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A Rogue's Downfall
A ROGUE'S DOWNFALL
The Anniversary
After the Earl of Reardon, one of London's most notorious rakes, ruined the virtue and reputation of a young lady at a masquerade ball on Valentine's Day, he did the honorable thing and married her before settling her at his country estate and abandoning her there. Now, one year later, he has returned home to his wife and young son, wondering if it is too late to woo her properly and make amends for a year of shameful neglect.
The Wrong Door
During a dull evening at a particularly tedious house party Viscount Lyndon, a notorious rake, makes an assignation to spend the night with a willing widow. In the darkness, however, he opens the wrong door and enters the wrong room. He soon finds himself honor-bound to offer for the young lady who was the unfortunate victim of his error. She, however, does not react with predictable meekness. Instead, she sets out to bring him to his knees.
Precious Rogue
Miss Peabody and her mother are ecstatic when Mr. Bancroft, London's most elusive bachelor, accepts an invitation to a house party at their country estate. They boast that he is about to offer marriage. However, it is upon Patricia Mangan, the quiet, unremarkable, impoverished niece Mrs. Peabody treats more as a servant than a relative, that Mr. Bancroft finds himself turning his attentions, surprising himself as much as he surprises her and everyone else.
The Anniversary
After the Earl of Reardon, one of London's most notorious rakes, ruined the virtue and reputation of a young lady at a masquerade ball on Valentine's Day, he did the honorable thing and married her before settling her at his country estate and abandoning her there. Now, one year later, he has returned home to his wife and young son, wondering if it is too late to woo her properly and make amends for a year of shameful neglect.
The Wrong Door
During a dull evening at a particularly tedious house party Viscount Lyndon, a notorious rake, makes an assignation to spend the night with a willing widow. In the darkness, however, he opens the wrong door and enters the wrong room. He soon finds himself honor-bound to offer for the young lady who was the unfortunate victim of his error. She, however, does not react with predictable meekness. Instead, she sets out to bring him to his knees.
Precious Rogue
Miss Peabody and her mother are ecstatic when Mr. Bancroft, London's most elusive bachelor, accepts an invitation to a house party at their country estate. They boast that he is about to offer marriage. However, it is upon Patricia Mangan, the quiet, unremarkable, impoverished niece Mrs. Peabody treats more as a servant than a relative, that Mr. Bancroft finds himself turning his attentions, surprising himself as much as he surprises her and everyone else.
243 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 2, 2017
314 people are currently reading
380 people want to read
About the author
Mary Balogh
200 books6,345 followersMary Jenkins was born in 1944 in Swansea, Wales, UK. After graduating from university, moved to Saskatchewan, Canada, to teach high school English, on a two-year teaching contract in 1967. She married her Canadian husband, Robert Balogh, and had three children, Jacqueline, Christopher and Sian. When she's not writing, she enjoys reading, music and knitting. She also enjoys watching tennis and curling.
Mary Balogh started writing in the evenings as a hobby. Her first book, a Regency love story, was published in 1985 as A Masked Deception under her married name. In 1988, she retired from teaching after 20 years to pursue her dream to write full-time. She has written more than seventy novels and almost thirty novellas since then, including the New York Times bestselling 'Slightly' sextet and 'Simply' quartet. She has won numerous awards, including Bestselling Historical of the Year from the Borders Group, and her novel Simply Magic was a finalist in the Quill Awards. She has won seven Waldenbooks Awards and two B. Dalton Awards for her bestselling novels, as well as a Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award.
Mary Balogh started writing in the evenings as a hobby. Her first book, a Regency love story, was published in 1985 as A Masked Deception under her married name. In 1988, she retired from teaching after 20 years to pursue her dream to write full-time. She has written more than seventy novels and almost thirty novellas since then, including the New York Times bestselling 'Slightly' sextet and 'Simply' quartet. She has won numerous awards, including Bestselling Historical of the Year from the Borders Group, and her novel Simply Magic was a finalist in the Quill Awards. She has won seven Waldenbooks Awards and two B. Dalton Awards for her bestselling novels, as well as a Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
November 14, 2018
A collection of 3 regency short stories. I didn't fill out my shelving information for this book because it's conflicting for all 3 stories. But readers can find out pertinent facts by reading my separate safety information for each story.
Story # 1 THE ANNIVERSARY - 5 stars !
Story # 2 THE WRONG DOOR - 3.5 stars.
Story # 3 PRECIOUS ROGUE - 1 star.
THE ANNIVERSARY - 5 stars.
Beautiful heroine and hot sexy hero.
I wished Mary Balogh had adapted this beautiful, marriage in peril story into a full length novel. It was so romantic because it was obvious, from the beginning, that both MC's were totally in love with each other. The MC's are Hugh and Amy - the Earl and Countess of Reardon. They have been married for a little over a year and have a baby son called James. Their marriage has been very rocky because of a major misunderstanding: each MC is besotted and in love with the other but feels that this love is unrequited. Amy was a young debutante when she'd first seen Hugh but she was never formally introduced to him because he'd always kept a respectable distance from all virginal ladies. Hugh was a 28 year old rake and the most eligible bachelor in the Ton. He fell in love with Amy at first sight but was reluctant to give up his bachelorhood, so he stayed away from her during her debut season.
In her second season, they're brought together at a scandalous masquerade party that Amy attends without her parents' knowledge. They're both masked but are aware of each other's real identities. They both drink too much champagne and end up having sex. Hugh is happy since he's in love but he also feels a little self loathing because he believes that his seduction was forcible. In fact, the H often castigates himself for being a rapist. But the fact remains that this was not rape; both parties were very willing. The morning after the seduction, Hugh turns up at Amy's home to ask for her hand in marriage. The heroine is unaware that Hugh loves her so she rejects him. She thinks he's only proposing out of duty. Hugh is heartbroken but he is the usual, aloof alpha male H so the heroine doesn't think that he's hurting. Six weeks later they're forced to marry after Amy discovers that she's pregnant.
Their marriage is sexless because each thinks the other is unhappy to be trapped in an unwanted relationship. They're separated for months at a time because Hugh thinks it's best to give her the space to grow accustomed to her life as a new, pregnant countess. The story starts a year after their marriage; it's Valentine's Day and that's the anniversary of the only time they'd had sex. Hugh returns from London because he is determined to show his wife how much he loves her and he is also missing his baby son a lot. I loved how Mary Balogh captured the H's inner turmoil via his interior monologues:
“And my son?”
He lay awake at nights wanting his son, longing for that tiny, warm, perfect little bundle of life that had aroused such an unexpected welling of love in him as he had watched it emerge wet and blood-smeared from his wife’s body. Her son. She had carried him inside her for nine months and delivered him after an agony that had lasted longer than twenty-four hours. The child was more her son than his. And yet in London he longed for his son. And that was how he had referred to him now. He wished he could recall the words and ask how their son was.
Balogh, Mary. A Rogue's Downfall (Kindle Locations 125-129). Class Ebook Editions, Ltd.. Kindle Edition.
The H sets out to seduce his wife, spend time with his son and build the kind of happy nuclear family that he's always yearned for. Hugh bends over backwards to convince Amy that he is sincere, that he loves her and that he is sorry for not bridging the gap in their relationship earlier. He decides to make this the best Valentine's Day she's ever had. The heroine loves him but is afraid to trust him because she thinks he's still a rake who probably has mistresses in London. He gets help from his butler, housekeeper, the cook and Amy's maid; all of these employees help the H to plan the perfect courting for his wife. It was really sweet and Hugh was extremely patient, even when Amy pushed him away. He was one of those rare H's who didn't become rude and assholish or lose his temper a lot. And, in the final part of the story he confessed that he'd been celibate since the night they'd conceived their son:
“It is not for tonight only, Amy. I am hungry for a regular bed partner, you see, and I have discovered over the past year that only my wife will do. There has been no one else since our marriage, you may be surprised to hear. That means there has been no one at all since our marriage. I want you tonight and every night. I want to live with you every day and sleep with you every night. I want to be a father to my son—to our son—and to any future sons or daughters we may be blessed with. I want a marriage with you, Amy. I will settle for nothing less. If you can offer only tonight—with the martyred expression you just assumed—then no, thank you. I shall return to London tomorrow at first light.”
Balogh, Mary. A Rogue's Downfall (Kindle Locations 911-915). Class Ebook Editions, Ltd.. Kindle Edition.
Safety: No OW, no OM, no cheating. Both characters were celibate during their separation.
This is the H, Hugh:
This is the heroine, Amy:
THE WRONG DOOR - 3.5 stars.
Pretty heroine and hot, sexy H.
This story was enjoyable because it was more of a romantic comedy. It's set at a house party and begins when the rakish H Alistair, Viscount Lyndon, makes an assignation with a widow called Lady Plumtree. Lady P is a little older than Alistair but he's not bothered by that too much because she's attractive and she's willing to polish his penis. He's really bored so her offer of free sex is one way to pass the time. The whole plan falls apart when Alistair enters the wrong bedroom ! He sees the outline of a woman sleeping and so strips off all his clothes and proceeds to kiss and seduce her. The woman seems to be responding to his caresses and he thinks she's Lady P who's pretending to be asleep. His seduction scheme turns into chaotic disaster when the woman in the bed awakens and starts to push him away. He pulls away from her only to be hit on the head and back, repeatedly, by her lady's maid !
This crazy situation is Alistair's worst nightmare because he soon realizes that the girl in the bed is a young debutante called Caroline. The poor rake feels the matrimonial noose choking him but he decides to be a gentleman and do the right thing: he offers to marry Caroline to stave off a scandal. This story is entertaining because of the MC's witty banter and I loved the way the feisty Caroline made Alistair work hard to earn her affection:
“And why are you thirty and not married?” she asked.
