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The Rosebuds #1
Romancing the Rogue
When Michael Kenyon, the Marquess of Stokeford, finds his grandmother having her palm read by a gypsy beauty, he's convinced that Vivien Thorne is a fortune hunter. The Marquess is determined to expose her as a fraud-and Vivien is equally determined to claim her rightful heritage. Yet neither the spirited gypsy nor the notorious rogue foresee the white-hot desire that turns their battle into a daring game where to surrender is unthinkable...impossible...and altogether irresistible.
370 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
14 people are currently reading
249 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Dawson Smith
27 books97 followersFrom http://www.barbaradawsonsmith.com/bio...
A member of Romance Writers of America since 1981, Barbara Dawson Smith sold her first historical romance two weeks after sending it to a publisher. Her books have won the Golden Heart Award from RWA, and Best Historical Romantic Suspense and Best Regency Historical from Romantic Times. She has been a finalist for the National Readers’ Choice Award, Romance of the Year by Affaire de Coeur magazine, the Golden Quill, and the Booksellers' Best Award. She has also been a five-time finalist for the prestigious RITA Award, and realized a lifetime dream in 2002 when she won the award for TEMPT ME TWICE. Barbara also writes romance as Olivia Drake.
Barbara lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband, two daughters, two cats, and who knows how many neighbor children running up and down the stairs. When she's not finishing a chapter or teaching a seminar on writing, she enjoys browsing in her collection of over a thousand research books.
A member of Romance Writers of America since 1981, Barbara Dawson Smith sold her first historical romance two weeks after sending it to a publisher. Her books have won the Golden Heart Award from RWA, and Best Historical Romantic Suspense and Best Regency Historical from Romantic Times. She has been a finalist for the National Readers’ Choice Award, Romance of the Year by Affaire de Coeur magazine, the Golden Quill, and the Booksellers' Best Award. She has also been a five-time finalist for the prestigious RITA Award, and realized a lifetime dream in 2002 when she won the award for TEMPT ME TWICE. Barbara also writes romance as Olivia Drake.
Barbara lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband, two daughters, two cats, and who knows how many neighbor children running up and down the stairs. When she's not finishing a chapter or teaching a seminar on writing, she enjoys browsing in her collection of over a thousand research books.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 30, 2023
Not bad old school historical romance.
The heroine is from gentle breeding but grown up with Gypsies. Three sweet old ladies come to fetch her and want her to become a lady and to marry well.
One of the ladies grandson is the hero, a conceited manwhore who thinks that she’s a thief and a fraud.
He tries in every way to show that she’s a nasty unpleasant criminal that wants to exploit the old ladies but he’s attracted to her and mauls her and kisses her each time he can.
He plans to seduce her then send her her way.
The heroine is no victim.
She slaps, kicks, punch him and doesn’t let him subdue her.
But there’s attraction between them.
And just when he’s almost believing she’s a good person, there are not one but three ow who try to frame her as a thief.
And of course the hero believes them.
So she goes back to her adoptive family and the idiot has to grovel. Not once but twice and that was really weird because I thought that after almost losing her the first time he would be more considerate and careful.
Sadly he’s been betrayed by his first wife in the past so he’s bitter and doesn’t trust easily.
And he also has a lil daughter that isn’t his.
Not bad this one, both very besotted but he maybe more.
A bit of disappointment for all his repeated insults to her, that reeks of racism. Tiring.
But eventually he realizes he’s wrong.
The heroine is from gentle breeding but grown up with Gypsies. Three sweet old ladies come to fetch her and want her to become a lady and to marry well.
One of the ladies grandson is the hero, a conceited manwhore who thinks that she’s a thief and a fraud.
He tries in every way to show that she’s a nasty unpleasant criminal that wants to exploit the old ladies but he’s attracted to her and mauls her and kisses her each time he can.
He plans to seduce her then send her her way.
The heroine is no victim.
She slaps, kicks, punch him and doesn’t let him subdue her.
