Customer Reviews

The Rogue (Liar's Club, Book 5)

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Ethan Damont is an ornamental gambler, making his living by fleecing aristocrats of their money. A group of Crown spies, called the Liars, try to recruit Ethan to spy on Lord Maywell, a suspected French spy. Lord Maywell, in turn, wants Ethan to spy for the French. To make things worse, each side wants Ethan to be a double spy for each other. In the middle of it all is Lady Jane, Lord Maywell's niece and a famous heiress. Lady Jane is the only person who trusts Ethan, and she has some very interesting surprises up her sleeve, even as Ethan tries to save her from himself.

I have enjoyed every book in this "Liars" series, and this story was excellent. With the Liars books, the plots are always fresh and unexpected, the characters real and believable, and the stories are top-notch. Ethan was a realistic alienated, gambling hanger-on of society, never fitting in, yet always welcome to aristocratic homes. Lady Jane appeared a regular society debutante, but as the story progresses, you see how strong and funny she really is. Lady Jane's mother was particularly entertaining. The supporting cast were all intersting and humorous. If you like regency romances, I highly recommend this book.

For the first 2/3 of the book, this was one of the most delightful books I've ever read -- thoroughly enchanting. I, for one, was always intrigued by Ethan and looked forward to his story. He is marvelous here -- such wit and tenderness, and self-doubt, and strength, beneath all that charm and insouciance. And Jane -- she was sheer delight from her first moment on the page. Their banter and chemistry was top-notch. I smiled through much of the first half of the book. A very solid 5 stars.

Suddenly, however, about 2/3 of the way through the book, Jane unveils her secret. This reader, at least, was unprepared. Looking back, there were some hints, but very, very vague and inconsequential. In fact, at times in the last third of the book, Jane almost seems a different person (like the scene where she seduces Ethan, the ramifications of which BTW were never resolved to my satisfaction). The jar felt here drastically cut my enjoyment of the book. Perhaps this is a case where the character simply pounced on the author late in the book and announced her "truth," demanding her way; it happens. Unfortunately, the author doesn't seem to have gone back and made sure it was all of a piece from beginning to end. Once the bad guys re-enter the picture, the story picks up and once again becomes familiar. Thus, the book is rescued. A twinge of annoyance remains, however, because I felt tricked by the twist.

I found the ending tied the book into both the Liars and the Royal Four series quite well. Be aware that the ending is one of those "Oh, please, don't make me wait for the next book; I'll go mad" sort of cliffhangers. Not regarding our romantic leads, but regarding the entire Liars/Royal Four spy world.

In this romance, the hero really is the main character and focus of the story. And we watch him try to court the heroine. (I'd say the book is 80% his and 20% the heroine's.) He likes to gamble esp. w/ cards - and that's how he's earned his living - he cheats too - he'll take money from the rich and spoiled and ungrateful without feeling guilty at all. And he's damn good at it. Ethan truly is a commoner, the son of a fabric merchant and a seamstress - he was sent to a rich school (where he met his only friend, Collis from book 4) where he didn't fit in and didn't excel and only disappointed his father. And learned to cheat really well. This is the best "commoner" hero I've read about so far - and in my opinion even better than Lisa Kleypas' "commoner heroes" - b/c he's not dangerous or violent - he's not bitter - he's not raging or out to prove anything - he just wants to live a happy cozy life gambling through card games taking money from the rich and drinking fine brandy and if there's a woman involved - great. that's fine too. He'd rather not take sides in anything. But he would like to "belong". Ethan Damont is only invited into the high-society b/c others want to play cards w/ him - he knows he doesn't belong and the ton would never DREAM of actually inviting him for dinner or a special formal occasion and they especially wouldn't introduce him to their daughters. At night he goes home (his posh yet cozy bachelor house in London) to ONE butler and ONE cook. He wants nothing to do with spies or England or the crown or danger - he just wants to be the desperado - and enjoy finer things in life like fashionable clothes and his favorite label of brandy and smoking cher-roots and of course - playing cards. Imagine a REALLY HOT Johnny Depp - but alas - the Liar's club needs him. He was much too involved in investigation against Lord Maywell (book 5 picks up right where he helps out in book 4). He doesn't WANT to help the Liars but they're not exactly "blackmailing" him - but he's not exactly a "tax-paying" man and he's sort of "obliged" to help them esp. now that he "knows" too much already....so he ends up frequenting Lord Maywell's house for cards and meeting the lovely Lady Jane of course . . .

Lady Jane really is a mystery and I remember thinking around the first quarter of the book, "What is UP with this heroine?!" We know so little about her except she flirts w/ Ethan and they kind of have a thing developing - she's a little sheltered but she's REALLY gutsy and you can tell she's smart . . . but we haven't really been told her past yet...

Fabulous Celeste Bradley plot. layers and turns. This book especially blends well with the previous book The Charmer. I've never been irritated w/ Bradley introducing and involving previous characters from the other books - (Whereas with other series authors, I find this gets VERY annoying after a while.) WARNING - SPOILER: I read a review that criticized the plot saying that Ethan should've known better that the infamous "Bedlam" institution was dangerous and he never would've sent Jane there if he was smarter. What that reviewer probably missed (which is why I NEVER skim through Bradley's books) is that Ethan made a gamble with the villain (Jane's uncle) and chose for Jane to be sent to "Bethlehem Hospital" b/c he believed she would be safer there out of her uncle's harm. However her evil uncle sent her to Bedlam institution instead against Ethan's knowledge b/c he didn't have the authorization papers - and when the carriage stopped outside of Bedlam - THEN Ethan realized he had been duped by the villain and he had to save Jane.

The rescue escape scene had me rolling on the floor and grinning like an idiot with laughter!!!! It is by far the CLEVEREST rescue scene I have EVER read in a romance. I don't care if Bradley had to go to extremes in the plot just to fit it in - I'm SOOOOO glad that she did!!!

Finally, three cheers for Bradley for showing us a romance where the hero is the one who reinvents himself and deals with the struggles and human error and he isn't the perfect one where we read about it and end up thinking, "oh of course every hero is like that". His mantra and personality and whit is unlike anything I've ever read yet. I'd give it a B+/A- (what pulls this up to an A- is the clever plot and action scenes, Ethan's character development, and continuing with the drama of the Liars and the Royal Four!) Celeste Bradley fans would appreciate this - but if this is the very first book of hers you read you'll probably think "WTH is going on?!?"

Although I have read historical novels for years, I never felt moved to rate any book. But I felt I had to this time. The Rogue was the fifth book in a series by Celeste Bradley. I didn't start the Liar's Club series until I had all five. Once I started, I'm glad I waited. I couldn't stop reading. I read all five books in ten days. They were absolutely the best read I have ever had. The way Ms. Bradley worked all the Liars in the book allowed you to follow them throughout the series. But if you only read one, you would still be able to enjoy it. BUT, I can guarantee if you read one, you will go searching for the rest. I gave this book as well as the rest of the series five stars because that is the highest rating possible. I can't wait to start the Royal Four series.

Ethan Damont is a gambler, recruited by the Crown and also the French to each spy on each other. Ethan's prior claim to fame had been fleecing money from the ton and he has quite a reputation as a rouge. He was just going through life without any purpose, no real cares, no thoughts of the future, but not really that happy either. As so many of these rouges he was beginning to become bored and restless.

Lord Maywell is who the Crown wants Ethan to spy on. And as luck would have it he just happens to have a gorgeous niece, Lady Jane. This becomes such an interesting of matches. The dialog between this couple is so witty, so clever and sharp, so well done. I just loved them. Ethan and his thoughts and conversations he has with himself over patriotism, honor and what he believes and feels is such a unique storyline.

Although the love scenes are at a minimum the ones included are incredibly hot. The one in the carriage is a classic! I mean this really was a highly engaging couple. Sometimes the plots in this series kind of take over for the romance but not in this story. And oh my the secrets that are revealed are so cleverly done. I cannot give this book a high enough rating. For me it really was one of Bradley's very best. It deserves five incredible stars and it was a classic end to a incredible series.

