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Dashing & Dangerous
WHEN THEY'RE BAD ...THEY RE BETTER
FIVE SINFULLY SEDUCTIVE HEROES...
They're shameless, seductive, and steal your heart with a smile. Now these irresistible rogues and rakes, rebels and renegades, are captured in five all new, deliciously sexy stories by America's favorite authors of, romantic fiction. Here are men who make it so nice to be naughty: devilishly handsome rascals, virile villains, brazen bad boys, and darkly brooding lords. All are experts in the world of desire, but now they are about to lose their way in a wondrous territory called love. Five extraordinary storytellers put these wickedly appealing heroes in the spotlight just to fire up your fantasies and warm your heart.
"Precious Rogue" / Mary Balogh
"Sweet Revenge" / Melinda McRae
"Buried Treasure" / Edith Layton
"Devil's Spawn" / Mary Jo Putney
"A Good Woman" / Anita Mills
FIVE SINFULLY SEDUCTIVE HEROES...
They're shameless, seductive, and steal your heart with a smile. Now these irresistible rogues and rakes, rebels and renegades, are captured in five all new, deliciously sexy stories by America's favorite authors of, romantic fiction. Here are men who make it so nice to be naughty: devilishly handsome rascals, virile villains, brazen bad boys, and darkly brooding lords. All are experts in the world of desire, but now they are about to lose their way in a wondrous territory called love. Five extraordinary storytellers put these wickedly appealing heroes in the spotlight just to fire up your fantasies and warm your heart.
"Precious Rogue" / Mary Balogh
"Sweet Revenge" / Melinda McRae
"Buried Treasure" / Edith Layton
"Devil's Spawn" / Mary Jo Putney
"A Good Woman" / Anita Mills
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 1995
253 people want to read
About the author
Mary Balogh
200 books6,354 followersMary Jenkins was born in 1944 in Swansea, Wales, UK. After graduating from university, moved to Saskatchewan, Canada, to teach high school English, on a two-year teaching contract in 1967. She married her Canadian husband, Robert Balogh, and had three children, Jacqueline, Christopher and Sian. When she's not writing, she enjoys reading, music and knitting. She also enjoys watching tennis and curling.
Mary Balogh started writing in the evenings as a hobby. Her first book, a Regency love story, was published in 1985 as A Masked Deception under her married name. In 1988, she retired from teaching after 20 years to pursue her dream to write full-time. She has written more than seventy novels and almost thirty novellas since then, including the New York Times bestselling 'Slightly' sextet and 'Simply' quartet. She has won numerous awards, including Bestselling Historical of the Year from the Borders Group, and her novel Simply Magic was a finalist in the Quill Awards. She has won seven Waldenbooks Awards and two B. Dalton Awards for her bestselling novels, as well as a Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award.
Mary Balogh started writing in the evenings as a hobby. Her first book, a Regency love story, was published in 1985 as A Masked Deception under her married name. In 1988, she retired from teaching after 20 years to pursue her dream to write full-time. She has written more than seventy novels and almost thirty novellas since then, including the New York Times bestselling 'Slightly' sextet and 'Simply' quartet. She has won numerous awards, including Bestselling Historical of the Year from the Borders Group, and her novel Simply Magic was a finalist in the Quill Awards. She has won seven Waldenbooks Awards and two B. Dalton Awards for her bestselling novels, as well as a Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 22, 2021
The stories in this anthology are new to this book. HOWEVER, I recognized PRECIOUS ROGUE (from CAPTURED HEARTS, published in 1999). So beware. I think I've also read Edith Layton's story, but couldn't find the anthology name.
PRECIOUS ROGUE (Mary Balogh) -- 3 stars
Patricia Mangan is a poor relation to the Peabodys and acts as Mrs. Peabody's helper (slave). The Peabody's are having a house party in anticipation of an announcement of a pending marriage between their only daughter, Nancy, and the handsome Mr. Bancroft. However, Mr. Bandroft is very busy seducing all the females (excepting the Peabody women and Patricia) within sight. Bancroft has no intention of marrying Nancy, but he decides to injure the Peabody women's feelings when they are cruel to Patricia. This is an interesting story but the author has done too thorough a job turning Mr. Bancroft into a rake and a rogue to be able to pull off the solution she tries at the end. It just is not believable. Period. It is fun to read but unlikely to the max.