But there’s attraction between them.
And just when he’s almost believing she’s a good person, there are not one but three ow who try to frame her as a thief.
And of course the hero believes them.
So she goes back to her adoptive family and the idiot has to grovel. Not once but twice and that was really weird because I thought that after almost losing her the first time he would be more considerate and careful.
Sadly he’s been betrayed by his first wife in the past so he’s bitter and doesn’t trust easily.
And he also has a lil daughter that isn’t his.
Not bad this one, both very besotted but he maybe more.
A bit of disappointment for all his repeated insults to her, that reeks of racism. Tiring.
But eventually he realizes he’s wrong.
October 27, 2021
4.5 stars Vivian and Michael. Easy, breezy, old school romance with the romance leaning towards the clean side. Michael can not keep his hands off her even when his mistress is at the same week long party. My favorite part was the Rosebuds. (One, of whom, is Michaels grandmother.) I laughed when I learned how they got their nickname.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 8, 2024
Read: 8/8/24
What a cute story! I thoroughly enjoyed this fun book!
Plot: Vivian's life changes when 3 old women arrive at her gypsy camp and informs her that she is the lost daughter of their governess. Turns out her birth mother's lover stole her baby when she was ill and gave Vivian to a lovely Gypsy couple who couldn't have children. The 3 old ladies (Rosebuds) will pay her 100 guineas a month if she learns how to become a lady. Vivian loves the Rosebuds, but she knows that after 2 months, she will return to her old life.
Michael has been living the high life in London and is thinking of proposing to his mistress. All is interrupted when he learns his grandmother and friends have taken in a gypsy girl. When he arrives, he does everything to get rid of this charlatan. He vows to expose her fraud, but not before he takes this ravishing woman to his bed.
MC:
I really loved Vivian! She has a way of bringing out the best in people. She was down to earth, intelligent, and honest. Vivian doesn't care about the Giorgio life! She wants to make enough money to help her adoptive parents and then return to her caravan. Michael and his distrust are her only obstacles. It doesn't help that she has a strong physical attraction to him. It hurts that he thinks she is a thief.
Michael has grown cynical since his wife's death. Michael has a devastating secret that he is trying to hide from his grandmother, and that's why he lives in London with his daughter. Understandably, he tries to protect his grandmother from this charlatan. He spends too much time trying to expose Vivian as a liar even as he tries to get her in his bed. Men🙄! Michael's distrust was the biggest problem in the book. It takes him a long time to realize Vivian is the woman he needs.
Secondary characters:
I liked the secondary characters! His grandmother and friends were fantastic! The Rosebuds steal the book! I love how the three supported and plotted together. They were like the Golden Girls 🥰 I want more stories about them. Hell, a prequel would be great!
Michael's daughter was adorable but a little spoiled. I see a big problem in the future. Michael's OW was not too obnoxious! No crazy plots like most OW do in hr books.
Conclusion:
The mysteries and secrets were easy to figure out. It didn't take me long to figure out who Vivian's birth father was or the mystery behind Michael's wife's death. I don't think the book even tried to be mysterious, and that's okay. I enjoyed the ride! The love story of a Gypsy and Marquess falling in love was farfetched but entertaining. This was just a fun read, nothing more. The book doesn't have very much depth in its plot.
What a cute story! I thoroughly enjoyed this fun book!
Plot: Vivian's life changes when 3 old women arrive at her gypsy camp and informs her that she is the lost daughter of their governess. Turns out her birth mother's lover stole her baby when she was ill and gave Vivian to a lovely Gypsy couple who couldn't have children. The 3 old ladies (Rosebuds) will pay her 100 guineas a month if she learns how to become a lady. Vivian loves the Rosebuds, but she knows that after 2 months, she will return to her old life.
Michael has been living the high life in London and is thinking of proposing to his mistress. All is interrupted when he learns his grandmother and friends have taken in a gypsy girl. When he arrives, he does everything to get rid of this charlatan. He vows to expose her fraud, but not before he takes this ravishing woman to his bed.
