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London League #2
A Rogue About Town
A disgruntled operative...
Gabriel Statler, Lord Wharton, has a problem. His duties as an operative for the Crown are being compromised for the sake of his cover, where he is known only as the Rogue. His days are now filled with trivial investigations, and none of the problems are ones he wants to solve. Then he meets a mysterious young woman who holds more secrets than he likes, and, against his better judgment, he takes her case.
A determined client...
Amelia Berger needs the Rogue, and she needs everything he can offer without revealing everything she knows. Her secrets are her own, and she has far too many to risk revealing even one. But when working with Rogue turns into something entirely unexpected, she finds that the secrets she began with are not the ones she most needs to protect.
Gabriel Statler, Lord Wharton, has a problem. His duties as an operative for the Crown are being compromised for the sake of his cover, where he is known only as the Rogue. His days are now filled with trivial investigations, and none of the problems are ones he wants to solve. Then he meets a mysterious young woman who holds more secrets than he likes, and, against his better judgment, he takes her case.
A determined client...
Amelia Berger needs the Rogue, and she needs everything he can offer without revealing everything she knows. Her secrets are her own, and she has far too many to risk revealing even one. But when working with Rogue turns into something entirely unexpected, she finds that the secrets she began with are not the ones she most needs to protect.
278 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2018
368 people are currently reading
486 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Connolly
86 books1,236 followersI was born once upon a time, and I started making up stories right away. Eventually, I started writing them down, and never stopped! I have a day job, which gets in the way of my writing, but it pays the bills so I CAN write, so I guess that's okay! I am a bookworm, which I think is key to being a writer, and I am always looking for inspiration! I live in Indiana, am obsessed with hot chocolate, and I am on track to be the best aunt in the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
August 6, 2020
Fun!
I'm really enjoying this new London League series, its a spin-off from the Arrangements series. They are luckily all written where they can stand alone, but some characters do overlap. Anyway, I think I enjoyed this one a little bit more than the first London League book. I liked Rogue quite a bit, I guess I have a soft spot for broody heroes. ;)
Gabriel Statler, Lord Wharton...aka the Rogue, has had quite the hard life. Losing his parents at a young age really was hard for him and he did not have an easy childhood. While born with a title, he really finds his place in the world serving his country as a spy. He has built some pretty thick walls around his heart, especially where women are concerned. He doesn't want anything to do with them. I think that's why I enjoyed his story arc so much, it was fun seeing Amelia get under his skin and break down those walls. That always make for a fun plot.
I'm not sure what to make of Amelia. Overall, I really liked her character and thought she was a fun heroine. I have some reservations about things she did in her past I really did enjoy her relationship with Gabe though, lots of fun and swoony moments between the two.
The mystery was pretty good, it kept me wondering how things would play out and who Amelia's dad was.
Overall, this was a fun read! I enjoyed it and look forward to reading more from the London League!
Content:
Romance: Clean, swoony kisses
Language: Mild
Violence: Mild, nothing graphic
Religious: None
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I'm really enjoying this new London League series, its a spin-off from the Arrangements series. They are luckily all written where they can stand alone, but some characters do overlap. Anyway, I think I enjoyed this one a little bit more than the first London League book. I liked Rogue quite a bit, I guess I have a soft spot for broody heroes. ;)
Gabriel Statler, Lord Wharton...aka the Rogue, has had quite the hard life. Losing his parents at a young age really was hard for him and he did not have an easy childhood. While born with a title, he really finds his place in the world serving his country as a spy. He has built some pretty thick walls around his heart, especially where women are concerned. He doesn't want anything to do with them. I think that's why I enjoyed his story arc so much, it was fun seeing Amelia get under his skin and break down those walls. That always make for a fun plot.
I'm not sure what to make of Amelia. Overall, I really liked her character and thought she was a fun heroine. I have some reservations about things she did in her past I really did enjoy her relationship with Gabe though, lots of fun and swoony moments between the two.
The mystery was pretty good, it kept me wondering how things would play out and who Amelia's dad was.
Overall, this was a fun read! I enjoyed it and look forward to reading more from the London League!
Content:
Romance: Clean, swoony kisses
Language: Mild
Violence: Mild, nothing graphic
Religious: None
Similar Books You May Enjoy...
August 6, 2018
I quite loved this one. I really enjoyed reading a regency that wasn't all balls and rides through Hyde park. This one is very much based in the other side of London. I enjoyed both characters and their interplay. They both had a very interesting strength and grit, but they softened when they needed to.
Content:Clean. Mild swearing.
Content:Clean. Mild swearing.
August 2, 2018
I stayed up late into the night finishing this one. I don't know how Rebecca does it but every single story is different and and fun to read. This is her 16th book I have read and I just get more excited with each release. This book should be read after you read The Gent. If you haven't read that go back and pick it up first. If you are really wanting a long series of good reads go back and start, from the very beginning at An Arrangement of Sorts.
Rouge is this perfect gruff character that is all love and loyalty underneath. Being a Spy and losing so many people in his life has created a tough exterior that takes awhile to get through. Amelia's character is rolled out slowly as the book grows until you love her as much as Rouge does. She is awesome and I enjoyed there battles and the slow build of there relationship. This is a chaste romance with some fun kisses and tension, but you get it all mixed up with a great story and fun Characters set in Regency England.
Rouge is this perfect gruff character that is all love and loyalty underneath. Being a Spy and losing so many people in his life has created a tough exterior that takes awhile to get through. Amelia's character is rolled out slowly as the book grows until you love her as much as Rouge does. She is awesome and I enjoyed there battles and the slow build of there relationship. This is a chaste romance with some fun kisses and tension, but you get it all mixed up with a great story and fun Characters set in Regency England.
