Much Ado About Rogues (Blackthorn Brothers, #3) by Kasey Michaels

Mar 26, 2012 rameau rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-galley, historical, romance, too-stupid-to-live, suckity-suck, dnf-protest-1star

I did not finish reading this book. This is a DNF review. If you're not interested in knowing exactly why I flounced, I suggest you move on.

Going in, I knew not to expect historical accuracy from this author. As much as I enjoyed A Midsummer Night's Sin that was mostly due to the humour of it and the lightness of the story. Unfortunately that same touch didn't work so well with this one.

Black Jack Blackthorn that was the author's second great love in A Midsummer Night's Sin turns out to be a b...more I did not finish reading this book. This is a DNF review. If you're not interested in knowing exactly why I flounced, I suggest you move on.

Going in, I knew not to expect historical accuracy from this author. As much as I enjoyed A Midsummer Night's Sin that was mostly due to the humour of it and the lightness of the story. Unfortunately that same touch didn't work so well with this one.

Black Jack Blackthorn that was the author's second great love in A Midsummer Night's Sin turns out to be a bastard in the derogatory sense of the word. Yes, he too is born out of wedlock but when he forces a kiss on his lost love Tess he crosses a line between a charming devil and unattractive miscreant. I guess, the scene might have been meant to be a sexy one, but the writing wasn't there to support it. It's not simply a question of what was done, it's about how it was done, and the answer here is poorly.

The heroine of this book, Tess, is another time-traveller from the future. She's introduced wearing her brother's clothes and searching for clues only thieves know to look for. True, her upbringing wasn't the traditional kind or appropriate for the age, but that would make her an interesting and a memorable character, if I could find it in myself to respect her.

She matches Black Jack in her inability to piece together the most simplest clues, and she turns out to be a bad mother. Not that that's a character fault I can't overlook when it's handled appropriately, but I'm supposed to believe she in fact is a good mother who puts her child first when there's nothing to support this claim. Fearing she might lose the child she hid from his father for four years, she insists they take the toddler with them into Town while the hunt for two killers. And he agrees with her. Neither stops to think about the child's safety, neither suggests an alternative plan that would allow them to keep the child near but away from harm's way. Neither stops to think that maybe this is a good time to step away from the game and let someone else take care of the murdering thieves.

I guess there wouldn't be much of a story if they had done that. Unfortunately it's so badly done that I can't bring myself to skip the illogicalities and finish reading the novel.

I stopped reading at the end of chapter five which is around page 72 of 333 in the ARC I received.

I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.(less)

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Mar 21, 2012 Ruth rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance, regency-victorian, series, net_galley, mystery-thriller-spies-suspense

This one, provided by netgalley, made a nice ending to a series I have really enjoyed reading. The first two had a light, fluffy quality to them, with touches of silliness, which were pure entertainment, although in a non-irritating way, but this one was just a little bit darker.

It took me a while to get used to the darkness, since the first two were so fluffy, but I have to say, the plot was significantly better, with multiple twists and turns, and also the book managed to fill in and complete...more This one, provided by netgalley, made a nice ending to a series I have really enjoyed reading. The first two had a light, fluffy quality to them, with touches of silliness, which were pure entertainment, although in a non-irritating way, but this one was just a little bit darker.

It took me a while to get used to the darkness, since the first two were so fluffy, but I have to say, the plot was significantly better, with multiple twists and turns, and also the book managed to fill in and complete a lot of the background of the Blackthorn brothers themselves. Now, I don’t normally like it when, at the end of a series, all the couples are gathered together and the series is brought to its conclusion. Usually, it’s done in such a sickly-sweet way, with thousands of babies crawling around and everybody lovey-dovey and at least two characters having undergone such a personality transplant as to be unrecognizable. Well, I didn’t get that feeling here. Although the other characters were there, the focus was undeniably on this heroine and this hero, and the series did conclude in a way that felt satisfying without making me want to retch. I felt this was quite an achievement.

Of course, I liked that the hero and heroine were spies-ish in this one, and some of the minor characters who have been in the other books were here, backing them up, but the plot was really quite strong.

There are several things I have enjoyed about this series. The heroines and heroes are likable, the plots are very different, with some very minor linkages between them, and the whole weird family background just gives it a different twist. Most of all, the series has been entertaining to read. It’s not challenging, not angsty (although the author doesn’t shy away from the betrayal of parents by their children and vice versa, which has been quite refreshing), and the writing is witty, and flowing nicely. This is not Jane Eyre, nor are they earth-shatteringly life-changing reads. You can pick them up, read them, enjoy them, and move on. I had quite a reasonable break between reading each one, and I do wander whether they might be just a little bit overwhelming read one after another straight-off.

