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Company of Rogues #3
Christmas Angel
Leander, Lord Charrington has a problem. Raised to be a charming diplomat, women fall in love with him. He, however, seeks a marriage of convenience with a sensible woman with whom he can live on honest terms.
The impoverished widow, Judith Rossiter, Angel Bride of poet Sebastian Rossiter, seems ideal. Still dressing in black, she remains devoted to her dead husband, and she has children to provide for.
Judith Rossiter thanks heaven for the earl's offered escape from disaster. Though her story is not what the earl believes, the terms of his agreement—to not fall in love with him—seem simple enough. Or so she believes on her wedding day . . . .
The impoverished widow, Judith Rossiter, Angel Bride of poet Sebastian Rossiter, seems ideal. Still dressing in black, she remains devoted to her dead husband, and she has children to provide for.
Judith Rossiter thanks heaven for the earl's offered escape from disaster. Though her story is not what the earl believes, the terms of his agreement—to not fall in love with him—seem simple enough. Or so she believes on her wedding day . . . .
356 pages, ebook
First published November 1, 1992
996 people are currently reading
1065 people want to read
About the author
Jo Beverley
140 books1,126 followersMary Josephine Dunn was born 22 September 1947 in Lancashire, England, UK. At the age of eleven she went to an all-girls boarding school, Layton Hill Convent, Blackpool. At sixteen, she wrote her first romance, with a medieval setting, completed in installments in an exercise book. From 1966 to 1970, she obtained a degree in English history from Keele University in Staffordshire, where she met her future husband, Ken Beverley. After graduation, they married on June 24, 1971. She quickly attained a position as a youth employment officer until 1976, working first in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, and then in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire.
In 1976, her scientist husband was invited to do post-doctoral research at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. When her professional qualifications proved not to be usable in the Canadian labour market, she raised their two sons and started to write her first romances.
Moved to Ottawa, in 1985 she became a founding member of the Ottawa Romance Writers’ Association, that her “nurturing community” for the next twelve years. The same year, she completed a regency romance, but it was promptly rejected by a number of publishers, and she settled more earnestly to learning the craft. In 1988, it sold to Walker, and was published as "Lord Wraybourne's Betrothed". She regularly appears on bestseller lists including the USA Today overall bestseller list, the New York Times, and and the Publishers Weekly list. She has been the recipient of numerous awards including the Golden Leaf, the Award of Excellence, the National Readers Choice, and a two Career Achievement awards from Romantic Times. She is also a five time winner of the RITA, the top award of the Romance Writers Of America, and a member of their Hall of Fame and Honor Roll.
Jo Beverley passed away on May 23, 2016 after a long battle with cancer.
In 1976, her scientist husband was invited to do post-doctoral research at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. When her professional qualifications proved not to be usable in the Canadian labour market, she raised their two sons and started to write her first romances.
Moved to Ottawa, in 1985 she became a founding member of the Ottawa Romance Writers’ Association, that her “nurturing community” for the next twelve years. The same year, she completed a regency romance, but it was promptly rejected by a number of publishers, and she settled more earnestly to learning the craft. In 1988, it sold to Walker, and was published as "Lord Wraybourne's Betrothed". She regularly appears on bestseller lists including the USA Today overall bestseller list, the New York Times, and and the Publishers Weekly list. She has been the recipient of numerous awards including the Golden Leaf, the Award of Excellence, the National Readers Choice, and a two Career Achievement awards from Romantic Times. She is also a five time winner of the RITA, the top award of the Romance Writers Of America, and a member of their Hall of Fame and Honor Roll.
Jo Beverley passed away on May 23, 2016 after a long battle with cancer.
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October 28, 2012
Leander, Earl of Charrington, has huge problems. Every woman he meets is madly in love with him.
Thing is, he's bummed about it since what wants is a loveless marriage.
Judith Rossiter is the widow of a popular poet, who slept in curlers (yes he did)
…and wrote all his odes to her, including the perennial favorite, Angel Bride. She scrapes by with her young son and daughter, as her husband’s annuity ended with his death. It’s only the small charity sent by her brother-in-law that keeps the wolves from the door.
Judith is known as the Weeping Widow, because she’s never stopped wearing black (mostly because she can’t afford new clothes). Leander hears about her from Lucien, Marquess of Arden, and his wife Beth, and thinks that a woman who's still grieving her dead hubby might just be the loveless wife he wants. So he goes to have a look.
He likes what he sees, so after a two-second conversation, he proposes.
She reacts favorably.
Ah, the perfect woman. But Lee is relentless and eventually she succumbs to his blandishments (whatever that means).
The happy new family sets out for Temple Knollis, Leander’s primary estate.
The
And when they meet his cousin, who claims he's fleeing the Temple, which is stricken with
The new family diverts to London, where the kidlets explore the town, and Lee does some digging into this newest mystery. Judith uses the time to buy some non-black gowns and settle up her husband's debts with his publisher.
That's when things get spooky.
Judith sees her dead husband's ghost—and he looks pissed. And someone gives the kids some poisoned candy, when they aren't trying to push the boy off a bridge.
Which sets off a string of mistaken assumptions, a mystery that isn't all that hard to figure out, and a lot of "I love him but I can't tell him because he wants a loveless marriage"/"I love her but I can't tell her because she still loves her dead ex hubby" angst which got on my nerves a bit. It all happens around the holiday season so there's talk woven in about family Christmas traditions, etc. Hence the title.
Another "not her best work" book, IMO. But three stars.
Best line: "Why are you scowling at the pudding, mama?"
May 28, 2022
Judith Rossier, nicknamed the "Weeping Widow", is doing her best as a destitute mother of two children when Leander Knollis, Earl of Charrington, rolls into the village and proposes marriage. His caveat: she can't fall in love with him, which obviously won't be a problem since she's still weeping over the dead husband or whatever.
EXCEPT (oh no!) she has a secret: she fell out of love with her first husband YEARS ago, whoops? So they get married and descend into something of a dramatic farce: attempts on the children's lives, the angst-ridden confession about Leander's home, lots of deferred sex, and oh yeah also FEELINGS.
1. It's not really a mistake, but I need to acknowledge having read this immediately after The Viscount Needs a Wife because they are somewhat similar: rich hero proposes marriage to desperate woman and they bond over the course of road-trips, strife, and dramatic angst. The icing on these cakes is slightly different (Judith has children; she and Leander keep getting cock-blocked; Judith wasn't too into her dead husband; Leander's secrets aren't like treason fodder; etc.) but it was certainly interesting seeing what wells Beverley returned to with that later book, and what changed and what didn't.
2. I did enjoy this, but not quite as much as the other, I think? Upon reflection my reasoning isn't holding up very well, so bear with me, but:
There is very little Leander introspection in this: there's a chapter or two at the beginning and a smattering of boner-based inserts while he lusts from afar and then a final chapter or two to capture his change in feelings. And it all felt too slight. I think this is partially because how he treats Judith doesn't really change, or does not change enough to effectively communicate the alleged emotional transformation he's undergoing. So when we finally get the "Oh is this love?" moment, it feels ... out of place and sudden and a bit ungrounded.
3. Judith was a pretty decent heroine?
4. The entire Situation with Temple Knollis was kind of funny / wah-wah: it's set up as this looming specter that destroys families and ruins lives and it's really just a .... big ass house. Womp womp. I mean, I appreciate it, but it was also kind of funny when contrasted against the attempted murder alternate plot.
5. I really don't have much to add other then: it's fine! I did not want to light anything on fire after I finished! Yay!
EXCEPT (oh no!) she has a secret: she fell out of love with her first husband YEARS ago, whoops? So they get married and descend into something of a dramatic farce: attempts on the children's lives, the angst-ridden confession about Leander's home, lots of deferred sex, and oh yeah also FEELINGS.
1. It's not really a mistake, but I need to acknowledge having read this immediately after The Viscount Needs a Wife because they are somewhat similar: rich hero proposes marriage to desperate woman and they bond over the course of road-trips, strife, and dramatic angst. The icing on these cakes is slightly different (Judith has children; she and Leander keep getting cock-blocked; Judith wasn't too into her dead husband; Leander's secrets aren't like treason fodder; etc.) but it was certainly interesting seeing what wells Beverley returned to with that later book, and what changed and what didn't.
2. I did enjoy this, but not quite as much as the other, I think? Upon reflection my reasoning isn't holding up very well, so bear with me, but:
There is very little Leander introspection in this: there's a chapter or two at the beginning and a smattering of boner-based inserts while he lusts from afar and then a final chapter or two to capture his change in feelings. And it all felt too slight. I think this is partially because how he treats Judith doesn't really change, or does not change enough to effectively communicate the alleged emotional transformation he's undergoing. So when we finally get the "Oh is this love?" moment, it feels ... out of place and sudden and a bit ungrounded.
3. Judith was a pretty decent heroine?
4. The entire Situation with Temple Knollis was kind of funny / wah-wah: it's set up as this looming specter that destroys families and ruins lives and it's really just a .... big ass house. Womp womp. I mean, I appreciate it, but it was also kind of funny when contrasted against the attempted murder alternate plot.
5. I really don't have much to add other then: it's fine! I did not want to light anything on fire after I finished! Yay!
June 27, 2016
I was resigned to this series taking its time to get any good. So I was pleasantly surprised when this one broke the mediocre trend. Unfortunately, you'll still want the background from the first two stories. That or simply put up with the dissatisfaction of not having the background for key characters.
Anyway, Leander and Judith are finally protagonists I could engage with wholly. They're caring and intriguing and have strengths that shore one another up and support a relationship I was interested in from the start. I was a bit worried about Leader's broken idea of love and marriage (built from seeing it done wrong with his parents). That kind of thing can be flogged to death and become very tedious, but I don't think it was here. Oh, it's present and a significant part of what he has to overcome, but he doesn't belabor things and is able to learn from the great examples around him that his parents aren't the only (let alone best) example of love and family.
I do admit to getting a little tired of the harping on the imbalance of marriage in the Regency period. Yes, we get it. It sucked for women who had zero power both legal or social. It's a good point and one that bears examination and exploration. But so far, it's all terribly one-note with each story making the same point over and over with very little variation. Which is fine except that its all expressed in very modern terms and seems more and more anachronistic the more monotone it becomes. If you're going to make a point by contrast, I can't help thinking it'd be more useful (and more interesting) to illustrate variations around the theme and show the spectrum of attitudes and the things that make the difference between healthy and unhealthy attitudes towards the institution of marriage.
But I digress.
The thing that made all the difference between this and the others is that the plot didn't undermine the main characters. It wasn't a fantastic plot (most of the developments were well telegraphed with no real surprises), but it was serviceable and served to give a framework for Judith and Lee to work out their relationship. So this was a solid three plus stars through most of the story. As is a pattern in later Beverley novels, it was the ending that pushed me to round to four stars. That moment of shared epiphany where trust and love are acknowledged is a powerful moment if orchestrated right and Beverley delivers in spades. I really hope this bodes well for the rest of the series and can finally say I look forward to continuing (as opposed to saying I look forward to it getting to the quality I know Beverley is capable of producing).
A note about Steamy: There are only two explicit sex scenes, so this is the middle of my steam tolerance. I actually really liked how this was handled and the mismatch between expectation and reality—particularly that everything wasn't all wine and orgasms from the start as Judith has to rethink expectations built by her marriage to the poetical, but essentially detached, Sebastian.
Anyway, Leander and Judith are finally protagonists I could engage with wholly. They're caring and intriguing and have strengths that shore one another up and support a relationship I was interested in from the start. I was a bit worried about Leader's broken idea of love and marriage (built from seeing it done wrong with his parents). That kind of thing can be flogged to death and become very tedious, but I don't think it was here. Oh, it's present and a significant part of what he has to overcome, but he doesn't belabor things and is able to learn from the great examples around him that his parents aren't the only (let alone best) example of love and family.
I do admit to getting a little tired of the harping on the imbalance of marriage in the Regency period. Yes, we get it. It sucked for women who had zero power both legal or social. It's a good point and one that bears examination and exploration. But so far, it's all terribly one-note with each story making the same point over and over with very little variation. Which is fine except that its all expressed in very modern terms and seems more and more anachronistic the more monotone it becomes. If you're going to make a point by contrast, I can't help thinking it'd be more useful (and more interesting) to illustrate variations around the theme and show the spectrum of attitudes and the things that make the difference between healthy and unhealthy attitudes towards the institution of marriage.
But I digress.
The thing that made all the difference between this and the others is that the plot didn't undermine the main characters. It wasn't a fantastic plot (most of the developments were well telegraphed with no real surprises), but it was serviceable and served to give a framework for Judith and Lee to work out their relationship. So this was a solid three plus stars through most of the story. As is a pattern in later Beverley novels, it was the ending that pushed me to round to four stars. That moment of shared epiphany where trust and love are acknowledged is a powerful moment if orchestrated right and Beverley delivers in spades. I really hope this bodes well for the rest of the series and can finally say I look forward to continuing (as opposed to saying I look forward to it getting to the quality I know Beverley is capable of producing).
A note about Steamy: There are only two explicit sex scenes, so this is the middle of my steam tolerance. I actually really liked how this was handled and the mismatch between expectation and reality—particularly that everything wasn't all wine and orgasms from the start as Judith has to rethink expectations built by her marriage to the poetical, but essentially detached, Sebastian.
January 8, 2019
Hmmm lets see...
A mildly tormented, Love-is-overrated alpha H who comes around nicely - Check
A widowed Mrs. Robinson h, almost beyond even genteel poverty - Check.
Cute, mostly biddable kids (with other people) - Check.
Head-on collision with a moc - Check.
Mild, very mild suspense - Check.
Inevitable falling in love but let's fight it. - Check.
Sweetness overload - Check.
Good chemistry - Check.
Likeable mcs - Check.
But still a big yawn - Check!
What's lacking?
A tighter, shorter story.
The poppets are cute but do they have to be always, always underfoot?
The sexual tension is twanging but this or that or something or everything keeps intruding. After a late and sketchy consummation, we have another pause. I cannot imagine a 25 years old bridegroom having the restraint of a much sedater gentleman.
Many more minor irritants and brow-raisers but let's not blame them.
This apt and lovely review says it better! https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A mildly tormented, Love-is-overrated alpha H who comes around nicely - Check
A widowed Mrs. Robinson h, almost beyond even genteel poverty - Check.
Cute, mostly biddable kids (with other people) - Check.
Head-on collision with a moc - Check.
Mild, very mild suspense - Check.
Inevitable falling in love but let's fight it. - Check.
Sweetness overload - Check.
Good chemistry - Check.
Likeable mcs - Check.
But still a big yawn - Check!
What's lacking?
A tighter, shorter story.
The poppets are cute but do they have to be always, always underfoot?
The sexual tension is twanging but this or that or something or everything keeps intruding. After a late and sketchy consummation, we have another pause. I cannot imagine a 25 years old bridegroom having the restraint of a much sedater gentleman.
Many more minor irritants and brow-raisers but let's not blame them.
This apt and lovely review says it better! https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
January 24, 2016
Leander, the Earl of Charrington want to marry quickly and start a family but he wants a wife who will not fall in love with him as all the young debutante's do. He chooses Judith Rossiter, the Weeping Widow who is said to deeply mourn her poet husband and is unlikely to therefore fall in love with him. What he doesn't know is she hasn't loved her husband since they were first married and she is in a bad way monetarily and has no choice but to marry him for his money and the opportunities it will provide her two children.
I really enjoyed this third book of the Rogue's series which gives me hope for the rest of them. I love that though we know Judith's heart we are kept guessing about Leander. I really loved him as the hero, he was playful yet serious and kind but stern when he needed to be. Also there wasn't much focus on his hot looks but more on his personality and charm which is sometimes lacking in other period books I've been reading lately. Judith is a fierce lioness and is also complicated and lovely.
I really enjoyed this third book of the Rogue's series which gives me hope for the rest of them. I love that though we know Judith's heart we are kept guessing about Leander. I really loved him as the hero, he was playful yet serious and kind but stern when he needed to be. Also there wasn't much focus on his hot looks but more on his personality and charm which is sometimes lacking in other period books I've been reading lately. Judith is a fierce lioness and is also complicated and lovely.
December 18, 2017
This is an atypical Regency romance for Beverley or so I've read. I was really happy to find that the whole woman as possession was tone down to a whisper in this book. Both Leander and Judith are longing for a marriage based on honesty, friendship and the desire to make a home. Judith has been nicknamed the Weeping Widow by the villagers, Leander is looking to marry without the foolish emotion of love and wants friendship and a solid honest relationship instead. He finds a ready made family with Judith and her two children. No real villains in this story, just two persons learning to love each other without realizing it. I found it an agreeable read, something like a nice cup of tea with with your favorite cookies on a Sunday afternoon.
January 1, 2020
I feel like in the re-read this series is getting better as it goes. I liked this story of Leander, ready to settle down and take up his lordship, but not wanting the romance of a love story and finding a wife. And Judith, a widow with two kids, everyone in the world is sure is the survivor of the greatest love story of them all. Her previous husband was a poet whose romantic poetry always revolved around his lovely wife. Leander and Judith knew nothing of one another and were set to make a marriage of convenience. Feelings were never supposed to enter into the situation.
I enjoyed Leander and Judith fighting their own feelings thinking they'd be unwelcome by the other. They really had a lot to learn about one another and it took time. I enjoyed Judith's children as well. I liked that they weren't perfect and made mistakes, but were still good hearted at their core. Leander's joy in them was sweet to see as well. This is a cute Christmas story with just a little mystery to make things interesting.
I enjoyed Leander and Judith fighting their own feelings thinking they'd be unwelcome by the other. They really had a lot to learn about one another and it took time. I enjoyed Judith's children as well. I liked that they weren't perfect and made mistakes, but were still good hearted at their core. Leander's joy in them was sweet to see as well. This is a cute Christmas story with just a little mystery to make things interesting.