MC:
I really loved Vivian! She has a way of bringing out the best in people. She was down to earth, intelligent, and honest. Vivian doesn't care about the Giorgio life! She wants to make enough money to help her adoptive parents and then return to her caravan. Michael and his distrust are her only obstacles. It doesn't help that she has a strong physical attraction to him. It hurts that he thinks she is a thief.
Michael has grown cynical since his wife's death. Michael has a devastating secret that he is trying to hide from his grandmother, and that's why he lives in London with his daughter. Understandably, he tries to protect his grandmother from this charlatan. He spends too much time trying to expose Vivian as a liar even as he tries to get her in his bed. Men🙄! Michael's distrust was the biggest problem in the book. It takes him a long time to realize Vivian is the woman he needs.
Secondary characters:
I liked the secondary characters! His grandmother and friends were fantastic! The Rosebuds steal the book! I love how the three supported and plotted together. They were like the Golden Girls 🥰 I want more stories about them. Hell, a prequel would be great!
Michael's daughter was adorable but a little spoiled. I see a big problem in the future. Michael's OW was not too obnoxious! No crazy plots like most OW do in hr books.
Conclusion:
The mysteries and secrets were easy to figure out. It didn't take me long to figure out who Vivian's birth father was or the mystery behind Michael's wife's death. I don't think the book even tried to be mysterious, and that's okay. I enjoyed the ride! The love story of a Gypsy and Marquess falling in love was farfetched but entertaining. This was just a fun read, nothing more. The book doesn't have very much depth in its plot.
June 6, 2013
Vivien has been brought up by a loving Romany couple whom she thinks of as her parents until her world is turned upside down by the Rosebuds, a trio of old tonnish ladies who have kept a secret for 18 years and now want to make amends. Vivien discovers she's the illegitimate daughter of a governess now dead, who used to teach the dowager marchioness's grandsons till she vanished after being compromised by some unknown gentleman. Vivien agrees to accompany the Rosebuds to the marchioness's dower house in return for a handsome sum of money to help her aging Gypsy parents. Michael Kenyon, the current marquess and reigning rake of the ton, arrives home to discover that the Gypsy Vivien has charmed herself into his grandmother's affections and suspects she's after the money. His suspicions continue even as he's increasingly physically attracted to her. Vivien meanwhile is learning how to be a lady under the Rosebuds kind tutelage, but is conflicted about her place in the world - she's both gorgio (English) but as a bred Gypsy despises all things English. Her love for reading attracts Michael even more as does her ease with his 4 year old daughter Amy, whom he's very protective of. Michael had a very troubled relationship with his now dead wife, but this has been kept hidden from all.
We are treated to doses of mystery about Amy and Vivien's parentage, thefts at the house party, reason for the bad blood between Michael and his childhood best friend Brand (so named for the birth mark some members of his familial line carry). Some romancing, climbing balconies with rose between teeth, fist fights, steamy sex in a linen closet, near abduction etc. move the story along at a fast clip. How Michael overcomes his mistrust of women to discover his love for Vivien, and his preconceived notions about Gypsies, and Vivien accepts her reality of belonging to two worlds as she unlayers her heart and finds a deep abiding love for Michael, and dedication and affection for the Rosebuds and Amy give us our HEA.
The story behind the three ladies being named the Rosebuds is hilarious. Their respective personalities are also drawn clearly so that we can see them as distinct personas. Vivien is loveable and her innate honesty and devotion to her parents and people she comes to care for shines through as does large chunks of courage. Michael is a subdued alpha, a man realising his jadedness and desiring change, loving his daughter and grand mother deeply, yet chary of showing any vulnerability.
A point that bothered me in the resolution of the story (without giving too much away) is the ease with which it is accepted that a child is assumed better off with an adoptive parent/family than her birth father/family without even giving the birth family a chance to have a say in the matter or the upbringing of the child (there's no indication given that the birth family was uninterested or uncaring of the child).