“Because I have been waiting for you, of course,” he said, looking directly into her eyes in a way he knew had a powerful effect on women. In reality he wanted to chuckle. She really was a woman of spirit. He rather thought he was going to enjoy himself—if he kept his mind off the consequences.
“Ah,” she said, “and amusing yourself with other women while you wait.”
“Practicing on them,” he said, “so that you might have all the benefit of my expertise, Caroline.”
“Ooh,” she said. “This is the part at which my knees buckle under me?”
“I would prefer that to happen in a more secluded spot,” he said. “Where I could proceed to follow you down to the ground.”
“Then you must not talk yet about your expertise,” she said.
Balogh, Mary. A Rogue's Downfall (Kindle Locations 1333-1340). Class Ebook Editions, Ltd.. Kindle Edition.
This second story was lighthearted, funny and romantic. It was also hilarious to see how Lady Plumtree, in the guise of a woman scorned, tried to create trouble for Alistair and Caroline.
Safety: No cheating, no OM, a wannabe OW.
PRECIOUS ROGUE - 1 star.
Lovable, kind and sweet Plain Jane heroine and asshole, skankaholic manwhoring H.
This final story was garbage ! I loathed the story, hated the cheating super manwhore, skankaholic H and felt sorry for the poor heroine who would be saddled with this asshole all her life. The manwhore H is Mr. Danforth and he's a Baron's heir. He's at a 3 week long house party as the guest of a rich gentry family called the Peabody's. Mrs. Peabody is a social climber who wants her daughter Nancy to become a baroness so she's hoping that the H will propose to her spoilt brat offspring. The H, however, has no intention of proposing to Nancy. He's only attending the house party because he's bored and he thinks it'll be a lot of fun to build up Mrs. Peabody's hopes and then ruin them when he leaves without offering to marry Nancy.
The H is cocky and extremely egotistical. He thinks he's God's gift to women because he has never failed to get a woman he wants into his bed.
The heroine is Patricia. She's the shy, extremely plain and downtrodden niece of Mrs. Peabody. Patricia is treated as a servant and has no friends. At the start of the story, Patricia is sitting up in a tree when she overhears the H arranging a tryst with a skanky married woman called Mrs. Delaney. The worst part of this story is that the H goes ahead with his tryst even after he meets the heroine.
The H spends most of this story having skanky sex with 4 women - none of whom are the heroine ! He bangs Mrs. Delaney, Flossie the buxom maid, Lady Myron and Mrs. Hunter !
I read this entire story just to finish the book but this wasn't romantic at all. I can't even figure out how or why Mary Balogh would title this story as Precious Rogue because there was nothing "precious", cute or sexy about this nasty ass H. I didn't even believe him, at the end, when he said that he would be faithful to poor Patricia and give up all other women. The only good thing about this story was the humiliation that the cruel Mrs. Peabody and the horrible Nancy suffered at the end when the H proposed to Patricia.
Safety: The H has skanky sex with 4 women in this short story ! He wasn't involved with the heroine at the time but I still thought it was nasty, because this was a short story and most of the content was focused on his sexploits.
Story # 1 THE ANNIVERSARY - 5 stars !
Story # 2 THE WRONG DOOR - 3.5 stars.
Story # 3 PRECIOUS ROGUE - 1 star.
THE ANNIVERSARY - 5 stars.
Beautiful heroine and hot sexy hero.
I wished Mary Balogh had adapted this beautiful, marriage in peril story into a full length novel. It was so romantic because it was obvious, from the beginning, that both MC's were totally in love with each other. The MC's are Hugh and Amy - the Earl and Countess of Reardon. They have been married for a little over a year and have a baby son called James. Their marriage has been very rocky because of a major misunderstanding: each MC is besotted and in love with the other but feels that this love is unrequited. Amy was a young debutante when she'd first seen Hugh but she was never formally introduced to him because he'd always kept a respectable distance from all virginal ladies. Hugh was a 28 year old rake and the most eligible bachelor in the Ton. He fell in love with Amy at first sight but was reluctant to give up his bachelorhood, so he stayed away from her during her debut season.
In her second season, they're brought together at a scandalous masquerade party that Amy attends without her parents' knowledge. They're both masked but are aware of each other's real identities. They both drink too much champagne and end up having sex. Hugh is happy since he's in love but he also feels a little self loathing because he believes that his seduction was forcible. In fact, the H often castigates himself for being a rapist. But the fact remains that this was not rape; both parties were very willing. The morning after the seduction, Hugh turns up at Amy's home to ask for her hand in marriage. The heroine is unaware that Hugh loves her so she rejects him. She thinks he's only proposing out of duty. Hugh is heartbroken but he is the usual, aloof alpha male H so the heroine doesn't think that he's hurting. Six weeks later they're forced to marry after Amy discovers that she's pregnant.
Their marriage is sexless because each thinks the other is unhappy to be trapped in an unwanted relationship. They're separated for months at a time because Hugh thinks it's best to give her the space to grow accustomed to her life as a new, pregnant countess. The story starts a year after their marriage; it's Valentine's Day and that's the anniversary of the only time they'd had sex. Hugh returns from London because he is determined to show his wife how much he loves her and he is also missing his baby son a lot. I loved how Mary Balogh captured the H's inner turmoil via his interior monologues:
“And my son?”
He lay awake at nights wanting his son, longing for that tiny, warm, perfect little bundle of life that had aroused such an unexpected welling of love in him as he had watched it emerge wet and blood-smeared from his wife’s body. Her son. She had carried him inside her for nine months and delivered him after an agony that had lasted longer than twenty-four hours. The child was more her son than his. And yet in London he longed for his son. And that was how he had referred to him now. He wished he could recall the words and ask how their son was.
Balogh, Mary. A Rogue's Downfall (Kindle Locations 125-129). Class Ebook Editions, Ltd.. Kindle Edition.
The H sets out to seduce his wife, spend time with his son and build the kind of happy nuclear family that he's always yearned for. Hugh bends over backwards to convince Amy that he is sincere, that he loves her and that he is sorry for not bridging the gap in their relationship earlier. He decides to make this the best Valentine's Day she's ever had. The heroine loves him but is afraid to trust him because she thinks he's still a rake who probably has mistresses in London. He gets help from his butler, housekeeper, the cook and Amy's maid; all of these employees help the H to plan the perfect courting for his wife. It was really sweet and Hugh was extremely patient, even when Amy pushed him away. He was one of those rare H's who didn't become rude and assholish or lose his temper a lot. And, in the final part of the story he confessed that he'd been celibate since the night they'd conceived their son:
“It is not for tonight only, Amy. I am hungry for a regular bed partner, you see, and I have discovered over the past year that only my wife will do. There has been no one else since our marriage, you may be surprised to hear. That means there has been no one at all since our marriage. I want you tonight and every night. I want to live with you every day and sleep with you every night. I want to be a father to my son—to our son—and to any future sons or daughters we may be blessed with. I want a marriage with you, Amy. I will settle for nothing less. If you can offer only tonight—with the martyred expression you just assumed—then no, thank you. I shall return to London tomorrow at first light.”
Balogh, Mary. A Rogue's Downfall (Kindle Locations 911-915). Class Ebook Editions, Ltd.. Kindle Edition.
Safety: No OW, no OM, no cheating. Both characters were celibate during their separation.
This is the H, Hugh:
This is the heroine, Amy:
THE WRONG DOOR - 3.5 stars.
Pretty heroine and hot, sexy H.
This story was enjoyable because it was more of a romantic comedy. It's set at a house party and begins when the rakish H Alistair, Viscount Lyndon, makes an assignation with a widow called Lady Plumtree. Lady P is a little older than Alistair but he's not bothered by that too much because she's attractive and she's willing to polish his penis. He's really bored so her offer of free sex is one way to pass the time. The whole plan falls apart when Alistair enters the wrong bedroom ! He sees the outline of a woman sleeping and so strips off all his clothes and proceeds to kiss and seduce her. The woman seems to be responding to his caresses and he thinks she's Lady P who's pretending to be asleep. His seduction scheme turns into chaotic disaster when the woman in the bed awakens and starts to push him away. He pulls away from her only to be hit on the head and back, repeatedly, by her lady's maid !
This crazy situation is Alistair's worst nightmare because he soon realizes that the girl in the bed is a young debutante called Caroline. The poor rake feels the matrimonial noose choking him but he decides to be a gentleman and do the right thing: he offers to marry Caroline to stave off a scandal. This story is entertaining because of the MC's witty banter and I loved the way the feisty Caroline made Alistair work hard to earn her affection:
“And why are you thirty and not married?” she asked.
“Because I have been waiting for you, of course,” he said, looking directly into her eyes in a way he knew had a powerful effect on women. In reality he wanted to chuckle. She really was a woman of spirit. He rather thought he was going to enjoy himself—if he kept his mind off the consequences.
“Ah,” she said, “and amusing yourself with other women while you wait.”
“Practicing on them,” he said, “so that you might have all the benefit of my expertise, Caroline.”
“Ooh,” she said. “This is the part at which my knees buckle under me?”
“I would prefer that to happen in a more secluded spot,” he said. “Where I could proceed to follow you down to the ground.”
“Then you must not talk yet about your expertise,” she said.
Balogh, Mary. A Rogue's Downfall (Kindle Locations 1333-1340). Class Ebook Editions, Ltd.. Kindle Edition.
This second story was lighthearted, funny and romantic. It was also hilarious to see how Lady Plumtree, in the guise of a woman scorned, tried to create trouble for Alistair and Caroline.
Safety: No cheating, no OM, a wannabe OW.
PRECIOUS ROGUE - 1 star.
Lovable, kind and sweet Plain Jane heroine and asshole, skankaholic manwhoring H.
