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Stud Club #2
Twice Tempted by a Rogue
Horses, gambling, and secrets are the game played by the men of the Stud Club—until love raises the stakes in Twice Tempted by a Rogue.
Luck is a double-edged sword for brooding war hero Rhys St. Maur. His death wish went unanswered on the battlefield, while fate allowed the murder of his good friend in the elite gentlemen’s society known as the Stud Club. Out of options, Rhys returns to his ancestral home on the moors of Devonshire, expecting anything but a chance at redemption in the arms of a beautiful innkeeper who dares him to take on the demons of his past—and the sweet temptation of a woman’s love.
Meredith Maddox believes in hard work, not fate, and romance isn’t part of her plan. But when Rhys returns, battle-scarred, world-weary, and more dangerously attractive than ever, the lovely widow is torn between determination and desire. As a deep mystery and dangerous smugglers threaten much more than their passionate reckoning, Meredith discovers that she must trust everything to a wager her heart placed long ago.
Luck is a double-edged sword for brooding war hero Rhys St. Maur. His death wish went unanswered on the battlefield, while fate allowed the murder of his good friend in the elite gentlemen’s society known as the Stud Club. Out of options, Rhys returns to his ancestral home on the moors of Devonshire, expecting anything but a chance at redemption in the arms of a beautiful innkeeper who dares him to take on the demons of his past—and the sweet temptation of a woman’s love.
Meredith Maddox believes in hard work, not fate, and romance isn’t part of her plan. But when Rhys returns, battle-scarred, world-weary, and more dangerously attractive than ever, the lovely widow is torn between determination and desire. As a deep mystery and dangerous smugglers threaten much more than their passionate reckoning, Meredith discovers that she must trust everything to a wager her heart placed long ago.
363 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 22, 2010
426 people are currently reading
3376 people want to read
About the author
Tessa Dare
50 books14.9k followersSign up for Tessa's newsletter and be the first to hear about new books and hot deals! http://tessadare.com/newsletter-signup/
Tessa Dare is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of fourteen historical romance novels and five novellas. Her books have won numerous accolades, including Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA® award (twice!) and the RT Book Reviews Seal of Excellence. Booklist magazine named her one of the “new stars of historical romance," and her books have been contracted for translation in more than a dozen languages.
A librarian by training and a booklover at heart, Tessa makes her home in Southern California, where she lives with her husband, their two children, and a trio of cosmic kitties.
Tessa Dare is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of fourteen historical romance novels and five novellas. Her books have won numerous accolades, including Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA® award (twice!) and the RT Book Reviews Seal of Excellence. Booklist magazine named her one of the “new stars of historical romance," and her books have been contracted for translation in more than a dozen languages.
A librarian by training and a booklover at heart, Tessa makes her home in Southern California, where she lives with her husband, their two children, and a trio of cosmic kitties.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 631 reviews
September 10, 2022
at this point, this series could revive me from the dead
i was so scared i wasn't going to like this one because in the beginning the guy leans very heavy into the trait of saying "you're gonna marry me but you just don't know it yet" which i find icky, but leave it to tessa dare to address it head on!! this book took me a minute to really get into which was more of a personal problem than anything, but once it grabbed me, i stayed up until 2 AM to finish it (while weeping slightly). i mean, childhood friends to lovers?? with a traumatized and recovering war hero who looks a brute but is deep down a big softie? i devoured this.
if you want romance that also delivers on emotional depth and smut and plot twists and a bit of mystery, i highly recommend these.
i was so scared i wasn't going to like this one because in the beginning the guy leans very heavy into the trait of saying "you're gonna marry me but you just don't know it yet" which i find icky, but leave it to tessa dare to address it head on!! this book took me a minute to really get into which was more of a personal problem than anything, but once it grabbed me, i stayed up until 2 AM to finish it (while weeping slightly). i mean, childhood friends to lovers?? with a traumatized and recovering war hero who looks a brute but is deep down a big softie? i devoured this.
if you want romance that also delivers on emotional depth and smut and plot twists and a bit of mystery, i highly recommend these.
October 23, 2018
Update: second read.
I ended up rounding down from 4.5 to 4. Honestly I skipped most of it after the first chapter. Felt like the plot was a lot more convoluted or complex than it needed to be. Felt like there could have been more development of love between the H/h, even though it's later revealed that . I don't understand why she only focused on the physical with him, why she didn't try to get to know him better, understand what he's been through and what he felt.
I still give the H 5 stars. I read all the "good bits." But the other stuff was meh. Doesn't flow as well as some of the other books I like by this author.
Still a good read tho. Just prob wouldn't read it a 3rd time for a VERY long time.
Original review:
I give this book 4.5 stars rounded to 5. The higher rounding is because I LOVE the hero Rhys!
I'm a big fan of Tessa Dare's historical romances. This is one of her earlier works, and I didn't read it before because I like her later works better. Still do. Her recent works are more polished, more elegant, more witty and humorous. More subtle.
But this book was still a great read for the rawness of emotions and the intensity, esp. the character development of the Hero, who essentially carried the book for me. Rhys is a HERO in every sense of the word. He's been abused as a boy, but he never abused others, always sought to protect. His bravery saved many lives in the wars he's fought, but he's too humble to credit those victories to himself. He's so self-effacing. He's a beautiful man with a big body and lots of power, just the way a man should be, but he doesn't even know it.
I can't tell you how much I love beautiful men who don't even know it. Somehow, that makes them even more attractive.
He feels everything so strongly and intensely but keeps his emotions locked deep inside. It takes a special woman to unlock them. But it's worth every effort.
Besides the somewhat unpolishedness of the writing (I skipped over the subplots with side characters honestly), I'd also take some points off because of the heroine.
She's a match for him, and she deserves him for having loved him so long, ever since she was a girl. She's the only one who saw everything he was and everything he'd hidden inside.
BUT. Sometimes she annoyed me. Like getting jealous when another man was starting to pay attention to another girl. She had a possessiveness about everything, including Rhys, that was grating at times. But I liked her independence, her passion, her drive, and her loyalty. I liked that she told him first. And kept telling him even when he balked.
Not a huge fan of the cover tho.
But glad I gave this book a try. Yet another character with the name Rhys that I absolutely love :)
I ended up rounding down from 4.5 to 4. Honestly I skipped most of it after the first chapter. Felt like the plot was a lot more convoluted or complex than it needed to be. Felt like there could have been more development of love between the H/h, even though it's later revealed that . I don't understand why she only focused on the physical with him, why she didn't try to get to know him better, understand what he's been through and what he felt.
I still give the H 5 stars. I read all the "good bits." But the other stuff was meh. Doesn't flow as well as some of the other books I like by this author.
Still a good read tho. Just prob wouldn't read it a 3rd time for a VERY long time.
Original review:
I give this book 4.5 stars rounded to 5. The higher rounding is because I LOVE the hero Rhys!
I'm a big fan of Tessa Dare's historical romances. This is one of her earlier works, and I didn't read it before because I like her later works better. Still do. Her recent works are more polished, more elegant, more witty and humorous. More subtle.
But this book was still a great read for the rawness of emotions and the intensity, esp. the character development of the Hero, who essentially carried the book for me. Rhys is a HERO in every sense of the word. He's been abused as a boy, but he never abused others, always sought to protect. His bravery saved many lives in the wars he's fought, but he's too humble to credit those victories to himself. He's so self-effacing. He's a beautiful man with a big body and lots of power, just the way a man should be, but he doesn't even know it.
I can't tell you how much I love beautiful men who don't even know it. Somehow, that makes them even more attractive.
He feels everything so strongly and intensely but keeps his emotions locked deep inside. It takes a special woman to unlock them. But it's worth every effort.
Besides the somewhat unpolishedness of the writing (I skipped over the subplots with side characters honestly), I'd also take some points off because of the heroine.
She's a match for him, and she deserves him for having loved him so long, ever since she was a girl. She's the only one who saw everything he was and everything he'd hidden inside.
BUT. Sometimes she annoyed me. Like getting jealous when another man was starting to pay attention to another girl. She had a possessiveness about everything, including Rhys, that was grating at times. But I liked her independence, her passion, her drive, and her loyalty. I liked that she told him first. And kept telling him even when he balked.
Not a huge fan of the cover tho.
But glad I gave this book a try. Yet another character with the name Rhys that I absolutely love :)
April 28, 2018
I liked this book but I didn't all out love it. I don't know if I liked it more than the last one, but I did enjoy it. Rhys is a very lovable hero. Very tortured (yay for angsty heroes!) and Merry was an incredibly capable heroine. I completely believed their chemistry.
What brings it down to a four star was one of the things I had a problem with in the first one. It takes forEVER to finally get the info out about Rhys's past. We get a smidgen of information and then that same smidgen is basically repeated with different words for most of the book. We finally get more details in the last 30%. We need more. Every time the issues are brought up -- for both characters -- we need a little more, not the same thing reworded. It made the story bog down a lot in the middle and that could easily have been avoided. We don't need to save all the revelations for the end.
That said, they're a sexy, unique couple and I'm interested in their future. Merry, a stable master's daughter, is now a lady. Rhys has an uphill battle with everything pertaining to his title. Like the previous book, there are a lot of things I want to know going forward. There's this whole rebuilding thing and how they'll deal with societal pressures. It seems these things stop just when they're getting really interesting and we don't get an epilogue.
One good thing is that Bellamy became more human in this story and there was a nice excerpt from the next book. There's also a mystery to be solved and I'm hoping all the couples can come together in some way so we can have that epilogue that we've needed so desperately in books 1 and 2.
And, happily, the next one is only a month away. :D
What brings it down to a four star was one of the things I had a problem with in the first one. It takes forEVER to finally get the info out about Rhys's past. We get a smidgen of information and then that same smidgen is basically repeated with different words for most of the book. We finally get more details in the last 30%. We need more. Every time the issues are brought up -- for both characters -- we need a little more, not the same thing reworded. It made the story bog down a lot in the middle and that could easily have been avoided. We don't need to save all the revelations for the end.
That said, they're a sexy, unique couple and I'm interested in their future. Merry, a stable master's daughter, is now a lady. Rhys has an uphill battle with everything pertaining to his title. Like the previous book, there are a lot of things I want to know going forward. There's this whole rebuilding thing and how they'll deal with societal pressures. It seems these things stop just when they're getting really interesting and we don't get an epilogue.
One good thing is that Bellamy became more human in this story and there was a nice excerpt from the next book. There's also a mystery to be solved and I'm hoping all the couples can come together in some way so we can have that epilogue that we've needed so desperately in books 1 and 2.
And, happily, the next one is only a month away. :D
August 24, 2010
The second installment of the Stud Club series almost didn’t feel like part of the series at all due in part to the fact that we really hadn’t gotten to know Rhys St. Maur very well at all in One Dance With A Duke, so in this book he seemed to me to be a totally new character. In addition to that, the continuing storyline revolving around Leo’s death didn’t really come into play until the latter part of the book. I didn’t mind any of this because Rhys’ and Meredith’s story was strong enough to stand on its own merit and kept me interested from start to finish.
Meredith is, unfortunately for me, my least favorite type of historical romance heroine. She was annoyingly independent and bossy. She basically ran the whole village and that just didn’t set well with me…however, that’s my problem and no reflection on the story or the author’s writing… it was just who she was. But as the story progressed and I learned more about her background, I began to understand her better and could see that her “in charge” attitude was more of necessity than just a desire to be the boss.
Rhys St. Maur, on the other hand, is my favorite kind of hero – scarred both physically and emotionally. Eleven years spend in the service of the Crown can really take its toll on a man and it surely did on Rhys. When he finally decided to return to his ancestral home, Buckleigh-in-the-Moor in Devonshire, to face the demons of his past and take up the responsibilities he’d ignored for all those years, he did so knowing that he wouldn’t be very popular and likely not welcomed at all. He was right. But he had no intention of allowing the less than warm welcome to dissuade him from what he knew he had to do. He was a man who’d faced and defeated death over and over, despite his best efforts to the contrary. So, if he had to live, he’d decided he’d go home and do what he could to right the wrongs done by his family.
