Allie Therin never fails to write superbly entertaining books. Period. Full Stop.

I am so happy to be back in the Roaring Twenties / Magic in Manhattan world. Wesley and Sebastian start their newest tale just a few weeks following their inaugural journey. They are still navigating Wesley's foray into learning that magic and supes exist as well as both of them learning what and how to be in a relationship. So exciting.

Sebastian has possession of a relic and well, it's different. He is also still suffering from the traumas of his past and... he's having a hard time navigating both. Wesley suspects his new beau is having trouble but is always there to remind him that he's no longer alone. Which, you know, is funny because Wesley is having the same trouble navigating these icky "feelings" that keep creeping up with respect to Sebastian. And Sebastian is always there reminding him that feelings are ok. Over all that, they are both trying to convince the other that they are not the worst person to ever person and that they are, in fact, a good person and deserve good things. It's just a feeling-filled mutual admiration club that I could spend all day visiting!

On top of all those wonderful things, we have our suspicious mystery of trying to meet back up with the Magic in Manhattan crew in Manhattan regarding a series of cryptic messages. It's a cat-and-mouse chase with old war buddies of Wesley's showing up and a not-so-wonderful trip out to the Catskills.

All in all, I had a cracking good time. (I honestly have no clue if that phrase is appropriate to the timeframe, it just felt right.) I continue to laud the author for adding in some on-page spice, which I felt was sorely missing from the previous series. Ms. Therin writes the spice very well and I loved all the words provided. The love and budding relationship between Wesley and Sebastian is just magic in and of itself. I seriously wish for more in this series as I am loving all of it. Also, Joel Leslie Froomkin is narrating this series and I just love all his work.

*I had the absolute privilege of getting an ARC from the publisher, Carina Press & Carina Adores (Harlequin), and Netgalley and I could not be more grateful. All thoughts and comments are my own.*

The consistently superb Allie Therin has made it to my top ten authors list. “Once a Rogue,” Book 2 of Roaring Twenties Magic delivers delicious thrills and chills. It places charming, irreverent characters in a well-constructed alternate reality to combine 1920’s realities with a romantic paranormal thriller.

When an author allows me to feel brighter than an her leading men, I’m in heaven, especially if they’re shown to be truly sharp cookies. After all, Sebastian’s magic is stronger than most paranormals, and Lord Fine (Wesley), was once a military interrogator. And thus I was left anxiously awaiting their inevitable dangers.

Still, what a well-matched pair of humble heroes. Wesley is too caught up in the evil he perpetuated during wartime to appreciate his own kind, ethical nature. Likewise, Sebastian, who seems unaware of his good looks, revisits the wrongs he perpetrated on various side characters when he was trapped by blood magic, even after he’s repeatedly reassured they knew he had acted against his will. Through mutual love, can these two “toughies” accept that they possess the good traits they find in one another?

While Sebastian and Wesley are distracted by romance, the plot progresses. Why can’t they find their friends? Why do unsavory individuals continuously intersect their paths? Who is leaving notes for Wesley? And how do these clues play into their hunt to locate and destroy evil relics?

From its opening line, I was hooked. “Handsome men were a f***ing menace.”

Therin’s phrasing brought smiles. “Granted it was perhaps admittedly a touch out of the ordinary to discover one’s ex-lover was now shagging someone who could see history and control the wind…” She makes proper English downright lascivious. “Sebastian could dance between surrender or control and ensnare Wesley either way.” And language eloquently conveys the depths of emotion. “These were moments it almost felt like his heart wasn’t truly made of stone, just the hardest of earth. That maybe Wesley hadn’t become bitter and cold beyond hope. He’d never fall for the ruse, of course. Life delighted in finding ways to sabotage any spark of joy, and hope only made disappointment sting harder.”

“Once a Rogue” is probably hard to follow if you haven’t read Book 1, “Proper Soundrels,” and might be best read after the original Magic in in Manhattan series. But never worry! I don’t sequels unless I can thoroughly recommend all its predecessors. I devoured each book, drawn in by witty, perceptive personalities. Each novel feature fast-moving, heart-melting plotlines, and are based on an exciting world that elegantly blends genres. Simply put, they are a joy!

Allie Therin can do no wrong! So far all her books slapped and this one was no different.
I absolutely loved the first book about Lord Fine and Sebastian after being super sceptical at first because Wesley wasn’t my favourite in the Magic in Manhattwn series.
But let me tell you, said Lord Fine stole his way into my heart in no time. He’s a grumpy piece of work, but secretly a sweetheart who would fight to the death for his friends and his lover.
So when I saw that it will also be a trilogy I did a little happy dance!
Once a Rogue now officially joined the club of favourites.
Lord Horny and his cinnamon roll boyfriend make me melt into a puddle every time and their adventures are always gripping and often hilarious.
I loved meeting our little band of misfits again and I can’t wait to read the next book!

