Julia has been widowed for four years after her husband died in a shipwreck. Since her husband's death, she has been effectively a prisoner of her father-in-law, who is a Duke. The Duke refused to allow her to move on or out without leaving Julia's son behind. When she finds out information that can show the world the Duke isn't the pious, upstanding man they think he is, she thinks she can use it to get from under his thumb.

Garrett owns a shipping company and hasn't stayed put in England for many years. He has returned to England for the wedding of his closest friend. He has also returned because the allure of adventure isn't as strong as it had been.

A chance encounter at the park brings Julia and Garret together and sets them on a path to love.

I so so so wanted to love this book. And there were moments where I did love it - basically any scene where it was just Julia and Garrett. But there were a lot of things that didn't work so well for me. For example, Julia and Garrett have sex literally the fourth time they see each other, which couldn't have been more than a week since the first time they meet. Their connection was clearly very strong, and I'm not judging them for jumping in bed together - but it seemed kind of out of character for both of them. Plus during that encounter they both profess to have been "waiting" for each other. Garrett says that he hasn't been interested in another woman since he saw Julia for the first time - what like 7 days ago? Wow give the man a medal.

I think there just wasn't a lot of depth to either Julia or Garrett's character. There were hints about it - but they never really came to anything.

Overall - this might be the book for you, it just wasn't for me.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley, but these opinions are my own.

I enjoyed the second book in this series. Julia is a great heroine with a feisty spirit. She is being hindered by her dead husband’s father, the duke, because he rules her every move. If she doesn’t obey, she will lose her 4 year old son to him. She meets Garrett in the beginning of the book & sparks immediately fly. Garrett makes his living at sea & is only in London briefly. I highly recommend reading this book to find out what happens between this characters. I also look forward to the next book of the series!

Widowed Julia Fairbright is forced to live under her father-in-law's tyranical rule in order to retain custody of her young son. An accidental meeting with dashing commoner Garret Stockton changes Lady Julia's fortunes for the better. Gone with the Rogue by Amelia Grey is a well written and entertaining story with wonderful chemistry between the main characters and just the right amount of intrigue. Thank you Amelia Grey and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read #GoneWiththeRogue.

Continuing this series, this is Julia’s story, who is forced to live under her duke father-in-law’s thumb. She is seeking information to prove he is crooked to be free. She meets Garrett by chance in the park and he is instantly drawn to her.

Overall, the story is ok, but it had too much internal dialogue and was repetitive regarding Julia’s situation and despair with the duke. Lots of set up for Brina’s story, but our couple from book one were nowhere to be found.

Thanks to the publisher for a review copy via NetGalley.

Julia is stuck in a tree and the handsome man who comes to her rescue is none other than Garrett Stockton. It's an instant attraction that neither one can ignore. Julia isn't free, even though she's been a widow for four years. She's controlled by the Duke, her father-in-law, in every aspect of her life with the threat of taking away her son. Overhearing a conversation between the Duke and his man of business, Julia may have the leverage she needs for her freedom. With Garrett's help he'll make sure she gets it. Some laugh out loud moments, a cute, precocious little boy named Chatwyn and the intense heat between Julia and Garrett make a very entertaining book. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

DNF

Okay, I didn't realize there was kid in this and that was my mistake. I really, really don't enjoy children as secondary characters in romance (there are exceptions but it's rare). It wouldn't be fair to the book if I continued reading so I decided to stop.

I received an ARC of Gone with "The Rogue" by Amelia Grey from Netgalley. Lady Julia Kitson Fairbright, a widow, mother to a 4 yr old son, and daughter in law to the influential Duke of Sprogsfield, is an intelligent, vicarious individual. Mr. Garrett Stockton is owner of the Stockton Shipping Company. Amelia Grey had me hooked right from the start. The two meet on a tree...yes, a tree, and have an almost instantaneous attraction for each other. Unfortunately, Julia is being intimidated by her father in law and must present a very pious self in order for her son not to be taken away from her. Garrett then helps her with whatever means possible to free her of her invisible chains being held by the Duke.

Chatwyn? Poor kid.

Well, everyone knows dukes are revered.

Was she on the ship as well?

For no particular reason, indeed.

It sounds like she had a good marriage, if not the ideal father-in-law.

Small world.

I commend Brina for wanting to do something productive. Julia has a son to occupy her time.

Now this is a party. But who goes to one and doesn't eat?

That is a sweet gift. She should accept it gracefully.

Oy. This is not going to end well.

Butthole.

Lady Julia is stuck high up in a tree in Hyde Park when a handsome rogue offers his assistance. Garrett Stockton is back from his seafaring adventures for a short visit to London, but the spirited young widow and mother makes him want to stay longer. Maybe forever. Julia is desperate to get herself and her four-year-old son out from under her father-in-law's ducal control, but can she trust Garrett?

This was an enjoyable story. The main characters' chemistry was lovely. Garrett's relationship with Julia's son was very sweet, and there were some funny scenes (including the aforementioned tree, as well as a baking disaster). I'm looking forward to seeing what happens in the next book.

In book 2 Julia is a widow that is controlled by her father in law the Duke. She is trying to find a way to get her son and herself free. When a long comes Garret who has come home to London. He is immediately taken by her. After he learns her story he sets out to help her and win her heart.

Julia is widowed and living under the rules of her father in law. She is determined to live a great life with her son. Garrett lives his life at sea. He has proved he can be a prosperous businessman. When he meets Julia he finds more to his life.

I loved that Julia was proper but also determined. She was brave and did now shy away from what she wanted. Garrett is truly a gentleman. It was refreshing to see two adults who decided their feelings for each other and acted upon them even though there could have been dire consequences.

This read was romantic but also some suspense to see if Julia could find what she was looking for.

I enjoyed this story. Julia is a good mother, but I had a hard time really loving her. Her hero, Garrett is everything you want in a man, strong, determined, kind, loving. The story line is interesting, but there were not enough details to the story for me.

Julia being attracted to Garrett and enjoying him touching her two minutes after they met was just too much for me.

Gone With The Rogue is a fun, fast-paced historical romance by Amelia Grey. Ms. Grey has provided readers with a well-written book populated with an outstanding cast of characters. Kitson finds herself stuck in a tree after freeing a butterfly from the net that was also stuck in the tree. Garrett frees Kitson in from the tree, but can she trust him to free her and her son from her father-in-law? Garrett and Kitson's story is loaded with drama, humor, sizzle, action and suspense. I enjoyed every page of this delightful book and look forward to reading more from Amelia Grey in the future. Gone With The Rogue is book 2 of the First Comes Love Series but can easily be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.

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

Garrett gets things done. That is one of his good qualities but also one of his bad qualities. Sometimes his good deeds can be unethical and borders on unlawful. Luckily for Julia, this is the exact kind of man that she needs.
Gone With the Rogue, is another great book. I enjoyed it very much.

Julia’s husband died on a ship. She thought she could make her own way with her young son. Her father in law keeps her on a tight rein by tempting to take her son away from her. He never approved of their elopement. Julia manages to get to London with her son when her father in law takes Ill. There she meets Garrett Stockton, a wealthy shipping magnate. His first love is the sea until he meets Julia! A lovely story!

“I’m not like other men who might have sought your hand or heart, Julia. I don’t want you for just an hour in the afternoons, or for a day or two during the week. I love you and want you for life.”

Julia Fairbright has lost her husband in a shipwreck. Finding herself with child and now a widow, she is forced to live under the stringent rules of her father in law. Being a Duke known for his pious ways, Julia is not allowed to move forward with her life. In order to keep custody of her son, Julia must remain in morning and stick to the guidelines the Duke has laid out for the raising of her son. But when Julia overhears a conversation between the Duke and his lawyer, she sees her chance to confront the Duke and gain her freedom.

Owner of his own shipping company, Garrett Stockton is known throughout the ton as a rake and womanizer. While riding through the park, Garrett finds himself acting as a chivalrous gentleman helping a beautiful young woman with climbing down from a tree after retrieving a butterfly net of all things. Not like any other woman he’s ever met, Garrett is determined to learn more about the young widow, for she could be the very one to keep him on the shores of England and turn his life around.

After taking a leap of faith, Garrett and Julia grow closer day by day…in both uncovering the secrets the Duke is hiding, as well as discovering love does offer second chances…

Gone with the Rouge is the second in Amelia Grey’s First Comes Love series, but may be read stand alone. This was an enjoyable enough read, but the characters just kind of fell flat for me. Garrett had so much potential, and I found myself skipping over Julia’s continuous rants over having to do what the Duke told her. That being said, if you are a fan of regency/historical romance, I would recommend giving it a try. While not my fav, it could be yours.


**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. **

A light, fun read.

I liked Garret and Julia well enough and thought her father-in-law was a great villain. I just didn’t connect with this book the way I did with the first one, but it is a nice continuation of the series.

Quite a bit of this story concerned the third friend, Brina. She is trying to find her purpose in life beyond just being a widow. This sets up the final installment of the First Comes Love series.

My ARC copy had a rough Chapter 13 which had some story inconsistencies which I am sure will be cleaned up for publication.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC

“I’m not going to leave you. I’ll be here waiting for you when you are ready for us to make a home together”... She had no doubt he was settling his claim on her and leaving no room for anyone else.

Julia is a young widow held captive by her father in laws threats to take her son if she doesn’t do exactly as he commands. His requests are oppressive and constant. She longs to be free to make her son and live a build a new life of her own. An overheard conversation leads her to believe her pious father in law isn’t all that he seems to be.

Garret has long loved the sea. Priding himself on running his own shipping company and being a gentleman, he had never let London hold him in its grasp. When a chance meeting at the park leads to him rescuing a woman from near disaster, he wonders if the sea will even hold the same appeal again.

This was an interesting read. I thought it was more a modern romance that happened to be set in the Regency era. A few of the main character’s qualities were just a little too modern for me. While it was cute, the love story left me wanting a little more depth between Julia and Garret.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Paperbacks for the advance reader copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Interesting twist on the marriage of convenience. I enjoyed the characters. Garrett is a great hero. The brooding hero is all fun, but sometimes you just need a good guy. Julia had a heart of gold and a spine of steel. Looking forward to the next one.