This final story was garbage ! I loathed the story, hated the cheating super manwhore, skankaholic H and felt sorry for the poor heroine who would be saddled with this asshole all her life. The manwhore H is Mr. Danforth and he's a Baron's heir. He's at a 3 week long house party as the guest of a rich gentry family called the Peabody's. Mrs. Peabody is a social climber who wants her daughter Nancy to become a baroness so she's hoping that the H will propose to her spoilt brat offspring. The H, however, has no intention of proposing to Nancy. He's only attending the house party because he's bored and he thinks it'll be a lot of fun to build up Mrs. Peabody's hopes and then ruin them when he leaves without offering to marry Nancy.
The H is cocky and extremely egotistical. He thinks he's God's gift to women because he has never failed to get a woman he wants into his bed.
The heroine is Patricia. She's the shy, extremely plain and downtrodden niece of Mrs. Peabody. Patricia is treated as a servant and has no friends. At the start of the story, Patricia is sitting up in a tree when she overhears the H arranging a tryst with a skanky married woman called Mrs. Delaney. The worst part of this story is that the H goes ahead with his tryst even after he meets the heroine.
The H spends most of this story having skanky sex with 4 women - none of whom are the heroine ! He bangs Mrs. Delaney, Flossie the buxom maid, Lady Myron and Mrs. Hunter !
I read this entire story just to finish the book but this wasn't romantic at all. I can't even figure out how or why Mary Balogh would title this story as Precious Rogue because there was nothing "precious", cute or sexy about this nasty ass H. I didn't even believe him, at the end, when he said that he would be faithful to poor Patricia and give up all other women. The only good thing about this story was the humiliation that the cruel Mrs. Peabody and the horrible Nancy suffered at the end when the H proposed to Patricia.
Safety: The H has skanky sex with 4 women in this short story ! He wasn't involved with the heroine at the time but I still thought it was nasty, because this was a short story and most of the content was focused on his sexploits.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 9, 2017
This is a collection of three republished novellas united by the theme of rogue/rake who gets tired of his wondering ways and saved by the love of an innocent (albeit infatuated ) miss. Although calling the heroes of the stories “Rake/ Rogue” would be a mischaracterization of the word.
The Anniversary – 2 stars
Was it too late to woo the woman one had ruined and married and incarcerated on one’s country estate and heartily ignored for almost a year? Too woo her on Valentine’s Day? Read it to find out but be warn- the endless ruminations may drive you crazy or leave you bored. It almost made me dnfed the entire anthology but I’m glad I proceeded further. I liked the other two stories much better.The Wrong Door – 4 stars
A rakish hero made an amorous assignation during house party but takes a wrong turn, opens the wrong door, and climbs into the wrong bed compromising our innocent heroine. The story device has been used many times but what follows is fun and entertaining read with humorous dialog and lovable protagonists.Precious Rogue– 4.5 stars
My favorite of the three (although some may find a portrayal of the hero too rakish or rather too close to a true definition of what “Rake” is). Patricia Mangan is a poor relation, treated as little better than a maid by her aunt. Joshua Buchanan is a guest at a house-party. The rake and the little shadow find themselves having sparky conversations... and the rake finds himself increasingly concerned for the fate of his little bird, as he calls Patricia. The Cinderella-like story pushed all the right buttons for me. It made me smile and tear-up a little.
March 28, 2022
Overall rating rounded up to 4 stars (3 + 5 + 3,5 stars)
THE ANNIVERSARY
3 stars, because I couldn't get over the fact how Hugh had behaved a year ago. Aside that, this short story was sweet.
THE WRONG DOOR
A perfect example for Mary Balogh's ability to write a short story (this one had less than 80 pages) that covers an extremly short span of time (about 36 hours) and nevertheless evokes these reactions in me:
- I'm invested and care about the characters,
- I believe the changes in attitude the characters go through,
- I love it.
Those things usually NEVER happen for me in short stories, as slow burn is what I love best.
5 stars.
PRECIOUS ROGUE
An ok short hr, it had its sweet moments, but didn't knock me off my feet.
3,5 stars.
THE ANNIVERSARY
3 stars, because I couldn't get over the fact how Hugh had behaved a year ago. Aside that, this short story was sweet.
THE WRONG DOOR
A perfect example for Mary Balogh's ability to write a short story (this one had less than 80 pages) that covers an extremly short span of time (about 36 hours) and nevertheless evokes these reactions in me:
- I'm invested and care about the characters,
- I believe the changes in attitude the characters go through,
- I love it.
Those things usually NEVER happen for me in short stories, as slow burn is what I love best.
5 stars.
PRECIOUS ROGUE
An ok short hr, it had its sweet moments, but didn't knock me off my feet.
3,5 stars.
April 10, 2018
All short Stories by Mary Balogh;
The Anniversary **** 4 stars
Amy and her new Husband; Hugh the Earl of Reardon(and their 3 months old son James)
A marriage in haste because she is pregnant after their drunken ONS.
A case of perpetual miscommunication because they are both too shy to make their feelings known. To hide his feelings and sure that she must despise him, he has stayed away from her for an entire year after dropping her off at the country manor. If she didn't hate him after their ONS, she sure has reason to hate him now!!
and yet...
Nice cast of side characters and the story flows well. He is fully aware of what a cad he has been leaving her there all alone and I felt he grovelled well, although forgiveness in a day is a bit much to believe, even if it is st. Valentines'. The story is safe
The Wrong Door **** 4 stars even if the ending was a bit abrupt
Alistair Lyndon walks into the wrong room at a house party, gets naked and after a little sleepy nooky gets kicked out by Caroline's burly maid. While he intends to do his duty an marry her, MB convincingly creates a series of events that lead to a wager between the two MCs that one can make the other fall in love in the span 24 hrs. A sweet little angst free, witty tale.
Precious Rogue not sure what to star this one 4? 3? Hmmmm....
The setting is a house party that goes on for the better part of a month.
Mr. Burton (Josh) the insensitive douche nozzle and Patricia, the girl with little hope or options.
The OWs are crawling out of the woodwork in this one but by 2/3 Mr. Burton finally manages to keep it in his pants... Patricia is the poor relation whose parents died and is forced to accept 'charity' from her aunt who is verbally and even physically abusive to her. Mr. Burton has been openly courting Patricia's snide self-important cousin.
Gotta say, reading this was like looking at a traffic accident. I thought there was NO WAY the author could redeem this loser. I mean gross! Patricia was totally aware of what he was up to because she had nothing better to do than watch the people around her, and they never even noticed her. She was like a shadow.
But the story has a twist that was really quite enjoyable (i'm a vindictive kinda gal I guess). he-he!
Now like the previous story, the ending itself was a little abrupt. But still, I'm glad I read it and the characters were more interesting than the other two stories. Would love to read more about them!
The Anniversary **** 4 stars
Amy and her new Husband; Hugh the Earl of Reardon(and their 3 months old son James)
A marriage in haste because she is pregnant after their drunken ONS.
A case of perpetual miscommunication because they are both too shy to make their feelings known. To hide his feelings and sure that she must despise him, he has stayed away from her for an entire year after dropping her off at the country manor. If she didn't hate him after their ONS, she sure has reason to hate him now!!
and yet...
Nice cast of side characters and the story flows well. He is fully aware of what a cad he has been leaving her there all alone and I felt he grovelled well, although forgiveness in a day is a bit much to believe, even if it is st. Valentines'. The story is safe
The Wrong Door **** 4 stars even if the ending was a bit abrupt
Alistair Lyndon walks into the wrong room at a house party, gets naked and after a little sleepy nooky gets kicked out by Caroline's burly maid. While he intends to do his duty an marry her, MB convincingly creates a series of events that lead to a wager between the two MCs that one can make the other fall in love in the span 24 hrs. A sweet little angst free, witty tale.
Precious Rogue not sure what to star this one 4? 3? Hmmmm....
The setting is a house party that goes on for the better part of a month.
Mr. Burton (Josh) the insensitive douche nozzle and Patricia, the girl with little hope or options.
The OWs are crawling out of the woodwork in this one but by 2/3 Mr. Burton finally manages to keep it in his pants... Patricia is the poor relation whose parents died and is forced to accept 'charity' from her aunt who is verbally and even physically abusive to her. Mr. Burton has been openly courting Patricia's snide self-important cousin.
Gotta say, reading this was like looking at a traffic accident. I thought there was NO WAY the author could redeem this loser. I mean gross! Patricia was totally aware of what he was up to because she had nothing better to do than watch the people around her, and they never even noticed her. She was like a shadow.
But the story has a twist that was really quite enjoyable (i'm a vindictive kinda gal I guess). he-he!
Now like the previous story, the ending itself was a little abrupt. But still, I'm glad I read it and the characters were more interesting than the other two stories. Would love to read more about them!
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June 16, 2017I have just read my first MB and I get the feeling grovelling by the hero just never comes into her books. Got no time to waste reading books where arsehole heroes don't get on their knees to the heroine and bloody apologise for their appalling behaviour.
First story in The Rogue's Downfall a case in point- he was a prick and she says she was "at least as much to blame" for the sex they had when she was drunk. Yeah- inexperienced virgin out and drinking for the first time versus experienced man-whore. WTF? Of course- it was her fault. She was asking for it. Classic rapist rubbish. Yet in his head he is constantly berating himself and acknowledging his guilt, but NEVER says it out loud, just treats her like a pig. He orders her about, she meekly does as she is told and is grateful when he decides he will try and make a go of the marriage. Ugh!
Another story had the hero screwing around at a house party WHILE he was getting to know the heroine. Absolute no-no for me. No real passion. Certainly could not suspend my disbelief that he had suddenly had a road to Damascus moment and was a Changed Man, or that he was suddenly madly in love with the heroine.
I know heaps of you love Mary Balogh's books but I have a feeling I won't be joining you. Not worth sorting through her huge backlist in the hope I will find a hero with integrity, the capacity to acknowledge mistakes OUT LOUD (read: grovel) along with the ability to keep it in his pants, and a heroine who refuses to take any BS and demands respect.
