“Something special.” – New York Times Book ReviewA New York Times Book Review Summer Read Pick!Once upon a time in Anna Bennett’s When You Wish Upon a Rogue, three young ladies vowed to record their first London seasons and to fill in the gaps of their educations.She knows what she wants.Miss Sophie Kendall is happiest arranging the secret meetings of the Debutante Underground, a group of women … arranging the secret meetings of the Debutante Underground, a group of women who come together to discuss the weekly advice column The Debutante’s Revenge. What makes Sophie most unhappy is her impending march down the aisle to a man she does not love. But her family’s finances are in increasingly dire straits.
He makes an offer she can’t refuse.
Henry Reese, Earl of Warshire, hasn’t slept in weeks. Desperate to escape his manor house and its haunting memories, he heads for one of his abandoned London properties. There he meets a beautiful, intriguing woman—trespassing. Reese is far less interested in Sophie’s search for a secret meeting spot than he is in her surprising ability to soothe his demons. So he strikes a bargain with her: his shop in exchange for spending one night a week with him.
Is this love for real—or just a dream?
Sophie never expected this to happen. But she cannot deny the fire Reese sparks in her—and soon their shared desire burns bright. Sophie is irrevocably promised to another. But maybe these two ill-fated lovers can find a way to risk it all—all the way to happily ever after…
“Sparkling.” – Publishers Weekly on When You Wish Upon a Rogue
“Fans of…Eloisa James, Tessa Dare, and Mary Jo Putney will go wild.”—Booklist
more
I love a good Regency romance. Actually, I love to read everything so my tastes are all over the place. But a Regency romance fitted in between the thrillers and mysteries and biographies and war novels provides the perfect escape to a world where you can’t help but fall in love with the characters – even if they are rogues or scoundrels to begin with – and where you can’t turn the pages fast enough to get to that happy-ever-after ending, but at the same time want to stay in this world with these people forever.
When You Wish Upon a Rogue is the third entry in author Anna Bennett’s Debutante Diaries series, but it’s the first one I’ve read and it was just fine as a standalone. It’s sweet and delightful and will make you smile. It’s fast paced and deliberate at the same time, if that makes sense, giving you rich detail about the setting and characters so you feel you know them well and are right at home with them and feel their anxiety and pain. Reese is irresistible – tragic, grumpy, sad but a romantic at heart. Just what Sophie needs and wants in her heart of hearts. Except she’s already almost promised to another and Reese can’t have her. Even if he was suitable, which he is not. He’s definitely not a society favorite.
Another joy about reading a Regency romance is that you get to visit a time and place where women are constrained, restrained, and bossed around, but our heroine is generally strong willed, determined, adventurous and perseveres. We get to spend time in that place so different from our own, glad we’re not her and oh so happy for her victory in the end.
Sophie and Reese and all the supporting characters are rich and full and engaging, even if some of them are villains. Thanks to St. Martin’s for providing an advance copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own. I thoroughly enjoyed When You Wish Upon a Rogue and recommend it without hesitation. I can’t wait to read the next story in the series and go back and catch up with what I’ve missed.
This was a well-written, entertaining book. Sophie enjoys being independent, but her family’s fortunes are in dire straits and she is expected to marry to solve them. Harry encounters Sophie one evening and finds her to be intriguing and different from anyone else he knows. They make a bargain to spend one evening a week together and find themselves more and more drawn to each other as time passes. The story was interesting and fast-paced. I didn’t want to put it down. I enjoyed this book and would read other books by this author.
This has become high on the list as one of my favorite historical romances. It had lots of emotions (there was leakage from my eyes on quite a few occasions). A tortured Earl, Reese, who has many demons, you can’t help but instantly fall for him and hope he slays those demons. A young caring woman, Sophie, with ideals & thoughts, who cares so much about everyone, and usually puts them before herself. When they meet, at first, he’s just a grumpy man & she’s the one who helps him. From there it turns into so much more. And the more they get to know each other, the more you fall in love with the idea of them being together. He loves her but is torn up by recent tragedies. She loves him but is duty bound to another for her families sake. And as you read you hope they find a way to make it to each other in the end. Completely in love with this!
This was one of those reads that everything just seemed to fit together beautifully to create a perfect storm of reading goodness. The storyline was fun and well written, the main characters were complex and lovable and the connection and chemistry between them was spot on. Sophie was clever, kind and sassy. I thought she was a really great character. She was definitely not your typical historical heroine. As for Reese, he was totally swoon worthy but also made my heart ache because of his troubles and vulnerabilities. This book offered up a wonderful combo of cuteness, sweetness and heartfelt emotion. I loved it! This is my sincere, review that I am posting of my own accord.
The story was a very nice read. I especially loved the characters in this book. Sophie and Reese are very likeable. They both have troubles and realize that love does not always triumph over what needs to be done. Until it does. I do love a brooding hero and Reese was brooding, just not enough for me. Kind of like the last book. I need more grumpiness! But if you want a nice, sweet read where the romance on Reese’s part is extraordinary then this is the story for you. He is a romantic at heart.
I received a complimentary copy from publisher through NetGalley.
Certainly well ahead of their time, Fiona, Lily and Sophie have compiled a diary of their experiences as debutantes. The premise is to compile advice into a weekly column, Lily is the author of the column The Debutante’s Revenge and Fiona is the artist who’s drawings accompany it. Sophie on the other hand, holds meetings with fans of the column. Known as the Debutante Underground, they meet each Friday evening to discuss the column that published that day.
Fiona is married to an Earl, Lily a Duke and Sophie is soon to be engaged to a Marquess. Only unlike her friends she is not in love with the man she’s promised to.
Henry Reese the Earl of Warshire, wasn’t supposed to be Earl, he was the second son and was happy serving in the armed forces. When his brother died in a tragic accident he had to leave his men. Now he is tortured with nightmares and guilt over the men who died soon after he left. Sleep is something he needs but forces himself to stay awake.
Sophie is looking for a new venue to hold the meetings of the Debutante Underground. One of the members mentions a vacant building near where they currently meet, and Sophie checks it out after a meeting. It’s late and she’s surprised the door is unlocked but decides to investigate anyway. She is startled by a man she assumes is the owner and tailor Mr. Peabody, but in actuality is the Earl. This first encounter is intriguing and for the first time in a very long time the Earl sleeps peacefully.
It’s not that encounter that was the most poignant to me, it’s the second, where he arranges to see her in the garden at a ball. The proposition he puts forth is almost denied until he does something very sweet and romantic.
With the agreement in place an unusual relationship develops between Reese and Sophie.
The underground has a place to meet and even with her impending engagement Sophie finds herself falling in love with Reese. She is determined to do her duty and marry to save her family from financial disaster, but is in no way happy about it.
With Sophie’s help Reese also starts confronting his demons and there are many surprises here as well.
Plenty of secrets and a few wonderful surprises that had me turning the pages to see if these two could possibly get their Happily Ever After.
I have to go back now and read both Lily and Fiona’s stories. I love these women.
I loved reading Sophie and Reese’s story in When You Wish Upon a Rogue by Anna Bennett, book three in her Debutante Diaries series. Miss Sophie Kendall is the third partner creating “The Debutante’s Revenge,” a tell-all advice column for young ladies. Sophie’s position is in arranging the secret meetings of the Debutante Underground, a weekly gathering of women to discuss the weekly advice column. It is from these discussions that Sophie gleans ideas for future topics. Unfortunately Sophie has agreed to sacrifice herself to marry a man she does not love in order to help her family whose finances are in very bad shape. While looking for a larger meeting location Sophie encounters Henry Reese, Earl of Warshire, the owner of an abandoned shop. Reese is shocked by Sophie’s fresh approach to life and her insistence and ability to help him soothe his demons and find a peaceful slumber. These two then strike a deal, his shop in exchange for her spending one night a week with him. The problem is that Sophie and Reese never expected to share a magnetic attraction, a sizzling chemistry and a shared desire they want to act on, but cannot; since Sophie is practically engaged to another. I loved how these two star-crossed lovers risk it all, break Sophie’s impending engagement, continue to keep the names of the members of the Debutante Underground a secret, and for Sophie and Reese to finally get their happy ever after.
Ms. Bennett wrote a charming, clever, entertaining and sexy story that is not to be missed. She provided a tale rich with mysterious escapades, amusing banter, sizzling chemistry, devoted friends, and charming characters giving Sophie and Reese a chance for happiness, love and a future together. I definitely recommend When You Wish Upon a Rogue to other readers.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
Miss Sophie Kendall is happiest arranging the secret meetings of the Debutante Underground, a group of women who come together to discuss the weekly advice column The Debutante’s Revenge. What makes Sophie most unhappy is her impending arranged marriage so that she can save her family from bankruptcy. Henry Reese, Earl of Warshire, hasn’t slept in weeks. Desperate to escape his manor house and its haunting memories, he heads for one of his abandoned London properties. There he meets a beautiful, intriguing woman—trespassing. Reese is far less interested in Sophie’s search for a secret meeting spot than he is in her surprising ability to soothe his demons. So he strikes a bargain with her: his shop in exchange for spending one night a week with him.
This is the third book in the series & is easily read on its own. I really liked Sophie but didn’t warm to Reese at first but gradually as his history came to light the more I liked him. I loved how he changed from grumpy & dour to a lovely, loyal & caring man. The road to their HEA wasn’t easy but it was very enjoyable & I was routing for them to be together. A well written engrossing read
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
I was so engrossed in this book that I easily lost track of time while reading it and could not put it down until I was finished. This is the third and final book in the series about two sisters, their best friend and their attack on Victorian society’s rules of behavior for women. It is also about finding one’s true love, following one’s heart and not bending to the will of others. Sophie is the last of the trio to find her true love which she despairs of ever happening and has resigned herself to marrying a wealthy man to save her family from ruin. Sophie is the leader of a secret group of women called the Debutante Underground. Her group holds secret meetings where women from all walks of life can come and share their stories and feelings about the relationships between men and women. Their discussions are usually based around the weekly news article called “The Debutante’s Revenge.” As the group has started to outgrow its meeting space, Sophie is told about an empty building a few doors on down the way. She decides to take a look and as she is trying to peek in she discovers that the door is unlatched and she enters to take a quick look. She is then discovered by the owner whom she soon notices to be unwell and she can’t help but want to help him if she can.
Reese, the new Earl of Warshire is haunted by bad dreams and is unable to sleep for any length of time and has gone for several days without sleeping at all and roams his empty warehouse so as not to disturb anyone. Upon learning this, Sophie offers to make him some valerian tea which has helped her mother with her insomnia. While Reese drinks the tea, Sophie approaches him about using his warehouse, but Reese is not inclined to let her until a few days later after he reflects on his one night of decent sleep.
Reece and Sophie strike a bargain; she will have use of his warehouse for four hours on Friday nights if she will help him to get a good nights rest. Sophie is not convinced that it is because of her that Reese finally slept, but Reese believes in nothing else. It soon becomes apparent that the more time they spend together the more their feelings for each other grow. Unfortunately, things at home have become very dire and Sophie must move up her betrothal or so she thinks. Read the book to see if Sophie and Reese can find their HEA and also learn what happens when the Debutante Underground is threatened. I loved the depth of emotion felt by both Sophie and Reese; not only for each other, but for the other people in their lives.
Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley I was able to read an advanced copy of this book. This is my freely given review and all thoughts expressed above are strictly me own.
Sophie is an independent heroine, thinking outside the box, and who has a secret from all but her closest friends. While I enjoyed pretty much everything about her, there seemed to be something missing in her character. Not sure what it was, perhaps the lack of fire? However, I did enjoy her times with the hero, despite it being completely implausible.
Reese is a damaged hero who has pretty much turned his back on having any kind of life for himself. I love a hero who is struggling due to his past and Reese was definitely in a struggle. The fact that Sophie seemed to calm the battle that waged within him endeared him to me. However, he was not overtly possessive which would have had me loving him.
This is a relatively fast read, although I did find myself skimming parts of it that felt repetitive. The steam was pretty extreme but I felt the chemistry leading up to the smexy times were often lacking. Sophie’s friends added a bit of spark to the story but otherwise, this seemed a bit bland and I kept waiting for it to really kick up a notch. It was a pleasant enough read that I might have been able to enjoy more had I not been struggling in my own life during the time I read it.
When you wish Upon a rogue was inspiring, refreshing and most of all, beautifully twisted love story.
Sophie should be betrothed to a man she hasn’t love. She was free-spirited and together with her friends she was an author of a column Debutante’s Revenge. She also held meetings of Debutante Underground on Friday nights for women to exchange their experiences and read the column.
When she met Reese, Earl of Warshire, after one of her gatherings, he was in a pure state, fighting his demons and suffering from insomnia. She made him a Valerian root tea and he could sleep for a few hours.
He got desperate, after he tried her herbal mix by himself and it wouldn’t help. In his eyes it wasn’t the tea which calmed his mind, it was Sophie. They struck a deal. She will accompany him a few nights so he could fall asleep and she will get a bigger space in by him owned building for her Debutante Underground meetings.
Although she set rules like no touching under no circumstances, they could not escape the attraction and feelings they felt for one another. If the situation was another one, maybe they could one day be together….
Her betrothal neared undeniably fast and all that was left was a hole in their hearts and sadness…. there was no outcome for them…or was there?
I can only recommend this amazing story, read it, and find out what happens for yourself. It’s twisted and it will get you all hot and bothered and also sadness will flow through your mind. I was aching for them, I laughed with them and I felt happy for them….
Miss Sophie Kendall chairs the Debutante Underground. At the meetings, they discuss courting, desire, intimacy, and love. There are four rules that all who attend their meetings must agree to. They also have a newspaper column called Debutante’s Revenge. Her father is an alcoholic and has put them in debt. So he has agreed to give Sophie to Lord Stanton as his bride. She does not love him but feels it is her duty to keep her father out of prison. Her mother keeps making excuses for him while her sister hides and reads in her room and leaves it all to Sophie to take care of.
Henry Reese, Earl of Warshire, has just returned from war. He had not planned to come back anytime soon but his brother was killed in an accident and he had to take over the title. He is haunted nightly by having to leave his fellow soldiers behind and some were killed. He also adored his brother but he had feet of clay. a lot of twists but the story is excellent. The characters are engrossing and there is a strong plot. All this is used to keep your attention and your interest. I highly recommend this book to you and hope you like it as much as I did.
I received this ARC from Net Galley and voluntarily reviewed it.
When You Wish Upon a Rogue
A Debutante Diaries Novel series #3
Anna Bennett
https://www.facebook.com/AnnaBennettAuthor/
Release date 05/26/2020
Publisher St Martin’s Paperbacks
Blurb :
Once upon a time in Anna Bennett’s When You Wish Upon a Rogue, three young ladies vowed to record their first London seasons and to fill in the gaps of their educations.
She knows what she wants.
Miss Sophie Kendall is happiest arranging the secret meetings of the Debutante Underground, a group of women who come together to discuss the weekly advice column The Debutante’s Revenge. What makes Sophie most unhappy is her impending march down the aisle to a man she does not love. But her family’s finances are in increasingly dire straits.
He makes an offer she can’t refuse.
Henry Reese, Earl of Warshire, hasn’t slept in weeks. Desperate to escape his manor house and its haunting memories, he heads for one of his abandoned London properties. There he meets a beautiful, intriguing woman—trespassing. Reese is far less interested in Sophie’s search for a secret meeting spot than he is in her surprising ability to soothe his demons. So he strikes a bargain with her: his shop in exchange for spending one night a week with him.
Is this love for real—or just a dream?
Sophie never expected this to happen. But she cannot deny the fire Reese sparks in her—and soon their shared desire burns bright. Sophie is irrevocably promised to another. But maybe these two ill-fated lovers can find a way to risk it all—all the way to happily ever after…
My review :
Will it be too late for them now she is engaged to marry someone else …
Mrs Anna Bennett with this classic tale of the destitute family selling out their daughter’s future right when she might have meet the one man for herself, proposes a heartfelt version of this common trope.
Sophie is the prim and proper miss, never straying, except for her (with her two friends help) one secret society, she never steps out of the pavement, always follows the rules and will do her duty for her family.
She is a loving soul, caring for everyone’s welfare, and trying her best with her few means.
Reese lives in guilt, the survivor’s guiltiness. Why is he still breathing when his older brother and his soldier friends not any more. So he blames and buries himself in his remorse, unable to sleep as he pledged by nightmares.
When encountering Sophie offers him a respite in his grim days and nights. By whatever magic she carries, she soothes his soul and help his find his rest. Thus his scandalous offer.
Their relationship is one of two fated souls, each easing the other’s struggles. From the very beginning, they institute a companionship based on honesty and truthfulness.
And will the clock is ticking, Sophie discovers a new sense of the Love word, and by giving a purpose, a schedule to Reese, he slowly grows out from his griefs, morphing to a better man.
A very lovely story of finding its right footing and its own voice.
I have just some questions, when and where is the plot set, I suppose around 1810, and London is to be the city, but I had problem to figure out how Reese’s town mansion could be so grand in the middle of the Capital. And how Sophie could go out without even a maid to attend with her.
4.5 stars for this charming story of two people who recognize instantly the chance they were given to taste love even if it was not to last.
I was granted an advance copy by the publisher St Martin’s Paperbacks, here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272830/posts/624635381458970/?d=n
“When You Wish Upon a Rogue” by Anna Bennett
What a delightful read. Well, I will admit I skimmed a few pages here and there… as I did not care to read some of the spicier details shared by the author… that said,, I did love the story. It was a page turner. The suspense builds all the way through into the very last chapter. Happy Reading ! !
Note: I did receive an ARC of this story from the publisher. The opinions expressed in my review are wholly my own.
I enjoyed this story. I especially liked how Sophie and Reese met. Sophie’s rules were interesting. But they definitely deserved their Happily Ever After. It was good to see characters from the previous books. This is such an interesting time period. I like reading about it but am sure I would not have liked living then.
I received this ARC is exchange for an honest review.
I adored Sophie and Reese! It was a “Beauty soothing the Beast” situation that was totally believable! Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy!
I found that I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Its first half is fanciful, filled with inventive use of flowers, has a underworld garden, and a hero running from his demons.
Miss Sophie Kendall is practically engaged to a marquess. She helps run the Debutante Revenge and Underground, a progressive gathering and weekly advice column for women. She encounters Henry Reese :Reese” the Earl of Warshire. He’s taken over the role of Earl and carries immense guilt from leaving the army and the ensuing death of his company. So, he can’t sleep. The only cure for his insomnia is, well, Sophie (I’m not sure if that’s a selling point as to why a man wants to spend time with a lady, but in this case, it works)..
Reese is the hero we all want, supportive, kind and caring. More importantly, not a rake. He’s pretty dreamy.
Reese and Sophie spend one night a week together and that grows their intimacy (the flowers, remember?).
The second half of the book deals with her impending engagement she feels she must fulfill and the secret society.
Recommend.
This is one of those books I wish I could give more then five stars. If you are not totally involved in this story and it’s characters by the end of the first chapter something is wrong with you.
