Review: Revealing a Rogue: (The Hadfields #1) by Rachel Ann Smith


Print Length: 187 pages
Publisher: Penford Publishing (October 20, 2020)

From Goodreads.com: As secretary at Neale & Sons barristers, an unusual job for a woman, little surprises Miss Bronwyn Cadby. But nothing could prepare Bronwyn for the day Landon Neale, the Earl of Hadfield, waltzes into the office and proposes marriage — to her.

Ready to fulfill his duty and marry, Landon decides the only woman who suits his needs is the brilliant and fiery Miss Bronwyn. But the woman is no blushing debutante. Rather than accept his proposal outright and marry properly, she insists they elope to Gretna Green.

Landon has one carriage ride to reveal his inner rogue and convince Bronwyn she is worthy of being his countess. With every scandalous mile that passes, he will work to win over his reluctant bride.

But will her plan to divert him from the altar succeed?

Revealing a Rogue is a fun, steamy regency romance. If you like unconventional heroines and rogues in disguise, then you’ll adore Rachel Ann Smith’s fast-paced series-opener.


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My Rating: 2 stars out of 5

I had a difficult time connecting to this novel. To begin with, there is a whole secondary plot that revolves around these characters. A "secret society" called the Network and another even more secret society that are known as the Protectors of the Royal Family (or PROFs for short). Time and again, we see this moniker used (as Landon also happens to be the head PROF), but we never actually learn about what they do, or what makes him so important. In fact, there are so many people thrown into this story that are members of one or the other of these societies that it becomes muddled just who is who.

I also struggled a lot with Bronwyn. We are lead to believe that this is a character unlike any other heroine of the time period, with her fiery personality and keen mind (she holds a position that until her had been held only by men for crying out loud). And for awhile she is everything she was promised to be. But then she marries Landon and completely loses herself. Instead of being the woman we have gotten to know up until this point she starts seconds guessing herself, and allowing what she perceives as others opinions of her to be dictate that she isn't good enough to be Landon's wife. First, she hides away during a house party, refusing to be introduced until the last couple arrives, and even then she waits until the last possible moment so that introductions cannot be made until after dinner. A dinner of course, where she decides she can never live up to the other ladies and flees in the night. Also, we are lead to believe that she is somehow meant to protect Landon, but we never see an instances of this either. 

Overall, I believe there were a lot of missed opportunities with this one. Chances to show off Bronwyn in her role as protector (which also may have helped with her lack of self-esteem) or even the PROFs or the Network in action). Or heck, even just the two of them settling into their roles as husband and wife OUTSIDE of the bedroom. Because I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm no prude by any stretch of the imagination, but if you read one sex scene in a book, well you've read all the sex scenes in that book. Nothing really changes. We get it, they enjoy bed sport. Nothing wrong with that, but give us more to go on. And a little more explanation as to how Bronwyn's father can refuse to "recognize" the marriage until his daughter gets the PROF tattoo would have been enjoyed as well. For all the talk of Landon being the highest ranking among the group, they sure seemed to be able to ignore what he said with no problem. 

Even with these things, I would give this author another shot later on down the road if I happen to come across another of her stories just to see how they might compare to this one. 

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

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                                                                   Revealing a Rogue is available from Amazon.com

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