Allie Therin returns to New York City in the 1920s with Once a Rogue, the follow up to Proper Scoundrels, a spin-off from her Magic in Manhattan series. In that book, centre stage belonged to Wesley Collins, Lord Fine, a cantankerous aristocrat and cynical, self-confessed arsehole, and powerful magic-user and dangerous marshmallow Sebastian de Leon, who team up to discover who is behind a series of thefts of powerful magical artifacts which has led to murder. They’re an odd couple if ever there was one, Wesley’s prickly, stiff-upper-lipped arrogance and rudeness a complete contrast to Sebastian’s quiet sweetness and consideration, but somehow they just fit, both of them damaged and believing themselves unworthy of love or affection; and watching them slowly growing closer and allowing themselves to be vulnerable with one another made for a very charming and poignant romance.

Note: Once a Rogue does not stand alone as it shares characters and situations with the previous book and with the Magic in Manhattan series. There may be spoilers for those titles in this review.

Once a Rogue opens around a week after the climactic events in Paris at the end of Proper Scoundrels, and we catch up with Wesley and Sebastian just after their ship has docked in New York, where they’ve travelled in response to cryptic message from Jade Robbins:

MAY WE SEE YOU IN NEW YORK STOP CLOCK NEEDS CURSE TO TICK CAN’T SAY MORE HERE STOP

While Sebastian immediately heads off to call Jade to find out what’s going on, Wesley waits not too patiently on the pier with Mateo, Sebastian’s younger brother, who accompanied them across the Atlantic and is due to return to college in Ohio the following day. Like Sebastian, Mateo is a magic-user – his magic so powerful that it had almost killed him until Sebastian was able to channel his own enervation magic through a relic – a fifteenth-century Spanish brooch – to bind Mateo’s powers and keep him safe. But Wesley is concerned – he’s noticed the dark circles under Sebastian’s eyes, how, no matter how much sleep he gets, he always seems fatiguted – and how the brooch is interfering with Sebastian’s magic and destabilising it.

When Sebastian returns, it’s to inform them that he wasn’t able to get in touch with Jade or with Zhang – and that one of the staff at the Dragon House restaurant said he hasn’t seen Zhang for several days. It’s a little odd that Jade would ask them to come to New York and then not be there to greet them, but maybe she’s just out for a while and will be back later. After arriving at their hotel, Wesley suggests they should go to see Arthur Kenzie and “his surly little antiquarian” – then round up Jade and Zhang and all go out for dinner. But more disappointment awaits when he and Sebastian arrive at Arthur’s apartment building to find out that Arthur left town over a week earlier – and that his nephew hasn’t been around for a while either. (Sebastian’s cluelessness about the true nature of Arthur and Rory’s relationship is quite sweet, really!)

Before they have much time to dwell on the fact that their friends seem to have disappeared, Wesley receives another terse message, this one from his former commanding officer, who basically demands a meeting, and the next morning, he receives an anonymous letter telling him he’s not safe in New York and to “Beware the company you keep.” None of it makes sense, and Wesley’s hope that their paranormal friends will be able to help ease Sebastian’s burden is superseeded by concern for their safety. A handful of cryptic messages doesn’t give them much to go on, but someone is most definitely up to no good, and as the story barrels towards an exciting and nail-biting climax, our heroes find themselves enmeshed in a deadly plot involving magic, murder, and madness.

Once a Rogue is another terrific read with a clever, high-stakes plot and a romance that continues to be both delightful and heartfelt as Wesley and Sebastian fall deeper and harder for each other – despite their hang-ups about not being good enough or deserving of love. Wesley is as wonderfully curmudgeonly and sarcastic as ever, and I simply loved watching him stubbornly trying to insist that feelings are things that happen to other people even as he’s so obviously toast when it comes to Sebastian. He’s spent so long keeping people at arms’ length and believing he’s the cold-hearted, remorseless bastard he’s reputed to be that he struggles to believe there’s any good in him; he insists Sebastian is just seeing him through rose-tinted glasses and is waiting for the day when Sebastian realises it, too, and decides a disagreeable, caustic English aristocrat is not the man for him.

Sebastian’s blood terrors have eased thanks to Wesley’s nightly presence in his bed, but he is still haunted by his past trauma and burdened by guilt over the things he was forced to do while under the blood magic. He’s also worried that Wesley will soon become tired of him – of (what he sees as) his clinginess and the upheaval his life has undergone since becoming associated with the paranormal world. But while there’s an element of ‘he can’t love me because I’m a bad person’ going on on both sides, there are no silly misunderstandings or miscommunication; much as Wesley hates the idea that he actually has feelings, he and Sebastian actually do talk about them and about their expectations of each other and their… whatever is going on between them. I love the way they truly see each other – even if they don’t quite see themselves through such a favourable lens, and that they’re learning to be vulnerable and open with one another; and just as I enjoyed watching Wesley coming to terms with having all those pesky feelings, so I enjoyed Sebastian finally lettimg himself admit that he’s allowed to have good things in his life.

