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The Lost Lords #5
Sometimes a Rogue
"Putney's reputation as one of the finest writers of Regency romance is well deserved. She never shies away from different plots or atypical characters and writes wildly exciting adventure romances. She's done it all again in the marvelous, emotional and thrilling fifth book in the Lost Lords series." --RT Book Reviews on Sometimes a Rogue Top Pick
"Composed of equal measures of dangerous intrigue and potent passion, Putney's fifth elegantly written installment in her Lost Lords series delivers captivating characters, an impeccably realized Regency setting, and a thrilling plot rich in action and adventure." � Booklist, STARRED review for Sometimes a Rogue
Sometimes. . .
Even the most proper young lady yearns for adventure. But when the very well bred Miss Sarah Clarke-Townsend impulsively takes the place of her pregnant twin, it puts her own life at risk. If the kidnappers after her sister discover they've abducted Sarah instead, she will surely pay with her life. . .
A Rogue. . .
Rob Carmichael survived his disastrous family by turning his back on his heritage and becoming a formidable Bow Street Runner with a talent for rescuing damsels in distress. But Sarah is one damsel who is equal to whatever comes. Whether racing across Ireland with her roguish rescuer or throwing herself into his arms, she challenges Rob at every turn.
"You can't go wrong with a Putney romance!" –Sabrina Jeffries
Praise For Mary Jo Putney's Lost Lords Series
"Romance at its best!" —Julia Quinn
"Exquisitely and sensitively written." �Library Journal, starred review
"Intoxicating and not-to-be missed." �RT Book Reviews (4 ½ Stars, Top Pick)
"Composed of equal measures of dangerous intrigue and potent passion, Putney's fifth elegantly written installment in her Lost Lords series delivers captivating characters, an impeccably realized Regency setting, and a thrilling plot rich in action and adventure." � Booklist, STARRED review for Sometimes a Rogue
Sometimes. . .
Even the most proper young lady yearns for adventure. But when the very well bred Miss Sarah Clarke-Townsend impulsively takes the place of her pregnant twin, it puts her own life at risk. If the kidnappers after her sister discover they've abducted Sarah instead, she will surely pay with her life. . .
A Rogue. . .
Rob Carmichael survived his disastrous family by turning his back on his heritage and becoming a formidable Bow Street Runner with a talent for rescuing damsels in distress. But Sarah is one damsel who is equal to whatever comes. Whether racing across Ireland with her roguish rescuer or throwing herself into his arms, she challenges Rob at every turn.
"You can't go wrong with a Putney romance!" –Sabrina Jeffries
Praise For Mary Jo Putney's Lost Lords Series
"Romance at its best!" —Julia Quinn
"Exquisitely and sensitively written." �Library Journal, starred review
"Intoxicating and not-to-be missed." �RT Book Reviews (4 ½ Stars, Top Pick)
415 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 27, 2013
483 people are currently reading
2161 people want to read
About the author
Mary Jo Putney
150Ìýbooks2,248ÌýfollowersShe writes young adult fiction as M.J. Putney.
Mary Jo Putney was born on 1946 in Upstate New York with a reading addiction, a condition for which there is no known cure. After earning degrees in English Literature and Industrial Design at Syracuse University, she did various forms of design work in California and England before inertia took over in Baltimore, Maryland, where she has lived very comfortably ever since.
While becoming a novelist was her ultimate fantasy, it never occurred to her that writing was an achievable goal until she acquired a computer for other purposes. When the realization hit that a computer was the ultimate writing tool, she charged merrily into her first book with an ignorance that illustrates the adage that fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
Fortune sometimes favors the foolish and her first book sold quickly, thereby changing her life forever, in most ways for the better. (“But why didn't anyone tell me that writing would change the way one reads?�) Like a lemming over a cliff, she gave up her freelance graphic design business to become a full-time writer as soon as possible.
Since 1987, Ms. Putney has published twenty-nine books and counting. Her stories are noted for psychological depth and unusual subject matter such as alcoholism, death and dying, and domestic abuse. She has made all of the national bestseller lists including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USAToday, and Publishers Weekly. Five of her books have been named among the year’s top five romances by The Library Journal. The Spiral Path and Stolen Magic were chosen as one of Top Ten romances of their years by Booklist, published by the American Library Association.
A nine-time finalist for the Romance Writers of America RITA, she has won RITAs for Dancing on the Wind and The Rake and the Reformer and is on the RWA Honor Roll for bestselling authors. She has been awarded two Romantic Times Career Achievement Awards, four NJRW Golden Leaf awards, plus the NJRW career achievement award for historical romance. Though most of her books have been historical, she has also published three contemporary romances. The Marriage Spell will be out in June 2006 in hardcover, and Stolen Magic (written as M. J. Putney) will be released in July 2006.
Ms. Putney says that not least among the blessings of a full-time writing career is that one almost never has to wear pantyhose.
Mary Jo Putney was born on 1946 in Upstate New York with a reading addiction, a condition for which there is no known cure. After earning degrees in English Literature and Industrial Design at Syracuse University, she did various forms of design work in California and England before inertia took over in Baltimore, Maryland, where she has lived very comfortably ever since.
While becoming a novelist was her ultimate fantasy, it never occurred to her that writing was an achievable goal until she acquired a computer for other purposes. When the realization hit that a computer was the ultimate writing tool, she charged merrily into her first book with an ignorance that illustrates the adage that fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
Fortune sometimes favors the foolish and her first book sold quickly, thereby changing her life forever, in most ways for the better. (“But why didn't anyone tell me that writing would change the way one reads?�) Like a lemming over a cliff, she gave up her freelance graphic design business to become a full-time writer as soon as possible.
Since 1987, Ms. Putney has published twenty-nine books and counting. Her stories are noted for psychological depth and unusual subject matter such as alcoholism, death and dying, and domestic abuse. She has made all of the national bestseller lists including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USAToday, and Publishers Weekly. Five of her books have been named among the year’s top five romances by The Library Journal. The Spiral Path and Stolen Magic were chosen as one of Top Ten romances of their years by Booklist, published by the American Library Association.
A nine-time finalist for the Romance Writers of America RITA, she has won RITAs for Dancing on the Wind and The Rake and the Reformer and is on the RWA Honor Roll for bestselling authors. She has been awarded two Romantic Times Career Achievement Awards, four NJRW Golden Leaf awards, plus the NJRW career achievement award for historical romance. Though most of her books have been historical, she has also published three contemporary romances. The Marriage Spell will be out in June 2006 in hardcover, and Stolen Magic (written as M. J. Putney) will be released in July 2006.
Ms. Putney says that not least among the blessings of a full-time writing career is that one almost never has to wear pantyhose.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 310 reviews
September 17, 2013
Posted on my blog:
One of my all-time favorite books is Mary Jo Putney's The Rake, which had a startling amount of brilliant characterization, to the extent of subtly overshadowing the prose, plot, and dialogue. This one is no different. Perhaps it is easier to simply say that Putney is one of the finest historical romance authors ever, able to instill such ingenuity and sentiments into her characters to make them immensely likable, but more importantly, utterly empathetic.
This book is blatantly explicitly divided in two parts, a fast-paced adventurous rescue, and a calmer, soother path engagement and marriage life. As with Putney's usual style, this book's plot is mostly background for the multilayered complexity of character development. Miss Sarah Clarke-Townsend pretends to be her twin sister, Mariah, the Duchess of Ashton () in order to protect the pregnant Mariah from some kidnappers. Fortunately, Rob Carmichael, a friend of the Duke of Ashton and a Bow Street Runner, arrived and swiftly decided to take up this case for his friend, due to a deeply rooted sense of justice. As he catches up to the kidnappers in Ireland and rescues Sarah, the pair of them braves not only the trials of nature, but also their substantial attraction to each other.
The second half of the book has a much different tone than the first, with Rob and Sarah having arrived safely - albeit Rob with injuries - in England. Rob is pronounced to be the new Earl of Kellington, and Sarah, in an attempt to save his life, declared herself his fiancée. Following Rob's recovery, his new inheritance came to be only debts, compelling him to seek an heiress in order to provide for his tenants. In her goodness, Sarah aids him in that quest, only to agree to his marriage-of-convenience as Rob could find no better candidate than Sarah, despite her normal dowry. In the end, Sarah's resourcefulness resolves not only Rob's financial situation, but also a political threat, and more importantly, the lingering question within Rob's heart that sought love but never dared to ask for it.
This review cannot even begin to do justice to the enormity of my affections for Rob and Sarah. Rob, despite being a second son, despises the aristocracy that his father represented, and left his heritage to serve justice as a Bow Street Runner; his integrity and honor shaping him into a man of true character. He is at once understanding, knowledgeable, empathetic, and charming, owning more heroic qualities than any romance hero I've ever read. And yet, despite his obvious hero status, he is humble, perceptive of both his own faults and that of man, accepting them and sincerely devoting his soul to bettering the world, even if a little. In fact, Rob is almost too good to true; it is precisely Putney's magical pen that crafted this godlike hero with all the thoughts and qualities of man, making him a most true and conceivable hero.
As for Sarah, Rob's "golden, fluffy chick," she encompasses all the wonderful qualities a heroine could have. Finally reunited with her twin Mariah, her affection and love for her sister only increased, accepting yet never condemning her status as the less brilliant Clarke-Townsend sister. Content yet not entirely complacent with her calm life, she sought adventure with a breathless wonder until it took the shape of kidnappers. But far from becoming hysterical, she used her wit and practicality to increase her likelihood of being rescued, and aided Rob on their escape. By herself, Sarah is a delightful and charming girl, but with Rob, she gave him her undying support, affection, and her soul, for his companionship and friendship. These two felt a strong affinity yet understood the demands of society and their life. The level of Rob and Sarah's mutual trust and understanding achieved throughout their journey is on par with the level of love achieve by a lesser author, and Putney took it to an even higher degree by skillfully transforming their affection into a love to be worded.
It is clear as day that Rob and Sarah could have given their lives to protect the other even halfway in the story, but it only made sweeter that final, momentous epiphany of their love achieved near the end of this tantalizing tale.
In so many words I have described my love for the entirety of this book, so I can only hope that the wisest of readers will see this shining gem of a read and savor its fantastic characters and absorbing plot.
Plot: 8/10
Characters: 10/10
Writing: 10/10
Structure: 9/10
Overall: 10/10
*ARC reviewed from the publisher via Netgalley
One of my all-time favorite books is Mary Jo Putney's The Rake, which had a startling amount of brilliant characterization, to the extent of subtly overshadowing the prose, plot, and dialogue. This one is no different. Perhaps it is easier to simply say that Putney is one of the finest historical romance authors ever, able to instill such ingenuity and sentiments into her characters to make them immensely likable, but more importantly, utterly empathetic.
This book is blatantly explicitly divided in two parts, a fast-paced adventurous rescue, and a calmer, soother path engagement and marriage life. As with Putney's usual style, this book's plot is mostly background for the multilayered complexity of character development. Miss Sarah Clarke-Townsend pretends to be her twin sister, Mariah, the Duchess of Ashton () in order to protect the pregnant Mariah from some kidnappers. Fortunately, Rob Carmichael, a friend of the Duke of Ashton and a Bow Street Runner, arrived and swiftly decided to take up this case for his friend, due to a deeply rooted sense of justice. As he catches up to the kidnappers in Ireland and rescues Sarah, the pair of them braves not only the trials of nature, but also their substantial attraction to each other.
The second half of the book has a much different tone than the first, with Rob and Sarah having arrived safely - albeit Rob with injuries - in England. Rob is pronounced to be the new Earl of Kellington, and Sarah, in an attempt to save his life, declared herself his fiancée. Following Rob's recovery, his new inheritance came to be only debts, compelling him to seek an heiress in order to provide for his tenants. In her goodness, Sarah aids him in that quest, only to agree to his marriage-of-convenience as Rob could find no better candidate than Sarah, despite her normal dowry. In the end, Sarah's resourcefulness resolves not only Rob's financial situation, but also a political threat, and more importantly, the lingering question within Rob's heart that sought love but never dared to ask for it.
This review cannot even begin to do justice to the enormity of my affections for Rob and Sarah. Rob, despite being a second son, despises the aristocracy that his father represented, and left his heritage to serve justice as a Bow Street Runner; his integrity and honor shaping him into a man of true character. He is at once understanding, knowledgeable, empathetic, and charming, owning more heroic qualities than any romance hero I've ever read. And yet, despite his obvious hero status, he is humble, perceptive of both his own faults and that of man, accepting them and sincerely devoting his soul to bettering the world, even if a little. In fact, Rob is almost too good to true; it is precisely Putney's magical pen that crafted this godlike hero with all the thoughts and qualities of man, making him a most true and conceivable hero.
As for Sarah, Rob's "golden, fluffy chick," she encompasses all the wonderful qualities a heroine could have. Finally reunited with her twin Mariah, her affection and love for her sister only increased, accepting yet never condemning her status as the less brilliant Clarke-Townsend sister. Content yet not entirely complacent with her calm life, she sought adventure with a breathless wonder until it took the shape of kidnappers. But far from becoming hysterical, she used her wit and practicality to increase her likelihood of being rescued, and aided Rob on their escape. By herself, Sarah is a delightful and charming girl, but with Rob, she gave him her undying support, affection, and her soul, for his companionship and friendship. These two felt a strong affinity yet understood the demands of society and their life. The level of Rob and Sarah's mutual trust and understanding achieved throughout their journey is on par with the level of love achieve by a lesser author, and Putney took it to an even higher degree by skillfully transforming their affection into a love to be worded.
It is clear as day that Rob and Sarah could have given their lives to protect the other even halfway in the story, but it only made sweeter that final, momentous epiphany of their love achieved near the end of this tantalizing tale.
In so many words I have described my love for the entirety of this book, so I can only hope that the wisest of readers will see this shining gem of a read and savor its fantastic characters and absorbing plot.
Plot: 8/10
Characters: 10/10
Writing: 10/10
Structure: 9/10
Overall: 10/10
*ARC reviewed from the publisher via Netgalley
August 28, 2013
I cannot believe that putney wrote this. I managed to read half of the book before tossing it aside in disgust. The story is just so shallow. There is no depth, no pause, no introspection. It just lurches from one event to another. Even discovering something as huge as an illegitimate child is given a cursory treatment. The lead couple do not slow down and think what it means, there are zero emotions - oh! I have a child, ok, she will stay with me., lets move on to the next plot twist. As a reader i am completely uninvolved in the story, i feel no attachment to the couple, i am just not emotionally vested in the characters to give a damn.
Also the leads are completely mary sue. No matter what the situation, they always seem to have the requisite skill set to deal with it and the reader has to deal with useless info dumps. Ride a horse, shoot, managing a household, sailing, estate management etc. Name anything and they can do it. And they often ask each other with amazement - is there anything you cannot do? Apparently not
Rubbish book.
Also the leads are completely mary sue. No matter what the situation, they always seem to have the requisite skill set to deal with it and the reader has to deal with useless info dumps. Ride a horse, shoot, managing a household, sailing, estate management etc. Name anything and they can do it. And they often ask each other with amazement - is there anything you cannot do? Apparently not
Rubbish book.
August 20, 2021
A lot going on in this story to keep me interested. After reading about Rob in previous books, it was nice to see him get his happy ending.
April 2, 2015
Leà un capÃtulo más diciendo que lo iba a dejar abandonado después de eso, pero consiguió engancharme y lo terminé :D
Veamos, es una lectura muy tranquila, sin ningún sobresalto argumental, ni grandes conflictos con los protagonistas. No es amor a primera vista, no están locos de deseo por el otro, se gustan, se atraen y por esas casualidades de la vida ven que pueden estar mejor juntos que separados.
Es tan simple la historia que puede caer fácilmente en la denominación de sosa. Pero es lo que yo querÃa leer. Nada de drama, nada de amor a primera vista, nada de conflictos interiores. Y eso conseguà algo muy, muy simple.
Los personajes de Sarah y Rob sobre ¾±²Ô³¦°ù±ðòú±ô±ð³¾±ð²Ô³Ù±ð perfectos. Dos segundones en la vida de los demás que nunca han sentido un lugar al que pertenecer. Se han enamorado con anterioridad y han sufrido la pérdida. Inician amistad de manera inmediata, porque se caen bien, se gustan y encuentran en el otro algo que los relaja. Lo que es bueno y bonito. No precisamente mágico, pero bonito.
Sarah es, según Rob, la combinación de las dos mujeres que más ha amado en su vida. No creo que lo diga en un mal sentido, destaca sus virtudes y las resalta solo porque está en Sarah, porque es Sarah, y porque tienen un vÃnculo diferente.
Rob no estaba listo para el cambio, pero con Sarah a su lado lo ve posible. Su familia ahora se ha hecho más grande, tiene otras responsabilidades y tiene un futuro más bonito de lo que pudo imaginar. Me gusta que él no se aferre al orgullo para negar la ayuda que le ofrecen. Él no tiene reparos en admitir que necesita ese tipo de ayuda, y lo hace sin parecer un aprovechado de sus nuevos parientes ricos.
No es perfecto. No se aman a primera vista. Puede que eso los haga ver menos frente a los grandes matrimonios por amor que los han rodeado pero hace lo suyo un poco más valioso, porque han tenido la valentÃa de enfrentarse a una unión confiando y apostando en el otro. Es importante.
Para los que buscaban otra cosa, esto definitivamente es una gran decepción. Pero para mà es algo ligero y denso que atrapa después de una segunda oportunidad y entretiene.
Veamos, es una lectura muy tranquila, sin ningún sobresalto argumental, ni grandes conflictos con los protagonistas. No es amor a primera vista, no están locos de deseo por el otro, se gustan, se atraen y por esas casualidades de la vida ven que pueden estar mejor juntos que separados.
"Rob y yo perdimos a nuestros primeros amores. Eso hace que hagamos buena pareja. Nos preocupamos el uno por el otro. Confiamos el uno en el otro."
Es tan simple la historia que puede caer fácilmente en la denominación de sosa. Pero es lo que yo querÃa leer. Nada de drama, nada de amor a primera vista, nada de conflictos interiores. Y eso conseguà algo muy, muy simple.
Los personajes de Sarah y Rob sobre ¾±²Ô³¦°ù±ðòú±ô±ð³¾±ð²Ô³Ù±ð perfectos. Dos segundones en la vida de los demás que nunca han sentido un lugar al que pertenecer. Se han enamorado con anterioridad y han sufrido la pérdida. Inician amistad de manera inmediata, porque se caen bien, se gustan y encuentran en el otro algo que los relaja. Lo que es bueno y bonito. No precisamente mágico, pero bonito.
Sarah es, según Rob, la combinación de las dos mujeres que más ha amado en su vida. No creo que lo diga en un mal sentido, destaca sus virtudes y las resalta solo porque está en Sarah, porque es Sarah, y porque tienen un vÃnculo diferente.
Rob no estaba listo para el cambio, pero con Sarah a su lado lo ve posible. Su familia ahora se ha hecho más grande, tiene otras responsabilidades y tiene un futuro más bonito de lo que pudo imaginar. Me gusta que él no se aferre al orgullo para negar la ayuda que le ofrecen. Él no tiene reparos en admitir que necesita ese tipo de ayuda, y lo hace sin parecer un aprovechado de sus nuevos parientes ricos.
No es perfecto. No se aman a primera vista. Puede que eso los haga ver menos frente a los grandes matrimonios por amor que los han rodeado pero hace lo suyo un poco más valioso, porque han tenido la valentÃa de enfrentarse a una unión confiando y apostando en el otro. Es importante.
Para los que buscaban otra cosa, esto definitivamente es una gran decepción. Pero para mà es algo ligero y denso que atrapa después de una segunda oportunidad y entretiene.
July 5, 2024
A blue blooded heroine of 1813 just randomly revealing near the end of the book that she got a tattoo on her butt while she was in boarding school was probably the most surprising/ridiculous/bonkers thing out of this entire book. :/ lol Also, having the hero discover he has a surprise love child from his long lost dead lover is probably the least palatable plot twist to spring on a reader. Like... ew no.
February 13, 2017
Sarah is a twin and wants adventure. Rob is a Runner and good at adventure. He saves her from people, finds out he's an Earl, they get married, etc. etc. For all the stuff that happens, it's all very boring and flat.
1. My biggest issue with this book was the sheer laziness of the characterization and plot. So much information is left out of the narrative until it's important, which makes everything feel oh-so-handy and easy. Rob doesn't know how to run an estate? Sarah was raised like a boy! There are bad guys chasing her? She's a master marksman too! Sarah feels Feelings about boys leaving her willy-nilly? Well Rob's mother (who has already been used for maximum angst) died in childbirth! With the daughter she always wanted! So there, Feelings!
Then there's the actual plot elements: early in the novel, Rob strips Sarah naked to dry her off. Later, she refuses to get naked because he might ~see her tattoo. Umm? Upon showing up at Rob's manor, Sarah announces they are engaged. Later, his grandmother comments on how he will need to marry an heiress. Still later, she's confused when Rob and Sarah announce their engagement because 'weren't you engaged already?' Argh!
There's so many small instances of laziness like the above that I could barely make myself trudge through the entirety of the book. What's truly at stake when there's a handy twist around every corner?
2. Wow there were a lot of divergent plot bits in this book, including a lot of foreshadowed dead ends, ALL THE TROPES, and emotionally empty hero/ines.
3. This book made me retroactively hate Adam, Duke of Where-ever. He's the best dresser! Keeper of estates! Animal breeder! Husband! Political ally! Etc! Gross.
1. My biggest issue with this book was the sheer laziness of the characterization and plot. So much information is left out of the narrative until it's important, which makes everything feel oh-so-handy and easy. Rob doesn't know how to run an estate? Sarah was raised like a boy! There are bad guys chasing her? She's a master marksman too! Sarah feels Feelings about boys leaving her willy-nilly? Well Rob's mother (who has already been used for maximum angst) died in childbirth! With the daughter she always wanted! So there, Feelings!
Then there's the actual plot elements: early in the novel, Rob strips Sarah naked to dry her off. Later, she refuses to get naked because he might ~see her tattoo. Umm? Upon showing up at Rob's manor, Sarah announces they are engaged. Later, his grandmother comments on how he will need to marry an heiress. Still later, she's confused when Rob and Sarah announce their engagement because 'weren't you engaged already?' Argh!
There's so many small instances of laziness like the above that I could barely make myself trudge through the entirety of the book. What's truly at stake when there's a handy twist around every corner?
2. Wow there were a lot of divergent plot bits in this book, including a lot of foreshadowed dead ends, ALL THE TROPES, and emotionally empty hero/ines.
3. This book made me retroactively hate Adam, Duke of Where-ever. He's the best dresser! Keeper of estates! Animal breeder! Husband! Political ally! Etc! Gross.
August 29, 2013
I just finished this book. I love to read Mary Jo's books and my shelves show it. It took me a bit to shuffle the characters around in my head. After I got them in place the action took off. Sarah took the place of her pregnant twin Mariah in a kidnapping plot. Rob, a Bow Street Runner, followed her to Ireland to rescue her. After fleeing across Ireland, sailing back to England in a storm and wrecking on shore life becomes progressively crazier. Rob gets news he doesn't like. Sarah doesn't want to go home and I was on pins and needles as to if or when the bad guys were going to appear again. This book hooked me quickly. I couldn't put it down. You have to add this book to your library!
September 26, 2013
It has been four years since Mary Jo Putney started her The Lost Lords series, but it is still a bit of a culture shock to read Sometimes A Rogue and marvel at the direction the author has taken with this series. Where she was once better known for rich internal conflicts, the author is now moving towards more action-driven romance where characterization takes a back seat. The problem with this direction is evident all over this book.
First, the plot. Sarah Clarke-Townsend is the twin sister of Mariah, who starred in Loving A Lost Lord. She's the more outgoing and adventurous one, and when this story opens, she and her very pregnant sister go on a morning ride. The morning is off on a good start when Mariah goes into labor, and it gets better when Sarah overhears some men plotting to kidnap her sister. Sarah poses as her twin sister (telling those goons that she already gave birth to explain her flat stomach) and gets kidnapped in her place.
Fortunately, by now the Lost Lords have a direct line to the hero of this story: Rob Carmichael, who happens to be a Bow Street Runner. Now that it matters whether he's a runner or a jogger, because he's a super capable fellow, just like every other guy in the prestigious band of brothers. He soon locates Sarah, those two stage a getaway, their boat gets into trouble, only to conveniently land at the doorstep of his estranged grandmother who reveals that he is now a titled gentleman.
The story goes on and on, to the point that it is hard for me to give you a clear idea of the plot without giving everything away. Let's just say that many things happen, often due to unlikely circumstances or the ineptness of the villains, and throughout everything, nothing truly threatens our very capable duo. They are just so much better than the villains that it is impossible to believe that, even once, they are in danger of being bested.
Note that I said "capable", not "intelligent". Some things our duo do here can be quite... strange, let's just say. For example, Sarah rather prematurely gloats to the villains as she sails away from them that she's not Mariah but Mariah's twin sister. What's to stop the villains then from ignoring her then and going after Mariah? Didn't her action just put her sister and her sister's newborn in danger? Fortunately, our villains graduated from the Elmer Fudd school of villainy: they brag about what they want to do before they actually do something, they stumble around like bleary-eyed dolts, and they create scenarios that actually put our hero and heroine in an advantageous position.
As a result of all this, the story present in this book is pretty dull. Sarah is dull. She's feisty, she is remarkably democratic, and from the narrow range of emotions she displays throughout her escapades, I'd think she does this every other day until she's bored of the routine. I don't know how she comes to be what she is - she just is, a one-dimensional heroine sprung on me full grown with painted-by-numbers traits. It's the same with Rob: he's very capable, although not always smart, and that's about it. These two cling to some silly reasons to justify why the other person really isn't in love with him or her, despite all evidence to the contrary, so their romance offers little excitement to make up for the flat plot.
Sometimes A Rogue could have worked better if the author had gone the more "serious" route and created compelling villains and main characters with realistic strengths and weaknesses, or she could have just gone all over the top instead and have the characters kick ass in a campy and entertaining manner. As it is, this is just a dull story with inadequately developed characters muddling around in a dull plot.
First, the plot. Sarah Clarke-Townsend is the twin sister of Mariah, who starred in Loving A Lost Lord. She's the more outgoing and adventurous one, and when this story opens, she and her very pregnant sister go on a morning ride. The morning is off on a good start when Mariah goes into labor, and it gets better when Sarah overhears some men plotting to kidnap her sister. Sarah poses as her twin sister (telling those goons that she already gave birth to explain her flat stomach) and gets kidnapped in her place.
Fortunately, by now the Lost Lords have a direct line to the hero of this story: Rob Carmichael, who happens to be a Bow Street Runner. Now that it matters whether he's a runner or a jogger, because he's a super capable fellow, just like every other guy in the prestigious band of brothers. He soon locates Sarah, those two stage a getaway, their boat gets into trouble, only to conveniently land at the doorstep of his estranged grandmother who reveals that he is now a titled gentleman.
The story goes on and on, to the point that it is hard for me to give you a clear idea of the plot without giving everything away. Let's just say that many things happen, often due to unlikely circumstances or the ineptness of the villains, and throughout everything, nothing truly threatens our very capable duo. They are just so much better than the villains that it is impossible to believe that, even once, they are in danger of being bested.
Note that I said "capable", not "intelligent". Some things our duo do here can be quite... strange, let's just say. For example, Sarah rather prematurely gloats to the villains as she sails away from them that she's not Mariah but Mariah's twin sister. What's to stop the villains then from ignoring her then and going after Mariah? Didn't her action just put her sister and her sister's newborn in danger? Fortunately, our villains graduated from the Elmer Fudd school of villainy: they brag about what they want to do before they actually do something, they stumble around like bleary-eyed dolts, and they create scenarios that actually put our hero and heroine in an advantageous position.
As a result of all this, the story present in this book is pretty dull. Sarah is dull. She's feisty, she is remarkably democratic, and from the narrow range of emotions she displays throughout her escapades, I'd think she does this every other day until she's bored of the routine. I don't know how she comes to be what she is - she just is, a one-dimensional heroine sprung on me full grown with painted-by-numbers traits. It's the same with Rob: he's very capable, although not always smart, and that's about it. These two cling to some silly reasons to justify why the other person really isn't in love with him or her, despite all evidence to the contrary, so their romance offers little excitement to make up for the flat plot.
Sometimes A Rogue could have worked better if the author had gone the more "serious" route and created compelling villains and main characters with realistic strengths and weaknesses, or she could have just gone all over the top instead and have the characters kick ass in a campy and entertaining manner. As it is, this is just a dull story with inadequately developed characters muddling around in a dull plot.
August 2, 2013
What can I say about this book? It was perfect! I loved every part of it. Sometimes a Rogue was a brilliant historical romance, a truly enjoyable read.
Sarah was a very strong heroine. It was immediately evident, with her determination to protect her sister. And, it didn't end there as she faced abduction, a treacherous road back home, and a stood up to anyone in her way. I thought she was very likable and a wonderful character.
Rob was a hero with a dark past that became a good man despite it. He was a true gentleman. Incredibly sweet and intent on doing the right thing, even if it puts him in danger. I adored him. I thought he was perfect.
The romance was completely adorable! So sweet. Sarah and Rob were wonderful together. Their feelings for each other grew slowly and they were obvious every step of the way. And, there were a few sparks, thought that wasn't the main focus of their relationship. They were lovely and I adored them together.
The plot was fast paced. There were a few surprises along the way and plenty of thrills. I was hooked the entire way through. And the ending was wonderful.
Sometimes a Rogue was a fantastic historical romance. I loved every bit of it! It was just perfect. Lovers of romance, you have to read this book.
*Thanks to Netgalley and Zebra for a copy!
Sarah was a very strong heroine. It was immediately evident, with her determination to protect her sister. And, it didn't end there as she faced abduction, a treacherous road back home, and a stood up to anyone in her way. I thought she was very likable and a wonderful character.
Rob was a hero with a dark past that became a good man despite it. He was a true gentleman. Incredibly sweet and intent on doing the right thing, even if it puts him in danger. I adored him. I thought he was perfect.
The romance was completely adorable! So sweet. Sarah and Rob were wonderful together. Their feelings for each other grew slowly and they were obvious every step of the way. And, there were a few sparks, thought that wasn't the main focus of their relationship. They were lovely and I adored them together.
The plot was fast paced. There were a few surprises along the way and plenty of thrills. I was hooked the entire way through. And the ending was wonderful.
Sometimes a Rogue was a fantastic historical romance. I loved every bit of it! It was just perfect. Lovers of romance, you have to read this book.
*Thanks to Netgalley and Zebra for a copy!
July 21, 2013
Weirdly juvenile and unpolished, considering MJP is a Regency veteran who I know can do better. I was looking forward to Rob Carmichael's story, but it was way less interesting than I expected. Oh well.
December 27, 2019
Another enjoyable historical romance with mystery, spies and women who are more than capable of holding off a bad guy.
February 15, 2021
Wat een geweldige serie is dit toch !! Weer een heerlijk romantisch en avontuurlijk verhaal .
July 24, 2024
Review from 2015
C for narration / C- for content.
Last year, I read the sixth book in Ms Putney’s Lost Lords series, and was terribly disappointed in the weakness of the writing and storytelling � I gave it a C- at AAR. But I’ve listened to one or two of the earlier books in the series, so when Sometimes a Rogue (book five) came up for review, I thought I’d give it a go in the hope that had been a freak dud.
Sadly, that wasn’t the case, because Sometimes a Rogue is just as weak in terms of both storytelling and writing. I had to ask myself more than once whether this had come from the same pen that produced , and so many other historical romance “classics�, because it’s a mess of contrivance, cardboard characters and poor dialogue � and I struggled to finish it.
The story divides itself quite neatly into three different sections: the first in which our heroine is kidnapped (mistakenly) and our hero hares off to rescue her; the second, which sees the hero trying to cope with his newly ennobled status following the deaths of his father and brother, and to turn his dire financial situation around; and the third, which deals with various attempts to unsettle the hero and generally make his already difficult live even more so.
The book opens with twin sisters, Mariah, the heavily pregnant Duchess of Ashton, and her sister Sarah out for a drive on a lovely day. Passing over the question of why a very pregnant woman would want to be jogged and bounced along in a horse-drawn conveyance, the pair stop for a picnic and are suddenly targeted by some very nasty men who want to kidnap Mariah. They are members of an organisation called Free Eire, and want Mariah in order to hold some leverage over her influential husband. The ladies hide in a nearby church, and, as they’re twins, Sarah pretends to be Mariah and the kidnappers take her instead.
When Mariah is found and taken back to her home, it’s to find, by sheer coincidence, that one of her husband’s best friends � Rob Carmichael, who is most fortuitously a Bow Street Runner � has just turned up for a visit, so he hot-foots it after Sarah.
Effecting her rescue with the aid of an iron skillet (!), the pair flee and eventually make it to the coast, practically jumping into the nearest boat and heading off with their pursuers on their tails. At this point, Sarah decides it would be a good idea to effectively thumb her nose at her kidnappers and yell “nyaahh-nyaahh-nyah-nyah-nyaahh!� at them as she and Rob sail off into the sunset. Well not actually the sunset � because there’s a terrible storm brewing. Our intrepid couple are almost drowned but by a sheer fluke end up washing ashore on the south coast and practically on the doorstep of Rob’s ancestral home!
And not only that, but it turns out that as his profligate father and brother have recently died, Rob � who is very much the black sheep of the family, and whose brother so hated him that he sold him to a Press Gang several years earlier � is now the Earl of Kellington. He hates it � he doesn’t want to be a peer, and he doesn’t want to give up the life he’s made for himself, but with Sarah’s help, he comes to see that there are many people depending on him and that he really has no alternative but to assume his rightful place and do his best to repair his crumbling estate and fill the empty coffers.
Through all this, Sarah is at Rob’s side and they are forging a strong friendship � and even though they’re really, really attracted to each other, there can be nothing more than that between them because Rob’s heart belongs to a woman he loved and lost years before, and Sarah has abandonment issues.
Of course, this is a romance, so Sarah and Rob do marry � as friends of course � although given their strong attraction (we know it’s strong, because it says so in the text) it’s going to be a friends-with-benefits type of marriage. And to be fair, the one thing Rob and Sarah have going for them is their friendship; their mutual trust and understanding is an excellent basis for marriage, and that aspect of their relationship is probably the best thing about the book.
I really struggled to get through the twelve-and-a-half hours of this audiobook. The story is dull, Rob and Sarah are two likeable, capable but ultimately boring individuals who never rise above the two-dimensional, and there is almost no romantic chemistry between them at all. All the elements that normally lead to a bit of warmth in the early stages of a romance are here � sleeping rough when they’re on the run, leading to that whole “is-that-a-pistol-in-your-breeches-or-are-you-just-pleased-to-see-me?� thing in the morning; getting soaked and having to strip off; chaste kisses that don’t stay that way � left me completely cold here. The actual sex scenes are pretty lacklustre, too.
Much as it pains me to say so, the writing is cringe-making in places. For instance, upon Rob’s fortuitous arrival, Mariah’s husband greets him with: “Rob, Mariah’s sister, Sarah, has been kidnapped and someone needs to rescue her as soon as possible.� It’s like something out of a 1950s “B� movie. And sadly, that’s not the only occurrence. I had to laugh when, following the consummation of their marriage, Rob expresses the hope that he hasn’t hurt Sarah too much and she responds by telling him that “all the riding I’ve done might have made it easier.� (I shall refrain from making the obvious dirty joke!)
I’m afraid that the tedium of the story isn’t helped by Steven Crossley’s rather matter-of-fact performance. I know he has recorded a number of historical romances, but this is the first time I’ve listened to him; and while he has an attractive voice and delivers the material confidently, at times, he comes across as somewhat disconnected from the story. His narration is well-paced, he successfully maintains a number of regional British accents, differentiates well between the characters and performs the females without making them sound shrill or squeaky. It’s a technically accomplished performance, but there are times when his narrative and his interpretation of both central characters is a little � self-conscious is the only way I can find of describing it. And that’s why I can only award a C grade to the narration; Mr Crossley’s skill merits higher, but the lack of emotional involvement means that it’s a disappointing performance overall.
C for narration / C- for content.
Last year, I read the sixth book in Ms Putney’s Lost Lords series, and was terribly disappointed in the weakness of the writing and storytelling � I gave it a C- at AAR. But I’ve listened to one or two of the earlier books in the series, so when Sometimes a Rogue (book five) came up for review, I thought I’d give it a go in the hope that had been a freak dud.
Sadly, that wasn’t the case, because Sometimes a Rogue is just as weak in terms of both storytelling and writing. I had to ask myself more than once whether this had come from the same pen that produced , and so many other historical romance “classics�, because it’s a mess of contrivance, cardboard characters and poor dialogue � and I struggled to finish it.
The story divides itself quite neatly into three different sections: the first in which our heroine is kidnapped (mistakenly) and our hero hares off to rescue her; the second, which sees the hero trying to cope with his newly ennobled status following the deaths of his father and brother, and to turn his dire financial situation around; and the third, which deals with various attempts to unsettle the hero and generally make his already difficult live even more so.
The book opens with twin sisters, Mariah, the heavily pregnant Duchess of Ashton, and her sister Sarah out for a drive on a lovely day. Passing over the question of why a very pregnant woman would want to be jogged and bounced along in a horse-drawn conveyance, the pair stop for a picnic and are suddenly targeted by some very nasty men who want to kidnap Mariah. They are members of an organisation called Free Eire, and want Mariah in order to hold some leverage over her influential husband. The ladies hide in a nearby church, and, as they’re twins, Sarah pretends to be Mariah and the kidnappers take her instead.
When Mariah is found and taken back to her home, it’s to find, by sheer coincidence, that one of her husband’s best friends � Rob Carmichael, who is most fortuitously a Bow Street Runner � has just turned up for a visit, so he hot-foots it after Sarah.
Effecting her rescue with the aid of an iron skillet (!), the pair flee and eventually make it to the coast, practically jumping into the nearest boat and heading off with their pursuers on their tails. At this point, Sarah decides it would be a good idea to effectively thumb her nose at her kidnappers and yell “nyaahh-nyaahh-nyah-nyah-nyaahh!� at them as she and Rob sail off into the sunset. Well not actually the sunset � because there’s a terrible storm brewing. Our intrepid couple are almost drowned but by a sheer fluke end up washing ashore on the south coast and practically on the doorstep of Rob’s ancestral home!
And not only that, but it turns out that as his profligate father and brother have recently died, Rob � who is very much the black sheep of the family, and whose brother so hated him that he sold him to a Press Gang several years earlier � is now the Earl of Kellington. He hates it � he doesn’t want to be a peer, and he doesn’t want to give up the life he’s made for himself, but with Sarah’s help, he comes to see that there are many people depending on him and that he really has no alternative but to assume his rightful place and do his best to repair his crumbling estate and fill the empty coffers.
Through all this, Sarah is at Rob’s side and they are forging a strong friendship � and even though they’re really, really attracted to each other, there can be nothing more than that between them because Rob’s heart belongs to a woman he loved and lost years before, and Sarah has abandonment issues.
Of course, this is a romance, so Sarah and Rob do marry � as friends of course � although given their strong attraction (we know it’s strong, because it says so in the text) it’s going to be a friends-with-benefits type of marriage. And to be fair, the one thing Rob and Sarah have going for them is their friendship; their mutual trust and understanding is an excellent basis for marriage, and that aspect of their relationship is probably the best thing about the book.
I really struggled to get through the twelve-and-a-half hours of this audiobook. The story is dull, Rob and Sarah are two likeable, capable but ultimately boring individuals who never rise above the two-dimensional, and there is almost no romantic chemistry between them at all. All the elements that normally lead to a bit of warmth in the early stages of a romance are here � sleeping rough when they’re on the run, leading to that whole “is-that-a-pistol-in-your-breeches-or-are-you-just-pleased-to-see-me?� thing in the morning; getting soaked and having to strip off; chaste kisses that don’t stay that way � left me completely cold here. The actual sex scenes are pretty lacklustre, too.
Much as it pains me to say so, the writing is cringe-making in places. For instance, upon Rob’s fortuitous arrival, Mariah’s husband greets him with: “Rob, Mariah’s sister, Sarah, has been kidnapped and someone needs to rescue her as soon as possible.� It’s like something out of a 1950s “B� movie. And sadly, that’s not the only occurrence. I had to laugh when, following the consummation of their marriage, Rob expresses the hope that he hasn’t hurt Sarah too much and she responds by telling him that “all the riding I’ve done might have made it easier.� (I shall refrain from making the obvious dirty joke!)
I’m afraid that the tedium of the story isn’t helped by Steven Crossley’s rather matter-of-fact performance. I know he has recorded a number of historical romances, but this is the first time I’ve listened to him; and while he has an attractive voice and delivers the material confidently, at times, he comes across as somewhat disconnected from the story. His narration is well-paced, he successfully maintains a number of regional British accents, differentiates well between the characters and performs the females without making them sound shrill or squeaky. It’s a technically accomplished performance, but there are times when his narrative and his interpretation of both central characters is a little � self-conscious is the only way I can find of describing it. And that’s why I can only award a C grade to the narration; Mr Crossley’s skill merits higher, but the lack of emotional involvement means that it’s a disappointing performance overall.
August 27, 2013
This has it all--a fascinating gem of a read!
A dastardly kidnapping, a daring rescue alongsidetalks of love and the differences between honour and justice. The relationship between Lady Sarah Clarke-Townsend and Rob Carmichael, the Bow Street runner certainly starts with a jolt. Other nefarious deeds are waiting in the wings with the Irish fighters as central. Harrowing rides across Ireland is just the beginning.
The level of conversation between the Sarah and Rob is quite fascinating and not what one is used to in the usual regency romance. Intrigue and high adventure dog their every step, accompanied by family skeletons and family reconciliations.
Little hints concerning the stories of other of the Lost Lords has left me determined to explore the rest of this series.
I love the fact a that Sarah in many respects steps outside of the bounds of acceptable behaviour, or even knowledge for women, given the times she lives in, yet the doing of, makes her a stronger, creditable and fully believable person.
Altogether enjoyable and well worth the read.
A NetGalley ARC
A dastardly kidnapping, a daring rescue alongsidetalks of love and the differences between honour and justice. The relationship between Lady Sarah Clarke-Townsend and Rob Carmichael, the Bow Street runner certainly starts with a jolt. Other nefarious deeds are waiting in the wings with the Irish fighters as central. Harrowing rides across Ireland is just the beginning.
The level of conversation between the Sarah and Rob is quite fascinating and not what one is used to in the usual regency romance. Intrigue and high adventure dog their every step, accompanied by family skeletons and family reconciliations.
Little hints concerning the stories of other of the Lost Lords has left me determined to explore the rest of this series.
I love the fact a that Sarah in many respects steps outside of the bounds of acceptable behaviour, or even knowledge for women, given the times she lives in, yet the doing of, makes her a stronger, creditable and fully believable person.
Altogether enjoyable and well worth the read.
A NetGalley ARC
July 16, 2013
Oh my goodness - this was the best historical romance ever. This is my first experience with Mary Jo Putney. I can't wait to read more. I was in love with the novel from the first paragraph to the very end...
May 28, 2019
There’s a lot going on in this book.
There are mistaken identity twins- which leads to the heroine being kidnapped.
The hero rescues heroine and gets shipwrecked.
Hero washes ashore (injured) on his family estate to find his father and brother have died and he’s now the new earl - surprise.
Heroine says she’s hero’s fiancée because hero is unconscious. This leads to real feelings.
Hero finds out he has a daughter from his first love.
It worked for me but the plot was a bit cluttered.
There are mistaken identity twins- which leads to the heroine being kidnapped.
The hero rescues heroine and gets shipwrecked.
Hero washes ashore (injured) on his family estate to find his father and brother have died and he’s now the new earl - surprise.
Heroine says she’s hero’s fiancée because hero is unconscious. This leads to real feelings.
Hero finds out he has a daughter from his first love.
It worked for me but the plot was a bit cluttered.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2019
So very boring. It's as passionate as dry toast--zero tension.
July 9, 2013
Exciting Regency romance, #5 in the wonderful "Lost Lords" series
Sarah Clarke-Townsend is the identical twin sister of Mariah, the Duchess of Ashton. They've recently discovered each other after being separated for decades due to their father's abandoning their mother and Sarah and taking Mariah away with him when the twins were toddlers. While Sarah is visiting with Mariah, who is in the last stages of her first pregnancy and due to deliver at any moment, the two of them go alone on an early morning carriage ride and stop at a church on the Duke's estate. Sarah overhears evil men outside the church who are clearly there to kidnap Mariah and, on the spot, devises a daring scheme to save her sister. She urges Mariah to hide while Sarah pretends to be her sister. When Sarah is surrounded by rough men who have her helplessly outnumbered and demand to know where her baby is, she declares that she left the baby with a wet nurse. Not wanting to miss the chance to capture her while she is undefended, they grab her and carry her away with them. Sarah soon is very grateful that she made her plan for her sister's sake, for it is clear that Mariah and the baby would never have survived the rigors Sarah is subjected to. Her kidnappers spirit Sarah away to Ireland, and though hungry and afraid and living in physical deprivation, Sarah never gives up watching for a chance to free herself from her captors.
Meanwhile, Rob Carmichael arrives at the estate of the Duke of Ashton right after Sarah is taken. He is a long-time friend of the Duke and the younger son of an Earl. Rather than leading the idle life of a privileged aristocrat, Rob has made a career for himself as a Bow Street Runner. Because of his training, he is eminently suited to mounting a rescue attempt, and he instantly volunteers to go after Sarah. The Duke cannot go with him because Mariah is in labor, but Rob assures him this is a one-man job since he needs to be as nimble and invisible as possible if he is to have a chance of success.
When Rob eventually catches up with Sarah and the evil men holding her, he makes a bold plan to help Sarah escape, but it comes very close to disaster until Sarah offers feisty and timely assistance to Rob.
Mary Jo Putney (MJP) is justly famous for her very strong, extremely sympathetic heroines, and Sarah is a terrific addition to that remarkable coterie. It is difficult for me to choose one favorite heroine among so many that I have adored over the years as a long-time fan of MJP, but Sarah is definitely in the top tiers of my list. She never complains, no matter how difficult the conditions her captors subject her to. She is always ready to do whatever it takes to survive--and make sure that Rob or anyone else she cares about is kept safe as well. In short, she is the very best kind of protagonist. She gets into trouble because she is brave, compassionate and sacrificial.
Sarah and Rob are well matched, because he is brave, compassionate and sacrificial as well. Without offering spoilers as to specific details, I have to say that I particularly enjoyed the middle section of the book. Rob's fortunes shift drastically and the manner in which, with Sarah's influence and input, he adjusts to those circumstances is a very entertaining read. Theirs is a relationship in which we experience, every step of the way, that these two people are made for each other. They are an ideal match in temperament, outlook and personal ethics. Every romance novel implicitly claims that the protagonists are soul mates, but MJP delivers on that promise in every possible way in this moving story.
As always for MJP, the historical detail of her story is precisely and accurately done, but it is offered as a natural, seamless backdrop, never intruding on the story itself. That is, there is never any feeling in a book by MJP that we are reading a dull recitation of historical facts. Instead, we are immersed in a world as real and vivid as if we had a personal time machine that had delivered us in the midst of the colorful, Regency era.
I rate this book as follows:
Heroine: 5 stars
Hero: 5 stars
Subcharacters: 5 stars
Romance Plot: 5 stars
Action-Adventure Plot: 5 stars
Historical World-Building: 5 stars
Writing: 5 stars
Overall: 5 stars
Sarah Clarke-Townsend is the identical twin sister of Mariah, the Duchess of Ashton. They've recently discovered each other after being separated for decades due to their father's abandoning their mother and Sarah and taking Mariah away with him when the twins were toddlers. While Sarah is visiting with Mariah, who is in the last stages of her first pregnancy and due to deliver at any moment, the two of them go alone on an early morning carriage ride and stop at a church on the Duke's estate. Sarah overhears evil men outside the church who are clearly there to kidnap Mariah and, on the spot, devises a daring scheme to save her sister. She urges Mariah to hide while Sarah pretends to be her sister. When Sarah is surrounded by rough men who have her helplessly outnumbered and demand to know where her baby is, she declares that she left the baby with a wet nurse. Not wanting to miss the chance to capture her while she is undefended, they grab her and carry her away with them. Sarah soon is very grateful that she made her plan for her sister's sake, for it is clear that Mariah and the baby would never have survived the rigors Sarah is subjected to. Her kidnappers spirit Sarah away to Ireland, and though hungry and afraid and living in physical deprivation, Sarah never gives up watching for a chance to free herself from her captors.
Meanwhile, Rob Carmichael arrives at the estate of the Duke of Ashton right after Sarah is taken. He is a long-time friend of the Duke and the younger son of an Earl. Rather than leading the idle life of a privileged aristocrat, Rob has made a career for himself as a Bow Street Runner. Because of his training, he is eminently suited to mounting a rescue attempt, and he instantly volunteers to go after Sarah. The Duke cannot go with him because Mariah is in labor, but Rob assures him this is a one-man job since he needs to be as nimble and invisible as possible if he is to have a chance of success.
When Rob eventually catches up with Sarah and the evil men holding her, he makes a bold plan to help Sarah escape, but it comes very close to disaster until Sarah offers feisty and timely assistance to Rob.
Mary Jo Putney (MJP) is justly famous for her very strong, extremely sympathetic heroines, and Sarah is a terrific addition to that remarkable coterie. It is difficult for me to choose one favorite heroine among so many that I have adored over the years as a long-time fan of MJP, but Sarah is definitely in the top tiers of my list. She never complains, no matter how difficult the conditions her captors subject her to. She is always ready to do whatever it takes to survive--and make sure that Rob or anyone else she cares about is kept safe as well. In short, she is the very best kind of protagonist. She gets into trouble because she is brave, compassionate and sacrificial.
Sarah and Rob are well matched, because he is brave, compassionate and sacrificial as well. Without offering spoilers as to specific details, I have to say that I particularly enjoyed the middle section of the book. Rob's fortunes shift drastically and the manner in which, with Sarah's influence and input, he adjusts to those circumstances is a very entertaining read. Theirs is a relationship in which we experience, every step of the way, that these two people are made for each other. They are an ideal match in temperament, outlook and personal ethics. Every romance novel implicitly claims that the protagonists are soul mates, but MJP delivers on that promise in every possible way in this moving story.
As always for MJP, the historical detail of her story is precisely and accurately done, but it is offered as a natural, seamless backdrop, never intruding on the story itself. That is, there is never any feeling in a book by MJP that we are reading a dull recitation of historical facts. Instead, we are immersed in a world as real and vivid as if we had a personal time machine that had delivered us in the midst of the colorful, Regency era.
I rate this book as follows:
Heroine: 5 stars
Hero: 5 stars
Subcharacters: 5 stars
Romance Plot: 5 stars
Action-Adventure Plot: 5 stars
Historical World-Building: 5 stars
Writing: 5 stars
Overall: 5 stars
July 7, 2017
2.5 stars
The first half of this book was pretty darn good! The second half? I wanted to kill myself!!
I'm still scratching my head about the story/character development in "Sometimes a Rogue" . Although I felt that the writing in the opening chapters was something I'd read in fan-fiction with a juvenile sort of hint to it, Mary Jo Putney righted this ship and it took a surprising turn, blasting off with amazing kick and sterling potential. But just as the story was soaring and absolute joy filled my veins anticipating the many challenges facing our main characters in the coming chapters, out of the blue, it seemed like the author decided to scrap everything I came to love half-way through this book and strip the characters of the sass and heat they had in the first half!
The story was not bad. That's not my gripe. My irritation is with the characters! It felt that our dashing, roguish hero, Rob Carmichael was taken from amazing to overly brooding and stripped of all his pizzaz? WTH? And our heroine, Sarah Clarke-Townsend from a funny, likable, kick-your-butt, sassy gal to a self-pitying, resistant, unemotional mess. WTH? I repeat!!
I literally could not make sense of it! This couple was AH-MAZING in the beginning. They were well matched, they were funny, they were hot together and all of a sudden a massive glacier moved into this warm, cozy romantic paradise with the frigid air of the arctic! There's nothing more upsetting to a reader of a romance novel than to see a cooling of affections for no apparent reason! NONE!
I feel so let down by the way the author changed the characters. I didn't mind the tempo of the story line shifting but I was expecting so much more...and many more fireworks! Much more togetherness.
So let me reiterate...
Story line: Good!
Characters: Killed off by demented, delusional author!
Me: Stares into nothingness at the end of this book wondering...WTH?!!!
I would've put this on my trash shelf but the only saving grace is that Rob's story saves the day.
Read at your own risk but don't say you weren't warned!
The first half of this book was pretty darn good! The second half? I wanted to kill myself!!
I'm still scratching my head about the story/character development in "Sometimes a Rogue" . Although I felt that the writing in the opening chapters was something I'd read in fan-fiction with a juvenile sort of hint to it, Mary Jo Putney righted this ship and it took a surprising turn, blasting off with amazing kick and sterling potential. But just as the story was soaring and absolute joy filled my veins anticipating the many challenges facing our main characters in the coming chapters, out of the blue, it seemed like the author decided to scrap everything I came to love half-way through this book and strip the characters of the sass and heat they had in the first half!
The story was not bad. That's not my gripe. My irritation is with the characters! It felt that our dashing, roguish hero, Rob Carmichael was taken from amazing to overly brooding and stripped of all his pizzaz? WTH? And our heroine, Sarah Clarke-Townsend from a funny, likable, kick-your-butt, sassy gal to a self-pitying, resistant, unemotional mess. WTH? I repeat!!
I literally could not make sense of it! This couple was AH-MAZING in the beginning. They were well matched, they were funny, they were hot together and all of a sudden a massive glacier moved into this warm, cozy romantic paradise with the frigid air of the arctic! There's nothing more upsetting to a reader of a romance novel than to see a cooling of affections for no apparent reason! NONE!
I feel so let down by the way the author changed the characters. I didn't mind the tempo of the story line shifting but I was expecting so much more...and many more fireworks! Much more togetherness.
So let me reiterate...
Story line: Good!
Characters: Killed off by demented, delusional author!
Me: Stares into nothingness at the end of this book wondering...WTH?!!!
I would've put this on my trash shelf but the only saving grace is that Rob's story saves the day.
Read at your own risk but don't say you weren't warned!
May 13, 2015
This book starts out with a lot of stuff going on. A childbirth emergency, an abduction, a heroic rescue, a storm at sea, a shipwreck, an unexpected inheritance, a long-lost love child. Then there's a lot of housekeeping. A lot of housekeeping. There's a wedding. More housekeeping. The hero and heroine have an Oprah-style heart to heart about the psychological baggage they each carry from childhood that prevents them from fully giving their hearts to each other. More housekeeping. Finally, in the last few pages of the book, the villains from the original abduction return and things get exciting again. There is killing. There are declarations of love. And (SPOILER ALERT) they all live happily ever after.
At one point the heroine turns to the hero and says, "I'm seriously impressed." I'm not a historian, but I don't think this colloquialism was widely used in the Regency era. "You must allow me to tell you how I seriously admire and love you." "I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not seriously mortified mine." "It was seriously the best of times. It was seriously the worst of times." See, even in the Victorian era, it doesn't work. I could be wrong. Perhaps the OED would tell me this usage can be traced to Chaucer in 1384. I have a lot of willing suspension of disbelief going on that allows me to read romance novels in the first place, but my brain would not let go of this tiny detail. At least she didn't say she was *literally* impressed. The hero might have thought she was being forced into military service. So, yes, the writing was not always my cup of tea, but I hate to give anything less than three stars to a book that includes childbirth, abduction, daring rescue, and shipwreck in the first 100 or so pages. Bonus points for derring-do involving a pitchfork. I was seriously diverted.
At one point the heroine turns to the hero and says, "I'm seriously impressed." I'm not a historian, but I don't think this colloquialism was widely used in the Regency era. "You must allow me to tell you how I seriously admire and love you." "I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not seriously mortified mine." "It was seriously the best of times. It was seriously the worst of times." See, even in the Victorian era, it doesn't work. I could be wrong. Perhaps the OED would tell me this usage can be traced to Chaucer in 1384. I have a lot of willing suspension of disbelief going on that allows me to read romance novels in the first place, but my brain would not let go of this tiny detail. At least she didn't say she was *literally* impressed. The hero might have thought she was being forced into military service. So, yes, the writing was not always my cup of tea, but I hate to give anything less than three stars to a book that includes childbirth, abduction, daring rescue, and shipwreck in the first 100 or so pages. Bonus points for derring-do involving a pitchfork. I was seriously diverted.
August 22, 2017
Ce tome, j'ai cru qu'il ne sortirait jamais. J'adore cette série depuis le premier tome. J'y trouve un univers qui me plait, des personnages attachants.
Nous suivons donc l'histoire de Rob, aperçut dans le tome précédent et Sarah, la soeur jumelle de Mariah, l'héroïne du premier tome. Celle-ci accompagne sa soeur lors d'un balade sur le domaine d'Ashton lorsque des individus surgissent pour enlevé Mariah. Sa soeur sur le point d'accoucher, Sarah décide de se sacrifier et de prendre la place de sa soeur sans que les kidnappeurs ne le sachent.
Ce n'est pas une surprise, j'ai adoré ce tome. Ce fut un vrai plaisir de retrouver la plume de l'auteure et les hommes de la Westerfield academy. Je ne me suis pas ennuyé une seule seconde dans cette aventure rythmée et trépidante. On connaît enfin le passé du coureur de Bow street, son caractère et ses aspirations. de l'autre, Sarah est bien différente de Mariah, et j'ai beaucoup aimé cette différence. Elle rêve d'aventure, d'avoir un quotidien plus animé. Elle a beau avoir été élevé comme une jeune femme de bonne famille, elle agit comme un garçon manqué et c'est cela qui m'a plus chez elle.
Pour conclure, j'ai passé un très bon moment avec cette histoire. J'espère seulement que la suite verra le jour en français.
Nous suivons donc l'histoire de Rob, aperçut dans le tome précédent et Sarah, la soeur jumelle de Mariah, l'héroïne du premier tome. Celle-ci accompagne sa soeur lors d'un balade sur le domaine d'Ashton lorsque des individus surgissent pour enlevé Mariah. Sa soeur sur le point d'accoucher, Sarah décide de se sacrifier et de prendre la place de sa soeur sans que les kidnappeurs ne le sachent.
Ce n'est pas une surprise, j'ai adoré ce tome. Ce fut un vrai plaisir de retrouver la plume de l'auteure et les hommes de la Westerfield academy. Je ne me suis pas ennuyé une seule seconde dans cette aventure rythmée et trépidante. On connaît enfin le passé du coureur de Bow street, son caractère et ses aspirations. de l'autre, Sarah est bien différente de Mariah, et j'ai beaucoup aimé cette différence. Elle rêve d'aventure, d'avoir un quotidien plus animé. Elle a beau avoir été élevé comme une jeune femme de bonne famille, elle agit comme un garçon manqué et c'est cela qui m'a plus chez elle.
Pour conclure, j'ai passé un très bon moment avec cette histoire. J'espère seulement que la suite verra le jour en français.
February 23, 2015
Sometimes a Rogue (Sometimes a Hero) by Mary Jo Putney is a wonderful historic romance novel.
It's actually more like two stories. The first story is about how Miss Sarah Clarke-Townsend gets kidnapped and how Rob Carmichael goes to rescue her as Bow Street Runner and Sarah's sister's husband's best friend.
When half a book is through starts another story. This is a story about how Rob finds out his the new Earl of Kellington and Sarah helps him come to terms with it and Rob finds it's convenient to marry her.
Through all the book, they both think about their first loves and how they have no more love to give, but at the same time they both grow more and more fond of each other and they just do not want to admit it that they actually are in love already, not till very end. It's interesting to follow their ever growing infatuation and their acceptance of the inevitable.
It was a good, sweet and interesting love story. Although it is fifth book of the series, I didn't get the feeling that I will not understand the story right if I haven't read the previous books.
Good read!
It's actually more like two stories. The first story is about how Miss Sarah Clarke-Townsend gets kidnapped and how Rob Carmichael goes to rescue her as Bow Street Runner and Sarah's sister's husband's best friend.
When half a book is through starts another story. This is a story about how Rob finds out his the new Earl of Kellington and Sarah helps him come to terms with it and Rob finds it's convenient to marry her.
Through all the book, they both think about their first loves and how they have no more love to give, but at the same time they both grow more and more fond of each other and they just do not want to admit it that they actually are in love already, not till very end. It's interesting to follow their ever growing infatuation and their acceptance of the inevitable.
It was a good, sweet and interesting love story. Although it is fifth book of the series, I didn't get the feeling that I will not understand the story right if I haven't read the previous books.
Good read!
August 28, 2013
I wanted to like this a lot better than I did. This book is tedious. The ninny-heroine, Sarah, is happy to be kidnapped after she pretends to be her sister, Mariah, saving the pregnant Mariah from this dubious adventure. The Bow Street Runner hero, Rob, who rescues her, morphs into a newly-dubbed lord and the entire narrative goes downhill from there. Nothing much happens after that, except he tries to figure out how to be lordly, they marry out of friendship (but still lust for each other) and many many characters make cameo appearances for neither rhyme nor reason.
I received an ARE from Kensington Books via Netgalley in exchange for this honest review.
If you'd like to read a more extensive critique, please follow the link:
I received an ARE from Kensington Books via Netgalley in exchange for this honest review.
If you'd like to read a more extensive critique, please follow the link:
August 14, 2013
I loved the characters in Sometimes a Rogue. I found them endearing and charming. Their romance was sweet and I enjoyed watching it slowly develop from friendship into love. Once I started reading it was hard to put it down until I finished it. Mary Jo Putney has a way of captivating my attention from the very first page.
I have thoroughly enjoyed every one of the books in the Lost Lords series, and now eagerly await Kirklands story which is set to come next. I also enjoyed catching up with some of the main characters from the earlier books in the series. I find I want to re-read the earlier books to refresh my memory of the events that have led to this one.
I have thoroughly enjoyed every one of the books in the Lost Lords series, and now eagerly await Kirklands story which is set to come next. I also enjoyed catching up with some of the main characters from the earlier books in the series. I find I want to re-read the earlier books to refresh my memory of the events that have led to this one.
November 30, 2018
This historical romance starts with a bang. A young English noblewoman Sarah, twin sister of the Duchess of Ashton, is abducted by Irish rebels and smuggled to Ireland for the unknown but definitely nefarious reasons.
Roguish Rob Carmichael was born a younger son of an earl. Estranged from his family, he doesn’t want anything to do with his aristocratic heritage. Instead, he makes his living as a Bow Street Runner. Rob arrives at the estate of his school chum, the Duke of Ashton, to find the house in turmoil following the abduction of the duke’s sister-in-law. Rob takes it upon himself to rescue Sarah and follows her to Ireland.
The story of the rescue and their consequent flight from Ireland, with the rebels in hot pursuit, is fast-paced, exciting, and choke-full of adventures: chases, shootouts, camouflage (Sarah dressed as a boy), and a terrible storm during their passage to England.
Sadly, once they arrive in England, the excitement fizzles out, and the gallop of the previous pages slows to a snail-speed crawl. For the rest of the book � about two third of it � the story reverts to a boring romance, with nothing much happening except bits of dialog. The heroes fell in love in Ireland, so now they are just dancing a strange dance of doubts and uncertainties, where there should be none. Eventually, they do get married, and then there is a tiny spike of danger again, lasting a few pages, when the Irish try one more time to bring trouble to our protagonists just before the end of the book.
On the whole � an average romance.
Roguish Rob Carmichael was born a younger son of an earl. Estranged from his family, he doesn’t want anything to do with his aristocratic heritage. Instead, he makes his living as a Bow Street Runner. Rob arrives at the estate of his school chum, the Duke of Ashton, to find the house in turmoil following the abduction of the duke’s sister-in-law. Rob takes it upon himself to rescue Sarah and follows her to Ireland.
The story of the rescue and their consequent flight from Ireland, with the rebels in hot pursuit, is fast-paced, exciting, and choke-full of adventures: chases, shootouts, camouflage (Sarah dressed as a boy), and a terrible storm during their passage to England.
Sadly, once they arrive in England, the excitement fizzles out, and the gallop of the previous pages slows to a snail-speed crawl. For the rest of the book � about two third of it � the story reverts to a boring romance, with nothing much happening except bits of dialog. The heroes fell in love in Ireland, so now they are just dancing a strange dance of doubts and uncertainties, where there should be none. Eventually, they do get married, and then there is a tiny spike of danger again, lasting a few pages, when the Irish try one more time to bring trouble to our protagonists just before the end of the book.
On the whole � an average romance.
August 7, 2021
Fun regency
In order to save her pregnant identical twin, Sarah lets herself be abducted by a group of Irish rebels. She knows that if her deception is discovered that her life is forfeit. But she hopes that somebody will rescue her.
When he gets to his friend Adam’s manor, Rob Carmichael, Bow Street Runner and one of the lost lords, Is immediately sent to save Sarah. After tracking her down across a good chunk of Ireland, he manages to find her. But finding her and escaping clearly are two different things. And they’re going to have to work together in order to survive.
�
So this book is very much pure Mary Jo Putney. It’s got the plot that’s listed in the blurb which for the most part is resolved about a third to halfway through the book and then segues into a secondary plot which is about two people who have loved and lost before learning to love again.
A lot of the story revolves around how debts and entailment work in regency England. And it’s not the plot that the book promises but it is a fun one nonetheless. There are some high stakes here but there are also some fairly low stakes as well.
The biggest reason why I didn’t love this book as much as I like the others is that I found both Robin and Sarah to be fairly unmemorable. And I didn’t totally love that his book really felt like a redo of book two� There are a lot of the same beats and plots that existed in book 2 and I felt book 2 did it better.
That said I still enjoyed the book so it gets�
Four stars
In order to save her pregnant identical twin, Sarah lets herself be abducted by a group of Irish rebels. She knows that if her deception is discovered that her life is forfeit. But she hopes that somebody will rescue her.
When he gets to his friend Adam’s manor, Rob Carmichael, Bow Street Runner and one of the lost lords, Is immediately sent to save Sarah. After tracking her down across a good chunk of Ireland, he manages to find her. But finding her and escaping clearly are two different things. And they’re going to have to work together in order to survive.
�
So this book is very much pure Mary Jo Putney. It’s got the plot that’s listed in the blurb which for the most part is resolved about a third to halfway through the book and then segues into a secondary plot which is about two people who have loved and lost before learning to love again.
A lot of the story revolves around how debts and entailment work in regency England. And it’s not the plot that the book promises but it is a fun one nonetheless. There are some high stakes here but there are also some fairly low stakes as well.
The biggest reason why I didn’t love this book as much as I like the others is that I found both Robin and Sarah to be fairly unmemorable. And I didn’t totally love that his book really felt like a redo of book two� There are a lot of the same beats and plots that existed in book 2 and I felt book 2 did it better.
That said I still enjoyed the book so it gets�
Four stars
July 30, 2021
2021 bk 237. "Quiet, self effacing" words that describe Sarah Clark-Townsend when at heart she yearns for adventures to match her more outgoing twin. The opportunity comes when an abduction on Mariah fails because Sarah places her self in danger. Rob Carmichael, Bow Street Runner and alumni of Miss Agnes school, is in the right place at the right time and quickly swings into action to seek out and free Sarah from her abductors. This story has many slower spots in it that almost stopped me from finishing it the first time I read it - but on re-reading it I find that I had flashes of images from the tales hit my mind before I read sections. It must have made a deeper impression than I realized. There were many points where Putney took poetic license - but they made the story work.
August 21, 2022
DNF. This book had the problem that many often do. No chemistry between the characters, A bland dialogue, super predictable plot, but most importantly just descriptive rather than action oriented. Ugh. There are SO many used tropes but one that is not super common is the bow street runner/investigator type which is my favorite, so because it’s here are far too few of them, it’s such a disappointment when I don’t enjoy one!!
November 13, 2022
Fast-paced Regency romance/adventure novel. This was action-packed from the very first chapter, and alot of fun to read. It's #5 in a series. Although I hadn't read the previous books, I did understand everything in the plot. I do think I'd have enjoyed it even more, though, if I'd read the previous books because events from those books play a significant part in the story. I will be reading book #1 soon!
October 28, 2024
What an adventure! Desperate kidnappers, mistaken identity, a handsome rogue to the rescue. What more could one ask for? Well you will just have to read it and see what happens when Sarah pretends to be her pregnant twin when kidnappers catch them alone, away from the Abbey. Rob was hoping for a place to rest when he arrives at his friend’s estate, only to discover the chaos. Now he must use all his skills as a Bow Street Runner to rescue Sarah before they discover they nabbed the wrong girl.
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