It was quite an interesting twist to watch Meredith and Rhys butt heads when it came to marriage – he wanted to marry her, she just wanted sex. Smart man, Rhys – he held out for marriage! Well… he held out for a good long time, anyway!
Now, I can’t tell you how excited I was to finally read a book where the “deep, dark secret” really was deep and dark and worthy of a tormented character. All too often authors fail their readers by writing characters whose brooding nature and sexual intensity are due to some horrific event or events in their past. We become invested in these characters as people and forgive their brutish and oft times uncivilized behavior because we know they had it rough and need to be loved until they are all better – well, that is until we actually learn what said “deep, dark secret” is, only to become really miffed because it doesn’t fit the circumstances at all. I mean, these men are really, really messed up! I expect to find out that whatever screwed them up is really, really bad and not just that they didn’t get the black pony they wanted for Christmas when they were 12 and we’re expected to believe that’s why they’re dark and brooding! This is not the case with Twice Tempted by a Rogue, and in fact, both Rhys and Meredith have “deep, dark secrets” that, in my humble opinion, vindicate them both from their intolerable behaviors and even made me more understanding of Meredith’s desire to single handedly save the entire village. What surprised me was that her secret was every bit as compelling as Rhys’ and made her refusal to marry him understandable. I loved how the author created a “blame” that was powerful enough to make their guilt and self deprecation believable.
I enjoyed this story very much and was truly surprised by the revelation that leads us into the third and final book, Three Nights with a Scoundrel. I’m truly looking forward reading more by Tessa Dare.
September 25, 2010
Well kids, today I will teach you all a lesson about books. It is very important that you listen carefully to each word, because after reading this review you'll discover something very important. LOL.
I have always read each and every single book in a series. Never in my life have I not follow the reading order, not even if the book had the worsts reviews. But I'm ashame to let you all know that in this case I was about to do just that. It was said that books 1 and 3 were actually the good ones, and this one just a passage. So I thought ... "WTH?, let's just go to book 3". But luckily for me my conscience did not let me do this. I was going through this over and over again ... "Maybe it really is a good book and I'm just going to be sorry for not reading it..." Many other thoughts like that one crossed my mind, so I decided to read it.
And I am extremely happy about that. This was a terrific read. I loved this book, even more than the first one. I don't know why many did not, but I know I would definitely read it again. I had a great time with this book and I just loved to get to meet Rhys better. He's such an amazing hero, a soul that needs someone to care about him. Brutally abused as a child by his own family, the same people who should have taken care of him. Nevertheless, he became such a strong person with the strongest will to live that I have ever seen. Loved this character. I thought he would be boring, but he had so many layers, and I loved to discover them all.
Then there's Meredith Maddox, our lovely widow. I must admit I thought she would be a boring character as well, the typical widow, afraid of life and shy. Well those are definably not the words that describe this incredibly strong and hard working woman. She was just what he needed. And all those things made a very interesting read.
So here goes the lesson: You know that little voice in your head that tells you:"Why read this book? Look at those ratings, it is not worth it. So many amazing books out there and you will loose your time with this one? No you wont! Just leave it there and pick the next, nothing wrong is gonna happen, you wont even notice you didn't read it".
Well guys, don't ever listen to it because it could make you loose some terrific books. Sometimes you just have to try it. Maybe if you don't like it afterwards you have started it that's just fine, but don't just skip it because you really could regret it.
Can't wait to read the next. Wow, that was long! Sorry about that,LOL.
I have always read each and every single book in a series. Never in my life have I not follow the reading order, not even if the book had the worsts reviews. But I'm ashame to let you all know that in this case I was about to do just that. It was said that books 1 and 3 were actually the good ones, and this one just a passage. So I thought ... "WTH?, let's just go to book 3". But luckily for me my conscience did not let me do this. I was going through this over and over again ... "Maybe it really is a good book and I'm just going to be sorry for not reading it..." Many other thoughts like that one crossed my mind, so I decided to read it.
And I am extremely happy about that. This was a terrific read. I loved this book, even more than the first one. I don't know why many did not, but I know I would definitely read it again. I had a great time with this book and I just loved to get to meet Rhys better. He's such an amazing hero, a soul that needs someone to care about him. Brutally abused as a child by his own family, the same people who should have taken care of him. Nevertheless, he became such a strong person with the strongest will to live that I have ever seen. Loved this character. I thought he would be boring, but he had so many layers, and I loved to discover them all.
Then there's Meredith Maddox, our lovely widow. I must admit I thought she would be a boring character as well, the typical widow, afraid of life and shy. Well those are definably not the words that describe this incredibly strong and hard working woman. She was just what he needed. And all those things made a very interesting read.
So here goes the lesson: You know that little voice in your head that tells you:"Why read this book? Look at those ratings, it is not worth it. So many amazing books out there and you will loose your time with this one? No you wont! Just leave it there and pick the next, nothing wrong is gonna happen, you wont even notice you didn't read it".
Well guys, don't ever listen to it because it could make you loose some terrific books. Sometimes you just have to try it. Maybe if you don't like it afterwards you have started it that's just fine, but don't just skip it because you really could regret it.
Can't wait to read the next. Wow, that was long! Sorry about that,LOL.
September 7, 2020
4 STARS
Well considering that this book didn't really seem to get going until about two-thirds in, I still ended up loving it. Rhys was a difficult character not to love. Taking on so much blame and hardship, it took him an eternity to find his own worth.
I still have a few issues with Meredith, but I can't really disclose those... spoilers lurk there. So I will let you discover your own feelings about her. I was charmed though, seeing how this book ended. No one could be more deserving of a HEA than Rhys St. Maur.
"The pain of an injury is over in seconds. Everything that comes after is the pain of getting well.” He gave her a heartfelt look, full of apology.
“I’d forgotten that, you see. Coming back to life … It hurts.”
Well considering that this book didn't really seem to get going until about two-thirds in, I still ended up loving it. Rhys was a difficult character not to love. Taking on so much blame and hardship, it took him an eternity to find his own worth.
He said calmly, “If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that fate doesn’t care what we want.”
Her voice shook. “I have loved you for as long as I can remember, ever since I was a girl."
I still have a few issues with Meredith, but I can't really disclose those... spoilers lurk there. So I will let you discover your own feelings about her. I was charmed though, seeing how this book ended. No one could be more deserving of a HEA than Rhys St. Maur.
November 2, 2017
DNF at 42%.
I just can’t get into this book. I’m not sure if it’s the main characters, lack of chemistry or the plot seems pretty damn boring.
Something is lacking for me.
I just can’t get into this book. I’m not sure if it’s the main characters, lack of chemistry or the plot seems pretty damn boring.
Something is lacking for me.
December 20, 2017
Some of my thoughts in no particular order:
• Sweeeet. Simply sweet. Not as entertaining and funny as Tessa Dare’s other books IMO, but it’s good.
• Rhys is such a decent guy. No complaints here.
• Meredith is hardworking and strong.
• I thought I wasn’t going to like this because I’m not a fan of “pining heroines.” However, for a pining heroine, she sure didn’t act like one. It was pretty even footing.
• I think more could have been done with the inn plot. More involvement with the townspeople, more plot in general, more focus. The plot ends up feeling a bit stagnant and boring at times because of how uneventful it seems.
I’m giving it 3 stars. It is a solid read. It is not as good as Tessa Dare’s other books, but also better than some of them too. It goes right in the middle in my rankings. I see Rhys and Meredith as very decent people with a sweet romance, but I’m not in love them.
Things that you might want to know (WARNING: Spoilers below)
Happy/satisfying ending?
Love triangle? Cheating? Angst level?
Tears-worthy?
Humor?
Favorite scenes?
What age level would be appropriate?
--------
When I’m looking for something with just the right amount of humor and amusement, I choose Tessa Dare ☺️☺️
• Sweeeet. Simply sweet. Not as entertaining and funny as Tessa Dare’s other books IMO, but it’s good.
• Rhys is such a decent guy. No complaints here.
• Meredith is hardworking and strong.
• I thought I wasn’t going to like this because I’m not a fan of “pining heroines.” However, for a pining heroine, she sure didn’t act like one. It was pretty even footing.
• I think more could have been done with the inn plot. More involvement with the townspeople, more plot in general, more focus. The plot ends up feeling a bit stagnant and boring at times because of how uneventful it seems.
I’m giving it 3 stars. It is a solid read. It is not as good as Tessa Dare’s other books, but also better than some of them too. It goes right in the middle in my rankings. I see Rhys and Meredith as very decent people with a sweet romance, but I’m not in love them.
Things that you might want to know (WARNING: Spoilers below)
Happy/satisfying ending?
Love triangle? Cheating? Angst level?
Tears-worthy?
Humor?
Favorite scenes?
What age level would be appropriate?
--------
When I’m looking for something with just the right amount of humor and amusement, I choose Tessa Dare ☺️☺️
January 29, 2015
Will the real Tessa Dare please get back to writing? Twice Tempted by a Rogue is in such a mess that it seems an imposter wrote it.
I'm a big fan of the author's writing style- the charming characters, the effervescent wit, the feel of a fairytale within a historical setting.
Rhys St. Maur, a scarred war hero goes home for the first time in fifteen years. He has spent his life in service of the Crown, fighting battles around Europe and losing a part of his humanity each year. Now, he is set to return to Buckleigh-in-the-Moor in Devonshire, to face the ghosts of his past and to take up responsibilities to the very people he'd abandoned all these years.
The townspeople are definitely not welcoming of their long lost lord. Without his support, they'd eked out a meager living on the harsh, unforgiving land. At the center of their enterprise is the The Three Hounds Inn. Mrs. Meredith Maddox has put her blood and sweat into the running of this inn ever since her late husband's death. She is take-charge, independent and fiercely protective of the townspeople. When Rhys sets his eyes on her, he wants to marry and protect her from hardship, and do right with town. Unfortunately for him, the last thing Meredith wants to do is cleave to his wishes, so that he can undo all their hard work when Rhys moves on at last.
What we have here, is a bad case of insta-love (insta responsibility ?), and a hero who oscillates between being gentle and considerate to being high-handed and arrogant. He simply demands that Meredith marry him, and when she refuses, has the banns read out in church nevertheless. He believes marrying her is 'fated', and spends a goodly number of pages declaring it before all and the sundry. Meredith is someone who takes pride in the inn; but Rhys wants to cuddle her in cottonwool and decides for her that the inn is something that she would forget once shehumps his magic dick marries him. No words would sufficient to describe my annoyance when he repeatedly undermines all the grit and hard work that she's put in for the past ten years. And then when they've more or less arrived at a consensus, there are 'deep dark secrets' that each has been hiding from the other. This is the condensed version of the story, and none of it bears any semblance to logic.
The central suspense plot also doesn't advance much, as the story takes place hundred of miles away from the crime scene and the hero is least concerned about investigating anything at all.
I'd suggest readers give this one a skip.
I'm a big fan of the author's writing style- the charming characters, the effervescent wit, the feel of a fairytale within a historical setting.
Rhys St. Maur, a scarred war hero goes home for the first time in fifteen years. He has spent his life in service of the Crown, fighting battles around Europe and losing a part of his humanity each year. Now, he is set to return to Buckleigh-in-the-Moor in Devonshire, to face the ghosts of his past and to take up responsibilities to the very people he'd abandoned all these years.
