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Playful Brides #4
Neodolatelný ničema
Lady Daphne Swiftová vždy obdivovala své dva bratry, kteří hrdě sloužili koruně. Ona sama je možná žena, ale je odhodlaná dokázat, že dovede být stejně užitečná jako muži v její rodině. Dokonce zajde tak daleko, že se tajně vdá za špióna. Kapitán Rafe Cavendish byl navíc jejímu srdci už dlouho blízký. Jenže po jejich první společné misi, když si Daphne uvědomí, že Rafe vnímá jejich manželství jako ryze profesní záležitost, rozhodne se pro okamžité anulování sňatku. Dá si za cíl co nejrychleji se vdát za jiného, aby na Rafa zapomněla, a mohla se tak věnovat své další misi – najít člověka, který zabil jejího bratra... Kapitán Rafe Cavedish byl už na mnoha misích, jedna ho ale nikdy nepřestane pronásledovat. Ta, při které zemřel Donald Swift, Daphnein starší bratr. On sám život Daphne ohrozil už jednou, podruhé se to nestane. Teď musí najít muže, který zabil jejího bratra a přesvědčit Daphne, aby mu dala druhou šanci. Jenže Daphne už přemluvila svého druhého bratra Juliana, aby jí pomohl vyřídit rychlou anulaci sňatku. Hodlá se vdát za nějakého snoba, který se o ni zajímá jen pro její majetek a postavení. Podaří se Rafovi získat srdce Daphne a pomstít její rodinu?
312 pages, Hardcover
First published November 3, 2015
99 people are currently reading
1891 people want to read
About the author
Valerie Bowman
57 books1,573 followersValerie Bowman is an award-winning author who writes historical and contemporary romance.
Valerie’s debut novel was published in 2012. Since then, her books have received starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist, and Kirkus. She’s been an RT Reviewers’ Choice nominee for Best First Historical Romance and Best Historical Romance Love and Laughter. Two of her books have been nominated for the Kirkus Prize for fiction.
Valerie grew up in Illinois with six sisters (she’s number seven) and a huge supply of romance novels. After a cold and snowy stint earning a degree in English Language and Literature with a minor in history at Smith College, she moved to Florida the first chance she got. Valerie now lives in Jacksonville with her family including her rascally dogs. When she’s not writing, she keeps busy reading, traveling, or vacillating between watching crazy reality TV and PBS.
Visit Valerie on the web at www.ValerieBowmanBooks.com and sign-up for her newsletter at: https://valeriebowmanbooks.com/newsle...
Be sure to follow Valerie Bookbub for the latest on sales https://www.bookbub.com/authors/valer...
Valerie’s debut novel was published in 2012. Since then, her books have received starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist, and Kirkus. She’s been an RT Reviewers’ Choice nominee for Best First Historical Romance and Best Historical Romance Love and Laughter. Two of her books have been nominated for the Kirkus Prize for fiction.
Valerie grew up in Illinois with six sisters (she’s number seven) and a huge supply of romance novels. After a cold and snowy stint earning a degree in English Language and Literature with a minor in history at Smith College, she moved to Florida the first chance she got. Valerie now lives in Jacksonville with her family including her rascally dogs. When she’s not writing, she keeps busy reading, traveling, or vacillating between watching crazy reality TV and PBS.
Visit Valerie on the web at www.ValerieBowmanBooks.com and sign-up for her newsletter at: https://valeriebowmanbooks.com/newsle...
Be sure to follow Valerie Bookbub for the latest on sales https://www.bookbub.com/authors/valer...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 195 reviews
November 22, 2015
This is still a four star read, but it didn't have the energy or hilarity of the other books in the series. They were tough acts to follow, so I rated accordingly. But still very good light Regency historical romance.
Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur magazine. http://affairedecoeur.com.
Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur magazine. http://affairedecoeur.com.
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October 21, 2015
3.5 stars
Daphne and Rafe are married. For well over a year now, since Daphne was barely 18 and Rafe a war torn spy on a mission. Now Daphne wants an annulment to marry a respectable (albeit very boring) Lord. Rafe agrees to the annulment, seeing that the whole marriage is founded on a promise to Daphne's brother and basically just a practical and sensible step at the time. But he wants her to accompany and help him on yet another mission, before he can grant her the annulment.
The plot of this novel is clealy very action-filled and never gets boring. It's fast paced, but the pace stays well balanced and it never gets out of hand. Then comes the love story.
This is my first novel by this author, and I'm glad I finally got the chance to try out her work. I like how she created a past for the H/h, which lead to some major issues and brought out the rather angsty side of things. But although there was a certain depth added to the reunion of Wife and Husband by creating a shady past, things stayed delightfully light and easy.
There is chemistry and attraction, but there is also a lightness that makes it all a little bit more bearable.
I wasn't able to give this one a higher rating because as a whole, the story didn't touch me in a certain way. Maybe it was the Valeri Bowman's writing style, which is strong and alive, but has a rather bland undertone, to be honest. The entertainment factor made up for it to a certain extent, but still, the fact remains that language and atmosphere weren't of a very high level.
Overall, I can recommend this easily to anyone who is in the mood for something light and historical, with funny side characters (speaking to you, Delilah!) and an action filled plot.
ARC via NetGalley
Daphne and Rafe are married. For well over a year now, since Daphne was barely 18 and Rafe a war torn spy on a mission. Now Daphne wants an annulment to marry a respectable (albeit very boring) Lord. Rafe agrees to the annulment, seeing that the whole marriage is founded on a promise to Daphne's brother and basically just a practical and sensible step at the time. But he wants her to accompany and help him on yet another mission, before he can grant her the annulment.
The plot of this novel is clealy very action-filled and never gets boring. It's fast paced, but the pace stays well balanced and it never gets out of hand. Then comes the love story.
This is my first novel by this author, and I'm glad I finally got the chance to try out her work. I like how she created a past for the H/h, which lead to some major issues and brought out the rather angsty side of things. But although there was a certain depth added to the reunion of Wife and Husband by creating a shady past, things stayed delightfully light and easy.
There is chemistry and attraction, but there is also a lightness that makes it all a little bit more bearable.
I wasn't able to give this one a higher rating because as a whole, the story didn't touch me in a certain way. Maybe it was the Valeri Bowman's writing style, which is strong and alive, but has a rather bland undertone, to be honest. The entertainment factor made up for it to a certain extent, but still, the fact remains that language and atmosphere weren't of a very high level.
Overall, I can recommend this easily to anyone who is in the mood for something light and historical, with funny side characters (speaking to you, Delilah!) and an action filled plot.
ARC via NetGalley
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April 3, 2015It's The Philadelphia Story retold in the Regency with a spy twist. A romp-adventure sandwich!
October 6, 2015
Netgalley for honest review.
Our heroine, Lady Daphne is about to attend a ball with the impending announce of her engagement to Lord Fitzwell. Daphne has a slight problem to resolve first, the annulment to her husband Captain Rafe Cavendish.
Hero and heroine married to assist Daphne's brother, Donald, to gather information from the French. Rafe and Donald worked for the crown as spies. Unfortunately Donald was killed and now Rafe wants to find out who/why/how he was killed. And he needs Daphne's help. So no annulment till Daphne helps him in his quest for answers.
Daphne has always had a thing for Rafe.Infatuated since she was a little girl she had hopes that something could/would come of their "marriage", but it was clear now as it was when she was a young girl that Rafe only saw her as a sister. Rafe just knew he couldn't dishonor his friend by moving forward on his feeling for Daphne, so it was a marriage in name only. These two had good chemistry.
This was a little slow at the beginning but it did picked up after the first chapter and a half. The romance was sweet and evolved as the story progressed. Really liked both characters, strong, caring and they had depth. Had good historical points, suspense and a few surprises.
Our heroine, Lady Daphne is about to attend a ball with the impending announce of her engagement to Lord Fitzwell. Daphne has a slight problem to resolve first, the annulment to her husband Captain Rafe Cavendish.
Hero and heroine married to assist Daphne's brother, Donald, to gather information from the French. Rafe and Donald worked for the crown as spies. Unfortunately Donald was killed and now Rafe wants to find out who/why/how he was killed. And he needs Daphne's help. So no annulment till Daphne helps him in his quest for answers.
Daphne has always had a thing for Rafe.Infatuated since she was a little girl she had hopes that something could/would come of their "marriage", but it was clear now as it was when she was a young girl that Rafe only saw her as a sister. Rafe just knew he couldn't dishonor his friend by moving forward on his feeling for Daphne, so it was a marriage in name only. These two had good chemistry.
This was a little slow at the beginning but it did picked up after the first chapter and a half. The romance was sweet and evolved as the story progressed. Really liked both characters, strong, caring and they had depth. Had good historical points, suspense and a few surprises.
November 2, 2015
The Irresistible Rogue by Valerie Bowman is a 2015 St. Martin's Press publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Irresistible Rogue is a charming and delightful historical romance with a touch of danger and adventure, chock full of witty and zany dialogue, with a tip of the hat to one my favorite classic movies- “The Philadelphia Story.”