We are treated to doses of mystery about Amy and Vivien's parentage, thefts at the house party, reason for the bad blood between Michael and his childhood best friend Brand (so named for the birth mark some members of his familial line carry). Some romancing, climbing balconies with rose between teeth, fist fights, steamy sex in a linen closet, near abduction etc. move the story along at a fast clip. How Michael overcomes his mistrust of women to discover his love for Vivien, and his preconceived notions about Gypsies, and Vivien accepts her reality of belonging to two worlds as she unlayers her heart and finds a deep abiding love for Michael, and dedication and affection for the Rosebuds and Amy give us our HEA.
The story behind the three ladies being named the Rosebuds is hilarious. Their respective personalities are also drawn clearly so that we can see them as distinct personas. Vivien is loveable and her innate honesty and devotion to her parents and people she comes to care for shines through as does large chunks of courage. Michael is a subdued alpha, a man realising his jadedness and desiring change, loving his daughter and grand mother deeply, yet chary of showing any vulnerability.
A point that bothered me in the resolution of the story (without giving too much away) is the ease with which it is accepted that a child is assumed better off with an adoptive parent/family than her birth father/family without even giving the birth family a chance to have a say in the matter or the upbringing of the child (there's no indication given that the birth family was uninterested or uncaring of the child).
October 21, 2021
I CAN'T HELP FEELING THAT OLIVIA DRAKE'S HEROES WOULD BE LABELLED A DOUCHEBAG IF HE LIVED IN THE 21ST CENTURY.
MICHAEL was no hero material that's for sure. I've summarised his character as petty even if he's a loving father and honestly, half the story's focused on him trying to get under Vivien's skirts and judging and accusing her of things based on her Romani lifestyle even though she's pure English. Those were the off-putting points about him, because he only conveniently appears to save the damsel in distress. Now, you might be wondering if you don't have a high opinion of the male lead, then why rate this book 4 stars? Well, even so, I did it for the heroine and I quite enjoyed everything on the overall despite the very flawed hero. If Michael hadn't redeemed himself in my eyes in the ending, I would have pegged him as an indecisive man - he was on the verge of proposing to his long-term mistress after all, but after meeting Vivien, there was no other woman he longed for more than her.
VIVIEN was well-written in my favour and taste. I love a good gypsy or wildly bred heroine who doesn't kowtow or follow the whims of the hero and that's what she represented. I'm glad that even though she's attracted to Michael, she doesn't allow him to take advantage and always allows her voice of reason to lead. Frankly, this is the first time of many that I'm happy for the heroine being some sort of a tease. Vivien's actually an english bastard given to a childless Romani couple and she has no idea until the Rosebuds (a group of matronly ladies with more money and time to spend) came to uproot Vivien and settle her in the land of the whites. While Vivien embraces nature and such, she's a very mature and responsible, not to mention pensive woman. It's clear she loves her Romani parents a lot, and she has plenty of self-respect for her own being. Bravo, Vivien!
OVERALL I think I fell in love with the heroine and her ways instead of falling into the romance between the two of them. It wasn't so much the plot but, how the heroine twisted a womanizing man around her finger. The idea was gratifying. Personally I think this story wasn't just about the romance but addresses the issue of racism that prevails till this very day.
MICHAEL was no hero material that's for sure. I've summarised his character as petty even if he's a loving father and honestly, half the story's focused on him trying to get under Vivien's skirts and judging and accusing her of things based on her Romani lifestyle even though she's pure English. Those were the off-putting points about him, because he only conveniently appears to save the damsel in distress. Now, you might be wondering if you don't have a high opinion of the male lead, then why rate this book 4 stars? Well, even so, I did it for the heroine and I quite enjoyed everything on the overall despite the very flawed hero. If Michael hadn't redeemed himself in my eyes in the ending, I would have pegged him as an indecisive man - he was on the verge of proposing to his long-term mistress after all, but after meeting Vivien, there was no other woman he longed for more than her.
