This has it all--a fascinating gem of a read!

Sometimes a Rogue (The Lost Lords #5) by Mary Jo Putney

A dastardly  kidnapping, a daring rescue alongsidetalks of love and the differences between honour and justice. The relationship between Lady Sarah Clarke-Townsend and Rob Carmichael, the Bow Street runner certainly starts with a jolt. Other nefarious deeds are waiting in the wings with the Irish fighters as central. Harrowing rides across Ireland is just the beginning.

The level of conversation between the Sarah and Rob is quite fascinating and not what one is used to in the usual regency romance. Intrigue and high adventure dog their every step, accompanied by family skeletons and family reconciliations.

Little hints concerning the stories of other of the Lost Lords has left me determined to explore the rest of this series.

I love the fact that Sarah in many respects steps outside of the bounds of acceptable behaviour, or even knowledge for women, given the times she lives in, yet the doing of, makes her a stronger, creditable and fully believable person.

Altogether enjoyable and well worth the read.

A NetGalley ARC

I read with interest that one reviewer was of the opinion that MJ's earlier books were better than these later treats. If that is so I really must track them down to compare.

Mary Jo Putney's Lost Lord Bundle: Loving a Lost Lord, Never Less Than A Lady, Nowhere Near Respectable, & No Longer a Gentleman [Kindle Edition]

I am about to read these

The Rake, originally The Rake and the Reformer (1989)

(The second book in the Davenport Family series)

I really enjoyed this. Loved Putney's comments about how Reggie came into being.

'Of all the books I've written this one is the closest to my heart.'

According to Putney, Reggie was an obnoxious jerk and drunk with, towards the end of the novel, flashes of humour. She started to wonder who he might be.

The Bargain

A cool marriage contract to a dying officer injured at Waterloo seems like the answer to Lady Jocelyn's dilemma. David Lancaster sees a deathbed marriage as the answer to his worries about his sister's future. Surprises are definitely in store.

(We meet Richard Dalton prior to his story in The Diabolical Baron)

I loved reading the Putney's 'after notes.' In fact that is a requisite before I choose the next tale. It seems to Putney's delight, her side characters develop their own strengths, intriguing her as an author, wanting to explore their off stage stories and bring them to print.   Watching these characters narratives develop seem to me to be part of the pleasure of reading Putney's novels. Certainly it is becoming so for me.  Ian Kinlock appears in three other of Putney's novels. 

In that vain I had to read her Lost Lord's Bundle, enjoying them immensely.

The Diabolical Baron to come 

(Richard Dalton's story. First book Putney published)

more Putney

Petals in the Storm or The Controversial Countess

Duke of Candover's Story