When the Rogue Returns

Victor Cale was once betrayed by Isabella, his young sweet wife who he trusted with his life. But when she used her talent to create imitation jewels, to steal authentic jewels, then she disappeared from his life. Now ten years later he has found a family, a job in a investigation business called the "Dukes Men". Victor is sent on a job, up to Edinburgh, to investigate a woman who is involved with a young man, whose mother is concerned for his welfare. So when he learns that her description fits the exact image of his wife, he knows he must head up to Edinburgh, and discover the truth. Isa believes that it is Victor who abandoned her. Isabella has always loved Victor, but years ago, her family coerced her into working for them, but she never stole the jewels Victor believed her to have stolen. Isa believes that Victor betrayed her, and then abandoned her and their daughter. Now ten years later, with a new life and changed identity, she has a place here in Edinburgh, until the husband that abandoned her shows up asking all sort of question and demanding explanations. Victor and Isabella will have to learn to let go of mistrusts and learn to trust in each other and the love they share to defeat the enemy that is just beyond their reach and could threaten their future and their daughter.When The Rogue Returns is the second in the Dukes Men series. I was given a ARC of this title in return of a honest review through Edelweiss and Pocket Books. Now I have to say that after reading this I don't know which book in the series is my favorite, I feel like ripping my hair in frustration, how to choose? Well I think I am at a impasse! When The Rogue Returns was so amazing!!! I still can't believe how much I actually enjoyed this one. I really love the second chance themed romances, especially when Sabrina Jeffries is at the helm. This story was so romantic and sweet and suspenseful and plenty of steamy action to satisfy any romance lover. When The Rogue Returns is a story that begins with beginning glimpse of Isabella and Victor when they were newly married and young, and full of love not knowing what future awaited them or that they would be torn apart for ten years. Then it jumps ten years into the future, and you see both sides, and what each has suffered and struggled with over the past years. Secrets abound, and suspension rise when they see each other again. When they both eventually learn the truth of how they were both betrayed and lost ten years together, they join forces both in rediscovering each other and discovering the truth and finding a way to be together once again. This plot is definitely packed full of action and mystery and intrigue. I enjoyed the way the author seemed to put this story together in such a way that it enthralls the reader until you have finished the story and are left aching for more and more from this author.There is quite a bit that goes on in this story, much more than I ever expected to find. We see a suspenseful portion to the story, a small side romance of a friend of Isa's, more involvement from Dom and others in the Duke's Men, and more history on Victor Cale. Even though this story takes place in Scotland, its in the Regency era, so you don't see too much of culture or countryside of Scotland or the irresistible brogue. It definitely has more of a regency theme to the story, however this would probably be one of my top favorite regency romances yet. This unique story is somewhat different than most other regency style romances, and I loved the ups and downs and unique flips this story takes on. Definitely can hardly wait until the third installment comes out.Overall a thrilling paced romance that is going to drive you wild!! A love story that is tender and sweet, yet suspenseful and intense at times. A tale to give you a thrill and bring a few surprises to your doorstep. A hands down unforgettable story of betrayal, sacrifice, and love. REMARKABLY WRITTEN!!

This is probably actually a 2.5 star book for me, but there wasn't anything absolutely horrid in it so I'm rounding up. Because the story takes place nearly 10 years after the opening scenes and the characters were separated for that time, it required A LOT of two characters standing around taking turns filling the other in on the missed events of the past decade. And it's just very difficult to make recapping stories after the fact as engaging as going through them with the characters. Also, pretty much the entire justification for the first half of the book rests on the characters daftly clinging to some faulty conclusions despite all likelihood pointing against it, and I get why it was written that way and tried to just give it a pass, but it really went beyond any sort of believability. At a certain point, either the characters are entirely witless or the circumstances are bullshit. To just continue on and on, as if that weren't the case, almost starts to feel insulting as a reader. Those were the two most bothersome issues for me, but a significant third was the inconsistencies in the description of their relationship. One moment it would be 'they had loved each other so very deeply!' then the very next they'd be thinking about how 'they really hadn't known the other person at all and hadn't even shared the most basic things about themselves', then that they'd had 'such an incredible sex life', but also 'he'd been too young and reserved to ever ask her to actually touch either of their genitals and she'd been to shy to even touch his chest', then the next thing you know they'd be 'rhapsodizing about all their memories of the other, they'd never forget their smells and kisses and how they'd always do such and such' and then, like the very next page, how 'they had only been married a week after all and only known each other for a few weeks before that'. ... Which is it?? It felt like Jeffries had zero cares for consistency and just chose whatever suited her point from moment to moment. . Also, the hero seemed weirdly opposed to reason. He would argue some emotional claim and the heroine would reply with something backed up by facts, and he would literally respond with something like 'damn you and your logic!', without being the least bit sardonic! Once or twice you could ignore, but he really did it quite a lot. Some people are like that I suppose, but it was kind of a weird quality in a hero. I didn't particularly care for him for large parts of the book, but from time to time he impressed me. The heroine also ended up seeming a bit overly apologetic. Nothing was horrid though, and the book got a bit better towards the end I thought.

This is a story of second chance at love and even though I found the romance predictable, the rest of the story was not.

As was the case with the first book in this series, this is another complex story featuring even more complex characters. Once more I had to concentrate very hard in order to follow the story and in the end I liked it.

I'm actually glad that this series is turning out to be this complex in nature.

Melanie for b2b
Complimentary copy provided by the publisher

Very good second chance/reunion story. Ten years ago Victor and Isa were very much in love and newly married. Victor was working as a guard for a jeweler and Isa was working for the same jeweler. She has a talent for making beautiful imitation jewels. Isa's sister and brother-in-law have forced her to make a fake set of Dutch royal jewels and are planning to switch them for the real thing. Isa has thought of a way to stop them, but is drugged by her sister, and her relatives pull off the switch anyway. The next day, Isa is told by her sister that Victor helped them, then left to throw authorities off the trail, but would join them later. Meanwhile, Victor finds a note from his wife telling him she has left him because he isn't good enough for her, leaving him to take the blame for the theft.Ten years later, both have moved on. Victor has discovered that he is the cousin of a Duke (What the Duke Desires). He's living in London, but society life isn't for him, he's worked for his living his whole life. So he goes to the Manton Agency and asks if he can work for them. They send him to Edinburgh to investigate a woman who may be trying to dupe a wealthy young baron into marrying her. The description of the woman sounds a lot like his wife, so he's eager to check her out. He's been searching for her the whole time. Meanwhile, after Victor abandoned her, Isa found herself pregnant and desperate to get away from her family, She created a new identity for herself and apprenticed to a jeweler moving to Edinburgh. She now has a successful career and a nine year old daughter she loves dearly.Isa is stunned to see Victor in Edinburgh. She is certain that he's only there to ask her to make more fakes for him to use to steal more jewels. At the same time, Victor thinks that Isa is after a way to steal the baron's family gems. After several days where Victor tries to get Isa alone, he finally succeeds, and makes his accusations. Isa is stunned by what he says, and has her own accusations to make. When they actually take the time to compare stories, they realize that they were set up by her relatives and have spent ten years hating each other for no reason. Of the two, Victor has the harder time letting go of his anger and seeing that he has blamed Isa for something that she didn't do. Now they have to decide if their marriage is able to be saved.Isa and Victor had been very young when they married and both had had their own insecurities. Victor's childhood hadn't been good, with a father who had kidnapped another man's son, and later died a syphilitic madman. Victor had become a soldier fighting the French until the war ended. He had been afraid to share his past with Isa, certain she would leave him if she knew about his past. When he was questioned about the jewels' disappearance, the authorities accused him of working with Isa, using his own past against him. He didn't want to believe that she had used him, but her disappearance had him doubting himself, though he still wouldn't confirm their accusations. Isa had been young and innocent and believed in Victor's love. She hadn't told him what her relatives were doing because she thought that she could stop them without him having to know. She had a hard time believing such a brave soldier would be interested in her, and her sister used that against her. When Victor never came after her, she believed her sister had been right. Now that they are older and wiser, they realize that they were both used. I liked the fact that the truth about what happened didn't take too long to come out, and that they actually did believe each other as they worked it out. But both of them are still reluctant to trust the other, sensing that there are unrevealed secrets. Victor still wants Isa's relatives brought to justice, but Isa is afraid that exposing the truth could put both her and Victor in danger, and ruin their daughter's life too. Now that their anger with each other is gone, their old feelings are coming back to the surface. I loved seeing them get to know each other again and try to rebuild their marriage.I loved the way that Isa has matured over the last ten years. She is no longer the quiet girl, content to let others tell her what to do. She has become strong and independent and has no trouble telling Victor when she doesn't like something that he is doing. However, she still has moments when she isn't sure of his motives for doing something. Victor has also gotten more confident in himself and who he is, but like Isa, still has lapses in his belief in her innocence. He wants his revenge, or justice, on Isa's relatives and has to rethink things when she points out the hazards. I liked seeing them realize that they are stronger together, as long as they can maintain their belief in each other. When Isa's relatives make a reappearance after ten years of leaving Isa alone, Isa's daughter is put into danger. They must find a way to put their trust issues behind them for good if they are going to save Amalie and make a go of their marriage.I really enjoyed the secondary characters also, and the layers they brought to the story. Baron Rupert was one of the best. He is young and rather awkward socially. He is the Regency version of a nerd, and Isa is one of his few friends. He has a crush on her and is pretty sweet because of it. But he is also a very good friend to her and plays a very big part in Amalie's rescue. He also ends up with a pretty sweet romance of his own. I also loved seeing Max and Tristan and Dom from the first book and seeing how they support Victor. They show up just in time to help Victor and Isa. I loved the ingenuity of their plan and how it all came together. I enjoyed the scene with Tristan and Lady Zoe, and what appears to be the set up for the next book in the series.*copy received in exchange for honest review.

After years of searching, Victor finds his missing wife, Isabelle. He believes she is the reason he was wrongly accused of stealing royal jewels. Anger and resentment boils hot between these two. He wants revenge, she will do anything to protect their daughter (which he knows nothing about.)What a fun, angsty read! It was fast paced, with plenty of secrets and surprises along the way to keep me hooked. Another good historical romance, if that is what you are looking for.I received this book in exchange for an honest book review.

Read for Review (NetGalley)Overall Rating: 4.50Story Rating: 4.50Character Rating: 4.50First Thought when Finished: Holy historical goodness! When the Rogue Returns was an absolute freaking good read!Story Thoughts: What do you do when you think you are wronged and see that person 10 years later? Especially when that person is your husband/wife? Well all I can say is that in When the Rogue Returns the banter was witty, the miscommunication was immense, and the reconnection was freaking fantastic. I enjoyed every stinking minute of this book!Character Thoughts: Vic oh Vic! You made my heart pound and my nose twitch. You were broody, wrong,and oh so handsome. I am glad that Isabella couldn't resist you either time. Isa! You were smart, resourceful, and your secret was mighty. I am glad that you were the woman who could hold it all together and thrive. Together you made a wonderful pair!Final Thoughts: Oh how I loved When the Rogue Returns!

a dearth of 'rogues' _______unless your counting the villain and and the other ducal Manton investigators.Talented maker of artificial gems, Isabella is caught up in a plot to steal a betrothal diamonds necklace belonging to Dutch Royalty.Masterminded by her brother-in-law, Gerhart, and sister Jacoba, Isabella is devastated to learn that her husband Victor Cale was part of the heist. Not only that, but he has deserted her.Broken hearted she changes her identity and flees to Edinburg where she becomes a successful jeweller and business woman.Of course we find out that the truth is far from what she thought.Her husband Victor, has also had a change fortunes. Once a soldier without family connections, he has since found out that he's a cousin to a Duke and has been welcomed back into the fold.His new family runs an inquiry agency near Bow Street, Manton's Investigations. He undertakes to go to Edinburg to follow up a client's case, not the least because he realizes that the name of the woman he is to investigate is called Sofia Franke, the same surname as his mother. Is this coincidence?Of course he finds Isabella, the woman who threw him over for a lucrative criminal life. The premise of the novel is great. Isabella's work as a maker of quality imitation stones is fascinating, but truthfully I found both lead characters somewhat flat. In the end, although there was a jewell heist, wicked protagonists, and romance I was just not drawn in. I am still wondering why 'Rogue' is in the title. Victor doesn't seem at all roguish to me. All in all Rogue Returns is disappointing despite having all the right elements; grand theft, intrigue, love and adventure. There's just no 'wow' factor in the interaction between the main characters. They're all just a little too wooden. Still, the potential depth of this novel Inclines me to hope for promise realized in forthcoming titles. A NetGalley ARC

Title: When The Rogue ReturnsAuthor: Sabrina JeffriesGenre: Historical RegencyStory Setting: Amsterdam, Paris, Scotland, London Published By: Pocket Books (January 21, 2014)Pages: 400ASIN: B00DPM7YP4“Anyone who loves romance must read Sabrina Jeffries!” – New York Times bestselling author Lisa KleypasAbout the Author: Sabrina Jeffries has written 35 novels and eight stories of short fiction. She has more than 6 million books in print in 18 different languages. Certainly this is a testament to the delight that these stories bring to her readers. The Duke Men’s Series as of tomorrow consists of two books: What the Duke Desires and When a Rogue Returns. It is a series based around an investigative agency which was created through pride of family and passion. These men risk their lives to discover devious deceptions and scandalizing transgressions which occasionally having them risk their hearts.About the Story: Isabella escaped her thieving sister and brother-in-law in Paris when she read in the newspaper that a jewelry maker who made imitation jewelry was moving to Scotland. When she found herself with child she knew she had to escape. She decided to apply for the position of assistant. Scotland would be far enough away for her to begin a new life. If she stayed with her sister and brother-in-law, she would be an accomplice to their thievery. She already was an accomplice to the last theft. What had she done? Where was her husband? Did he truly leave her taking part of the heisted jewels with him? Was his love so shallow that he could do that to her? She knew so little about him—they had been married such a short time. Victor Cale could not believe that his wife would use him to make a heist on the Dutch royal family jewels. He thought he knew her. She was sweet and shy, certainly no one who could do what she did. But she, her sister and brother-in-law must have been planning it all along. As the night guard on duty when the switch was made, he was the prime suspect. And when his sister and family did not return, the authorities worked on Victor to get him to tell them that his wife and family had done the robbery. Victor held out even though being tortured. He did not tell them. The experience had hardened and embittered him. He spent the next 10 years looking for his wife so that he could seek revenge for what she did to him…until one day through a stroke of good luck he found her. She was in Scotland impersonating a widow using his mother’s maiden name.While Isa thought her husband had left her running off with part of the jewels, he thought that she had run off with the jewels. Neither trusted the other. Yet, they still were attracted to each other. The flame of passion from ten years ago only burned brighter. Isa was no long the shy, sweet woman. She’s bold and she confronts him about his crime. She’s a lioness and must protect her cub, Amalie, now nine years old. He cannot know that she exists. He will never have her! Victor cannot believe that she is trying to get out of being caught, because caught he intended her to be. He would get his revenge. My Thoughts: Sabrina Jeffries has the perfect mix of romance, suspense and villainous characters in her stories. They are a delight to read. This series promises to be as addictive as her others. I love women who are changed from sweet to something more. Obviously Victor does, too, because he is ever more drawn to his wife, her boldness pleases him. It doesn’t take him long to be drawn into her net. Likewise, Isa finds her husband to be more attractive and she approves of the changes that she finds in him. But, can they come to trust each other again? Will they be able to share each other’s secrets? If I rated books, this would take a top rating.