I haven't read the other books in this series, so that may be part of why this book was so tedious to read. Putney had to explain a lot which really stunted the story.However, I found myself repeatedly thinking, "eww!" so many times. The attraction between Sarah and Rob felt contrived.I just didn't like it. The whole Ireland piece was unconvincing. The rebels seemed more like the goblins in Little Orphan Annie than real men. The boat ride was again so fake. Then having them land at his castle. And on and on. One massively unrealistic save after another. I'm done with Putney for a while after this.I think I'll go find me an oldie but goodie to wash away the disappointment from this one. Looking for an exceptional historical romance? A story of daring do? A story where people make the right choices for the right reasons? A story of adventure and love? Of creating family from what you are given? (No I am not going to say well read something else.. although I was tempted to just to play with your heads). Well Mary Jo Putney offers us all of this and more! This was my first Mary Jo Putney book and I promise it will not be my last!! I was captivated from the very beginning.Rob Carmichael was the spare.. a child of promise that was tossed away because his family was well stupid. They were greedy and gluttonous and just darn right nasty. His father and brother did everything they could to destroy him, including paying off the woman he loved, and well having him shanghaied (best thing his brother ever did for him). Rob's family thinks him dead and honestly he is perfectly happy with that. Since the only person in his family that he loved, his mother, had been dead many years.. why bother going back? Instead he has created a life for himself, he spent years in India and now he is a respected Bow Street Runner. He finds people... So when the sister-in-law of one of his best friends goes missing, who else are they going to ask to find her?Miss Sarah Clarke-Townsend would like just a little bit of adventure in her life. She knows her chances for Happily ever after are dwindling so she wants a bit of life before she settles down to maiden aunt (she's 25). But when she and her oh so pregnant twin are out for a jaunt in the carriage.. Sarah begins to rethink that whole adventure thing. First, her sister goes into labor and they have to send the groom back for help, a wagon and well help.. Then while resting in an ancient church on their lands, kidnappers appear.. Sarah knows her sister will never survive a kidnapping so she hides sis in a crypt.. and claims to be her. Explaining away the non existent baby bump with a glib comment on early deliveries.. and Sarah is taken and no one is sure why. While Sarah is determined to survive she isn't sure that is going to happen and would be perfectly happy to be rescued any time now. When Rob Carmichael finally shows up they have to find a way out of Ireland and back to England.. They have to work together and deny any attraction that they feel towards each other. There is no place or time in this rescue for anything but escape.. But a storm in the channel between England and Ireland leaves them thinking they are going to die.. everything changes.. landing on the very land Rob has been trying to run from for his entire adult life, they find that everything has changed.. His father and brother are dead and Rob is now the Earl.. only his crankyass Grandmother would be perfectly happy if he too had died.. And that's not the only surprise for poor Rob.. The woman he loved and lost? She too is dead but she left a beautiful daughter who was being raised by her disgusting grandfather. Rob's entire world has changed in a minute and now so too must his views.. the only thing keeping him sane is the presence of Miss Sarah Clarke-Townsend.. that is when she isn't trying to help him find the "right" bride.. Can Rob do this on his own? Or when he finally realizes that Sarah really is his only hope will she stand beside him? Does their love even stand a chance? And will those that sought to destroy the Duke and his wife (Sarah's sister and Brother-in-law) leave them alone? Or are they now part of those hunted? Intrigue, romance and just a little spice!! Great Job!!ShauniThis review is based on the ARC of Sometimes A Rogue provided by netgalley and is scheduled to be released on August 27, 2013