June 12, 2021
Taking on a ready-made family may have seemed a good idea, but Judith Rossiter and her children come with more baggage than Lord Charrington bargained for. I found this romance intriguing and it held my interest from start to finish, as the unusual couple tries to find common ground in their marriage. Judith has trust issues and Leander cannot help but manage people and situations. Although they both agree that love has no part in their future, inevitably when danger strikes and Leander rushes in to protect his new family, feelings are aroused. The story is well written and is a standalone with the children bringing moments of hilarity and unexpected humor. I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily post this review. This is my honest review.
September 18, 2017
leído en Junio 2010
November 13, 2013
I seem to be averaging two romances a month. My mom would be horrified. She does not read for escape, she reads for learning, for improving her mind. Mostly, I am over her condemnation of my reading habits, because I know that there is only so much reading time left. I have decided life is too short to read only for improving my mind. I want to enjoy what I am reading and there are fewer calories in romance books than in a box of chocolates.
I read some of Jo Beverley's books before I started keeping track on this website. I like her writing style, her characters and the way she links this series together with the male characters. All in all, this was a fun read.
I read some of Jo Beverley's books before I started keeping track on this website. I like her writing style, her characters and the way she links this series together with the male characters. All in all, this was a fun read.
October 8, 2022
Two prickly lead characters reduced my rating. The H was an incomplete person to me and the h was took offence at every slight. Fortunately they persist and overcome some dangerous situations. The children didn't make things easy for them. Once they had more time together, their relationship improved. Such a prickly couple, overwrought story and for me the pacing wasn't right.
April 26, 2024
I made it to chapter 15. I found the heroine's kids to be very annoying and the heroine as well.
December 31, 2016
I actually liked this book I had not read any of the other books before in the series, but it is easy to understand, and catch up. Leander, is an Earl that does not want to marry for love, so he chooses a widow who is a lady with two children. Judith has fallen on hard times since her husband, a self acclaimed poet of only one book passed away. When she meets Leander she cannot be sure he is not playing a prank. Leander likes the idea of having children brought to the marriage, since his home is so large, empty, and holds very few loving memories. I like the way that Leander is kind to the children, and that he and Judith work at the arranged marriage. So many of these books talk about how little options ladies had in that time period. Would it be so different for a widow now left with no insurance, and two children? It would still be a challenge , and many would turn to remarriage. Especially if the gentleman was kind and cared for you and your children. Several steamy scenes. Not over done. Four stars.
October 3, 2015
I love the League of Rogues series. This is the 3rd one -- Leander Hollis, Earl of Charrington.
He was brought up as an only child in a household where his mother desperately loved his father, but his father had no interest in her. His father was an exceptionally selfish and self-absorbed man. Leander saw how much this hurt his mother and decided he was like his father (in that he couldn't love) so, he would only marry a woman who wouldn't fall in love with him.
He thinks he's found her -- the Weeping Widow -- the widow of a famous romantic poet. She's in dire straits financially and has two children to support. So, when Leander proposes marriage and tells her the reason he's asked her is because he knows she can't fall in love with him because she's still grieving for her first husband.
Add in his suspicions about his family and the fact that someone is trying to murder her son and you have the makings for a wonderful story of discovery and love.
He was brought up as an only child in a household where his mother desperately loved his father, but his father had no interest in her. His father was an exceptionally selfish and self-absorbed man. Leander saw how much this hurt his mother and decided he was like his father (in that he couldn't love) so, he would only marry a woman who wouldn't fall in love with him.
He thinks he's found her -- the Weeping Widow -- the widow of a famous romantic poet. She's in dire straits financially and has two children to support. So, when Leander proposes marriage and tells her the reason he's asked her is because he knows she can't fall in love with him because she's still grieving for her first husband.
Add in his suspicions about his family and the fact that someone is trying to murder her son and you have the makings for a wonderful story of discovery and love.
February 8, 2014
Author: Jo Beverley
First published: 1992
Length: 4792 locations, 351 pages
Setting: England, 1815
Sex: Not frequent. Explicit but not raunchy.
Hero: Diplomat, soldier. Returning to an England he doesn't know. Wants to put down roots. 25 years old.
Heroine: Widow with two children. Married at 16. Not a comfortable marriage, but not abusive. Poor. 29 years old.
Series: Book 3
Includes: Excerpts from Forbidden and Dangerous Joy by Jo Beverley.
A book about grief and second chances. About parenting. And about Love - accepting and giving.
Overall, it's another solid Regency from Beverley. Like Books 1 and 2, it isn't the easiest book. The characters aren't as appealing as one would expect of the genre. And the story is a bot of a mishmash. It works... mostly.
I find myself wanting to read the series, but not exactly enjoying them. There are some odd concepts and Beverley seems to be promoting some personal crusades - partly as character motivation, partly as "this was how it was during Regency period" but I am also thinking they may be her personal opinions.
An example. In "Christmas Angel", Beverley spent many paragraphs expounding on corporal punishment and it's value in turning boys into men. A reader could take this two ways: changing times and opinions, particularly with society's changing views on the role of woman and wife, made the discipline and expectation of youth an important turning point, or Beverley feels society has lost something (control? discipline? responsibility?) in removing corporal punishment from homes and schools. In terms of character motivation, the punishment and discipline of Judith's son was critical in the two recognising a need for partnership, but also Judith denouncing her role as sole carer and Bastian moving forward into a male dominated, sometimes brutal society.
Ultimately, what I am finding with Beverley's "Company of Rogues" are how thoughtful they are. I may not agree with them - and find myself cranky with characters and author - but they stay with me. Beverley puts forward some challenging viewpoints. Not particularly subtly, but they are there.
There's something to be gained in that.
From the World of The Company of Rogues:
An Arranged Marriage - Nicholas Delaney
An Unwilling Bride - Lucien de Vaux, Marquess of Arden
Christmas Angel - Leander Knollis, Earl of Charrington
Forbidden - Francis Haile, Lord Middlethorpe
Dangerous Joy - Miles Cavanagh
The Dragon's Bride - Con Somerford, Viscount Amleigh
The Devil's Heiress - Clarissa Greystone
"The Demon's Mistress' in In Praise of Younger Men - Lord Vandeimen
Hazard - Lady Anne Peckworth and Race de Vere
St. Raven - Tristan Tregallows, Duke of St. Raven
Skylark - Sir Stephen Ball
The Rogue's Return - Simon St. Bride
To Rescue A Rogue - Lord Darius Debenham (also Major Hal Beaumont)
Lady Beware - Lady Thea Debenham and Viscount Darien
A Shocking Delight - David Kerslake
References:
Author's website: http://www.jobev.com/rogues.html
(ISBN 978-1-61417-447-9)
-CR-
First published: 1992
Length: 4792 locations, 351 pages
Setting: England, 1815
Sex: Not frequent. Explicit but not raunchy.
Hero: Diplomat, soldier. Returning to an England he doesn't know. Wants to put down roots. 25 years old.
Heroine: Widow with two children. Married at 16. Not a comfortable marriage, but not abusive. Poor. 29 years old.
Series: Book 3
Includes: Excerpts from Forbidden and Dangerous Joy by Jo Beverley.
A book about grief and second chances. About parenting. And about Love - accepting and giving.
Overall, it's another solid Regency from Beverley. Like Books 1 and 2, it isn't the easiest book. The characters aren't as appealing as one would expect of the genre. And the story is a bot of a mishmash. It works... mostly.
I find myself wanting to read the series, but not exactly enjoying them. There are some odd concepts and Beverley seems to be promoting some personal crusades - partly as character motivation, partly as "this was how it was during Regency period" but I am also thinking they may be her personal opinions.
An example. In "Christmas Angel", Beverley spent many paragraphs expounding on corporal punishment and it's value in turning boys into men. A reader could take this two ways: changing times and opinions, particularly with society's changing views on the role of woman and wife, made the discipline and expectation of youth an important turning point, or Beverley feels society has lost something (control? discipline? responsibility?) in removing corporal punishment from homes and schools. In terms of character motivation, the punishment and discipline of Judith's son was critical in the two recognising a need for partnership, but also Judith denouncing her role as sole carer and Bastian moving forward into a male dominated, sometimes brutal society.
Ultimately, what I am finding with Beverley's "Company of Rogues" are how thoughtful they are. I may not agree with them - and find myself cranky with characters and author - but they stay with me. Beverley puts forward some challenging viewpoints. Not particularly subtly, but they are there.
There's something to be gained in that.
From the World of The Company of Rogues:
An Arranged Marriage - Nicholas Delaney
An Unwilling Bride - Lucien de Vaux, Marquess of Arden
Christmas Angel - Leander Knollis, Earl of Charrington
Forbidden - Francis Haile, Lord Middlethorpe
Dangerous Joy - Miles Cavanagh
The Dragon's Bride - Con Somerford, Viscount Amleigh
The Devil's Heiress - Clarissa Greystone
"The Demon's Mistress' in In Praise of Younger Men - Lord Vandeimen
Hazard - Lady Anne Peckworth and Race de Vere
St. Raven - Tristan Tregallows, Duke of St. Raven
Skylark - Sir Stephen Ball
The Rogue's Return - Simon St. Bride
To Rescue A Rogue - Lord Darius Debenham (also Major Hal Beaumont)
Lady Beware - Lady Thea Debenham and Viscount Darien
A Shocking Delight - David Kerslake
References:
Author's website: http://www.jobev.com/rogues.html
(ISBN 978-1-61417-447-9)
-CR-
December 14, 2017
Wonderful
Great Love story about avoiding love for something more practical. I enjoyed the characters-each unique and well-written. Great children characters. They weren't perfect, but typical and so likable. A very interesting Christmas story.