So, anyway, I’ll be keeping these three. 3.5 stars, but jacked up to 4 stars, because (a) the author manages to slip Simon Bolivar and Venezuelan independence into the plot, which strikes me as a real achievement, and (b) the series was wrapped up much better than most.(less)

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Dec 14, 2012 Laura Ashlee rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, romance

This is most definitely the best book in this little trilogy. It’s definitely a close race, but I think Black Jack really outshines his brothers. I was positively riveted throughout the entire book, and only a little deterred by a little plot confusion.

Intrigue and cunning games can be confusing. I think any author writing about them needs to be very careful. While, I really enjoyed the book, the plot could get a little daunting and I had to spend a little time working through it. I will say tha...more This is most definitely the best book in this little trilogy. It’s definitely a close race, but I think Black Jack really outshines his brothers. I was positively riveted throughout the entire book, and only a little deterred by a little plot confusion.

Intrigue and cunning games can be confusing. I think any author writing about them needs to be very careful. While, I really enjoyed the book, the plot could get a little daunting and I had to spend a little time working through it. I will say that the confusion also kept me very interested in that part of the plot. I was eager to see how things with Tess’s father and the Gypsy would turn out. I did see some of the plot twists from a mile away though, and while it’s nice to say “I knew it,” I think I’d rather be surprised and blown away. But you know what, at least it had a good plot to begin with. Sometimes historical romances get too caught up in themselves to bother with that, and they end up just being about sex and fancy words. Fortunately, that was not the case in this book.

It’s really something to have the mystery of Black Jack revealed and realize that he’s just as likable and compassionate as his brothers. He’s just a little rougher around the edges, and he has a lot of ghosts from his past hauting him. Actually, it’s pretty simple to see why his story is the best. There’s a lot more to it. Tess was his rock. He would never admit it, but she’s the reason he developed. It took a lot of nagging and fighting to get him there, but she put in the effort. She is in love with him, after all. The two of them make quite the team and I really loved their banter. It was always entertaining.

I think Kasey Michaels perfectly executes regency language. It’s not too much. It’s easy to understand, but also not too current. Conversation is one of my favorite things about reading historical books. I love how witty people could be without being rude. You could cut someone down and still seem like a perfect gentleman. It’s pretty awesome.

This is a great one for historical and regency romance lovers, especially if you like intrigue.(less)

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Jun 04, 2012 Romancing the Book rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, romance

Posted on Romancing the Book's blog
Reviewed by JoAnne
Review Copy Provided by Netgalley

This is the third book of the Blackthorn Brothers series and I look forward to reading the first two. This historical set mainly in England kept me interested from the first page to the last. The story was not what I expected, but so much better. There was intrigue, suspense, love, romance, family, theatrics and lots of action. The three brothers, although Jack was a stepbrother, seemed to get along and were th...more

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May 06, 2012 Susan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-books-read, historical-fiction-romance, romance

Very good book. I liked Jack when he appeared in the previous books. His role in this book is to track down his missing mentor. In doing so, he meets up again with Tess, his first love whom he has never really forgotten. Their initial meeting is not friendly, and you get an idea of all the issues they will have to overcome. Tess is not very happy to see Jack at first, as she still blames him for her brother's death. As they spend time together trying to find her father, they both find out that t...more

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Mar 26, 2012 Heather Book Savvy Babe rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance, netgalley, reading-romances-challenge-2012

3.5 of 5 Stars

Much Ado About Rogues is book 3 in Kasey Michaels Blackthorn Brothers trilogy. This book is about the dark and dangerous "Black Jack" Blackthorn, the most mysterious brother of the bunch. Jack is an agent for the British government, part assassin, part spy. He must confront his past when his mentor (a former government agent) disappears, along with secrets the crown does not want revealed. In order to find his mentor, Jack must face his former lover, Tess, his mentors daughter. Tes...more 3.5 of 5 Stars

Much Ado About Rogues is book 3 in Kasey Michaels Blackthorn Brothers trilogy. This book is about the dark and dangerous "Black Jack" Blackthorn, the most mysterious brother of the bunch. Jack is an agent for the British government, part assassin, part spy. He must confront his past when his mentor (a former government agent) disappears, along with secrets the crown does not want revealed. In order to find his mentor, Jack must face his former lover, Tess, his mentors daughter. Tess has secrets of her own to reveal to Jack, and she discovers that her father is not the man she thought he was. Finding the clever mentor proves to be dangerous, in more ways than one.

