Date published: August 2, 2011
ISBN: 9780425242674
Historical Romance
Mass Market Paperback
Reviewed by Lynne
Obtained via publisher.
Lady Arianne Chambers, sister to a duke and known in high-society as Cupid’s Mistress, finds herself reluctantly playing the wife of Michael Rafferty. Rafferty, an agent for the Crown, is also masquerading, as a British diplomat. Intent on traveling to America to flush out the man responsible for several recent murders, Rafferty takes on the responsibility of playing husband to a woman whom he believes she finds beneath her in rank and social capabilities.
Arianne feels it necessary to refine Rafferty’s rougher edges and teach him the finer arts necessary for a true diplomat to fit into the high society circles of Washington, D. C. so their ruse will not be discovered. Rafferty, secretly drawn to Arianne, is willing to go along with whatever she wants him to do to meet with her approval. During their ocean voyage to America, the two soon find themselves inevitably drawn to one another in ways neither want, yet secretly yearn for.
As traps are set and more mysteries are uncovered, once Arianne and Rafferty arrive in America, both discover their growing affections toward one another and the need to remain loyal to each other when truths are uncovered. Once on the trail of the conspirator championing Irish independence through violence and other means, Rafferty’s skills and true character are revealed, changing Arianne’s opinions of him, both as a man...and a future husband.
When dangerous intrigues, plots and secrets are later uncovered, Arianne and Rafferty, soon discover their need to be with each other regardless of their stations in life. And only when Arianne believes Rafferty is lost to her forever, does she finally admit to her true feelings for him.
REDEEMING THE ROGUE by Donna MacMeans is a delightful tale of romance and intrigue. Ms. MacMeans has a talent for words and descriptions and did a wonderful job of researching the history for this story.
REDEEMING THE ROGUE is the first book that I have read by Ms. MacMeans, but her talent for writing is unquestionable. Her characters come to life, and it doesn’t take the reader long to care for Rafferty and Arianne in a way that makes one anxious to see them finally come together.
REDEEMING THE ROGUE was a bit slow-paced for my liking but, once I got more into the story, it picked up steam. I soon found myself unable to put the book down once Arianne and Rafferty made it to America and got caught up in all that was going on. The way Ms. MacMeans skillfully weaves historical fact into REDEEMING THE ROGUE is interesting and enjoyable to read. It makes the reader want to do her own research of the time period, when President Garfield was still in office.
All of the characters in REDEEMING THE ROGUE were well thought out, and I enjoyed meeting each and every one of them. The street urchins Rafferty befriended and trusted for information were a unique addition to this story, I thought. It gave evidence of another side of Rafferty that Arianne needed to see.
There are many heartwarming aspects to REDEEMING THE ROGUE, as our hero and heroine come to know each other. There were also times I empathized with Arianne’s vulnerability and naiveté, as well as Rafferty’s frustrations at not having the one woman he cares for. Yet again, there were times I found myself smiling at something funny in the dialogue between them and other characters in REDEEMING THE ROGUE, or even laughing out loud. Ms. MacMeans is very creative and skilled with her dialogues in this story, and it endeared me to Arianne and Rafferty even more because of it.
Although this is the third book in the Chambers trilogy, REDEEMING THE ROGUE stands on its own merit. It is very well written and detailed in ways that lend credence to Ms. MacMeans talent as a writer. I enjoyed it so much that I may go looking for the first two books in this series. As it is, it would be interesting to read more about the character, Phineas, who stole my affections just for being such a great guy and a loyal friend to Rafferty.
Kudos, Ms. MacMeans, for sharing such a wonderful book in REDEEMING THE ROGUE to faithful historical romance fans everywhere. I look forward to reading more from you in future.
This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.
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