REVIEW: An Alleged Rogue by Sian Ann Bessey
Lord Adam Dunsbourne is a tyrant. At least, that’s what everyone says. The tales are shocking: accounts of a man who gambled away the family fortune and keeps his younger sister, Emily, captive in their home at Dunsbourne Manor. So when Adam and his sister make an unexpected appearance at a dinner party, the scandalized whispers cannot be contained.
New to the town, Phoebe Hadford hears the condemning rumors and determines to do all she can to help the baron’s oppressed sister. Upon entering Dunsbourne Manor, however, she quickly discovers that all is not what she has been led to believe.
Adam, though unsure of whether he can trust the intentions of his beautiful neighbor, is quickly drawn in by Phoebe’s genuine nature. But even as his and Phoebe’s connection deepens, a dangerous enemy from his past reemerges. For years, Adam has hunted for the man who betrayed him, not realizing he had only to wait. His foe has returned, and this time, he will threaten everything Adam cherishes most—including the woman he loves.
Dear Ms. Bessey,
“An Alleged Rogue” is a bit different from the other book of yours I’ve read, “A Kingdom to Claim” :1788 Georgian England vs 9th century Anglo-Saxon. It’s definitely a romance but at times that gets (gently) pushed back a bit as there is also revenge, redemption, and apple cider involved. And just so people know, the opening scene is told from the viewpoint of the villain.
Adam has been on the trail of the swindler who conned Adam’s (now deceased) father out of all the family money, leaving Adam to try and save the estate. Over five years, he’s sold what can be sold, let servants go who could no longer be paid, scrimped and saved where he can and sought Freddie Payne. In retrenching, Adam has withdrawn from Society and inadvertently kept his younger sister, Emily, from being ready for her (in a few years) upcoming Season. Yes, for the plot to work this all has to be true but I was gobsmacked that Adam wouldn’t have thought of the price his sister might pay or that country society of that era didn’t shun each other.
Rumors of why Adam and Emily are not in society have swirled and newcomer Phoebe gets the wrong end of the stick from people who know them better and would ostensibly know what’s what. But it’s just not adding up for Phoebe who finds Emily delightful and her brother excited about the venture he’s begun in order to try and recoup the family fortune. Trusting her gut instinct, Phoebe befriends Emily and begins to help her with choosing clothes and learning to dance. The more Phoebe visits their house, the higher her opinion of Adam grows. Determined to help, she joins in Adam’s enterprise (and that she manages to hoodwink her mother is another “got swallow it” plot point).
But Freddie the Swindler is back in the country and has eyes on a new mark. One very close to Phoebe’s home. Will he be stopped in this and can his dastardly revenge be thwarted?
“An Alleged Rogue” is published by Covenant, an inspirational publisher, but it’s not really an inspie, rather it’s a sweet romance with no sex. I enjoyed the story despite it’s slower pace and the amount of cider information about which ymmv. Adam is lucky in how loyal his remaining retainers are given that many have to do two or three jobs. Most of the main and secondary characters are more on the, well maybe not faultless but definitely less flawed side. Most of the issues are due to miscommunication, the rumors, and of course Freddie’s ruthless cons. Freddie is truly the villain and (per the author note) based on a real life Georgian con man.
Adam and Phoebe spend a great deal of time together and reveal their hidden depths in telling ways. Adam is expecting Phoebe to turn on the family so he’s initially a bit standoffish as he doesn’t want to see his sister, who is becoming Phoebe’s friend, hurt. Phoebe listens to the rumors but doesn’t immediately make up her mind. When Adam tells her that he would never cheat anyone or take to drink, he’s already revealed more than most gentlemen would. When Phoebe tells Adam what people are saying about him, she shows that she’s more interested in getting the truth rather than jumping to conclusions. Their interactions are mainly chaste and sweet although they talk a lot and truly get to know each other.
I’d say this is more a historical lite book. Some things pulled me up and made me do some research. None of these seem to be egregious but rather are pin pricks such as Phoebe paying to send mail rather than sending her letters for the recipients to pay for, whether or not poker was played in 1788 England, and did Georgian dancers applaud after the end of a dance, etc. Minor quibbles.
This is part of a series and I might go back to one book which features Phoebe’s sister. Despite my issues, I wanted to know what was going to happen next and would Freddie be stopped so maybe a B/B-
~Jayne
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This sounds entertaining and not taxing to read which suits me right now!