Great Love story about avoiding love for something more practical. I enjoyed the characters-each unique and well-written. Great children characters. They weren't perfect, but typical and so likable. A very interesting Christmas story.
December 12, 2024
3.5 stars. Started out strong, but the second half felt a little rushed. Also, despite the title, there wasn’t much Christmas until the last couple of chapters. It was still enjoyable, though!
December 22, 2020
Major plot spoilers ahead. Read at your own risk.
I was drawn to this story because it was a Christmas historical romance. I hadn’t really read a Christmas historical romance before. Plus the back cover really intrigued me with the fact this was meant to be a marriage of convenience where both parties vowed not to fall in love especially in the case of Leander. I was really excited for this story going into it.
It started off a little slow with the first chapter. I understood that it was meant to be the setup for the entire story, but the focus in chapter one seemed to be about Leander and his friend and his wife. Their perspective was the main focus when I wish it was more Leander or even Judith’s since they were the couple here. Though that came later in the story, I was just not into it right away because I thought the other point of views were unnecessary and weren’t needed.
But I did like the setup behind it all. It had a typical storyline of where Leander was set out to claim his inheritance but in order to do that he needed to find a wife. Leander didn’t want just any wife. He wanted a wife that would not fall in love with him because he didn’t want love in his marriage. He wanted woman that understood this was a partnership/helpmate situation not a romantic one. Also this woman would need to provide heirs for him. Up to this point, all he found were romantic woman who were set to find a love match, which he didn’t want. So, he came up with the plan that he would find a widow, who was older and more mature, understanding the ways of world. Also he thought that a widow would still be madly in love with her first husband would be a plus because then she wouldn’t fall for him.
In Judith’s case, she was in fact a widow for a time. She had two children that she was providing for. She was on the poor side, but doing all that she could for her children. She would do anything for them. She such a devoted mother, who just wanted the best for her children. Knowing that wasn’t likely do to their finances had little hope. While she presented herself as a grieving widow for sometime, she wasn’t really grieving for her husband any longer. Had only presented that to the world before her, but she realized as time went by that her marriage wasn’t perfect. There problems and lack of intimacy in her marriage. So, she wasn’t mourning or still in love with her husband at the time even though the world thought she was hence why Leander decided on Judith.
At their first meeting was quite the meeting. It was cute. It was adorable to see Leander interact with her children. Judith and Leander had a good rapport going. Everything seemed to be going well between them until Leander’s intentions were made known of wanting marriage with her. Then the clash came. Judith thought that he was playing a joke and insulting her. All that type of stuff, and she stormed off. Setting the tone of friction between them in the beginning.
Judith and Leander had quite a bit of friction between them, but more they had chemistry. More chemistry than even Leander had ever anticipated between them. It lead to some heated moments because they pushed back against each other and butted heads. They argued on quite a few points along the way as they tried to come to agreement on this marriage. They just really sparked off of each other, which was fun.
The part that I did not like was when they were discussing discipline of the children. How Leander was okay with using corporal punishment if they children did something wrong, He justified that to Judith by saying that when her son Bastian would do something wrong at school that Bastian would be punished by being beaten. So Leander said that this way if he would beat Bastian when he was punished at home then he would become used to it and expect it. I get this was a historical romance, and this happened back in those days multiple times. I know they were very brutal at times to the children to get them to behave, but it just left a sour taste in my mouth. One because Leander was justifying why he would do it like it made it right. Two that there came to be an acceptance about it. I just didn’t like that. I know Leander said he didn’t want to have to do it, and Judith protested at first of this sort of punishment, but she let it go pretty quickly. It just felt like what happens in an abusive relationship. It’s the same type of mentality that an abuser uses on his victim. I just didn’t like that. I wish in here because it kind soured my opinion of Leander and Judith a little bit because of that. It was a hard thing to get over at first. I think there could have been other things done to show friction between Judith and Leander regarding to the children.
With that being said, Leander never hit the children as punishment in fact the punishments he did give out were very fairly given and did show how much he cared for these children. I loved seeing him fall in love with these children. It was very clear early on that he bonded with these children. He wanted best for them. He would do anything to make their lives better. He spoiled them. He loved being around them. It was just really sweet seeing his relationship grow both with Bastian and Rosie. I loved how they called him Papa Leander. It was just really nice to see the bond grow and grow fairly quickly.
Even though Judith and Leander did have some fights along the way that caused friction between them with lots of lovely tension that kept them apart at times, I was expecting more angst. I just wasn’t getting that angsty feelings that I thought before starting this book. A big reason for that was that Leander wasn’t really fighting the notion of closeness between himself and Judith. In fact he wanted to spend time with her and be with her and didn’t care that he was getting deeper and deeper with her. I thought he would have fought his feelings a bit more especially since he was so adamant that his marriage wasn’t going to be about the emotional but about the practically. Heck, that was the whole setup for this story in the first place. Yeah, it showed how immediately that he was sucked into Judith and her children and just her whole world, but I wanted to see more of that denial aspect as they were navigating their marriage together. I wanted that gut wrenching angst upped to the highest level of angst because I think this would have been the perfect setup for it. I was slightly disappointed that there wasn’t there in the story. I wanted more agony in the romance department.
With that being said, I did like the relationship between Judith and Leander. I liked how they did become a team. I liked how they communicated with one another at certain points especially when misunderstandings occurred between them. I liked that they were each support systems through their new marriage as well as the crazy situations that were happening around them. They were sweet and tender together as well as sensual and passionate together. I liked seeing them work together. I liked all the affection that they showed towards each other especially as they got more and more emotional invested in one another. They just really fit well together together. I liked them together.
As for their love scenes, they were pretty passionate. They were more on the sensual side than the hot and spicy side, though they were pretty steamy. The two scenes that they had were bookends of what was happening in their relationship. The first scene was more cautious and what was “expected” of what Judith thought what it was all about from her time with her first husband, which she considered martial duties. That kind of reflected in the scenes here with Leander with the first one being more labeled the martial duties while the second scene between Judith and Leander was more about making love. It was kind cool to see that contrast between the two scenes because that reflected what was happening in their emotional relationship and closeness with one another. It also showed the amount of trust that had been built throughout the story. Because in that second scene Judith could finally enjoy and let go and just enjoy being with Leander in every possible way with the man that she loved. I liked seeing that. Even though at first I didn’t understand why there were only two love scene since they were hot for each other, I did appreciate more after reading the second scene because the significance hit me more.
Aside from the romance, there were other plot points in the story that surrounded mystery and danger and whatnot. I figured out the mystery pretty quickly of who was doing all these horrible things, but it was interesting especially when certain things were revealed. Lots of misconceptions were lifted. It was just interesting to see things come together and form this full picture. I did enjoy that aspect of the story more than I thought I was going to. It just kept me invested and want to know what was going to happen next. It didn’t feel like it took too much away from the romance either. It was nice balance between the two.
The children were freaking adorable. I think they stole the show. I loved seeing all their interaction with their mother, Leander, and each other. Just to have that childlike quality peppered through was really great thought. I could feel their excitement as they encountered new things that Leander provided. I could feel their love and attachment grow to Leander with each passing day, but I also liked seeing that they weren’t always happy with him when he punished them (for good reason). That felt very true and very genuine. They just added so much. I was really glad they were in the story.
I will say that there wasn’t a lot Christmas in the story. Yes, they were getting ready for Christmas and commented about Christmas, but I wasn’t getting those Christmassy feels like I was expecting. I thought there would be a lot more especially since Christmas was in the title. There wasn’t this presence really about the holiday until the very end. It was just little things here and there. It was subtle, almost too subtle.
This story wasn’t perfect. There were things that I preferred weren’t in there while other things I wish were played up more and gave me more of the feels that I was looking for an expecting when I picked this one up, but for most part I did really enjoy it. I liked the setup. The romance was good. I liked the children. I enjoyed the mystery aspect even if I did figure it out pretty much spot on. It just gave me a good feel overall while I was reading it. So, I consider that a win in my book.
I was drawn to this story because it was a Christmas historical romance. I hadn’t really read a Christmas historical romance before. Plus the back cover really intrigued me with the fact this was meant to be a marriage of convenience where both parties vowed not to fall in love especially in the case of Leander. I was really excited for this story going into it.
It started off a little slow with the first chapter. I understood that it was meant to be the setup for the entire story, but the focus in chapter one seemed to be about Leander and his friend and his wife. Their perspective was the main focus when I wish it was more Leander or even Judith’s since they were the couple here. Though that came later in the story, I was just not into it right away because I thought the other point of views were unnecessary and weren’t needed.