Lady Daphne Swift managed to convince her brother to let her help out with the war effort by working undercover as a spy, which meant she must legally marry Captain Rafe Cavendish. Although she has romantic feelings for him, Rafe thinks of her like a sister.. Or so he claims.
But, now the mission is over, and sadly Daphne lost her brother in the process. With Rafe showing no inclination toward making their marriage a real one, Daphne has decided to move on with her life and is expecting a marriage proposal, any day now, from Lord Fitzwell. Naturally, she will need an annulment before she can legally remarry. But, before Rafe will agree to end the marriage, Daphne must help him with one more mission. Will Daphne really marry the boring Fitzwell, or can she convince to Rafe they are meant to be together?
Rafe's opinions towards blue bloods and aristocracy are less than charitable, and helped to himself he and Daphne were not meant to be. Will he have a change of heart?
Daphne proves her mettle out 'in the field', becoming a true hero. She's smart, adventurous and sassy, making her a heroine all will respect and love. But, it was Daphne's young cousin Delilah that practically stole the show.
The author blends romance and adventure together with panache which kept me entertained from beginning to end.
Overall, this was a very fun, well written, and delicious romance!
November 9, 2015
The beginning of this book really got me hooked. I loved the playfulness that the characters brought to the story, especially the little urchin, Delialah. Rafe and Daphne were very cute together while they spent a couple days together for Daphne's "engagement" party. They definitely had sparks! And like other reviewers said, plus the author herself, I saw the inspiration Bowman gained from The Philadelphia Story. Since I love that movie, the Grace Kelly version, I adored the start of this story. I admit it was my favorite part of the whole book. While I appreciate that Bowman put some adventure into the mix by having Rafe be a spy and Daphne helping him, I preferred the "cuteness" of the book more. The spy bit was ok at first, but I kind of just wanted it to get over with. That's just me though, I like my regency to be REGENCY. With all the properness, blue bloods, and balls. (There was sex because that's what happens but I just skip over those.) Then the adventure ended and what came next? The sparks started up again that's what! What an ending! Curious to see what happens next....
**Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for honest review.
**Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for honest review.
August 12, 2015
Valerie Bowman has done it again . She has written a captivating story of honor, loyalty, regret and intrigue. A story with several unexpected twists and surprises. She kept me guessing and gasping with sheer delight. I was on the edge of my seat with a story I just couldn't put down. This is a story that any historical romance reader will love from beginning to end.
Daphne Swift is on the verge of accepting a proposal from a suitable Beau with one problem. Her dashing and very handsome husband refuses to grant her an annulment unless she helps him one more time.
The charming and elusive Caption Rafferty Cavendish is a spy for the crown and is on a mission to capture the people responsible for his wife's brother's murder. Even though it's the last thing he wants to do, he needs Daphne's help to complete this final mission.
Even though they were married for convenience for a previous mission there are intense underlying feelings and sparks between the two. They try to ignore them and completely the mission at hand but will they be able to? Will Daphne go through with the annulment and accept a proposal from another man or will Daphne and Rae realize their true feelings?
Received this story from Netgalley in exchange for an honesty review.
Daphne Swift is on the verge of accepting a proposal from a suitable Beau with one problem. Her dashing and very handsome husband refuses to grant her an annulment unless she helps him one more time.
The charming and elusive Caption Rafferty Cavendish is a spy for the crown and is on a mission to capture the people responsible for his wife's brother's murder. Even though it's the last thing he wants to do, he needs Daphne's help to complete this final mission.
Even though they were married for convenience for a previous mission there are intense underlying feelings and sparks between the two. They try to ignore them and completely the mission at hand but will they be able to? Will Daphne go through with the annulment and accept a proposal from another man or will Daphne and Rae realize their true feelings?
Received this story from Netgalley in exchange for an honesty review.
September 2, 2016
Rated 3.5 hearts at Romance Junkies! THE IRRESISTIBLE ROGUE by Valerie Bowman starts off funny, cute and wacky – all the things I love about a house party. Daphne Swift is planning the gathering where she hopes to announce her engagement to the handsome and wealthy Lord Fitzwell. That is, if she can convince him to ask for her hand in marriage, plus get rid of the one minor detail that she’s already married to a completely dashing rogue who decides to invite himself to her festivities.
Half the fun of this novel is getting to know the characters as they’re introduced during preparations for Daphne’s party. Lord Fitzwell is a fusspot and a bore, so I never really thought that Daphne could be attracted to him. She’s rather methodical about finding a husband and it’s entertaining to watch her realize she already has one perfectly suited for her personality. Daphne’s means of finding a husband are in direct opposition of her true sense of adventure. It’s predictable to expect Daphne to burst out of the tight control she has placed on herself, but comical to watch her really muck it up.
Captain Rafferty “Rafe” Cavendish is a spy whose previous mission did not end well, leaving him with guilt and a score to settle with a group of Russians. His culpability over the death of Daphne’s brother as well as his surmounting feelings for Daphne keep Rafe in a good amount of turmoil. One thing is sure, he can’t imagine letting Lord Fitzwell have Daphne no matter what else happens.
I love a house party so I was immediately entertained by this story. I haven’t read the rest of the books in the PLAYFUL BRIDE series, but I’m sure fans will recognize many of the characters who assist Daphne with her dilemma. Daphne continues to boldly go forward, even against the advice of her family, and I knew she’d eventually cause a fiasco. Even though she did what I expected, I had fun watching her make a mess of things and then try to figure a way out of it.
One character that was cute at first, then became annoying was twelve-year-old Delilah. She overdid it while practicing her French, using the same phrase over and over, as well as disobeying her governess. She was a bit over the top. Because Delilah was consistently with Daphne in the beginning, and they both had names beginning with the letter D, it was easy to become confused. Delilah was a good character to rile things up, but I would have preferred a bit more subtlety in depicting her bratty tendency.
There’s a plot-line that was clever but sometimes unbelievable. I had to suspend my inner critic and just enjoy the main couple, who eventually won me over enough to appreciate their journey to a happy-ever-after. The author does have a good explanation at the end of the book about her philosophy in regards to how she creates an entertaining story, and I agree that it is exactly what she did. Anyone who enjoys a fictional tale which closely resembles history, where the author also takes enough creative license to add to the fun, will surely enjoy this book as much as I did.
As the fourth book in a series, this novel was easy enough to understand without reading the books prior. I think it would have been more enjoyable to be reunited with favorite characters, so if you love a fun-loving series, I suggest that you start at the beginning – something I’ll look forward to doing myself. There seems to be a lot of camaraderie between the men and women in this series, something that I felt I missed appreciating more without reading THE UNEXPECTED DUCHESS, THE ACCIDENTAL COUNTESS and THE UNLIKELY LADY.
THE IRRESISTIBLE ROGUE by Valerie Bowman is an entertaining romp that twists up the ton with pirates, a knife-throwing lady, spies and a couple who earn happiness while in servitude to the crown. For some laughter and adventure, THE IRRESISTIBLE ROGUE will satisfy.
Reviewed by Dorine, courtesy of Romance Junkies. Print ARC provided by the publisher for an honest review.
Half the fun of this novel is getting to know the characters as they’re introduced during preparations for Daphne’s party. Lord Fitzwell is a fusspot and a bore, so I never really thought that Daphne could be attracted to him. She’s rather methodical about finding a husband and it’s entertaining to watch her realize she already has one perfectly suited for her personality. Daphne’s means of finding a husband are in direct opposition of her true sense of adventure. It’s predictable to expect Daphne to burst out of the tight control she has placed on herself, but comical to watch her really muck it up.
Captain Rafferty “Rafe” Cavendish is a spy whose previous mission did not end well, leaving him with guilt and a score to settle with a group of Russians. His culpability over the death of Daphne’s brother as well as his surmounting feelings for Daphne keep Rafe in a good amount of turmoil. One thing is sure, he can’t imagine letting Lord Fitzwell have Daphne no matter what else happens.
I love a house party so I was immediately entertained by this story. I haven’t read the rest of the books in the PLAYFUL BRIDE series, but I’m sure fans will recognize many of the characters who assist Daphne with her dilemma. Daphne continues to boldly go forward, even against the advice of her family, and I knew she’d eventually cause a fiasco. Even though she did what I expected, I had fun watching her make a mess of things and then try to figure a way out of it.
One character that was cute at first, then became annoying was twelve-year-old Delilah. She overdid it while practicing her French, using the same phrase over and over, as well as disobeying her governess. She was a bit over the top. Because Delilah was consistently with Daphne in the beginning, and they both had names beginning with the letter D, it was easy to become confused. Delilah was a good character to rile things up, but I would have preferred a bit more subtlety in depicting her bratty tendency.
