Customer Reviews

Angel Rogue: Revised Edition (Fallen Angels)

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

 

 

This was the one book in the Fallen Angels series I hadn't expected to like, but I got a very pleasant surprise: I loved this book! My hesitance about it was partly because Robin, the hero, is not one of the four original Fallen Angels, and also because I was a little resentful at Robin's occupying so much space in Petals in the Storm, Rafe's story.

At the start of the book, Robin is still the complete enigma he was in Petals, and it's no surprise that his brother can't seem to find a way to break through his reserve. It's clear that Robin hasn't yet come to terms with the loss of Maggie (who married Rafe in Petals), and that he has too many bleak memories from his years spent spying.

Then Maxie stumbles on him - literally - and he sees an opportunity to be someone else for a time, and to have an adventure in which he is answerable to nobody except himself and Maxie.

Maxie is a wonderfully different heroine: part easygoing American, a very small part British young lady, and with the instincts of her Mohawk ancestors - and to the reviewer who couldn't understand how Maxie knew so much of her Indian heritage and culture, *read the book*! It was very clearly explained that she, and her father, had spent much time with her mother's tribe, even after her mother died.

Maxie's empathy with the ghosts of Robin's past was beautifully portrayed: as ever, Putney does angst and hurt-comfort extremely well, and this book comes close to Thunder and Roses in this respect. Both books have as a major theme the way in which love can heal the wounds and torment of the past. The symmetry in this respect was also highly enjoyable: as Maxie helps to heal Robin's spirit, so he does the same for her.

Oh, and the secondary romance in this book was also a delight! I loved Desdemona, Maxie's aunt - the instant she appeared I thought she was a wonderful character, and I was so glad that Putney made use of her. Giles, Robin's brother, was also a very sympathetic character.

To the reviewer who complained about grammar and syntax... how petty. I have read far worse than the few examples of which she complains, and in fact at least one of her examples contains no error or confusion at all.

This is yet another excellent book from Mary Jo Putney, a worthy addition to the Fallen Angels series and a book I know I'll be re-reading.

When I first read this book, it was not my favorite in the Fallen Angel series - I liked Michael's story best. However, this book is one I keep coming back to and enjoy reading over again, which I did recently - hence the review.

I agree with several other reviewers that the strength of this book is in the depth and development of the characters and their relationships. I especially enjoyed that between Robin and his brother Giles and the romance between Giles and Desdemona!

It is refreshing to have characters with doubts and flaws and watch them deal with them; it is refreshing to have a very different heroine and watch her reaction to a "familiar" (to regency era fans) environment. Meeting characters from the other books once Robin and Maxie get to London, added greatly to my enjoyment.

The plot line is not as action filled as the other books in this series, nor do outside events bring historical interest - so if that is what you seek in an "historcial", this book might disappoint.

I do agree with another reviewer that the title is wrong - I always thought this book should have been titled "Listen to the Wind".

I've only recently discovered Mary Jo Putney and what a wonderful discovery she is! I've read all but one of the "Fallen Angel" series, and where each installment has characters that become near and dear, I have to say this was absolutely my favorite. The emotional rapport and sexual tension between Robin and Maxi is as intense as anything I've read by more steamy authors. And I love the way Ms. Putney interweves the other "Fallen Angels and their wives" into each new story. Just awesome!

I have never read a MJP book that wasn't simply wonderful. Even her contemporaries (which I don't really care for) deserve five stars. Angel Rogue is no exception, it is an unusual, beautiful love story that will leave you sighing long after you turned the last page.

Lord Robert Andreville (Robin) has returned to England after a dozen years of spying for the British crown in the fight agaisnt Napoleon. He is weary in mind and spirit and tortured by memories of the past when he meets Maxima Collins. Maxie is an American with an unique heritage: she's half Mohawk and half English and she has come to England with her father who died shortly afterward. Maxie feels all alone in the world, she feels like an alien among her aristocratic English family. She also has reason to suspect foul play in her father's sudden death. So she decides to leave the country manor where she was staying with her uncle and travel to London masquerading as a boy to learn what she can about her father's last hours. She meets Robin on the way by literally falling over him. He is immediately taken by her exotic looks and unconventional ways. He decides to appoint himself her guardian and together they embark on a perilous journey during which Maxie teaches Robin to trust and let go of the past while falling irrevocably in love with him.

Maxie is a delightful heroine, she is strong,intelligent and independent. No chin lifting, blushing, simpering heroines for MJP. She creates characters that are real, with credible issues and feelings that the reader can relate to. Robin is adorable and
even though he's extremely drool-worthy I found it interesting that he's of average height. I had never before read about a hero in a romance novel that was less than a six footer so this was a refreshing change and made him seem more real to me.

In short, this a great book and certainly another winner in MJP's long list of excellent romances. :)

The third in the Fallen Angel Series, we finally see Robin enjoy happiness. Robin was such a sweetheart to Margot in Petals on the Wind, you really did feel bad that Rafe ended up with her. However, while Maxima is strong like Margot, she has the determination needed to help Robin deal with his demons over what he has done in the name of loyalty for his country. Together as the two of them travel by foot to London while avoiding hitmen and their own families, they become more passionate and the healing of both their wounded hearts enhanced by their growing love for one another. This book again is not as good as the first in the series, but has an emotional quality that the others don't have in that we see many character reuniting and healing over past hurts than we saw in others. This books is the turning point in which Lucien (one of the actual Fallen Angels) begin to understand the torture his soul has endured by his part in the spy ring. Robin while not part of the Fallen Angels (Nick, Rafe, Lucien and Michael), is a worthy character and one that I liked immensely. It's really his character that pulls this book into the level of romance reading that I enjoy.

I don't normally rave about romance novels. I enjoy them enough to buy them and pass them on. This is one of the only ones that I kept. It is so wonderful! It is a refreshingly new twist on a worn out genre.

First, the hero and heroine are absolutely wonderful and the side romance adds a nice contrast and comparison. Contrary to what Ms. Pecone (another reviewer) said, neither romance is love at first sight. It is interest sparked by meeting an intriguing new person that grows into attraction and finally love. For once we have a romance that isn't raw, animal passion masquerading as love at first sight.

Second, I was also slightly annoyed by the constant mention of Robin's slight stature, but this was due to the repetition of that fact. I found it nice to have a hero that wasn't all big and brawny and overbearing.

Third, I liked Robin's character. He had a rather dark past and a bit of a broken heart, but he didn't let this drag himself and those around him down. It wasn't an excuse for him to be a jerk. Instead, his constant wandering, quietness, and willingness to join up with Maxie indicated a man who was sad and a little lost, but trying to recover and overcome. He was trying to find himself rather than wallow in his own muck. This is someone you can sympathize with as a human being with a human life.

Fourth, Maxie's character was another refreshing change. Females in these romances are either passive and submissive or annoyingly spunky past the point of good sense who battle the men at every step. Maxie is a little bit hotheaded, but this is tempered with intelligence and ability. She made some foolish decisions, but this made her human, without her making so many that she was just stupid. She is independent, so she doesn't want Robin's help, but they didn't become antagonists, which is too often used as a plot device to bring the raw, animal passion about. In fact, they settle down and enjoy each other's company and work together. (By the way Ms. Pecone, Robin did try to get Maxie to take a safer route, she would not be deterred.) Finally! I got sick of the opposite happening in most romances. I'm not going to go over the Indian issue Ms. Pecone started that so many others have addressed already.

Finally, I am one of those people who finds bad grammar akin to nails on a chalkboard, but Ms. Putney's writing did not drive me off. I don't know where Ms. King learned her grammar, but there is a difference between bad grammar and informal grammar. This is a work of fiction, not an essay or research paper. The only real problem was in her last example. Ms. King seems more to be one of those people who looks for problems rather than relaxing to enjoy the ride.

This is too wonderful a book to let anyone dissuade you from reading it. It's good for the jaded romance reader, the novice romance reader, even someone who doesn't normally read romance. Don't let this book pass you by, this is too good to miss!