But I did like the setup behind it all. It had a typical storyline of where Leander was set out to claim his inheritance but in order to do that he needed to find a wife. Leander didn’t want just any wife. He wanted a wife that would not fall in love with him because he didn’t want love in his marriage. He wanted woman that understood this was a partnership/helpmate situation not a romantic one. Also this woman would need to provide heirs for him. Up to this point, all he found were romantic woman who were set to find a love match, which he didn’t want. So, he came up with the plan that he would find a widow, who was older and more mature, understanding the ways of world. Also he thought that a widow would still be madly in love with her first husband would be a plus because then she wouldn’t fall for him.
In Judith’s case, she was in fact a widow for a time. She had two children that she was providing for. She was on the poor side, but doing all that she could for her children. She would do anything for them. She such a devoted mother, who just wanted the best for her children. Knowing that wasn’t likely do to their finances had little hope. While she presented herself as a grieving widow for sometime, she wasn’t really grieving for her husband any longer. Had only presented that to the world before her, but she realized as time went by that her marriage wasn’t perfect. There problems and lack of intimacy in her marriage. So, she wasn’t mourning or still in love with her husband at the time even though the world thought she was hence why Leander decided on Judith.
At their first meeting was quite the meeting. It was cute. It was adorable to see Leander interact with her children. Judith and Leander had a good rapport going. Everything seemed to be going well between them until Leander’s intentions were made known of wanting marriage with her. Then the clash came. Judith thought that he was playing a joke and insulting her. All that type of stuff, and she stormed off. Setting the tone of friction between them in the beginning.
Judith and Leander had quite a bit of friction between them, but more they had chemistry. More chemistry than even Leander had ever anticipated between them. It lead to some heated moments because they pushed back against each other and butted heads. They argued on quite a few points along the way as they tried to come to agreement on this marriage. They just really sparked off of each other, which was fun.
The part that I did not like was when they were discussing discipline of the children. How Leander was okay with using corporal punishment if they children did something wrong, He justified that to Judith by saying that when her son Bastian would do something wrong at school that Bastian would be punished by being beaten. So Leander said that this way if he would beat Bastian when he was punished at home then he would become used to it and expect it. I get this was a historical romance, and this happened back in those days multiple times. I know they were very brutal at times to the children to get them to behave, but it just left a sour taste in my mouth. One because Leander was justifying why he would do it like it made it right. Two that there came to be an acceptance about it. I just didn’t like that. I know Leander said he didn’t want to have to do it, and Judith protested at first of this sort of punishment, but she let it go pretty quickly. It just felt like what happens in an abusive relationship. It’s the same type of mentality that an abuser uses on his victim. I just didn’t like that. I wish in here because it kind soured my opinion of Leander and Judith a little bit because of that. It was a hard thing to get over at first. I think there could have been other things done to show friction between Judith and Leander regarding to the children.
With that being said, Leander never hit the children as punishment in fact the punishments he did give out were very fairly given and did show how much he cared for these children. I loved seeing him fall in love with these children. It was very clear early on that he bonded with these children. He wanted best for them. He would do anything to make their lives better. He spoiled them. He loved being around them. It was just really sweet seeing his relationship grow both with Bastian and Rosie. I loved how they called him Papa Leander. It was just really nice to see the bond grow and grow fairly quickly.
Even though Judith and Leander did have some fights along the way that caused friction between them with lots of lovely tension that kept them apart at times, I was expecting more angst. I just wasn’t getting that angsty feelings that I thought before starting this book. A big reason for that was that Leander wasn’t really fighting the notion of closeness between himself and Judith. In fact he wanted to spend time with her and be with her and didn’t care that he was getting deeper and deeper with her. I thought he would have fought his feelings a bit more especially since he was so adamant that his marriage wasn’t going to be about the emotional but about the practically. Heck, that was the whole setup for this story in the first place. Yeah, it showed how immediately that he was sucked into Judith and her children and just her whole world, but I wanted to see more of that denial aspect as they were navigating their marriage together. I wanted that gut wrenching angst upped to the highest level of angst because I think this would have been the perfect setup for it. I was slightly disappointed that there wasn’t there in the story. I wanted more agony in the romance department.
With that being said, I did like the relationship between Judith and Leander. I liked how they did become a team. I liked how they communicated with one another at certain points especially when misunderstandings occurred between them. I liked that they were each support systems through their new marriage as well as the crazy situations that were happening around them. They were sweet and tender together as well as sensual and passionate together. I liked seeing them work together. I liked all the affection that they showed towards each other especially as they got more and more emotional invested in one another. They just really fit well together together. I liked them together.
As for their love scenes, they were pretty passionate. They were more on the sensual side than the hot and spicy side, though they were pretty steamy. The two scenes that they had were bookends of what was happening in their relationship. The first scene was more cautious and what was “expected” of what Judith thought what it was all about from her time with her first husband, which she considered martial duties. That kind of reflected in the scenes here with Leander with the first one being more labeled the martial duties while the second scene between Judith and Leander was more about making love. It was kind cool to see that contrast between the two scenes because that reflected what was happening in their emotional relationship and closeness with one another. It also showed the amount of trust that had been built throughout the story. Because in that second scene Judith could finally enjoy and let go and just enjoy being with Leander in every possible way with the man that she loved. I liked seeing that. Even though at first I didn’t understand why there were only two love scene since they were hot for each other, I did appreciate more after reading the second scene because the significance hit me more.
Aside from the romance, there were other plot points in the story that surrounded mystery and danger and whatnot. I figured out the mystery pretty quickly of who was doing all these horrible things, but it was interesting especially when certain things were revealed. Lots of misconceptions were lifted. It was just interesting to see things come together and form this full picture. I did enjoy that aspect of the story more than I thought I was going to. It just kept me invested and want to know what was going to happen next. It didn’t feel like it took too much away from the romance either. It was nice balance between the two.
The children were freaking adorable. I think they stole the show. I loved seeing all their interaction with their mother, Leander, and each other. Just to have that childlike quality peppered through was really great thought. I could feel their excitement as they encountered new things that Leander provided. I could feel their love and attachment grow to Leander with each passing day, but I also liked seeing that they weren’t always happy with him when he punished them (for good reason). That felt very true and very genuine. They just added so much. I was really glad they were in the story.
I will say that there wasn’t a lot Christmas in the story. Yes, they were getting ready for Christmas and commented about Christmas, but I wasn’t getting those Christmassy feels like I was expecting. I thought there would be a lot more especially since Christmas was in the title. There wasn’t this presence really about the holiday until the very end. It was just little things here and there. It was subtle, almost too subtle.
This story wasn’t perfect. There were things that I preferred weren’t in there while other things I wish were played up more and gave me more of the feels that I was looking for an expecting when I picked this one up, but for most part I did really enjoy it. I liked the setup. The romance was good. I liked the children. I enjoyed the mystery aspect even if I did figure it out pretty much spot on. It just gave me a good feel overall while I was reading it. So, I consider that a win in my book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 18, 2023
this was cute. I expected a lot more though.
April 22, 2021
Read & Reviewed for CBR 13 -
One of my least favorite things is when the first book of a series is on Kindle Unlimited, but then the rest of the book is not. It just feels like false advertising, because I pay for Kindle Unlimited, so it's not like I was stealing the first book, but now I have to pay more for all the other books, if I liked that first one, and it just feels unfair. (I am sure there's some really good reason for this that I do not understand, most likely it is related to how authors are compensated, and it would seem fair if I knew it. Since I don't I'm only talking about how it feels.)
But the other day, I found something I hate even more than that. When there is a fairly long series (say... 13 books), and only the first FIVE are on Kindle Unlimited. Meaning that I was five books into this series before I realized I would not be able to finish it, and WHHYYYYYYY would they do that? I am on a book buying budget, publishers: If I had known that the rest of the series needed to be bought, I would've waited until I could afford to buy 8 additional books but now, I'm just sitting here stewing about how angry I am that I can't read the next story, and trying to not let it influence the reviews of the first five books.
With that in mind, as well as a content warning that I do discuss rape briefly in one of the reviews, Jo Beverly's Company of Rogues awaits us.
The Company of Rogues had been formed in his first days at Harrow by the enterprising Nicholas Delaney. He had gathered twelve carefully selected boys together, and formed them into a protective association. During their school years they had defended each other against injustice and bullying. In the years since they had largely been a social group, coming together when occasion permitted, but it was understood that the bond still held. Any of them could call on the others at need." - Christmas Angel, Company of Rogues Book 3
Led by Nicholas Delaney, the hero of book one, the Rogues get up to all kind of nonsense as adults in these books, and their love interests, eventual spouses do no better. In fact, I am hoping that (when I get to read them) further on down the line, the alliance of Rogue-esses or some such turns out to play a larger role, because the way these women work together - particularly since so many of them started out without the kind of resources the young uppercrust earls, dukes and gentlemen had behind them, was often more interesting to me than the Rogues themselves.
An Arraigned Marriage starts off with the drugged rape of the heroine, by the also mostly not-sober brother of the hero, as part of a plot by her evil brother, in case you were wondering just how Old School Romance this series is. The answer is very. The tropes come from somewhere, and Jo Beverly in 1991 was making full use of them. Twins, sexual assault, blackmail, mistresses, spy work, double crossing: This first book has got all that and more. And to be honest, I can see why it works. It works because Nicholas Delaney - master manipulator, but of the charming kind - somehow looks at the incredible person he has wound up married to Eleanor Chivenham, and sees beyond the scared young woman not in control of her own fate, and wonders how they might fit together, permanently. It works because Eleanor sees Nicholas, in spite of all his charm and for all of his lauded control, has things that he needs from her, and ways in which they could be good for each other. (3 stars)
Are there things in this book (and the series of books) that are hopelessly out of date, like the idea that your brother raped me & told me you did it, but that was last month, so I'm just supposed to forgive him and move on? Ah, yeah. Un-problematic it is not. However, I'm in the "read with your eyes wide open" school of thought, especially when it comes to 'classics' of the romance genre: I know going in that there's gonna be some pure nonsense, and I just note it and move on, unless there's too much nonsense to move past. (I'm looking at you books that make slavery sound glorified.) So, yes. Issues do occur in the series, and they make it a little bit harder to enjoy the rest of what's happening. Your mileage may vary, but I knew it going in, so it wasn't that big of an issue for me. See also: Book two, and a slap across the heroine's face that made me put the whole thing down for a couple of days. Book three was pretty unproblematic, but book four had a The Duke & I problem that I remember hating the first time around & was no better the second (consent is essential, no matter which way it goes), and the last book in this group involves a literal drugging and kidnapping so, there were definitely some issues all around.
Book 2, which sounds like it should have a similar plot, given it's An Unwilling Bride also comes with an unwilling groom, though, so at least the H/h start off on similar feet there. Turns out the Duke of Belcraven's son & heir was not exactly his; also turns out that he just happens to have a daughter who is his, but she was born on the wrong side of the blanket. Seems like a problem that's easily solved by forcing the two of them to marry, right? Because then the bloodline would be secured and the next duke (who is a third son, and really was never meant to inherit) stays in the line of succession without any fanfare or gossip. Problem solved. Except for how two complete strangers are now forced to get married, and Lucien and Beth aren't exactly the friendliest people to begin with, so of course, problems ensue.(2.5 stars)
The third book, Christmas Angel, finds Leander (Lord Charrington) and Judith Rossiter (the Angel Bride, widow of a famous poet) trying to figure out their own happily ever after, amidst a general misunderstanding about said bride's grief, Leander's new role as stepfather to her two children & heir to an estate that seems more albatross than anything else, and suddenly mysterious attempts on someone's life. I really feel like Beverly was a "the more tropes the better" kind of author, and as I am exactly that kind of reader, I definitely can not find fault in her for that. The mild suspense & ability of both the hero & the heroine to move into acceptance of their own feelings more rapidly than the first two books, made this a better book than those, for me. (3.5 stars)
Forbidden, Serena & Francis, Lord Middlethorpe's story was my least favorite of these five, and the only one I remember reading back in day (so I probably read this in high school the first time, and was not a fan, and that's why I didn't read most of the rest of the series, despite liking some of Beverly's other books). Here, the overabundance of tropes is to the book's detriment... the heroine's evil family members are stereotypically evil, her dead husband a true cretin; Francis is a virgin hero, which I'm all for, but it gets used as poor humor or an excuse for his bad behavior towards his wife a few too many times for my liking. (2 stars)
As for the last of the five books, Dangerous Joy was mostly a delight for me. Miles is made guardian of heiress Felicity, and spends 90% of the book in hijinks related to her Big Secret, which I guessed during the first chapter. That's fine: I am rarely surprised by the Big Secrets of romance novels, but the thing I really liked about this one is that Miles is blindsided by it but the other women ferret it out the first time they hear her story. Not even halfway through telling his friends and their lady loves about Felicity's circumstances, one of the other women cracks the whole thing wide open, and Miles has to get up and leave the room, find Felicity immediately, because OF COURSE! I just liked that part so much, I would give the book a better rating just for that, but I felt like this was the best of the series yet, so it gets the full 4 stars.
So there were obviously things that worked for me and things that didn't. The best part of all the books, as it so often is for me, was the found family aspect of the Company and their loves. The support that they get from/give to each other, while at the same time also continuing to build a bigger 'family' and circle of influence within the ton, so that, by the end of book five, you've got your dukes and earls and gentlemen aplenty, but there's also a former teacher, a widow, some spinster aunts, a great many adjacent family members, government officials in more than one country, and all sorts of other interesting characters at play. The world of the London Ton in Romancelandia, once again, sounding so much more interesting and diverse (although not in skin color) than the actual Ton must have been. Early feminists turned into Duchesses, turning the rest of their set - women & men - on to the readings of Mary Wollstonecraft; an Irish woman horse breeder, rolling her eyes at the 'stay out of the stables' nonsense the English ladies must put up with; the actress/mistress of one of the Rogues that I know is going to get talked into taking on society by the end of the whole run ...those kind of things that makes my rebellious heart happy.
Hopefully my library will have the last eight books, because I want to know if he manages to convince her to thumb her nose at all of society.
One of my least favorite things is when the first book of a series is on Kindle Unlimited, but then the rest of the book is not. It just feels like false advertising, because I pay for Kindle Unlimited, so it's not like I was stealing the first book, but now I have to pay more for all the other books, if I liked that first one, and it just feels unfair. (I am sure there's some really good reason for this that I do not understand, most likely it is related to how authors are compensated, and it would seem fair if I knew it. Since I don't I'm only talking about how it feels.)
But the other day, I found something I hate even more than that. When there is a fairly long series (say... 13 books), and only the first FIVE are on Kindle Unlimited. Meaning that I was five books into this series before I realized I would not be able to finish it, and WHHYYYYYYY would they do that? I am on a book buying budget, publishers: If I had known that the rest of the series needed to be bought, I would've waited until I could afford to buy 8 additional books but now, I'm just sitting here stewing about how angry I am that I can't read the next story, and trying to not let it influence the reviews of the first five books.
With that in mind, as well as a content warning that I do discuss rape briefly in one of the reviews, Jo Beverly's Company of Rogues awaits us.
The Company of Rogues had been formed in his first days at Harrow by the enterprising Nicholas Delaney. He had gathered twelve carefully selected boys together, and formed them into a protective association. During their school years they had defended each other against injustice and bullying. In the years since they had largely been a social group, coming together when occasion permitted, but it was understood that the bond still held. Any of them could call on the others at need." - Christmas Angel, Company of Rogues Book 3
Led by Nicholas Delaney, the hero of book one, the Rogues get up to all kind of nonsense as adults in these books, and their love interests, eventual spouses do no better. In fact, I am hoping that (when I get to read them) further on down the line, the alliance of Rogue-esses or some such turns out to play a larger role, because the way these women work together - particularly since so many of them started out without the kind of resources the young uppercrust earls, dukes and gentlemen had behind them, was often more interesting to me than the Rogues themselves.
An Arraigned Marriage starts off with the drugged rape of the heroine, by the also mostly not-sober brother of the hero, as part of a plot by her evil brother, in case you were wondering just how Old School Romance this series is. The answer is very. The tropes come from somewhere, and Jo Beverly in 1991 was making full use of them. Twins, sexual assault, blackmail, mistresses, spy work, double crossing: This first book has got all that and more. And to be honest, I can see why it works. It works because Nicholas Delaney - master manipulator, but of the charming kind - somehow looks at the incredible person he has wound up married to Eleanor Chivenham, and sees beyond the scared young woman not in control of her own fate, and wonders how they might fit together, permanently. It works because Eleanor sees Nicholas, in spite of all his charm and for all of his lauded control, has things that he needs from her, and ways in which they could be good for each other. (3 stars)
Are there things in this book (and the series of books) that are hopelessly out of date, like the idea that your brother raped me & told me you did it, but that was last month, so I'm just supposed to forgive him and move on? Ah, yeah. Un-problematic it is not. However, I'm in the "read with your eyes wide open" school of thought, especially when it comes to 'classics' of the romance genre: I know going in that there's gonna be some pure nonsense, and I just note it and move on, unless there's too much nonsense to move past. (I'm looking at you books that make slavery sound glorified.) So, yes. Issues do occur in the series, and they make it a little bit harder to enjoy the rest of what's happening. Your mileage may vary, but I knew it going in, so it wasn't that big of an issue for me. See also: Book two, and a slap across the heroine's face that made me put the whole thing down for a couple of days. Book three was pretty unproblematic, but book four had a The Duke & I problem that I remember hating the first time around & was no better the second (consent is essential, no matter which way it goes), and the last book in this group involves a literal drugging and kidnapping so, there were definitely some issues all around.
Book 2, which sounds like it should have a similar plot, given it's An Unwilling Bride also comes with an unwilling groom, though, so at least the H/h start off on similar feet there. Turns out the Duke of Belcraven's son & heir was not exactly his; also turns out that he just happens to have a daughter who is his, but she was born on the wrong side of the blanket. Seems like a problem that's easily solved by forcing the two of them to marry, right? Because then the bloodline would be secured and the next duke (who is a third son, and really was never meant to inherit) stays in the line of succession without any fanfare or gossip. Problem solved. Except for how two complete strangers are now forced to get married, and Lucien and Beth aren't exactly the friendliest people to begin with, so of course, problems ensue.(2.5 stars)
The third book, Christmas Angel, finds Leander (Lord Charrington) and Judith Rossiter (the Angel Bride, widow of a famous poet) trying to figure out their own happily ever after, amidst a general misunderstanding about said bride's grief, Leander's new role as stepfather to her two children & heir to an estate that seems more albatross than anything else, and suddenly mysterious attempts on someone's life. I really feel like Beverly was a "the more tropes the better" kind of author, and as I am exactly that kind of reader, I definitely can not find fault in her for that. The mild suspense & ability of both the hero & the heroine to move into acceptance of their own feelings more rapidly than the first two books, made this a better book than those, for me. (3.5 stars)
Forbidden, Serena & Francis, Lord Middlethorpe's story was my least favorite of these five, and the only one I remember reading back in day (so I probably read this in high school the first time, and was not a fan, and that's why I didn't read most of the rest of the series, despite liking some of Beverly's other books). Here, the overabundance of tropes is to the book's detriment... the heroine's evil family members are stereotypically evil, her dead husband a true cretin; Francis is a virgin hero, which I'm all for, but it gets used as poor humor or an excuse for his bad behavior towards his wife a few too many times for my liking. (2 stars)
As for the last of the five books, Dangerous Joy was mostly a delight for me. Miles is made guardian of heiress Felicity, and spends 90% of the book in hijinks related to her Big Secret, which I guessed during the first chapter. That's fine: I am rarely surprised by the Big Secrets of romance novels, but the thing I really liked about this one is that Miles is blindsided by it but the other women ferret it out the first time they hear her story. Not even halfway through telling his friends and their lady loves about Felicity's circumstances, one of the other women cracks the whole thing wide open, and Miles has to get up and leave the room, find Felicity immediately, because OF COURSE! I just liked that part so much, I would give the book a better rating just for that, but I felt like this was the best of the series yet, so it gets the full 4 stars.
So there were obviously things that worked for me and things that didn't. The best part of all the books, as it so often is for me, was the found family aspect of the Company and their loves. The support that they get from/give to each other, while at the same time also continuing to build a bigger 'family' and circle of influence within the ton, so that, by the end of book five, you've got your dukes and earls and gentlemen aplenty, but there's also a former teacher, a widow, some spinster aunts, a great many adjacent family members, government officials in more than one country, and all sorts of other interesting characters at play. The world of the London Ton in Romancelandia, once again, sounding so much more interesting and diverse (although not in skin color) than the actual Ton must have been. Early feminists turned into Duchesses, turning the rest of their set - women & men - on to the readings of Mary Wollstonecraft; an Irish woman horse breeder, rolling her eyes at the 'stay out of the stables' nonsense the English ladies must put up with; the actress/mistress of one of the Rogues that I know is going to get talked into taking on society by the end of the whole run ...those kind of things that makes my rebellious heart happy.
Hopefully my library will have the last eight books, because I want to know if he manages to convince her to thumb her nose at all of society.
August 28, 2023
Just “re-read” the audiobook released July 2022, narrated by the fabulous Susan Duerden. So good! Definitely a great book to recommend to someone who hasn’t read Jo Beverley yet.
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(Original review, 4 stars)
The heroine’s plight as a poor gentlewoman with two children is just so well-imagined and fleshed out with detail that the book feels very firmly placed in its historical milieu, one of the great things about Jo Beverley’s well-researched writing. Her situation as the widow of a well-known poet felt so original, it has stuck in my mind for many years since I first read this book. There is a poet character in Georgette Heyer’s The Grand Sophy, and just one line about what a horrible husband he would make. Who knows? Perhaps Jo Beverley started wondering how that idea would actually play out. It does seem fun for authors to place poets in their books, especially bad ones, and then write the poetry to fit.
Whenever I remember a character, and actively seek to find the book and re-read it, that’s huge for me, and I have indeed re-read this book with great pleasure.
***spoiler*** Also, the heroine is the victim of embezzlement because her first husband was an idiot about money, which just really appeals to me as an accountant. She’s great.
On the con side, the hero isn’t as fantastically charismatic and sensually appealing as the heroes from the first two books in the Company of Rogues series. He’s very rich, kind, willing to be pleased, and he has his sensual moments and an interesting background, but somehow Ms. Beverley didn’t make me fall in love with him as she has done with some of her other guys.
The hero has his own problems to solve, but these don’t seem as interesting to me as they need to. The issues don’t put the relationship between H/h at risk, and they don’t seem to force the hero to the recognition that not only is the heroine pretty great, but that he can’t live without her. I really like that, “I can’t live without him/her” moment, especially in a marriage of convenience story like this one.
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(Original review, 4 stars)
The heroine’s plight as a poor gentlewoman with two children is just so well-imagined and fleshed out with detail that the book feels very firmly placed in its historical milieu, one of the great things about Jo Beverley’s well-researched writing. Her situation as the widow of a well-known poet felt so original, it has stuck in my mind for many years since I first read this book. There is a poet character in Georgette Heyer’s The Grand Sophy, and just one line about what a horrible husband he would make. Who knows? Perhaps Jo Beverley started wondering how that idea would actually play out. It does seem fun for authors to place poets in their books, especially bad ones, and then write the poetry to fit.
Whenever I remember a character, and actively seek to find the book and re-read it, that’s huge for me, and I have indeed re-read this book with great pleasure.
***spoiler*** Also, the heroine is the victim of embezzlement because her first husband was an idiot about money, which just really appeals to me as an accountant. She’s great.
On the con side, the hero isn’t as fantastically charismatic and sensually appealing as the heroes from the first two books in the Company of Rogues series. He’s very rich, kind, willing to be pleased, and he has his sensual moments and an interesting background, but somehow Ms. Beverley didn’t make me fall in love with him as she has done with some of her other guys.
The hero has his own problems to solve, but these don’t seem as interesting to me as they need to. The issues don’t put the relationship between H/h at risk, and they don’t seem to force the hero to the recognition that not only is the heroine pretty great, but that he can’t live without her. I really like that, “I can’t live without him/her” moment, especially in a marriage of convenience story like this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Currently reading
August 20, 2019This is the third book in the series, and after a poor start in book one, it continues to improve. I always enjoyed Jo Beverly, and l am pleased with each book as the story goes on. I have 4 and 5 already in my line up. It is worth struggling through book one, because Nicholas's story sets the founding of the Rogue's adventures. I truly love Recency England romances, and the descriptions of clothing and and traditions has me "Googling" a lot!! I appreciate the research that is done nowadays to keep these details accurate.
Jo is still one of my favorite historical romance authors.
Jo is still one of my favorite historical romance authors.
December 31, 2015
Leander is the son of a diplomat who's spent most of his life traveling around the capitals of Europe romancing princesses. Judith is a sensible widow with two children who's never traveled more than a few miles from her small town. Leander wants to stop traveling and make a real home, and decides that he needs a very English woman to help him do that. However, he wants someone who won't fall desperately in love with him, since his parents had an unbalanced marriage. He figures Judith, who everyone believes to be still in love with her dead first husband, is perfect.
I loved this book! Both of the characters are sensible, reasonable adults who actually do things like sit down to discuss their relationship and make decisions based on things other than emotions. And yet they're still adorable as they fumble their way toward each other. There's a mystery subplot that was genuinely compelling (not all that common for subplots in romance novels), and I found the difficulties the characters had with sex – especially considering that neither of them was a virgin at the beginning – to be believable and sweet. Highly recommended!
I loved this book! Both of the characters are sensible, reasonable adults who actually do things like sit down to discuss their relationship and make decisions based on things other than emotions. And yet they're still adorable as they fumble their way toward each other. There's a mystery subplot that was genuinely compelling (not all that common for subplots in romance novels), and I found the difficulties the characters had with sex – especially considering that neither of them was a virgin at the beginning – to be believable and sweet. Highly recommended!
May 3, 2016
Una bonita y entrañable historia. Con el sello característico de la escritora, pero a la vez muy distinto de sus anteriores libros. En "El amor de un ángel" no nos encontramos una historia sórdida o truculenta como ocurrió en los primeros títulos de la "Compañía de los Pícaros". Éste es un libro sencillo en que un hombre solitario y extraño necesita una mujer para completar su vida, y ella necesita de un hombre valiente y capaz de dar sentido a su vida y seguridad a sus hijos. La historia ocurre en las vísperas de Navidad y sin duda es el momento idóneo para leerla.
Ha sido una muy bonita aportación de Jo Beverley, pese a los años que hace que se publicó, con un libro así, tengo más ganas de seguir leyendo a los Pícaros.
Ha sido una muy bonita aportación de Jo Beverley, pese a los años que hace que se publicó, con un libro así, tengo más ganas de seguir leyendo a los Pícaros.