I enjoyed reading this book. I have read the first book in the series, and I enjoyed meeting all three of the Blackthorn brothers. I have always been curious about the mysterious "Black Jack" and his book proved to be a good read. Twice a bastard, Jack has never felt that he belonged anywhere, until he met Tess. But, Tess's father, his mentor, was not the good man and father he claimed to be. After a tragedy, Jack left Tess and never looked back. When Jack returns to capture his mentor, he discovers that his attraction to Tess has never left. Jack and Tess are continually hot and cold, it gets tough to keep up with their moods and thoughts. Tess is a stubborn woman and I really did not like the secret she kept from Jack for the years they were apart. The pair were maddening at times, but they fit together well.

What I really liked about this book was how the characters had to face their pasts. They had to accept their situations, their parents, and their mistakes and learn how to move forward. In Jack's case, this meant dealing with his selfish mother, and reuniting with his Blackthorn brothers. I enjoyed catching up with the other brothers and seeing how their stories had progressed from previous books.

There is plenty of action and intrigue throughout the story. The search for Sinjin (Jack's mentor) is a puzzle to be solved. However, the middle portion of the story dragged a little bit. It felt repetitive with Jack and Tess continuing their hot and cold relationship and the search for Sinjin still going strong.

The last stretch of the book picked up, the book went in a new direction, tying off loose ends in the series. As the story continued, Jack and Tess' relationship strengthened and began to make more sense. In the end, I really liked how the story and the series was resolved. The loose ends are tied up, with no prominent questions about the series remaining. The 3 book trilogy is complete, and I am fully satisfied with the ending.

Much Ado About Rogues is a story full of intrigue and passion, and I would recommend this book and series to historical romance readers. Considering the entire story, I rate this book 3.5 of 5 stars. I read the first book, but I missed the second book and I will most likely pick it up to read Puck's story. Even though I read this 3rd book as a stand alone, I would recommend reading the first 2 books in the series before beginning Much Ado About Rogues.

*I received this book for review*(less)

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Mar 23, 2012 Rhonda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Much Ado About Rogues by Kasey Michaels
4 STARS
The last Blackthorn brother Don John "Black Jack" story finshes off this series of books.
I liked it but their are some really selfish parents in this one. I have only read 2 stories about the Blackthorn brothers and both were good.
Time period is set in England after a war with France.
Black Jack gets orders to find his old teacher Sinjon the Marquis de Fontaine in the spy business that has gone missing and to find out what he has been up too and take...more Much Ado About Rogues by Kasey Michaels
4 STARS
The last Blackthorn brother Don John "Black Jack" story finshes off this series of books.
I liked it but their are some really selfish parents in this one. I have only read 2 stories about the Blackthorn brothers and both were good.
Time period is set in England after a war with France.
Black Jack gets orders to find his old teacher Sinjon the Marquis de Fontaine in the spy business that has gone missing and to find out what he has been up too and take him out.
Lady Tess Fonteneau father Sinjon has gone missing. She knows that one of the servants is sent to spy on them, because for years her father had helped the English solve problems. He knew a lot of secrets and had even been sent to kill problems for his adopted country. Tess must find him and at the same time show that she does not know what has happened.
When Black Jack shows up in her house looking for her father she is surprised to seeing that they sent him to find her father. Tess has not seen him since she told him to leave her after blaming him for the death of her twin brother.
Black Jack shows her a secret room in her own house where her father kept his weapons, costumes to see what was taken and find clue about Sinjon that he had left for him to find. Black Jack knew that Sinjon planned on him being sent.
After a night spent with Tess again Black Jack found out the secret she has been hiding from him for 3 years. Black Jack shows her more about what her father as really up to for years.c
Black Jack and his team are searching for Sinjon in London. Tess and son goes with Black Jack to confront her father and save his life.
Sinjon is always making plans and then other plans he seems to want Black Jack to help him kill the Gypsey who killed his son. But has all these clues for Black Jack and for getting the gypsey out in the open.
The story has a bunch of twists in it. Kept me reading to early in the morning. I will read more of Kasey's books in the future.
I was given this ebook to read in exchange for honest review from Netgalley.
03/27/2012 Pub Harlequin HQN(less)

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Jan 25, 2012 Christopher rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review was originally posted on The Historical Romance Critic.

