A Remarkable Rogue by Anna Harrington Series: Lords of the Armory #5
on July 26, 2022
Genres: Fiction / Historical / General, Fiction / Romance / Historical / Regency
Pages: 360
Format: eBook
Source: ARC
In the dangerous and glittering world of Regency England, no one is safe until you know who to trust.
Baroness Sydney Rowland has spent a lifetime keeping secrets. Now that the husband she despised is dead, she'll do anything to get her young son back and protect him however she can. And that includes risking her life when she's coerced into working for a revolutionary group determined to overthrow the government.
Captain Nathaniel Reed has heard of Sydney's involvement with Scepter. He's determined to keep the secretive widow at arm's length despite the attraction that burns between them. But when she turns to him for help, nothing will stop him from coming to her aid...
"Steamy and luscious. My favorite kind of historical!"—GRACE BURROWES, New York Times bestselling author, for Dukes Are Forever
"A touching and tempestuous romance, with all the ingredients Regency fans adore."—GAELEN FOLEY, New York Times bestselling author, for Dukes Are Forever
"Action, suspense, seduction."—Library Journal Starred Review for An Inconvenient Duke
I’ve bounced around with Harrington’s work but I have to admit the blurb dragged me in for this one. I love a delicious dose of mystery and intrigue with my historical romance and Spectre had plenty of that to offer in A Remarkable Rogue. The secret society tension translating into urgency within the romance… Truly, it was my favorite part of the book. Well, at least, when Nathaniel wasn’t shirtless and pouring water over his head. Yum.
As far as heroes go, Nathaniel Reed is a dream boat! He is sweet, protective, and just the right amount of savior complex to make him a compelling character. I’m not a big fan of the first love/marriage as an obstacle but I will forgive him if he just pours more water…
Sydney felt a little… bland in comparison? Outside of her interactions with Nathaniel, I have a hard time pinning her down. Adding in deceased lover, hateful and abusive deceased husband, and some (personally dreaded) secret child-angst? I just couldn’t get on board with Sydney which is a shame because I loved the feigned confidence in the beginning! Maybe she was truly brave. Or just doing things scared like the rest of us.
A Remarkable Rogue raced along a la runaway bride, the romance never getting a chance to settle into something deeply romantic for me. Typically, I don’t complain about fast pacing but in this instance it impacted my enjoyment. I probably wouldn’t have minded if I liked both characters, but I couldn’t really see the appeal of Sydney. I was miffed that Nathaniel was so hung up on her.
The intrigue kept me reading even when Sydney’s bravery pulled a vanishing act and had me gnashing at the teeth. I might have also been waiting for another thirsty scene with Nathaniel the entire book. Overall, this was a solid read even with the heroine not being my favorite.
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.