I have a few very tiny niggles, mostly to do with the plot – namely that it takes Wesley and Sebastian so long to clue into the fact that something is really wrong. Some of the Americanisms that creep in are jarring (no English person in the 1920s would use ‘already’ as in ‘come on already’ – we don’t even use it that way today) and Sebastian’s obliviousness about the nature of Wesley’s former relationship with Arthur and Arthur’s current one with Rory is a bit of a stretch – although it’s just about believable (if you squint) given that Sebastian was magically enslaved for three years.

But none of those things impacted my overall enjoyment of Once a Rogue, which is magical, sweet, funny, gripping – and highly recommended. Wesley and Sebastian are compelling, well-drawn characters; their chemistry crackles, their banter amuses and their growing love for and steadfast support of one another is totally swoonworthy and wonderful to read. I love the magical 1920s world Ms. Therin has created and although, at time of writing (in June), nothing has been announced, there are enough questions left unanswered here for me to be hopeful there’s a third book in the works. Fingers crossed!

ETA: A few weeks after I wrote this review, the author confirmed that there will indeed be a third book featuring Wesley and Sebastian – although we’re going to have to wait until 2025!

Grade: A-/4.5 stars

Heat Factor: They get into a little light D/s play with the addition of Sebastian’s magic

Character Chemistry: I’m far too verbose to describe it succinctly, but it’s perfection!

Plot: A note from magical friends leads to a wild goose chase full of unexpected mystery and dastardly men

Overall: The way Wesley’s cynicism was written made this book absolutely magical (see what I did there?)

This is the second book in a trilogy, and it spins off of the Magic In Manhattan trilogy, so while I might struggle to articulate how much joy this book brought me, I wouldn’t recommend it to readers who haven’t read, at least, Proper Scoundrels. Reading the whole Magic In Manhattan trilogy would give the reader even more context, because Wesley and Sebastian had some struggles in that series that are present and relevant in this series. That said, if you’re a chaos reader, the mystery and adventure contained in this story does stand alone—albeit with trailing ends out both sides of the book—so it’s not like it couldn’t be enjoyable as a stand-alone. I simply imagine it would be less enjoyable.

So, let’s pick up from where we left off. Unlike the Magic in Manhattan trilogy, which I read all at once, I haven’t read Proper Scoundrels since it was published in 2021, so there’s plenty I didn’t really remember. The TL;dr there is Wesley is a British peer with no family (or no family he wants to own) who has found himself struggling to cope with some post-war trauma, so he goes off to try to rekindle an old romance, only to find himself ruthlessly rebuffed by the protagonists in the prior series. The thing is, Wesley is the kind of man who deals with his trauma by walling himself off, pretending he has no emotions and that life is a dead bore, so why even want anything good out of it anyway?

Honestly, the way Wesley is written makes this book sing. If you’ve never read Therin before, but you’ve read Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid, think of the way Ilya thinks about Shane’s stupid freckles, and that’ll give you an inkling. It’s a very close third where we’re processing the POV character’s thoughts, but it’s 3rd person, so the unreliable narrator aspect of it brings the perfect note of self-deception and humor.

Okay, so that’s MC1. MC2 is Sebastian de Leon, who has nullification magic, is descended from a line of witch hunters dating back to the Spanish Inquisition, and during the Magic In Manhattan trilogy, was cursed by the Evil Bad Guy who controlled his mind and made him do truly heinous things. But he’s also, when not under a blood curse, the kind of man who wants to take care of stray animals, and really, what’s Wesley to do but take care of a man who wears his heart on his sleeve like that? I tagged this book as a grumpy/sunshine, and it’s not so much because Sebastian is a golden retriever so much as he has simply chosen to live with an optimistic outlook.

But Wesley’s lips curled up grudgingly. “You’re truly an absolute nuisance, the way you insist on only seeing good in things. I could bring you a mange-covered dog and you’d call it cute.”

“Why wouldn’t he be?” Sebastian said. “It’s not the poor dog’s fault he’s had a hard life. Suffering doesn’t make someone ugly.”

It’s exactly the right kind of unflinching generosity of spirit to challenge Wesley’s guarded cynicism.