Thoughts After Reading:
Let me preface this review by saying, as a rule, I dismiss all romances that have an "old flame" storyline. With few exceptions, they are much too angsty for my liking and the characters are basically in love with each other from the beginning. Despite this, I found myself utterly enthralled with the story of Much Ado About Rogues - an interpretation of such a plot by Michaels. And I think I have figured ou...more This review was originally posted on The Historical Romance Critic.

Thoughts After Reading:
Let me preface this review by saying, as a rule, I dismiss all romances that have an "old flame" storyline. With few exceptions, they are much too angsty for my liking and the characters are basically in love with each other from the beginning. Despite this, I found myself utterly enthralled with the story of Much Ado About Rogues - an interpretation of such a plot by Michaels. And I think I have figured out how she writes such engaging novels: it's not just her unique brand of humor, of which there was only a shadow present in this latest work. Rather, she combines excellent writing with an extraordinary ability of characterization. In the forward of Much Ado About Rogues, she claims that her characters take on lives of their own. I'm going to have to take her word for it, because I'm at a loss how else to describe how she writes such complex characters. In the final book of the "Blackthorn Brothers" series, Michaels ties in a vast backstory revolving around the hero and heroine with the overarching storyline concerning all three brothers. And the way in which the characters think, act, and react as the story unfolds is simply impressive.

I can't explain too much of story in Much Ado About Rogues without spoiling it. With a book that focuses on an "old love" romance heavily interwoven with an intrigue storyline, it is the reader's unraveling of the story that makes the book truly worth reading. I will say, however, that nearly everything is connected to the heroine's father. The hero describes him at one point as "the most confounding clever yet conscienceless man he'd ever known." And that basically sums up the man: he's extremely intelligent and adept at the machinations expected of a spy or assassin, and yet he's dedicated to a passion that leaves little room for caring about other human beings. The heroine is her father's daughter in the sense that she too is drawn to intrigue and puzzles, and yet she has a far greater capacity for love than her father. Several years before the book begins, the hero began his tutelage under the father working (in some ways) for the Crown. The hero and heroine fell into a passionate, romantic form of love, until events turn them against each other (partially orchestrated by the father). For the next four years the hero continues working with the Crown separately, joining a group that essentially enact assassinations. The hero comes back into the heroine's life when the heroine's father turns up missing, and the adventure seeped with intrigue begins. The couple hurry to fully uncover the plot, all the while reconciling issues of forgiveness and understanding. I found the conclusion to the romance plot to be immensely satisfying, and the same was true for the final conclusion to the entire series.

Looking back at all three novels in the Blackthorn Brothers series, it was The Taming of the Rake that best embodies what I look for in a romance, namely a good but lighthearted storyline with some great humor. It was Much Ado About Rogues, however, that seemed to be Kasey Michaels' masterpiece of the series; the book that led the reader on an emotional rollercoaster and thereby allowed for some of the best resolutions I have ever read.

This review is based on an ARC copy I received on NetGalley, thanks to a publisher who is obviously awesome.(less)

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Jan 22, 2012 Jessi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-challenge, appealing-characteristic-character, historical, part-of-a-series, romance, 2012

Black Jack is the last of the Blackthorn brothers to find his perfect mate. Except, that's not exactly true. He found someone once, bt than lost her when her father blamed Jack for her brother's death. But now Lady Tess Fonteneau is back in his life because her father, it seems, is once again up to no good. The government chooses Jack, as a former protege, to track him down. Tess loves her father. She knows that he isn't perfect but he's been there for her and he really seems to have bonded with...more

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Jan 22, 2012 Brittany rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reads, 2012-romance-challenge, first-read, netgalley

I was happy to read this book and have all my questions answered. I however thought that a lot of it could have been done differently. The whole middle was page after page of planning and rehashing emotions and got tedious and annoying at points. I felt that Jack changed too much in this book from the first two. If he was going to become as happy a person in this book, he should have shown more of that in the other two books so as to not shock and also to make his personality more believable in...more

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Mar 30, 2012 Angela rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Romance, historical romance

Wow, what a way to end the series! All along Jack has been this dark, mysterious man who we know very little about, but in this book we got to see who the man was behind the mask, so to say. As the middle of three bastard sons of a Marquis, Jack leaves home and begins working for the Crown doing the dirty work not too many others could do. Here he is sent after the man who was his mentor and is met with the man's daughter, Tess who he once thought himself in love with. They end up working togeth...more

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Apr 08, 2012 Dinjolina rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: angst, arc, bad-boy-involved, bipolar-alert, drama-queens, hero-overly-angsty, historical-romance, how-the-mighty-fall, kid-that-was-supposed-to-be-cute, more-rant-than-rew, moron-hero, never-going-back-to-them, no-virgins-allowed, pretty-cover-pulled-me-in, romantic-suspense, sorry-but-just-no, stupid-as-hell

The light and somewhat happy leitmotiv of the previous books was missing in this book.
Even if I was not prepared for the whole dark and angsty feel of this read, I decided to like it any way….

I was, sadly, unable.
The mystery and plotting that was revealed to us was so absurd I caught myself humming
The ‘Be prepared’ song form Lion King.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZ6cw_...
The only thing that was missing were some retarded hyenas.
(Yeah be prepared! We’ll be prepared! For what?
For the death of t...more

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May 05, 2012 Jennifer Peterson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-books

I will admit, I'm a sucker for Shakespeare-themed titles. I've read Kasey Michaels' books before and really enjoyed them, so combining that with a Shakespeare-themed title, and yep, I'm going to read it.

This is a story about finding your identity. Jack Blackthorn, the middle Blackthorn brother, and the last one to be written about, has been the black sheep of his family for the last 10 years or so. After leaving home at age 18, he struggled to find his place in the world. He was taken in by the...more

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Apr 19, 2012 Cami Hensley rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

Originally posted:
http://myaddictionisreading.blogspot....

I love Kasey Michaels books. This was such a great series, but I'm not going to lie, I was a bit disappointed with this. I felt it was a little slow moving. I like my books a bit more fast pace. It was hard to get through the beginning of this one.

Jack has been the man of mystery who we didn't know much about but really wanted to dealve deeper into his world. He believed himself in love with Tess at one time and has now found himself work...more

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Mar 17, 2012 Jeanne Murray rated it 4 of 5 stars

Although the twists and turns of this novel leave the reader with plenty of suspense, the chief focus of Much Ado About Rogues is the relationship between Jack and Tess, matched forces whose interaction guarantees sparks of both anger and passion. As the couple, who share a complex history, seek to find Tess’s father and a mysterious villain known only as “The Gypsy,” they also work to unravel the pain of Jack’s parentage. Incorporating realistic elements such as the difficulties of planning a f...more

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May 05, 2013 Amy rated it 2 of 5 stars

I grew to dislike this book the more I read of it. The first half was much better than the second half, and then it went all downhill. First of all, there was no more sexual tension--which is what usually keeps me glued to a good romance novel in the first place--in the second half of the book. In fact, there were no "juicy parts" (intimate sex scenes) in the last third of the book whatsoever. The remainder of the book was supposed to be some big mystery. But most of the mystery disappeared by t...more

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Mar 02, 2012 Shay Williams rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance, arcs_first-reads

I feel in love with the Blackthorn Brothers right from the very first book; Beau who is so dependable, Puck who is so light hearted and Jack who is so dark and mysterious. And because of my bent, I could hardly wait until Jack’s book came out. And MUCH ADO ABOUT ROGUES was well worth the wait.

In MUCH ADO ABOUT ROGUES, we are taken on a wild jaunt about England as Jack and Tess attempt to find her father. During this time, Jack and Jess have the time to relearn the other’s characters again. After...more

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Mar 24, 2012 Sharon Tyler rated it 3 of 5 stars

Much Ado About Rogues by Kasey Micheals is a historical romance, and the final installment of the Blackthorn Brothers Trilogy. It is set for release on March 20 2012. In this book, we finally get to see the story of Don John, or Black Jack, Blackthorn and the answers to many questions that have been raised throughout the series. Black Jack often thought about his love lost in the previous novels, now we get to meet her. Lady Tess Fonteneau, daughter of the man that trained Jack in the espionage...more

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Feb 15, 2012 Jen rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance

If you want a plot line that gives you a headache, then this story is for you. From the beginning, we know this isn't going to be any simple whodunit or caper. Captain Black Jack Blackthorn must track down his former mentor who has now decided to disappear. In the course of the search, he has to reunite with his former flame and daughter of the mentor, Lady Tess Fonteneau.

I'm not even going to try to describe the twisted jumble of plot lines that commences from there. Remember when you were you...more

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Jun 04, 2013 Wench rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, romance, regency, finished-out-of-spite, thrown-across-the-room, paperback-swap

That. Was. Bloody. TERRIBLE.

This book is motherfucking poorly written, convoluted tripe. Far from the mysterious badass we see in the first two books, Jack is nearly too stupid to bloody live. I hated the model for the cover at first, and then I realized he was perfect. Jack is a weak-chinned, whiny shit who misses so much going on around him my husband, who is the most oblivious motherfucker I know, looks like fucking Sherlock. And HE STILL IS ENGAGING IN HIS BULLSHIT AVOIDANCE HE SUPPOSEDLY G...more

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Mar 30, 2012 Mary rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: keepers, regency-romance

I love this series, love the premise of the brother's parentage, love the backstory.. I even like Black Jack and Tessa.. but this was my least favorite of the three books only because the "procedural" portion (for lack of a better term) was a bit too complicated for me. With lots of people lying to or withholding information from each other, and never knowing who was working for whom.. and reading one plan all laid out..and then another one implemented.. it got a little too bogged down for me. I...more

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Mar 19, 2012 Jen (Red Hot Books) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arcs, historical-romance

I've been looking forward to this book ever since Jack was first introduced in The Taming of the Rake. He's the dark one among the three Blackstone bastards. He's mysterious and broody and I couldn't wait to learn his secrets and watch him surrender to love. Sadly, the book did not live up to my expectations. Let me give you a little info on the story.

Jack works for the crown, doing super-secret government missions. His latest assignment is to track down his missing mentor. That means he must co...more I've been looking forward to this book ever since Jack was first introduced in The Taming of the Rake. He's the dark one among the three Blackstone bastards. He's mysterious and broody and I couldn't wait to learn his secrets and watch him surrender to love. Sadly, the book did not live up to my expectations. Let me give you a little info on the story.

Jack works for the crown, doing super-secret government missions. His latest assignment is to track down his missing mentor. That means he must confront the man's daughter, Tess, who was once his great love. Four years ago, he was involved in a plot with her dad that ended with the death of her twin brother. She was never able to forgive him. It turns out, though, that her father is the real villain. While he pretended to work for the crown, he was more interested in his secret job as an antiquities thief. And he never cared about his children as much as his stolen treasures.

Once Jack fills Tess in on her father's true nature, they must work together to track the man down. But time after time, they realize that they are dancing to her father's tune. You see, Daddy is uber-brilliant, and is always several steps ahead. He is hoping to draw out Jack to help him foil his other protege, the Gypsy. And he's willing to fight dirty to get what he wants.

We get the details on Tess and Jack's initial love story as the couple looks back on what went wrong. That was kind of disappointing, because we miss out on all the delicious new love/ attraction build-up. The couple starts the book with all this history behind them and they're already mired in angst. Of course, the mission puts them on the road to reconciliation. It's not a bad romance, but it wasn't great either.

There were two major things I didn't like about the book. One was puppetmaster quality of Tess' father. It's hard to swallow that the man is so dastardly brilliant that he has master plans that span years and pulls everyone's strings. It was too much. (Plus, I found the resolution to his part of the storyline to be very anticlimactic.)

My other issue was the pacing. The book wasn't terribly long, but it felt like it was. Perhaps it's because there was so much more story even after the plot surrounding Tess' dad was put to bed. Maybe because I found the backstory on Jack's parents to be so terribly convoluted and unbelievable. Or maybe it was that it all ended in a way that was much too convenient. I'm not sure. I just know that it felt like it went on and on and left me disappointed. 3 stars.

*ARC Provided by NetGalley(less)

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Apr 03, 2012 The_Book_Queen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley, e-book, england, historical, read-in-2012, romance, reviewed

3.5 Stars. The review that follows is a partial review. To read the full text, please visit:
http://tbqspersonalbookpalace.blogspo...
~*~*~*~
Much Ado About Rogues tells the story of Jack Blackthorn and Lady Tess. Their story is one of secrets and lies, troubles from the past and hopes for the future. It's not a simple tale by any means!

When Jack left her four years ago, Tess was heart-broken. She thought what they had was love! But apparently he was only using her (or so it seemed). Now Jack sho...more

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Apr 21, 2012 Kimberly rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 52-books-in-52-weeks-2012

more reviews on www.TheWindyPages.com

Jack, the third Blackthorn brother, has his work cut out for him. Him and his friends have been hired by the Crown to find his own mentor, who has disappeared into thin air. Jack must track him down before it's too late, because Jack isn't the only person who is after him. And he has only one advantage- his mentor's daughter, Tess, and Jack's old flame. Can they find her father in time?

This is my first Kasey Michaels book, the third in a series. I didn't min...more

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Aug 27, 2012 Kirsti rated it 2 of 5 stars

I hadn't read the previous two books in this series, and maybe I ought to have. However, I had no idea this was even a three piece story before I picked it up, so that really wasn't an option. I never really fell into the story the way I normally do. The plotline was ridiculous, the characters what if scenarios gave me a headache. The romance was barely there, just going on the fact they were once in love, we have to believe it, and they're in love again the moment they set eyes on each other on...more

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Jun 06, 2013 Danae rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance, illegitimate-h-h, regency-romance, reviewed

Black Jack's story didn't grab me the way the earlier two books of the trilogy did. Neither did it have the touch of humour that made the stories more fun and the characters believable. This book is more angsty than the others (never a problem for me per se) however the large dose of intrigue, silly spy tactics, conversion of a character who was in earlier books not loveable but at least intriguing suddenly goes all dark and evil (huh?) pull it down. Tess, the heroine is interesting in parts and...more

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May 17, 2012 Alexa Yupangco rated it 4 of 5 stars

Reviewed on the blog.

The thing about romance novels is that they tend to be formulaic. The only thing that sets each one them apart for me is the characters - the unique traits, occupations or history is what keeps me interested.

While MUCH ADO ABOUT ROGUES featured some wonderful characters, I find that the story itself was just alright for me. KASEY MICHAELS certainly tossed in some exciting twists and turns here and there, but something just didn’t click for me.

This, however, does not mean th...more

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May 07, 2012 SidneyKay rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance-regency

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. "Pick a little, talk a little, pick a little, talk a little,
Cheep cheep cheep, talk a lot, pick a little more
Pick a little, talk a little, pick a little, talk a little,
Cheep cheep cheep, talk a lot, pick a little more
Pick a little, talk a little, pick a little, talk a little,
Cheep cheep cheep Cheep cheep cheep Cheep cheep
Cheep cheep cheep Cheep cheep cheep Cheep cheep
Cheep cheep cheep Cheep cheep cheep Cheep cheep
Pick a little, talk a little, cheep!" - Meredith Wilson

If any of you have ever seen...more "Pick a little, talk a little, pick a little, talk a little,
Cheep cheep cheep, talk a lot, pick a little more
Pick a little, talk a little, pick a little, talk a little,
Cheep cheep cheep, talk a lot, pick a little more
Pick a little, talk a little, pick a little, talk a little,
Cheep cheep cheep Cheep cheep cheep Cheep cheep
Cheep cheep cheep Cheep cheep cheep Cheep cheep
Cheep cheep cheep Cheep cheep cheep Cheep cheep
Pick a little, talk a little, cheep!" - Meredith Wilson

If any of you have ever seen the play/movie Music Man, you may remember that rather irritating song Pick a Little, Talk a Little. Well, that is what we have here my fellow readers. We have talk, talk, talk. We do not have a "failure to communicate." And, I never thought I'd say this about a romance novel, I wish we had a failure! Oh, by the way I do make movie references and I do have spoilers!

Much Ado About Rogues was a hard book for me to review, mainly because I'm a big fan of Kasey Michaels. Many of her earlier works are some of my favorites, especially those with touches of humor in them. This book is also the third and final in the Blackthorn brother trilogy. And, I was very much looking forward to reading it. In the end though, I would have to say this book does not live up to the other two in the series. Or my expectations.

Let's talk about my expectations, shall we? One of my expectations when buying a romance book is that they contain at least a minimal amount of romance. Call me silly, but there you have it. Yes, I like romance in my romance novels! This one, sad to say, had barely a scent of any. Oh sure, there was a couple. We have Jack (hero) and Tess (heroine) and they have a past, problems, and secrets. Jack's a hunk, and Tess is one of those plain-never-looked-in-a-mirror-heroines. So, you would think with all the standard plot devices around this couple there would be romance. There wasn't. There was no chemistry, no sexual tension, nothing. Oh, there was sex, and plen-ty of it. But, gee-willikers it was tedious.