SWEET REVENGE (Melinda McRae) -- 3.5 stars
David and Chloe were meant to marry; when word came to England that David had been killed, Chloe married David's cousin, Jonathan. Now, 15 years later, Chloe is a widow (for two years) and is just emerging from her widow's weeds. It's just in time to celebrate her dear friend's (Georgie's) birthday. Unfortunately, Georgie is David's sister and David decided to crash the party. He is set on a course of revenge against Chloe.
BURIED TREASURE (Edith Layton) -- 3 stars
Edith Layton's story occurs on Long Island, New York in 1699. To sum the story up, it seems O'Henry-ish. A pirate is left with a treasure chest, thought dead and buried alive with a chest of ill-gotten gains. He plots to take his revenge on the pirates who left him while he recuperates at the home of a kind family who takes Dan Silver in. However, he also plans to seduce Hannah, the lovely girl of the family who takes him in and treats his severe wounds.
THE DEVIL'S SPAWN (Mary Jo Putney) -- 4.5 stars
Putney is one of those authors who write stories that I either hate or love. This one is a delight because the story is so unexpected. Dominick Chandler has fallen in love with his soulmate, Roxanne Mayfield. When he asks Roxanne's father (a pseudo-scientist) for her hand, we learn what an awful man Papa Mayfield is. He uses trickery to keep his daughter as his personal slave. Ten years pass and Dominick is now wealthy, world-traveled, and intent on getting Roxanne out of her father's clutches. The plan is wildly audacious and uses Mayfield's pseudo-scientist persona against himself. Delicious fun.
A GOOD WOMAN (Anita Mills) -- 5 stars
This story takes place much later than the others; it is 1881 and John/Jack O'Neal has been released from the Huntsville, Texas Penitentiary for robbery. A funny thing happens on John's way to digging up his ill-gotten earnings; he meets a widow with two children. Jack and Beth are both bitter about the deal life has handed them. Jack was raised by a mother who waited for a married man to outlive his wealthy, sickly wife, so he could take care of Jack's mother and Jack. Instead, she became a prostitute and Jack had no home life. Beth's husband borrowed too much and was killed in a gambling argument. Now, Beth is facing losing the home she and Ben struggled over for years. Through the interactions of all four characters (Beth, Jack, Beth's two intelligent children), they meld into a family. It was realistic and fascinating to watch.
PRECIOUS ROGUE (Mary Balogh) -- 3 stars
Patricia Mangan is a poor relation to the Peabodys and acts as Mrs. Peabody's helper (slave). The Peabody's are having a house party in anticipation of an announcement of a pending marriage between their only daughter, Nancy, and the handsome Mr. Bancroft. However, Mr. Bandroft is very busy seducing all the females (excepting the Peabody women and Patricia) within sight. Bancroft has no intention of marrying Nancy, but he decides to injure the Peabody women's feelings when they are cruel to Patricia. This is an interesting story but the author has done too thorough a job turning Mr. Bancroft into a rake and a rogue to be able to pull off the solution she tries at the end. It just is not believable. Period. It is fun to read but unlikely to the max.
SWEET REVENGE (Melinda McRae) -- 3.5 stars
David and Chloe were meant to marry; when word came to England that David had been killed, Chloe married David's cousin, Jonathan. Now, 15 years later, Chloe is a widow (for two years) and is just emerging from her widow's weeds. It's just in time to celebrate her dear friend's (Georgie's) birthday. Unfortunately, Georgie is David's sister and David decided to crash the party. He is set on a course of revenge against Chloe.