I don't know how I had not discovered this author sooner. I have been reading romance novels for about 3 years now and never before had I read a book by Mary Jo Putney. The first one I read "Dearly Beloved", was so beautiful that I went back for more, and after reading "One Perfect Rose" which is part of the Fallen Angels series, I was hooked. I knew I had to read the whole series, and so far none of the books I have read have dissapointed me.

In the case of this book, I have not yet read "Petals in the Storm", so I did not have any background knowledge about Lord Robert Andreville, but he is a fascinating character. His dazzling personality was so well portrayed that it leaps from the pages and you feel like you know him. I loved his sense of humor, his charm, his varied and amusing talents, the fact that under all that fancy facade there was a core of steel. Maxima was an exceptional heroine too, even though I can't really say that I feel a strong conection with her (I would never even dream of embarking on a trip of over 200 miles on foot, on a strange land and with almost no money) But that is what makes her extraordinary besides, she is also very kind, courageous and intelligent and those are qualities I admire.

The only thing that I found that was a little unbelievable and incomprehensible is the fact that Robin would embark on this trip with her with no money, and no provisions whatsoever. That he felt the need to accompany her, I can understand, but why didn't he make a small detour to the house first to fetch money, and two horses or a carriage to make the trip more confortable? I know he is an adventurer and an excentric, but my practical and comfort-liking mind just rebelled at the thought that someone would deliberately choose the hard path when there was an easier and more efficient way to accomplish things. I guess I'm not very adventuresome.

I connected more with Robert's brother Giles (which doesn't mean that I liked him better than Robin, just that I find his personality easier to relate to) He and Maxima's aunt Desdemona are great secondary characters. I wish they had gotten their own novel instead of just being a sub plot of this one. But their story definitely enriched this book.

All in all, I think this book is excellent. I would recommend this and all the books in this series to anyone who likes a well written story, with strong lovable characters and a mix of passion and adventure to make it all more interesting.

I've enjoyed all of Mary Jo Putney's books, especially the Fallen Angel series, and Angel Rogue is a personal favorite. I can identify with both hero and heroine, something that one can rarely count on in romance novels. To the reviewer below, I must protest the complaints that Maxima and Robin are "unrealistic." Though Maxie wasn't raised as an Indian, she was not cut off from them, and she spent a fair amount of time among them... and obviously she identified with them strongly, easily accounting for her skill in archery and her interest in and knowledge of their customs. As for Robin, he was painted from the beginning of the books as a creature of whimsy--he warned his brother that if he vanished, it would just mean that he had taken off with some passing gypsies. How is it a stretch to assume that, if Maxie showed no signs of being dissuaded from walking to London, he would decide to go with her? Furthermore, one doesn't have to be big and powerful to be an effective fighter; agility can count for as much as, if not more than, sheer strength. I personally don't like romance heroes to be huge and hulking. Well, it's a matter of taste, I suppose. Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed Angel Rogue (despite its rather saccharine title). Robin, with his mixture of elegant whimsy and inner darkness, is one of my all-time favorite heroes, and likewise tough, sensible Maxie is one of my favorite heroines. This book isn't for those who prefer their heroes dark and menacing and their heroines sweet and gentle, but it is an excellent read.

What a pleasant change of pace! Instead of reading yet another romance where the 2 main characters are fighting each other for the first 2/3 of the book, Robin and Maxima actually get along! And what an interesting adventure they have as they travel to London, searching for the cause of her father's death. I found this book quite entertaining although I was a little disappointed with the ending. It didn't seem very well thought out since there weren't threads/connections back to the first part of the book. All of the details and explanations were unloaded on the reader at the end. Even so, the story of their journey made this book worthwhile to read.

I've read every book MJP has ever written, and I haven't read one yet I didn't love, but I have to say, if picking a favorite, this is it. What a hero! Wow! And the heroine is a good match for him, too. It's a "road story," with humor and pathos and tons of exciting passion. The tenderness between them will just melt your heart. Bravo, Ms. Putney! An incredible treasure like this is something we jaded romance readers are always looking for but rarely find!