Of course, feel free to point me in that direction if you can:)
First story in The Rogue's Downfall a case in point- he was a prick and she says she was "at least as much to blame" for the sex they had when she was drunk. Yeah- inexperienced virgin out and drinking for the first time versus experienced man-whore. WTF? Of course- it was her fault. She was asking for it. Classic rapist rubbish. Yet in his head he is constantly berating himself and acknowledging his guilt, but NEVER says it out loud, just treats her like a pig. He orders her about, she meekly does as she is told and is grateful when he decides he will try and make a go of the marriage. Ugh!
Another story had the hero screwing around at a house party WHILE he was getting to know the heroine. Absolute no-no for me. No real passion. Certainly could not suspend my disbelief that he had suddenly had a road to Damascus moment and was a Changed Man, or that he was suddenly madly in love with the heroine.
I know heaps of you love Mary Balogh's books but I have a feeling I won't be joining you. Not worth sorting through her huge backlist in the hope I will find a hero with integrity, the capacity to acknowledge mistakes OUT LOUD (read: grovel) along with the ability to keep it in his pants, and a heroine who refuses to take any BS and demands respect.
Of course, feel free to point me in that direction if you can:)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 23, 2017
3.5 stars.
3 short stories, a nice and quick read but it felt too short.
3 short stories, a nice and quick read but it felt too short.
July 8, 2017
Three historical novellas featuring rakes.
The Anniversary
Valentine's Day approaches and Amy Richmond, Countess of Reardon awaits her husband at the country home. Forced to marry after the two of them give way to passion at a masked Valentine's ball: she was an innocent debutante, he was a notorious and jaded rake. At first she refused his offer of marriage, but then she discovered she was pregnant. Now she lives alone at Reardon Park barely seeing her husband for months at a time. But a year to the day since they took that irrecoverable step, can things change?
I really liked this to start with, a married couple hopelessly in love with each other but separated by misunderstanding and duty, but it kind of lost its way (for me) towards the end. I got the feeling that this may have been an old novella?
The Wrong Door
What does a notorious rake do when he is caught ravishing an innocent young girl in her bedroom instead of the merry widow in the room next door? Society dictates he must offer for her of course. Alistair Scott, Viscount Lyndon can't believe he was stupid enough to go into the wrong bedroom and to so thoroughly compromise his host's young daughter. His only hope is to be so obnoxious that she breaks off the engagement. Caroline Astor has been in love with the rakish Lyndon since she first laid eyes on him, but she can't imagine being forced to marry him, especially since nothing really happened. And then he is so obnoxiously sure of his own powers of attraction that they enter into a wager - can they get the other to fall in love with them?
For all his rakishness Lyndon really wants the simpler pleasures of life, building sandcastles, laughing and having good, clean fun. His attempts to woo Caroline force him to change his point of view.
This was too instalove for me, all over in a weekend.
Precious Rogue
My favourite of the three.
Mr Bancroft is a rather selfish cad. he enjoys dalliances with widows and married women. He likes to lead on debutantes and their pushy mothers before extracting himself without making an offer. He tells everyone that he is penniless and looking for a wealthy wife. At a house party at Holly House everyone expects him to offer for Nancy Peabody, the daughter of the house, but he is already dallying with the housemaid and one of the other guests. He also has another couple of guests in mind for further dalliance, should his current paramour fail to please. Altogether he is a smug young man interested only in his own amusement and pleasure. Whilst making an assignation by the lake one afternoon with Mrs Delaney he is overheard by Patricia Mangan, Mrs Peabody's niece and general companion. Patricia is the epitome of a poor relation, treated like a slave and constantly berated for every little thing that upsets Mrs Peabody. Ignored by the family and guests alike, Patricia has silently observed Mr Bancroft and his antics and isn't hesitant to call him out for his outrageous flattery and debauchery. In turn, Mr Bancroft finds the sharp tongue and wit of this tiny, childlike woman amusing and yet faintly sad. Over the course of days and weeks they run into each other from time to time and share their deepest secrets.
Who doesn't love a rake falling in love with the poor relation? Especially when she isn't a dazzling beauty but instead a small brown mouse of a girl.
Okay, I have just checked the front of the book and all three novellas are from the mid 1990s, not just the first one.
Love me some Mary Balogh and generally these have stood the test of time well, maybe these themes aren't as fashionable now, but that made a nice change from the current trend in historical romances.
The Anniversary
Valentine's Day approaches and Amy Richmond, Countess of Reardon awaits her husband at the country home. Forced to marry after the two of them give way to passion at a masked Valentine's ball: she was an innocent debutante, he was a notorious and jaded rake. At first she refused his offer of marriage, but then she discovered she was pregnant. Now she lives alone at Reardon Park barely seeing her husband for months at a time. But a year to the day since they took that irrecoverable step, can things change?
I really liked this to start with, a married couple hopelessly in love with each other but separated by misunderstanding and duty, but it kind of lost its way (for me) towards the end. I got the feeling that this may have been an old novella?
The Wrong Door
What does a notorious rake do when he is caught ravishing an innocent young girl in her bedroom instead of the merry widow in the room next door? Society dictates he must offer for her of course. Alistair Scott, Viscount Lyndon can't believe he was stupid enough to go into the wrong bedroom and to so thoroughly compromise his host's young daughter. His only hope is to be so obnoxious that she breaks off the engagement. Caroline Astor has been in love with the rakish Lyndon since she first laid eyes on him, but she can't imagine being forced to marry him, especially since nothing really happened. And then he is so obnoxiously sure of his own powers of attraction that they enter into a wager - can they get the other to fall in love with them?
For all his rakishness Lyndon really wants the simpler pleasures of life, building sandcastles, laughing and having good, clean fun. His attempts to woo Caroline force him to change his point of view.
This was too instalove for me, all over in a weekend.
Precious Rogue
My favourite of the three.
Mr Bancroft is a rather selfish cad. he enjoys dalliances with widows and married women. He likes to lead on debutantes and their pushy mothers before extracting himself without making an offer. He tells everyone that he is penniless and looking for a wealthy wife. At a house party at Holly House everyone expects him to offer for Nancy Peabody, the daughter of the house, but he is already dallying with the housemaid and one of the other guests. He also has another couple of guests in mind for further dalliance, should his current paramour fail to please. Altogether he is a smug young man interested only in his own amusement and pleasure. Whilst making an assignation by the lake one afternoon with Mrs Delaney he is overheard by Patricia Mangan, Mrs Peabody's niece and general companion. Patricia is the epitome of a poor relation, treated like a slave and constantly berated for every little thing that upsets Mrs Peabody. Ignored by the family and guests alike, Patricia has silently observed Mr Bancroft and his antics and isn't hesitant to call him out for his outrageous flattery and debauchery. In turn, Mr Bancroft finds the sharp tongue and wit of this tiny, childlike woman amusing and yet faintly sad. Over the course of days and weeks they run into each other from time to time and share their deepest secrets.
Who doesn't love a rake falling in love with the poor relation? Especially when she isn't a dazzling beauty but instead a small brown mouse of a girl.
Okay, I have just checked the front of the book and all three novellas are from the mid 1990s, not just the first one.
Love me some Mary Balogh and generally these have stood the test of time well, maybe these themes aren't as fashionable now, but that made a nice change from the current trend in historical romances.
Read
June 22, 2017I had no idea that this book was not a 1 story but 3 novellas. I dont like reading novellas, they never satisfy me.
First story was about a drunk sex, pregnency, marriage. The plot was too complicated to be a novella. But Mary writing was beautiful as ever, it make me more sad. Because this story can comr out much better as a whole book.
2nd story- wrong door, nearly compromise, 24 hour challenging courtship. It was sweet, much better than the first one.
I didnt check the 3rd one.
First story was about a drunk sex, pregnency, marriage. The plot was too complicated to be a novella. But Mary writing was beautiful as ever, it make me more sad. Because this story can comr out much better as a whole book.
2nd story- wrong door, nearly compromise, 24 hour challenging courtship. It was sweet, much better than the first one.
I didnt check the 3rd one.
November 17, 2017
Winky-dink Alert
Thank goodness Mary Balogh’s old books are being released again; in this case a bunch of her novellas have been electrified. But this isn’t just a release of a bunch of old books. What Ms. Balogh’s is doing is grouping her novellas together by their themes. The first group of novellas A Rogue’s Downfall is all about our favorite kind of character – the rake. Yes, my little Petunia’s, those hot, manly-men who pepper our pages - rakes!
The three short stories in this anthology are: The Anniversary - 1994, The Wrong Door - 1993, and Precious Rogue - 1995. These were quick reads and I enjoyed all three of them, although I did like one better than the other two.
