This was one of my better ideas.
http://www.kellybowen.net/
How I could have overlooked this first of Kelly Bowen’s series is beyond me. I bought the
debut novel, but somehow lost track. I think I need a TBR alarm which goes off when I haven't opened a book. That would be really irritating. Anyway, Ms. Bowen is an excellent writer and I'm verrry happy she came along. On to A Good Rogue is Hard to Find.So, we continue on with the Worth series and if you remember your secondary characters, you will remember the eccentric character of Eleanor, Duchess of Worth. She’s the one who carried a chicken under her arm, did really odd things, but was a lot of fun – much to the chagrin of her son, William Somerhall, Duke of Worth aka Will. Well, it seems that Will has had it up to his forehead with his mother’s antics. He has decided to put his foot down – he has an idea. A Romanceland idea - which, as we all know will never work. He’s going to pay an extended visit to his mother. Yep, he's going to move in with her, and we all know how moving back with ones parents works out. (Sends shivers down my spine). He precedes to the dower house so he can keep an eye on her. His plan is not only to keep an eye on her but to stop her from doing anymore scandalous, embarrassing stunts. Imagine his disgruntlement when he arrives at her home only to be confronted by a bunch of hysterical aristocrats who are running in terror away from dower house. When he walks into her house, it is in an uproar – a very funny uproar. I knew right away I was going to love this particular hero.
Upon his arrival he also finds the woman he’s been looking for all over London for the last few months. Much to his surprise he learns she is his mother’s companion, Jenna. Jenna and Eleanor are a little annoyed with his arrival. Not because they don’t like him. Nah, nothing that simple. Jenna, Eleanor, and almost the entire household are up to some secret shenanigans – things they don’t want Will sticking his big nose into. So, everyone attempts to pull the wool over Will's eyes, to distract him from what is really going on at his mother’s home. And, in the beginning they do a very good job. But, Will isn’t one to be taken in – wellllll, not for too long. While it takes him awhile to find out the full story of what is going on, he eventually does. The convoluted journey to his discovery is delightful. Ms. Bowen has a way with twisting and turning plotlines which kept my interest engaged through most of the book.
Jenna and Will are a wonderful couple. Both are complex, complete characters. They both have dark pasts, which could have made for a lot of angst in this story, but didn’t. Ms. Bowen seems to be very good at balancing comic moments with poignancy in her books. The beginning of this story was fun with a gradual build-up tension.
This is a well-rounded piece, filled with complex, fully-developed characters. Things are hidden from us. How exciting when those secrets slowly unfold before our eyes. We also get to watch the characters grow, change their outlooks, achieve things they never thought they could. While Will and Jenna are the main focus of the book, the secondary character of Eleanor is also strong. Don’t forget the character of Luke either. Or the butler who pretends he can’t hear, but really can. There is a whole lot jammed into this little story.
Overall, I highly recommend this story and I think you will have a very emotional fun ride when you read A Good Rogue is Hard to Find.
Time/Place: Regency England
Sensuality: Warm/Hot
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