There’s a plot-line that was clever but sometimes unbelievable. I had to suspend my inner critic and just enjoy the main couple, who eventually won me over enough to appreciate their journey to a happy-ever-after. The author does have a good explanation at the end of the book about her philosophy in regards to how she creates an entertaining story, and I agree that it is exactly what she did. Anyone who enjoys a fictional tale which closely resembles history, where the author also takes enough creative license to add to the fun, will surely enjoy this book as much as I did.
As the fourth book in a series, this novel was easy enough to understand without reading the books prior. I think it would have been more enjoyable to be reunited with favorite characters, so if you love a fun-loving series, I suggest that you start at the beginning – something I’ll look forward to doing myself. There seems to be a lot of camaraderie between the men and women in this series, something that I felt I missed appreciating more without reading THE UNEXPECTED DUCHESS, THE ACCIDENTAL COUNTESS and THE UNLIKELY LADY.
THE IRRESISTIBLE ROGUE by Valerie Bowman is an entertaining romp that twists up the ton with pirates, a knife-throwing lady, spies and a couple who earn happiness while in servitude to the crown. For some laughter and adventure, THE IRRESISTIBLE ROGUE will satisfy.
Reviewed by Dorine, courtesy of Romance Junkies. Print ARC provided by the publisher for an honest review.
January 2, 2016
Daphne and Rafe were absolute darlings. They were both so adorable. Daphne getting drunk at the ball and falling on top of Rafe and rejecting Lord Fitzwell was one of my favorite scenes, I absolutely love that all the characters in this series are getting drunk and doing stupid things.
So the premise is that Daphne knows Russian and when her eldest brother Donald was alive, she persuaded him to let her be a spy for the Crown and assist Rafe on his spy mission because they needed someone who could understand Russian. The only way he allowed her to though was that if Daphne and Rafe got married. So they are. Except that the marriage was never consummated and now Daphne wants an annulment so she can marry a titled gentleman. This is largely driven by a broken heart, because Daphne had developed feelings for Rafe but thought he had been fooling around and didn't feel the same way. This is where our book starts.
It's pretty straightforward. After Daphne gets drunk and accidentally rejects Lord Fitzwell after the first act of the book, where Rafe and Daphne spend a lot of time bickering, the second and third acts are of Daphne and Rafe on a spy mission to find the killers of Donald Swift. Rafe has promised Daphne an annulment if she goes on this mission with him. And of course Daphne wants to avenge her brother's death so she agrees to go.
The spy stuff is fun because for a good part we are on Rafe's ship, the True Love, and forced proximity makes for Daphne and Rafe to get to know each other better, and for Rafe to train Daphne to do cool spy shit like knife throwing, escaping ropes, and shooting a pistol. I loved these scenes because it shows us what an adventurer Daphne is, and how Rafe and her are so well-matched.
The book was very very funny because of the addition of Daphne's 12 year old cousin, the little hellcat Delilah, who throws French phrases into her speech and eavesdrops on everyone's conversations. Also Daphne and Rafe are both insanely charming and likable, and they just worked so well as a couple.
So the premise is that Daphne knows Russian and when her eldest brother Donald was alive, she persuaded him to let her be a spy for the Crown and assist Rafe on his spy mission because they needed someone who could understand Russian. The only way he allowed her to though was that if Daphne and Rafe got married. So they are. Except that the marriage was never consummated and now Daphne wants an annulment so she can marry a titled gentleman. This is largely driven by a broken heart, because Daphne had developed feelings for Rafe but thought he had been fooling around and didn't feel the same way. This is where our book starts.
It's pretty straightforward. After Daphne gets drunk and accidentally rejects Lord Fitzwell after the first act of the book, where Rafe and Daphne spend a lot of time bickering, the second and third acts are of Daphne and Rafe on a spy mission to find the killers of Donald Swift. Rafe has promised Daphne an annulment if she goes on this mission with him. And of course Daphne wants to avenge her brother's death so she agrees to go.
The spy stuff is fun because for a good part we are on Rafe's ship, the True Love, and forced proximity makes for Daphne and Rafe to get to know each other better, and for Rafe to train Daphne to do cool spy shit like knife throwing, escaping ropes, and shooting a pistol. I loved these scenes because it shows us what an adventurer Daphne is, and how Rafe and her are so well-matched.
The book was very very funny because of the addition of Daphne's 12 year old cousin, the little hellcat Delilah, who throws French phrases into her speech and eavesdrops on everyone's conversations. Also Daphne and Rafe are both insanely charming and likable, and they just worked so well as a couple.
November 2, 2015
All Daphne wants for her life is moving forward, and for that she needs to get rid of her marriage to Cap Rafe and get engaged as soon as possible of Lord Edmund Fitzwell.
He and Rafe could not be more different. A while ago, because of her knowledge of the German language, Daphne managed to convince both Rafe as her brother Donald, to let her participate in a mission. The mission didn't end well. Russian mercenaries managed to escape and worse, Donald ended up dead. But for Daphne, besides has lost her brother, she also lost her heart, as Rafe was not interested to stay married with her, a marriage only to keep her safe during the mission.
She was practically engaged to another man.
But now who didn't want the annulment was Rafe. Despite feeling guilty for not having prevented the death of her brother, Rafe wanted to have one more chance with her.
Their marriage had not been consummated, yet he was sure she was the right woman for him.
First he had to get rid of Fitzweell. Then he had to have accomplices inside her house - which he gets through Daphne's cousin, Delilah, 12, and aunt Wilhelmina, who thinks Rafe's more dashing than Fitzwell.
As he convinces Daphne to join him on a new mission, Rafe would have the opportunity to stay with her long enough to make him important in her life. But he still had a mission: find Donald killers. And he wouldn't want his wife in danger.
Daphne help Rafe in the first part of the mission, and she feels that once again he would find a way to get rid of her. Daphne toughness comes into play, and since they were legally married, she would use all her powers of seduction to show Rafe that he couldn't live without her...
The pace is perfect.
The connection to the characters, even the secondary, is immediate. Return of previous books characters. No cliffhanger.
The cover is awesome, Jon Paul Ferrara's.
And the ending is absolutely thrilled!!! Can't wait for next book.
5 STARS!!!!
He and Rafe could not be more different. A while ago, because of her knowledge of the German language, Daphne managed to convince both Rafe as her brother Donald, to let her participate in a mission. The mission didn't end well. Russian mercenaries managed to escape and worse, Donald ended up dead. But for Daphne, besides has lost her brother, she also lost her heart, as Rafe was not interested to stay married with her, a marriage only to keep her safe during the mission.
She was practically engaged to another man.
But now who didn't want the annulment was Rafe. Despite feeling guilty for not having prevented the death of her brother, Rafe wanted to have one more chance with her.
Their marriage had not been consummated, yet he was sure she was the right woman for him.
First he had to get rid of Fitzweell. Then he had to have accomplices inside her house - which he gets through Daphne's cousin, Delilah, 12, and aunt Wilhelmina, who thinks Rafe's more dashing than Fitzwell.
As he convinces Daphne to join him on a new mission, Rafe would have the opportunity to stay with her long enough to make him important in her life. But he still had a mission: find Donald killers. And he wouldn't want his wife in danger.
Daphne help Rafe in the first part of the mission, and she feels that once again he would find a way to get rid of her. Daphne toughness comes into play, and since they were legally married, she would use all her powers of seduction to show Rafe that he couldn't live without her...
The pace is perfect.
The connection to the characters, even the secondary, is immediate. Return of previous books characters. No cliffhanger.
The cover is awesome, Jon Paul Ferrara's.
And the ending is absolutely thrilled!!! Can't wait for next book.
5 STARS!!!!
October 8, 2015
*4.5 stars*
*ARC courtesy of Netgalley and St Martin's Press*
*ARC courtesy of Netgalley and St Martin's Press*
November 3, 2015
Normally I’m not a big fan of historical spy books, so I was a little worried that might put me off with this book. How wrong I was! Instead it was an immature heroine, an irritating hero and a head-scratching plot that asked me to frequently suspend my disbelief just a little too far – and rarely because of the spy plot.
Firstly, why are they holding parties in London in June? Don’t they realise that most people have fled to the country by then because the city could get unpleasant in the summer. Unless you’re a lord or a politician and needed to vote in the House (of Commons or Lords), in which case you have an excuse. Since this is not mentioned, I expect the lot of them are just lazy good for nothings. Also, why are all these people staying in Daphne’s family’s town house? Why haven’t these people (including a duke and an earl’s heir) got homes of their own to live in? And they keep throwing balls, despite the fact that London would have been thin on company, so who is attending? Get out into the country, you fools!
Speaking of fools, my word, Daphne was annoying. She was a complete brat to Rafe on their previous mission, with her threats to lie to her brother about Rafe compromising her if he wouldn’t take her along. Then, when she knew he’d been told not to touch her and he, funnily enough, rebuffs all her advances, she decides that adventures are awful and not for her and blah, blah, blah. There’s a lot of blah about Daphne for me, she’s supposed to be smart and beautiful and adventurous, but I rarely saw any evidence of such things. She’s also the worst negotiator I’ve read in a long time. Rafe and Delilah run rings around her, yet she’s supposed to be clever. Nope, she’s childish and annoying and not nearly as smart as she thinks she is. See her chosen marriage prospect – the boring, snobbish, social climbing Lord Fitzwell.