BURIED TREASURE (Edith Layton) -- 3 stars
Edith Layton's story occurs on Long Island, New York in 1699. To sum the story up, it seems O'Henry-ish. A pirate is left with a treasure chest, thought dead and buried alive with a chest of ill-gotten gains. He plots to take his revenge on the pirates who left him while he recuperates at the home of a kind family who takes Dan Silver in. However, he also plans to seduce Hannah, the lovely girl of the family who takes him in and treats his severe wounds.
THE DEVIL'S SPAWN (Mary Jo Putney) -- 4.5 stars
Putney is one of those authors who write stories that I either hate or love. This one is a delight because the story is so unexpected. Dominick Chandler has fallen in love with his soulmate, Roxanne Mayfield. When he asks Roxanne's father (a pseudo-scientist) for her hand, we learn what an awful man Papa Mayfield is. He uses trickery to keep his daughter as his personal slave. Ten years pass and Dominick is now wealthy, world-traveled, and intent on getting Roxanne out of her father's clutches. The plan is wildly audacious and uses Mayfield's pseudo-scientist persona against himself. Delicious fun.
A GOOD WOMAN (Anita Mills) -- 5 stars
This story takes place much later than the others; it is 1881 and John/Jack O'Neal has been released from the Huntsville, Texas Penitentiary for robbery. A funny thing happens on John's way to digging up his ill-gotten earnings; he meets a widow with two children. Jack and Beth are both bitter about the deal life has handed them. Jack was raised by a mother who waited for a married man to outlive his wealthy, sickly wife, so he could take care of Jack's mother and Jack. Instead, she became a prostitute and Jack had no home life. Beth's husband borrowed too much and was killed in a gambling argument. Now, Beth is facing losing the home she and Ben struggled over for years. Through the interactions of all four characters (Beth, Jack, Beth's two intelligent children), they meld into a family. It was realistic and fascinating to watch.
reprint
April 12, 2020read/own Balogh Precious Rogue in rereleased ebook A Rogues Downfall
"Precious Rogue" / Mary Balogh
"Sweet Revenge" / Melinda McRae
"Buried Treasure" / Edith Layton
"Devil's Spawn" / Mary Jo Putney
"A Good Woman" / Anita Mills
"Precious Rogue" / Mary Balogh
"Sweet Revenge" / Melinda McRae
"Buried Treasure" / Edith Layton
"Devil's Spawn" / Mary Jo Putney
"A Good Woman" / Anita Mills
March 18, 2020
A couple of favorites that I have already read and a couple that I had never read that are now favorites.
September 6, 2016
This book is an interesting combination of romance stories with a hodgepodge of different settings. I honestly don't know if any of the guys could be considered heroes. Think of anti-hero and you can better understand these men.
Mary Balogh's PRECIOUS ROGUE takes place in 1818 England between a truly despicable handsome rogue and a plain but virtuous heroine, Patricia Mangan. She was a companion to an aunt by marriage and served her well though the lady treated her awfully. Mr. Bancroft was invited to the estate in hopes that he'll marry the cousin. Mr. B and Patricia meet in her special hideaway place; she is up in a tree. She has witnessed him seducing a married woman and, after the lady leaves, they have a conversation where she gives as good as he dishes out. He is intrigued but continues to have sexual relationships with other women. Their path isn't always smooth but they'll earn a HEA.
*** 3 stars for the wit and clever banter.
It is 1822 and SWEET REVENGE by Melinda McRae is a short story that can be summed up by the title. David North loved Chloe fifteen years ago. Both of them were young so he had to prove himself worthy to support her. He left to serve in the war and was believed dead. She married his cousin. When he returns unexpectedly and finds out what happened he takes off planning that someday she will get what she deserves. Flash forward and her husband, his cousin, has died. He is now well off and decides it is time for justice. *** 3 stars for Chloe, she deserved happiness.
Edith Layton takes the reader back to 1699 Long Island, New York in BURIED TREASURE. A man is believed dead and buried alive by his companions whom are pirates. Saved by a virtuous family, he decides he is going to seduce the daughter. In the meantime, he will wait for the men who left him to return to retrieve the buried treasure. Dan Silver has had a rotten life, you can understand why he behaves the way he does. *3 stars* because Hannah deserves love.
