Hide your daughters and your maiden aunts…Lord Samuel Travis is back. –The London Hearsay, special society edition Equal parts scoundrel and seducer, he’s returned to London determined to mend the rift with his older brother. All Sam must do is take possession of a tumbledown town house. A seemingly simple task, except the house is occupied–by an infuriating, whip-smart beauty who refuses to … infuriating, whip-smart beauty who refuses to do his bidding.
Miss Juliette Lacey’s wallflower days are over. She has a plan to turn her eccentric family into the toast of the ton–but the devilishly handsome rake trying to oust them from their home thwarts her at every turn. How can one man be so vexing and make her simmer with desire?
As her attraction to Sam deepens, Julie’s problems grow–she may have, once upon a time, secretly shared a kiss with his honorable older brother. Suddenly, Julie’s caught between a rogue and a marquess, between passion and respectability. Torn between two brothers, what’s a girl to do?
Don’t miss the Wayward Wallflower books by Anna Bennett!
My Brown-Eyed Earl (Book 1)
I Dared the Duke (Book 2)
The Rogue is Back in Town (Book 3)
What Reviewers are saying:
“Fans of Regency romance authors Eloisa James, Tessa Dare, and Mary Jo Putney will go wild for…Bennett’s Wayward Wallflowers trilogy.” – Booklist Starred Review on The Rogue is Back in Town
“A standout historical romance novel…truly delightful.” – Romancing the Book Worm on The Rogue is Back in Town
“Smart and sassy romance…simply a joy!” – RT Book Reviews Top Pick on The Rogue is Back in Town
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3.75 stars rounded up to 4
I have read and enjoyed the other books in this series and was really looking forward to this one. While I enjoyed the basic story, I didn’t think it was nearly as good as the first two books nor did I really like it as the end for the series. There is a nice last chapter that brings them all together for a nice Christmas. There were just so very many improbable things in the book that I had a really hard time ‘believing’. I do have to say though – I think that if the author had included a scene with a horrifically tragic carriage (or horse) accident with a lone victim (Nigel) who was gruesomely injured and suffered horribly before finally succumbing to his injuries – I would have given it a 5-star rating. Sorry – can you tell I didn’t like Nigel?
People are not always who you think they are, and that is the case of the two brothers in this book. Nigel Travis, Marquess of Currington, is the epitome of propriety, honor and good character – at least that is what everybody, including his brother, believes. You’ll discover that he is a scoundrel of the worst sort. Samuel Travis (constantly incorrectly referred to as Lord Travis) is a real scoundrel and rake – always drunk and debauched. That is true – but the REAL Sam is kind, loving and considerate. He just doesn’t have anything to give him a direction in life and since he has been labeled as a ‘bad’ boy most of his life, he figures he might as well live up (or down) to it. He got that ‘bad’ label because he often took the blame for things Nigel did. We hear about another person that we don’t actually meet, who cannot be who we think he is. That person is the father of Nigel and Sam. He knew Nigel was the heir and there is no way that he didn’t know the kind of person Nigel was, yet he didn’t leave Sam anything other than a watch. I know he died unexpectedly, but those people made wills at the drop of a hat and there is no way a loving, caring father would have already made a provision for his younger son. The father has only been dead for a year when this story takes place, so I’m sure he would have provided – just sayin’.
The first two books in the series saw Miss Juliette Lacey’s older sisters find love and happiness. Julie is happy for them and wants the same for herself, but has almost given up. She did share a kiss with a man on a balcony and thought herself ‘in love’ and thought he returned her affection. However, he never called or even sent a note afterward. Obviously, much to her embarrassment, she was incorrect in thinking he cared. Now, her full focus is on caring for her elderly, eccentric uncle who took her and her sisters in when their parents died. She is very self-confident, stubborn and totally accustomed to getting her own way, so when trouble comes her way, she is absolutely certain she can handle it all by herself. A number of reviewers have referred to her as TSTL, but I think it is more naiveté that stupidity.
The story opens with Sam’s valet rousing him from a drunken stupor because Nigel had demanded to see him immediately. Nigel is very, very displeased with Sam – to say the least. Sam has only just returned from banishment to the continent and has already returned to his drunken and debauched ways. Last night was enough – he’d entered the wrong house and crawled into what he thought was his bed, but was really the bed of a septuagenarian neighbor. Nigel demands that Sam leave the house immediately – no bathing, no breakfast, no packing – nothing. In order to get back into Nigel’s good graces, Sam is required to evict the people living at one of his London properties. Simple enough task – right? Not so. Circumstances are not what they seem.
