Customer Reviews

Unmistakable Rogue, An

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I don't usually read historical romances, but I've read all of Annette Blair's books and enjoyed them very much. I like them because they entertain me in so many ways. In AN UNMISTAKABLE ROGUE there were so many times when I laughed or smiled, especially during the scenes with the children. At other times, I was left in suspense and even a little frightened, wondering what would happen next. I loved the somewhat spooky setting of a mansion with a dark secret. Underneath his rogue exterior, hero Reed Gilbride has a heart of gold--loved him! The story kept moving right along so I never got bored. The surprise ending really touched and endeared me to the heroine, Chastity Somers. All I can say is, I had a really good time reading this book and I couldn't have asked for more!

I really liked this book. I thought the story was wonderful. The characters seemed like real people to me and I was sorry when the book was finished because I wanted to know what happened next. The little kids in the story were really funny. This story was a little "steamier" than I usually read but I found I really enjoyed it. Good book if you're looking for a good story

I don't typically read historical romances, but I make the exception with Annette Blair's Rogue series. Her current, an unmistakable rouge, entertained me as thoroughly as did the two previous Rogues. This is fun, sexy, escapist fiction, what is often referred to as a "good beach read"! As with the other heros in this series, underneath his rogue exterior, Reed Gilbride has a heart of gold. There's also a bit of suspense, four mischievous children who provide plenty of laughs, a house with a dark secret, an evil villainess, lots of plot to keep the story moving, and a surprise twist as the end for heroine Chastity Somers. Wow! I loved it!

Reviewer: A reader from rochester new york
I enjoyed every moment of this book. The characters, even the children, have personality, depth and believability. There's laugh out loud fun and tears. "Chastity" is a tad too naive but the hero is all hero and quite makes up for it. This isn't your standard regency story . In fact I found the title very misleading. I read this in spite of the "usual" title and am glad that I did.

This was the third in a series by Annette Blair that I found wonderful. I found this author when I read "Thee I Love" and have enjoyed her writing ever since. Chasity and Reed were believable characters that made me want to continue turning the pages. The children, which Ms. Blair does so well, made me laugh right out loud. I found this book delightful and was thrilled to read that all of the rogues would be together again in a Christmas book. I can't wait!

Well, she did it again. Every one of Annette Blair's books are just impossible to put down and her newest is no exception. I just couldn't wait to find out how the villainess would be exposed. How the impossible situation Reed and Chastity found themselves in would be resolved, to make way for the true love (and the intense sexual tension) that they were obviously destined for. Plus, What else would those kids come up with. Everyone should have an adorable "Bekah" in their lives.

Ammette's ability to create intense attraction between her hero and heroine as well as her special gift with dialoge and plot make her one of the most original voices in fiction today. I suggest you read the first two books in this series and then join me in demanding "Where is the next rogue!"

1817 ï¿ The Cotswald, England - Chastity Somers had grown up in a convent having never known any demonstrative affection or love. When the opportunity arose, she seized the chance to leave the convent and married the kindly doctor who administered to the nuns. She was accompanying him to England to his auntï¿s and to claim Williamï¿s inheritance as the long-lost Earl of Barrington. Unfortunately, on the voyage home she became a widow then traveled to Williamï¿s aunt home to find she had also died leaving four orphans to be cared for. Chasity needed to give love as much as to receive it and embraced these children as her own though the powers to be deemed that they should be sent to an orphanage ï¿ snatching even that bit of short-lived happiness from her. In her attempts to steal them from the orphanage, she would accidentally meet Reed.

Reed Gilbride, Waterloo hero and unmistakable rogue that he was, grew up the oldest in a household with twelve other children and reminded daily, that he was there on sufferance and did not belong to them ï¿ consequently he grew up ï¿unlovedï¿ and leery of forming any attachments. He may have helped Chastity, only because she happened to land on him as she fell off a roof but that was all ï¿ he would help her to find her way and then heï¿d get down to his business ï¿ to claim HIS inheritance as the long-lost Earl of St. Ives. Chastity had convinced the executor to let her start a home for children on the estate if Reedï¿s claim could not be proven. Reed had three months to find the proof he needed, otherwise the earldom would be extinct and the estate would be turned over to ï¿Sisterï¿ Chastity. As both Reed and Chastity fought their growing attraction to one another, an old evil came back to finish the job of annihilating the St. Ives line.

This was such an amazingly touching love story, made all the more so by the most beautiful and sweet portrayals of the ï¿band of brigandsï¿, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Becka. The children will touch your hearts just as they accomplished melting the block of ice that had formed around Reedï¿s. The author used Becka, the little three-year-old girl, brilliantly and she will have you both laughing and sobbing at times. The madness of the villain in the story will also have you chewing your fingernails as the danger grows in proportion to the budding love story. This was an outstanding story and the writing and plot were terrific. I highly recommend this book and will be looking to find the first two books of this rogue series by this author.

Married and then suddenly widowed, Chastity Somers intended to claim her bridegroom's inheritance as the long-lost St. Yves, Earl of Barrington, heir. She planned to use the estate, Sunnyledge, to run a children's home. She "rescued" her husband's four relatives (3 nephews and 1 niece) from a workhouse prison and dashed off to see the estate's solicitor, Mr. Sonnett. She must wait three months to claim the estate. If the other heir did not show up with proof of his identity by then, the estate would belong to Chastity!

Reed Gilbride believed himself to be the other long-lost heir. He believed the proof he needed was somewhere within Sunnyledge. With only a short time to locate proof he became the caretaker. The instant he found what he needed, the tempting lady and her brigand-brats would leave! But even though Reed went looking for his heritage, he never expected that he would find salvation!

***** As usual, Annette Blair has written an intense romance that will leave her readers begging for more! The villainess is one that is obviously insane and extremely wicked. I loved to hate the character, which proves the author's wonderful talent! The children and their antics kept me laughing while they easily melted Reed's icy heart.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Excellent! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch.

. . . but though I enjoyed this book, I can't give it 5 stars. This third in the author's "Rogues Club" series follows the pattern of her prior two stories (UNDENIABLE & UNFORGETTABLE) which are really more about the coming together of a family than any wild roguish adventures.

Reed Gilbride has always known that the people who raised him were not truly his parents, so when he receives an anonymous letter telling him that he is the lost heir to the earl of Barrington, he's determined to find out once and for all who he really is. And if that means a title and an estate in the bargain, well so much the better!

Chastity Somers was briefly married to another recipient of an identical letter, and though William Somers died on the trip from France, Chastity is determined to complete his mission. She wants to turn the Barrington estate into a children's home - especially after meeting William's four young orphaned cousins who she takes into her care. And if no other legitimate heir comes forward by the 20th anniversary of the old earl's death, the house will belong to her. So when Reed shows up, she's more than wary. He's handsome, masculine, loathes children and has a similar claim that threatens her plans. But the house needs repairs and she'll need help providing for the children so she agrees to let him say on as a caretaker.

And he certainly does take care of them, teaching them to plant crops, milk the cow, cook and generally take care of themselves (he grew up the oldest child on a farm) and somewhere along the way, they all bond with children and adults becoming dangerously attached. But there is someone behind the scenes that threatens their tranquility and their lives in the name of revenge. And what happens if Reed finds the proof he needs to back up his claim? Will Chastity and the children simply move on somewhere else? And if he doesn't find proof, will he simply walk away and leave them - will they let him?

There were some very sweet, funny, scary and sexy moments in this book, but there were also places where it dragged or went off course (the balloon episode seemed particularly pointless) and I found my attention wandering. And the whole "I love you but we can never be together" thing got a bit old. But the children were charming and the romance between Chastity and Reed was sweet and hot! Reed was a particularly likeable hero, funny, sardonic, sexy and strong. Chastity was kindhearted, sweet and naïve to the point of sometimes coming off as a ditz.

On the whole an enjoyable read with a nice family dynamic - something this author does particularly well. I just think the rest of the story could have been a bit better, tighter. But fans will likely disagree and love it anyway.

1817 ï¿ The Cotswald, England - Chastity Somers had grown up in a convent having never known any demonstrative affection or love. When the opportunity arose, she seized the chance to leave the convent and married the kindly doctor who administered to the nuns. She was accompanying him to England to his auntï¿s and to claim Williamï¿s inheritance as the long-lost Earl of Barrington. Unfortunately, on the voyage home she became a widow then traveled to Williamï¿s aunt home to find she had also died leaving four orphans to be cared for. Chasity needed to give love as much as to receive it and embraced these children as her own though the powers to be deemed that they should be sent to an orphanage ï¿ snatching even that bit of short-lived happiness from her. In her attempts to steal them from the orphanage, she would accidentally meet Reed.

Reed Gilbride, Waterloo hero and unmistakable rogue that he was, grew up the oldest in a household with twelve other children and reminded daily, that he was there on sufferance and did not belong to them ï¿ consequently he grew up ï¿unlovedï¿ and leery of forming any attachments. He may have helped Chastity, only because she happened to land on him as she fell off a roof but that was all ï¿ he would help her to find her way and then heï¿d get down to his business ï¿ to claim HIS inheritance as the long-lost Earl of St. Ives. However, to his dismay, in order to prove his claim, Reed would be forced to work hand in hand with Chastity ï¿ and her band of brigands ï¿ to search the house for proof of her claim. Chastity had convinced the executor to let her start a home for children on the estate if Reedï¿s claim could not be proven. Reed had three months to find the proof he needed, otherwise the earldom would be extinct and the estate would be turned over to ï¿Sisterï¿ Chastity. As both Reed and Chastity fought their growing attraction to one another, an old evil came back to finish the job of annihilating the St. Ives line.

This was such an amazingly touching love story, made all the more so by the most beautiful and sweet portrayals of the ï¿band of brigandsï¿, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Becka. The children will touch your hearts just as they accomplished melting the block of ice that had formed around Reedï¿s. The author used Becka, the little three-year-old girl, brilliantly and she will have you both laughing and sobbing at times. The madness of the villain in the story will also have you chewing your fingernails as the danger grows in proportion to the budding love story. This was an outstanding story and the writing and plot were terrific. I highly recommend this book and will be looking to find the first two books of this rogue series by this author.