So, anyway, both Wesley and Sebastian are dealing with the consequences of their actions and are pretty sure they can’t have nice things. Proper Scoundrels brings Wesley into the magical fold with a bang, and both men fall for each other, even though they’re both sure that it’s not going to last. Going into Once a Rogue, then, they’re happy together, but they’re also doing that new relationship “Is this real?” dance. And it just makes my heart squeeze with its adorableness.

“The leaves only turn those pretty colors because they’re having one last screaming hurrah before they meet their maker. Probably a metaphor for how pointless life is.”

“Or,” Sebastian said, “the tree survives the winter, and it grows, and the leaves come back in spring, and you get little bird nests and squirrels and chipmunks. Maybe that’s the metaphor.”

“Chipmunks.” Wesley turned a page of his newspaper. “You’re trying to convince me life isn’t shit by using metaphorical rodents?”

“Oh no, life can be pretty shit,” Sebastian agreed. “But sometimes the things in life can be pretty cute.”

Wesley’s gaze darted to Sebastian, and then back to the paper. “Maybe one thing.”

Hats off to the powers of allusion and understatement. The romance of this book is a masterful demonstration of showing through little moments of softness, and I could not be more pleased.

As to the mystery, I think I appreciated it the most when I, like the characters, didn’t know what exactly was going on or what to make of the information that was available. As the story progressed, I did struggle a little bit with the level of trust Wesley and Sebastian had in how they were perceiving what was happening to them. There’s an extremely shady character introduced who behaves so oddly that one simply must question if he’s actually what he presents himself as, and yet—even though both Wesley and Sebastian are aware that there’s magic in the world and they can’t necessarily know who has magic and who doesn’t—Wesley doesn’t go any farther than jealousy because this guy’s so glued to Sebastian, and Sebastian is just kind of oblivious. I suppose Wesley and Sebastian are dealing with a lot of information but not all of the information, so they don’t quite know what to do with it, but characters who are, perhaps, lacking the cynicism and mistrust to act cautiously while in a dangerous situation do frustrate me.

I think, when all is said and done, I really click with Therin’s storytelling, especially her characterizations. I would recommend giving any of her books a try, but I think Wesley and Sebastian in particular, with their generational and personal traumas combined with the way they want to take care of each other while believing they themselves are not deserving of the same consideration is just *chef’s kiss*.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

This review is also available at The Smut Report.

Wesley and Sebastian are on a boat bound for New York when they receive a cryptic cable from Jade. However, when they arrive, they discover that Jade, Zhang, Arthur, and Rory have all mysteriously left town. Additionally, an acquaintance of Wesley’s who is loosely linked to paranormal artifacts is in town, causing Wesley and Sebastian to worry for their missing associates.

Once a Rogue not only continues Wesley and Sebastian’s romance, but carries forward the paranormal intrigue which began in the original Magic in Manhattan series. Sebastian and Wesley need help understanding the brooch relic which seems to be draining Sebastian, and they look to Jade for answers. Ties to old enemies are surfacing and present a terrible danger to our heroes. The story is an exciting adventure from beginning to end as the pair follows bread crumbs to uncover what is going on with their friends. It’s a journey of discovery - finding out more about themselves, about love, and finding true friendships. I was engaged the entire time and love how it all worked out.

After not exactly liking Wesley, Lord Fine, in the original series, I absolutely ADORE him now. He’s wormed his way into my heart. He and Sebastian are so lovely together. Both are sweet and kind-hearted, even when Wesley protests he’s not. They care about one another and therefore each wants to be the best version of himself for the other. That means compromise and going outside comfort zones, and I love that both are willing to do so openly for the other.

Other than some awkward scenes regarding an obvious miscommunication surrounding Arthur being Wesley’s ex, Once a Rogue flowed well. I was engaged the entire time and love how it all worked out. I hope the author writes a follow up story with the whole gang working together (and maybe capped off with a wedding!)

My Rating: A-

Everything about this second installment in the Roaring Twenties Magic series is on point: the magical mystery, the suspense, the villains, the tension, the self-exploration & the vulnerability. Not to mention Lord Fine’s dirty talk. An uptight British nobleman with a dirty mouth is apparently my kryptonite, and Sebastian doesn’t seem to mind either.

While the events of this story include tons of action and suspense connected to the paranormal and Sebastian’s journey with his magic, I’m compelled by how it examines the differences between Sebastian & Wesley, including their race & ethnicity, magical status, social status, and battle experiences. Hell, at one point they actively compare their heights. What stands out is how, despite all their differences and against all odds, they fit together so perfectly.

I’m also here for more of Wesley’s character evolution. I love how his feelings for Sebastian challenge his carefully-crafted image as a hard-nosed nobleman, proving time and again how untrue it is. He’s not cruel by nature, but perhaps life has hardened him to be that way. Sebastian sees the real Wesley, now it’s a matter of Wesley seeing it for himself.

I can’t recommend this story and series enough. Therin sets the stage for what promises to be an epic, thrilling conclusion. I really need to know how this all ends! The wait will be pure torture.

Delightful! This is a wonderful sequel to 'Proper Scoundrels', picking up almost exactly where the last book finished and exploring Wesley and Sebastian's honeymoon phase. They're so utterly besotted with each other in this book and slowly growing in confidence of the other's affection. It's beautiful.

The plot is just as thrilling as the first, and weaves in even more characters from across the Magic in Manhattan universe.

I'd highly recommend reading the Magic in Manhattan trilogy before you read these books, because although the plot is a 'standalone', the characters' histories and motives are all heavily influenced by events in the earlier books. I requested this ARC without realising it was a sequel at all—and definitely not realising there were three other books to read as well!—so I didn't have time to read them all before posting my review, but I'm definitely adding all of the books to my TBR because I love Allie Therin's writing style and this wonderful world she's created. The magic system is really interesting and all of the characters I've met so far have been brilliant; I'm so excited to read more of them!

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

Dangerous characters that are the softest inside are one of my weaknesses. Sebastian is a powerful paranormal but he's also the sweetest human being ever, oblivious to most things, lover and saviour of stray kittens. Whi can't resist him when you also add that he is handsome af? Definitely not Wesley, he can't resist Sebastian no matter how much he tries. And he tries hard. In Once a Rogue Wesley fights emotions for Sebastian that are trying to make it to his grumpy surface. He has a reputation to maintain, he cannot be swayed by the sweetest man that looks at him like he means so much more than how he sees himself. A man who makes him want to - you wouldn't believe this - cuddle, of all things.

<<“You really are sweet sometimes.”
“None of that,” Wesley said.>>

While in New York where they were called by their paranormal friends, not only feelings arises, but also a million questions. Their friends are nowhere to be found and new suspicious characters are being quite insistent and Wesley wants them to just leave him and his man alone. But alas, they find themselves involved in something way bigger than they expected and they have nobody to help them.

I loved this book so much and I want to blink and fast forwards time so that I can read the third one right now. Cranky Wesley and marshmallow Sebastian are just two cuties, often thirsty, can't really keep their hands to each other, and they just fit together perfectly. They complement each other, they help see in the other what they can't, or won't. They have come a long way since their first meetings. They deserve all the love! And cuddles. And kitties!

This has Thor's cat-seal of approval!!

[I received a digital arc for an honest review]

Once a Rogue by Allie Therin is the second book in the Roaring Twenties Magic series. Viscount Wesley Fine has been swept up into a world of magic and Sebastian de Leon. Wesley has agreed to join Sebastian in a trip to America to chaperone Sebastian’s brother Mateo back to university and see their friends while in New York. Everything goes awry as soon as they hit American soil with people from Wesley’s past trying to destroy what Sebastian and Wesley are building together. As the situation in America goes from bad to worth Wesley and Sebastian find themselves at risk of more than just ruining Wesley’s reputation.

Viscount Wesley Fine is even more fantastic in this book. He has discovered that he wants nothing more than to make Sebastian de Leon happy and keep him safe. The two find themselves at odds several times throughout the story as they just want each other safe even if it means putting themselves in danger. Wes is finding himself trying and failing to deny how strong his feelings for Sebastian go and that he even wants to show emotion. He does manage to keep the upper hand in the bedroom as Sebastian appreciates letting Wes take control.

Sebastian de Leon is a dangerous marshmallow and continues to be the sweetest man who just wants to bring joy and fun into Wes’s life. Wes continually tries to get Sebastian to realize he’s not alone anymore and to stop punishing himself for the past. The past has a way of rearing its ugly head though and Sebastian is forced to decide if he can look past Wes’s past as Wes has always done for him.

My goodness I loved this book. I went back and read the Magic in Manhattan series for the first time and boy does this all make way more sense than when I read Scoundrels and enjoyed it but felt a bit lost. Wes and Sebastian are characters that I would enjoy a book about doing just about anything so the antics and feelings were just so good. I am finding myself more and more drawn to these historical MM romances where there’s the layer of secrecy for the time period. Add in some paranormal aspects and it’s a win all around for me. Wes and Sebastian know how to burn up a page when they decide that they’ve had enough of talking about their feelings and decide to act on them.

5 stars for Wes and Sebastian’s continued courtship through chaos.

I had high expectations going into this title. Allie Therin is an amazing author and captures a depth and complexity to characters that few others can really boast of, so to say the bar was set high is a bit of an understatement.

Imagine my absolute delight and complete pleasure, Therin did not disappoint.

Wesley and Sebastian, still somewhat fresh from the exceedingly stressful events of "Proper Scoundrels," find themselves in the states after a worrisome telegram from Jade about goings on across the pond. After seeing his brother Mateo off, Sebastian and Wes find themselves decidedly without the friends who said they wanted to meet them. Jade, Ace, and the gang are decidedly playing hard to catch, and after some initial amusing interactions where Sebastian and Wesley aren't sure how much the other knows about the other's past relationships (there was more than one instance where I laughed aloud and startled anyone unfortunate enough to be next to me), we're thrown into a mystery that feels more and more urgent as each page turns.

Honestly, getting to explore more of the magical world that Therin has created is a treat, especially with characters as dynamic and complicated as these two. It was refreshing to read that Therin DID NOT rely on the miscommunication "trope" (which can be fun, but also exhausting), and instead shows a natural progression from misunderstanding to (sometimes frustrated and a bit tetchy) conversations to clear the air between the two. Trust me, Wes and Sebastian have PLENTY to keep them busy. No miscommunication required.

And I know I mentioned it in my review of "Proper Scoundrels," but I love seeing a main character/love interest from Puerto Rico. It does my Puerto Rican heart good.

So if you're in the mood for a magical mystery, set in the roaring twenties, with some amazingly written chemistry and more than one surprise, I HIGHLY recommend "Once A Rogue."

ONCE A ROGUE is exactly the book I needed. Yet again, Allie Therin takes two characters who shine on their own merits and amplifies all their charms by bouncing them off each other in the most gloriously entertaining and emotional ways, all while they feel their way into a new phase of their relationship AND solve a high-stakes mystery!

Which, of course, gives them plenty of opportunity to grow alongside each other, unpack their past traumas, and delve deeper into Therin’s paranormal world. I’m especially taken with how Wesley, the jerk who is NOT having an emotion right now, thank you VERY much, begins to rethink himself. It’s A+ character development.

I ate the book right up, grinning and giggling and gasping and tearing up the whole way through. This series is awesome. More, please.

As much as I liked "Proper Scoundrels", I may have liked "Once a Rogue" even more. Lord Fine, aka Wesley, and Sebastian continue their adventures, this time in New York and find themselves with a mystery to solve.. All of their paranormal friends have disappeared and the two must find them while also trying to ascertain who is threatening Wesley.

Once again the banter between Wesley and Sebastian is wonderful, with Wesley's snark covering up his true feelings for Sebastian as the two men continue to learn to trust one another as they confront more paranormal threats. Sebastian's love for animals is also used to cute effect. And once again, it's great to see them work with Jade and Zhang, along with Rory and Arthur. My only quibble plot wise was that the whole crew seemed a bit quick at times to rush into danger without much of a plan. It all works out in the end but there were a few moments towards the end where I wanted to just go, "Really, guys?"

Still this is an immensely entertaining world that Therin has built, full of magic and superhero paranormals in an intriguing time. I'm definitely looking forward to the next installment.

i do love unreliable narrators and it was good to get more of Lord Fine and Sebastian de Leon. I truly love these characters and their development. the expansion of the universe and both learning how to handle magic and each other is a lot of fun. One of my favorite reads this year.

Having not expected to love Wesley & Sebastian in the first book as much as I did, I'm happy to say this sequel continued my unexpected affection.

I love the dynamic between the two - Lord Fine is the cold, aristocrat who may just have a secret softer side if you squint, whilst Sebastian is our favourite danger marshmallow. The play off each other well and have some great banter as well as unexpected softer moments. Also, I am here for every time Sebastian tries to rescue a stray animal and Wesley pretends to be annoyed.

In this book, we see them return to NYC and reunite with various Magic in Manhattan characters. It was obviously great to see them again, and also to see their reactions to Wesley & Sebastian's relationship!

Overall, a great continuation of the series and I'm looking forward to reading the next book.

4.5 Stars!

I LOVE the world Allie Therin created so any opportunity to revisit gives me much joy. Here, in book 2 of what seems to be another trilogy, our story takes place in the States with a befuddling mystery as to what on earth happened to our NY crew (Rory, Arthur, Zhang, Jade as well as the Pavlovs).They were missing for majority of the book and the main plot of this was centred around Wesley & Sebastian solving the mystery of their whereabout.

Even though I initially disliked Wesley from the previous series as well as for the first part of
Proper Scoundrels(Book 1), by the end of this book, his gruff protectiveness over Sebastian was downright adorable (don’t let him hear you say that though🤣) . Also, His one-liners and cynical wit kept a smile on my face throughout the book

Sebastian was his usual super sweet self with no care for his self preservation when it came to saving innocent people ; especially when these are people he cared for. I adored that dangerous marshmallow. Relationship-wise, these two made a lot of organic progress which pleased my soul because anything less with a heart as jaded as Lord Fine’s would have seemed contrived.

Like I indicated above and could be probably inferred from my rating, I really enjoyed this book. It was action packed and although the bad guy was a bit obvious, it still managed to surprise me in many other ways.

The story ends on a HFN with the wrapping up of the events of this book which gives me hope that another book is in the works which would tie up all the lose ends from this book and its predecessor.

PS: I Recommend you at least read the previous book before you touch this and for an even fuller picture of the gorgeous world Allie Therin has created, read about the NYC crew in the Magic in Manhattan Series. You will NOT regret it!

I'm absolutely devestated I'll have to wait a year for more of the 1920s magic gang and I love Sebastian and Wesley so much and I'm so glad we got to reunite with Rory and Arthur and I am quickly realising miss Therein might be one of my favourite speculative fiction author ever

Thanks to Netgalley, Carina Press, and Allie Therin for the eARC to review.

Once A Rogue is about as good a sequel to Proper Scoundrels as I could possibly imagine. The glimpses of tenderness and vulnerability that Wesley and Sebastian reveal in Proper Scoundrels are so much more developed here, and it’s so lovely to see just how well they truly compliment each other.

Therin’s speciality is the grumpy/sunshine trope, and Seb and Wes might be my favorite iteration of this yet. Sebastian is such an unexpected sunshine character, and seeing the difference in him here opposed to his introduction in the Magic In Manhattan series is a delight. Wesley’s poor attempts at will-powering his way through his developing feelings and care is both funny and endearing. I couldn’t have imagined how much I’d adore these characters even after the end of Proper Scoundrels.

As always, Therin’s mystery is satisfying and exciting. It’s a joy to see the viscount Lord Fine’s irritated disbelief that he’s entangled in a caper, of all things, at the behest of a tender magical marshmallow. His increasing indignation at having an emotion is absolutely adorable. It’s also so lovely to see Sebastian slowly make his way to allowing himself to rely on people, and slowly letting go of his rigid self-flagellation. In essence, I’d kill anyone to tried to hurt him, and I’m second in line to Wes.

All in all, it’s a perfect middle book, and the only downside to getting to read Once A Rogue early is that I now have to wait even longer for the next installment. Five stars.

Allie Therin returns to New York City in the 1920s with Once a Rogue, the follow up to Proper Scoundrels, a spin-off from her Magic in Manhattan series. In that book, centre stage belonged to Wesley Collins, Lord Fine, a cantankerous aristocrat and cynical, self-confessed arsehole, and powerful magic-user and dangerous marshmallow Sebastian de Leon, who team up to discover who is behind a series of thefts of powerful magical artifacts which has led to murder. They’re an odd couple if ever there was one, Wesley’s prickly, stiff-upper-lipped arrogance and rudeness a complete contrast to Sebastian’s quiet sweetness and consideration, but somehow they just fit, both of them damaged and believing themselves unworthy of love or affection; and watching them slowly growing closer and allowing themselves to be vulnerable with one another made for a very charming and poignant romance.

Note: Once a Rogue does not stand alone as it shares characters and situations with the previous book and with the Magic in Manhattan series. There may be spoilers for those titles in this review.

Once a Rogue opens around a week after the climactic events in Paris at the end of Proper Scoundrels, and we catch up with Wesley and Sebastian just after their ship has docked in New York, where they’ve travelled in response to cryptic message from Jade Robbins:

MAY WE SEE YOU IN NEW YORK STOP CLOCK NEEDS CURSE TO TICK CAN’T SAY MORE HERE STOP

While Sebastian immediately heads off to call Jade to find out what’s going on, Wesley waits not too patiently on the pier with Mateo, Sebastian’s younger brother, who accompanied them across the Atlantic and is due to return to college in Ohio the following day. Like Sebastian, Mateo is a magic-user – his magic so powerful that it had almost killed him until Sebastian was able to channel his own enervation magic through a relic – a fifteenth-century Spanish brooch – to bind Mateo’s powers and keep him safe. But Wesley is concerned - he’s noticed the dark circles under Sebastian’s eyes, how, no matter how much sleep he gets, he always seems fatiguted – and how the brooch is interfering with Sebastian’s magic and destabilising it.

When Sebastian returns, it’s to inform them that he wasn’t able to get in touch with Jade or with Zhang – and that one of the staff at the Dragon House restaurant said he hasn’t seen Zhang for several days. It’s a little odd that Jade would ask them to come to New York and then not be there to greet them, but maybe she’s just out for a while and will be back later. After arriving at their hotel, Wesley suggests they should go to see Arthur Kenzie and “his surly little antiquarian” – then round up Jade and Zhang and all go out for dinner. But more disappointment awaits when he and Sebastian arrive at Arthur’s apartment building to find out that Arthur left town over a week earlier – and that his nephew hasn’t been around for a while either. (Sebastian’s cluelessness about the true nature of Arthur and Rory’s relationship is quite sweet, really!)

Before they have much time to dwell on the fact that their friends seem to have disappeared, Wesley receives another terse message, this one from his former commanding officer, who basically demands a meeting, and the next morning, he receives an anonymous letter telling him he’s not safe in New York and to “Beware the company you keep.” None of it makes sense, and Wesley’s hope that their paranormal friends will be able to help ease Sebastian’s burden is superseeded by concern for their safety. A handful of cryptic messages doesn’t give them much to go on, but someone is most definitely up to no good, and as the story barrels towards an exciting and nail-biting climax, our heroes find themselves enmeshed in a deadly plot involving magic, murder, and madness.

Once a Rogue is another terrific read with a clever, high-stakes plot and a romance that continues to be both delightful and heartfelt as Wesley and Sebastian fall deeper and harder for each other – despite their hang-ups about not being good enough or deserving of love. Wesley is as wonderfully curmudgeonly and sarcastic as ever, and I simply loved watching him stubbornly trying to insist that feelings are things that happen to other people even as he’s so obviously toast when it comes to Sebastian. He’s spent so long keeping people at arms’ length and believing he’s the cold-hearted, remorseless bastard he’s reputed to be that he struggles to believe there’s any good in him; he insists Sebastian is just seeing him through rose-tinted glasses and is waiting for the day when Sebastian realises it, too, and decides a disagreeable, caustic English aristocrat is not the man for him.

Sebastian’s blood terrors have eased thanks to Wesley’s nightly presence in his bed, but he is still haunted by his past trauma and burdened by guilt over the things he was forced to do while under the blood magic. He’s also worried that Wesley will soon become tired of him – of (what he sees as) his clinginess and the upheaval his life has undergone since becoming associated with the paranormal world. But while there’s an element of ‘he can’t love me because I’m a bad person’ going on on both sides, there are no silly misunderstandings or miscommunication; much as Wesley hates the idea that he actually has feelings, he and Sebastian actually do talk about them and about their expectations of each other and their… whatever is going on between them. I love the way they truly see each other – even if they don’t quite see themselves through such a favourable lens, and that they’re learning to be vulnerable and open with one another; and just as I enjoyed watching Wesley coming to terms with having all those pesky feelings, so I enjoyed Sebastian finally lettimg himself admit that he’s allowed to have good things in his life.

I have a few very tiny niggles, mostly to do with the plot – namely that it takes Wesley and Sebastian so long to clue into the fact that something is really wrong. Some of the Americanisms that creep in are jarring (no English person in the 1920s would use ‘already’ as in ‘come on already’ – we don’t even use it that way today) and Sebastian’s obliviousness about the nature of Wesley’s former relationship with Arthur and Arthur’s current one with Rory is a bit of a stretch – although it’s just about believable (if you squint) given that Sebastian was magically enslaved for three years.

But none of those things impacted my overall enjoyment of Once a Rogue, which is magical, sweet, funny, gripping – and highly recommended. Wesley and Sebastian are compelling, well-drawn characters; their chemistry crackles, their banter amuses and their growing love for and steadfast support of one another is totally swoonworthy and wonderful to read. I love the magical 1920s world Ms. Therin has created and although, at time of writing (in June), nothing has been announced, there are enough questions left unanswered here for me to be hopeful there’s a third book in the works.  Fingers crossed!

ETA:  A few weeks after I wrote this review, the author confirmed that there will indeed be a third book featuring Wesley and Sebastian - although we're going to have to wait until 2025!

“Of course I’m not making it easy. You have met me, haven’t you?”

If there is any one line in the entirety of Allie Therin’s outstanding Once a Rogue that typifies who Wesley Collins (aka Lord Fine) is at heart, it’s this. Wesley is a rogue. Until he isn’t. He’s the hard man who has quite unexpectedly gone soft for Sebastian de Leon. Cuddle? Wesley scoffs at the mere idea. Feel an emotion? Never. But then, he’s never met anyone like Sebastian before, either, and watching Wesley cope with, then accept it all as his destiny is a thing of beauty.

This world is rife with dangers around every corner. Its magic is both a wonder and a peril. Its characters both valiant and dangerous, and some in particular, downright dastardly. Sebastian is in possession of an artifact that taxes him physically, and somebody wants it for his own nefarious purposes. This story is a race against the clock to locate old friends and new acquaintances, and Therin transports readers through time and trouble with an endearingly cheeky flair.

Ardent fans will welcome old friends from the Magic in Manhattan series. Arthur, Brody, Jade, and Zhang take their hard-earned and rightful place amongst the mayhem. The best part is that this book is nowhere close to the end. There’s more to come, and that’s excellent news for readers.