The occupants of that property are Julie and her uncle and they have lived there for decades. Julie is sure the property belongs to her uncle and is not kind to the man who is at her door demanding that they vacate the property. She wants to see proof that Nigel owns the property – and Sam refuses to leave until they vacate. So they are at a standstill and the story develops from there. I won’t go over it because that would spoil the read for you.
There are a number of things I found totally improbable in this book – I mentioned a couple above, but I’ll list some here:
• Sam’s father would not have left him totally at the mercy of Nigel. He would have had some provision in the will – even if it was an old will.
• Why would a peer of the realm hire dock workers to manhandle his own brother when it wasn’t necessary – I mean – what Sam did certainly didn’t warrant that.
• Why in the world would Nigel insist that Julie wasn’t ‘worthy’ for him to marry – one sister married a duke and the other an earl and she is the daughter of an earl.
• Why would he instantly offer marriage when she refused his request to be his mistress?
• Any rational person, who was threatened with losing their life-long home, would immediately seek help from any high-powered, influential, rich relatives they had. Why wouldn’t Julie? She was a whole lot more cooperative than I would have been to some stranger who showed up at my door trying to evict me from my home.
Through all of the books, Uncle Alistair has been my favorite character. I picture him looking like Albert Einstein with the white puffy, messy hair. He’s the quintessential absent-minded professor and he is always using incorrect words in sentences. You’ll just love him. One of the things he says in this book is “Young people often fail to inebriate what a precious commodity time is.” I often found myself re-reading his sections – just in case I missed one of his misuses.
Please see my reviews of the first two books at:
My Brown-Eyed Earl
I Dared The Duke
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“I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”
I really, really wanted to love this book, but I just didn’t – I liked it, but it was just not as good as the previous books and felt a bit contrived.
Juliette Lacey aka Julie is the last of the “Wilting Wallflowers” still living with her uncle. Her sisters have made spectacular matches and gone to live with their husbands. Julie is happy for her sisters but she is also a little jealous, she wants to find the love of her life like they did and thought that maybe she had, but apparently it was not meant to be. So for now she is happy caring for her uncle Alistair. She is a little worried that he has become more confused lately and has started having conversations with his late wife. But, she is sure it is just because of all the changes going on lately and doesn’t want to bother her sisters about it.
Lord Samuel Travis aka Sam (and erroneously addressed as Lord Travis) has finally pushed his brother Nigel, the Marquess of Currington too far. His brother summons him and tells him that he is finished with him, but he will give him one final chance to redeem himself. Nigel has learned that he inherited a house and wants the occupants kicked out immediately. Sam will see to this task and will not be welcomed home until it is done. His brother has hired “help” to see that Sam leaves immediately.
Sam wants to mend the rift with his brother so he agrees to evict the occupants and figures he will be home in time for luncheon. But Sam is not prepared for Julie….
Julie refuses to leave and wants proof that the house belongs to Nigel. Sam has nowhere to live until he gets Julie and her uncle out of the house, so he refuses to leave. Julie agrees to let Sam stay – but she has conditions, like her uncle cannot know why he is there and if he leaves the house, he can’t come back. Sam agrees. He writes to Nigel and tells him Julie wants to see the deed. What Sam doesn’t know is that Nigel is the man that Julie had thought might be “the one”.
Neither of them seem to realize that they are being played by a master manipulator. Nigel is a total jerk and tries to make Julie his mistress, first by pretending that he didn’t know she lived in the house and then later by blackmail – threatening to ruin her by revealing that Sam was staying with her.
Sam is a really good guy who lives for pleasure, basically because he has nothing else to do – but after spending time with Julie and Alistair, he decides it is time for him to find his calling. He wants Julie, but he has nothing to offer her and he truly wants to be worthy of her. I liked Sam, he is not perfect, but he is loyal and kind. How he and Nigel came from the same gene pool is a mystery.
Julie was just TSTL, seriously, I wanted her to marry Sam, but I am not sure it would be a good idea for someone that stupid to procreate. She is threatened with ruin and eviction, but she doesn’t contact either of her very rich, very powerful brother in laws – because she doesn’t want to “bother” them? Are you effing kidding me? The entire plot just seemed implausible and contrived.
I didn’t hate the book, but after reading the first two, I expected a strong finish to the series and was sorely disappointed. The writing is ok, the love scenes steamy, the pace was good and Sam is to die for, but the story is weak and certainly not on par with the previous books. If you have read the first two books, then by all means, read this story. But if you are just starting with this author, do yourself a favor and read My Brown-Eyed Earl or I Dared the Duke instead of this book.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an uncorrected eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher*
The story and the characters are blah. I kept telling myself, the story is going to get better. In the future, when my instincts tell me to stop reading, I’m going to listen.
