Rogue In My Arms

Runaway Brides #2

by Celeste Bradley

Laconic Sir Colin Lambert isn't at all worried about the prospect of fatherhood—not if it brings the lovely actress Chantal back into his life! She refused him once, but now with little Melody to tempt her, perhaps she will return to him and be his wife at last!

The only problem is, Chantal has disappeared!

Prudence Filby isn't as lowborn as she seems, but no one would hire a lady as a stage seamstress. Now that the obnoxious Chantal has fled without paying Pru, she doesn't even have that income and her little brother Evan is getting hungrier by the moment! When the lovesick Mr. Lambert offers to pay her to help him find Chantal—and help him mind little Melody on the journey—Pru has no choice but to take him up on it!

Colin wants to fly to Chantal's side, but with Miss Filby and the little ones in tow, he finds his way hampered by mishap after mishap. Along the way he realizes that the woman he wants is not the one he's chasing!

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Regency, Historical Fiction, Regency Romance, Fiction

358 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 30, 2010

About the author

Visit me at www.CelesteBradley.com or facebook.com/CelesteBradleyAuthor :)
Go to CelesteBradley.com/newsletter for my Voice of Society newsletter.

Hi, my name is Celeste Bradley and I write "brain chocolate." That is, I write fun and sexy escapism is for hardworking women everywhere. We deserve a little man-candy, too!

Reviewers like to say I write about misfit heroines getting the man of their dreams. Maybe that's true, but don't we all feel like misfits sometimes? Even if the rest of the world thinks we have all our balls in the air, aren't we juggling like mad on the inside, desperately trying not to drop one?

I love this manic, scattered life I lead. I love to write, craft, garden, bake and mother, even if I don't always do it all perfectly. I love living in the Southwest, with its big sky and vast desert views. I love venturing out of my quiet life to meet readers and other writers, and then I love to come back to my haven, full of ideas and renewed passion and creativity.

Maybe one of those times I'll meet you!

Hugs,
and thanks for reading!

Reviews

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rogue in my Arms is the second book in the Runaway Brides trilogy and picks up right where the first book, Devil in my Bed, left off – with the ongoing search for Melody’s mother. This time, it’s Sir Colin Lambert who has come to the conclusion that Melody must be his child, the product of a tumultuous affair between Colin and Miss Chantal Marchant, a flighty, eccentric stage actress, several years earlier. Colin had been quite enamored of the woman, but one evening when he'd gone to see her, she ended their affair with what was clearly – though not to Colin – an overly dramatic, tragic excuse for why they could no longer be together. He was devastated, but reluctantly let her get away. However, now that there was the chance that Melody was their daughter, he was determined to track her down and marry her.

As Colin is about to set off on his search, he meets Miss Prudence Filby, a common, lowborn seamstress who also wants to find Chantal Marchant because the untrustworthy actress owes her money for some costumes that Prudence had sewn for her. Since they were both after the same thing, and knowing he’d need help caring for Melody, Colin hires Miss Filby to come along as a temporary nanny. She, her eleven year old brother Evan, Colin and Melody set out to find Miss Marchant, and the events that take place along their journey kept me smiling and laughing and even fanning myself.

The bottom line – This was such a happy read. I enjoyed this story even more than I did the first book, and part of the reason for that is because we got to revisit the previous characters who had all come to love Melody and were hoping that Miss Marchant would turn out to be Melody’s mother. They needed this to be, because if Melody was indeed Colin’s daughter, then she would be a part of their lives, always. And the alternative, Melody ending up with another family, or in an orphanage, meant they’d never get to see her again, and that wasn’t something any of them wanted to even think about.

I finished this book very thankful that I had the third and final installment to this trilogy sitting right beside me, because I too had fallen completely in love with Melody, Little Milady, and wanted to – no, needed to – find out what was to become of her and the crazy, loveable cast of characters in the Runaway Brides series.

But more than anything, I wanted to get to know Jack.

[Darbella · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars for the romance of Pru and Colin. 4 for the rest of the story and its side characters. Pru takes to sexual acts like a duck in water. Still loving the cast of side characters in this series, especially Melody.

Reread January 2022 3.5 stars for Pru and Colin's romance. This time Colin annoyed me so much with his focus on Chantal. 4.5 for the story as a whole. Melody and Evan are awesome. Love the side characters on Pru and Colin's side. Favorite part is when Colin has to sing for his supper and He and Melody start a play and the actors help and act out the pirate story. I enjoyed this one more than the first one in this series, but both were fun.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Books I Own. Mad About Series Challenge 2025. HRBC. Tropes: Regency Romance, RomCom, Love at First Sight,
MC's h. Miss Prudence Filby,19, orphaned, brother Evan 12, (inheritance for Evan when he is 18) ran away from abusive guardians who planned to steal their fortune. H Sir Colin Lambert, knighted by Prinny for his father's scholarly works, looking for Chantal Marchand thinking Melody is his daughter and Chantal the mother.
Comments: This was the continuing story of Melody's parentage told by Buttons but stories written by Colin the H in this book. Got to love the Pirate stories with Captn' Jack who is Melody's real father and the Hero in the next story. Not everyone would appreciate these tall tales and this slapstick comedy sense of humor. I liked these stories immensely.
******************************************************************************

[Debbie DiFiore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I totally loved this book. Even when he was an idiot and still planned to marry his old hag mistress when he was in love with Pru! I am totally absorbed in the next story so I will finish this review later.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the series continues over who is Melody's father, we move on to Colin and Pru in here. This is another great addition with characters I loved. I flew through this one because it was so enjoyable.

[RomanceNovelNews.com · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review by Catherine Garrabrant for RomanceNovelNews.com

"Rogue in my Arms,” the second book in Celeste Bradley's “The Runaway Brides” series follows the precocious 3-year-old Melody, and the search to find her true mother.

Melody was left on the front steps of a gentleman's club, and club member Sir Colin Lambert believes the child is his. He takes off on a search to find his former mistress, the illustrious stage actress Chantal Marchant who he believes is Melody’s mother. His goal is to reunite with his lost love and provide the child with a loving family.

As Colin travels the English countryside with Melody in tow, he meets Prudence Filby and her younger brother, Evan. As a seamstress in her employ, Pru is also looking for the elusive actress; she is owed back wages. Pru agrees to be Melody's nanny for the length of the journey.

Pru and Colin have difficulty keeping their attraction in check as they are met with a wide array of surprises. They make friends with a gypsy theater group and meet up with a trail of lovers left in Chantal’s wake. And Pru and Evan have a surprise of their own.

"Rogue in my Arms" is a nice on-the-road romance, although at times the actions and dialogue of the characters can be a bit silly. But, fans of Celeste Bradley will enjoy her trademark humor, outlandish villains and near slapstick comedy.

Colin is a very likable hero who adores Melody and only wants the best for her. Melody is an engaging child who you can't help but chuckle at when she speaks. Pru takes some warming up to, but she tends to be the voice of reason. The bantering scenes between Colin and Pru are well worth the read.

The mystery regarding Melody's true parents will keep readers interested and anxious for the next book. This is one book with even more laughs than you can count and some nice love scenes to tickle any romance enthusiast's fancy.

[Renée · Rating 3 out of 5]

1. Melody, darling. Will it take three full books before you make up your mind and get married? You shouldn't have accepted the proposal if you obviously know that you're childish and immature! You foolish child. Get your head out of your arse and get dressed. You have a wedding to attend to.
2. I wonder if it's Evan she's marrying. I mean, he is one of the gentry.
3. I don't get it. If Colin is as scholarly, level-headed and smart as he thinks he is, then WHY DON'T HE JUST ASK AROUND IF CHANTAL WAS BREEDING ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO?! Stupid stupid stupid. And he even has Chantal's seamstress, Prudence, at arm's length. He could just easily ask if Chantal did, indeed, birthed a girl.
4. So far, I'm impressed. This is a whole lot better than the first book. The writing is really good now. Just needs improvement on the dialogue tho. We can't have everything romanticized. We gotta have practicality-- like highwaymen. They seem to be conveniently out of the picture. But okay, okay, I can give allowances for that.
5. My God, Aidan and Colin are making Brown's into an apartment. What the f. And so far, I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEIR TITLES ARE. You at least have to stress that out. It's mentioned in the first book, but it's just idle chatter. In the 1800s, titles are everything. This is really stressing me out. I don't care anymore.

[Hina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really a good book, nice transition from the first and I can't wait to read the next one. I also liked the fact that in the end, she revealed the outcomes of the lesser characters like Chantal, and Gaffin.

[KarenF · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not normally a fan of moppets in romances but for some reason I love Melody. This is lighter than the first one in the series. Cute & funny with likable characters. Nothing spectacular, just a good, fun read.

[Cait M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 in the Runnaway Brides series continues along the same theme: a fun and surprisingly engaging romance built on the paper-thin premise that the hero might be the father of Melody, the sweet, 3-year-old foundling deposited at the front steps of Brown's club for Distinguished Gentlemen.

In this instalment, Sir Colin thinks that Melody could be the result of his brief affair with Chantal, a beautiful actress. Despite her having left him for a more wealthy protector years ago, he's determined to find her and marry her in order to help legitimise Melody in the eyes of society.

Our heroine Pru and her younger brother Evan are orphans in hiding for years from their terrible guardians, who hope to manipulate them and steal their inheritance. Pretending to be common-folk rather than high society, Pru had been barely eaking a living as Chantal's dresser/seamstress, when Chantal disappeared, owing her a month's wages.

In his search for Chantal, Colin meets and employs the straight-talking Prudence to help care for Melody. What follows is a crazy road trip with Colin, Pru, Evan and Melody always just a few steps behind Chantal.

Colin and Pru become friends and fall for each other, all the while, Colin remains determined to marry Chantal for Melody's sake. The conflict is completely manufactured, because it's obvious that Chantal is not going to be Melody's mother. Despite that, I had a great time reading this light-hearted romp.

This book contains descriptive love scenes.

[Zita · Rating 3 out of 5]

อาจเป็นเพราะพล็อตเล่มนี้มาแนว road trip ที่โดยส่วนตัวไม่ค่อยจะนิยมชมชอบอยู่แล้ว (ไม่เชิงเกลียดแนวนี้ แต่มีน้อยเรื่องที่อ่านแล้วจะรู้สึกสนุก) เลยอ่านแล้วเบื่อๆ ยังไงไม่รู้ คาแรกเตอร์พระเอกนางเอกก็ดึงความสนใจไม่ค่อยสำเร็จเท่าไหร่ งงกับการที่พระเอกทึกทักเอาเองว่าเด็กเป็นลูกตัวเองกับคนรักเก่าแน่ๆ แบบมั่นใจเต็มร้อยทั้งที่ไม่มีเหตุผลสนับสนุนอะไรเลย ส่วนนางเอกเกือบจะน่าสนใจตรงความเป็นผู้ดีตกยาก แต่คนเขียนดูไม่ค่อยเล่นกับปมตรงนี้ ไปเน้นเล่าเรื่องการเดินทางบลาๆๆ มากกว่า พาร์ท romance ก็ไม่ค่อยอินเพราะพระเอกยังมุ่งมั่นที่จะแต่งงานกับคนรักเก่าไปจนกระทั่งเกือบจบเรื่อง เข้าใจว่าคนเขียนอาจจะอยากเขียนให้พระเอกเกิดความขัดแย้งระหว่างหน้าที่ (แต่งงานกับคนรักเก่า) vs หัวใจ (แต่งงานกับนางเอก) แต่ความขัดแย้งตรงนี้มันคงไม่เกิดขึ้นแต่แรกถ้าพระเอกตั้งสติไตร่ตรองมากกว่านี้อีกสักนิดน่ะนะ

[Sara Hastings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where to start …. I definitely think that this is a series that should be read in order. Unfortunately, I didn’t know this and read it as a standalone book two and will have to now retrace my steps. Giving this a 4 overall, even though I honestly hated the MMC throughout most of the story. Colin spends 60% of the book pining after the loathsome Chantal Marchant, but still not being able to keep his paws off of Pru. Button, Melody, and Evan were excellent supporting characters

[Sharyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

2nd in the series and way better than the first, Colin has decided Melody must be his daughter and sets out to find the woman he believes is her mother, to marry her and make her legitimate. Many funny adventures ensue, and sometimes Colin acts like an ass, just like Adrian did in the first book. But an HEA ensues for everyone.

[Rintea W · Rating 4 out of 5]

พระเอกเรื่องนี้มีความแตกต่างจากพระเอกเรื่องย้อนยุค เพราะเขามีความอ่อนโยน ผมสีอ่อน สุภาพ ว่าง่ายๆก็คือพระเอกดูสบายใจสบายตา เข้าถึงง่ายดี น่ารักอะ
นางเอกมีความสู้ชีวิต น่าสงสาร ชวนให้คนรู้สึกทะนุถนอมดี
เป็นอีกเรื่องที่ชอบเลย

[Foggygirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great entertaining read from one of my favorite romance authors.

[Shani · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.9*

[CJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.7

[Özlem · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ben 2021 için fazla erken konuşmuşum. Senede okuduğum ilk 2 kitap çok güzel olunca bazıları orta şeker bile olsa iyi kitaplar okuyacağımı düşünmüştüm. Ama To Seduce A Rouge sonrasında bu kitabı okuyunca büyük hata yaptığımı anladım. Bu kitap, önceki cümlede sözünü ettiğim kitaptan bile daha berbattı.

Bu kitapla beraber artık Colin isminden nefret eder oldum. Bu isimdekiler kendi kitaplarına kadar bizlere havalı, çekici, sevimli diye anlatılıyor ama iş kendi kitaplarına gelince bu bahsettiğim şeylerin bir tanesini bile bulamıyorsunuz. Bu isimdeki karakterler oldukça beyinsiz, doğru şeyi yapacağım derken daha da hatalı kararlar veren ama bunun farkında dahil olmayan kişiler oluyorlar. Bu isimdeki karakterlerin kitaplarına örnek verecek olursam Julia Quinn/Romancing Mr. Bridgerton ve Tessa Dare/A Week to Be Wicked kitaplarını söyleyebilirim.

Üçüncü Colin ise bu kitaptaki kişi olmaktadır. Bir zamanlar aşık olduğu kadının aslında ne tür bir pislik olduğunu fark etmesine rağmen ille de Melody'nin meşru çocuk oluşunu sağlamak için onunla evleneceğim diye tutturması insanı delirtiyor. Halbuki çocuğun kendisinden olduğu bile kesin değilken gidiyor kadını dağ taş demeden arayıp duruyor. Üstüne Melody'i de yanında sürükleyip duruyor. Bir de görünüşünü hiç beğenmediğini defalarca söylediği bir kadınla oynaşmaktan da geri durmuyor.

Görünüşünü beğenmediği kadın olan Prudence ise yüzsüzlüğü ile pes dedirtiyor. Aslında Chantal ile yeniden karşılaşmalarına kadar fena biri değildi ama Colin'nin Chantal'a yaptığı evlilik teklifi sonrasında ondan uzaklaşacağına "Hadi Colin, bu durumu sana bekaretimi vererek kutlayalım. Hem birbirimize karşı olan arzularımızı görmüş oluruz hem de seni ne kadar sevdiğimi anlarsın" tarzı bir konuşma yaparak vasatlığını çöpe atıyor ve leş bir şeye dönüşüyor.

Unutmadan Colin bu kısımda içinden "Şimdiki durumda Chantal gelinim, sen bir nevi metresim oluyorsun. Aslında olması gereken sen bir leydi olduğun için benim eşim olmalısın, Chantal ise metresim." düşüncesini geçiriyor. Ama bakın, Pru leydi olduğu için bu düşüncede, yoksa sıradan biri olsa ha eş olmuş ha metres hiç fark etmiyor ona. İşin daha da komiği bu adam aslında soylu falan değil, yaptığı araştırmalar sayesinde Sör unvanı alıyor. Yeminle okuduğum en iğrenç karakterlerden biri oldu Colin.

En üzüldüğüm Melody oldu. İlk kitapta güzel yer kaplayan şeker kız burada maalesef en gereksiz karakter oluyor. Colin kitap boyunca Melody'e değer verdiğini söylese de bu kısımları göremedim. Halbuki ilk kitaptaki ilişkileri oldukça güzeldi. Burada ise çoğunlukla Melody umurunda değildi. Varsa yoksa eski aşkı ile ikinci şans için kendini paralamasını okudum.

Kurgu da ayrı saçmaydı. Tiyatro topluluğu ile bunların bir handa rehin alındıkları kısımlar çok uzun yer kaplamıştı. Bu iki bölümün sıkıcılığı ve saçmalıkları cidden başımı ağrıttı. Uzun uzun anlatmayacağım saçmalıkları ama bir kısmı söylemesem olmaz. Kitaptaki bütün erkeklerin "Chantal Chantal" diye gezmesi gerçekten sinirimi bozdu. Herhalde bu kitap "erkeklerin efendi hatun yerine piçi tercih etmesi" hipotezi üzerine yazılmış. Yoksa bu kadar erkeğin beyinsiz bir kadın için birbirlerine saldırmalarını başka türlü açıklayamıyorum.

Neyse ki Pru'nun geçmişinin onu günümüzde bulmasını yazmamış yazar. Herhalde o kısım da olsaydı iyice çileden çıkardım.

Kısacası kitap bize bir aşkı değil, edepsiz bir kadını (Chantal) ve onun deli ettiği erkekleri anlatıyor.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally posted on Joyfully Reviewed: http://www.joyfullyreviewed.com/new-r...

When a young girl is left on the steps of Brown’s Club for Distinguished Gentlemen with a note saying one of its members is her father, Sir Colin Lambert barely dares to hope that little Melody is his daughter. On a quest to discover the truth of Melody’s parentage, Colin attempts to track down stunning actress Chantal Marchant. The beautiful actress broke his heart once, but if Melody is their daughter, perhaps his dreams to marry Chantal can come true…that is, if he can find her. It seems Chantal is on the move, so Colin enlists Chantal’s former seamstress, Prudence Filby, to help track her down. But Prudence isn’t all that she seems and though he resists the temptation, Colin finds himself falling for the mysterious Pru. Yet if Chantal truly is Melody’s mother, Colin can’t afford not to marry his former lover. Stuck in a battle between his head and his heart, which woman will wear Colin’s ring?

Secrets and half-truths fill the pages of the appealing Rogue in My Arms. Celeste Bradley’s Runaway Brides heroes continue their search to find which one of them is Melody’s father and their different avenues of investigation provide the most unexpected results. For Colin, it’s meeting the woman who will capture his heart, who isn’t, in fact, the woman of his dreams. Pru is hardworking, sensible, and kind-hearted; in other words, she’s everything a heroine should be and everything Chantal is not. I adored Pru and her little brother Evan. Colin, too, I liked, when I didn’t want to shake him over his delusions regarding Chantal’s character. Stealing the show, however, is Melody, who continues to make me laugh and “awww” with her antics. It’s the characters which bring life to Rogue in My Arms more than anything else. They’re lively and endearing and I so wanted to see everything work out for Colin and Pru that I set down Rogue in My Arms only when necessary. I finished Rogue in My Arms a well-satisfied reader, but when I read the preview for Scoundrel in My Dreams, the last Runaway Brides book, I was immediately eager for more. Ms. Bradley has me on the edge of my seat, waiting for Scoundrel in My Dream’s release. Until that day comes, however, I’ll just sit back and enjoy the first two Runaway Brides books, Devil in My Bed and Rogue in My Arms.

[Marion (www.welteninsel.rocks)]

Darum geht es:
Nachdem klar ist, dass Aiden de Quincy nicht der Vater der kleinen Melody ist, kommen auch Sir Colin Lambert Zweifel. Er denkt zurück an seine Beziehung zu der Schauspielerin Chantal Marchant. Sollte sie Melodys Mutter sein?

Da Aiden und seine Frau Madeleine zur Zeit auf Hochzeitsreise sind, bleibt ihm nichts anderes übrig, als dass Melody ihn begleitet, als er sich auf den Weg macht, sich Gewissheit zu verschaffen. Die Reise geht zunächst nach Brighton, wo Chantal ein Engagement an einem Theater hat. Dort angekommen, muss Colin jedoch erfahren, dass sie weg ist. Auf dem Weg zu ihrer Hochzeit mit Lord Bertram Ardmore.

Wenn Melody jedoch seine Tochter ist und Chantal deren Mutter muss Colin diese Hochzeit unbedingt verhindern und Chantal selber heiraten. Nur so wäre Melody legitimiert und in der Gesellschaft anerkannt. Doch wie soll er diese Verfolgungsjagd mit einem kleinen Kind bewerkstelligen?

Zum Glück kommt ihm da der Zufall zu Hilfe. Die junge Näherin und Garderobiere Prudence Filby hat selber noch ein Hühnchen mit Chantal zu rupfen und weiß, wo diese hin wollte. Colin stellt sie als Kindermädchen für Melody ein. Gemeinsam mit Prudence kleinem Bruder Evan geht die Jagd weiter.

Unterwegs entdecken Colin und Prudence ihre Liebe zueinander. Trotzdem sieht sich Colin in der Pflicht, Melodys Mutter zu heiraten...

Ich sage dazu:
Dies ist der 2. Band der Runaway Brides-Trilogie und steht dem 1. Teil in nichts nach. Im Gegenteil. Ich fand die Geschichte von Colin und Pru sogar noch um eine Spur besser. Die manchmal recht derbe Sprache passt meiner Ansicht nach hier deutlich besser. Allein durch das Umfeld.

Die kleine Melody ist mir richtig ans Herz gewachsen, wenn sie von Piraten oder Wibblyforce und Billywick erzählt, konnte ich mir oft ein Schmunzeln nicht verkneifen.

Aber Chantal konnte ich von Anfang an nicht leiden. Wie gut, dass Lementeur zur Stelle war, um das Schlimmste zu verhindern.

Lementeur ist es auch hier wieder, der die Geschichte von Colin und Pru erzählt. Zwar gibt es am Anfang eine Zusammenfassung der vorangegangenen Ereignisse, aber meiner Ansicht nach sollte man die Bücher trotzdem unbedingt in der richtigen Reihenfolge lesen.

Fazit:
Warmherzig, romantisch, witzig und für diejenigen, denen der 1. Teil der Trilogie gefallen hat sowieso Pflicht. ;)

Die Reihenfolge der einzelnen Bände:
The Runaway Brides
1. Mein teuflischer Verführer
2. Ein sinnlicher Schuft
3. Ein verruchter Lord


© Marion Schauder

[Katie(babs) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rogue in my Arms is the second book in Celeste Bradley's The Runaway Brides series regarding a three-year-old Melody, who is the main concern for Sir Colin Lambert. Colin believes he may be her father after Melody was left on the front steps of his gentleman's club with only a note pinned to her chest. Her mother could possibly be his former mistress and stage actress, Chantal Marchant. Colin searches for Chantal in the hopes she is Melody's mother and his dream will finally become a reality where he will no longer be alone and part of a family.

As Colin travels all over the English countryside with Melody in tow as he searches for Chantal, he meets Prudence Filby and her younger brother Evan. Prudence used to be Chantal's seamstress and is also looking for the elusive actress because she hasn't been paid what is owed her. Because Prudence and Evan are without funds and close to being in the poorhouse, she agrees to be Melody's nanny for the length of the journey. Their travels are met with a wide arrange of surprises, including an old lover of Chantal who wants revenge for her leaving him and expects Colin and Prudence to lead him to her. So much more is in store for this quartet as Melody thinks this is an amazing adventure, a broody Evan who hates authority and Prudence and Colin barely keeping their attraction to one another in check.

Rogue in my Arms has a nice on the road romance feel to it, although at times the actions and dialogue of the characters can be a bit too silly. But, fans of easy reading and of Celeste Bradley will probably enjoy her trademark humor, outlandish villains and near slapstick comedy. Colin Lambert is a very likable hero who adores Melody and only wants the best for her. Melody is an engaging little girl who you can't help but chuckle whenever she speaks. Prudence takes some warming up to, but she tends to be the voice of reason. When Colin and she banter back and forth, those scenes are well worth the read.

The mystery regarding Melody's true parents will keep readers interested and anxious for the next book. This is one book with even more laughs than you can count and some nice love scenes to tickle any romance enthusiast's fancy.

[Elis Madison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once upon a time, a tiny princess was left on the stairs of a castle of bachelors. A note pinned to her little jacket said that one of those bachelors was her father. Now, most of the bachelors in residence were older than "let there be light," and any offspring they might have fathered would be almost as old as God himself. But there were three handsome young princes….



It's been determined that Aidan, Lord Blankenship, is not the father—but in the process of sorting this out, the man tracked down the woman he'd loved around the critical few months, and now he's married. This leaves Sir Colin Lambert. Seems around those months, he, too, had a love—he was devastated when his darling gave him his con•gé.

His delicate flower's name was Chantal.


Chantal is an actress, and her seamstress, Prudence Filby, knows what she's really like.



When Colin offers Pru five pounds to nanny little Melody while they search for Chantal, she jumps on it. Five pounds—and even better, five pounds plus the wages Chantal owes her—will keep her and her young brother Evan out of the poorhouse for maybe a year.

Pru has a secret—she and Evan aren't little guttersnipes, though they both do their best to fit the mold. When their parents died they left the two of them with a buttload of money, but they left them in the care of evil people who planned to put Pru in an asylum and abuse Evan until he handed over their wealth. Pru and Evan have already learned the hard way that the authorities would only put them back in the stew, so they're looking for ways to stay invisible until Evan reaches his majority..

Meanwhile, someone nefarious is tracking Chantal…

A decent adventure story, even if Colin is a bit of a dimwit. I'll give it a 3.5.

Favorite quote: Her hand slid down into his lap to push off from him. His traitorous lap really enjoyed the entire experience.

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored Rogue in My Arms! Celeste Bradley delivers another captivating entry in the Runaway Brides series—an irresistible blend of charm, wit, and heartfelt romance.

From the first page, I was swept up in the story, thanks to its compelling characters, sharp dialogue, and an engaging plot. The chemistry between Colin and Prudence is magnetic. Colin’s quest to find Melody’s mother—driven by a complex mix of hope and heartache—perfectly contrasts with Prudence’s spirited pragmatism and fierce loyalty to her brother. Their dynamic crackles with tension, making their evolving relationship all the more rewarding.

Bradley's writing strikes a lovely balance between humor, emotion, and sensuality. The banter between Colin and Prudence is delightfully witty, often layered with deeper emotional undercurrents. And when the story turns tender, it lands with genuine poignancy.

Unexpected twists and rich secondary characters add even more depth to the narrative—I found myself completely hooked. I honestly didn’t want to put it down!

Rogue in My Arms is a must-read for fans of historical romance. It’s a smart, satisfying, and thoroughly enjoyable novel. Five stars, without a doubt!

[Virginia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Every author is allowed a few clunkers here and there (especially Romance authors). After all, their production is swift and there really are only so many plotlines out there. When a good or great author has a bad day, the resulting novel is usually passable. However, if the author is merely passable (as Bradley is), then the result is terrible.

Clunky and contrived dialog (with even worse accents), the characters too stupid and flat to care about, and a boring plot all convinced me to stop reading at page 33.

Since I tend to read through all of an author's work, I'm leaving a review so I don't make the same fool-hardy mistake of picking this one back up.

ETA: I did end up finishing the book. But I still didn't like it much and skimmed. A lot. The bad accents lessened a bit, but Bradley needs some lessons in writing jumping timelines and POVs without confusing the crap out of her readers.

[Leya · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this book Colin continues the search for little Melody's mother. He believes that there is chance that Mellie is his daughter with an ex-mistress of his, Chantal a famous actress. Along the way the meets Pru and her brother Evan. Pru worked for Chantal in Brighton in a theatre company. But Chantal has disappeared and Colin enlists Pru's help in locating her and also helping with Mellie. Well you can probably figure out what happens next...gorgeous hunk and a very pretty girl. Anyway add a dishonest inn-keeper, a troupe of traveling actors and a outspoken designer and you get a pretty entertaining story. I just wish I liked the heroine more, for some reason she got on my nerves.

3.5/5

[Lychee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second in a series of three. A delightful, humorous read. A lot of the humor comes from having been introduced to some of the characters (esp. a precocious child) in the first of the series, so definitely recommend reading in order. I usually find that an author can make me laugh in the beginning but then things will settle down. This book kept me laughing regularly throughout, not through absurd situations but through witty repartee that's consistent with each character's trajectory throughout the novel(s).

[Sheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

MY FAVORITE OF THE TRILOGY

I found the 2nd installment in this series to be absolutely delightful. I really liked the interaction between Colin and Pru; they fit well together. The book had a less serious feel to it than the 1st book (in my opinion), which is why I enjoyed it slightly more than book 1.

As in the last book, I enjoyed the cast of supporting characters- they round out the book and make it more complete.

Having read all 3 books in the series, I think that book 2 is the best of the group.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I liked this book better than the 1st in the series. The plot of a gentleman finding the mother of a child thought to be his worked out better for me in this installment because, even though you know because it's a trilogy that Melody is not Colins, you don't have the 'mother' lying about it the whole time. He was searching for her and the whole time she became more and more of a horrible person in the readers eyes and by the end you were almost hoping he would never have to find her.

But again, the flaw come from the simple fact that it is a trilogy.

[Regina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it. It was sweet and romantic with a nice sprinkle of sensual spice. I was a little frustrated with Colin holding a torch for the wrong woman for so long, but he was a romantic hero and came through in the end. The "hunt for Chantal" escapade dragged on rather too long but otherwise the characters made this story come alive. Little Melody was adorable. I started with the second book in the series and I was pleasantly surprised that this story is told as a long flashback--and it works! 3.5 stars.

[Ellen W-S · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a light read, not terribly sophisticated however I did come to like the characters by the end. Colin was portrayed as too shallow and not terribly smart in the beginning so I didn't really think the plot was plausible. I did finish it though.