The anthology opens with The Anniversary. This is a story of the Countess of Reardon and her husband, Hugh. The story is all about misunderstandings. Tons of them. Our couple have been separated for a year, they both love each other – however they never actually told each other of that love. Before their quick marriage, they had been drooling over each other from a distance until one evening at a ball under the influence of alcohol they caved into their passion. A few months later - surprise! His seed has taken root and now they are forced to marry. Hugh is with his wife for the birth of the child, but then they separate. She remains in the country and he returns to London where we are led to believe he resumes his life of dissipation. Well, a year passes and Hugh returns to the country and his wife. As one might imagine this is a pretty angst filled story, maybe not quite made for the short story format. He feels guilty, he calls what they had together rape, although I’m really not sure that's what I’d call it. I would call it two intoxicated people having sex. While I'm not a believer in "the alcohol made me do it," I also don't think there was any force used in their encounter. At least that's my take on it. I know Ms. Balogh has used rape in a few of her early books, but I don't think this one falls into that category. However, whatever one calls it, there is plenty of guilt to go around, plus all the misunderstanding and jump to conclusion moments. Most of the story is about Hugh trying to woo his wife and overcome their misinterpretations of what is really going on. This was an interesting story, but the characters were a little hard to like and it would have been better in a longer format. B-
Next is my favorite story in the bunch, The Wrong Door. Well, it seems as if our intrepid rake, Alistair, is on his way to a rendezvous with a luscious widow when he makes a wrong turn. Oops! He ends up in the room of Caroline Astor, a sweet young thing who also happens to be the host’s daughter. Well, of course they must marry – maybe. Caroline has been in luv with Alistair forever and isn’t really keen on a marriage which is lopsided. There would be nothing worse for her than to be the only one in a relationship who is in love. Through some of Ms. Balogh’s maneuvering, Alistair and Caroline enter into a wager - who will fall in love first. Even though you may not believe it, this story was fun and I smiled almost all the way through it. All of this happens over a weekend, but it seemed as if they were together longer. And, Alistair did some wonderful about face movements in this story. A
The last story in this anthology, Precious Rogue is about Joshua Buchanan. There is no way around this, Joshua is a real rake. He’s not a pretend rake, but a real one – in fact, during the party he is attending, he goes to bed with at least three women and is working on a fourth by the end of the story. And, he’s doing all of that while courting another woman. He has no conscious, he doesn’t’ care one thing about the woman he’s courting and he intends to embarrass her and her mother before he leaves. I was a little concerned for his health. He was so realistically written that I just knew his winky-dink was either diseased or ready to fall off. The heroine of this story is Patricia Mangan, but she isn’t the woman Joshua is courting. In fact, she’s none of the women he’s interested in. She is the cousin to the woman he’s courting. She is little more than a drudge to her family. They treat her horribly. She spends her free time in a tree enjoying the peace it gives her. It is during a tryst with another woman under that tree that Joshua first encounters Patricia. Joshua and Patricia slowly become friends, which eventually turns into love. Spoiler warning: for all of you fidelity purists, Joshua does not stop his sex-capades once he meets Patricia. He continues on being himself. Patricia on the other hand knows exactly what he’s doing. I thought it was refreshing to have a man continue his dalliances even after he encounters the heroine. It isn’t until he realizes he has grown to love her that he stops. The one thing that made the grade of this story a little lower was the revenge silliness at the end of the story – I didn’t like the path the revenge traveled down. A-
Thank goodness Mary Balogh’s old books are being released again; in this case a bunch of her novellas have been electrified. But this isn’t just a release of a bunch of old books. What Ms. Balogh’s is doing is grouping her novellas together by their themes. The first group of novellas A Rogue’s Downfall is all about our favorite kind of character – the rake. Yes, my little Petunia’s, those hot, manly-men who pepper our pages - rakes!
The three short stories in this anthology are: The Anniversary - 1994, The Wrong Door - 1993, and Precious Rogue - 1995. These were quick reads and I enjoyed all three of them, although I did like one better than the other two.
The anthology opens with The Anniversary. This is a story of the Countess of Reardon and her husband, Hugh. The story is all about misunderstandings. Tons of them. Our couple have been separated for a year, they both love each other – however they never actually told each other of that love. Before their quick marriage, they had been drooling over each other from a distance until one evening at a ball under the influence of alcohol they caved into their passion. A few months later - surprise! His seed has taken root and now they are forced to marry. Hugh is with his wife for the birth of the child, but then they separate. She remains in the country and he returns to London where we are led to believe he resumes his life of dissipation. Well, a year passes and Hugh returns to the country and his wife. As one might imagine this is a pretty angst filled story, maybe not quite made for the short story format. He feels guilty, he calls what they had together rape, although I’m really not sure that's what I’d call it. I would call it two intoxicated people having sex. While I'm not a believer in "the alcohol made me do it," I also don't think there was any force used in their encounter. At least that's my take on it. I know Ms. Balogh has used rape in a few of her early books, but I don't think this one falls into that category. However, whatever one calls it, there is plenty of guilt to go around, plus all the misunderstanding and jump to conclusion moments. Most of the story is about Hugh trying to woo his wife and overcome their misinterpretations of what is really going on. This was an interesting story, but the characters were a little hard to like and it would have been better in a longer format. B-
Next is my favorite story in the bunch, The Wrong Door. Well, it seems as if our intrepid rake, Alistair, is on his way to a rendezvous with a luscious widow when he makes a wrong turn. Oops! He ends up in the room of Caroline Astor, a sweet young thing who also happens to be the host’s daughter. Well, of course they must marry – maybe. Caroline has been in luv with Alistair forever and isn’t really keen on a marriage which is lopsided. There would be nothing worse for her than to be the only one in a relationship who is in love. Through some of Ms. Balogh’s maneuvering, Alistair and Caroline enter into a wager - who will fall in love first. Even though you may not believe it, this story was fun and I smiled almost all the way through it. All of this happens over a weekend, but it seemed as if they were together longer. And, Alistair did some wonderful about face movements in this story. A
The last story in this anthology, Precious Rogue is about Joshua Buchanan. There is no way around this, Joshua is a real rake. He’s not a pretend rake, but a real one – in fact, during the party he is attending, he goes to bed with at least three women and is working on a fourth by the end of the story. And, he’s doing all of that while courting another woman. He has no conscious, he doesn’t’ care one thing about the woman he’s courting and he intends to embarrass her and her mother before he leaves. I was a little concerned for his health. He was so realistically written that I just knew his winky-dink was either diseased or ready to fall off. The heroine of this story is Patricia Mangan, but she isn’t the woman Joshua is courting. In fact, she’s none of the women he’s interested in. She is the cousin to the woman he’s courting. She is little more than a drudge to her family. They treat her horribly. She spends her free time in a tree enjoying the peace it gives her. It is during a tryst with another woman under that tree that Joshua first encounters Patricia. Joshua and Patricia slowly become friends, which eventually turns into love. Spoiler warning: for all of you fidelity purists, Joshua does not stop his sex-capades once he meets Patricia. He continues on being himself. Patricia on the other hand knows exactly what he’s doing. I thought it was refreshing to have a man continue his dalliances even after he encounters the heroine. It isn’t until he realizes he has grown to love her that he stops. The one thing that made the grade of this story a little lower was the revenge silliness at the end of the story – I didn’t like the path the revenge traveled down. A-
October 28, 2020
Fun anthology!
June 2, 2017
Three novellas packed into this quick read by one of my favorite authors. Mary Balogh seldom (if ever) disappoints and this was no exception for me.
The Anniversary: 3 stars
This started out pretty shocking in that the hero kept thinking of his first time with his now wife as a rape. As time went on & we learned more of the circumstances of their first time together that resulted in a forced marriage, I think most people would agree that it was more of a consensual nature...even his wife didn't think it was rape. I liked this story the least and thought their love declarations (both past and present) a bit much since they barely knew each other.
The Wrong Door: 4 stars
I really enjoyed this story, much more light hearted and it brought more than a few smiles to my face.
Precious Rogue: 4 stars
Another really good story with witty dialogue and two likeable main characters. Granted, hero Joshua really deserved his title of rake and I usually prefer they give up their whoring once they meet the girl who is going to cause them to give up all that sex (yeah, right) but the clever fairytale ending to this story made it another winner for me.
The Anniversary: 3 stars
This started out pretty shocking in that the hero kept thinking of his first time with his now wife as a rape. As time went on & we learned more of the circumstances of their first time together that resulted in a forced marriage, I think most people would agree that it was more of a consensual nature...even his wife didn't think it was rape. I liked this story the least and thought their love declarations (both past and present) a bit much since they barely knew each other.
The Wrong Door: 4 stars
I really enjoyed this story, much more light hearted and it brought more than a few smiles to my face.
Precious Rogue: 4 stars
Another really good story with witty dialogue and two likeable main characters. Granted, hero Joshua really deserved his title of rake and I usually prefer they give up their whoring once they meet the girl who is going to cause them to give up all that sex (yeah, right) but the clever fairytale ending to this story made it another winner for me.
October 10, 2023
another beautiful and very tender story collection, i have to say i am developing a new appreciation for novellas. personal ranking is precious rogue > the wrong door > the anniversary. precious rogue in particular was wonderful and i think might be on my top five historical romance novellas ever from now on. as with the previous balogh anthology i read (a day for love) i will definitely be revisiting, and before long, too. thank you mrs balogh for my life (and several hours worth of deeply enjoyable reading).
August 8, 2021
The Anniversary was about Lady Amy Richmond, Countess of Reardon, and her husband, Lord Hugh Richmond, the Earl of Reardon, one of London’s most notorious rakes who had ruined her the year before, only to marry her and exile her for the past year at his country estate, only visiting once during the nearly year since they had married, and then for only three weeks, during which time they hardly spoke or even saw each other. He had only visited long enough to witness the birth of their son, name him James, and then leave again.
He had married her because, at a local Valentine's masquerade ball, he had taken her innocence when they were both intoxicated, gotten her pregnant, and then forced her to marry him. They were both now and had been for two years, in love, yet neither knew of the other's love. They both remembered their one night together in different ways, only to finally come together a year later and remind the other what really happened the night their son was conceived.
A year's worth of drama, agony, angst, pain, rejection, self-recrimination, abandonment, self-condemnation, loathing, and finally, joy, peace, and love. What an emotional rollercoaster ride.
I'm not sure how I felt about this particular novella.
---
The Wrong Door was about Alistair Scott, Viscount Lyndon, a notorious rake, and Miss Caroline Astor, sister to Lord Royston Astor, Baron Brindley.
Alistair had been invited to a house party that was being held in honor of his friend's great aunt. While there, he had been propositioned by a local widow to visit her room late one night. Following her very vague directions, he entered what he thought was her room. After several amorous overtures on his part, he came to realize he had found not the room of the widow, but the room of Caroline, who was a member of his friend's family.
Realizing he had compromised Caroline, he then went to her brother to do the honorable thing of offering to marry her. What he didn't think would happen is that she would decline his offer.. After arguing with her over the right thing to do, they entered into a wager. Whoever could get the other to fall in love within the next 24 hour period, the winner would win 50 pounds.
There was a good amount of chemistry between the two as they waged their emotional war on each other. The passion was just as powerful. There wasn't a great deal of drama for the story took place quite fast.
The only thing I didn't get was that, until Alistair entered her room by mistake, he hadn't really noticed Caroline. In fact, in one of his introspective chats, he said to himself that he didn't really know which one of the unwed ladies he had been introduced to. How do you go from that kind of attitude to being in love within 24 hours?
---
Precious Rogue was about Mr. Joshua Bancroft, heir to a barony and London’s most elusive bachelor, and Miss Patricia Mangan, the daughter of Reverend Samuel Mangan, and the quiet, unremarkable, impoverished niece of Mrs. Peabody and cousin of Miss Nancy Peabody.
Mr. Bancroft was attending a house party at the home of Mrs. Peabody, who was hoping he would be asking for her daughter, Nancy's hand in marriage by the end of the party. While he had paid Nancy a great deal of attention in London during the Season, he wasn't interested in marrying her. Josh's only reason for attending the house party was to bed any and all available widows, married women whose husbands looked the other way, and maids in service of the hosts. Josh wasn't picky and he had no problem bedding multiple women throughout the day and night, so much so that he silently complained about getting very little sleep and of being exhausted. Talk about a man-whore. There were at least 3 women he was bedding, while supposedly courting the cousin of Patricia.
While talking with a married woman at a lily pond at the party, he realized he had been caught by Patricia while arranging an assignation with the other woman. Patricia had been up in a tree well before the two had arrived below her. After the other woman left, he and Patricia.
For Josh to have spent at least three weeks bedding every skirt he could, then the final two days of the house party tell her he fell in love with her at their first meeting? Really? It made no sense. He fell in love at first sight...but bedded everyone BUT the woman he was supposedly in love with?
There was a tremendous amount of hatred, animosity, anger, (from the Peabody women), humiliation, dread, despair, pain, anxiety, lust (on Josh's and the other women's part) throughout this book. What wasn't there was chemistry or passion between the two main characters. Josh had hardly anything good to say about Patricia. He didn't even think she was pretty. The only positive thing he had to say (or think) was that he liked her. She was easy to talk to, and she was also kind. That's not enough to build a relationship upon.
---
With those three reviews given, I can't really say that any of them made any sense. I guess they made for easy reads, but they had no depth, no continuity. The characters weren't very well developed. With the exception of Hugh, the main male characters were a-holes. Hugh's only saving grace was that he had been in love with Amy for two years. Where he erred was in abandoning her for the better part of a year. At least he was there at the most important moments.
He had married her because, at a local Valentine's masquerade ball, he had taken her innocence when they were both intoxicated, gotten her pregnant, and then forced her to marry him. They were both now and had been for two years, in love, yet neither knew of the other's love. They both remembered their one night together in different ways, only to finally come together a year later and remind the other what really happened the night their son was conceived.
A year's worth of drama, agony, angst, pain, rejection, self-recrimination, abandonment, self-condemnation, loathing, and finally, joy, peace, and love. What an emotional rollercoaster ride.
I'm not sure how I felt about this particular novella.
---
The Wrong Door was about Alistair Scott, Viscount Lyndon, a notorious rake, and Miss Caroline Astor, sister to Lord Royston Astor, Baron Brindley.
Alistair had been invited to a house party that was being held in honor of his friend's great aunt. While there, he had been propositioned by a local widow to visit her room late one night. Following her very vague directions, he entered what he thought was her room. After several amorous overtures on his part, he came to realize he had found not the room of the widow, but the room of Caroline, who was a member of his friend's family.
Realizing he had compromised Caroline, he then went to her brother to do the honorable thing of offering to marry her. What he didn't think would happen is that she would decline his offer.. After arguing with her over the right thing to do, they entered into a wager. Whoever could get the other to fall in love within the next 24 hour period, the winner would win 50 pounds.
There was a good amount of chemistry between the two as they waged their emotional war on each other. The passion was just as powerful. There wasn't a great deal of drama for the story took place quite fast.
The only thing I didn't get was that, until Alistair entered her room by mistake, he hadn't really noticed Caroline. In fact, in one of his introspective chats, he said to himself that he didn't really know which one of the unwed ladies he had been introduced to. How do you go from that kind of attitude to being in love within 24 hours?
---
Precious Rogue was about Mr. Joshua Bancroft, heir to a barony and London’s most elusive bachelor, and Miss Patricia Mangan, the daughter of Reverend Samuel Mangan, and the quiet, unremarkable, impoverished niece of Mrs. Peabody and cousin of Miss Nancy Peabody.
Mr. Bancroft was attending a house party at the home of Mrs. Peabody, who was hoping he would be asking for her daughter, Nancy's hand in marriage by the end of the party. While he had paid Nancy a great deal of attention in London during the Season, he wasn't interested in marrying her. Josh's only reason for attending the house party was to bed any and all available widows, married women whose husbands looked the other way, and maids in service of the hosts. Josh wasn't picky and he had no problem bedding multiple women throughout the day and night, so much so that he silently complained about getting very little sleep and of being exhausted. Talk about a man-whore. There were at least 3 women he was bedding, while supposedly courting the cousin of Patricia.
While talking with a married woman at a lily pond at the party, he realized he had been caught by Patricia while arranging an assignation with the other woman. Patricia had been up in a tree well before the two had arrived below her. After the other woman left, he and Patricia.
For Josh to have spent at least three weeks bedding every skirt he could, then the final two days of the house party tell her he fell in love with her at their first meeting? Really? It made no sense. He fell in love at first sight...but bedded everyone BUT the woman he was supposedly in love with?
There was a tremendous amount of hatred, animosity, anger, (from the Peabody women), humiliation, dread, despair, pain, anxiety, lust (on Josh's and the other women's part) throughout this book. What wasn't there was chemistry or passion between the two main characters. Josh had hardly anything good to say about Patricia. He didn't even think she was pretty. The only positive thing he had to say (or think) was that he liked her. She was easy to talk to, and she was also kind. That's not enough to build a relationship upon.
---
With those three reviews given, I can't really say that any of them made any sense. I guess they made for easy reads, but they had no depth, no continuity. The characters weren't very well developed. With the exception of Hugh, the main male characters were a-holes. Hugh's only saving grace was that he had been in love with Amy for two years. Where he erred was in abandoning her for the better part of a year. At least he was there at the most important moments.
March 9, 2022
The Anniversary-3.5 stars
The Wrong Door 4 stars
Precious Rogue 4 stars
The Wrong Door 4 stars
Precious Rogue 4 stars
November 15, 2018
I liked the first two stories
Especially the wrong door was awesome
Especially the wrong door was awesome
April 15, 2020
Lovely short stories. My favourite was the first one - The Anniversary. A nice collection of three stories. 4☆
May 4, 2020
3 wonderful stories. Sigh 😊🥰
October 27, 2017
I must confess here to being an erstwhile fan of Mary Balogh and in recent years have become less enchanted with her work. Yes, I've said it! Condemn me if you must. Having said that, however, I also have to say it only takes me a re-read of SLIGHTLY DANGEROUS or THE SECRET PEARL to remember how much I have loved her work. And this newly-released collection of 3 out-of-print novellas about rakes ("The Anniversary" from 1994, "The Wrong Door" from 1993, and "Precious Rogue" from 1995) is another example of what I like about her writing.
Now, I do not believe that confirmed rakes can be reformed with just the love of a good woman. I think most would also need years of work with a competent psychiatrist or psychologist, but I still read all the fairy-tale rake stories from HR authors who write such good entertainment that I buy in to the idea for at least the duration of the read. Authors such as Edith Layton, Mary Balogh, of course, Loretta Chase, Jayne Fresina, give us horndog heroes that are so well-written that we must, must believe in their redemption. That's the case in this Balogh novella collection.
Story #1, "The Anniversary", does not, IMO, have its emphasis on the rakishness of the hero. To me it's more a story of Failure to Communicate. Yes, the hero has been a rake. He even seduces and "ruins" the heroine at a masked Valentine's Day ball. She falls pregnant. They get married. He leaves her at his country estate on the wedding day and visits sporadically (no sex and little conversation during the visits) until the birth of their son. The baby is now 3 months old and the husband comes for a visit just as Valentine's Day is upon them again. Finally it will be time for them to open up about their thoughts and feelings. There's good writing here and a lovely resolution. I do feel, of course, that that whole horrendous year they spent apart both physically and emotionally would have been unnecessary with a good conversation on their wedding day, but then we wouldn't have the story, would we? BTW, lots of poignant moments and "feels" here.
The second story, "The Wrong Door", is less poignant and more entertaining and lighthearted. At a house party, our rakish hero has an assignation with a lusty female guest but ends up in the wrong room, slips naked into bed with our innocent heroine, and the story is off and running. This one was fun and I loved the spunky heroine.
The third story, "Precious Rogue", is my least favorite, although it was full of "feels" with regard to the put-upon, plain heroine, who has been living as an unpaid servant in her aunt's household since the death of her vicar father. Why it's my least favorite has to do with the very charming hero who, IMO, is pictured as just too disgustingly rakish for my taste. For example, he has quickie sex in his room in the morning with a willing maid and more leisurely nightly sex with willing, lusty females at the house party he's attending at the home of the heroine's aunt. It is believed that he will be offering marriage to the heroine's cousin at this house party. The characters in this one, especially the aunt and cousin of the heroine and several of the lusty female guests, are caricatures, but it's still a good read because of our Cinderella heroine, who is full of "p*ss and vinegar" around the hero. I loved the H-h interactions while not loving the H's actions with all the women at the party.
All in all, this is the best recent reprint of old Balogh work that I've read in a while.
Now, I do not believe that confirmed rakes can be reformed with just the love of a good woman. I think most would also need years of work with a competent psychiatrist or psychologist, but I still read all the fairy-tale rake stories from HR authors who write such good entertainment that I buy in to the idea for at least the duration of the read. Authors such as Edith Layton, Mary Balogh, of course, Loretta Chase, Jayne Fresina, give us horndog heroes that are so well-written that we must, must believe in their redemption. That's the case in this Balogh novella collection.
Story #1, "The Anniversary", does not, IMO, have its emphasis on the rakishness of the hero. To me it's more a story of Failure to Communicate. Yes, the hero has been a rake. He even seduces and "ruins" the heroine at a masked Valentine's Day ball. She falls pregnant. They get married. He leaves her at his country estate on the wedding day and visits sporadically (no sex and little conversation during the visits) until the birth of their son. The baby is now 3 months old and the husband comes for a visit just as Valentine's Day is upon them again. Finally it will be time for them to open up about their thoughts and feelings. There's good writing here and a lovely resolution. I do feel, of course, that that whole horrendous year they spent apart both physically and emotionally would have been unnecessary with a good conversation on their wedding day, but then we wouldn't have the story, would we? BTW, lots of poignant moments and "feels" here.
The second story, "The Wrong Door", is less poignant and more entertaining and lighthearted. At a house party, our rakish hero has an assignation with a lusty female guest but ends up in the wrong room, slips naked into bed with our innocent heroine, and the story is off and running. This one was fun and I loved the spunky heroine.
The third story, "Precious Rogue", is my least favorite, although it was full of "feels" with regard to the put-upon, plain heroine, who has been living as an unpaid servant in her aunt's household since the death of her vicar father. Why it's my least favorite has to do with the very charming hero who, IMO, is pictured as just too disgustingly rakish for my taste. For example, he has quickie sex in his room in the morning with a willing maid and more leisurely nightly sex with willing, lusty females at the house party he's attending at the home of the heroine's aunt. It is believed that he will be offering marriage to the heroine's cousin at this house party. The characters in this one, especially the aunt and cousin of the heroine and several of the lusty female guests, are caricatures, but it's still a good read because of our Cinderella heroine, who is full of "p*ss and vinegar" around the hero. I loved the H-h interactions while not loving the H's actions with all the women at the party.
All in all, this is the best recent reprint of old Balogh work that I've read in a while.
November 16, 2019
"The Anniversary"
This short story is interesting in some ways, but not particularly romantic or enjoyable for me. The MCs married after a drunken sexual encounter resulted in a pregnancy. They're both in love but do not realize it, because she thought he married her only because he ruined her and no other reason, and he thinks she hates him for raping her. To be clear, he believes he raped her because of the dubious consent issues of her intoxication, which really stands out as I've never seen a reference like that in historical romance before. This sort of failure to communicate romance plot isn't my thing, and I didn't feel any sort of real connection between them either.
"The Wrong Door"
A rake accidentally enters the wrong bedroom at a house party and ends up tenuously betrothed to the young lady he found there. He challenges her to a bet that he can make her fall in love with him in just one day, and she turns the tables on him. They proceed to have a fun, silly day. It's certainly not enough time to truly sell the concept, but I did like the basic plot and think they had good chemistry.
Precious Rogue
This one really didn't work for me, though it was a quick and decent enough read. The problem here is that Balogh makes the rogue way too much of a rake. He meets the heroine and continues having affairs with several women at the house party, but I'm supposed to believe he's fallen in love and will change his ways? I don't think so. Too bad because I quite like the heroine.
This short story is interesting in some ways, but not particularly romantic or enjoyable for me. The MCs married after a drunken sexual encounter resulted in a pregnancy. They're both in love but do not realize it, because she thought he married her only because he ruined her and no other reason, and he thinks she hates him for raping her. To be clear, he believes he raped her because of the dubious consent issues of her intoxication, which really stands out as I've never seen a reference like that in historical romance before. This sort of failure to communicate romance plot isn't my thing, and I didn't feel any sort of real connection between them either.
"The Wrong Door"
A rake accidentally enters the wrong bedroom at a house party and ends up tenuously betrothed to the young lady he found there. He challenges her to a bet that he can make her fall in love with him in just one day, and she turns the tables on him. They proceed to have a fun, silly day. It's certainly not enough time to truly sell the concept, but I did like the basic plot and think they had good chemistry.
Precious Rogue
This one really didn't work for me, though it was a quick and decent enough read. The problem here is that Balogh makes the rogue way too much of a rake. He meets the heroine and continues having affairs with several women at the house party, but I'm supposed to believe he's fallen in love and will change his ways? I don't think so. Too bad because I quite like the heroine.
May 13, 2017
Ok, I admit it was strange to read a romance story where the hero was convinced he was a rapist, and the heroine hated the hero because she didn't know why he was avoiding her. This would not have worked as a novel, but Balogh was able to pull it off over a novella's length.
The second novella was my favourite because it was all about the chase.
The third didn't do it for me.
The second novella was my favourite because it was all about the chase.
The third didn't do it for me.
June 10, 2019
The Anniversary: 3 stars
The Wrong Door: 3 stars
Precious Rogue: 1 star
The Wrong Door: 3 stars
Precious Rogue: 1 star
November 25, 2017
"In medias race" applies in storytelling, but even more imperatively in short stories or novellas, due to the restrictive nature of the writing's length. Balogh manages to turn this to her advantage, without too much dissonance, in these three stories.
Spoilers ahead!
The Anniversary
At first I was not terribly invested in this story. But the "marriage of convenience" being such a much-used plot device in romance novels, it was intriguing to see what one such alliance might look like. The story seemed to be about coming into alignment - a disrupted love story, where the characters must chose to accept and ascend the mistakes of the past, in order to build a future worth having. It made me think it would be interesting to read some of the other romances, where truly, strangers in an arranged marriage must learn to care about each other. The existence of the infant, and the desire to see the family brought together, was a deeper motivation for me as a reader, than the couple's love story.
The Wrong Door
This one certainly made me laugh, although it felt a tad truncated. It was the one story out of the three that I wanted to see with a longer timeframe. The bet took place with far too short a limitation for my brain and emotions. However, it did bring into focus something that romance novels often miss - to love someone, it is best to start by "liking" that person.
Precious Rogue
She pulled out the stops with this one - it was the story that was most engaging for me. Although I found the hero's behavior pretty appalling, especially after he had started to care for the heroine, it did seem likely that a rake wouldn't immediately "change his tune" simply because his mind and heart were becoming entwined with just one person. And Balogh makes no bones about that fact that he's not generally a kind or considerate man. But the time-frame was of a good length to build the lovers' story, without feeling jarringly sudden. And, thankfully, while the heroine has a large amount of pathos in her life, Balogh gave her wit, courage, and pragmatism - a very nice antidote to keep her from being *actually* pathetic. I could see some of the literary influence for the story (the satisfaction of seeing everyone's jaw drop at the denouement is not wholly unlike that of Jane Austen's Persuasion), but that didn't detract from the enjoyment or vicarious satisfaction of the story's conclusion.
Spoilers ahead!
The Anniversary
At first I was not terribly invested in this story. But the "marriage of convenience" being such a much-used plot device in romance novels, it was intriguing to see what one such alliance might look like. The story seemed to be about coming into alignment - a disrupted love story, where the characters must chose to accept and ascend the mistakes of the past, in order to build a future worth having. It made me think it would be interesting to read some of the other romances, where truly, strangers in an arranged marriage must learn to care about each other. The existence of the infant, and the desire to see the family brought together, was a deeper motivation for me as a reader, than the couple's love story.
The Wrong Door
This one certainly made me laugh, although it felt a tad truncated. It was the one story out of the three that I wanted to see with a longer timeframe. The bet took place with far too short a limitation for my brain and emotions. However, it did bring into focus something that romance novels often miss - to love someone, it is best to start by "liking" that person.
Precious Rogue
She pulled out the stops with this one - it was the story that was most engaging for me. Although I found the hero's behavior pretty appalling, especially after he had started to care for the heroine, it did seem likely that a rake wouldn't immediately "change his tune" simply because his mind and heart were becoming entwined with just one person. And Balogh makes no bones about that fact that he's not generally a kind or considerate man. But the time-frame was of a good length to build the lovers' story, without feeling jarringly sudden. And, thankfully, while the heroine has a large amount of pathos in her life, Balogh gave her wit, courage, and pragmatism - a very nice antidote to keep her from being *actually* pathetic. I could see some of the literary influence for the story (the satisfaction of seeing everyone's jaw drop at the denouement is not wholly unlike that of Jane Austen's Persuasion), but that didn't detract from the enjoyment or vicarious satisfaction of the story's conclusion.
March 15, 2025
As with the other novella collections from this line of e-books, all of these works were previously novellas in anthologies that included various works from other authors, but those anthologies are now out of print. The unifying theme on this particular entry in Balogh's works is that of rogues getting romantic entanglements against their will. In truth, this is 80% of Balogh's bibliography anyway so there's not much to say about this collection. I will say that despite being rogues (which are considered worse than rakes by the ton), the heroes are generally likeable in all three of these stories.
"The Anniversary" is probably my least favorite of the three. I just didn't care much about either of the leads and I'm not sure they'd really have as happy of an ending as they got. I also feel like it could have been part of the anthology set that all took place on Valentine's Day, but for some reason Balogh just pretended that it was common in England for mid-February to feel like Spring and her publishing company put it with this set instead. Pretty weird.
"The Wrong Door" was my favorite entry. The hero is not as likeable in the beginning on this one, but the situation that kickstarts everything is so funny that you can't help but forgive him for it anyway. But I liked the premise on this one a lot. It's a typical "Let's make a bet that we won't fall in love with each other" deal that backfires spectacularly, but they seem to genuinely enjoy each other's company as time goes on and I found their moments together over this 24 hour period to very engaging (and even steamy at times.)
