rainelle_barrett's review
4.0
As exciting that I knew that this book would be, the writer did a great job at offering my some gleaming excitement. The book was a great page turner for me. I was intrigued by the story plot and the characters. I thought the description of the characters was clear and explained their part to the plot clearly. I also thought that the plot was very entertaining. My imagination was held from the beginning of the story to the end.
glo68's review
5.0
I started this book much as an afterthought, because I had the previous one of the series to read and this one was due to be released in a couple of days and I felt quite guilty because I was behind with my ARC reading… But once I started I couldn’t seem to put it down!!! Oh, my, it had all the things I love in a historical romance book, a spy story, a forced marriage and a dark, scarred and thoroughly fascinating hero made cruel by his suffering, but transformed by love. I adored Susanna Craig’s writing, her understanding of human nature, the story she created around the spymaster and his “pupils”, the steamy bits full of passion and love, just EVERYTHING. She’s now firmly on my ever-growing list of gorgeous authors that I simply can’t miss reading!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
sylviep's review
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
msbedelia's review
4.0
I think this was my favorite of the series for the first 3/4 of it? Probably digging the really vague beauty and the beast vibes (but with all the benefits of both partners being human), tbh. The ending was fine, but for some reason I didn't absolutely love it, and that's okay. (The epilogue bidding farewell to the series felt like a bit much to me but I get why Susanna Craig did it.) All in all, this series was a lot of fun! Books 3 and 4 were especially good.
nicolesa's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
a_ab's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I have mixed feelings about this book: it was both better and worse than I had expected.
I wanted to try this new to me author, and this was the only book of hers available at my library, so I decided to disregard the series order. Thus, I might be missing some context, but this story stood well enough on its own, so I didn't feel like I was missing much.
I was surprised to like the relationships described here more than I expected I would. However, both the relationships and the book as a whole felt very dated to the historical romance interpretations of the 1990's. I would find it hard to point out exactly why, but I couldn't shake that feeling. The ever-forgiving all-understanding nature of the heroine(s)? The overwrought emotional situations? The basic almost simplistic characterizations and situations? The narrative use and descriptions of sex? Probably all of the above.
Speaking of sex: I still found there to be too much of it, but at least it served the story here (and not the other way around), which was a welcome surprise.
I also appreciated the whole spy aspect to be both low key and low stakes - without the ubiquitous and much-dreaded peril for the heroine followed by the heroic rescue by the hero. Given how 90's the whole book was, I thought this peril-rescue nonsense to be an inevitability, but the story very pleasantly surprised me in that respect.
So it's a net positive result - so much so that I might find this book rereadable and would want to try more from this author.
P.S. The title did this book a huge disservice - it's so generic bland and off-putting that it made me initially dismiss this author completely. I only picked this up based on the recommendation to try this author, and still had a hard time suppressing my aversion to the title in order to finally give this a try.
I wanted to try this new to me author, and this was the only book of hers available at my library, so I decided to disregard the series order. Thus, I might be missing some context, but this story stood well enough on its own, so I didn't feel like I was missing much.
I was surprised to like the relationships described here more than I expected I would. However, both the relationships and the book as a whole felt very dated to the historical romance interpretations of the 1990's. I would find it hard to point out exactly why, but I couldn't shake that feeling. The ever-forgiving all-understanding nature of the heroine(s)? The overwrought emotional situations? The basic almost simplistic characterizations and situations? The narrative use and descriptions of sex? Probably all of the above.
Speaking of sex: I still found there to be too much of it, but at least it served the story here (and not the other way around), which was a welcome surprise.
I also appreciated the whole spy aspect to be both low key and low stakes - without the ubiquitous and much-dreaded peril for the heroine followed by the heroic rescue by the hero. Given how 90's the whole book was, I thought this peril-rescue nonsense to be an inevitability, but the story very pleasantly surprised me in that respect.
So it's a net positive result - so much so that I might find this book rereadable and would want to try more from this author.
P.S. The title did this book a huge disservice - it's so generic bland and off-putting that it made me initially dismiss this author completely. I only picked this up based on the recommendation to try this author, and still had a hard time suppressing my aversion to the title in order to finally give this a try.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Sexual content, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Murder, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse
hotlizard's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
General Zebadiah Scott, that old rascal, strikes again. I actually really liked this one. The slow burn was sort accelerated x10 but otherwise great plot, not bad spice. But now that General Scott's matchmaking schemes have come to an end - since the series ended - I'm a little sad AND I think I can speak for everyone that's read the series, when I say that we need a book on the start of romance between him and his wife Helen. He can't be this good at matchmaking and not have had an obnoxiously adorable and sweet story himself. GIVE ME ZEBADIAH.
00laura23's review
4.0
3.5
I found Caro and Maxim interesting and fun characters. They are very relatable and had me cheering for them. Maxim is a scarred character both inside and outside; those scares are reflected in his character/personality. Caro is strong, smart, bookish and scared in her own ways. I enjoyed their exchanges and times together. Some of the secondary characters added dimensions to the story – both the romance and the mystery.
I wanted more from the mystery then what we were given. It was an interesting story, but in comparison to others in the series not as interesting for me. There were a couple of situations and characters that I didn’t understand what purpose in the story they played (the story could have done without them).
This is a good series and I highly recommend it. Craig ended this story and the series in the best possible way – the epilogue takes place in 1815 – years after each of the other books. It brings all the characters back and shows where they are in their HEA. Very good ending in my books.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I found Caro and Maxim interesting and fun characters. They are very relatable and had me cheering for them. Maxim is a scarred character both inside and outside; those scares are reflected in his character/personality. Caro is strong, smart, bookish and scared in her own ways. I enjoyed their exchanges and times together. Some of the secondary characters added dimensions to the story – both the romance and the mystery.
I wanted more from the mystery then what we were given. It was an interesting story, but in comparison to others in the series not as interesting for me. There were a couple of situations and characters that I didn’t understand what purpose in the story they played (the story could have done without them).
This is a good series and I highly recommend it. Craig ended this story and the series in the best possible way – the epilogue takes place in 1815 – years after each of the other books. It brings all the characters back and shows where they are in their HEA. Very good ending in my books.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
witandsin's review
5.0
Reviewed for Wit and Sin
I adore a good second chance romance and Every Rogue Has His Charm is a wonderful one. Susanna Craig wraps up her Love and Let Spy series with an utterly engrossing love story.
An innocent mistake, a locked library, and a marriage to save a lady’s reputation – that’s how Caroline ended up wed to the mysterious Marquess of Chesleigh. Married to a stranger, Caro discovers it’s actually quite easy to grow fond of her dark and dangerous husband. But when Maxim up and leaves four days after their wedding, Caro is left on her own. Six years later she’s in Brighton when who turns up at her door but her husband! Caro is determined not to fall for Maxim again, but that’s easier said than done when the flame that burned brightly between them never went out.
Caro is bright, smart, and independent. She didn’t wither with all the whispers when her husband abandoned her. She created her own life, though it is a bit lonely. Maxim, a spy embedded in France, has returned to England to share critical intelligence. Except he keeps getting distracted by his wife. The wife he abandoned because he was terrified of opening his heart to her. Maxim screwed up badly with Caro but he wants to make it up to her. I loved watching them both come out of their shells. They are so sweet together it brought a smile on my face. They’re the type of couple who just match each other perfectly and I was easily lost in their romance.
Craig gives readers a two-for-one in this book as widowed Fanny Drummond also gets her chance at love in this book. Fanny has long been part of the Underground but when finally tasked with a mission she seizes the opportunity – and finds love along the way. Like Caro and Maxim, Fanny has been hiding her true self and she comes into her own in this story. I enjoyed her journey almost as much as I did Caro and Maxim’s.
Every Rogue Has His Charm has danger, intrigue and a lovely romance with a hero and heroine who are easy to root for. I adored this book from beginning to end. If you’re new to the Love and Let Spy series, you can easily jump in here. And if you’re a fan, then the epilogue featuring the matchmaking General Scott is sure to put a smile on your face. I loved Maxim and Caro’s story and I can’t wait to read it again!
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I also purchased a copy of this book. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I adore a good second chance romance and Every Rogue Has His Charm is a wonderful one. Susanna Craig wraps up her Love and Let Spy series with an utterly engrossing love story.
An innocent mistake, a locked library, and a marriage to save a lady’s reputation – that’s how Caroline ended up wed to the mysterious Marquess of Chesleigh. Married to a stranger, Caro discovers it’s actually quite easy to grow fond of her dark and dangerous husband. But when Maxim up and leaves four days after their wedding, Caro is left on her own. Six years later she’s in Brighton when who turns up at her door but her husband! Caro is determined not to fall for Maxim again, but that’s easier said than done when the flame that burned brightly between them never went out.
Caro is bright, smart, and independent. She didn’t wither with all the whispers when her husband abandoned her. She created her own life, though it is a bit lonely. Maxim, a spy embedded in France, has returned to England to share critical intelligence. Except he keeps getting distracted by his wife. The wife he abandoned because he was terrified of opening his heart to her. Maxim screwed up badly with Caro but he wants to make it up to her. I loved watching them both come out of their shells. They are so sweet together it brought a smile on my face. They’re the type of couple who just match each other perfectly and I was easily lost in their romance.
Craig gives readers a two-for-one in this book as widowed Fanny Drummond also gets her chance at love in this book. Fanny has long been part of the Underground but when finally tasked with a mission she seizes the opportunity – and finds love along the way. Like Caro and Maxim, Fanny has been hiding her true self and she comes into her own in this story. I enjoyed her journey almost as much as I did Caro and Maxim’s.
Every Rogue Has His Charm has danger, intrigue and a lovely romance with a hero and heroine who are easy to root for. I adored this book from beginning to end. If you’re new to the Love and Let Spy series, you can easily jump in here. And if you’re a fan, then the epilogue featuring the matchmaking General Scott is sure to put a smile on your face. I loved Maxim and Caro’s story and I can’t wait to read it again!
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I also purchased a copy of this book. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
asomeone's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0