A very enjoyable ending to the series.
4.25 stars
Lord Samuel Travis is always in the gossip columns as equal parts scoundrel and seducer, he’s returned to London determined to mend the rift with his older brother Nigel, The Marquis of Currington . All Sam must do is take possession of a tumbledown town house. A seemingly simple task, except the house is occupied. Miss Juliette Lacey’s wallflower days are over then the devilishly handsome rake trying to oust them from their home thwarts her at every turn.
As her attraction to Sam deepens, Julie’s problems grow—she may have, once upon a time, secretly shared a kiss with his honourable older brother. Suddenly, Julie’s caught between a rogue and a marquis, between passion and respectability. Torn between two brothers but which one is honourable & which one is the scoundrel.
This is the third in the series but stands on it’s own, there are a few references to the other two Lacey sisters. I’ve enjoyed the whole series & had eagerly awaited this book to see Julie have her HEA. Sam is lovely, gorgeous, of course but more than that he was so kind & caring. Julie annoyed me at times but she is a strong character. The chemistry between the pair sizzles & the temperature rises whenever they are together. A well written page turning novel that I thoroughly enjoyed & I look forward to more books from the author
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Lord Samuel Travis, brother of Marquess of Currington, is famous for being a rake.
He had been sent to the Continent for 6 months, but when he arrived in London he was already involved in scandal.
Tired of the unruly life of his younger brother, Nigel expels him from home with a mission: to make the residents of a certain house in London, whom he had inherited from his father with the title, leave because he had a great offer of sales.
Without a choice, Sam goes there.
Residents of the house are Lord Wittmore, known for being an eccentric man, and his youngest niece, Miss Juliette Lacey.
Juliette and her sisters, now married, were raised by Uncle Alistair after their parents died in a carriage accident.
He was the only one in the family who was willing to keep the three sisters together.
That house, where he had lived for more than twenty years, was everything to him. There, he had the memories of his wife, aunt Elspeth.
When Julie knows from Sam that they would have to move, she would do anything to prevent her uncle’s unhappiness.
She wanted proof that Sam was telling the truth.
This would take time because he could not go back to his brother’s house. He would have to send a message.
The two decide to enter into an agreement until everything is cleared up. Meanwhile, Sam would stay with them, and pretend to be an assistant for Uncle Alistair’s research.
As the days go by, Sam and Julie feel that the attraction between them increases, but Julie has some secrets kept, and when Sam discovers them, the whole situation about the house and the inheritance can change.
The plot has an interesting mystery and characters that made me feel sorry or disgusted. And it gives the main male character the opportunity to redeem himself.
The pace is good.
Great reading to start the year.
4 stars
The rogue, Lord Samuel Travis, is back in town!!!
But he gets thrown out from the family home and
financial cut off by his brother, Nigel the marquess,
due to Sam’s behavior.
To obtain good standing with his brother, the rogue is
tasked with evicting the people from a certain property.
Easy task or so Sam thinks…..he believes he will be
able to quickly evict the occupants and get back into
his brother’s graces.
Upon arrival at the property, Sam is in for a huge turn
of events!!
It is occupied by an eccentric uncle and his niece,
Miss Juliette Lacey.
Julie flat out refuses to leave the property. She is an
unexpected spitfire who will do anything to protect
family and their property.
There is undeniable chemistry between Julie and the
rogue but a task is a task and since they will not leave..
Sam moves in with them.
Meanwhile the marquee purses Julie. He gives her an
option or how to protect her family. Who should she
trust??
There rogue decides to leave the property to rethink his
life. Is it too late for Sam to reform, get an honest job
plus win Julie’s heart from his brother??
The main characters plus the supporting characters
were well fleshed out, realistic, relatable and very well
defined.
Talented descriptive writing made me part of all the action
taking place around me.
The intricately woven story with many unexpected twists
and turns that will delight and entertain the reader.
I volunteered to read The Rogue Is Back in Town. Thanks
to St Martin Press via NetGalley for the opportunity.
My opinion is my own.
The Rogue is Back in Town by Anna Bennett, book three in her Wayward Wallflowers series, is Juliette’s, the youngest of the Lacey sisters, story. She stands her ground when scoundrel and rogue Sam Travis tries to oust her and her uncle from their town house. Sam is only doing his older brother, the Marquee’s, bidding as he attempts to once again end their rift. Julie’s attraction to Sam grows and surpasses what she thought she felt for the Marquee. However, the brothers are not really all they seem to be; as one is only polite in the public while the other is truly kind and caring. With both brothers wanting her, Julie needs to decide between passion and respectability, between a rogue and a marquee. Whatever shall she do?