May 1, 2019
This was a very cute book that illustrates how two broken people can help each other heal from their past. Rogue is a noble and a spy who reluctantly takes on a case to help Amelia find her father. From the moment they meet they push all of each other's wrong buttons. You know that the cancerous relationship will eventually lead to more. This book is full of humor, raw emotion, and healing.
This is a series that I am enjoying. They do not have to be read in order.
This is a series that I am enjoying. They do not have to be read in order.
August 27, 2018
I loved the clash of personalities between Amelia and Gabe. They each have a plethora of secrets, and it was fun seeing them grow closer together despite their lack of trust in certain areas. Although they aren't attracted to each other at first, they have great chemistry and are somewhat taken by surprise by their passionate feelings for each other. The mysteries they are working to solve keep the pace of the book hopping, and I loved how each layer unfolded with some surprises along the way. The dynamics of the various members of the London League are fascinating and I can't wait for more books in this series!
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
August 9, 2018
I'm really enjoying this London League series, which is a spinoff from the Arrangements series.
The League of Gentlemen spies is intriguing, as these men have to lead double lives. Rogue is one who does his best to avoid the Ton and all the expectations. He is much more comfortable with the underbelly than the upper class. He is hardened and dedicated to his life as a spy.
I love watching as his character unfolds before us, and we get a glimpse of a softer side. The relationship with Gabe and Amelia is conflicting, as she is not being wholly honest with him and he knows it. There's so much to Amelia that we learn, her past struggle and things she had to learn to survive. She is a formidable woman and can hold her own in many ways against Rogue.
Romance - Clean ❤
Violence - Mild
Language - Mild
🌟Highly Recommend this series and the Arrangements series before it.🌟
The League of Gentlemen spies is intriguing, as these men have to lead double lives. Rogue is one who does his best to avoid the Ton and all the expectations. He is much more comfortable with the underbelly than the upper class. He is hardened and dedicated to his life as a spy.
I love watching as his character unfolds before us, and we get a glimpse of a softer side. The relationship with Gabe and Amelia is conflicting, as she is not being wholly honest with him and he knows it. There's so much to Amelia that we learn, her past struggle and things she had to learn to survive. She is a formidable woman and can hold her own in many ways against Rogue.
Romance - Clean ❤
Violence - Mild
Language - Mild
🌟Highly Recommend this series and the Arrangements series before it.🌟
January 2, 2020
This was a great book! I had a few quibbles about some stuff in this book, but all in all it was a great read! I love romance, mystery& suspense all rolled into a book, so I will look for more of this authors books.
November 11, 2018
Romance series, to me, have never been things you need to read in order. Intricate family histories and intriguing ongoing plots have never been my thing. BUT the London League series has converted me. I LOVE seeing recurring characters, loved the followup and jokes on Margaret and Rafe from book one, and was ecstatic at hints to future spy stories.
As with The Lady and The Gent, I felt the spy plot was lackluster and confusing at times. I'm reviewing this a few weeks after reading it and struggling to even recall many plot elements. What stays with me, though, are the witty banter and actions, and the many moments of Rogue doubting everything Amelia says until she really dishes it right back at him.
Connolly is a star at writing chaste, romantic, dialogue-driven thrillers. I can't wait until book three (and four, and five, and please say this series will just go on indefinitely!). The spy agency reminds me of an old-timey Marvel Avengers cast operating in 1824 London and I am living for these superheroes.
As with The Lady and The Gent, I felt the spy plot was lackluster and confusing at times. I'm reviewing this a few weeks after reading it and struggling to even recall many plot elements. What stays with me, though, are the witty banter and actions, and the many moments of Rogue doubting everything Amelia says until she really dishes it right back at him.
Connolly is a star at writing chaste, romantic, dialogue-driven thrillers. I can't wait until book three (and four, and five, and please say this series will just go on indefinitely!). The spy agency reminds me of an old-timey Marvel Avengers cast operating in 1824 London and I am living for these superheroes.
August 6, 2018
Love Rebecca’s books and Rogue’s story is no exception. This second offering in the London League Series (a spin-off of the author‘s wonderful Arrangements Series) might be my favorite so far. The premise of the series is a bit like The Scarlet Pimpernel — noblemen in disguise as spies, detectives, and protectors of the weak. Implausible? No more so than the beloved Baroness Orczy characters and just as much fun to read.
Rebecca’s writing, as always, is by turns witty, delightful, touching, thoughtful, lol funny, romantic, and CLEAN. I haven’t yet been disappointed. Highly recommended!
Rebecca’s writing, as always, is by turns witty, delightful, touching, thoughtful, lol funny, romantic, and CLEAN. I haven’t yet been disappointed. Highly recommended!
January 29, 2019
LOVED this book!!!
After reading the first book in this series, The Lady and the Gent, I have been so excited to read this next one. I’m always worried when reading a sequel, especially if I really liked the first book, as often you want to compare and are let down when it’s not as good.
Oh my goodness this book was every bit as good as the first- if not better!! The characterization was phenomenal, the plot was intriguing, the mystery kept me guessing, and the romance was toe-curlingly wonderful.
“Rogue” was such a great hero. Brooding, intelligent, gruff, short-tempered, and outwardly callous, he does not come across as quite the Regency hero one would expect. I adored him though, and Amelia complimented him perfectly as the heroine. She is feisty, blunt, resourceful, smart, and brave, and continued to surprise me while reading.
There were many secondary characters from the other book as well as new ones that I can’t wait to read more about. I believe the author has plans for at least a third book in the series and I dearly hope she publishes it soon!!!
After reading the first book in this series, The Lady and the Gent, I have been so excited to read this next one. I’m always worried when reading a sequel, especially if I really liked the first book, as often you want to compare and are let down when it’s not as good.