Then there’s Rafe. Despite a later claim about how much he respects Daphne, he really doesn’t. He ignores her wishes, winds her up and is generally a smirking, arrogant ass with a massive social chip on his shoulder. His constant refrains about unworthy lords and how they’re not worth anything, and yet how he isn’t worthy enough for Daphne were pretty tedious. I don’t care how good looking he is, the man is dull and I found the idea of him being a spy exceedingly hard to believe.
If you’re interested in that side of things, you’ll have to be patient. The first half of the book is all about the boring London house party in which Daphne tries to marry a man she doesn’t want, while Rafe smirks and weasels about, breaking agreements and sneering at Lord Fitzwell and Daphne. There are also lots of conversations between various couples (from the previous books) that add nothing to the plot except to recap what we already know, with everyone calling everyone else by their first names in a highly unlikely way – I’d have expected the men to use surnames and/or titles at least.
Thank goodness for cousin Delilah, the cheeky minx of a twelve year old with her Francophile tendencies and interfering ways. She’s funny, runs rings around everyone else, and at least provided me with something to like. True, she also started to grate on me after a while, but compared to everyone else she’s great.
Then, finally, once the daft house party is done with, we launch into the unrealistic spy plot. All because Daphne can speak Russian (which she claims at some point her brother assisted her with because he just knew it would be helpful one day, naturally). There are many aspects to it that either make no sense or clearly won’t work, but I won’t go into them for spoiler reasons and because I could go on all day. Suffice it to say, it’s all a bit daft. However, it’s also much, much more interesting than the first half and though I found the conclusion dubious at best, it almost made me like Daphne. Almost. Though I still have my doubts about her intelligence.
So, overall, this didn’t impress me much. If you like light, fluffy historicals that don’t really bother with details or credulous reasons for things, and have lots of flurrying conversations without much point, then you’ll probably find something to enjoy here – depending on your tolerance for bratty heroines and arrogant heroes. The spy stuff is more fun than thrilling, but at least it was interesting. The house party and romance, however, I found a little dull and quite trying. Fans of the series will probably enjoy seeing all the old characters back, but as someone new to this author I just found them a bit annoying. I don’t think I’ll be reading any more of this series. Sadly, I have absolutely no trouble resisting this rogue, so maybe this one just wasn’t for me.
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
Firstly, why are they holding parties in London in June? Don’t they realise that most people have fled to the country by then because the city could get unpleasant in the summer. Unless you’re a lord or a politician and needed to vote in the House (of Commons or Lords), in which case you have an excuse. Since this is not mentioned, I expect the lot of them are just lazy good for nothings. Also, why are all these people staying in Daphne’s family’s town house? Why haven’t these people (including a duke and an earl’s heir) got homes of their own to live in? And they keep throwing balls, despite the fact that London would have been thin on company, so who is attending? Get out into the country, you fools!
Speaking of fools, my word, Daphne was annoying. She was a complete brat to Rafe on their previous mission, with her threats to lie to her brother about Rafe compromising her if he wouldn’t take her along. Then, when she knew he’d been told not to touch her and he, funnily enough, rebuffs all her advances, she decides that adventures are awful and not for her and blah, blah, blah. There’s a lot of blah about Daphne for me, she’s supposed to be smart and beautiful and adventurous, but I rarely saw any evidence of such things. She’s also the worst negotiator I’ve read in a long time. Rafe and Delilah run rings around her, yet she’s supposed to be clever. Nope, she’s childish and annoying and not nearly as smart as she thinks she is. See her chosen marriage prospect – the boring, snobbish, social climbing Lord Fitzwell.
Then there’s Rafe. Despite a later claim about how much he respects Daphne, he really doesn’t. He ignores her wishes, winds her up and is generally a smirking, arrogant ass with a massive social chip on his shoulder. His constant refrains about unworthy lords and how they’re not worth anything, and yet how he isn’t worthy enough for Daphne were pretty tedious. I don’t care how good looking he is, the man is dull and I found the idea of him being a spy exceedingly hard to believe.
If you’re interested in that side of things, you’ll have to be patient. The first half of the book is all about the boring London house party in which Daphne tries to marry a man she doesn’t want, while Rafe smirks and weasels about, breaking agreements and sneering at Lord Fitzwell and Daphne. There are also lots of conversations between various couples (from the previous books) that add nothing to the plot except to recap what we already know, with everyone calling everyone else by their first names in a highly unlikely way – I’d have expected the men to use surnames and/or titles at least.
Thank goodness for cousin Delilah, the cheeky minx of a twelve year old with her Francophile tendencies and interfering ways. She’s funny, runs rings around everyone else, and at least provided me with something to like. True, she also started to grate on me after a while, but compared to everyone else she’s great.
Then, finally, once the daft house party is done with, we launch into the unrealistic spy plot. All because Daphne can speak Russian (which she claims at some point her brother assisted her with because he just knew it would be helpful one day, naturally). There are many aspects to it that either make no sense or clearly won’t work, but I won’t go into them for spoiler reasons and because I could go on all day. Suffice it to say, it’s all a bit daft. However, it’s also much, much more interesting than the first half and though I found the conclusion dubious at best, it almost made me like Daphne. Almost. Though I still have my doubts about her intelligence.
So, overall, this didn’t impress me much. If you like light, fluffy historicals that don’t really bother with details or credulous reasons for things, and have lots of flurrying conversations without much point, then you’ll probably find something to enjoy here – depending on your tolerance for bratty heroines and arrogant heroes. The spy stuff is more fun than thrilling, but at least it was interesting. The house party and romance, however, I found a little dull and quite trying. Fans of the series will probably enjoy seeing all the old characters back, but as someone new to this author I just found them a bit annoying. I don’t think I’ll be reading any more of this series. Sadly, I have absolutely no trouble resisting this rogue, so maybe this one just wasn’t for me.
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
November 3, 2015
fantastic, did not disappoint. review to follow
Thank you to St. Martin for this fantastic read!
original review at: http://ramblingsfromthischick.blogspo...
Valerie Bowman is an automatic read for me. I personally think she is a very talented writer. I’m very impressed with her characters and the different challenges they grow through. I’ve read all the books in her “Playful Brides” series and all her characters grow individually and as a couple. She also has a great plot lined up for hero and heroine. I’ve noticed that both in “The Irresistible Rogue” and in “The Unlikely Lady” the romance is coupled with adventure. I’ve been hooked on Lady Daphne Swift and Captain Rafe Cavendish since I was introduced to them in “The Unlikely Lady.” I was so happy with Bowman had planned for them!
Lady Daphne was a very interesting heroine. She is determined to be of service to her country but the confines of her sex limit her options. When her brother Donald okays her involvement in a mission with Captain Rafe she instantly jumps to the chance. When this book picks up she is still married to Captain Rafe but quickly needs an annulment so she can marry a man that meets all the criteria on her list. Captain Rafe definitely does not. At the beginning of the story I was a little frustrated with Lady Daphne. She was so obsessed with getting proposed to and marrying that she seemed very shallow. Captain Rafe has unfinished business with Daphne. Their mission is still not complete and he refuses to grant her annulment. For me, Captain Rafe was a little elusive. It was difficult to get him and understand him. As the story progressed along it became easier to understand them both and ultimately really like them.
Lady Daphne and Captain Rafe were a fantastic couple. They were both very courageous and very dedicated to their mission. They also really loved each other and wanted to make their relationship work but miscommunication and self-rejection played a big role. Bowman brings back the other characters from the previous books and it was nice to see them again and help Daphne fight for Rafe. I really loved how Daphne and Rafe grew in their love and in their friendship for one another.
A lot happens in this book, we start off at Daphne’s engagement party, then on a mission with Rafe, then back to Daphne’s house and then back on a mission. I really loved all the adventure that Captain Rafe experienced. There were some edge of my seat moments and I thought Bowman really wrote them with intensity and with the essence of the characters in mind. I also loved the very surprise character we met at the end. I personally can’t wait to see what Bowman has in store with her next book.
Thank you to St. Martin for this fantastic read!
original review at: http://ramblingsfromthischick.blogspo...
Valerie Bowman is an automatic read for me. I personally think she is a very talented writer. I’m very impressed with her characters and the different challenges they grow through. I’ve read all the books in her “Playful Brides” series and all her characters grow individually and as a couple. She also has a great plot lined up for hero and heroine. I’ve noticed that both in “The Irresistible Rogue” and in “The Unlikely Lady” the romance is coupled with adventure. I’ve been hooked on Lady Daphne Swift and Captain Rafe Cavendish since I was introduced to them in “The Unlikely Lady.” I was so happy with Bowman had planned for them!
