The Rogue Report

by Barbara Dawson Smith

Book Overview

Dear Reader, I have a secret. Several, in fact...Most people know me only as the headmistress of a charity school. Having a son but no husband has made me a social outcast, which is no great inconvenience since I despise Society especially those "gentlemen" who seduce naive young women. My contempt for such knaves leads us to Secret the First: I am the anonymous author of The Rogue Report, a newsletter that exposes these scoundrels and their exploits.My...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312932405
• ISBN13: 9780312932404
• Release Date: May 2006
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 340 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.2" x 6.7"

Customer Reviews

The best hero

From page one of the prologue of The Rogue Report, I knew this hero was something different. The kind of hero that comes alive and makes you smile and keeps you turning pages. Jack William Mansfield. The Earl of Rutledge. Handsome, more than charming, a fighter, a gambler, and he lies through his teeth. He's one of the scandalous ne'er-do-wells written about in Lady Julia Corwyn's Rogue Report. Julia was turned out of society as a fallen woman, because she has a son and no husband. She devotes her life to running a charity school for the illegitimate children of servants, and she also devotes her life to The Rogue Report she publishes every month. In it, she exposes all of society's scoundrels and their exploits - in hopes that she can help young women avoid these scandalous gentlemen. Her report of his wild party is what causes Jack's wealthy fiancé to dump him, and he's out for revenge. Using a false identity, he signs on as a teacher at Julia's school until he can prove that she's the author of the scandal sheet and expose her. And if exacting his revenge involves seducing the uptight headmistress, so be it. We all know Jack will lose his heart to Julia, but from page one I also knew this charmer had a long way to go. What will he do with a classroom full of math students? What will he do when Julia and her son are in danger? How can he possibly make up for his scoundrel ways, and all his lies, and win Julia's heart in return? You'll have to read The Rogue Report by Barbara Dawson Smith to find out. Barbara is a New York Times bestselling author, and The Rogue Report is a suspenseful, fun, and fast-paced read. Enjoy!

Charming and romantic and definitely a page-turner

Two very likeable leads and a compelling storyline drew me quickly through this charming tale of a "reforming" rake. Jack William Mansfield, Earl of Rutledge, has squandered what little there is of his funds through high living and gambling. Not to worry, though, for he has struck a bargain with his wealthy, if haughty, fiancé. He will make her his countess, and in return she will pay his debts when they marry. Her one condition is that he stops gambling. The ultra-confident Jack thinks nothing of sneaking behind her back to host a high stakes card game at his house, that is, until it is detailed in the "Rogue Report" and she cancels the engagement. Jack is suddenly facing financial ruin and wants revenge on the writer who ruined him. The "Rogue Report" is a semimonthly scandal sheet, published by a secret author, that enumerates the unsavory exploits of London's upper class gentlemen. It is delivered to unmarried society ladies in order to put them on their guard against rakes and debauchers. Jack is a pretty smart guy - smarter than he is willing to let on - and with a few educated guesses and some careful research into socially spurned ladies, he determines that the secret writer is Lady Julia Corwyn, an unwed mother and the headmistress of a charity school. Although the daughter of an Earl, Julia was cast off by society seven years ago following the birth of her illegitimate son. Under false pretenses, Jack procures a position as a math teacher at the school, using the name of Mr. William Jackman, or "Jack" for short. Before long, Jack is winning over the staff and students, and surprising himself by how much he enjoys teaching and using his mind. Although he intends to expose and seduce Julia for revenge, Jack's plans come face to face with the reality of his growing affection for her and her son and the school. And it seems Julia has quite a few secrets, and not just about her publication. She must decide whether to trust a man who could be her soul mate, but who makes no mention of marriage and may not be all that he appears. This is my first Barbara Dawson Smith book and will not be my last. The storyline is very absorbing and her writing has an easy flow. There are good doses of intrigue, mystery, tenderness and humor, and the characters are interesting and likeable. Jack is particularly charming with his secret love of math and word puzzles, and Julia is very sympathetic as a single mother who has never known true love. The love scenes are somewhat tame, but there is genuine affection between the couple and some good verbal foreplay. The villain scenario is a little improbable, but is a minor point. All in all, this is a very enjoyable and satisfying romance.