Oh my goodness this book was every bit as good as the first- if not better!! The characterization was phenomenal, the plot was intriguing, the mystery kept me guessing, and the romance was toe-curlingly wonderful.
“Rogue” was such a great hero. Brooding, intelligent, gruff, short-tempered, and outwardly callous, he does not come across as quite the Regency hero one would expect. I adored him though, and Amelia complimented him perfectly as the heroine. She is feisty, blunt, resourceful, smart, and brave, and continued to surprise me while reading.
There were many secondary characters from the other book as well as new ones that I can’t wait to read more about. I believe the author has plans for at least a third book in the series and I dearly hope she publishes it soon!!!
July 12, 2025
[4.5 stars]
This is a regency, agent-of-the-crown, spy novel. It’s entertaining with witty banter and a good pace. The Cinderella aspect is a little cheesy, and their relationship a little… odd, but the romance is still well developed.
Did I mention this is a regency spy novel? If you go in with appropriate expectations, you’ll find it a great read. Yes, it’s lightly corny throughout, and you don’t want to spend too much time reality checking anything… But it’s everything I signed up for, and I enjoyed it quite a bit.
For those who enjoy audiobooks, the narrator does a great job.
Content:
The romance is limited to lightly descriptive kisses. The words “hell” and “damn” are used a few times, but otherwise the language is clean. There is some violence, but it’s not excessive. There is no mention of faith or God.
Trigger warnings:
Death of a parent. Mentions of a female character being assaulted with sexual intent, but she is rescued.
This is a regency, agent-of-the-crown, spy novel. It’s entertaining with witty banter and a good pace. The Cinderella aspect is a little cheesy, and their relationship a little… odd, but the romance is still well developed.
Did I mention this is a regency spy novel? If you go in with appropriate expectations, you’ll find it a great read. Yes, it’s lightly corny throughout, and you don’t want to spend too much time reality checking anything… But it’s everything I signed up for, and I enjoyed it quite a bit.
For those who enjoy audiobooks, the narrator does a great job.
Content:
The romance is limited to lightly descriptive kisses. The words “hell” and “damn” are used a few times, but otherwise the language is clean. There is some violence, but it’s not excessive. There is no mention of faith or God.
Trigger warnings:
Death of a parent. Mentions of a female character being assaulted with sexual intent, but she is rescued.
November 19, 2018
I found the premise of the book so wildly unrealistic that it took me at least three times picking it up and putting it down again before I sat down to seriously read it. Once I did manage to suspended my disbelief it was delightful. It is a story which looks beyond love at first sight and really has the characters thoroughly get to know each other as they fall in love, even though all the while trying to keep their own secrets for what are mostly reasonable reasons. There was rather too much kissing for propriety, but one of the main characters is called Rogue so perhaps I should have known that would be the case.
February 7, 2020
Gabe (known as Rogue in the London League) and Amelia are not your typical hero and heroine and that made this story so much fun! Gabe is a poor noble who refuses to come up to snuff to please his aunt so she can give him an inheritance. Unknown to his aunt, he's a spy and actually makes a decent living. He reluctantly takes on Amelia's case (as a cover - so people won't know he's a spy) to help her find her father, who she has never known.
Everyone is intimidated by Gabe and his unfriendly ways - except Amelia. She's had a hard childhood and refuses to back down. It was fun spending time with Gabe and Amelia!
Everyone is intimidated by Gabe and his unfriendly ways - except Amelia. She's had a hard childhood and refuses to back down. It was fun spending time with Gabe and Amelia!
September 16, 2022
I really really liked this one!!!! The mystery was definitely there for me and I loved the depth of Gabe and Amelia’s backgrounds. A beautiful romance too! 🥹
August 5, 2018
5 stars
I really enjoyed the first book in this series and was looking forward to the second one. It did not disappoint. I loved everything about it. Now I’m looking forward to the next one.
I really enjoyed the first book in this series and was looking forward to the second one. It did not disappoint. I loved everything about it. Now I’m looking forward to the next one.
November 21, 2025
I really enjoyed this chaste book, a bit of a relief from many of the OTT historical romances with a bit of mystery thrown in.
April 15, 2025
My, my, my…
Another book thoroughly enjoyed, and the love story was amazingly awesome. I found the interaction between the goddess and Lord Wharton at the ball a bit extreme and over the top, but the rest of the story had me perfectly content, although I kept thinking Daisy should be part of the family. The kisses, between Gabe and Amelia, were sizzling and so swoon worthy and a perfect blend of diet spice.
Another book thoroughly enjoyed, and the love story was amazingly awesome. I found the interaction between the goddess and Lord Wharton at the ball a bit extreme and over the top, but the rest of the story had me perfectly content, although I kept thinking Daisy should be part of the family. The kisses, between Gabe and Amelia, were sizzling and so swoon worthy and a perfect blend of diet spice.
October 15, 2018
I was rather disappointed by this book. I love this author and have read all her other books, but this one didn't measure up. It was hard to like either of the main characters at first, but my main complaint is that the second half of the story was not at all believable. It made absolutely no sense that Rogue and Amelia didn't recognize each other at the ball, even though it was a masquerade. They didn't recognize each other's voice or eyes? Or even have an inkling that it might them? But the fact that they didn't realize each other's identities after they became romantically involved and were kissing all the time? That's ludicrous. Unless their connection at the ball wasn't really as intense and magical as it was purported to be. The other part of the book that I didn't like was all the swearing. There was a lot of it and I don't like reading stories with bad language.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 2, 2018
Loved it!!!
This series just keeps getting better & better!! I love how characters from previous books appear or are at least mentioned & I cannot wait for the next one! Sigh. This is swoon worthy at its best as far as I’m concerned. I can highly recommend!