Miss Sophie Kendall is a lovely lady who like to help people and part of doing that is her secret meeting place for women from all classes of life to meet and discuss anything they like. It is called The Debutante’s Revenge.
With the help from her two best friends who happen to be sisters. You will remember them from the first two books, Fiona and Lily. They meet at night, for now the dressmaker has offered them the back room of her shop. Word has spread and many more women want to join, Sophie needs to find a larger meeting place but one that is super cheap. One of the members tells her of a shop close by that is out of business. After the meeting she goes to just look at the outside to see if it might work. To her shock
the door is unlocked. She can’t help herself from going in, only to be scared by a young man that is already there. One Herry Reese, Earl of Warshire.
No one could see how this meeting by accident would change so many life’s..
Herry is the new Earl of Warshire, as his brother has just died. His is an ex-solider and never thought he would be the Earl. He left and joined the military but when he received notice his brother was dead he had not choice but to leave his men and rush home. He is carrying a ton of guilt and grief over it. He also has PTSD from things he saw and did. On top of all that he is devastated by the lost of his brother Edmund who he worshiped and saw as perfect.
Sophie has a bucket load of her own problems she is dealing with. She is to marry One Lord Singleton in a very short time, and she doesn’t even know him. Has meet him only a few times and didn’t feel comfortable around him. He is willing to help her family if they marry.
She is also worried about the ladies of Debutantes Revenge as she must leave it when she marries.
There is a lot of things going on in this story, the attraction growing between some of the characters will surprise you. The ending will surprise you. What happens to both the H and H is different and wonderful.
I don’t want to say anymore and hope I haven’t said too much. Just enough to make you rush out and get a copy. Don’t plan to do anything once you start reading…
Kinda wish if didn’t have to end.
I received and ARC from the author and would like to thank her for a truly great read. I will be reading it again I know… I am giving my honest opinion…
Beautiful, touchless romance has all the feels!
Trapped by duty, Sophie takes comfort from her rules. As her family’s only hope for financial security lies in her upcoming marriage to the agreeable Lord Singleton, Sophie constructs her life around a support system of rules of behavior that will ensure protection for her heart and her family’s future.
“There was no escaping the future that had been prescribed for her. And that future was knocking on her door.”
Reese, on the other hand, has no use for rules. He’s nearly broken by the recent deaths of both his brother and his best friend. His brother’s death forced Reese to assume the title and control of the estate, leaving his comrades behind on the battle field. Their friendship is conducted entirely within Sophie’s rules, but the heart has never met a rule it isn’t willing to break.
This was such a sweet, tender, emotionally exhaustive story, yet filled with hope and joy in the smallest things. I loved every bit of this romance, from the sweeping grand gestures to the little side glances and all the sigh-worthy moments in between. These two are so right for each other, it was almost unbearably frustrating that Sophie still couldn’t see a way for them to be together. I swooned hard for Reese when he demonstrated the full extent of his devotion by coming to her aid even when he thought all was lost.
Of course they do get a very satisfying HEA, one that makes everyone involved as happy as can be. This author’s writing style is absolutely captivating, and I couldn’t put this book down until I was done. I highly recommend this for all Regency romance readers. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
This was a cute book and I loved the characters of Reese and Sophie as I often do in Anna Bennett books. The premise of the book is a little wild for Regency England but the author made it work. After all, if she’s staying the night with a countess, her parents have nothing to worry about right? I mean a young miss wouldn’t actually spend hours or all night with an eligible bachelor, would she? Well, it starts innocently enough. Sophie can’t turn away anyone in need, an animal or even an Earl with gaunt features especially if it affords her the use of an empty shop for the Debutante Underground. And so begins a new adventure. I have to say I thought of ways this could end and the author surprised me, even to the point I was really beginning to wonder how an HEA would be possible. I shouldn’t have doubted it though. I received this ARC from NetGalley for an unbiased review.