THE DEVIL'S SPAWN by Mary Jo Putney refers to Dominick Chandler, a man who had to prove himself because of his despicable father in 1819 England. He fell in love when he was young with Roxanne Mayfield and wanted to marry her. Her devious father refuses the young couple and plays dirty by forbidding them to see each other. At the same time he plants the seed of falsehood and lets his daughter believe she has been betrayed. Years go by and Dominick still loves Roxanne but has to find to approach her and get her to believe in him again. This man is the closest to a hero and I enjoyed their story. **** 3.5 Stars for some light goofiness and their well-deserved happiness.
Anita Mills finishes the anthology with A GOOD WOMAN. It is 1881and John P. O'Neal has just been released from the Texas State Penitentiary for robbery. He has served his sentence and now is going to dig up his earnings; money he thinks he deserves. Along the way he meets a widow and her two children who on their last legs. Ever so slowly changes happen and he earns a good woman. **** 3.5 stars for two unlucky people who find each other.
Mary Balogh's PRECIOUS ROGUE takes place in 1818 England between a truly despicable handsome rogue and a plain but virtuous heroine, Patricia Mangan. She was a companion to an aunt by marriage and served her well though the lady treated her awfully. Mr. Bancroft was invited to the estate in hopes that he'll marry the cousin. Mr. B and Patricia meet in her special hideaway place; she is up in a tree. She has witnessed him seducing a married woman and, after the lady leaves, they have a conversation where she gives as good as he dishes out. He is intrigued but continues to have sexual relationships with other women. Their path isn't always smooth but they'll earn a HEA.
*** 3 stars for the wit and clever banter.
It is 1822 and SWEET REVENGE by Melinda McRae is a short story that can be summed up by the title. David North loved Chloe fifteen years ago. Both of them were young so he had to prove himself worthy to support her. He left to serve in the war and was believed dead. She married his cousin. When he returns unexpectedly and finds out what happened he takes off planning that someday she will get what she deserves. Flash forward and her husband, his cousin, has died. He is now well off and decides it is time for justice. *** 3 stars for Chloe, she deserved happiness.
Edith Layton takes the reader back to 1699 Long Island, New York in BURIED TREASURE. A man is believed dead and buried alive by his companions whom are pirates. Saved by a virtuous family, he decides he is going to seduce the daughter. In the meantime, he will wait for the men who left him to return to retrieve the buried treasure. Dan Silver has had a rotten life, you can understand why he behaves the way he does. *3 stars* because Hannah deserves love.
THE DEVIL'S SPAWN by Mary Jo Putney refers to Dominick Chandler, a man who had to prove himself because of his despicable father in 1819 England. He fell in love when he was young with Roxanne Mayfield and wanted to marry her. Her devious father refuses the young couple and plays dirty by forbidding them to see each other. At the same time he plants the seed of falsehood and lets his daughter believe she has been betrayed. Years go by and Dominick still loves Roxanne but has to find to approach her and get her to believe in him again. This man is the closest to a hero and I enjoyed their story. **** 3.5 Stars for some light goofiness and their well-deserved happiness.
Anita Mills finishes the anthology with A GOOD WOMAN. It is 1881and John P. O'Neal has just been released from the Texas State Penitentiary for robbery. He has served his sentence and now is going to dig up his earnings; money he thinks he deserves. Along the way he meets a widow and her two children who on their last legs. Ever so slowly changes happen and he earns a good woman. **** 3.5 stars for two unlucky people who find each other.
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February 26, 2017read the Balogh story
April 3, 2020
Balogh - "Precious Rogue"
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March 10, 2016OVERALL:
Precious rogue / Mary Balogh
Sweet revenge / Melinda McRae
Buried treasure / Edith Layton
Devil's spawn / Mary Jo Putney
A good woman / Anita Mills
Precious rogue / Mary Balogh
Sweet revenge / Melinda McRae
Buried treasure / Edith Layton
Devil's spawn / Mary Jo Putney
A good woman / Anita Mills
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews