The Risk of Rogues

Sabrina Jeffries

Jul 2018 · Sold by Simon and Schuster

About this ebook

Featuring New York Times bestselling author Sabrina Jeffries’ “hallmark humor, poignancy, and sensuality” (Romantic Times), this entry in the Sinful Suitors series inspires you to risk all for love.

Lady Anne is shocked when Captain Lord Hartley Corry—her former fiancé who left for India after her father forbade their marriage—returns to England and acts as if everything is all water under the bridge. He never fought for her hand or eloped with her as he promised and he thinks she’d still be willing to marry him? Not a chance.

Hartley is equally shocked to literally run into his past love upon arriving at his brother’s house. Though he yearns to take advantage of this second chance to woo his beloved, he can hardly admit that he is secretly a spy—at least not until he can be sure he trusts her. But convincing Lady Anne to let him prove his sincerity by courting her respectably all over again might be his undoing. Because all he wants is to show her how much of a rogue he can be when the right woman is in his arms…

Ratings and reviews

FINAL DECISION: Nice little story that wraps up the series but isn't particularly deep. I enjoyed it and seeing the characters from the series. THE STORY: Captain Lord Hartley Corry lost the woman he loved years ago when her father refused his suit and he joined the army. On the verge of getting a promotion to spymaster, Hart meets Lady Anne at a houseparty with his friends. Hart is determined to claim that woman he has never forgotten but he has to convince her that he is not the reckless and irresponsible man her father believed he was. And he has to do it while keeping secret his work as a spy. OPINION: This is a nice little story. It isn't particularly deep and there aren't many surprises, but I enjoyed the characters -- especially the quirky Anne with her hats. This second chance at love story springs from youth and misunderstanding, but these two are so clearly meant for one another that I knew that they would always work things out. I think this story works best as a wrap up to the series because knowing all the characters makes this little story more meaningful. I liked that we get to see Hart having his happy ending. I enjoyed the story and I recommend that those who have followed the series read this little coda. WORTH MENTIONING: This is a short story. CONNECTED BOOKS: THE RISK OF ROGUES is book 5.5 of the Sinful Suitors series. The story can be read as a standalone although there are lots of characters from the series that a new readers might be puzzled by. STAR RATING: I give this book 3 stars. NOTE: I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in order to prepare this review. I was not required to write a review or to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.

Eleven years ago Hart left behind Anne and their plans of elopement. Seeing her again stirs a desire to make her his wife if they can get past all their bad decisions and current obstacles. I found this story to be just ok. Anne does a lot of pushing away but considering what happened years ago, as well as events that have changed her during the past decade, it’s understandable. Hart was playing his cards close to his chest, unsure how much he could share about his current status. Both of them struggled with trust. I struggled a bit with both of them. Due to its length we don’t get a ton of goodness but we do get a look at the re-courtship between these two characters as well as the chemistry they share. Secondary characters are minimal, the pace is fast, and there is no skimming required here. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by NetGalley and Gallery Books. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.5 stars--THE RISK OF ROGUES is instalment 5.5 (and final?) in Sabrina Jeffries SINFUL SUITORS historical romance series - a spin off from Jeffries’ ‘The Duke’s Men’ series. This is Lady Anne Barkley and Captain Lord Hartley ‘Hart’ Corry’s story line. THE RISK OF ROGUES can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalments is revealed where necessary. Told from dual third person perspectives (Anne and Hart) THE RISK OF ROGUES is a second chance romance between Lady Anne Barkley and Captain Lord Hartley ‘Hart’ Corry. Eleven years earlier Hart asked a then sixteen-year old Anne to be his wife but without her father’s permission Hart disappeared without a trace. Fast forward to present day wherein a much more mature Anne but secretive Hart must face the truth about what happened years before-a truth that is much different than the stories they know. Captain Lord Hartley Corry is a man of secrets whose current position with Baron Fulkham keeps our hero in the shadows as a spymaster for the government. Loyal to a fault, it is these secrets that keep Anne at a distance when Hart offers up his heart, once again. Lady Anne considers herself an oddity, and hides behind her flamboyant hats that are the talk of the ton. Never married, Lady Anne pines for what was, and what will never be, again. THE RISK OF ROGUES is a very quick read; a fast paced, second chance story line with a feisty and stubborn heroine, and passionate hero. The back and forth rhetoric between our leading couple is both comedic and sad, as Anne refuses to accept the truth that is shrouded in secrets. The premise is engaging; the romance is intimate and sweet; the characters are familiar and charming.

About the author

Sabrina Jeffries is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of several Regency-set historical romance series, including the Royal Brotherhood, the School for Heiresses, the Hellions of Halstead Hall, the Duke’s Men, and the Sinful Suitors. When she’s not writing in a coffee-fueled haze, she’s traveling with her husband, caring for her adult autistic son, or indulging in one of her passions: jigsaw puzzles, chocolate, music, and costume parties. With more than nine million books in print in twenty languages, the North Carolina author never regrets tossing aside a budding career in academics for the sheer joy of writing fun fiction and hopes that one day a book of hers will end up saving the world. She always dreams big.