Lady Daphne was a very interesting heroine. She is determined to be of service to her country but the confines of her sex limit her options. When her brother Donald okays her involvement in a mission with Captain Rafe she instantly jumps to the chance. When this book picks up she is still married to Captain Rafe but quickly needs an annulment so she can marry a man that meets all the criteria on her list. Captain Rafe definitely does not. At the beginning of the story I was a little frustrated with Lady Daphne. She was so obsessed with getting proposed to and marrying that she seemed very shallow. Captain Rafe has unfinished business with Daphne. Their mission is still not complete and he refuses to grant her annulment. For me, Captain Rafe was a little elusive. It was difficult to get him and understand him. As the story progressed along it became easier to understand them both and ultimately really like them.
Lady Daphne and Captain Rafe were a fantastic couple. They were both very courageous and very dedicated to their mission. They also really loved each other and wanted to make their relationship work but miscommunication and self-rejection played a big role. Bowman brings back the other characters from the previous books and it was nice to see them again and help Daphne fight for Rafe. I really loved how Daphne and Rafe grew in their love and in their friendship for one another.
A lot happens in this book, we start off at Daphne’s engagement party, then on a mission with Rafe, then back to Daphne’s house and then back on a mission. I really loved all the adventure that Captain Rafe experienced. There were some edge of my seat moments and I thought Bowman really wrote them with intensity and with the essence of the characters in mind. I also loved the very surprise character we met at the end. I personally can’t wait to see what Bowman has in store with her next book.
February 2, 2016
Reviewed by Rachel
Book provided by NetGalley for review
Originally posted at Romancing the Book
Immediately the reader is thrust into adventure. Daphne is about ready to announce her engagement to a man she doesn’t necessarily love but feels she needs to marry so she can move on with her life, meaning, she needs to move on from Rafe. She’s been trying for an annulment but the cur refuses to respond.
She thinks the situation will remedy itself soon, that’s until Rafe shows up at her doorstep, on the eve of her announcement, and proclaims he needs her help, in exchange for an annulment, he wants her to go with him on another adventure.
Something Daphne thought she’d never experience again. After all, her last adventure got her married to a man who claimed she was nothing more than a sister to her. Her eldest brother, allowed it but only if they were married, just in case it was discovered that she was in fact a lady of the realm, not a cabin boy for Rafe. Many times she tried to seduce him but he denied her, claiming she was just a friend, like family!
There has to be a catch, right? She agrees, as does her remaining brother, the one who is now in charge of the family, but they must stay married for precaution. She promises herself she’s over Rafe, but everything about him reminds her why she fell in the first place and Rafe isn’t about to let her go a second time. He’s loved her since before they were married, but refused to act upon it for fear that her brother would impale him with the sharpest object, but now that she’s set her mind on someone else, all bets are off.
What follows next is a wonderfully spun tale of love, seduction, danger on the high sea’s and a brother who knew, even before Daphne and Rafe, that they were meant to be together.
I’m not gonna lie, the end did make me tear up a bit because the ending was perfect.
Daphne was a wonderful character to root for and I felt like as a reader, you fell in love with Rafe again right along with her, realizing that he was always putting her safety and duty before himself, before his own longings which is usually so opposite of regency romances.
As you can tell, I devoured this book, and would recommend it for anyone who wants a beautiful love story with witty banter, and two characters that aren’t afraid to fight for what they want!
Book provided by NetGalley for review
Originally posted at Romancing the Book
Immediately the reader is thrust into adventure. Daphne is about ready to announce her engagement to a man she doesn’t necessarily love but feels she needs to marry so she can move on with her life, meaning, she needs to move on from Rafe. She’s been trying for an annulment but the cur refuses to respond.
She thinks the situation will remedy itself soon, that’s until Rafe shows up at her doorstep, on the eve of her announcement, and proclaims he needs her help, in exchange for an annulment, he wants her to go with him on another adventure.
Something Daphne thought she’d never experience again. After all, her last adventure got her married to a man who claimed she was nothing more than a sister to her. Her eldest brother, allowed it but only if they were married, just in case it was discovered that she was in fact a lady of the realm, not a cabin boy for Rafe. Many times she tried to seduce him but he denied her, claiming she was just a friend, like family!
There has to be a catch, right? She agrees, as does her remaining brother, the one who is now in charge of the family, but they must stay married for precaution. She promises herself she’s over Rafe, but everything about him reminds her why she fell in the first place and Rafe isn’t about to let her go a second time. He’s loved her since before they were married, but refused to act upon it for fear that her brother would impale him with the sharpest object, but now that she’s set her mind on someone else, all bets are off.
What follows next is a wonderfully spun tale of love, seduction, danger on the high sea’s and a brother who knew, even before Daphne and Rafe, that they were meant to be together.
I’m not gonna lie, the end did make me tear up a bit because the ending was perfect.
Daphne was a wonderful character to root for and I felt like as a reader, you fell in love with Rafe again right along with her, realizing that he was always putting her safety and duty before himself, before his own longings which is usually so opposite of regency romances.
As you can tell, I devoured this book, and would recommend it for anyone who wants a beautiful love story with witty banter, and two characters that aren’t afraid to fight for what they want!
October 18, 2015
** I received an eARC copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
3.5 stars
I haven't read the other books in this series, but the author did a good job of providing enough backstory that I didn't feel lost.
I thought the book was well written, but it wasn't paced as well as I would have liked. It was stop and go in many places and then a sprint to the finish.
The entire premise that Daphne and Rafe are married was a tad unbelievable - although to be perfectly fair, the author did address this and the annulment in her author notes at the end of the book and after I read those, I felt much more amiable to the storyline.
Daphne was in love with Rafe when she married him, but he broke her heart when he told her he thought of her as a sister and that there would never be anything between them. Then Daphne finds a blond woman in his bed and that was that - she wouldn't listen to anything and decided to find another husband. Fast forward a year, Rafe is back and Daphne is on the cusp of getting engaged - all she needs is an annulment. Rafe promises to get the annulment if she agrees to help him with his mission to find the men that killed her brother and tortured him.
Daphne is still hurt and angry about the "other woman" and the "sister" comment - but agrees to help him because she wants an annulment.
The story is a bit slow until they finally confront the villains. But there are some very amusing scenes - the funniest would be when Daphne gets drunk at her "engagement" ball and tells off her would be fiancée. Her cousin Delilah is hilarious and if Ms. Bowman ever writes a story for her - I will definitely read it. There is also a surprising twist at the end of the book - that finally puts to rest issue of the blond woman in Rafe's bed.
If you have followed this series, you will definitely want to read this book. If like me, this author is new to you - you could read this book without reading the others and still enjoy the story.
3.5 stars
I haven't read the other books in this series, but the author did a good job of providing enough backstory that I didn't feel lost.
I thought the book was well written, but it wasn't paced as well as I would have liked. It was stop and go in many places and then a sprint to the finish.
The entire premise that Daphne and Rafe are married was a tad unbelievable - although to be perfectly fair, the author did address this and the annulment in her author notes at the end of the book and after I read those, I felt much more amiable to the storyline.
Daphne was in love with Rafe when she married him, but he broke her heart when he told her he thought of her as a sister and that there would never be anything between them. Then Daphne finds a blond woman in his bed and that was that - she wouldn't listen to anything and decided to find another husband. Fast forward a year, Rafe is back and Daphne is on the cusp of getting engaged - all she needs is an annulment. Rafe promises to get the annulment if she agrees to help him with his mission to find the men that killed her brother and tortured him.
Daphne is still hurt and angry about the "other woman" and the "sister" comment - but agrees to help him because she wants an annulment.
The story is a bit slow until they finally confront the villains. But there are some very amusing scenes - the funniest would be when Daphne gets drunk at her "engagement" ball and tells off her would be fiancée. Her cousin Delilah is hilarious and if Ms. Bowman ever writes a story for her - I will definitely read it. There is also a surprising twist at the end of the book - that finally puts to rest issue of the blond woman in Rafe's bed.
If you have followed this series, you will definitely want to read this book. If like me, this author is new to you - you could read this book without reading the others and still enjoy the story.
November 3, 2015
Lady Daphne Swift, age 19, is starting her third season and is expecting a proposal from the pompous Lord Fitzwell. However, there is a small problem here because she is already married to Captain Rafferty (Rafe) Cavendish. Rafe has worked for the war office on secret missions. As it happens, Rafe and Daphne had worked together on a mission the previous year in an attempt to rescue her brother, Donald, who was being held prisoner in France. Daphne accompanied Rafe dressed as a young boy. But to protect her reputation, Rafe insisted they be married first and that they could have the married annulled later since it was not consummated. In the meantime, Daphne is waiting for Rafe to hold up his end of the bargain and get the marriage annulled. Ah, but Rafe has other ideas. Sadly, Donald was killed and Rafe has vowed revenge. Therefore, he again needs Daphne’s help because the murderers are Russian and Daphne is fluent in Russian.
