Member Reviews

Emily Moss cannot stand the roguish Alexander Bredon. As this season's most desired debut, she could have any man she wants. Unfortunately, Lady Lancaster pairs her up with none other than the incorrigible man himself. With mutual dislike and contempt, Alex would rather be doing anything other than escorting the high and mighty Emily, until a secret about her falls into his lap. Suddenly, he realizes there may be more to the lady than he originally thought.
This was a really fun story. I really all of characters. The story flowed well and I read through it pretty quickly. I look forward to reading more from this author. I recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

Was this review helpful?

This was a new author for me, and I was not disappointed in the least. The story was fast paced, well written with great characters and it had some suspense, humor and romance. Totally awesome story! I was very quickly pulled into the story and had a hard time putting the book down right up until the end. Loved it! I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.

Was this review helpful?

This was a really enjoyable read! The author paints such a vivid picture with her words and I could imagine every character and everything as it happened.

And the characters.. well; this story has wonderful characters! The secondary characters were just as interesting and as fun the hero and heroine.

The romance is incredibly well developed I think - I really liked the secret letters and the way they fell in love with one another. Alexander is such a gentlemen and even though I normally love reading about alpha males, this was very refreshing. It fits the setting of course, seeing ‘when’ it takes place. I haven’t read a historical romance in a while so I thoroughly enjoyed this.

The authors writing was really enjoyable and made it a fast-paced read. It involved a lot of detail but not in a boring way!

A really enjoyable hater to lovers romance that kept me entertained until the very end. I am going to have to go back and read the previous books in the series.

I would definitely recommend this story and I can't wait to read more from this author!

Was this review helpful?

Lady Emily Moss is part of a very exclusive group of women. They have each had exciting or dangerous missions and some have found men to love. Our heroine is hoping the same will happen for her. She is a little distracted by a new pen pal.
Alexander Bredon has changed his attitude to life since an incident a year ago. He realized he was still acting out like a young boy. It became obvious it was past time for him to grow up and be responsible for himself. Unfortunately some people can't see that he has changed, particularly the one woman who has been a thorn in his hide since they were children.
A lovely sentimental story with excitement, humour and a little danger. The characters are all great fun. This is part of a series, but each book can be read on it's own. Be warned they will tempt you to read all of them.
I loved it.

Was this review helpful?

I loved the plot of this book: a proper English young lady and a roguish English gent can't stand each other. Then they accidentally began exchanging anonymous letters with each other and gradually fall in love. It sounded great. But the actual execution fell flat for me. The dialogue was stiff and also too modern. That wasn't a lot of that witty banter that I associate (right or wrong) with Regency romances.

Also, I never felt like I really got to know the lead characters. There wasn't a lot of depth for me. Granted, this is the first book I have read in this series, but I would. think that in each book the 2 lead characters would have more character development.

Lastly, everyone just seemed "too perfect" in this book. They all ended up happily ever after and had perfect lives and relationships. There was some conflict between the 2 leads, but honestly, not much. And while I liked the lead male, he never really acted like a former rogue to me.

Again, great plot idea, but not executed to my taste.

Was this review helpful?

Emily and Alexander are complete opposites, or so they think. What starts as an anonymous letter turns into romance. I loved how the author brought these two characters together. I would definitely read more of this series.

Was this review helpful?

This book did not work for me.
Children having the language of of adults.
Characters acting and speaking foreign of the book's setting. As if the author took modern characters and dressed them up for the period.
Not once did I lose myself in the story, and only completed it because I got the book from NetGalley.

Was this review helpful?

What an amazing story! I could not put this book down (ended up reading until 2am on a work day...). Great story!

Was this review helpful?

From an early age, Emily Moss has disliked Alex Bredon and the feeling is mutual. However, Emily and Alex are paired up by Lady Lancaster which makes both of them unhappy. I love the idea of enemies falling in love. Both have preconceived ideas about the other that change as they spend time together working to solve a mystery. This is a new author for me but I love her writing style. The story flows well and I did not want to stop reading it. I will definitely read more by this author. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Net Galley.

Was this review helpful?

High and mighty Emily Moss and the roguish Alexander Bredon are paired together at her season debut, problem is they dislike each other, that is until he finds something out about her that just may turn the tides
I received a copy and I am voluntarily leaving my own honest opinion

.

Was this review helpful?

Emily Moss, age 9, and daughter of the Duke of Torrington, is at the funeral of her friend, Meg, who died of hunger. Emily is furious that this could happen as Meg’s father, Johnns, is the Duke’s chef. Having gotten caught up in preparation for a large dinner party, he failed to ensure that his ailing daughter was being fed and cared for. Unable to feed herself, she died. Emily then declared that her mission in life would be to prevent hunger and neglect from taking any more lives. In addition, she vowed to never again lose her self-control.

Alexander Bredon, age 14, and son of the late Earl of Pembroke is overheard by Emily crying in the graveyard. Apologizing for interrupting him, he rudely tells her he will never marry and he doesn’t expect her to understand because she is just a girl. Angered by his words, she tells him she hates him and always will.

1815

At nearly 19-years-old, Emily lost her parents just a year ago. She is now a very wealthy and beautiful young woman. Her uncle with whom she lives has told her that if she doesn’t choose a suitor by age 20, he will choose one for her.

Emily has joined Lady Lancaster’s Garden Society. The group is made up of debutantes of the season. Some of the young ladies are lovely and some are shy wallflowers. Little does Emily know that the young ladies are to be trained to be spies to help with cases of blackmail, embezzlement, and abuse.

At a soiree one evening, Emily sees Alexander and his friend, David, acting obnoxious and immature. These young men appeal to many of the young debutantes, but not to Emily.

One day when visiting her parents’ graves, Emily finds a note inside an urn written by a man questioning things in life. So, she responds leaving her own note in the urn which quickly becomes an anonymous correspondence. Now, she is wondering if they should meet.

This book would have been more appealing if the author had completely left out the spy part. So many historical romance novels are about spies. I find this totally boring and, seriously, how many, if any, people were spies during that time period? I would personally like to see this trope die out. Enough, already.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This story is quite delightful, a perfect novel for those who love historical fiction and also for those who love enemies-to-lovers romance. I enjoyed reading it a lot. It grasped my attention right from the beginning until the very end.

Was this review helpful?

Dipping into this one with the characters-Emily and Alexander takes you along with them latching onto you. The way they did things has you on full curiosity mode most times to see how they will go with what they are given. Do not know who they were fooling but the fine line they walked haha. Then it takes a turn with you following along closely with the dash of humor that is interjected. The duels of personalities brings this one alive with the swashing romance of the day it is set in.

Was this review helpful?

A delightful story that touches up the meeting of two youths at a tragic event that have them coming together later. Lady Emily, the only child of a Duke, was growing up with the best of everything. until her best friend dies when they are young. She meets Alexander at the tomb of her friend and they get into a terrible argument. Fast forward years later, Emily is the toast of society but inside she is not really happy. She becomes a member of the Garden Society to do good deeds, turn around wrongs and hopefully find new friends. You see, most of her friends have married and are divinely happy. Unfortunately she is paired up with none other than Alexander Bredon, who she still holds a grudge against from long ago. But a mystery abounds that may come out and change everything between the two. An enjoyable story of once enemies to hopefully lovers that will keep you entertained until the end. Catherine Hemmerling is a new author to me but I look forward to reading more of her stories in the future!!

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed this book! I thought it was a sweet romance between Alexander and Emily. I love enemies to lovers storylines. Even though you know someone your whole life, do you really know them? We find that out in this story! I loved how they wrote letters to each other but didn't know who the other was until Alexander figured it out. And now he had to find a way to let her know without seeming like he was lying the whole time. Alexander is written as how a man should act, as gentleman. I liked the authors writing style. It involved a lot of detail but not in a boring way! I would recommend this story and I can't wait to read more from this author!

Was this review helpful?

This was an interesting read and I liked the camaraderie amongst the friends. I found Emily to be quite a contradiction, on the one hand she seemed mature in the way she helped others but immature in her relationship with Alexander. Alex was a likeable character and had a good nature. I hadn’t read any of the previous series and this can be read as a standalone. Just a few little niggles, calling the children ‘kids’ and the mother ‘mom’, surely mama in the time of this story and litres when it should be gallons. Only small things but with a little research could be put right. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

I tend to find that historical romances come in one of two types, there are those that are highly researched and really have a feel of the time and those that are essentially modern people who happen to travel in carriages. This was the latter. The book was littered with modern language and Americanisms. At one point a 'Mom' even picked up her child. Combined with the action, ladies dressing up as working people and going out to help out some of these poorer families. Which, just wouldn't have happened. Ladies just wouldn't have behaved like that and there was no explanation of why they would have known about this family. It was almost as though the author was viewing London as a small town or village where everyone knows everyone, no matter what their status. I found historical accuracy to be very lacking. Particularly with the climax of the story, which I won't give away, but it just seemed so far-fetched and not possible at that time, I'm not sure even modern breweries would be able to do that.

There were a lot of other things that just didn't work for me. I can, however, usually let some of them go, if the romance is good. In actual fact, the romance was ok. I quite liked the hero, I liked the idea behind how they start to fall in love and know one another. Sadly though, the writing style wasn't for me. Far too much telling and not enough showing. I think that it was this repetition of telling us how they don't like one another in an early chapter with very little else happening that really stopped my enjoyment, I wouldn't have finished if I didn't feel that I should review for NetGalley.

I know that not everyone is bothered by lack of historical accuracy or the writing style, so this book might well be for you. It just really wasn't for me.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

A Rogue For Emily by Catherine Hemmerling is book Four in the Emily Moss and Alexander 'Alex' Bredon. This is the Fifth book in the Lady Lancaster Garden Society Series. I have read the previous book, but feel this is a standalone book.
Alex and Emily have known and hated each other for a while. Both seem to have a misconception about the other which seems to keep their hate alive...until it is slowly broken. When Lady Lancaster pairs these two up they have to learn to attempt to get alone it would seem. But then Alex learns something about Emily that starts to change him mind about her. Alex wants her to see him in a new light then the one he has been to her. Not to give anything away, but this leads them to work together to solve a mystery which brings them closer together.
Enjoyed their story!

Was this review helpful?

Publisher's Description:

Emily Moss cannot stand the roguish Alexander Bredon. As this season's most desired debut, she could have any man she wants. Unfortunately, Lady Lancaster pairs her up with none other than the incorrigible man himself.

With mutual dislike and contempt, Alex would rather be doing anything other than escorting the high and mighty Emily, until a secret about her falls into his lap. Suddenly, he realizes there may be more to the lady than he originally thought.

Perhaps the only thing that can keep them from killing each other is falling for each other instead.

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this book from a new to me author. Perhaps the only thing that would have made it better is having read the previous books in this series. This one however reads well as a standalone title. The characters are well thought out and part of the storyline is taken from an actual occurrence in history.

Can you imagine the likelihood of nearly drowning when vats of beer literally pour through the streets? Well that really did happen once upon a time in London and it was used very successfully in this story.
Emily and Alex had unfortunately taken an instant dislike for each other as grieving children one long ago day.

Now years have passed but their opinions of each other have not changed. Is there anything that can change their dislike into a lasting friendship or better yet love?

I loved my first taste of this author's writing style and look forward to reading more.
I have this sweet and poignant story 4.5 of 5.0 stars for storyline and characterization and a sensual rating of 2.0 of 5.0 flames. This book is about changing opinions not about sexual acts. There is only a sweetly written intimate scene near the end of the book.
I received a complimentary digital ARC of this title from the publisher via NetGalley to read. This in no way affected my opinion of this title which I have read and reviewed voluntarily and all thoughts are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Love this story, I need to go back and buy the others. Thank you Netgalley! What a wonderful feel good, do good love story! Being the young daughter of a Duke, life is beautiful, until her best friend dies while they are very young. Lady Emily, an only child of loving parents, grows into a diamond of the first water. She joins the Garden Society, to do good, right wrongs, develop friends that will last a lifetime! Most of her friends have married, they are divinely happy, something Lady Emily hasn't been since her parents death! She, and an Earl's son meet at the tomb of young Meg, Emily is nine, Alexander is fifteen, they have a tremendous row, and it continues into adulthood. Why do these two kind people only fight with each other? Read this awesome book, and find out! I am deducting a star for the term giggle applied to describe a ladies laughter.
I highly recommend! Thank you! Enjoy!
http: carolintallahassee.WordPress.com

Was this review helpful?