I really enjoyed reading this book but struggled with the pacing at a few places. I did love how Ms. Bennett created Juliette as a strong, single woman, especially for the times, who stood her ground for her family. Also, she did an excellent job showing the growth, changes, and realizations of Sam, as well as describing Nigel’s true colors. I can definitely recommend this book to other readers.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
Most enjoyable end to the Wayward Wallflowers series, which involved three sisters and their struggles to find a place in the world. The third novel has an intriguing element — the relationship of two brothers. One, a fine marquis and the other, a scoundrel. We see Juliette Lacey butt heads with the rogue, Samuel, while trying to stave off eviction. The road to happiness is not smooth (that’s why it’s a great read) and we learn much about appearance vs. reality, with Juliette finally reaching beneath the surface to find her true love. She is a naive heroine, capable of great love but also foolish choices, which made me enjoy the book a tad less than I otherwise would have. The creation of a great villain saved it for me, and I enjoyed seeing all three sisters live HEA. (I received a complimentary copy of this book on NetGalley. Review is mine.)
The Rogue is Back in Town is the first book I have read by Anna Bennett and has inspried me to read more of her stories, especially the stories of the other two Wayward Wallflowers about Juliette’s two sisters. The author’s characters are very likeable and this story flowed very well. I always enjoy reading about characters redeeming themselves and Lord Samuel Travis definitely needed redemption. I also really enjoy female heroines who are strong, steady and indepentdent. Juliette Lacey is those things and more. Author Anna Bennett added lots of fun and interest with her characterization of Juliette’s Uncle Alistair. He is such a quirky, yet lovable character. The interaction between Sam and Juliette kept me turning the pages and I adored them as a couple.
Anna Bennett has now earned a spot on my “Must Read” authors list!
Heartwarming and surprising! I really enjoyed this story with several twists and turns. Lord Samuel Travis is the second son of a Duke and has always been at odds with his older brother. Now that there father has died, Sam returns home but soon his brother is fed up with him due to his debauchery. He gives him one last chance to redeem himself by throwing out the tenants of a house he owns so that he can sell it. Well as things often goes, the residents of the home, Miss Juliette Lacey and her uncle are not what he expects and he is persuaded by Julie to give her some time. Then the fun starts or rather the confusion begins!! The characters and dialogue kept me entertained and I did enjoy the storyline. Seeing the emotions build between Sam and Julie had humor and strong attraction with Sam determined to do better for himself. In the end, Love does find a way but you will be delighted at the path it takes to get there!!
The Rogue is Back in Town by Anna Bennett
Wayward Wallflowers Series #3
Love it or hate it – that is what readers will probably decide once they finish this book. As I read I had the feeling I was reading what could have been seen in a silent movie or the Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoons with the evil Snidely Whiplash, Dudley Do-Right and Nell Fenwick. I had trouble with the believability of this story even though I really did try.
Samuel Travis was the rogue sent out by his marquis brother to evict poor Juliette and her uncle from their home. Samuel is trying to redeem his name and improve the way his brother and society see him. Juliette’s sisters are busy with other things and married to men with rank in society while she stays home to tend her eccentric uncle. Nell has kissed Sam’s brother Nigel and thought he would ask to court her…he has other plans for her entirely. Sam and Nigel find Juliette a tasty morsel but only one will end up with her by his side in the end.
I am conflicted on this one…I wish it had been better…and again…if it could be made into a cartoon or silent movie it might do well…
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.
2-3 Stars
Lord Samuel Travis is a rogue and a wastrel. He has been drinking and womanizing even more since the death of his father. His older brother has had enough, and gives him a task to prove he is good for something. What starts as an unpleasant task will soon make an honourable man of him.
Miss Juliette Lacey is the last of the “Wilting Wallflowers ” unmarried. Her sisters have happily found wonderful husbands. Juliette is left to look after her adored Uncle Alistair. He is a rather unusual man. Unfortunately someone is about to turn her life upside down with some terrible news. She wants to try and solve this problem without disturbing her sisters and their husbands.
A fun, historical romance with wonderful characters and a captivating story line. Just when you think you know what’s going to happen, you find you don’t.
This is part of a series but each book can be read alone. They are all great fun. I have loved all of them.
Mischievous meets scandalous and breeds marvelous. The Rogue is Back in Town is meant to be lighthearted fanfare, but every once in a while there are moments that hit you in the heart and are reluctant to let go. For the love of her family Julie will risk it all, heart, pride and freedom. For the respect of his family Sam will try his hand at responsibility. Neither plan works in their favor, but each learns something along the way. How to fall in love. Anna Bennett wrapped me in knots with her frustrating, clueless, heartwarmingly irresistible couple.