"Precious Rogue" I enjoyed, but I hate the title and I hate that the heroine calls the hero that as a pet name. Just...gag me. But this heroine as a Fanny Price style upbringing, but no Edmund in her household to make it tolerable. (Sorry for the Mansfield Park reference, but it was all I could think about as I read this one.) I'm glad she and the hero get their moment of revenge against her detestable relatives.
Nothing original in any of these stories, but all are enjoyable nonetheless.
"The Anniversary" is probably my least favorite of the three. I just didn't care much about either of the leads and I'm not sure they'd really have as happy of an ending as they got. I also feel like it could have been part of the anthology set that all took place on Valentine's Day, but for some reason Balogh just pretended that it was common in England for mid-February to feel like Spring and her publishing company put it with this set instead. Pretty weird.
"The Wrong Door" was my favorite entry. The hero is not as likeable in the beginning on this one, but the situation that kickstarts everything is so funny that you can't help but forgive him for it anyway. But I liked the premise on this one a lot. It's a typical "Let's make a bet that we won't fall in love with each other" deal that backfires spectacularly, but they seem to genuinely enjoy each other's company as time goes on and I found their moments together over this 24 hour period to very engaging (and even steamy at times.)
"Precious Rogue" I enjoyed, but I hate the title and I hate that the heroine calls the hero that as a pet name. Just...gag me. But this heroine as a Fanny Price style upbringing, but no Edmund in her household to make it tolerable. (Sorry for the Mansfield Park reference, but it was all I could think about as I read this one.) I'm glad she and the hero get their moment of revenge against her detestable relatives.
Nothing original in any of these stories, but all are enjoyable nonetheless.
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May 7, 2022The Anniversary, I was on good terms with in the beginning. I suppose the squicky dynamics of experienced, degenerate rake and sweet, unblemished ingenue defeated me. Beneath the tropes, both display different aspects of their immaturity. He ran off after making a bun in her oven, was distant when he did come back (out of guilt and fear of rejection) and left her to deal with everything. Ugh. She was trapped into an initially loveless marriage due to indiscreet behaviour at a certain scandalous soiree. Hmm, question is...would I have enjoyed it more as a full length novel? Perhaps.
The Wrong Door was a snoozefest. After being introduced to our characters and the peculiar one day courtship they go through that he hopes will result in her accepting his second offer of marriage.... Because she doesn't give a hoot about her reputation the first time he offered (and why should she when he barely did anything and they hardly know each other?).
I'd say that A Precious Rogue was the most delightful story of the three. Mary Balogh has flimsy strings to take control of when it comes to novellas and she manages to wrap up her third story tight and well. The hero certainly isn't the most endearing if one objects to their romantic heroes romancing other women. I don't mind. For a while, even the heroine knows of it and doesn't mind as well. Curiously, she doesn't and is ever so resigned to her pitiful lot in life. Fortunately, they have a brief encounter which sparks Something. This Something is why the hero takes a twisty turn at the end of the story, to be with the heroine. Sweetness. Even so, I've realized that novellas aren't for me...unless they are short stories/sequels/prequels of couples from previous full length novels.
The Wrong Door was a snoozefest. After being introduced to our characters and the peculiar one day courtship they go through that he hopes will result in her accepting his second offer of marriage.... Because she doesn't give a hoot about her reputation the first time he offered (and why should she when he barely did anything and they hardly know each other?).
I'd say that A Precious Rogue was the most delightful story of the three. Mary Balogh has flimsy strings to take control of when it comes to novellas and she manages to wrap up her third story tight and well. The hero certainly isn't the most endearing if one objects to their romantic heroes romancing other women. I don't mind. For a while, even the heroine knows of it and doesn't mind as well. Curiously, she doesn't and is ever so resigned to her pitiful lot in life. Fortunately, they have a brief encounter which sparks Something. This Something is why the hero takes a twisty turn at the end of the story, to be with the heroine. Sweetness. Even so, I've realized that novellas aren't for me...unless they are short stories/sequels/prequels of couples from previous full length novels.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2025
I have yet to find a Mary Balogh novel or anthology I didn't like. The Rogue's Downfall consists of three novellas that are, in my book, a delightful way to spend the evening. I read one each night before falling asleep. The Anniversary was good, but if I had to rank them against one another, it would be third. Realising the married couple had not seen one another except for three weeks when their son was born and hadn't slept together since they wed, there was a bit too much of a lack of conversation between them. He was sorrowful, and she expected him to leave at any moment.
The Wrong Door was one I wished had been a novel, I wasn't ready for it to end. Viscount Lyndon was one of those rakes I adored, and our feisty and determined heroine was a delight. A Precious Rogue, what is there not to adore about Mr. Bancroft. An ambitious mama does her thing and attempts to force his hand into offering for his spoilt, haughty, uppity daughter. When he befriends the penniless niece, what begins as friendship, our hero soon finds what he has been looking for without even knowing it. The ending is great and everyone gets what they deserve in the end. Three wonderful novellas by the modern master, Ms. Balogh.
The Wrong Door was one I wished had been a novel, I wasn't ready for it to end. Viscount Lyndon was one of those rakes I adored, and our feisty and determined heroine was a delight. A Precious Rogue, what is there not to adore about Mr. Bancroft. An ambitious mama does her thing and attempts to force his hand into offering for his spoilt, haughty, uppity daughter. When he befriends the penniless niece, what begins as friendship, our hero soon finds what he has been looking for without even knowing it. The ending is great and everyone gets what they deserve in the end. Three wonderful novellas by the modern master, Ms. Balogh.
August 10, 2022
This is an anthology with 3 short stories. Ms Balogh is one of my favorite authors, but for some reason, these stories are not my favorites of her work.
The “heroes” were less than heroic. All 3 of them enjoyed taking advantage of women and then bragging about it. I am aware that my problems with these men is probably not a problem for anyone except me. But, at times I felt as though I wanted to slap each of them.
The heroines were young women who were intelligent. So, I wondered what in the world were they thinking. But, mine is not to reason why….no matter what I hoped for them. They all chose who they wanted. And that is the name of the game...happily ever after or until the end of the story, whichever comes first.
I know that my lack of enthusiasm is just me. Sorry.
The “heroes” were less than heroic. All 3 of them enjoyed taking advantage of women and then bragging about it. I am aware that my problems with these men is probably not a problem for anyone except me. But, at times I felt as though I wanted to slap each of them.
The heroines were young women who were intelligent. So, I wondered what in the world were they thinking. But, mine is not to reason why….no matter what I hoped for them. They all chose who they wanted. And that is the name of the game...happily ever after or until the end of the story, whichever comes first.
I know that my lack of enthusiasm is just me. Sorry.
May 28, 2017
I enjoyed each story in this compilation. even though they were shorter they were long enough to get a feel for characters, background and story.
Each showed a different aspect of a courtship / marriage and I could feel for the H in the first story feeeling guilty and unsure of his hasty marriage, as well as his poor bride clinging to her child as that was all she had had for a year.
The Wrong Door was highly amusing. The third also, though the rogue's bedhopping antics left me hoping he used the Regency form of protection!!
How awful to live in atime when one had to attract a virtual stranger, marry said stranger and make life in a matter of weeks. thoughif you were lucky you might get an extended betrothal.
Each showed a different aspect of a courtship / marriage and I could feel for the H in the first story feeeling guilty and unsure of his hasty marriage, as well as his poor bride clinging to her child as that was all she had had for a year.
The Wrong Door was highly amusing. The third also, though the rogue's bedhopping antics left me hoping he used the Regency form of protection!!
How awful to live in atime when one had to attract a virtual stranger, marry said stranger and make life in a matter of weeks. thoughif you were lucky you might get an extended betrothal.
July 18, 2023
The first of these 3 novellas by my favorite historical romance writer is a huge 5 star read. I loved the story, the characters, everything about it was beautiful!! The second was also good; not a 5 but a solid 4 star, too. However, I did not like the H in this story from beginning to end. I just could not warm up to this guy, who at almost 30 was still bedding any willing woman and seemed quite proud of it. Nope, not for me. Even after Bancroft started having feelings for Patricia, he still carried on with at least 3 other women, two of whom were married….my number one thumbs down for any “romance.”
May 22, 2017
Never a disappointment
First I have to say I have been a fan of this writer for more years than I care to mention I buy her books on my knowledge that she will never disappoint and she has not yet done so. With that said, this book is a must read. I can't decide which of the three shorts stories I like best in this book. All three were wonderfully written. Loved each and every character in this book and look forward to her next book. Thank you Ms. Balough for all the pleasure you have given me of reading your wonderful books.
First I have to say I have been a fan of this writer for more years than I care to mention I buy her books on my knowledge that she will never disappoint and she has not yet done so. With that said, this book is a must read. I can't decide which of the three shorts stories I like best in this book. All three were wonderfully written. Loved each and every character in this book and look forward to her next book. Thank you Ms. Balough for all the pleasure you have given me of reading your wonderful books.
May 31, 2021
Three novellas... here they are ranked in order of my preference:
The Wrong Door (4 stars)
A Precious Rogue (4 stars)
The Anniversary (3 stars)
I almost debated not finishing the book after The Anniversary, not because of the writing, but because of the plot. I’m not a fan of plots built entirely on miscommunication; they’re not bad, they’re just not my cup of tea. But after reading the following two novellas, I can actually see myself working my way through this author’s entire list of works.
The Wrong Door (4 stars)
A Precious Rogue (4 stars)
The Anniversary (3 stars)
I almost debated not finishing the book after The Anniversary, not because of the writing, but because of the plot. I’m not a fan of plots built entirely on miscommunication; they’re not bad, they’re just not my cup of tea. But after reading the following two novellas, I can actually see myself working my way through this author’s entire list of works.
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