The townspeople are definitely not welcoming of their long lost lord. Without his support, they'd eked out a meager living on the harsh, unforgiving land. At the center of their enterprise is the The Three Hounds Inn. Mrs. Meredith Maddox has put her blood and sweat into the running of this inn ever since her late husband's death. She is take-charge, independent and fiercely protective of the townspeople. When Rhys sets his eyes on her, he wants to marry and protect her from hardship, and do right with town. Unfortunately for him, the last thing Meredith wants to do is cleave to his wishes, so that he can undo all their hard work when Rhys moves on at last.
What we have here, is a bad case of insta-love (insta responsibility ?), and a hero who oscillates between being gentle and considerate to being high-handed and arrogant. He simply demands that Meredith marry him, and when she refuses, has the banns read out in church nevertheless. He believes marrying her is 'fated', and spends a goodly number of pages declaring it before all and the sundry. Meredith is someone who takes pride in the inn; but Rhys wants to cuddle her in cottonwool and decides for her that the inn is something that she would forget once she
The central suspense plot also doesn't advance much, as the story takes place hundred of miles away from the crime scene and the hero is least concerned about investigating anything at all.
I'd suggest readers give this one a skip.
December 17, 2010
5 stars.
Loved this book. Loved it, loved it, loved it.
Loved the heroine, who had watched and wanted the hero from afar since she was a girl. Loved how she found him beautiful, how she lusted after him, how she tried and tried to wear him down.
But most of all I loved Rhys. He is one of my favourite hero types -- strong, silent, tortured. Reserved and quiet, but with wit and humour and depth that he shows only to the heroine. Determined, almost dogged in his pursuits - most of his life seeking death, and more recently seeking the hand of Meredith. He won't settle for a simple toss, he wants it all. Oh yes, and completely gorgeous. Tall, muscular, battle-scarred and wondrously handsome.
Here is what Rhys says to Meredith as to why he won't sleep with her:
"Meredith, you're my future wife. When I make love to you for the first time, it is damn well going to mean something. To me, at least."
"I've torn apart a lot of things in my life. Too many. I've been in the business of death for years now, and there's only been one thing I've never successfully managed to destroy. You're looking at it....This body has survived blows, musket balls, bayonets, grenades and whatever else God and Napoleon could find to hurl at it. I'm simply fated to live. There's no other explanation. And now that I've come to terms with that, I'm done tearing things apart."
....
He reached for her hand. "It's the same with us. I mean to build something with you. Something that will last. Much as I want you, I don't want to rush and bollocks it up. We're meant to be together, and -"
"Rhys..."
"And I know you don't believe that yet." He squeezed her hand. "It's all right. I'll keep building - stone by stone, plank by plank, kiss by kiss - until you do. And yes, I'll wake up stiff and aching for you each morning. But it's worth it." He heached out and tilted her face to his. "You're worth it."
Her eyes went wide. "You're unbelievable."
He stood and reached for his waistcoat. "What I am is indestructible. And I'm not going anywhere, Meredith. You're stuck with me now."
Tessa Dare is becoming one of my favourite authors -- I like her style immensely. She writes an engaging story with compelling characters. She doesn't do fussy physical descriptions of them, her historical details ring true and add to the atmosphere of her books, and her love scenes.....oh, her love scenes. They are vividly written, full of chemistry and sexual tension, and you are right there for them (if that makes any sense).
This book is a bit darker and more angsty in tone than One Dance with a Duke, the first book in the trilogy. It suits the characters and their story - Rhys and Merry would not have been well-served with a light, frothy book.
The other thing I liked about this book was that it could have been a stand-alone; the Stud Club was only mentioned peripherally throughout and Leo's murder didn't really come into play until the end of the book. I mention that because the endless series that abound in romance fiction drive me crazy. Give me a love story with 2 characters - don't give me a book that is 1/4 recap, 1/2 love story and 1/4 setup for the next book. This book is the former.
Loved this book. Loved it, loved it, loved it.
Loved the heroine, who had watched and wanted the hero from afar since she was a girl. Loved how she found him beautiful, how she lusted after him, how she tried and tried to wear him down.
But most of all I loved Rhys. He is one of my favourite hero types -- strong, silent, tortured. Reserved and quiet, but with wit and humour and depth that he shows only to the heroine. Determined, almost dogged in his pursuits - most of his life seeking death, and more recently seeking the hand of Meredith. He won't settle for a simple toss, he wants it all. Oh yes, and completely gorgeous. Tall, muscular, battle-scarred and wondrously handsome.
Here is what Rhys says to Meredith as to why he won't sleep with her:
"Meredith, you're my future wife. When I make love to you for the first time, it is damn well going to mean something. To me, at least."
"I've torn apart a lot of things in my life. Too many. I've been in the business of death for years now, and there's only been one thing I've never successfully managed to destroy. You're looking at it....This body has survived blows, musket balls, bayonets, grenades and whatever else God and Napoleon could find to hurl at it. I'm simply fated to live. There's no other explanation. And now that I've come to terms with that, I'm done tearing things apart."
....
He reached for her hand. "It's the same with us. I mean to build something with you. Something that will last. Much as I want you, I don't want to rush and bollocks it up. We're meant to be together, and -"
"Rhys..."
"And I know you don't believe that yet." He squeezed her hand. "It's all right. I'll keep building - stone by stone, plank by plank, kiss by kiss - until you do. And yes, I'll wake up stiff and aching for you each morning. But it's worth it." He heached out and tilted her face to his. "You're worth it."
Her eyes went wide. "You're unbelievable."
He stood and reached for his waistcoat. "What I am is indestructible. And I'm not going anywhere, Meredith. You're stuck with me now."
Tessa Dare is becoming one of my favourite authors -- I like her style immensely. She writes an engaging story with compelling characters. She doesn't do fussy physical descriptions of them, her historical details ring true and add to the atmosphere of her books, and her love scenes.....oh, her love scenes. They are vividly written, full of chemistry and sexual tension, and you are right there for them (if that makes any sense).
This book is a bit darker and more angsty in tone than One Dance with a Duke, the first book in the trilogy. It suits the characters and their story - Rhys and Merry would not have been well-served with a light, frothy book.
The other thing I liked about this book was that it could have been a stand-alone; the Stud Club was only mentioned peripherally throughout and Leo's murder didn't really come into play until the end of the book. I mention that because the endless series that abound in romance fiction drive me crazy. Give me a love story with 2 characters - don't give me a book that is 1/4 recap, 1/2 love story and 1/4 setup for the next book. This book is the former.
March 3, 2022
Spindle Cove and Castles Ever After are both much lighter in tone than the Stud Club, despite its ridiculously amusing name. And I definitely started out this binge for the amusement. But this and the Wanton Dairymaid and the Girl/Duke series have really grown on me. I like the sadder and wiser women, that the tone is more deeply rooted in darker backstories, that they aren't so much about first love. Mostly I am thrilled to not have to sit through so many deflowering scenes, which the Bridgerton books put me off of for the rest of my life.
Speaking thereof though, I do credit the Bridgerton show for these attractive covers. While there's nothing wrong with women in ball gowns, and I love the saturated colors, I have never cared for the scantily-clad embrace school of cover images. This one in particular makes me think of an art director saying "I want to go for that Colin Firth straight out of the lake look," which, obviously this isn't but it is evocative.
Library copy
Speaking thereof though, I do credit the Bridgerton show for these attractive covers. While there's nothing wrong with women in ball gowns, and I love the saturated colors, I have never cared for the scantily-clad embrace school of cover images. This one in particular makes me think of an art director saying "I want to go for that Colin Firth straight out of the lake look," which, obviously this isn't but it is evocative.
Library copy
August 31, 2010
I seem to have a problem being engaged by this writer. I can see the skill, and know that I would usually enjoy the characters, but something still holds me back. I like them, but it's a kind of distant liking. I never really feel invested in their characters. I was coasting along feeling rather disappointed, but then came Rhys's breaking point, and I was sucked in!
Rhys was a very interesting character. In the beginning he didn't really match up with the personality I had imagined while reading One Dance with a Duke, the first book in the trilogy. He was a lot more in control of himself for one, and he was a lot sweeter and more bashful than I had supposed. I liked the sweetness, but it also made it really hard for me understand how suicidal he was.
Rhys didn't want to kill himself, but he pushed for someone to do it for him. He stared death in the eye time and time again and dared it to take him. At times he even begged. So being told about that side of him, I found it very hard to align the two versions of him that I was presented with. Which was the one that didn't make any sense? The old broken Rhys, or the new happy, well adjusted Rhys? I couldn't get involved with him because I couldn't see him. But all that changed when Rhys finally lost his hold on his past self. Finally I saw him and understood how much of himself he had suppressed, and why. In that moment I saw the anguish and the rage at others, and himself. I saw his self loathing and shame, and it was heart breaking. That was the moment that the book truly made me feel what the characters felt.
I loved Meredith, but she frustrated me too. I sympathized with her so much in the beginning of their relationship. When Rhys was stuck in his "fate" mindset I couldn't really get behind him. I could get behind Meredith though. Her anger about his belief that they would have ended up in this moment, with this relationship, no matter what was very understandable. All her hard work and struggles didn't matter because fate would have made it work out for the best even if she hadn't tried? I loved how she tested his faith in his "fate" belief. That's one way to shock a man into your point of view.
Meredith's view on sex was very refreshing. She wasn't a virgin, and she liked pleasure. She had no qualms about spending an enjoyable evening with a man if it seemed right to both of them. I really liked the role reversal in Meredith and Rhys's relationship. She was the one trying to get into his pants, and he was the one trying to convince her to marry him. I cracked up when she snuck into his room to see if he had a war injury or not! At times Meredith's devotion to the village became tedious. Especially because none of them seemed like very likable people. But when we heard her big secret I understood her position a little better.
Speaking of her big secret, I really wish she had told Rhys right when he told her his. I really think he would have taken the whole thing better if she hadn't waited. I can understand that she was frightened, but I still couldn't help but empathize with Rhys more. Maybe it was because he finally seemed broken.
I liked getting to see Bellamy again and hearing a few more clues about him. He has been the one I've fixated on the most ever since the first book. I just want to understand who he is and why he plays these roles. He was his typical cranky self in this book, and he didn't make any more friends along the way, but he came through when he was needed. I hope I'm not disappointed in his book!
One of the biggest problems I had with this book was the village's reaction to Rhys. I know his dad was a bad guy, but he wasn't that bad. I really don't see where he inspired enough rage (in the villagers that is, not Rhys) to make the lower class threaten a lord's life. I would think that village would be afraid to bring the law into it. It's not the same as killing a peasant. The law cares more. So, where did the torch-bearing mob get the gumption to do that?
The reveal at the very end surprised me. I can't figure out if I'm pleased, or feeling like it came out of nowhere. I really didn't expect it either way.
Rhys was a very interesting character. In the beginning he didn't really match up with the personality I had imagined while reading One Dance with a Duke, the first book in the trilogy. He was a lot more in control of himself for one, and he was a lot sweeter and more bashful than I had supposed. I liked the sweetness, but it also made it really hard for me understand how suicidal he was.
Rhys didn't want to kill himself, but he pushed for someone to do it for him. He stared death in the eye time and time again and dared it to take him. At times he even begged. So being told about that side of him, I found it very hard to align the two versions of him that I was presented with. Which was the one that didn't make any sense? The old broken Rhys, or the new happy, well adjusted Rhys? I couldn't get involved with him because I couldn't see him. But all that changed when Rhys finally lost his hold on his past self. Finally I saw him and understood how much of himself he had suppressed, and why. In that moment I saw the anguish and the rage at others, and himself. I saw his self loathing and shame, and it was heart breaking. That was the moment that the book truly made me feel what the characters felt.
I loved Meredith, but she frustrated me too. I sympathized with her so much in the beginning of their relationship. When Rhys was stuck in his "fate" mindset I couldn't really get behind him. I could get behind Meredith though. Her anger about his belief that they would have ended up in this moment, with this relationship, no matter what was very understandable. All her hard work and struggles didn't matter because fate would have made it work out for the best even if she hadn't tried? I loved how she tested his faith in his "fate" belief. That's one way to shock a man into your point of view.
Meredith's view on sex was very refreshing. She wasn't a virgin, and she liked pleasure. She had no qualms about spending an enjoyable evening with a man if it seemed right to both of them. I really liked the role reversal in Meredith and Rhys's relationship. She was the one trying to get into his pants, and he was the one trying to convince her to marry him. I cracked up when she snuck into his room to see if he had a war injury or not! At times Meredith's devotion to the village became tedious. Especially because none of them seemed like very likable people. But when we heard her big secret I understood her position a little better.
Speaking of her big secret, I really wish she had told Rhys right when he told her his. I really think he would have taken the whole thing better if she hadn't waited. I can understand that she was frightened, but I still couldn't help but empathize with Rhys more. Maybe it was because he finally seemed broken.
I liked getting to see Bellamy again and hearing a few more clues about him. He has been the one I've fixated on the most ever since the first book. I just want to understand who he is and why he plays these roles. He was his typical cranky self in this book, and he didn't make any more friends along the way, but he came through when he was needed. I hope I'm not disappointed in his book!
One of the biggest problems I had with this book was the village's reaction to Rhys. I know his dad was a bad guy, but he wasn't that bad. I really don't see where he inspired enough rage (in the villagers that is, not Rhys) to make the lower class threaten a lord's life. I would think that village would be afraid to bring the law into it. It's not the same as killing a peasant. The law cares more. So, where did the torch-bearing mob get the gumption to do that?
The reveal at the very end surprised me. I can't figure out if I'm pleased, or feeling like it came out of nowhere. I really didn't expect it either way.
September 9, 2010
4 stars – Historical/Regency Romance
This is my third read by author Tessa Dare, and so far they’ve all been good/like, but not great/love, 4 star rated reads for me. I really enjoy and appreciate her writing, especially the hot love scenes. But the main reason I don’t give them 5 stars is that I just never feel a strong connection between or care all that much for the characters, and the stories are rather forgettable.
The relationship between Rhys and Meredith in Twice Tempted by a Rogue was believable, emotional, wildly passionate, and touching, so I enjoyed the romance aspect of it, but the story didn’t really seem all that connected with the previous book in the Stud Club series. I’m hoping Julian’s story, Three Nights with a Scoundrel, wraps things up nicely and ends the trilogy on a high(er) note. Still, it’s a satisfying, steamy romance worthy of solid 4 stars!
This is my third read by author Tessa Dare, and so far they’ve all been good/like, but not great/love, 4 star rated reads for me. I really enjoy and appreciate her writing, especially the hot love scenes. But the main reason I don’t give them 5 stars is that I just never feel a strong connection between or care all that much for the characters, and the stories are rather forgettable.
The relationship between Rhys and Meredith in Twice Tempted by a Rogue was believable, emotional, wildly passionate, and touching, so I enjoyed the romance aspect of it, but the story didn’t really seem all that connected with the previous book in the Stud Club series. I’m hoping Julian’s story, Three Nights with a Scoundrel, wraps things up nicely and ends the trilogy on a high(er) note. Still, it’s a satisfying, steamy romance worthy of solid 4 stars!
July 3, 2010
Disarray. That's the first word that comes to mind when describing the hero and the overall feel of Twice Tempted by a Rouge. I had high expectations for the second installment of Tessa Dare's Stud Club trilogy, but was disappointed and confused overall with the slow character development and less than intriguing, disjointed storyline.
Rhys St. Maur, (Lord Ashworth) is an extremely broken man, both physically and emotionally. Riddled with guilt and low self worth from tragedies during his childhood, Rhys has looked death in the face more times than he can count. He attributes his ability to survive the impossible to fate, which he comes to trust and rely on solely. After 14 years of war and self-loathing, Rhys goes back to where the tragedy took place to make amends and try to ease some of his guilt. He returns to the ruins of his ancestral home with the notion to rebuild the estate, provide work for the villagers and fulfill his responsibilities to the people his family abandoned so many years ago.
Meredith Lane (Mrs. Maddox) is the owner and barmaid of The Three Hounds Inn. Strong, fierce, self-sufficient, she wed her late husband in order to provide for herself and her disabled father. Growing up on the Ashworth estate, Meredith has been infatuated with Rhys since she was a mere child. She knows many of his deep, dark secrets and she has never stopped yearning for Rhys despite his 14 year absence. Upon arriving at the Inn, Rhys has an instant attraction to Meredith, no longer the child "Merry Lane" but the woman. He is determined to wed her, provide for her and her father, and rescue her from her labor as the innkeeper.
Sadly, the overall tone of the story did not allow me emotionally invest in the characters. I have to say I didn't enjoy the development of Rhys and his obsession with making amends to Meredith, her father and the village. There was miscommunication on both parts throughout the entire story. Rhys believed the most important thing in Meredith's life was the Inn. Meredith believed the most important thing in Rhys's life was rescuing her from a life she did not want rescuing from. I questioned throughout the entire story what was truly the foundation of their love because I couldn't see it . Also, I was shocked and disappointed that the author did not include Spencer and Amelia from One Dance with a Duke in this book, at all. The heroes from all three books are part of "the club" and had regular interaction in the first book so it was a shock for Spencer to be absent in Rhys's story.
I'm all for broken, anguished heroes in need of redemption but I'm not sold when an author drags it out until the end of the book and then "ah ha" the light bulb flicks on for a HEA. I think in order to do a character, who is extremely broken by abuse, war, murder, etc., justice you sometimes lack enough pages in one book to truly and convincingly bring them full circle. While Ms. Dare is a pro at writing rich, sensual moments with her characters, the overall intensity and passion of Rhys and Meredith came up flat for me as a whole. However, anyone who enjoys the deeply somber, dramatic undertone of The Thorn Birds will appreciate the parallels in Twice Tempted by a Rogue.
Favorite Quote:
"He was hopeless with words, couldn't sing worth a damn. But when he kissed her, she went pliant in his arms. This mouth was good for something."
Rhys St. Maur, (Lord Ashworth) is an extremely broken man, both physically and emotionally. Riddled with guilt and low self worth from tragedies during his childhood, Rhys has looked death in the face more times than he can count. He attributes his ability to survive the impossible to fate, which he comes to trust and rely on solely. After 14 years of war and self-loathing, Rhys goes back to where the tragedy took place to make amends and try to ease some of his guilt. He returns to the ruins of his ancestral home with the notion to rebuild the estate, provide work for the villagers and fulfill his responsibilities to the people his family abandoned so many years ago.
Meredith Lane (Mrs. Maddox) is the owner and barmaid of The Three Hounds Inn. Strong, fierce, self-sufficient, she wed her late husband in order to provide for herself and her disabled father. Growing up on the Ashworth estate, Meredith has been infatuated with Rhys since she was a mere child. She knows many of his deep, dark secrets and she has never stopped yearning for Rhys despite his 14 year absence. Upon arriving at the Inn, Rhys has an instant attraction to Meredith, no longer the child "Merry Lane" but the woman. He is determined to wed her, provide for her and her father, and rescue her from her labor as the innkeeper.
Sadly, the overall tone of the story did not allow me emotionally invest in the characters. I have to say I didn't enjoy the development of Rhys and his obsession with making amends to Meredith, her father and the village. There was miscommunication on both parts throughout the entire story. Rhys believed the most important thing in Meredith's life was the Inn. Meredith believed the most important thing in Rhys's life was rescuing her from a life she did not want rescuing from. I questioned throughout the entire story what was truly the foundation of their love because I couldn't see it . Also, I was shocked and disappointed that the author did not include Spencer and Amelia from One Dance with a Duke in this book, at all. The heroes from all three books are part of "the club" and had regular interaction in the first book so it was a shock for Spencer to be absent in Rhys's story.
I'm all for broken, anguished heroes in need of redemption but I'm not sold when an author drags it out until the end of the book and then "ah ha" the light bulb flicks on for a HEA. I think in order to do a character, who is extremely broken by abuse, war, murder, etc., justice you sometimes lack enough pages in one book to truly and convincingly bring them full circle. While Ms. Dare is a pro at writing rich, sensual moments with her characters, the overall intensity and passion of Rhys and Meredith came up flat for me as a whole. However, anyone who enjoys the deeply somber, dramatic undertone of The Thorn Birds will appreciate the parallels in Twice Tempted by a Rogue.
Favorite Quote:
"He was hopeless with words, couldn't sing worth a damn. But when he kissed her, she went pliant in his arms. This mouth was good for something."
July 21, 2010
This book was great. I normally don't put a lot of quotes in my reviews, but I just can't help it here. Rhys was sweet and eloquent. I think he's one of my favorite heroes. Merry was a determined woman who worked hard and helped keep the town afloat when Rhys left home, and his family home burnt to the ground.
We met Rhys in One Dance With a Duke, and we learned about the Stud Club. Leo, the founding member of this tongue-in-cheek club, was murdered. The murder is as of yet unsolved, but we've learned that Leo was extremely angry at Spencer (the Duke of Morland) for winning a certain gent by the name of Farrady's token...Leo knew that Spencer wanted to disband the club and was furious with Faraday for gambling against his better judgement. But who is this Faraday? what is his purpose in all of this-and is he the man who looks like Bellamy?
Now, here, Rhys is courting his ill-fated good luck that keeps him alive against all odds-I love how he is an "imperfect" hero, with scars and stiff fingers, and a trick knee. And I love how from the first moment Rhys sees Meredith, he wants her...for his wife! The widowed owner of a tavern/inn, he's a lord, and he wants her for his wife. Loved it. Loved how he wooed her, how he announced the banns without letting her know, and how he kept refusing her efforts to get him into bed.
here's a quote I particularly love. He's kissing her for the first time, but he'd also avoided kissing her the night before.
He pressed his lips to her quickly, as if she might change her mind if he gave her the chance, or as if he might change his. The timing was off, and their lips mashed together at the wrong angle, and her eyes were still open.
For a moment she felt 14 again. Awkward, uncertain. Painfully aware of everything but the joy of being kissed.
But then he tilted her face a degree, and his mouth shifted a fraction against hers. She remembered to close her eyes.
And suddenly they fit. Suddenly this kiss was everything. And she still felt 14 again, but in that blissful, giddy way of tumbling headlong down a rocky slope- with no thought for caution, no purpse but to chase exhilaration and joy.
Rhys St. Maur was kissing her.
And it was wonderful.
There were too many quotes for me to copy down, but this had some of the most romantic moments without being to "purple."
I thought it was evil of Tessa Dare to finally have Merry agree to Rhys' constant proposals, and to have him start brooding on something such as "I'm not good enough for her," "She deserves better," etc...but Cora (the witness to Leo's murder-she has quite a surprising story herself!) tells both Bellamy and Rhys that they are being absolute cowards! I loved that! And Rhys took her advice! How many heroes take advice from an 18 year old girl?
One part I particularly enjoyed was where Rhys takes Merry to Bath. In Regency historicals, so often everything takes place in London...Almack's Bowling Green...I know all the locations that make it a Regency romance. But here we got a very descriptive look at Bath. More than just "they hied to Bath for the waters" or something along those lines. Here we see what sounds like a true picture of the town of Bath. I liked it.
I won't summarize at all here, since the mystery will continue into Three Nights with a Scoundrel, but I will say that Leo's death was bigger than just the Stud Club...which is why I was disappointed to not see more Stud Club action.
Anyone who enjoyed the first stud Club book will enjoy this, and those who liked the writing, story and Spencer but were annoyed with Amelia, you'll like the strong and determined Merry. And I don't think anyone won't like Rhys-he's my choice in stud.
We met Rhys in One Dance With a Duke, and we learned about the Stud Club. Leo, the founding member of this tongue-in-cheek club, was murdered. The murder is as of yet unsolved, but we've learned that Leo was extremely angry at Spencer (the Duke of Morland) for winning a certain gent by the name of Farrady's token...Leo knew that Spencer wanted to disband the club and was furious with Faraday for gambling against his better judgement. But who is this Faraday? what is his purpose in all of this-and is he the man who looks like Bellamy?
Now, here, Rhys is courting his ill-fated good luck that keeps him alive against all odds-I love how he is an "imperfect" hero, with scars and stiff fingers, and a trick knee. And I love how from the first moment Rhys sees Meredith, he wants her...for his wife! The widowed owner of a tavern/inn, he's a lord, and he wants her for his wife. Loved it. Loved how he wooed her, how he announced the banns without letting her know, and how he kept refusing her efforts to get him into bed.
here's a quote I particularly love. He's kissing her for the first time, but he'd also avoided kissing her the night before.
He pressed his lips to her quickly, as if she might change her mind if he gave her the chance, or as if he might change his. The timing was off, and their lips mashed together at the wrong angle, and her eyes were still open.
For a moment she felt 14 again. Awkward, uncertain. Painfully aware of everything but the joy of being kissed.
But then he tilted her face a degree, and his mouth shifted a fraction against hers. She remembered to close her eyes.
And suddenly they fit. Suddenly this kiss was everything. And she still felt 14 again, but in that blissful, giddy way of tumbling headlong down a rocky slope- with no thought for caution, no purpse but to chase exhilaration and joy.
Rhys St. Maur was kissing her.
And it was wonderful.
There were too many quotes for me to copy down, but this had some of the most romantic moments without being to "purple."
I thought it was evil of Tessa Dare to finally have Merry agree to Rhys' constant proposals, and to have him start brooding on something such as "I'm not good enough for her," "She deserves better," etc...but Cora (the witness to Leo's murder-she has quite a surprising story herself!) tells both Bellamy and Rhys that they are being absolute cowards! I loved that! And Rhys took her advice! How many heroes take advice from an 18 year old girl?
One part I particularly enjoyed was where Rhys takes Merry to Bath. In Regency historicals, so often everything takes place in London...Almack's Bowling Green...I know all the locations that make it a Regency romance. But here we got a very descriptive look at Bath. More than just "they hied to Bath for the waters" or something along those lines. Here we see what sounds like a true picture of the town of Bath. I liked it.
I won't summarize at all here, since the mystery will continue into Three Nights with a Scoundrel, but I will say that Leo's death was bigger than just the Stud Club...which is why I was disappointed to not see more Stud Club action.
Anyone who enjoyed the first stud Club book will enjoy this, and those who liked the writing, story and Spencer but were annoyed with Amelia, you'll like the strong and determined Merry. And I don't think anyone won't like Rhys-he's my choice in stud.
March 14, 2011
I usually grade books based on gut instincts, which works well with GoodReads format: my gut generally knows pretty easily whether a book was okay, or I really liked it, or it was amazing. This book I had to grade in a more intellectual way, because I find myself really liking so many aspects of it, without exactly getting to that warm, squeeing, “I really liked this!” place. So here's everything I liked:
The hero, Rhys: one of those huge guys that I love. Life has been hard to him and it’s shaped him accordingly: “He’d been courting death every day of his life since. But he was the human equivalent of a goddamned boulder. Huge, hard, indestructible.” He’s a bit of “Lord of Scoundrels” type, feeling ugly and unlovable and sure the heroine is repulsed by him, when in fact she’s extremely attracted to him. But as tortured heroes go, he’s not a big brooder; rather he chalks events up to fate and goes with the -- often terrible -- flow.
The heroine, Merry: You know you have an unusual romance heroine when you come across a line like this: “I dreamed of you at night. I went to bed with other men, wishing they were you.” Mind you, she’s not a whore or in any way tragically promiscuous, just a lonely widow who occasionally found solace in lovers. She’s also intelligent and capable.
The couple: They’re a wonderfully equal pair. As Merry thinks, “Fitting, that each of them should think of comforting the other. They were each of them so accustomed to being the stronger in any given pair.”
I normally have kind of a thing about romances in which the heroine does most of the pursing, but here it worked, because Merry does not come across as at all pathetic. She’s a mature woman who’s been around the block a few times and knows what she wants (and what she doesn’t want.) Also it’s very clear that Rhys wants her just as much, even though for reasons of his own he’s holding out: “Her eyes were just beautiful. They made him too stupid to hold his next thought.”
Setting: Dare does a really nice job of writing a fairly light historical, without a lot of complicated descriptions, that still has a good sense of time and place. (Not that there's anything wrong with novels that use a lot of description, but they are more of a time and energy investment.)
Action: There are several major action scenes, all well written.
Humor: I don’t know why, but Dare is one of the few writers who does “light historical” humor in a way that doesn’t irritate me. I was particularly amused by one running gag, “It’s a mystical journey through time.” Perhaps a little anachronistic, but the rule of threes worked very well here: by the third repetition, it was hilarious.
As for what I didn't like? Nothing, really. Nothing that stands out. Maybe just that somehow, amid all these things I liked, there wasn't the strong emotional punch that I crave from romance.
The hero, Rhys: one of those huge guys that I love. Life has been hard to him and it’s shaped him accordingly: “He’d been courting death every day of his life since. But he was the human equivalent of a goddamned boulder. Huge, hard, indestructible.” He’s a bit of “Lord of Scoundrels” type, feeling ugly and unlovable and sure the heroine is repulsed by him, when in fact she’s extremely attracted to him. But as tortured heroes go, he’s not a big brooder; rather he chalks events up to fate and goes with the -- often terrible -- flow.
The heroine, Merry: You know you have an unusual romance heroine when you come across a line like this: “I dreamed of you at night. I went to bed with other men, wishing they were you.” Mind you, she’s not a whore or in any way tragically promiscuous, just a lonely widow who occasionally found solace in lovers. She’s also intelligent and capable.
The couple: They’re a wonderfully equal pair. As Merry thinks, “Fitting, that each of them should think of comforting the other. They were each of them so accustomed to being the stronger in any given pair.”
I normally have kind of a thing about romances in which the heroine does most of the pursing, but here it worked, because Merry does not come across as at all pathetic. She’s a mature woman who’s been around the block a few times and knows what she wants (and what she doesn’t want.) Also it’s very clear that Rhys wants her just as much, even though for reasons of his own he’s holding out: “Her eyes were just beautiful. They made him too stupid to hold his next thought.”
Setting: Dare does a really nice job of writing a fairly light historical, without a lot of complicated descriptions, that still has a good sense of time and place. (Not that there's anything wrong with novels that use a lot of description, but they are more of a time and energy investment.)
Action: There are several major action scenes, all well written.
Humor: I don’t know why, but Dare is one of the few writers who does “light historical” humor in a way that doesn’t irritate me. I was particularly amused by one running gag, “It’s a mystical journey through time.” Perhaps a little anachronistic, but the rule of threes worked very well here: by the third repetition, it was hilarious.
As for what I didn't like? Nothing, really. Nothing that stands out. Maybe just that somehow, amid all these things I liked, there wasn't the strong emotional punch that I crave from romance.
August 11, 2021
I love Tessa Dare but like many I’m not a fan of her older writing. Both MC were uninspiring and unlikable. Rhys was over bearing and his obsession on fate was annoying. Meredith was boring and I didn’t connect with her at all.
I was more interested in Cora and Gideon than the MCs. Rosalyn Landor’s narration was the only thing that saved this from being a DNF.
I was more interested in Cora and Gideon than the MCs. Rosalyn Landor’s narration was the only thing that saved this from being a DNF.
June 26, 2010
Why I read: I Love Tessa Dare books.
Favorite Quote: “Oh Rhys,” she sighed, tilting her head back.
The way she moaned for him…it made his blood catch fire.
”Oh my God,” she cried, craning her neck a bit more. “Just look at the scrollwork on that ceiling.”
”To hell with the damned ceiling,” he growled…..
One thing Rhys St. Maur, the newly appointed Lord Ashworth knows for sure is that fate wants him to live. Having suffered brutal beatings growing up, horrendous battles in war, and just being all around roughed-up, he is still standing and breathing. His body is covered in scars and the deepest are hidden under the skin.
Last in the village of Buckleigh-in-the-Moor when he was seventeen, many years have passed since his family’s estate burned to the ground. He still hears the horses cries as the stable burned that terrible night. Now he is back to see what is left of his family’s estate. Stopping at The Three Hounds Inn for the night, he meets a blast from the past. Meredith Lane Maddox, who grew up with him. For Meredith, she has been infatuated with Rhys ever since she was young skinny and girl. Rhys is very attracted to the adult, widowed Merry Lane.
Upon inspection of the ruins of his family’s estate, he comes to realize the entire village suffered a loss that night. When his family left, the tenants stopped receiving money. The vicar was forced to leave town. The only driving force in town is Meredith’s inn. Feeling extremely guilty over these events, and really having nothing else in his life to live for, Rhys decides to stay in the small town and start making a difference. To redeem himself. For starters, he wants to rebuild his home and marry Meredith. Although these words make Meredith’s heart all a flutter, the inn is her life. She doesn’t want someone taking care of her. She also doesn’t trust that Rhys is actually going to stay permanently.
As started in book one, One Dance With a Duke, the murder investigation of Leo, the founder of the Stud Club continues as the remaining members try to find the man responsible. Julian Bellamy comes into town with a lead. As Rhys makes his presence known in town, many townsfolk see his return as more of a threat. Rhys not only has to prove himself to the villagers, but to Meredith as well.
Twice Tempted by a Rogue is the second book in Tessa Dare’s Stud Club trilogy. I’ll say right off the bat, I loved Rhys and I had problems with Meredith. Rhys is just a big hunkin’ man full of sweetness. Oh, he has anger and has lived a hard physical life. But he treats Meredith with the utmost respect. He truly wants a companion, a lover, a wife. He feels like he owes Meredith something better in life since she has worked so hard to repair the damage his family leaving caused.
Now let’s talk about Meredith. I liked her in the sense that she was not shy when it came to telling Rhys that she wanted him. She is not a virgin and did not hide her lust filled glances toward him at all. What became tiresome was her lack of communication and indecisiveness. One minute she thought she loved him and wanted him, and the next she decided she only wanted to have sex and that is it. She also kept secrets from him and I never truly understood why. Rhys kept saying- I want to marry you and take care of you. Meredith took this as, she wasn’t allowed to run her inn anymore, hanging onto that as her reason not to get married. By the end, she contradicts herself.
Although Meredith and I didn’t see eye to eye, Tessa Dare still writes wonderful romance. There is a scene with the simple act of Rhys taking off Meredith’s apron that becomes anything but simple. She just adds something special to her romance scenes that make them so rich. The last book in the trilogy features Julian and I also look forward to the resolve of the murder that took place in book one.
Rating: 3.5/5
Favorite Quote: “Oh Rhys,” she sighed, tilting her head back.
The way she moaned for him…it made his blood catch fire.
”Oh my God,” she cried, craning her neck a bit more. “Just look at the scrollwork on that ceiling.”
”To hell with the damned ceiling,” he growled…..
One thing Rhys St. Maur, the newly appointed Lord Ashworth knows for sure is that fate wants him to live. Having suffered brutal beatings growing up, horrendous battles in war, and just being all around roughed-up, he is still standing and breathing. His body is covered in scars and the deepest are hidden under the skin.
Last in the village of Buckleigh-in-the-Moor when he was seventeen, many years have passed since his family’s estate burned to the ground. He still hears the horses cries as the stable burned that terrible night. Now he is back to see what is left of his family’s estate. Stopping at The Three Hounds Inn for the night, he meets a blast from the past. Meredith Lane Maddox, who grew up with him. For Meredith, she has been infatuated with Rhys ever since she was young skinny and girl. Rhys is very attracted to the adult, widowed Merry Lane.
Upon inspection of the ruins of his family’s estate, he comes to realize the entire village suffered a loss that night. When his family left, the tenants stopped receiving money. The vicar was forced to leave town. The only driving force in town is Meredith’s inn. Feeling extremely guilty over these events, and really having nothing else in his life to live for, Rhys decides to stay in the small town and start making a difference. To redeem himself. For starters, he wants to rebuild his home and marry Meredith. Although these words make Meredith’s heart all a flutter, the inn is her life. She doesn’t want someone taking care of her. She also doesn’t trust that Rhys is actually going to stay permanently.
As started in book one, One Dance With a Duke, the murder investigation of Leo, the founder of the Stud Club continues as the remaining members try to find the man responsible. Julian Bellamy comes into town with a lead. As Rhys makes his presence known in town, many townsfolk see his return as more of a threat. Rhys not only has to prove himself to the villagers, but to Meredith as well.
Twice Tempted by a Rogue is the second book in Tessa Dare’s Stud Club trilogy. I’ll say right off the bat, I loved Rhys and I had problems with Meredith. Rhys is just a big hunkin’ man full of sweetness. Oh, he has anger and has lived a hard physical life. But he treats Meredith with the utmost respect. He truly wants a companion, a lover, a wife. He feels like he owes Meredith something better in life since she has worked so hard to repair the damage his family leaving caused.
True to his words after church three weeks ago, Rhys had indeed been wooing her. In his own gruff, roughhewn way. […:]
And then one night he’d come in late, well after dark, plainly exhausted from a long day of labor. He’d grasped her by the shoulders and pressed a warm, firm kiss to her forehead.
“Sorry,” he’d said. “That’s all I have today.”
That kiss had been her favorite gift of all.
Now let’s talk about Meredith. I liked her in the sense that she was not shy when it came to telling Rhys that she wanted him. She is not a virgin and did not hide her lust filled glances toward him at all. What became tiresome was her lack of communication and indecisiveness. One minute she thought she loved him and wanted him, and the next she decided she only wanted to have sex and that is it. She also kept secrets from him and I never truly understood why. Rhys kept saying- I want to marry you and take care of you. Meredith took this as, she wasn’t allowed to run her inn anymore, hanging onto that as her reason not to get married. By the end, she contradicts herself.
Although Meredith and I didn’t see eye to eye, Tessa Dare still writes wonderful romance. There is a scene with the simple act of Rhys taking off Meredith’s apron that becomes anything but simple. She just adds something special to her romance scenes that make them so rich. The last book in the trilogy features Julian and I also look forward to the resolve of the murder that took place in book one.
Rating: 3.5/5
August 3, 2020
Well, I've read over a dozen Tessa Dare novels at this point, and I hate to say it but...I think this is the first one I didn't like.
As soon as I realized five pages in that there were going to be some hardcore insta-love shenanigans, I knew I was in trouble; we all know that I don't often take well to love at first sight as a trope. There just wasn't the usual amount of Tessa Dare Tension™ that I've come to expect and love in her work, so that made the first third of the book in particular not as exciting as it usually is.
I also just don't think I ever really fell very hard for Rhys or Meredith; I didn't strongly dislike either of them, I was just sort of ambivalent to their personalities and their interpersonal drama.
Most of Twice Tempted by a Rogue was fine; it just didn't have that extra umph for me. That said, the fact that it took reading 13 novels by a single author for me to find one that I didn't fully enjoy is impressive as hell. Plus I'm super excited to see how this trilogy ends with Bellamy and Lily's story.
And props to Tessa Dare for once again sneaking in some hanky-panky involving a wall. We love a consistent queen.
Content warning: Discussions of violence by a parent, derogatory discussions of sex work
As soon as I realized five pages in that there were going to be some hardcore insta-love shenanigans, I knew I was in trouble; we all know that I don't often take well to love at first sight as a trope. There just wasn't the usual amount of Tessa Dare Tension™ that I've come to expect and love in her work, so that made the first third of the book in particular not as exciting as it usually is.
I also just don't think I ever really fell very hard for Rhys or Meredith; I didn't strongly dislike either of them, I was just sort of ambivalent to their personalities and their interpersonal drama.
Most of Twice Tempted by a Rogue was fine; it just didn't have that extra umph for me. That said, the fact that it took reading 13 novels by a single author for me to find one that I didn't fully enjoy is impressive as hell. Plus I'm super excited to see how this trilogy ends with Bellamy and Lily's story.
And props to Tessa Dare for once again sneaking in some hanky-panky involving a wall. We love a consistent queen.
Content warning: Discussions of violence by a parent, derogatory discussions of sex work
May 12, 2018
Tessa Dare is my go to author when I want a historical romance with wit, humour, unconventional plots and real characters. A romance that surprises you and vulnerabilities that summon your sympathy.
But my favorite has to be the feel good factor in her writing.
This is not a typical Tessa Dare story.
A broken man trying to forget his past. A town that has forgotten him. And accepting the fact that they need each other to move forward.
The title feels misleading.
Meredith did not convince me that she was tempted.
Rhys is many things but not a simple rogue.
Rhys was an interesting character with a painful past and a hopeless heart.
Merry won't be liked by all, but she earns your respect.
Their relationship was a major letdown for me.
Once all the characters are introduced, it stops being a love story.
This is a story about getting out of a rut and all the characters in this book desperately need and deserve this chance.
Time froze over this town and its inhabitants as they lived in the shadows of past horrors.
But change is difficult and everybody does not welcome it.
Rhys believes in fate, Merry believes in caution and I didn't believe in them as a couple.
I liked the twist on gender roles - a reversal of sorts.
While Rhys looks at a new relationship as a solution to his problems, Merry is focused on building something tangible.
Rhys is painted as the dreamer, Merry is the realist.
One of the subplots is linked to the climax. The subplot didn't add anything to the story and weakened the ending.
But my favorite has to be the feel good factor in her writing.
This is not a typical Tessa Dare story.
A broken man trying to forget his past. A town that has forgotten him. And accepting the fact that they need each other to move forward.
The title feels misleading.
Meredith did not convince me that she was tempted.
Rhys is many things but not a simple rogue.
Rhys was an interesting character with a painful past and a hopeless heart.
Merry won't be liked by all, but she earns your respect.
Their relationship was a major letdown for me.
Once all the characters are introduced, it stops being a love story.
This is a story about getting out of a rut and all the characters in this book desperately need and deserve this chance.
Time froze over this town and its inhabitants as they lived in the shadows of past horrors.
But change is difficult and everybody does not welcome it.
Rhys believes in fate, Merry believes in caution and I didn't believe in them as a couple.
I liked the twist on gender roles - a reversal of sorts.
While Rhys looks at a new relationship as a solution to his problems, Merry is focused on building something tangible.
Rhys is painted as the dreamer, Merry is the realist.
One of the subplots is linked to the climax. The subplot didn't add anything to the story and weakened the ending.
March 4, 2011
It took around 250 pages for this story to get to the point.
In the previous book, we learned that Rhys, the hero, has had a death wish for 10+ years. This is something that I expected to be addressed as soon as this book opened. Why would a big, strong, healthy, titled man wanted to die for half his life? Not complete revelations of course – I expected those to come slowly – but I really thought that was going to be the main conflict/plot of the book. Instead, most of the first 250 pages deal with Rhys wanting to take care of the heroine while she wants to establish her inn. So this doesn’t seem like a selfish motive on her part, the author ties it to ‘saving the town’ (the inn is one of the biggest sources of income in the village) but this is done very superficially. Although there are general references as to how the village has suffered, there aren’t any personal stories of suffering from the villagers so I really didn’t feel their pain.
Most books have subplots but ‘hero’s death wish’ and ‘village full of zany characters’, don’t seem to go too well together. How did the author mix these two? By conveniently removing the death wish just because some dude Rhys didn’t know got killed (btw…the description is wrong…they WERE NOT friends, good or otherwise.) Rhys fought for 11 years in the War and witnessed the death of good men he actually knew. If he needed an inspiration to live, don’t you think one of those men would have been a better example? But of course, we needed to tie this book to the ridiculous Stud Club.
The reasons for Rhys’ death wish weren’t fully explained. As you can imagine there is some trauma but there’s never a good tie in of ‘this happened to me ergo I must die.’ The obvious solution for this dilemma – suicide – was never addressed. Why did he have to die but not by his own hand? We never find out. I’m sure he wouldn’t have thought he was indestructible if he had shot himself in the head.
Once we get to the part that addresses Rhys issues, the book becomes more interesting and there a lot of really good scenes. But it was just too late for me. Oh and that surprise villain at the end was just too silly.
I will finish this trilogy but most likely I won’t read this author again. She has great potential but so far the two books I’ve read by her meander too much for my taste.
In the previous book, we learned that Rhys, the hero, has had a death wish for 10+ years. This is something that I expected to be addressed as soon as this book opened. Why would a big, strong, healthy, titled man wanted to die for half his life? Not complete revelations of course – I expected those to come slowly – but I really thought that was going to be the main conflict/plot of the book. Instead, most of the first 250 pages deal with Rhys wanting to take care of the heroine while she wants to establish her inn. So this doesn’t seem like a selfish motive on her part, the author ties it to ‘saving the town’ (the inn is one of the biggest sources of income in the village) but this is done very superficially. Although there are general references as to how the village has suffered, there aren’t any personal stories of suffering from the villagers so I really didn’t feel their pain.
Most books have subplots but ‘hero’s death wish’ and ‘village full of zany characters’, don’t seem to go too well together. How did the author mix these two? By conveniently removing the death wish just because some dude Rhys didn’t know got killed (btw…the description is wrong…they WERE NOT friends, good or otherwise.) Rhys fought for 11 years in the War and witnessed the death of good men he actually knew. If he needed an inspiration to live, don’t you think one of those men would have been a better example? But of course, we needed to tie this book to the ridiculous Stud Club.
The reasons for Rhys’ death wish weren’t fully explained. As you can imagine there is some trauma but there’s never a good tie in of ‘this happened to me ergo I must die.’ The obvious solution for this dilemma – suicide – was never addressed. Why did he have to die but not by his own hand? We never find out. I’m sure he wouldn’t have thought he was indestructible if he had shot himself in the head.
Once we get to the part that addresses Rhys issues, the book becomes more interesting and there a lot of really good scenes. But it was just too late for me. Oh and that surprise villain at the end was just too silly.
I will finish this trilogy but most likely I won’t read this author again. She has great potential but so far the two books I’ve read by her meander too much for my taste.
July 14, 2010
Twice Tempted by a Rogue, the second book in the Stud Club trilogy, had all the makings to be an outstanding book... tortured, battered and scarred hero who has been celibate for 11 years with the physique of a Warrior and a soul in need of rescuing... sign me up and I'll take two please! But instead of wowing me with a phenomenal book I was left with a book that just didn't seem to come together right... 3 stars!
This is the first Tessa Dare book that I have given 3 stars to, it is the fifth book of hers that I have read. I fell in love with her writing from her first book and have anxiously awaited each and every book thereafter. But this book just felt like it was missing something.. it felt like it was pieced together instead of flowing seamlessly together. It also felt a little like she had a checklist of things she wanted in this book and she just went down the list crossing off each scene, ex: an angry love scene filled with high emotions and passion... only it felt forced.
I also didn't really care for the heroine. There were things about her that I liked, but overall she rubbed me the wrong way. And I didn't like the way she was always propositioning the hero to get him in her bed.
But, after having said all this, there were some enjoyable things about the book. It had some interesting twists and turns that I wasn't expecting and of course it intrigued me even more to the character who will star as the hero in the next and final installment in this trilogy. I still love Tessa Dare and am still a huge fan.. let's just hope the next book comes together better and doesn't act as just "filler"!
This is the first Tessa Dare book that I have given 3 stars to, it is the fifth book of hers that I have read. I fell in love with her writing from her first book and have anxiously awaited each and every book thereafter. But this book just felt like it was missing something.. it felt like it was pieced together instead of flowing seamlessly together. It also felt a little like she had a checklist of things she wanted in this book and she just went down the list crossing off each scene, ex: an angry love scene filled with high emotions and passion... only it felt forced.
I also didn't really care for the heroine. There were things about her that I liked, but overall she rubbed me the wrong way. And I didn't like the way she was always propositioning the hero to get him in her bed.
But, after having said all this, there were some enjoyable things about the book. It had some interesting twists and turns that I wasn't expecting and of course it intrigued me even more to the character who will star as the hero in the next and final installment in this trilogy. I still love Tessa Dare and am still a huge fan.. let's just hope the next book comes together better and doesn't act as just "filler"!
October 17, 2019
Meredith & Rhys, I loved their story. Rhys is a broken soul, sometime he acts as a fool & pessimist but he is a good fellow. But, I really liked Meredith's character. She is strong, compassionate, enthusisatic, lovely & optimist. She is the backbone of this story. This is a enjoyable read.
August 22, 2024
Summary:
Twice Tempted by a Rogue wasn’t exactly brimming with potential, at least not for me. The premise didn’t grab me from the start—tortured hero meets innkeeper in a small town. It had some tropes I usually don’t love, and it lacked those juicy societal constraints that make historical romance so appealing. It’s not that the book did anything wrong; it just had a lot of elements that didn’t quite hit for me.
Characters:
Meredith: She’s fine, really. I found her unique compared to some other heroines, but nothing too groundbreaking. She’s strong, capable, and has her moments, but she didn’t leave a lasting impression.
Rhys: As far as tortured heroes go, Rhys is solid. He’s got the whole brooding, wounded-soul thing down, and while there’s not much more to say about him, he does the job well enough.
Writing Style:
Tessa Dare’s writing is always a good time, and she’s a master at crafting scenes that keep you engaged, especially in the bedroom. If you’re tired of missionary in every HR book, you’ll appreciate how she shakes things up. But outside of that, this one didn’t quite deliver the historical tension and drama I usually look for.
Romantic Elements:
The romance here didn’t blow me away. It felt more like a slow simmer than a passionate flame. The lack of societal tension made it feel more like a modern romance dressed up in period clothing. Still, the chemistry is there, and Tessa Dare knows how to write a compelling sex scene, so there’s that.
Overall Thoughts:
Twice Tempted by a Rogue isn’t my favourite, but that’s more about my personal preferences than any fault of the book. The premise just didn’t appeal to me, and it lacked some of the elements that usually make historical romance fun. That said, I’m still intrigued by the overall Stud Club series and looking forward to the last book. If you’re a Tessa Dare fan, it’s worth a read, but I wouldn’t rush to start here.
Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5 stars)
Twice Tempted by a Rogue wasn’t exactly brimming with potential, at least not for me. The premise didn’t grab me from the start—tortured hero meets innkeeper in a small town. It had some tropes I usually don’t love, and it lacked those juicy societal constraints that make historical romance so appealing. It’s not that the book did anything wrong; it just had a lot of elements that didn’t quite hit for me.
Characters:
Meredith: She’s fine, really. I found her unique compared to some other heroines, but nothing too groundbreaking. She’s strong, capable, and has her moments, but she didn’t leave a lasting impression.
Rhys: As far as tortured heroes go, Rhys is solid. He’s got the whole brooding, wounded-soul thing down, and while there’s not much more to say about him, he does the job well enough.
Writing Style:
Tessa Dare’s writing is always a good time, and she’s a master at crafting scenes that keep you engaged, especially in the bedroom. If you’re tired of missionary in every HR book, you’ll appreciate how she shakes things up. But outside of that, this one didn’t quite deliver the historical tension and drama I usually look for.
Romantic Elements:
The romance here didn’t blow me away. It felt more like a slow simmer than a passionate flame. The lack of societal tension made it feel more like a modern romance dressed up in period clothing. Still, the chemistry is there, and Tessa Dare knows how to write a compelling sex scene, so there’s that.
Overall Thoughts:
Twice Tempted by a Rogue isn’t my favourite, but that’s more about my personal preferences than any fault of the book. The premise just didn’t appeal to me, and it lacked some of the elements that usually make historical romance fun. That said, I’m still intrigued by the overall Stud Club series and looking forward to the last book. If you’re a Tessa Dare fan, it’s worth a read, but I wouldn’t rush to start here.
Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5 stars)
July 26, 2024
Review from 2015
A for narration / B for content, 4.5 stars.
Twice Tempted by a Rogue is the second book in Tessa Dare’s Stud Club series – the moniker not referring to the sexual attributes of the heroes (sadly!) but to the fact that they belong to an exclusive club which allows its members breeding rights to Osiris, England’s most valuable stallion. In the first book in the series (One Dance with a Duke) we learn that the club’s founder, Leo Chatwick, has been murdered, and the quest to bring the killer to brook is a theme running throughout the three books in the series.
A secondary character in book one, Rhys St. Maur has recently inherited the title of Lord Ashworth. Following a devastating fire fourteen years previously, he left his Devonshire home to join the army, and he hasn’t been back since. In all his years away, he’s faced death – gone looking for it, even – more times than he can count and has cheated it every time.
Travelling through the countryside around Buckleigh-in-the-Moor, Rhys realises the damage done to the local people by his father’s neglect and his own long absence. With no patron to provide employment or support local businesses, the cottages are in desperate need of repair, there are no new buildings and the village has obviously not prospered. The inn has become the focal point for trade and socialisation, making its owner, Meredith Maddox, the lynchpin of the local community.
Meredith has been in love with Rhys for as long as she can remember. She used to follow him around unnoticed when she was a girl and was devastated when he left and never came back. Her father was badly injured in the fire and could no longer work, so when the much older owner of The Three Hounds asked her to marry him, she agreed so as to keep a roof over their heads and food in their bellies. Now widowed, Merry has taken the odd lover over the years, but has never forgotten Rhys; and, believing he will most likely be leaving the next day, hopes to tempt him to her bed.
She’s somewhat surprised when he doesn’t take her up on her not-too subtle invitation, and even more surprised when, completely out of the blue, he asks her to marry him. Quickly realising that what Rhys really wants is to make up for all those years of neglect, she refuses – but he’s persistent, insisting that this must be why fate has spared him and that they’re destined to be together.
The bulk of the story then follows Rhys and Merry as he tries to overcome her resistance to marrying him. She’s made it clear she wants to sleep with him, but he makes it just as clear that he isn’t prepared to do that until she has, at the very least, accepted his proposal. But Merry’s reluctance is born as much from self-preservation – she thinks that Rhys will leave again soon and doesn’t want her heart broken again – as it is from the fact that she likes her life, likes running the inn and being the person everyone looks to for help and advice, and doesn’t want to be rescued from what Rhys sees as drudgery.
Rhys and Merry are strong-willed, engaging characters who are both keeping long-buried secrets which, when finally revealed towards the end, really are tragic. Rhys is a terrific hero, big, battle-scarred and haunted, whose repeated abuse at the hands of his father led him to bury his finer emotions and give rein to the sorts of anger and despair which caused him to seek death over and over. Finding Merry again gives him a purpose, and with her help, he gradually begins to realise that his life is not worthless and that he has something to live for. They’re a well-matched couple and have great chemistry; the author makes the most of the principle of delayed gratification to ratchet up the sexual tension between them, and the payoff is certainly worth the wait!
Anyone listening to this audio expecting there to be a big advance in the search for Leo’s killer may be disappointed, as it’s very much on the back-burner in this book until the last few chapters. I didn’t really mind that, as I was much more interested in the romance anyway, but I did have one other issue with the pacing of the story, which is that the big reveal – telling us what had caused Rhys to turn his back on his home all those years ago – takes place very late in the book, meaning that the final section, which sees him having to come to terms with more than his own involvement in that particular tragedy, feels a bit rushed.
But that really is a minor point, as it’s an enjoyable book and Rosalyn Landor’s excellent narration is so thoroughly engaging as to carry the listener easily through any minor flaws in the storytelling. Her narrative is expressive and well-paced, and as always, she portrays all the characters in ways which are appropriate to both age and situation, her naturally rich, deep tones lending themselves particularly well to Rhys, who is a large man with a voice to match. She’s very good at getting under the skin of the characters in the books she narrates, and in the latter stages of the story conveys Rhys’ inner emotional turmoil very well indeed. Her interpretation of Merry is equally strong, expertly conveying to the listener the character’s strength of will while at the same time reminding us of her inner vulnerabilities. Rhys’ friend and fellow Stud Club member, Julian Bellamy (and hero of the next book, which I believe has already been recorded) makes several appearances in this one, and is given an aristocratic drawl which serves to highlight the differences between him and Rhys, in terms of personality as well as vocally. All the villagers and locals are given varying degrees of regional accents, which are never overdone or unintelligible, and the narrator’s interpretation of the young lad who helps Merry at the inn, Darryl, is notable for the way in which she lightens her tone and raises the pitch of her voice a little, yet doesn’t make him sound at all feminine. Ms Landor is always very good at the “character” roles; young men, old men, grande-dames, snooty servants – you name it, she can do it!
Twice Tempted by a Rogue is an entertaining story that packs a decent emotional punch, and Ms Landor’s subtly nuanced performance is a delight from start to finish.
A for narration / B for content, 4.5 stars.
Twice Tempted by a Rogue is the second book in Tessa Dare’s Stud Club series – the moniker not referring to the sexual attributes of the heroes (sadly!) but to the fact that they belong to an exclusive club which allows its members breeding rights to Osiris, England’s most valuable stallion. In the first book in the series (One Dance with a Duke) we learn that the club’s founder, Leo Chatwick, has been murdered, and the quest to bring the killer to brook is a theme running throughout the three books in the series.
A secondary character in book one, Rhys St. Maur has recently inherited the title of Lord Ashworth. Following a devastating fire fourteen years previously, he left his Devonshire home to join the army, and he hasn’t been back since. In all his years away, he’s faced death – gone looking for it, even – more times than he can count and has cheated it every time.
Travelling through the countryside around Buckleigh-in-the-Moor, Rhys realises the damage done to the local people by his father’s neglect and his own long absence. With no patron to provide employment or support local businesses, the cottages are in desperate need of repair, there are no new buildings and the village has obviously not prospered. The inn has become the focal point for trade and socialisation, making its owner, Meredith Maddox, the lynchpin of the local community.
Meredith has been in love with Rhys for as long as she can remember. She used to follow him around unnoticed when she was a girl and was devastated when he left and never came back. Her father was badly injured in the fire and could no longer work, so when the much older owner of The Three Hounds asked her to marry him, she agreed so as to keep a roof over their heads and food in their bellies. Now widowed, Merry has taken the odd lover over the years, but has never forgotten Rhys; and, believing he will most likely be leaving the next day, hopes to tempt him to her bed.
She’s somewhat surprised when he doesn’t take her up on her not-too subtle invitation, and even more surprised when, completely out of the blue, he asks her to marry him. Quickly realising that what Rhys really wants is to make up for all those years of neglect, she refuses – but he’s persistent, insisting that this must be why fate has spared him and that they’re destined to be together.
The bulk of the story then follows Rhys and Merry as he tries to overcome her resistance to marrying him. She’s made it clear she wants to sleep with him, but he makes it just as clear that he isn’t prepared to do that until she has, at the very least, accepted his proposal. But Merry’s reluctance is born as much from self-preservation – she thinks that Rhys will leave again soon and doesn’t want her heart broken again – as it is from the fact that she likes her life, likes running the inn and being the person everyone looks to for help and advice, and doesn’t want to be rescued from what Rhys sees as drudgery.
Rhys and Merry are strong-willed, engaging characters who are both keeping long-buried secrets which, when finally revealed towards the end, really are tragic. Rhys is a terrific hero, big, battle-scarred and haunted, whose repeated abuse at the hands of his father led him to bury his finer emotions and give rein to the sorts of anger and despair which caused him to seek death over and over. Finding Merry again gives him a purpose, and with her help, he gradually begins to realise that his life is not worthless and that he has something to live for. They’re a well-matched couple and have great chemistry; the author makes the most of the principle of delayed gratification to ratchet up the sexual tension between them, and the payoff is certainly worth the wait!
Anyone listening to this audio expecting there to be a big advance in the search for Leo’s killer may be disappointed, as it’s very much on the back-burner in this book until the last few chapters. I didn’t really mind that, as I was much more interested in the romance anyway, but I did have one other issue with the pacing of the story, which is that the big reveal – telling us what had caused Rhys to turn his back on his home all those years ago – takes place very late in the book, meaning that the final section, which sees him having to come to terms with more than his own involvement in that particular tragedy, feels a bit rushed.
But that really is a minor point, as it’s an enjoyable book and Rosalyn Landor’s excellent narration is so thoroughly engaging as to carry the listener easily through any minor flaws in the storytelling. Her narrative is expressive and well-paced, and as always, she portrays all the characters in ways which are appropriate to both age and situation, her naturally rich, deep tones lending themselves particularly well to Rhys, who is a large man with a voice to match. She’s very good at getting under the skin of the characters in the books she narrates, and in the latter stages of the story conveys Rhys’ inner emotional turmoil very well indeed. Her interpretation of Merry is equally strong, expertly conveying to the listener the character’s strength of will while at the same time reminding us of her inner vulnerabilities. Rhys’ friend and fellow Stud Club member, Julian Bellamy (and hero of the next book, which I believe has already been recorded) makes several appearances in this one, and is given an aristocratic drawl which serves to highlight the differences between him and Rhys, in terms of personality as well as vocally. All the villagers and locals are given varying degrees of regional accents, which are never overdone or unintelligible, and the narrator’s interpretation of the young lad who helps Merry at the inn, Darryl, is notable for the way in which she lightens her tone and raises the pitch of her voice a little, yet doesn’t make him sound at all feminine. Ms Landor is always very good at the “character” roles; young men, old men, grande-dames, snooty servants – you name it, she can do it!
Twice Tempted by a Rogue is an entertaining story that packs a decent emotional punch, and Ms Landor’s subtly nuanced performance is a delight from start to finish.
June 13, 2021
This book follows the Tessa Dare Sex-Angst Relationship we outlined in Any Duchess Will Do: the higher the angst, the hotter the sex. This one is pretty angsty IYKWIM! Rhys is back in town and he's finally noticing Meredith. Meredith had a major adolescent crush on Rhys so she's noticing him right back. But when it turns out Rhys wants to MARRY her, Meredith isn't sure she's ready. So Rhys has got to expend a lot of energy "convincing" her into the marriage bed.
This is an enjoyable book that had maybe one too many plot threads, but it also made Meg use the phrase "smuggle money" so it is definitely worth the read.
28-Word Summaries:
Laine: So first she only wants sex and he wants feelings, but she's been in love with him forever and her lifelong voyeurism forces him to reevaluate the past.
Meg: When your childhood crush, now an earl, propositions you after 15 years, the obvious answer is yes. When he proposes to you, the obvious answer is … no?
This is an enjoyable book that had maybe one too many plot threads, but it also made Meg use the phrase "smuggle money" so it is definitely worth the read.
28-Word Summaries:
Laine: So first she only wants sex and he wants feelings, but she's been in love with him forever and her lifelong voyeurism forces him to reevaluate the past.
Meg: When your childhood crush, now an earl, propositions you after 15 years, the obvious answer is yes. When he proposes to you, the obvious answer is … no?
November 26, 2021
2020 rating: 4 stars
2021 rating: 3 stars
This was a pleasant read. The chemistry wasn’t the best but it was there. I enjoyed seeing a lady (Meredith) trying to get the guy (Rhys) into bed instead of the guy trying to get the girl in bed. It was refreshing to see the girl wanting to bed the guy more than the guy wanting to bed the girl.
Despite Meredith being such a temptation to Rhys, he was more controlled than i expected him to be, to be resisting so much against temptation. He was more romantic than i expected as well, to be holding out for 11 years and only wanting to bed Meredith when they were married.
But this book came with some issues.
Firstly, it started off with Meredith already in love with Rhys and Tessa Dare did not go into the details in how Meredith fell in love with Rhys except that he did not mistreat her despite her being of a lower station than him, treating the horses and her father well and her basically having a one sided crush on him because she always watched him from afar & did not interact with him much. I felt the author should put in more scenes where they interacted when they were young to lead to Merry falling in love with Rhys. As it stands now, i found her love unbelievable.
Secondly, at the end, before they decided to have their happily ever after, i felt issues between them were unresolved. Merry never did ask whether Rhys forgave her for him thinking that he caused the fire and what happened to the village for so many years when it was actually Merry’s fault. Rhys’ wanting to marry her showed that he forgave her but it would have been nice if it were put in words as well. I wonder what happened to Darryl, i felt he should have been dealt with more severely as he did attempt to murder people.
Thirdly, i think the fact that i didn’t love Rhys or Merry also affected the rating i gave this book. I didn’t find much parts of them that i liked.
Am also waiting for Leo’s murderer to finally be caught, which didn’t happen in this book.
2021 rating: 3 stars
This was a pleasant read. The chemistry wasn’t the best but it was there. I enjoyed seeing a lady (Meredith) trying to get the guy (Rhys) into bed instead of the guy trying to get the girl in bed. It was refreshing to see the girl wanting to bed the guy more than the guy wanting to bed the girl.
Despite Meredith being such a temptation to Rhys, he was more controlled than i expected him to be, to be resisting so much against temptation. He was more romantic than i expected as well, to be holding out for 11 years and only wanting to bed Meredith when they were married.
But this book came with some issues.
Firstly, it started off with Meredith already in love with Rhys and Tessa Dare did not go into the details in how Meredith fell in love with Rhys except that he did not mistreat her despite her being of a lower station than him, treating the horses and her father well and her basically having a one sided crush on him because she always watched him from afar & did not interact with him much. I felt the author should put in more scenes where they interacted when they were young to lead to Merry falling in love with Rhys. As it stands now, i found her love unbelievable.
Secondly, at the end, before they decided to have their happily ever after, i felt issues between them were unresolved. Merry never did ask whether Rhys forgave her for him thinking that he caused the fire and what happened to the village for so many years when it was actually Merry’s fault. Rhys’ wanting to marry her showed that he forgave her but it would have been nice if it were put in words as well. I wonder what happened to Darryl, i felt he should have been dealt with more severely as he did attempt to murder people.
Thirdly, i think the fact that i didn’t love Rhys or Merry also affected the rating i gave this book. I didn’t find much parts of them that i liked.
Am also waiting for Leo’s murderer to finally be caught, which didn’t happen in this book.
June 10, 2016
Despite the lows of the Wanton Dairymaids series, which tbh were many, Twice Tempted by a Rogue has turned out to be my least favorite Dare book. It turns out that totally unshipping is apparently not as bad as being completely bored by them.
I really liked Rhys in One Dance with a Duke, and I thought his book would be so fun, but apparently my instincts were super off on that one. He and Meredith are both good, earnest people who want to do right and oh my god they bored me nigh to tears. I slogged through this book. The only parts I actively enjoyed were the sex scenes, and, even there, I gave so few shits about them that I didn’t enjoy them as much as the ones in any other book.
At least in A Lady of Persuasion, there were lots of scenes with other characters to prop up my interest, but this book is fully Rhys and Meredith’s. One Dance with a Duke was so funny and lively and shippy, and this one was tepid. There’s scarcely a humorous moment to be had, but there is a melodramatic carriage accident. Even the side ship didn’t deliver.
That said, objectively I do appreciate some things about Twice Tempted by a Rogue. The sexual dynamics are atypical. The rogue in the title has to be Meredith, because she’s the sexual aggressor and the more experienced sexually. She’s pushing for casual sex and trying to seduce him out of his waiting for marriage plan.If only he wasn’t pushing for her to give up her job which she loves and then didn’t totally get his way on that. That role reversal doesn’t happen much in romance novels, even with Dare whose heroines do always have consensual sex. I like that she stepped out of the typical rake and innocent romance, but I wish that Rhys and Meredith were more interesting so I could enjoy it.
I really liked Rhys in One Dance with a Duke, and I thought his book would be so fun, but apparently my instincts were super off on that one. He and Meredith are both good, earnest people who want to do right and oh my god they bored me nigh to tears. I slogged through this book. The only parts I actively enjoyed were the sex scenes, and, even there, I gave so few shits about them that I didn’t enjoy them as much as the ones in any other book.
At least in A Lady of Persuasion, there were lots of scenes with other characters to prop up my interest, but this book is fully Rhys and Meredith’s. One Dance with a Duke was so funny and lively and shippy, and this one was tepid. There’s scarcely a humorous moment to be had, but there is a melodramatic carriage accident. Even the side ship didn’t deliver.
That said, objectively I do appreciate some things about Twice Tempted by a Rogue. The sexual dynamics are atypical. The rogue in the title has to be Meredith, because she’s the sexual aggressor and the more experienced sexually. She’s pushing for casual sex and trying to seduce him out of his waiting for marriage plan.
did-not-finish
April 10, 2013I've enjoyed this author before (the first Stud Club book was a keeper for me), but sadly, this was a DNF book.
"I'm going to marry you."
"No you're not."
"Am so."
"Are not."
"Am so."
"Are not."
"Am so, it's fate."
Gah!!!! (Okay, I'm paraphrasing here, that's not exactly how it was written, but you get the idea.)
I don't get where the hero's determination to marry the heroine came from. Out of nowhere, it seems. It's not like he's even in love with her at first sight, he just decides it's fate and keeps badgering her about it. Dude, she said she's not interested. Yet he's constantly bringing up the idea that she's going to marry him, no matter how many times she tells him she's not.
He keeps refering to "when we get married," "once we announce our engagment," "when you're my wife", yadda, yadda, yadda. Even though every time she tells him no. I guess it was supposed to be quirky or funny, but it wasn't to me. It got on my nerves so much that I couldn't be bothered to keep reading. I just don't think men bull-dozing over a woman's objections is romantic at all.
"I'm going to marry you."
"No you're not."
"Am so."
"Are not."
"Am so."
"Are not."
"Am so, it's fate."
Gah!!!! (Okay, I'm paraphrasing here, that's not exactly how it was written, but you get the idea.)
I don't get where the hero's determination to marry the heroine came from. Out of nowhere, it seems. It's not like he's even in love with her at first sight, he just decides it's fate and keeps badgering her about it. Dude, she said she's not interested. Yet he's constantly bringing up the idea that she's going to marry him, no matter how many times she tells him she's not.
He keeps refering to "when we get married," "once we announce our engagment," "when you're my wife", yadda, yadda, yadda. Even though every time she tells him no. I guess it was supposed to be quirky or funny, but it wasn't to me. It got on my nerves so much that I couldn't be bothered to keep reading. I just don't think men bull-dozing over a woman's objections is romantic at all.
January 27, 2016
Wonderful read!! I won't do a full review as my friends have already reviewed this great read. Loved Rhys and Merry as a couple. The start was unique as it was Merry trying to get Rhys into bed without matrimony and then they switch places. There was a lot of chemistry between the two and I loved the tub scene and thought the orange scene was flat out sexy. Keep up the great work Ms. Dare. I hope someday we get to revisit the Stud Club as I didn't want to leave these couples, kinda like Kleypas's Hathaways in that they feel like old friends.
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