Daphne and Rafe seem to be arguing with one another quite often during some social events. Rafe sees what a pompous fool Lord Fitzwell is and he has no intention of making it easy for them to marry. Trying to get Daphne to see the man for what he is results in many disagreements between the two of them.
We follow as Daphne and Rafe head out to find these murderers and bring them to justice. Daphne wants to accompany him on the voyage to France, but Rafe only needs her help eavesdropping on some conversations before they depart and does not want her to go on the dangerous mission. Ah, but Daphne has other ideas.
This is another great story by Valerie Bowman filled with her signature humor that had me laughing out loud. The adventure parts of the story had me on the edge of my seat as well. Great descriptions, Ms. Bowman! Now, I eagerly await (and hope) for a story about Daphne’s younger Cousin, Delilah, because j’adore Delilah!
Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Daphne and Rafe seem to be arguing with one another quite often during some social events. Rafe sees what a pompous fool Lord Fitzwell is and he has no intention of making it easy for them to marry. Trying to get Daphne to see the man for what he is results in many disagreements between the two of them.
We follow as Daphne and Rafe head out to find these murderers and bring them to justice. Daphne wants to accompany him on the voyage to France, but Rafe only needs her help eavesdropping on some conversations before they depart and does not want her to go on the dangerous mission. Ah, but Daphne has other ideas.
This is another great story by Valerie Bowman filled with her signature humor that had me laughing out loud. The adventure parts of the story had me on the edge of my seat as well. Great descriptions, Ms. Bowman! Now, I eagerly await (and hope) for a story about Daphne’s younger Cousin, Delilah, because j’adore Delilah!
Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
October 19, 2015
THE IRRESISBLE ROGUE is such of wonderful book, I might run out of superlatives! On the eve of her probable engagement to Lord Fitzwell, Lady Daphne Swift receives a box containing a small wooden boat. It is from Captain Rafferty “Rafe” Cavendish, whom she had worked with on a secret mission a year before. Rafe is a spy for the Crown. Rafe has asked Daphne to marry him in order to protect her if something went wrong with their mission; the marriage was supposed to be annulled as soon as their mission was completed, as it had not been consummated. But Rafe hasn’t done anything about it, they’re still married; Daphne is livid. And Rafe has the nerver to ask her to accompany him on another mission; he needs her presence because she speaks Russian. Daphne is adamant she won’t do it, but Rafe makes her an offer she cannot refuse: he will find who killed her brother Donald.
Valerie Bowman has crafted an absolutely irresistible book! The prose is luminous and elegant, light and crisp; the dialogues are dazzlingly brilliant and clever, and all this while the author never strays from correct Regency language usage, right down to the proper honorifics, and nicknames, where warranted. The characters are uniformly well-drawn and they all feel genuine. I fell in love with the absolutely delightful Delilah Montbank, Daphne’s 12 year-old cousin, who has French pretensions; she’s not sugary-sweet-cute, but she sounds like a real precocious child. Ms. Bowman’s attention to detail is exceptional, and a feeling of authenticity permeates everything in the book, and the adventure part is just as wonderful. THE IRRESISTIBLE ROGUE is so much fun, so pleasant and enjoyable; it is like a beautiful, sunny spring day. I loved everything from the very first sentences. This is the kind of book I will treasure, and I feel privileged to have read it. THE IRRESISTIBLE ROGUE is absolutely smashing!
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Valerie Bowman has crafted an absolutely irresistible book! The prose is luminous and elegant, light and crisp; the dialogues are dazzlingly brilliant and clever, and all this while the author never strays from correct Regency language usage, right down to the proper honorifics, and nicknames, where warranted. The characters are uniformly well-drawn and they all feel genuine. I fell in love with the absolutely delightful Delilah Montbank, Daphne’s 12 year-old cousin, who has French pretensions; she’s not sugary-sweet-cute, but she sounds like a real precocious child. Ms. Bowman’s attention to detail is exceptional, and a feeling of authenticity permeates everything in the book, and the adventure part is just as wonderful. THE IRRESISTIBLE ROGUE is so much fun, so pleasant and enjoyable; it is like a beautiful, sunny spring day. I loved everything from the very first sentences. This is the kind of book I will treasure, and I feel privileged to have read it. THE IRRESISTIBLE ROGUE is absolutely smashing!
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 23, 2016
Originally Reviewed For: Bodice Rippers, Femme Fatales and Fantasy
Once again Valerie Bowman gives us a treat with her Playful Brides, woman who know their minds and have a plan. In this case the plan is slightly skewered but...
Daphne Swift has a plan. She plans to marry the ever so proper Lord Fitzwell. She's not asking for a life of excitement, of daring do, those days are behind her. She wants a simple life, a life of family and friends with little deviations from the norm. She just has this one teeny tiny thing she has to do, get her current marriage annulled. Years ago she married Rafe Cavendish because it was the only way her older brother would let her travel with Rafe. At the time the need was dire, now not so much. So, a little annulment is all that's needed, only Rafe won't cooperate. And Daphne is feeling things she just wants to leave in the past.
Captain Rafferty Cavendish married Daphne Swift in order to complete a mission. It was the only way he could but now he needs her again and all she wants is an annulment. So in a plan best let go, Rafe promises her an annulment if she'd just do one more thing for him. Only old passions ignite and Rafe isn't sure letting go is the best thing for either of them.
Passion ignites amidst the darkest of plots. Daphne is a woman holding back her true self and when she finds herself in Rafe's arms again it's almost impossible to let go.
Valerie Bowman does such a wonderful job of intertwining passion and duty, desire and destruction. It's a delicious trip into madness and I loved every minute of it! Great job!
Shauni
This review is based on the ARC of The Irresistible Rogue, provided by netgalley.
Once again Valerie Bowman gives us a treat with her Playful Brides, woman who know their minds and have a plan. In this case the plan is slightly skewered but...
Daphne Swift has a plan. She plans to marry the ever so proper Lord Fitzwell. She's not asking for a life of excitement, of daring do, those days are behind her. She wants a simple life, a life of family and friends with little deviations from the norm. She just has this one teeny tiny thing she has to do, get her current marriage annulled. Years ago she married Rafe Cavendish because it was the only way her older brother would let her travel with Rafe. At the time the need was dire, now not so much. So, a little annulment is all that's needed, only Rafe won't cooperate. And Daphne is feeling things she just wants to leave in the past.
Captain Rafferty Cavendish married Daphne Swift in order to complete a mission. It was the only way he could but now he needs her again and all she wants is an annulment. So in a plan best let go, Rafe promises her an annulment if she'd just do one more thing for him. Only old passions ignite and Rafe isn't sure letting go is the best thing for either of them.
Passion ignites amidst the darkest of plots. Daphne is a woman holding back her true self and when she finds herself in Rafe's arms again it's almost impossible to let go.
Valerie Bowman does such a wonderful job of intertwining passion and duty, desire and destruction. It's a delicious trip into madness and I loved every minute of it! Great job!
Shauni
This review is based on the ARC of The Irresistible Rogue, provided by netgalley.
August 11, 2015
A secret marriage in need of annulment & handsome as sin husband - both things that Daphne Swift is wanting to forget. After all the only reason she has either is because her brother Donald made the marriage a condition of Daphne helping the crown gather information regarding the French. That was a year ago; now Donald is gone, killed by the French, & her husband thinks of her as a sister. Time for that annulment & to get on with her life. That’s why the unexpected “engagement” gift from her husband threatens to throw a wrench in her plans to become engaged to a gentleman of the ton.
Captain Rafe Cavendish has one thing on his mind – to catch the men who killed his good friend, Donald Swift. Ironically he needs the help of his wife in name only, Daphne Swift. As luck would have it he was invited by her brother, Julian, to attend what everyone is expecting to be a ball to announce Daphne’s engagement to Lord Fitzwell.
From the moment of their first meeting, a meeting Daphne demands an annulment & Rafe plays on her emotions for Donald to acquire her help, fireworks abound. A game of charades, a walk in the garden, interference from a “to big for her britches” cousin & an interfering aunt add laugh out loud fun. Cramped ships quarters, Russians, French & danger add heart bounding intrigue.
Valerie Bowman has written another wonderful story that engages multiple feelings. She will have you cheering Daphne on & wanting to shake both her & Rafe. Can’t wait to see what Ms. Bowman has coming next!
Captain Rafe Cavendish has one thing on his mind – to catch the men who killed his good friend, Donald Swift. Ironically he needs the help of his wife in name only, Daphne Swift. As luck would have it he was invited by her brother, Julian, to attend what everyone is expecting to be a ball to announce Daphne’s engagement to Lord Fitzwell.
From the moment of their first meeting, a meeting Daphne demands an annulment & Rafe plays on her emotions for Donald to acquire her help, fireworks abound. A game of charades, a walk in the garden, interference from a “to big for her britches” cousin & an interfering aunt add laugh out loud fun. Cramped ships quarters, Russians, French & danger add heart bounding intrigue.
Valerie Bowman has written another wonderful story that engages multiple feelings. She will have you cheering Daphne on & wanting to shake both her & Rafe. Can’t wait to see what Ms. Bowman has coming next!
November 5, 2015
In an order to help save her brother from certain harm, Daphne marries spy for the crown, Rafe. Now as a year has passed, Daphne wants an annulment from the man who plagues her dreams in order to seek marriage with a respectable and staid man. Rafe will agree to this annulment, but Daphne must accompany him on a mission. Daphne has matured since her fateful marriage to the roguish Rafe and she is done with uncertainty.
After the loss of Daphne's brother and Rafe's friend, the guilt he carries still causes an ache in his very soul, but one thing he knows, he doesn't really want an annulment from Daphne and he will find a way to thwart her engagement to bore of a man who she has chosen. First both Daphne and Rafe must solve the mystery of Donald's death. Rafe has leads on where to find the murderers and Daphne's knowledge of the German language will help. Aside from danger and intrigue, the emerging romance between the secretly married pair is a winning combination for the fast paced and inventive tale.
The innocent Daphne contrives of a way to get Rafe to release her from her marital chains while assisting him in the search for killer, but the more she works at this, the faster she falls. Rafe is all things protective for his wayward wife and when the heat begins to rise, he won't be running away, but toward the flame.
THE IRRESISTIBLE ROGUE by the eloquent and talented Valerie Bowman is yet another winner in her Playful Brides series.
After the loss of Daphne's brother and Rafe's friend, the guilt he carries still causes an ache in his very soul, but one thing he knows, he doesn't really want an annulment from Daphne and he will find a way to thwart her engagement to bore of a man who she has chosen. First both Daphne and Rafe must solve the mystery of Donald's death. Rafe has leads on where to find the murderers and Daphne's knowledge of the German language will help. Aside from danger and intrigue, the emerging romance between the secretly married pair is a winning combination for the fast paced and inventive tale.
The innocent Daphne contrives of a way to get Rafe to release her from her marital chains while assisting him in the search for killer, but the more she works at this, the faster she falls. Rafe is all things protective for his wayward wife and when the heat begins to rise, he won't be running away, but toward the flame.
THE IRRESISTIBLE ROGUE by the eloquent and talented Valerie Bowman is yet another winner in her Playful Brides series.
March 4, 2022
3/5 stars!
“He had a relationship of sorts with the stars. They might be cool and distant, but they were good listeners.”
This book contains: ships, secrets, spies, missions, rogues and crushes.
I was hoping this would be a bop just like the previous book but this was just… okay? Looking back, I had two main issues with this book:
It’s incredibly unrealistic - and yes, I know it’s fiction… but c’mon, this was on another level of unrealistic. The spy plot-line was silly at times;
Where is the romance? I could be fine with the silly plot-line, but the story lacked romance and that’s the main reason why I picked up this series in the first place. I just wish the focus of the book wasn’t the secret spy mission. There were so many scenes with potential to develop the romance!
The characters were okay, though a little on the annoying side. It was good to see some of the older characters from the series back, though!
If you decide to pick up this series from Valerie Bowman because you like historical books, keep in mind that there are a lot of historical inconsistencies in this book. Personally this doesn’t bother me, but I can definitely see this being a deal-breaker to some readers.
Needless to say I wasn’t super impressed with this book. Not the best book of the series nor the worst.
Blog | Bookstagram
“He had a relationship of sorts with the stars. They might be cool and distant, but they were good listeners.”
This book contains: ships, secrets, spies, missions, rogues and crushes.
I was hoping this would be a bop just like the previous book but this was just… okay? Looking back, I had two main issues with this book:
It’s incredibly unrealistic - and yes, I know it’s fiction… but c’mon, this was on another level of unrealistic. The spy plot-line was silly at times;
Where is the romance? I could be fine with the silly plot-line, but the story lacked romance and that’s the main reason why I picked up this series in the first place. I just wish the focus of the book wasn’t the secret spy mission. There were so many scenes with potential to develop the romance!
The characters were okay, though a little on the annoying side. It was good to see some of the older characters from the series back, though!
If you decide to pick up this series from Valerie Bowman because you like historical books, keep in mind that there are a lot of historical inconsistencies in this book. Personally this doesn’t bother me, but I can definitely see this being a deal-breaker to some readers.
Needless to say I wasn’t super impressed with this book. Not the best book of the series nor the worst.
Blog | Bookstagram
October 12, 2015
Daphne is getting ready for her engagement ball. The man she has picked out has all her requirements. There is only one person that might spoil it for her. Her husband.
Rafe Cavendish has come to take his cabin boy (wife) on another mission for the crown. Her knowledge of Russian is why he needs her. Or is it?
I won't tell you any more about the story line behind this, because I don't want to spoil it for you. Although this is part of a series, and you might have learned about the meeting of this book's protagonists in a previous story, it is still very enjoyable as a stand alone. I personally love to read this type of series in order. Because the family make up can give away final endings, if not the stories.
Our hero is an army captain working as a spy. Our heroine part of an aristocratic family who have made many sacrifices in service to the Crown.
I loved every exciting page. It is a very difficult book to put down. And the introduction at the very end of a fabulous new character ensures we have more to come.
Rafe Cavendish has come to take his cabin boy (wife) on another mission for the crown. Her knowledge of Russian is why he needs her. Or is it?
I won't tell you any more about the story line behind this, because I don't want to spoil it for you. Although this is part of a series, and you might have learned about the meeting of this book's protagonists in a previous story, it is still very enjoyable as a stand alone. I personally love to read this type of series in order. Because the family make up can give away final endings, if not the stories.
Our hero is an army captain working as a spy. Our heroine part of an aristocratic family who have made many sacrifices in service to the Crown.
I loved every exciting page. It is a very difficult book to put down. And the introduction at the very end of a fabulous new character ensures we have more to come.
Read
March 7, 2016Review posted on Got Fiction?
I've been debating whether to DNF this book or not, and I finally just had to do it. This book does not stand alone. I think instead of DNF, though, I'm more, setting this one aside until I can catch up on the series.
There is a huge backstory between the hero and heroine, but I don't know it since I didn't read the previous book. The author gave us the abridged version, but it's just not enough for me to like the heroine or to really to be on board with what's going on.
Now, I stopped reading around 30% so it's very possible that my questions are answered later, but for me, by this point, and with this much backstory, I got both confused, and frustrated.
NOT A SPOILER
(The heroine and hero are married from a previous assignment, and previous book, because the hero and the heroine's family are all spies)
So instead of a DNF consider this a Will Finish Later. And once I have I'll come back and add to this review.
***ARC courtesy of St. Martin's Press
I've been debating whether to DNF this book or not, and I finally just had to do it. This book does not stand alone. I think instead of DNF, though, I'm more, setting this one aside until I can catch up on the series.
There is a huge backstory between the hero and heroine, but I don't know it since I didn't read the previous book. The author gave us the abridged version, but it's just not enough for me to like the heroine or to really to be on board with what's going on.
Now, I stopped reading around 30% so it's very possible that my questions are answered later, but for me, by this point, and with this much backstory, I got both confused, and frustrated.
NOT A SPOILER
(The heroine and hero are married from a previous assignment, and previous book, because the hero and the heroine's family are all spies)
So instead of a DNF consider this a Will Finish Later. And once I have I'll come back and add to this review.
***ARC courtesy of St. Martin's Press
August 14, 2015
Having read all the books in the series prior to this one, it set me up nicely for knowing all the characters and world the author created. That being said you don't necessarily have to have read the other books to fully enjoy this story and the characters involved.
Daphne's story is everything I expected. I loved how strong her character was and how brave but innocent she was. Captain Rafferty Cavendish was perfectly stubborn and I loved seeing him eat crow every time he doubted Daphne. I also loved how their romance evolved. There were plenty of surprises and twists and turns in this story to keep a reader actively engaged and enjoyed the ride while reading. I would definitely recommend this book and whole series to anyone who loves a good Historical Romance with a bit of suspense thrown in!
*NetGalley gave me this book for free for an honest review!*
Daphne's story is everything I expected. I loved how strong her character was and how brave but innocent she was. Captain Rafferty Cavendish was perfectly stubborn and I loved seeing him eat crow every time he doubted Daphne. I also loved how their romance evolved. There were plenty of surprises and twists and turns in this story to keep a reader actively engaged and enjoyed the ride while reading. I would definitely recommend this book and whole series to anyone who loves a good Historical Romance with a bit of suspense thrown in!
*NetGalley gave me this book for free for an honest review!*
June 18, 2025
WOW!! I enjoyed this book so much and the ending!!! What a surprise!! The plot had an exciting adventurous twist to it that not many historical romances have that I’ve read. Daphne and Rafe were meant to be together, and even Donald was able to see that before he passed. Watching their story play out made me happy and tense at times, but it was worth the read :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2024
I really need a palate cleansing after two mediocre books. Second chance romance, spies, rogues, historical romance, yes ! Easy peasy read and loved Valerie’s styling and pacing of her novel.
January 9, 2018
For complete review check out my blog at https://booksaplentybookreviews.blogs...
November 11, 2015
Originally posted on Adria's Romance Reviews
* A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for the purpose of an honest review.
I. Loved. This. Book. Like, really, really loved this book. A historical romance with spies is always going to get my attention but a historical romance with spies where the heroine doesn’t sit at home wringing her hands with worry? Absolute gold. But the cherry on top of this triple chocolate brownie cake is that The Irresistible Rogue is loosely based on Philip Barry’s play (and successful movie) The Philadelphia Story! It is one of my absolute favorite movies of all time and if you haven’t seen Cary Grant, James Stewart and the incomparable Katharine Hepburn in action you REALLY need to. Author Valerie Bowman was able to capture the fun wit of The Philadelphia Story and channel it into her own characters all while placing those characters in very different situations as the story went on.
Where to begin? Ah, how about Rafe? The absent-until-the-worse-possible-moment husband. He was a smooth talking scoundrel with an agenda but he clearly didn’t expect the temptation his secret wife Daphne would present. I just love a hero who gets caught in his own machinations. It might be mean spirited but I loved watching Rafe flounder when he realized he was even more attracted to Daphne than before and that keeping things “professional” was going to be more difficult than he thought. Serves him right for turning poor Daphne’s world upside down again. He needed an ego check and he got one!
With Rafe being such a scoundrel he naturally needed a strong willed heroine to drive him insane and make him come to his senses. Daphne was the lucky lady for the job and she did do a fine job of challenging the all too sure captain. Daphne was lively, spunky and too quick witted for any common man and that’s what appealed to me. Even though she denied it, Daphne wasn’t a common woman, she was odd for her time and those are my favorite kinds of heroines, the ones that go their own way.
As a couple it was clear that Rafe and Daphne complimented each other but what I really wanted to know was how were they going to be as partners in a life or death situation? Rafe may have intended Daphne to be little more than a prop to complete his undercover role but Daphne had other ideas. After a bit of head butting these two ended up working together beautifully once Rafe learned to trust that Daphne could keep herself safe. I loved how effortlessly Daphne fit in with Rafe and his fellow spies. She really held her own for being the new kid on the team. Having Daphne take an active part in Rafe’s plan made The Irresistible Rogue so much more exciting!
Final Verdict: With only a handful of scenes that were clearly inspired by The Philadelphia Story, Valerie Bowman’s The Irresistible Rogue paid tribute to a wonderful play and film all while carving out its own identity with spies, lies and passionate embraces.
* A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for the purpose of an honest review.
I. Loved. This. Book. Like, really, really loved this book. A historical romance with spies is always going to get my attention but a historical romance with spies where the heroine doesn’t sit at home wringing her hands with worry? Absolute gold. But the cherry on top of this triple chocolate brownie cake is that The Irresistible Rogue is loosely based on Philip Barry’s play (and successful movie) The Philadelphia Story! It is one of my absolute favorite movies of all time and if you haven’t seen Cary Grant, James Stewart and the incomparable Katharine Hepburn in action you REALLY need to. Author Valerie Bowman was able to capture the fun wit of The Philadelphia Story and channel it into her own characters all while placing those characters in very different situations as the story went on.
Where to begin? Ah, how about Rafe? The absent-until-the-worse-possible-moment husband. He was a smooth talking scoundrel with an agenda but he clearly didn’t expect the temptation his secret wife Daphne would present. I just love a hero who gets caught in his own machinations. It might be mean spirited but I loved watching Rafe flounder when he realized he was even more attracted to Daphne than before and that keeping things “professional” was going to be more difficult than he thought. Serves him right for turning poor Daphne’s world upside down again. He needed an ego check and he got one!
With Rafe being such a scoundrel he naturally needed a strong willed heroine to drive him insane and make him come to his senses. Daphne was the lucky lady for the job and she did do a fine job of challenging the all too sure captain. Daphne was lively, spunky and too quick witted for any common man and that’s what appealed to me. Even though she denied it, Daphne wasn’t a common woman, she was odd for her time and those are my favorite kinds of heroines, the ones that go their own way.
As a couple it was clear that Rafe and Daphne complimented each other but what I really wanted to know was how were they going to be as partners in a life or death situation? Rafe may have intended Daphne to be little more than a prop to complete his undercover role but Daphne had other ideas. After a bit of head butting these two ended up working together beautifully once Rafe learned to trust that Daphne could keep herself safe. I loved how effortlessly Daphne fit in with Rafe and his fellow spies. She really held her own for being the new kid on the team. Having Daphne take an active part in Rafe’s plan made The Irresistible Rogue so much more exciting!
Final Verdict: With only a handful of scenes that were clearly inspired by The Philadelphia Story, Valerie Bowman’s The Irresistible Rogue paid tribute to a wonderful play and film all while carving out its own identity with spies, lies and passionate embraces.
October 31, 2015
The Irresistible Rogue (Playful Brides, #4)I'll start by saying Valerie Bowman reminded me why I'm a historical/regency romance junkie. I'll read anything but if I'm given a choice between a historical/regency and a contemporary, I'll pass on the latter.
I love, love, love Rafe Cavendish. He's funny, smart, with a nice rear view (according to Lady Daphne, the heroine). I don't care that he isn't titled or that he isn't rich (and neither does Lady Daphne).
Though blue blood doesn't run through his veins, Rafe is close friends with the aristocracy. Well, he's actually married into the aristocracy except only few know of his secret marriage to Lady Daphne. It turns out that Lady Daphne's deceased brother had agreed that she help Rafe in a mission a year ago, but only if she married him. Daphne can't stay away from trouble and she wants to serve her country like the men do, so she accepted to marry Rafe for all the wrong reasons, though at the time they all made sense.
Now a year has passed. Her brother died on a mission that went wrong and she's still married to Rafe, but she wants an annulment. They were supposed to get an annulment a long time ago, but she'd been so furious with Rafe that time slipped through her fingers. The problem now is that she's ready to move on. Her family is hosting a ball for her as everyone expects her to become engage with Lord Fitzwell. Rafe shows up and asks for her help on another mission, and in return he'd her the annulment she so wants. Except she doesn't. Rafe's return brings back memories of the time they spent together a year ago, their almost kiss, and the blonde she found in his bed, who he swears he'd never met.
She agrees to help him yet again and only because her help will serve two purposes. One: they'll find out where her brother's killers are. Two: she'll get the annulment she doesn't want but needs anyway.
I had so much fun reading this book. I can't make up my mind on who is my favorite character. Valerie Bowman made me laugh so hard. Delilah, a precocious twelve-year old, is hilarious. I sure hope Valerie writes Delilah's story some day when she's all grown up. The other characters in the book, though their appearances weren't constant, they had such a great role I wanted to know more about them. I haven't read the other books in this series but now I will. I'd read a short story by Valerie Bowman before and I'd had her on my TBR forever. I'm glad I finally got around to it because she's now one of my go to authors for historical/regency romances.
The Irresistible Rogue is one story I'd recommend. Will I read it again? You bet I will.
I love, love, love Rafe Cavendish. He's funny, smart, with a nice rear view (according to Lady Daphne, the heroine). I don't care that he isn't titled or that he isn't rich (and neither does Lady Daphne).
Though blue blood doesn't run through his veins, Rafe is close friends with the aristocracy. Well, he's actually married into the aristocracy except only few know of his secret marriage to Lady Daphne. It turns out that Lady Daphne's deceased brother had agreed that she help Rafe in a mission a year ago, but only if she married him. Daphne can't stay away from trouble and she wants to serve her country like the men do, so she accepted to marry Rafe for all the wrong reasons, though at the time they all made sense.
Now a year has passed. Her brother died on a mission that went wrong and she's still married to Rafe, but she wants an annulment. They were supposed to get an annulment a long time ago, but she'd been so furious with Rafe that time slipped through her fingers. The problem now is that she's ready to move on. Her family is hosting a ball for her as everyone expects her to become engage with Lord Fitzwell. Rafe shows up and asks for her help on another mission, and in return he'd her the annulment she so wants. Except she doesn't. Rafe's return brings back memories of the time they spent together a year ago, their almost kiss, and the blonde she found in his bed, who he swears he'd never met.
She agrees to help him yet again and only because her help will serve two purposes. One: they'll find out where her brother's killers are. Two: she'll get the annulment she doesn't want but needs anyway.
I had so much fun reading this book. I can't make up my mind on who is my favorite character. Valerie Bowman made me laugh so hard. Delilah, a precocious twelve-year old, is hilarious. I sure hope Valerie writes Delilah's story some day when she's all grown up. The other characters in the book, though their appearances weren't constant, they had such a great role I wanted to know more about them. I haven't read the other books in this series but now I will. I'd read a short story by Valerie Bowman before and I'd had her on my TBR forever. I'm glad I finally got around to it because she's now one of my go to authors for historical/regency romances.
The Irresistible Rogue is one story I'd recommend. Will I read it again? You bet I will.
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