VIVIEN was well-written in my favour and taste. I love a good gypsy or wildly bred heroine who doesn't kowtow or follow the whims of the hero and that's what she represented. I'm glad that even though she's attracted to Michael, she doesn't allow him to take advantage and always allows her voice of reason to lead. Frankly, this is the first time of many that I'm happy for the heroine being some sort of a tease. Vivien's actually an english bastard given to a childless Romani couple and she has no idea until the Rosebuds (a group of matronly ladies with more money and time to spend) came to uproot Vivien and settle her in the land of the whites. While Vivien embraces nature and such, she's a very mature and responsible, not to mention pensive woman. It's clear she loves her Romani parents a lot, and she has plenty of self-respect for her own being. Bravo, Vivien!
OVERALL I think I fell in love with the heroine and her ways instead of falling into the romance between the two of them. It wasn't so much the plot but, how the heroine twisted a womanizing man around her finger. The idea was gratifying. Personally I think this story wasn't just about the romance but addresses the issue of racism that prevails till this very day.
December 13, 2023
TW : OW present.
Wanted to love this as the storyline reminded me a lot of Courtney Milan’s Proof By Seduction and I loved that book so much but my mood immediately soured after reading about the hero being with a mistress at the early parts of the story. Listen, I don’t mind a reformed rake nor someone with a manwhoring past (as long as it’s briefly mentioned). but the fact that the mistress was still much present throughout the story (he even planned to marry her!) while concocting seduction plans towards Vivienne told me a lot about his cheating, icky dick self! When heroes do this, I can’t help thinking he’d probably cheat on heroine sometime down the line long after the final epilogue😅 Mind me, I’ve always loved my heroes celibate / loyal and monogamous. Also, I got so annoyed with Michael for his relentless disparaging ‘gypsy’ remarks towards Vivian.
Wanted to love this as the storyline reminded me a lot of Courtney Milan’s Proof By Seduction and I loved that book so much but my mood immediately soured after reading about the hero being with a mistress at the early parts of the story. Listen, I don’t mind a reformed rake nor someone with a manwhoring past (as long as it’s briefly mentioned). but the fact that the mistress was still much present throughout the story (he even planned to marry her!) while concocting seduction plans towards Vivienne told me a lot about his cheating, icky dick self! When heroes do this, I can’t help thinking he’d probably cheat on heroine sometime down the line long after the final epilogue😅 Mind me, I’ve always loved my heroes celibate / loyal and monogamous. Also, I got so annoyed with Michael for his relentless disparaging ‘gypsy’ remarks towards Vivian.
January 8, 2022
Me ha gustado mucho es una historia entretenida, aunque le faltó algo más de impacto
August 7, 2012
I guess I am ready to read something new. I have had a whole series, The Rosebuds (or the Kenyon family) by Barbara Dawson Smith, in my stash for a long time. I decided it was time (since I had all five books) to pull them out and go for it. It is interesting to see how the story line has changed since 2000 when the first of this series was published. The main difference is how 'lust/sex' is incorporated in the story. This seemed to be the beginning edge of more graphic description of the sexual relationship between the H/H. In other words, TMI...that is, for me. I tend to skip over most scenes because they do not really add anything to the story(IMHO). Regardless, the first book hooked me. I now want to know 'the rest of the story'.
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April 25, 2016I'm always intrigued to see how the Rom are portrayed in literature, and this is not a bad example, especially as it highlights the unthinking prejudiced of the Gadje... A pleasant read for a snowy weekend in April. I have the third in this series but not the second, so it might be a bit before I can continue. Too bad.
Want to read
August 15, 2009have
October 28, 2015
such a great read i was laughing the whole time
October 26, 2015
I liked this book however Michael's doubt/suspicion on every page was a little much
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews