The most dangerous journeys…Jeremy Pratt is a spy for the Crown, and one of the best. He had been in more dangerous situations than he can admit, and has always come out unscathed. But escorting his colleague’s cousin home to her family, even in disguise, just might be beyond his skills, and the temptation beyond his ability to withstand.May be ones of the heart…Helen Dalton is convinced … the heart…
Helen Dalton is convinced there is more to this man escorting her than meets the eye, and something familiar about him, as well. There is only one man in the world who looks at her so intensely, banters with her so easily, and makes her blush so furiously. And when he manages a daring and heroic rescue, she wonders if she ever knew him at all.
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“Was that an equation there? Happiness plus security multiplied by love equals matrimony? Because I can tell you, that’s not how it works at all.”
4.5 stars!
Rebecca Connolly has a witty, clever, and delicious way of writing that will make you laugh, ache, and feel as the characters and their relationship are being developed. This is book 4 in the London League series but can be read as a stand alone. The author does a great job of pulling in the important historical information from the previous three books so that we can understand the backgrounds of Rook’s colleagues without having to read the other books. Rook, aka Jeremy Pratt, is a spy for the Crown in 1825 England and Helen is the favorite cousin of one of his colleague’s wives. Though secretly infatuated with Helen, Jeremy can’t let his public persona slip and can’t let Helen known of his feelings since his group of spies (London League) is being threatened. Unbeknownst to Jeremy, Helen returns his feelings but feels rebuffed when he distances himself and decides to leave London. When Jeremy is tasked to bring Helen safely to her brother’s home in York, all the fun begins. There are secrets to unearth and secrets to protect, carriage chase and gunfire, heady and incredibly tender romance, heart-wrenching angst, fun dialogue, and a cliffhanger that come together to make this book one that you can’t put down.
If you enjoy Regency spy novels, you will absolutely love this one. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!
I received a copy of the book via Singing Librarian Books Tour and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
I loved the dynamic between Helen and Jeremy! It’s a bit complicated and being caught up in the middle of a dangerous mission doesn’t exactly help iron things out. Helen and Jeremy both have a deeper personality than they portray to each other during the Season, and while they shared a mutual attraction and pleasant rapport, it isn’t until they discover new aspects of each other on their journey that they truly fall in love. The banter is oh-so-fun to read and the pace of the plot is kept steady with the action and adventure. Another fabulous addition to the London League series!
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
By Hook or By Rook is the newest installment in the London League series by Rebecca Connolly. I love this series! There is a thread that continues through every book in the series, but the book can be read as a stand-alone.
Jeremy Pratt (Rook) has been interested in Helen Dalton for over a year, but it has never gone beyond some casual flirting in the ballrooms. When Jeremy is asked to protect Helen from a suspected attack during a journey to her brother, he reluctantly agrees.
Rook and Helen have a unique relationship with the fun bantering, but they also have sweet moments. During the journey, Helen threatens to kick Jeremy. In a moment of annoyance, he tells her that he will kick her back. This threat eventually turns into sweet moments with them gently kicking each other often.
“His smile, though fleeting, soothed her heart, and she hesitantly kicked his shin. His eyes remained on hers, his throat worked in a swallow, and then, very faintly, he tapped his foot against hers.”
I also loved the scene with them holding hands under the door.
“A soft sound below her caught her attention and she looked down.
The tips of a few fingers had slid under the door, resting against the floor and seeming to hold a very faint tremor in them.
Helen stared at them, still grinning, only now her eyes began to prickle with tender tears. She sniffed them back, then sighed as she laid her fingers atop his, gasping quietly when they curled against hers.
An accompanying almost gasp echoed from the other side of the door.”
Despite Jeremy and Helen finding love, things do not tie up so neatly. Rook has a dilemma of leaving the woman he loves in order to protect her.
This book is clean, however, it does have cursing.
While this book focuses on Rook, there is quite a bit of my favorite series character Gent in it. His book is the first in the series, The Lady and the Gent. If you haven’t read it yet, I highly suggest reading it.
It’s hard enough to wait between books in this series, but waiting after the end of this book might be like going through Rook’s torture.
I had the opportunity to read this one and I was so excited. I have LOVED the London League books. All are unique and have such great stories. Jeremy and Helen’s love story was awesome. It was so different, he is a spy so he can’t be his true self around the Ton of London. Helen thought there were sparks between them but Jeremy must retreat from the one woman who truly sees him through the disguise. There were some fun moments in this one. Moments you dream of in a good romance:} I love Connolly’s books because there is a light fun side and a serious side. They always pull me and make me fall in love over and over again.
Rebecca is one of favorite authors!!! This is a super fun series.
3.5 Stars
This was actually the first book in Rebecca Connolly’s The London League series I’ve read and even though it is the fourth book in the series, I did not feel at all as though I were missing out on something.
Jeremy Pratt is one person while in society and quite another when he’s alone. As a spy, his life and livelihood depend on him playing the perfect part. When he’s asked to escort Helen Dalton across England to her brother’s home, his acting skills fail him because somehow, Helen sees past his facades to the heart of him.
By Hook or by Rook is filled with intrigue, romance, and some action. And while Helen and Jeremy get their resolution, there’s enough left dangling for the reader to clamor for the next book. Lucky for me, I have a backlog in this series to tide me over!
Content warning: While this book is classified as a clean read, there are several instances of mild cursing (once or twice per chapter). According to some other reviewers, this is not the case with Connolly’s other books.
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
I enjoyed this book like I have the others in the series. I liked the main characters and rooted for them to be together. Their little flirtations were cute. Especially the shin kicking. (Doesn’t that sound romantic?) I guess I maybe should have expected it but the end of the epilogue totally surprised me. What a set up for the next book!
Maybe I’m just not remembering specifically from the other books but this one seemed to be more detailed when it came to the violent parts. I would have preferred to brush over the details instead of getting a play by play especially in that setting.
Sex: No. Some kisses.
Language: Yes.
Violence: Yes, pretty detailed.