitely not lacking.
Rules for a Rogue will keep you sighing, cheering, and swooning all the way to the end.
4.5 stars.
December 19, 2016
Ophelia “Phee” Marsden runs her life by lists and rules; she’s practical – she continues to remind herself. After all she’s responsible for the well-being of her little sister and their aunt so she must be. Plus, she knows the heartbreak of allowing your heart to rule.
Christopher “Kitt” Ruthven watches the audience every night for a flame haired beauty. Every night he knows she’s not. Not after choosing to defy his father by striking out on his own in London instead of choosing her. But he’s never forgotten her. The truth of which hits him when he’s called home after the death of his father.
Seeing each other again threatens to upend both their worlds. Can Phee ever forget her heartbreak and toss her lists and rules to the wind or will she tighten the bindings on her heart against love with more rules? Torn between two places can Kitt make the right decision this time or will Phee’s rules and the lure of London only make Phee’s predication that he’ll leave again come true?
Seriously and OMGosh story by Christy Carlyle! From the first paragraph until the end I was thoroughly engaged. Torn love, hope, and damaged pasts flow through the pages with delicious hints of stories to come. Any book that can draw me in and turn me into a “grumpy grouch” (according to my family) when you interrupt me is a 10 star book!
Christopher “Kitt” Ruthven watches the audience every night for a flame haired beauty. Every night he knows she’s not. Not after choosing to defy his father by striking out on his own in London instead of choosing her. But he’s never forgotten her. The truth of which hits him when he’s called home after the death of his father.
Seeing each other again threatens to upend both their worlds. Can Phee ever forget her heartbreak and toss her lists and rules to the wind or will she tighten the bindings on her heart against love with more rules? Torn between two places can Kitt make the right decision this time or will Phee’s rules and the lure of London only make Phee’s predication that he’ll leave again come true?
Seriously and OMGosh story by Christy Carlyle! From the first paragraph until the end I was thoroughly engaged. Torn love, hope, and damaged pasts flow through the pages with delicious hints of stories to come. Any book that can draw me in and turn me into a “grumpy grouch” (according to my family) when you interrupt me is a 10 star book!
November 9, 2016
I’ve been in a bit of reading slump and this book is exactly what I needed to break it.
This is my first book by Carlyle, but it definitely won’t be my last. Her writing flows smoothly, her characters are well developed, and she wove the perfect amount of sarcasm, humour, strife, and romance in this first installment of her Romancing the Rules series.
Ophelia is a delightfully headstrong young woman whose sole focus is to keep her family home and provide for her sister and aunt. Kit, who walked away from Ophelia and his family to not have to deal with an oppressive, abusive father, shows a vulnerability that you don’t often see in rakes/rogues, but Carlyle pulls this off beautifully.
Even though his father was cruel, we learn that he wasn’t what he seemed.
I also enjoyed all of the secondary characters and can’t wait to see what is in store for them in this promising series.
DISCLAIMER: I requested a copy of this book for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is my first book by Carlyle, but it definitely won’t be my last. Her writing flows smoothly, her characters are well developed, and she wove the perfect amount of sarcasm, humour, strife, and romance in this first installment of her Romancing the Rules series.
Ophelia is a delightfully headstrong young woman whose sole focus is to keep her family home and provide for her sister and aunt. Kit, who walked away from Ophelia and his family to not have to deal with an oppressive, abusive father, shows a vulnerability that you don’t often see in rakes/rogues, but Carlyle pulls this off beautifully.
Even though his father was cruel, we learn that he wasn’t what he seemed.
I also enjoyed all of the secondary characters and can’t wait to see what is in store for them in this promising series.
DISCLAIMER: I requested a copy of this book for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 12, 2016
Who doesn't love a heroine that writes a guidebook that encourages young ladies to be independent? I loved that this one talked about the city a bit more with the trains and publishers instead of balls and parties. It was a bit slow in the beginning, but once everything started happening then I got into it more. I loved how they were with their families and each other. At one time I was almost screaming thinking she was going to change her mind.
Ophelia is a different heroine. She loves her lists and to have order in her life. I loved her from the start and how much she cared about her sister. I felt for her because she didn't have fun anymore.
Kit is someone that you are instantly drawn to. He is a playwright and a bit of a rogue. I loved that he kept trying to keep away from the publishing world because of his father, but he kept being pulled into it.
Ophelia is a different heroine. She loves her lists and to have order in her life. I loved her from the start and how much she cared about her sister. I felt for her because she didn't have fun anymore.
Kit is someone that you are instantly drawn to. He is a playwright and a bit of a rogue. I loved that he kept trying to keep away from the publishing world because of his father, but he kept being pulled into it.
October 29, 2016
ARC Review: Rules for a Rogue (Romancing the Rules) by Christy Carlyle
The irony of the relationship between Kit and Ophelia is that there is love, the issue is that neither knows how to accept the flaws of the other. Until they can face the problems rooted in the past, there can never be a future. Family, responsibilities, pride and respectability have a hand in keeping them apart, but there is a sense of regret in the interactions that they have with each other. Ms. Carlyle is good at stirring up trouble but she delivers a potent combination of mesmerizing romance and seductive characters that leave her readers with a euphoric feeling.
November 11, 2016
Christy Carlyle has a way of writing that fully immerses you in her world. I loved everything about the heroine of this one. She was a progressive woman in a time when women were stifled and she fought the system. Her influence not only helps herself and her family, but also influences those around her to be more progressive in their thinking. The hero has been drawn to her for years and finds her way of thinking to be just what he needs. Together they can overcome, conquer, and be happy. I look forward to more stories involving the secondary characters from this one.
November 14, 2016
I'm a big fan of Christy Carlyle; and this book is another smashing success. Her characters are the right balance of real, complex individuals with a dash of that something extra to step out of ourselves and into the story. A very enjoyable read, but a note of caution. Do not read while on the bus, unless you desire to miss your stop.
November 11, 2019
What a boring book
This book was boring, boring and did I say boring! The characters were boring and the plot was repetitive. Sorry I paid money for this.
This book was boring, boring and did I say boring! The characters were boring and the plot was repetitive. Sorry I paid money for this.
February 7, 2017
An enjoyable read
Set in 1894 London, there is an awful lot to like about this book, but what stands out is how relatable both main characters seemed, at least to me. The hero, Kit, is a man bearing the emotional scars bestowed by a father who made him feel that he was a constant disappointment because he could never measure up to his expectations. Kit has a dream of becoming a playwright rather than joining his father's publishing house. Harangued and scorned by his father, he leaves his home and hies off to London to make his name and fortune.
The heroine and the love of Kit's adolescence/early adulthood, Phee, is scarred by Kit's leaving to escape his unhappy home, the death of her own father and her frantic efforts to keep a roof over her head as well as that of her socially reclusive sister and elderly aunt. She develops an ingenious way to support her family and is doing okay until Kit returns when his father dies. When Kit returns 4 years later, upon the death of his father, she understandably a bit standoffish and worried about her carefully crafted life designed to cope his absence and designed to protect her heart.
Without continuing to summarize, suffice it to say, these two characters are wary of each other and each have their respective obligations that muddy the water between the two of them. I felt that their relationship was realistic given their history and found their wariness believable. That said, I did feel that Phee behaved more erratically and less rationally near the end than I though was necessary. I became a bit annoyed with her.
I also felt that the one 'villain' in this piece was more window dressing than anything else. He never posed any real threat to Kit's and Phee's happiness and only appeared as needed to allow Phee to waffle and vacillate in her feelings for Kit.
Bottom line: this is a good, engaging read that developed some of the best elements of a well crafted period romance: heartbreak, tentative, wary reconnection, some minor complications/misunderstandings, plenty of sexual tension and finally a HEA. There are a couple sex scenes between Kit and Phee, one more anatomically descriptive than the other, so if that is not your cup of tea, you've been warned.
Set in 1894 London, there is an awful lot to like about this book, but what stands out is how relatable both main characters seemed, at least to me. The hero, Kit, is a man bearing the emotional scars bestowed by a father who made him feel that he was a constant disappointment because he could never measure up to his expectations. Kit has a dream of becoming a playwright rather than joining his father's publishing house. Harangued and scorned by his father, he leaves his home and hies off to London to make his name and fortune.
The heroine and the love of Kit's adolescence/early adulthood, Phee, is scarred by Kit's leaving to escape his unhappy home, the death of her own father and her frantic efforts to keep a roof over her head as well as that of her socially reclusive sister and elderly aunt. She develops an ingenious way to support her family and is doing okay until Kit returns when his father dies. When Kit returns 4 years later, upon the death of his father, she understandably a bit standoffish and worried about her carefully crafted life designed to cope his absence and designed to protect her heart.
Without continuing to summarize, suffice it to say, these two characters are wary of each other and each have their respective obligations that muddy the water between the two of them. I felt that their relationship was realistic given their history and found their wariness believable. That said, I did feel that Phee behaved more erratically and less rationally near the end than I though was necessary. I became a bit annoyed with her.
I also felt that the one 'villain' in this piece was more window dressing than anything else. He never posed any real threat to Kit's and Phee's happiness and only appeared as needed to allow Phee to waffle and vacillate in her feelings for Kit.
Bottom line: this is a good, engaging read that developed some of the best elements of a well crafted period romance: heartbreak, tentative, wary reconnection, some minor complications/misunderstandings, plenty of sexual tension and finally a HEA. There are a couple sex scenes between Kit and Phee, one more anatomically descriptive than the other, so if that is not your cup of tea, you've been warned.
June 30, 2018
Reviewed by Rachel
Book provided by publisher
Originally posted at Romancing the Book
This book took a bit for me to get into–but once I did–I adored the characters. When we first meet our hero Kit, he’s on stage, joking with his friends, trying to make a living as a playwright and doing quite well at it, but you soon find out that things aren’t always what they seem. Early on the reader is given a glimpse into his psyche that possibly, he isn’t just a low born man trying to climb the theatre world–but titled, and not as much in hiding as he is running away from a past he can’t seem to extinguish from his mind or his heart–especially since he spends his nights wondering if Ophelia will one day be in the audience, waiting for him–and it seems, still loving him.
Ophelia has problems of her own–and not just the fact that Kit left without as much as a proposal, nor did he ever return, write, or do anything–she now has others to support including herself, she teaches women to be independent, to be fierce, to go against societies rules, which ends up comically coming back to bite her since upon Kits return (since his fathers death) she’s forced to use every single thing in her arsenal to rebuff every attempt he has towards her. He thought they could at least be friends, and she wants nothing more than to toss him over a cliff even if her heart does still beat rythmically in his direction.
The banter between both characters was light hearted, funny, and swoon worthy. I loved Kits friend, Grey (I have a serious soft spot for secondary characters, and hope we learn more about him later). I also adored the way that she stuck to her guns, I hate stories where the girl falls all over herself the minute the guy decides to choose her. It’s a story of love, loss, and second chance romance. The characters each come to realizations that they’ve grown and I love that this realization means they end up quite humorously together.
Well written, fast paced, and an easy read, which is a nice change for a historical, a lot of times characters get lost in mundane details and I’m happy to say this was not the case with the book. I can’t wait for the rest in this series, I give it four roses that rule!
Book provided by publisher
Originally posted at Romancing the Book
This book took a bit for me to get into–but once I did–I adored the characters. When we first meet our hero Kit, he’s on stage, joking with his friends, trying to make a living as a playwright and doing quite well at it, but you soon find out that things aren’t always what they seem. Early on the reader is given a glimpse into his psyche that possibly, he isn’t just a low born man trying to climb the theatre world–but titled, and not as much in hiding as he is running away from a past he can’t seem to extinguish from his mind or his heart–especially since he spends his nights wondering if Ophelia will one day be in the audience, waiting for him–and it seems, still loving him.
Ophelia has problems of her own–and not just the fact that Kit left without as much as a proposal, nor did he ever return, write, or do anything–she now has others to support including herself, she teaches women to be independent, to be fierce, to go against societies rules, which ends up comically coming back to bite her since upon Kits return (since his fathers death) she’s forced to use every single thing in her arsenal to rebuff every attempt he has towards her. He thought they could at least be friends, and she wants nothing more than to toss him over a cliff even if her heart does still beat rythmically in his direction.
The banter between both characters was light hearted, funny, and swoon worthy. I loved Kits friend, Grey (I have a serious soft spot for secondary characters, and hope we learn more about him later). I also adored the way that she stuck to her guns, I hate stories where the girl falls all over herself the minute the guy decides to choose her. It’s a story of love, loss, and second chance romance. The characters each come to realizations that they’ve grown and I love that this realization means they end up quite humorously together.
Well written, fast paced, and an easy read, which is a nice change for a historical, a lot of times characters get lost in mundane details and I’m happy to say this was not the case with the book. I can’t wait for the rest in this series, I give it four roses that rule!
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