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28 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
Sexual Content: Rated R, November 2, 2000
First time author Hope Tarr has penned a sensational debut novel packed full of humor, wit, intrigue, and sexual tension galore. Set in Regency England, A Rogue's Pleasure is hard to set down once you pick it up. Chelsea Bellamy's younger brother Robert has been kidnapped and is being held for ransom at the sum of five hundred pounds. Orphaned over a year ago, Chelsea has no one to turn to and must therefore come up with a way to raise the needed funds herself. When all of her avenues for acquiring money are exhausted and desperation finally kicks in, she turns to her trusted servant Jack - a retired highwayman - to teach her his former trade. All is going according to plan until Chelsea and Jack decide to hold up a carriage that contains none other than the handsome and notorious rake Viscount Montrose and his fiancée Olivia. Anthony Grenville, Viscount Montrose, can scarcely believe what's happening to him. Not only is he suffering the embarrassment of being robbed in front of his fiancée, but the perpetrators in question consist of a slight girl and a one-eyed elderly man with scrunched shoulders and a noticeably dragging leg. Still, he can't help but to be amused...and intrigued. He has no choice but to let the girl and her elderly companion go on their way for now, but oddly enough, he hopes to see her again. So when he catches the girl relieving his townhouse of its silver a few days later and forces her to confess all, he can do no less than to help Chelsea get her brother back. Besides, it's the perfect way to keep Chelsea close to him, which is precisely where he most wants her. A Rogue's Pleasure contains an intriguing plot and superb protagonists, but its the budding relationship and sexual tension between the lead characters that will hold you spellbound. With Anthony engaged to another woman and determined to make Chelsea no more than his mistress, and Chelsea firmly committed to being his wife or nothing at all, readers can't help but to want to find out just how the situation will resolve itself into romantic bliss. As an aside to that dilemma, it is refreshing to read about a strong heroine that doesn't waste her time mooning over the hero; Anthony is the one that does all of the mooning in this book. How many times have romance fans been made to endure weak-willed, codependent heroines who make you want to jump into the book's pages and shake some sense into them? I'm happy to report that with A Rogue's Pleasure, you get all of the sexual tension without an ounce of caricatured female sappiness. Hope Tarr's first novel is an overall winner. Fast-paced, intriguing, and loaded with sexual tension, A Rogue's Pleasure is a real page turner. With one book, this author has already gone onto my "must buy" list. -full review originally published in The Romance Reader
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
A good book to pass the time..., August 26, 2003
"A Rogue's Pleasure" was a good book with good characters. I enjoyed both Anthony and Chelsea very much....Anthony especially. I thought it was refreshing how open he was with his feelings for Chelsea. He never pretended not to feel for her,in fact, he declares himself very early on...it was very sweet actually. So why only 3 stars? For some reason I cant name, this book failed to grab me. I found myself putting it down again and again...flipping ahead to see how much was left. The plot wasnt all that entertaining, and the villian was very obvious. All in all a pleasant read, but not a keeper for me.
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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Good Read!, July 9, 2004
I think that this book is great! The two main characters are very sweet and entertaining and the story is truly romantic and at times very funny. It is a definite keeper for me.
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6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
Very good regency romance by a fresh talent, November 7, 2000
In 1812 England, Chelsea Bellamy receives a ransom note informing her that an unknown assailant has kidnapped her brother and is demanding 500 pounds. However, the amount is way out of reach for Chelsea. Desperate, she decides she has two options: marriage with the despicable Squire or turning to a trade like that of a highwayman.She chooses the latter, donning the garb of a highwayman. Surprisingly, she starts out reasonably successful until she robs Viscount Anthony Grenville. Anthony realizes the thief in disguise is a woman he dubs Lady Robin. When he finally captures her, she imprisons his heart. However, there remain issues between them such as his fiancee and her abducted sibling. Regency romance readers will fully enjoy Hope Tarr's debut novel A ROGUE'S PLEASURE. The story line is filled with action and amusing dialogue between the lead characters to lighten the tale. The intrepid Chelsea obviously takes an extreme path that requires acceptance by the audience. Anthony seems at first as the bored aristocrat common in this sub-genre, but he too has more sustenance to him. Readers will hope that Ms. Tarr will quickly follow up with her next story. Harriet Klausner
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8 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
A Historical Romance with a basis in reality!!, January 12, 2001
Hope Tarr has changed my views on historical romance. In the past I have often avoided purchase of such books for light reading. Often, the plot line involved abusive behavior towards weak,insipid women. This trend really turned me off of that type of reading.However, when Hope wrote her novel I was fortunate and privileged enough to have met and befriended her. Therefore, of course, I read it as soon as my copy arrived! Once I started I couldn't put it down. I was teased by my employees as I finished the novel one night at work. Anyone, that has a romantic bone in their body will be captivated by Chelsea and Anthony's story. Those who are seeking more substance to the characters will be pleased and surprised by Hope's creation of two very "real" people. Congratulations Hope on a wonderful first novel. Can't wait to read the next one!
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6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
A Richly Satisfying Read, November 18, 2000
Ms. Tarr's characters come to sparkling life, dancing across the pages and into our hearts. Her feisty heroine, Chelsea, has the readers rooting for her from the first page, and her handsome rake, Anthony, is incredibly sexy, yet touchingly vulnerable. Her love scenes are enticingly erotic, yet sensual and sweet. I predict a brilliant future for Ms. Tarr. She's destined to be a shining star in the romance genre.
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5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
A Romp, December 11, 2000
Ordinarily, I don't read romance novels, but I read this one and enjoyed it immensely: it is something of a romp. Chelsea is a high-spirited but impoverished young woman. When her brother, who did much to deplete the meager remains of the family fortune, is kidnapped, she is forced to raise money for his ransom. She turns to a series of not-very-well-thought-out crimes that involve her ever more deeply with Anthony, a handsome, but world-weary Viscount.The subplot involving Chelsea's brother and Anthony's fiance is particularly well done. It surprised and captivated me. I won't tell you aboutit -- you may want to be surprised yourself.
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A Pleasure to Read, January 14, 2008
I was drawn into the story from page one. Anthony Grenville, Viscount Montrose is a war veteran and admitted rake. He inherits lots of money and decides he must perform his duty and marry a respectable peer. He chooses a nice, but boring fiancé and is quietly resigned to his fate.
His life changes dramatically when he and his fiancé are robbed by One-Eyed Jack. Anthony suspects that it is a woman behind the disguise and is instantly intrigued. Chelsea Bellamy is the highway man in disguise and she is only resorting to a life of crime to provide the ransom for her kidnapped brother.
When Chelsea tries to steal from Anthony yet again in his London home, he reveals her disguise and they start a relationship that is anything but boring. Anthony finds Chelsea's independent streak frustrating yet admirable. He is falling fast for her but knows he is obliged to marry his fiancé.
Chelsea's perceptions of Anthony as a spoiled aristocrat change as she spends time with him. His assistance in helping her brother is invaluable, however, she worries that she is falling in love with him the more time they spend together.
These two characters are multidimensional. Chelsea truly is a great heroine. She is bold, smart, impatient and stubborn. She knows she cannot rely forever on Anthony as he is marrying in less than a month, yet she feels drawn to his strength. Her will is tested time and again with him.
Anthony is perfect for Chelsea. He realizes they have a special bond and genuinely wants to assist her. He also recognizes the evils of the world and does his best to protect Chelsea from the dangers of London.
The writing here is superb. Hope Tarr weaves wonderful details throughout this story. The opening battle scenes were well crafted with thundering cannons and muddy plains. She also has a great ear for dialogue. Her plot is refreshing and I loved the chemistry between the main characters.
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
A fresh new voice in historical romance, November 19, 2000
By A Customer
Everything I like in a romance--terrific historical detail, lots of passion and sexual tension between hero and heroine, a fast-paced plot, and terrific comic relief in the budding romance which develops between the heroine's brother and the hero's fiance. Hope Tarr is a talented writer with a real ear and eye for the period--definitely someone to watch!
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