May 7, 2016
Uno de los mejores libros de la serie sin duda. En esta ocasión nos encontramos con dos personas que se unen por necesidad. Él porque al volver de la guerra ve que su vida está vacía y necesita de una mujer para poder vivirla y ella, porque tras morir su marido, ha vivido sola y luchando día a día por conseguir los recursos necesarios para poder vivir tanto ella como sus dos hijos. Otro ingrediente que hace de esta novela inolvidable es que todo ocurre en las vísperas navideñas, por lo que te metes de lleno en el ambiente de la época. Hay una pequeña trama de misterio que se resuelve bastante prontito y el epílogo es sin duda uno de los mejores que he leído de esta serie.
December 28, 2007
Christmas Angel - G+
Beverley, Jo - 2nd in Company of Rogues series
Searching for a sensible woman to marry, especially since he seems unable to fall in love, Leander Knollis, Earl of Charrington, finds a suitable candidate in Judith Rossiter, a poor young widow with two small children, and as they embark on a marriage of convenience, unexpected love blossoms between them.
A bit better than good.
Beverley, Jo - 2nd in Company of Rogues series
Searching for a sensible woman to marry, especially since he seems unable to fall in love, Leander Knollis, Earl of Charrington, finds a suitable candidate in Judith Rossiter, a poor young widow with two small children, and as they embark on a marriage of convenience, unexpected love blossoms between them.
A bit better than good.
December 12, 2017
It’s the 19th Century
Usually, I like Jo Beverly's book. This book treats the children as if they lived in this Century. Children were not taken to the theater at nite. It simply wasn’t done. They were seen and not heard. I do not like when a Regency romance writer tells a story with details that represent 21st Century thinking.
Usually, I like Jo Beverly's book. This book treats the children as if they lived in this Century. Children were not taken to the theater at nite. It simply wasn’t done. They were seen and not heard. I do not like when a Regency romance writer tells a story with details that represent 21st Century thinking.
November 19, 2014
hesitating between three and four. the hero feels static all the way through while the heroine grows to trust him. the conflict with the hero's family is too easily resolved. overall it kept me reading, but not fabulous.
August 28, 2021
The premise of this one is fun: the hero is twenty-five and wants to marry but he wants a wife who won’t fall in love with him; the heroine is older and has two children and is widely known to have been wildly in love with her late husband. (It takes about thirty seconds for the reader to realize he was awful and she wasn’t.) Somewhat obnoxiously, the heroine then decides that she has to PRETEND she was in love with her late husband or the hero will retract his offer of marriage.
Relatively early in the book there’s a detailed discussion about corporal punishment which I feel kind of exemplifies Beverley’s approach to historical accuracy and why I had issues with the first two books in this series. Beverley did her research, there’s no doubting it, and where historical romance authors over the last couple of decades have been trending towards wallpaper - where they’re driving the right kinds of carriage but are otherwise twenty-first century people in historically accurate dresses - Beverley was trying to make her world, and her people, more authentically early nineteenth century. So while the heroine is upset about the idea of her young son being caned, the hero points out that he’s going to receive corporal punishment at Harrow and should probably get used to it.
That said, Beverley has plenty of romance novel-isms in here too - the heroine is as close to a virgin widow as one can possibly get while having given birth to two children and there’s lots of rumination on how she’s SURE that she’s doing sex wrong and all of these scandalous FEELINGS when her husband TOUCHES her, it’s all her FAULT that she’s doing it BADLY and he’ll be so UPSET. There is also an obnoxious suspense plot towards the end and . This is why I’m always torn with “but it’s historical!” arguments with things like domestic violence: the plots are implausible, the historical attitudes are sometimes more in keeping with what romance readers expect to read (virgin widows, no syphilis), and given that, is “historical accuracy” really enough of an excuse for misogyny, domestic violence, etc.? Beverley does a good job of keeping her feminism feeling period-appropriate (very Wollestonecraft-y), but at the same time every time Lucien and Beth argue I remember that
Anyway, this is a review of the third novel, not the first two, but I’m fascinated to find that even when Beverley doesn’t have her heroes getting physically aggressive or emotionally abusive, I have difficulty really feeling comfortable with the romance: it’s brought up early on that Judith is uncomfortable at the beginning of their marriage because she’s placing herself so entirely in Leander’s power. He gives her a generous marriage contract but abuse, anger and domestic violence are things from which she’ll (historically accurately!) remain unprotected throughout their marriage, and it feels like they’re a specter hovering over this entire series.
Relatively early in the book there’s a detailed discussion about corporal punishment which I feel kind of exemplifies Beverley’s approach to historical accuracy and why I had issues with the first two books in this series. Beverley did her research, there’s no doubting it, and where historical romance authors over the last couple of decades have been trending towards wallpaper - where they’re driving the right kinds of carriage but are otherwise twenty-first century people in historically accurate dresses - Beverley was trying to make her world, and her people, more authentically early nineteenth century. So while the heroine is upset about the idea of her young son being caned, the hero points out that he’s going to receive corporal punishment at Harrow and should probably get used to it.
That said, Beverley has plenty of romance novel-isms in here too - the heroine is as close to a virgin widow as one can possibly get while having given birth to two children and there’s lots of rumination on how she’s SURE that she’s doing sex wrong and all of these scandalous FEELINGS when her husband TOUCHES her, it’s all her FAULT that she’s doing it BADLY and he’ll be so UPSET. There is also an obnoxious suspense plot towards the end and . This is why I’m always torn with “but it’s historical!” arguments with things like domestic violence: the plots are implausible, the historical attitudes are sometimes more in keeping with what romance readers expect to read (virgin widows, no syphilis), and given that, is “historical accuracy” really enough of an excuse for misogyny, domestic violence, etc.? Beverley does a good job of keeping her feminism feeling period-appropriate (very Wollestonecraft-y), but at the same time every time Lucien and Beth argue I remember that
Anyway, this is a review of the third novel, not the first two, but I’m fascinated to find that even when Beverley doesn’t have her heroes getting physically aggressive or emotionally abusive, I have difficulty really feeling comfortable with the romance: it’s brought up early on that Judith is uncomfortable at the beginning of their marriage because she’s placing herself so entirely in Leander’s power. He gives her a generous marriage contract but abuse, anger and domestic violence are things from which she’ll (historically accurately!) remain unprotected throughout their marriage, and it feels like they’re a specter hovering over this entire series.
April 9, 2022
This is another story about the Rogues and features Leander Knollis, Earl of Charrington. He has come to England, after serving as a diplomat and a soldier. He is tired of war and longs for a home, a wife and a wonderful old-fashioned English Christmas. He finds himself unable to fall in love and so decides to settle for a marriage of convenience.
He is visiting a fellow Rogue, Lucien and his wife, Beth, and laments his situation to them. He wants a woman of intelligence but without fancies of romance. Beth suggests the Weeping Widow, Judith Rossiter. Her husband, Sebastian, was a poet and has died of pneumonia a year or so ago. She and her two children are in dire financial straits. She takes in laundry and gets by with a miserly sum given to her by Sebastian's brother. She is known as the weeping widow as she kept wearing black (mostly because she could not afford anything new to buy.
Leander decides to visit Judith and actually proposes marriage to her. She is flabbergasted but in thinking it over, she decides to marry him. Her first marriage was a disappointment at best. She ended up not loving Sebastian before he ever dies. So she goes ahead with the marriage, thinking this will be a sensible union.
The family of four (which includes a boy, Bastian and girl, Rosie) set out for Temple Knollis. Leander is very apprehensive of this home. It seems that many funds are being siphoned off the earldom's books.
So the family decides to hold up in London for a bit. There, accidents/incidents occur - to Bastian and Rosie. Are they related to Leander's uncle and relatives at the Temple? Or is there a danger from another avenue?
They head off for the Temple but stop for a visit with Nick Delaney, his wife Eleanor and baby daughter, Arabel on the way. Nick is the head of the Rogues and both he and his wife are invaluable help to the new family.
I am enjoying the stories about the Rogues!
He is visiting a fellow Rogue, Lucien and his wife, Beth, and laments his situation to them. He wants a woman of intelligence but without fancies of romance. Beth suggests the Weeping Widow, Judith Rossiter. Her husband, Sebastian, was a poet and has died of pneumonia a year or so ago. She and her two children are in dire financial straits. She takes in laundry and gets by with a miserly sum given to her by Sebastian's brother. She is known as the weeping widow as she kept wearing black (mostly because she could not afford anything new to buy.
Leander decides to visit Judith and actually proposes marriage to her. She is flabbergasted but in thinking it over, she decides to marry him. Her first marriage was a disappointment at best. She ended up not loving Sebastian before he ever dies. So she goes ahead with the marriage, thinking this will be a sensible union.
The family of four (which includes a boy, Bastian and girl, Rosie) set out for Temple Knollis. Leander is very apprehensive of this home. It seems that many funds are being siphoned off the earldom's books.
So the family decides to hold up in London for a bit. There, accidents/incidents occur - to Bastian and Rosie. Are they related to Leander's uncle and relatives at the Temple? Or is there a danger from another avenue?
They head off for the Temple but stop for a visit with Nick Delaney, his wife Eleanor and baby daughter, Arabel on the way. Nick is the head of the Rogues and both he and his wife are invaluable help to the new family.
I am enjoying the stories about the Rogues!
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