This series just keeps getting better & better!! I love how characters from previous books appear or are at least mentioned & I cannot wait for the next one! Sigh. This is swoon worthy at its best as far as I’m concerned. I can highly recommend!
September 17, 2019
This was an... interesting book.
Here we have a heroine who is as ruthless and as able to defend herself as the hero, so much so that towards the end he drugs, kidnaps and ties her up to prevent her from hurting someone.
Now that's romantic.
Here we have a heroine who is as ruthless and as able to defend herself as the hero, so much so that towards the end he drugs, kidnaps and ties her up to prevent her from hurting someone.
Now that's romantic.
May 4, 2020
Two and a half stars. For some reason I can't do halves. This is a good book with some very good moments and also some very stupid moments. It's fine for a little romance, but it does have some very big holes. Exposing these holes does mean that you'll have to have the book spoiled, so if you don't want that, please don't read this review further. Since the plot holes affected how I felt about the story and the star rating I gave it, I can't separately review without spoilers.
Amelia was pretty angry with her father and wanted to kill him. I get it, that kind of made sense if she blamed him for leaving his mother alone and all the things that happened in her life because he was not there to take care of her. But then when she finds him, she forgives him in minutes. I mean like "okay, no problem." Made no sense if she really blamed him for all the horrible things that had happened in her life. But on top of that, his excuse was that he couldn't find her. Whatever, she found him and she isn't in charge of a huge spy network. That was just stupid and a lousy excuse. It was hardly believable.
Gabe gave Amelia opium to put her out so that he could kidnap her in order to take her to her father. First off, stupid, because opium reacts differently with all people. He could have killed her accidentally by giving her opium without knowing how she would react to it. Add to that the fact that he tied her up and told her he wouldn't let her go and then in less than a week she's feeling bad for how she treated him and saying she wants him back? Unbelievable. That goes right along with forgiving a father who had a lame excuse for not taking care of her and then saying that he always wanted her. It was too easy and felt like it was totally out of character.
Also, the fact that Amelia blamed her father for every bad thing in her life was a little silly. Sure, he should have been there. But for all she knew, he had died when she was a child. So it seemed unreasonable for her to forgive her father when she found him after one lame excuse and years of anger and hatred when the whole reason she was angry and hated him was a little bit forced anyway.
Then, the relationship between Gabe and Amelia was a little bit confusing. While he was kissing Amelia and happily spending time with her, he was also looking for the goddess from the ball that he was in love with. She knew that too, but didn't even get upset about that until the very end. I mean, considering that she was kissing him back while thinking that he was in love with someone else, that didn't make any sense to me. She doesn't seem like she's the kind of girl who would be happy to be the mistress, so if she hadn't been his goddess in the first place, would she have been a mistress or would he have dumped her? That made them both seem cheap and made it hard to believe in their relationship. It wasn't necessary for him to look for and fall in love with the goddess and then find out it was her. But having that as part of the story made it feel like he was the kind of man who would cheat on his wife. It wasn't necessary to the story, but it definitely made me feel like he wasn't a good man.
Next, Jean gave all the information about Amelia to Gabe with pretty much no reason to do so. Even if he'd known Gabe forever and trusted him, why would he totally give up everything about Amelia without talking to her about it first? Honestly, if those are your protectors and friends, you don't need any enemies. For someone who helps with smuggling and is at least halfway criminal, he is way too happy to be giving information out about someone who is supposedly important to him.
On top of that, nothing that he learned about her except the fact that she had been working with that group was any different than all the things he'd known about her anyway. So Gabe feeling terrible for all she's been through, when she'd already told him, was silly. He already knew, the only thing he didn't know was that those guys had taken her in and given her a way to live. Why suddenly hearing it from someone else made Gabe feel really bad was just overdone.
Lastly, when Amelia went to see Gabe and he treated her pretty coldly and started to walk off at the very end, it made more sense for her character to give up and leave. It made no sense for her to beg him for forgiveness. The whole book she is nothing like that, at the end, she does tons of things that make no sense. Forgiving her dad, believing his lame excuse, feeling like she was entirely to blame when Gabe was just as much at fault, and begging him to love her. All things that didn't seem like her at all.
Overall, I still liked this story, but the ending was unbelievable, out of character, and therefore, unsatisfying.
Amelia was pretty angry with her father and wanted to kill him. I get it, that kind of made sense if she blamed him for leaving his mother alone and all the things that happened in her life because he was not there to take care of her. But then when she finds him, she forgives him in minutes. I mean like "okay, no problem." Made no sense if she really blamed him for all the horrible things that had happened in her life. But on top of that, his excuse was that he couldn't find her. Whatever, she found him and she isn't in charge of a huge spy network. That was just stupid and a lousy excuse. It was hardly believable.
Gabe gave Amelia opium to put her out so that he could kidnap her in order to take her to her father. First off, stupid, because opium reacts differently with all people. He could have killed her accidentally by giving her opium without knowing how she would react to it. Add to that the fact that he tied her up and told her he wouldn't let her go and then in less than a week she's feeling bad for how she treated him and saying she wants him back? Unbelievable. That goes right along with forgiving a father who had a lame excuse for not taking care of her and then saying that he always wanted her. It was too easy and felt like it was totally out of character.
Also, the fact that Amelia blamed her father for every bad thing in her life was a little silly. Sure, he should have been there. But for all she knew, he had died when she was a child. So it seemed unreasonable for her to forgive her father when she found him after one lame excuse and years of anger and hatred when the whole reason she was angry and hated him was a little bit forced anyway.
Then, the relationship between Gabe and Amelia was a little bit confusing. While he was kissing Amelia and happily spending time with her, he was also looking for the goddess from the ball that he was in love with. She knew that too, but didn't even get upset about that until the very end. I mean, considering that she was kissing him back while thinking that he was in love with someone else, that didn't make any sense to me. She doesn't seem like she's the kind of girl who would be happy to be the mistress, so if she hadn't been his goddess in the first place, would she have been a mistress or would he have dumped her? That made them both seem cheap and made it hard to believe in their relationship. It wasn't necessary for him to look for and fall in love with the goddess and then find out it was her. But having that as part of the story made it feel like he was the kind of man who would cheat on his wife. It wasn't necessary to the story, but it definitely made me feel like he wasn't a good man.
Next, Jean gave all the information about Amelia to Gabe with pretty much no reason to do so. Even if he'd known Gabe forever and trusted him, why would he totally give up everything about Amelia without talking to her about it first? Honestly, if those are your protectors and friends, you don't need any enemies. For someone who helps with smuggling and is at least halfway criminal, he is way too happy to be giving information out about someone who is supposedly important to him.
On top of that, nothing that he learned about her except the fact that she had been working with that group was any different than all the things he'd known about her anyway. So Gabe feeling terrible for all she's been through, when she'd already told him, was silly. He already knew, the only thing he didn't know was that those guys had taken her in and given her a way to live. Why suddenly hearing it from someone else made Gabe feel really bad was just overdone.
Lastly, when Amelia went to see Gabe and he treated her pretty coldly and started to walk off at the very end, it made more sense for her character to give up and leave. It made no sense for her to beg him for forgiveness. The whole book she is nothing like that, at the end, she does tons of things that make no sense. Forgiving her dad, believing his lame excuse, feeling like she was entirely to blame when Gabe was just as much at fault, and begging him to love her. All things that didn't seem like her at all.
Overall, I still liked this story, but the ending was unbelievable, out of character, and therefore, unsatisfying.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2020
Thoughts on book
I don't like the story or characters and thought it was over dramatized. The romance was weak and so stupid when they both know they liked each other and still wouldn't get together for no strong or good reason. I also think the so call infuriating banter between the two wasn't really all that infuriating and was overplayed up plus the writing at times was ambiguous with pronouns and who it referred to. Overall pretty disappointing novel. Only decent scene was the ball masquerade when the two danced in masks and didn't realize it was each other.
But there's just so many stupid or unnecessary things. Ex Amelia thinks how she has secrets of her own that she absolutely must hide....but what do they amount to? She was raised on the docks as a runner and fighter and had a rough upbringing - that's it. It's not even all that illegal or controversial. Similar with Rogue who demands to be known as a 'man without honor' to operate easier...but in essence no one knows him regardless (even in spite of his Lord status) and makes zero difference to his job as a London operative. Then his entirely wrong 'hunch' about Amelia being different and hiding her true motive; nope Rogue's initial hunches are pretty much completely off, Amelia really was searching for her dad and she really was abandoned by him etc.
I feel like the author tried so hard to make this a "cool" story that was exciting with intrigue and dramatic but a lot of it comes across as unnecessary or superfluous or unnatural and just overdramatic and forced.
It was a really short read but it honestly wasn't that enjoyable; more just a book to pass the time and try out as a romance novel since I don't often read them. The end and the children with the two was fine as was the weak twist of Eagle the agent being her true father; it was all ehhh not bad but not great or all that interesting either.
Also...did Gabe seriously have to forcibly DRUG her with opium? He said it was to stop her from killing her dad but that was so unnecessary - he could've just explained who the dad was and search her before letting her meet up with the dad. Seriously wtf. Drugging, kidnapping and tying up his "love" was so unnecessary and over the top. Overall pretty weak and terribly disappointing given how it was rec'd to me.
I don't like the story or characters and thought it was over dramatized. The romance was weak and so stupid when they both know they liked each other and still wouldn't get together for no strong or good reason. I also think the so call infuriating banter between the two wasn't really all that infuriating and was overplayed up plus the writing at times was ambiguous with pronouns and who it referred to. Overall pretty disappointing novel. Only decent scene was the ball masquerade when the two danced in masks and didn't realize it was each other.
But there's just so many stupid or unnecessary things. Ex Amelia thinks how she has secrets of her own that she absolutely must hide....but what do they amount to? She was raised on the docks as a runner and fighter and had a rough upbringing - that's it. It's not even all that illegal or controversial. Similar with Rogue who demands to be known as a 'man without honor' to operate easier...but in essence no one knows him regardless (even in spite of his Lord status) and makes zero difference to his job as a London operative. Then his entirely wrong 'hunch' about Amelia being different and hiding her true motive; nope Rogue's initial hunches are pretty much completely off, Amelia really was searching for her dad and she really was abandoned by him etc.
I feel like the author tried so hard to make this a "cool" story that was exciting with intrigue and dramatic but a lot of it comes across as unnecessary or superfluous or unnatural and just overdramatic and forced.
It was a really short read but it honestly wasn't that enjoyable; more just a book to pass the time and try out as a romance novel since I don't often read them. The end and the children with the two was fine as was the weak twist of Eagle the agent being her true father; it was all ehhh not bad but not great or all that interesting either.
Also...did Gabe seriously have to forcibly DRUG her with opium? He said it was to stop her from killing her dad but that was so unnecessary - he could've just explained who the dad was and search her before letting her meet up with the dad. Seriously wtf. Drugging, kidnapping and tying up his "love" was so unnecessary and over the top. Overall pretty weak and terribly disappointing given how it was rec'd to me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 8, 2025
This is the second book in the London League series, and I think it may be better than the first one (The Lady and the Gent). A Rogue About Town is about a spy in London with the code name, ‘Rogue.’ He is a surly, rude, mean-spirited, a man who has no honor and no heart, or that’s what he wants everyone to believe.
His cover is an investigator who has to take some legitimate cases, which is where the heroine enters the story, Amelia. She is looking for her father who she never knew, but her motivations are less than noble. She also has a lot of secrets to keep, mainly all of her past.
Being an operative and knowing Amelia is keeping back all these secrets, he agrees to help her find her father, because she piqued his interest and knows there’s more to her story than she’s letting on. Thus, a relationship of rudeness, barbs, and tempers flaring ensue. IMO, they deserve each other, and that’s why this budding romance works. This may be somewhat of an enemies-to-lovers romance, but they are very much alike.
There’s more to this story than just the hero and heroine working a case together, but I do not want to give away any spoilers. Let me say, there is intrigue, and it is worth getting to the end of the story for the conclusion.
I followed along with the audiobook while reading this nice, amusing story. The narrator was Jessica Elisa Boyd, and she did an excellent job (again!) with the voice acting. I have listened to a number of Ms. Boyd’s books, and she is amazing with her voice. The narration was definitely 5****, and the story a solid 4****. Highly recommend both.
His cover is an investigator who has to take some legitimate cases, which is where the heroine enters the story, Amelia. She is looking for her father who she never knew, but her motivations are less than noble. She also has a lot of secrets to keep, mainly all of her past.
Being an operative and knowing Amelia is keeping back all these secrets, he agrees to help her find her father, because she piqued his interest and knows there’s more to her story than she’s letting on. Thus, a relationship of rudeness, barbs, and tempers flaring ensue. IMO, they deserve each other, and that’s why this budding romance works. This may be somewhat of an enemies-to-lovers romance, but they are very much alike.
There’s more to this story than just the hero and heroine working a case together, but I do not want to give away any spoilers. Let me say, there is intrigue, and it is worth getting to the end of the story for the conclusion.
I followed along with the audiobook while reading this nice, amusing story. The narrator was Jessica Elisa Boyd, and she did an excellent job (again!) with the voice acting. I have listened to a number of Ms. Boyd’s books, and she is amazing with her voice. The narration was definitely 5****, and the story a solid 4****. Highly recommend both.
August 8, 2018
Sweetest Epilogue EVER!
This book ended on such a sweet note. I wasn't at all sure I could possibly enjoy a book about Rogue because he was so awful in the first book. How could someone so unpleasant be lovable? But he was. We get the first hint that there is a good person underneath all the gruffness when we see him interact with Daisy and that he does actually like his aunt even though he doesn't want to admit to that one. Maybe we would all like to be able to be just a little like Rogue and speak our minds at will instead of being part of polite society? Sometimes, at least.
A couple things I wasn't too sure about...how could the house they had rented so long ago be sitting as they left it? Why did they leave so much stuff behind? Why did the owners not clean it out and rent it to someone else? It would have made more sense to me to find the belongings sitting in a shed or attic or something. I was also a little disturbed by both characters being so callous about "collateral damage". A guy lies and she makes him disappear. He burns down a building to dispose of a body. Nobody seems to care...
But despite my questions there, I did enjoy the book. It was fun to read and a good little mystery. We didn't always get to hear the clues like the characters did so it was impossible to know who her father was until the author showed us. The story focused more on the relationships as they worked to solve the mystery. You have to assume they were meant to be together since they actually fall in love with each other twice as different people.
The story does stand alone but probably makes more sense if you read the first in the series before this one. And the Gent actually comes from the Arrangement series so the first introduction really begins books ago.
Sex: kisses
Language: yes, mild
Violence: yes, some
This book ended on such a sweet note. I wasn't at all sure I could possibly enjoy a book about Rogue because he was so awful in the first book. How could someone so unpleasant be lovable? But he was. We get the first hint that there is a good person underneath all the gruffness when we see him interact with Daisy and that he does actually like his aunt even though he doesn't want to admit to that one. Maybe we would all like to be able to be just a little like Rogue and speak our minds at will instead of being part of polite society? Sometimes, at least.
A couple things I wasn't too sure about...how could the house they had rented so long ago be sitting as they left it? Why did they leave so much stuff behind? Why did the owners not clean it out and rent it to someone else? It would have made more sense to me to find the belongings sitting in a shed or attic or something. I was also a little disturbed by both characters being so callous about "collateral damage". A guy lies and she makes him disappear. He burns down a building to dispose of a body. Nobody seems to care...
But despite my questions there, I did enjoy the book. It was fun to read and a good little mystery. We didn't always get to hear the clues like the characters did so it was impossible to know who her father was until the author showed us. The story focused more on the relationships as they worked to solve the mystery. You have to assume they were meant to be together since they actually fall in love with each other twice as different people.
The story does stand alone but probably makes more sense if you read the first in the series before this one. And the Gent actually comes from the Arrangement series so the first introduction really begins books ago.
Sex: kisses
Language: yes, mild
Violence: yes, some
March 7, 2019
A Rogue About Town
London League #2
By Rebecca Connolly
His life has become so complicated just because he saved a woman and child from a burning building. Rogue has never sought attention but one little act has made him the center of attention and his duties for the London League are being hurt by people seeking his help. And his alter ego Gabriel Statler, Lord Wharton must take special care to not be linked with Rogue. Rogue has never been known for his charm and lately, it has been even more scarce.
Amelia Berger needs help, she needs to find her long-absent father - the man she blames for her mother's broken heart. And from what she's heard the best person for this job is Rogue. But Amelia is not content to just sit back and wait for results she wants to take an active role in her search.
Rogue is sure of one thing about his newest client she is hiding something and he is determined to discover just what that something is. With little to go on and even less concrete evidence, this is one case that just might be worth his time and effort. And it will be something to get his mind off his aunt's matchmaking attempts. And unless he, as Lord Wharton, marries well and soon his aunt has threatened to withhold the inheritance he is to receive from her - not that Gabe really cares. Marriage is the last thing he has any desire for at present - that is until he attends the ball his aunt throws in his honor.
Amelia and Gabe are well-matched in wit and biting remarks. And the secrets they both hold could very well undo them both.
A Rogue About Town is the second book in the London League series and it can be read on its own with no drawbacks in following the storyline. This is a Regency Era piece that is a well-balanced blend of sarcasm, intrigue, mystery, and romance that is sure to delight.
London League #2
By Rebecca Connolly
His life has become so complicated just because he saved a woman and child from a burning building. Rogue has never sought attention but one little act has made him the center of attention and his duties for the London League are being hurt by people seeking his help. And his alter ego Gabriel Statler, Lord Wharton must take special care to not be linked with Rogue. Rogue has never been known for his charm and lately, it has been even more scarce.
Amelia Berger needs help, she needs to find her long-absent father - the man she blames for her mother's broken heart. And from what she's heard the best person for this job is Rogue. But Amelia is not content to just sit back and wait for results she wants to take an active role in her search.
Rogue is sure of one thing about his newest client she is hiding something and he is determined to discover just what that something is. With little to go on and even less concrete evidence, this is one case that just might be worth his time and effort. And it will be something to get his mind off his aunt's matchmaking attempts. And unless he, as Lord Wharton, marries well and soon his aunt has threatened to withhold the inheritance he is to receive from her - not that Gabe really cares. Marriage is the last thing he has any desire for at present - that is until he attends the ball his aunt throws in his honor.
Amelia and Gabe are well-matched in wit and biting remarks. And the secrets they both hold could very well undo them both.
A Rogue About Town is the second book in the London League series and it can be read on its own with no drawbacks in following the storyline. This is a Regency Era piece that is a well-balanced blend of sarcasm, intrigue, mystery, and romance that is sure to delight.
January 14, 2024
WHAT IT'S ABOUT
A disgruntled operative… Gabriel Statler, Lord Wharton, has a problem. His duties as an operative for the Crown are being compromised for the sake of his cover, where he is known only as the Rogue. His days are now filled with trivial investigations, and none of the problems are ones he wants to solve. Then he meets a mysterious young woman who holds more secrets than he likes, and, against his better judgment, he takes her case. A determined client... Amelia Berger needs the Rogue, and she needs everything he can offer without revealing everything she knows. Her secrets are her own, and she has far too many to risk revealing even one. But when working with Rogue turns into something entirely unexpected, she finds that the secrets she began with are not the ones she most needs to protect.
MY TAKE
What a great story. Gabe is a mess, emotionally, and he likes it that way. Declares he's an emotionless rogue and can't be bothered with people. Except there's so much more to him than that, but it takes a feisty woman who's been through the mill and is seeking vengeance against the father of abandoned her and her mother.
There is so much to this story. When the story begins, Rogue and Amelia are as prickly with each other as possible, impatient and frustrated at the other one. But the more they work together to figure out who her father is, the more they learn about each other and find they have a lot in common as far as their personalities go. It gets complicated with other side plots, but the twist at the end is great and the resolution is swoony.
A disgruntled operative… Gabriel Statler, Lord Wharton, has a problem. His duties as an operative for the Crown are being compromised for the sake of his cover, where he is known only as the Rogue. His days are now filled with trivial investigations, and none of the problems are ones he wants to solve. Then he meets a mysterious young woman who holds more secrets than he likes, and, against his better judgment, he takes her case. A determined client... Amelia Berger needs the Rogue, and she needs everything he can offer without revealing everything she knows. Her secrets are her own, and she has far too many to risk revealing even one. But when working with Rogue turns into something entirely unexpected, she finds that the secrets she began with are not the ones she most needs to protect.
MY TAKE
What a great story. Gabe is a mess, emotionally, and he likes it that way. Declares he's an emotionless rogue and can't be bothered with people. Except there's so much more to him than that, but it takes a feisty woman who's been through the mill and is seeking vengeance against the father of abandoned her and her mother.
There is so much to this story. When the story begins, Rogue and Amelia are as prickly with each other as possible, impatient and frustrated at the other one. But the more they work together to figure out who her father is, the more they learn about each other and find they have a lot in common as far as their personalities go. It gets complicated with other side plots, but the twist at the end is great and the resolution is swoony.
July 30, 2020
3.5 stars: If I’m honest, this book annoyed the snot out of me. That being said, I could not put it down. Rogue is an ass. Amelia isn’t much better. I did not have the affection for them that I had for Gent/Rafe and Margaret. At the beginning, all I could think was HOW are these characters ever going to end up together???
However, I was far more interested in the intrigue in this book. It was much more fleshed out than the very vague plot of the “traitors” in the previous book, and I was totally invested in learning Amelia’s identity.
Just as the characters began to grow on me, we came to the Masquerade ball. It was utterly charming—but it made literally no sense whatsoever. Both characters acted like anyone but themselves, but even chalking that up to the spirit of a masquerade, here is my problem: No matter the mask, how is it possible that two characters who have spent every single day for weeks in each others’ company not recognize each other? Not even a spark of familiarity. You’ve never heard that voice before? These hands don’t look familiar? You don’t recognize the eyes of the man that you have commented on several times already in this book?That is patently ridiculous. 🙄 and later, when you kiss unmasked, that’s not familiar either???
Oh well. I kept reading and was eventually satisfied with the conclusion. I like this series, and I will keep reading it. I am particularly looking forward to Rook’s story as I find him delightful, and I loved Helen in book one.
However, I was far more interested in the intrigue in this book. It was much more fleshed out than the very vague plot of the “traitors” in the previous book, and I was totally invested in learning Amelia’s identity.
Just as the characters began to grow on me, we came to the Masquerade ball. It was utterly charming—but it made literally no sense whatsoever. Both characters acted like anyone but themselves, but even chalking that up to the spirit of a masquerade, here is my problem: No matter the mask, how is it possible that two characters who have spent every single day for weeks in each others’ company not recognize each other? Not even a spark of familiarity. You’ve never heard that voice before? These hands don’t look familiar? You don’t recognize the eyes of the man that you have commented on several times already in this book?That is patently ridiculous. 🙄 and later, when you kiss unmasked, that’s not familiar either???
Oh well. I kept reading and was eventually satisfied with the conclusion. I like this series, and I will keep reading it. I am particularly looking forward to Rook’s story as I find him delightful, and I loved Helen in book one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2020
I really enjoyed so much about this one: the surprising development of the relationship and the mystery. I have to say I suspected who it was all along simply because if the way the first part of the story was written. But this was a fun read and had some interesting characters. I loved the development of a couple of the minor characters from the first book.
I will say that there are still holes in Amelia's life that I wish were filled. We don't know what happened to her for a few years on either side of her stint at the docks. And after saying that Rogue had no idea what she knew about the bad side of London I would have liked a better explication of her life. Also, it seemed she went from being a strong woman who never cries to a very weepy woman by the end. Not that I fault weepy women...it just seemed against her character.
Last thing, both of the books in this series so far feel like it should be set more in Victorian England and not Regency. There was a great deal of kissing in public to be very proper and they went for a carriage ride without an escort and didn't even bat an eyelash. It seems the looser standards belong in a latter time period. I understand Amelia was no "proper" lady but Rogue was a gentleman and still should have observed propriety for the time. Still enjoyed the story but I pictured it more Victorian time period. The lucky thing was that there was not anything specifically tying to the time period so it was very easy to translate it my head.
I will say that there are still holes in Amelia's life that I wish were filled. We don't know what happened to her for a few years on either side of her stint at the docks. And after saying that Rogue had no idea what she knew about the bad side of London I would have liked a better explication of her life. Also, it seemed she went from being a strong woman who never cries to a very weepy woman by the end. Not that I fault weepy women...it just seemed against her character.
Last thing, both of the books in this series so far feel like it should be set more in Victorian England and not Regency. There was a great deal of kissing in public to be very proper and they went for a carriage ride without an escort and didn't even bat an eyelash. It seems the looser standards belong in a latter time period. I understand Amelia was no "proper" lady but Rogue was a gentleman and still should have observed propriety for the time. Still enjoyed the story but I pictured it more Victorian time period. The lucky thing was that there was not anything specifically tying to the time period so it was very easy to translate it my head.
July 13, 2019
Have is many things. He also has many identities. He is a spy for the crown, with a reputation for getting answers, and solving puzzles. Due to his own folly, he must be seen in the office of a building full of regular investigation. It is here he meets a lady. with secrets, that is in search of her father. She refuses anyone else's help. The more he growls, and is grumpy, the more she becomes obstinate. There are many changes to both these character, and other secondary characters are brought in as support on each side. What begins as bickering, leads to teasing. It was fun watching the exchange. The mystery was a good one, although I feared her father must be dead. The story line was very tight, and kept me reading. I loved the epilogue, and it gave the readers insight, into the future. It was a clean romance, mystery. The leading characters both had been hurt, as younger children, and it was hard for them to trust, but they had common ground to fall back on. I gave it 5 stars, since I could not put it down.. You don't have to read in order, but as in most series of this type, you will hear information that is not explained completely, if you don't begin with book one. .It also teaches about forgiveness, and redemption. The conclusions you come to on your own, May not be any where near the truth of the matter.
December 1, 2025
A baseball that has been patched from being hit too hard trailing stitches
Fresh bread with butter or a cucumber
Being caught in a revolving door
A cork bobbing on the waves disappearing and reappearing
Not believable, but recognizing 2° of separation
Frustrating like something just out of reach
Satisfying like bumper cars
Whenever one got angry, the author redeemed herself with the next few lines
With soaring sentences and excellent repartee
A rushed ending
Cannot visualize set in 1824
One line describes my attitude
As the biggest pain in the arse I have ever met
She just does it so brilliantly that the quirks of drawbacks non sequiturs and impossibility are forgiven
With the possible exception of an exponential treacle epilogue in which Connolly forgot herself
On the homefront, our government has sold out to the Russians, disengaged from NATO, bringing Senator Mark Kelly to court for speaking truth to power and Hegseth is on record saying “kill them all”
Joyce Vance related that when she was appointed Atty General in Alabama, she did not meet Obama until her second year when he gathered all his appointments together and said you do not work for me you work for the people
It is a mystery if we will ever return to that normal
Fresh bread with butter or a cucumber
Being caught in a revolving door
A cork bobbing on the waves disappearing and reappearing
Not believable, but recognizing 2° of separation
Frustrating like something just out of reach
Satisfying like bumper cars
Whenever one got angry, the author redeemed herself with the next few lines
With soaring sentences and excellent repartee
A rushed ending
Cannot visualize set in 1824
One line describes my attitude
As the biggest pain in the arse I have ever met
She just does it so brilliantly that the quirks of drawbacks non sequiturs and impossibility are forgiven
With the possible exception of an exponential treacle epilogue in which Connolly forgot herself
On the homefront, our government has sold out to the Russians, disengaged from NATO, bringing Senator Mark Kelly to court for speaking truth to power and Hegseth is on record saying “kill them all”
Joyce Vance related that when she was appointed Atty General in Alabama, she did not meet Obama until her second year when he gathered all his appointments together and said you do not work for me you work for the people
It is a mystery if we will ever return to that normal
Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews