A gender flip Regency romance, Janna MacGregor’s “Rogue Most Wanted” had the Lady Theodora Worth needing to marry so that she can keep her title Countess which she inherited. In short, she was the one with the title, not Lord William Cavensham who was the second son of a Duke and would not inherit.

And this premise is not just in fiction. A quick search in Wikipedia showed a list of peerages inherited by women. So yes, the scenario in “Rogue Most Wanted” was possible.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_peerages_inherited_by_women

With that explained, it’s time to dive into the romance between Thea and Will, both of whom did not wish to marry or fall in love, but they did against all odds.

During his youth, Will was jilted by a woman whom he thought was the love of his life. Since then, he had become gun shy when it came to love or pursuing a woman.

On the other hand, Thea, who did not even have a season in London, was naïve when it came to be handling the opposite sex. Add the fact that her education was stunted when her governess left too early, Thea was not ready to face the London society and the Parliament which would determine if she could keep her title or not.

Enter Lord William Cavensham who was unwittingly drafted by his matchmaking relatives to be Thea’s suitor. A good-natured man by nature, he was willing to help Thea. But, not before Thea and him mutually agreed that they would just be friends.

But, to use today’s vernacular, they did not pinkie promise, and their hearts had other plans. They fell in love. But, their prides would not allow them to break their word… Oh, what to do, what to do! It’s a conundrum.

A rom-com at heart, “Rogue Most Wanted” is an easy and fun read. The gender flip did it for me, especially since in the Regency era, women’s lib was practically unheard of. But, once again, our forebears surprised us by allowing women to inherit. I thought it was just the purview of the royal family.

“Rogue Most Wanted” is Rated T for Teens.

I was really excited to get a copy of ROGUE MOST WANTED, but it really didn't fulfill my expectations for a Historical Romance read. It felt like there was little-to-no conflict, with an insta-attraction between the hero and the heroine. Halfway into the book, I still felt bored of the dialogue that got to nowhere and the naive thoughts of both parties that were never challenged. I think the word that really exemplifies ROGUE MOST WANTED is: wholesome. Because Will really isn't a rogue, and Theodora's innocence keeps their relationship simple and sweet. Almost on a superficial level, to be honest. But there we go: wholesome, and cute, and all the vanilla-related words in-between.

"'I've been such a fool since I met you. A fool in love. I was so afraid of taking the risk of falling in love when happiness was right in front of my eyes, I ignored it. I was scared I'd failed you. You taught me to be brave.'"

We begin the book with the death of Theodora's beloved grandfather, who left his title and lands to her. But the problem is that she can't find the proof of this inheritance, which makes her land vulnerable to a nearby, antagonistic duke who's ready to claim the lands for himself. The solution to that? Get married and reclaim her title! The problem? She doesn't know anything about the rules of society or how to snag a suitor. As Theodora grew up isolated with her grandfather from the Ton, she really isn't ready to find a husband... unless she employs the help of Will, the first man she meets. And through Will and his connections, she starts learning how to navigate the waters of the Ton - all the while falling in love with her "best friend" (that is, Will). Utterly predictable and boring at times. I put the book down many times because the main conflict is forgotten throughout the book, and the dialogue went on for pages and pages without satisfying resolutions nor plot movement. I think a historical romance reader looking for something super fluffy would enjoy this one, but I needed a little more plot to be actively engaged in the story - both the developing romance and character developments.

Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5

Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of loved ones, sexy times

A heart melting story full of wit, humor and love. I adored this book and devoured it within a day’s time. I can’t wait to delve deeper into this world and its characters who I have come to love dearly!

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Mari ♚♥★'s review Jun 22, 2019 · edit
really liked it

This is my first book by Janna Macgregor and it was delightful and charming. I will look for more of this series after. The Cavensham family is welcoming and the have a fun banter with each other. I like their closeness. Will is has a huge heart and sensitive one at that. He may have had his heart broken but he still gives his all. Thea grew up isolated and not much family, she can be guileless and easy to like.

William is such a kind and compassionate man despite being jilted and u lucky in love he remains good. He learned a tough lesson then and focused on work with his family's estate. Thea or Theodora lived a lonely life with her grandfather passing aeay and isolated but she's also a great landowner to her tenants. Strong when it would be easy crumble under the pressure of losing the estate and things she lost in life but lovely and diffident. I have to sympathize with her since I was also close with my grandfather it tugs my heart.

These two were a match but they both disagree and adamantly. Thing they don't see is that they fit so well they were best friends. Will has reservations about loving again, Thea has her estate problems still up in the air. Ah these two I wanted them to get it together. The love is there, they just have to fight for it. Yes Thea could be a bit ine track minded but it's all good in the end. I have to note there is also a daily newspaper here but it's quite harsh and mean spirited unlike some others that were playful and teasing. That I didn't like. All in all it was pleasant and engaging read.

This is a well written historical romance that highlights the problems women had in inheriting estates in this time .

Theodora Worth has spent the last few years caring for her grandfather ………. protecting him from Society and his Peers .so that his progressive dementia would not embarrass him . His will leaves his non "entailed" estates to Theodora ……….. but she needs not just prove she did not kill him , as the Press claims , she needs a document he had hidden to refute the claims of a distant relative .
Lord William Cavensham's Aunt asks him to aid Theodora in her troubles BUT she has an ulterior motive ………. she would love for the couple to wed . However Willian is most reluctant to go down this road again as he was , in the past ,shunned by Society after refusing to marry a Society heiress .
This is the last thing Will wants but after meeting Thea their attraction is instant and he is charmed by her intelligent , bold , loving personality .

This is an enjoyable romance that highlights the problems women faced when inheriting a title and lands that were not covered by 'entailed' titles , land and monies.

I was given an ARC of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I was luke warm about this one. A cute story but not much going on and the main characters weren't very engaging.

Rogue Most Wanted in the fifth in the The Cavensham Heiresses series. Lady Theodora Worth has inherited an earldom and estate from her grandfather who raised her and sheltered her for her entire life. Her claim on the title and estate are being threatened by her cousin. She realizes that the best way to present a strong case to the Lords who will decide her fate in London, is to get married.

Lord William Cavensham has spent his entire life helping his family – especially his older brother who runs the family’s estates and will inherit the title (he is the main character in an earlier book). Lord William has always put his family’s needs before his own interests. After being rejected by a woman when he was young, he has given up on the idea of love.

William’s aunt, who is visiting at the estate next to Theodora’s, decides to take Theodora under her wing and help her find a husband. From the start William’s aunt and her friend are not subtle about their matchmaking. There aren’t a lot of real barriers that stand in their way, just some notion that Theodora has that she shouldn’t marry the first man she meets – even though she is falling for him. William is hesitant because of his past experience, but these barriers just don’t seem really strong. At the same time, they are looking for evidence of her claim to the title, which is a bit of a slow treasure hunt. Overall, the plot kind of drags, especially in comparison to the other books in this series and the barriers seem pretty contrived. I really enjoyed the other books in this series, but unfortunately this just isn’t the most engaging one.

I received an electronic ARC of this book by the publisher via NetGalley for free in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Thea is a strong, kind and confident main character. She shows humility and determination in many scenes. Will and his whole family are a delight. I plan on reading the other books in this series. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.

Lord William Cavensham, the second son of the Duke and Duchess of Langham, was on his way to propose, but he was effectively jilted. His heart was broken.
Lady Theodora worth, the new countess of Eanruig, was trying to keep up appearances. Her grandfather had died just six months ago and he was all she had for a family. She had a large estate and her grandfather to take care of for the last seven years. Her parents had died when she was just a child and had been raised by her dear grandfather. He was also the Duke of Ferr-Colby, but this would go to some distant cousin she had only met twice in her life. Ladykyrk in Northumberland was her estate. The new duke wanted both estates, now she had to go to London to fight for her title. He was very greedy, (the duke).
This was a heartbreaking, loving and eye-opening story. She had been alone all her life and William had tons of family. She had an estate and he didn't being the second son. But she had a sweet personality that everyone liked her. This was so well written and had a heart. It moved smoothly, kept your attention and was very hard to put down. I really loved the tale and how all the elements came together. She went to her neighbor to get some advice. A few days later she introduced Theo and Will to each other and the attraction was immediate. It was so romantic.
I received this from Net Galley and chose to review the book.

Amazing book, and so well deserving of 5 stars! I was just so taken by Theodora and William's tale of such pain yet such amazing, deep love. There is no better partner for Theodora than William, he's become her rock and the one she can truly depend upon.

I also loved how the author brings in the theme of aging through the character of Theodora's grandfather. He goes senile and she gives up her whole life to help take care of him and keep him out of being institutionalized, even being blamed for his death. She was there for him, as he forgot her day by day more and more, his memories and life just slipped away but she still loved him and stayed by his side. Back in the 1800's a person suffering from what we know today as Alzheimer's would have been put in an institution, cut-off from society and possibly faced some pretty brutal treatments. So, bravo to the author for bringing in this amazing theme into this tale and I just love Theodora and her love is truly remarkable!

This is truly just an amazing story which I most highly recommend it and this whole series!

Will is determined to never fall in love again after getting his heart broken at a young age, so when his aunt wants him to meet a young woman, he does it reluctantly.

Theodora might need to get married to keep her home. But if she does, she wants it to be with a man that she enjoys spending time with. Her neighbor would like her to meet her nephew, as she feels he would be the perfect person for her.

After Will and Theodora meet, he agrees to introduce Theodora to his friends. He thinks that one of them might be the perfect match for her. But what is this jealousy that keeps popping up when he sees her with his friends and seems to be enjoying herself? Might he be ready to give love another chance?

I LOVED this story!! Watching Will and Theodora fall in love was so enjoyable, I didn't want the story to end! This was a great addition to the Cavensham Heiresses series!

Lord William Cavensham’s has vowed to never love again. He was coldly jilted in his youth and has therefore locked his heart away for good. His Aunt Stella tells him of her neighbor who needs his help, Lady Theodora Worth needs to marry fast in order to keep her estate. Since her grandfather’s failing heath Theo has been running her grandfather’s estate, but now that he’s died there’s a new heir coming. Theo needs help keeping her estate, but she wants to marry for love. An excellent romance filled with emotional scenes to keep you reading more. I voluntarily read and reviewed this excellent book.

I just finished reading ROGUE MOST WANTED by Janna MacGregor with the happiest of smiles! This story’s filled with chemistry, deep emotions, drama, passion, tearful moments, some quirky loving characters and an endearing supportive family.
It reads well as a stand-alone.

I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

I've read all of the books in the Cavensham Heiresses series up to now and I was interested to hear William's story. William was such a dreamy character - he was honorable and stalwart and swoon-worthy. And he had such a loving and supportive family, most of which have been featured in a previous book in the series. It was fun to revisit with some of the couples and see their interactions with both Will and Thea. Thea was a fierce woman in her own right, and I loved that the plot was about Thea fighting for her right to her inheritance and how it looked at what a patriarchal society this took place in. Thea was loving, honest, and kind and so much appreciated the gift of Will's involved and boisterous family. Will and Thea had a little trouble getting together and I got a little frustrated that they couldn't see what was right in front of them, but it almost turned out just as well that their friendship developed so deeply to start. I really enjoyed this book, it was a romantic and interesting story and I'd recommend it! 

I also think it's interesting that the next book is about Avalon and Devan since Avalon was disparaged in this novel - I'm excited to see how her character turns around and the different layers to her story.

My Thoughts:

I have to be honest and tell you that I am of two minds about this book. So, I'm going to approach this review a little differently. I'm going to tell you first why I really loved this book, but then I'm going to explain why it bothered me so much. I have to review it this way because I cannot make up my mind. Ugh, I feel like the Theodora, I have no idea how I feel.

Why I Loved This Book and Think Everyone Should Read It!!!

The characters and story arc are absolutely fabulous. I became obsessed with Theodora and Will as people. Their individual stories captivated my imagination, and not just because of their setting. Theodora is a strong woman that gave up her life for her family and is being forced to fight a male relative for her rightful inheritance. The same relative that did nothing to care for her sick grandfather but believes he deserves the estate simply because he's a male descendant. Then there's Will, a jilted man scared to love, but has a huge heart for his own family.

Their story was whimsical and heartfelt. The way in which the characters come together and find each other was weirdly beautiful. They had to get around their own issues and other people's expectations to not only find each other, but to find their true selves. As the plot developed, Janna MacGregor did a wonderful job of developing each character slowly. I really got a sense of the transformative power of love.

I also really enjoyed the way the previous books were dealt with. Usually, if I read a later book in a series without having read any of the previous installments, I have a sense that I am missing something even when all of the relevant information is presented. In Rogue Most Wanted, I was so consumed by these characters and this story, that I didn't feel anything was missing even though I knew that other characters had intricate back stories. This only made me want to read the rest of the series, but did not dampen my enjoyment of this book.

What I Did Not Like...

I did not like the sex scenes. Let me be clear, I can enjoy a good sex scene in a book. The fact that it's a romance novel, does not bother me. In fact, I have reviewed books and written long paragraphs about how much I loved the writing of the sex scenes, but here I just couldn't get past it. Theodora is a sheltered, virgin woman who has never even been kissed. The story also takes place in a time with rigid courtship etiquette. For the sake of an interesting romance novel, I get that sex needs to take place. But, the couple's first kiss turns into a makeout session ending with mutual orgasms. Not actual intercourse, but, seriously. There is no earthly way a girl in this time period would have her first kiss proceed in this manner, or at least it didn't appear realistic. What's worse, the entire first half of the book depends upon Theodora's belief that Will does not want to marry her. So I'm supposed to believe she would let the first man to ever kiss her put his fingers in her, all while believing he will not marry her. I just didn't get it.

The central complication in the book didn't work for me either. Theodora and Will meet, she needs to get engaged to further her claim on the estate, and he doesn't want to marry, but his Aunt has set him up with a woman she believes is perfect for him. So they meet, but both state they have no desire to marry the other. Why, you ask? She doesn't want to marry the first man she meets. She needs to get betrothed quickly, but instead of approaching the situation with this in mind, Theodora arbitrarily decides that she will wait to meet other men before deciding. Which actually would have worked for me, if she didn't subsequently consider marrying three of Will's friends upon first meeting them. She wouldn't consider marrying a rich, handsome, family friend that she is instantly attracted to, but will consider complete strangers, all because she met them second.

Conclusion

I'm glad I read this. I really enjoyed so much about it that I'm willing and eager to read the other books in the series. I just really hope that the other love stories have more understandable complications and more believable sex scenes. Or maybe I should just let go and get swept away by the romance genre and stop caring about reality.


* Special thanks to Janna MacGregor, St. Martin's Press, Netgalley, and HF Virtual Book Tours for providing a copy of Rogue Most Wanted in exchange for an honest review.

Loved this book! The characters are so likable and realistic, and the story has a nice flow. I highly recommend it!

William Cavensham is the second son of a duke, and is far from being a rogue. A decade ago, while just nineteen, Will came to call on the father of the young lady who promised to marry him, only to learn from the gentleman that his love was about to marry a marquess. When Avalon, the fickle young woman confirmed this, Will’s young heart was broken. The rejection affected him deeply, and since then he’s thrown himself into becoming invaluable to his father and brother in managing their estates, all the while avoiding the parts of society that would throw him into the path of marriage minded ladies. He is summoned to his beloved Aunt Stella’s estate in Northumberland on the pretext of her needing his help urgently, only to find that she intends him to marry her neighbor.

Theodora “Thea” Worth has spent the last seven years caring for her grandfather, the duke, who has steadily been declining into senility. She has taken on managing his estates, as well as those under the earldom of Eanruig, a title which will pass to her upon his death, as it’s a Scottish title which can be inherited by a female. When the duke finally passes, his heir, her cousin, claims the earldom for his own as well, claiming that it’s an English title, as opposed to Scottish, therefore belonging to him. The original documentation has been lost, and Thea will have to prove that her claim is legitimate in an English courtroom before she can claim her title. Her lawyer has advised her to marry, or at the very least, become engaged, in order to project a more stable appearance to the conservative English court.

When Will learns that his aunt intends him to marry Thea, her neighbor, he flatly refuses. Though he’s sympathetic to her circumstances, he has no intention to wed. He’ll meet with her, but only to make it clear that he’s not the man she’s looking for. Before Will can begin to state his reasons, Thea abruptly tells him she won’t marry him. Though surprised, and no doubt feeling a sting of rejection, Will is relieved, and listens to Thea’s story. Thea’s sheltered life has kept her from society, and all of the games that people play. She’s honest and forthright, sometimes painfully so, but Will is impressed enough to want to help her. He invites her to stay at his home while she prepares to battle for her title. He vows to help her, and pledges his family’s support in aiding her to learn all the social niceties necessary.

Will’s family is loving and accepting of Thea, all the while hoping that the couple will fall in love. It seems obvious to everyone BUT them that they are perfect for each other. Will and Thea are oblivious as to how much they seek each other out, gaze at each other, and are at ease and comfortable with each other. Any mention of marriage between them sets off alarm bells in them, and causes them to step back. Their attraction, however, can’t be denied, and they soon enter into a pretend engagement. They are well on their way to love and a real and passionate marriage, when circumstances change, and Thea makes a heartbreaking choice.

I confess to having very mixed feelings about ROGUE MOST WANTED. Will is a stellar character, one I loved right from the start. He is upright, honest, hardworking, and very vulnerable and sensitive due to his young heartbreak. I adored his family, and the love among all of the members was beautiful, sometimes even tearful. I admired Thea, how hard she worked, how she loved her land and people. I felt sad for her loneliness and alienation as she cared for her dying grandfather. Yet, her decision at the book’s final conflict made me despise her. Without spoilers, I feel that she did have options, and her choice indicated what was most important to her, and that’s something that Will would always remember. I’ve noticed that Janna MacGregor has a very skillful way of writing, one that leaves me feeling conflicted sometimes, but nonetheless, always captivated and emotionally invested in her books. ROGUE MOST WANTED had those characteristics, as well as taking me on a rollercoaster ride of emotions.

Pretty boring and repetitive and didn't hold my interest for very long. I liked the main characters but there wasn't enough angst to drive the plot.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review.
The fifth in this series, can be read as a standalone. I have not read any by this author before. The characters and plot were very well done. The reader can really feel the emotions of the characters and feels as though they are a part of the story as it unfolds. Such an emotional read for me, Grab your copy today!

Absolutely adored Thea and Will. Both characters were so relatable and their emotions real. I really liked the Midnight Cryer little snippets at each chapter! Gossip rags always add some needed drama to stories! While their happily ever after was beautiful the story was also full of emotion and elicited a fair amount of tears!!