Three cheers for Celeste Bradley! I was not particularly eager to buy this book because although I've loved all the other Liars books, I was never fond of Ethan Damont - his life is so precarious that it made me nervous and I didn't know how he'd properly transform into a romantic hero. Bradley, bless her heart, knew exactly how to weave his character into the role of a double agent, and she made all of the uncertainties about his life and personality into strengths. In the end, Damont was an incredibly compelling and really appealing hero because his weaknesses were sympathetic, and his admirable qualities came to the fore.

Jane was similarly wonderful. Bradley, here as ever, has created a heroine who has a mind of her own, a will of her own, and goals of her own.

I will admit that I think in order to keep Jane's secret under the covers, Bradley had to fudge a little too much on the early sections of the book. There's only one sex scene of note in the book, but it really is rather remarkable.

All in all: two thumbs up.

Intrigue. Danger. Deception. Deceit. Romance. These are just some of the things that fill the pages of Celeste Bradley's THE ROGUE, which is the latest edition to the Liar's Club series. Lady Jane Pennington is a fair maiden who commands great respect as wealthy Lord Maywell's niece. Jane came to live with her uncle and his family for a season so she could be introduced into aristocratic society. Yet, everything is not as it seems. Jane is just more than a pretty face with a big bank account. Actually, she is a government operative who is plotting against some shiesty activities and the main suspect is her very uncle, who is thought to be a traitor against the crown.

Ethan Damont lives almost as a parasite of upper society, edging his way in at the mere whim of fate's hands. He is a gambler and this is the only life he knows and he has literally won his acceptance at society's table. Knowing his true place, Ethan does not embark on meaningful relationships. He casually tosses female companionship aside - love them and leave them, is his motto. While visiting at the Maywell House, Ethan stumbles across Jane, who immediately seizes his thoughts. What happens next is a roller coaster ride of events with a plot that twists and turns and ultimately culminates into a grave peril that threatens the very life of one of the main characters! You'll have to read THE ROGUE to see how it all turns out.

The Liars Club is a highly specialized espionage group that has a Robin Hood theory while protecting the national government from conspiracy. Readers will remember Liar Club members, Rose and Collis, from the previous editions and the Liars ingenious antics at living just on the brink of the law. In anticipation of the action to unfold, this book started off slow for me, but it picked up steam and turned into a nenjoyable read. This period novel does a formidable job of catching the nuances of the era. All in all, THE ROGUE is not a book that you should leave sitting on the shelf.

Reviewed by Nedine
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

Great book. Ethan was an immensely real character, and Jane wasn't bad. Some great moments of humor in the book too, especially the interaction between Ethan and "Jeeves". One small quibble: Isn't referring to the name "Jeeves" as the quintessential example of a butler in the regency context historically inaccurate by about a century?

I loved this book. My favorites in this genre have humor and witty dialogue. This ia a terrific book in a solid series. Hopes she keeps turning them out.

The last of the Liar series plays as a disjointed farce of logic. Intrique, double intrique, and unjustified leaps in logic for the main characters abound.

The heroine, Lady Jane, becomes two entirely different characters midway through the story. She is neither a believable virgin innocent nor competent spy vixen.

Ethan is a charming fellow and I enjoyed his characterization but his incredibly stupid decision-making ability confound me. Why bother to cart his precious lady anywhere her uncle wishes when the man had contemplated killing her moments before? No intelligent person could trust him then.

I think alot of the problems could have been resolved if the heroine and hero had actually talked to each other instead of trying to jump each other's bones.

The Lairs are a fun group of likeable characters but I think their believability as agents of the Crown are killed in this story. If they planted Liar staff in Ethan's household then why didn't they know who she was? More to the point, why didn't they seek out their new operative to find out what the heck was happening? For that matter, why let him in at all?

As for the romance, it was building to an interesting place up to the carriage escort. Then we step right into a world of perverse love scenes, acts of character stupidity and no further development of love. Instead it becomes a spectacle of interesting locations and comedies of error. (How could Jeeves just leave Hyde Park with his employer shouting for help for the heroine?!)

All in all, I feel like the ending entices me to read the next Royal Four series but find I'm going off the author. The Charmer was the best of the whole series while the rest is just plain weird.