For me, this book seemed to focus on the one-step-ahead of the master of intrigue, Tess's father. There were loads of discussions of mysterious messages, hidden treasures, puzzles to solve, tricks to prevent, disguises to uncover, deceptions, intrigues, who, what and where's. And, we have to talk, talk, talk all of it out. Any moment I was expecting someone to shout out, "it was Colonel Mustard in the kitchen with a candlestick!" While I will admit that some of this was well-written and interesting, it wasn't what I wanted. I wanted to see some sparks between Jack and Tess; some romance.

Then there was the epilogue. If any of you saw Lord of the Rings, you may remember the epilogue, or should I say, ep-i-logues. While, I'm a big fan of Lord of the Rings, I still remember the person sitting behind me groaning as one more ending appeared on the screen. And, that's what we have in this book, epilogues with a capital S. One rather inane and confusing almost-epilogue was Cyril’s long winded explanation over the “why” of his marriage. And, why did we have to go to the United States just to come back to England?

So, even though I am a gigantic fan of Ms. Michaels, this story disappointed me and is the least favorite in the series. I found some of the discussions in the book fascinating, but there were way t-o-o many. And, most important, where was the romance?
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Mar 20, 2012 Becky Moe rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, netgalley

As the final book in the Blackthorn Brothers trilogy, Much Ado About Rogues had a lot of wrapping up to do...

"Black Jack" Blackthorn has always been the black sheep of his family, both literally and figuratively. He's a darker character, so his book was naturally not nearly as lighthearted and fun as the other two brothers' were. Although...I do have to say that by the end of the book, Jack did become a lot less of a dark, gloomy character, which for me was a plus. He became a lot more human tha...more

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Apr 12, 2012 Kimm rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

I know I must have read Kasey Michaels in the past, but as of this moment, nothing jumps out at me about her writing. So…I’m going to treat Much Ado About Rogues as a first time author read. I thought the book was pretty strong. It is a little on the darker side, both in plot and in character composites. Jack & Tess both feel like heavy figures. Dark secrets, dark pasts – much misery abounds for these two. The story is strong in mystery/intrigue. Not my usual read, but it’s Historical, so I...more I know I must have read Kasey Michaels in the past, but as of this moment, nothing jumps out at me about her writing. So…I’m going to treat Much Ado About Rogues as a first time author read. I thought the book was pretty strong. It is a little on the darker side, both in plot and in character composites. Jack & Tess both feel like heavy figures. Dark secrets, dark pasts – much misery abounds for these two. The story is strong in mystery/intrigue. Not my usual read, but it’s Historical, so I dove in when it came time to read it.

The Heroine: Lady Tess: Made the mistake of falling in love too young, got her heart broken. She was also left with a surprise – her son (who is kept a secret, but not too far into the book). She’s cunning, taught by a master spy, her father. The man she loved – well he was caught up in her brother’s death, a big hurdle to overcome in their reunification. Tess should have been her father’s son. Sadly, she was born a girl and has spent her life trying to prove herself.

The Hero: Jack (aka Black Jack) is a scary bastard assassin, trained by the best – Tess’ father. He became the prodigal son, and competition for Tess, once upon a time. Jack is an intimidating character. He’s the darker of the two. Bitter, jaded, mommy issues…you name it, he’s got the hang up. Also, he’s got to use Tess to find her father – a mission connected to his role as an assassin. This makes it pretty convenient for him to use the time wisely and pull Tess back into his life.

The Story: Michaels’ opening scene starts off with a murder. Honestly, I didn’t know who was supposed to be good and who was supposed to be bad at this point. Then it became clear that our deal little mercenary was the Hero. What a surprise! Just a foreshadowing of the company he keeps. Segue into a new mission: find Tess’ father, who is essentially an enemy of the state. He holds a great many secrets that could do more harm than good if he chose to share them. This is what brings Jack back into Tess’ life. He needs her to find her father – his mentor in all things spy related. The downside? They left off on bad terms and meeting up again doesn’t make either one very happy. A painful past pushes its way into each other’s minds and old grievances are hard to forgive. Each has wounded the other in their own special way.

As it relates to the plot, there is an added mysterious element of a master assassin and thief named Sinjin. He’s part of everyone’s past – and he is the man who murdered Tess’ brother (who was not the greatest of spies). Anyway, both Tess’ father and Sinjin pop up here and there in the story, leading up to a big finale between all the parties. Because the story is set as an intrigue, I don’t want to give away any of the details – so pardon my vagueness.

I’ve not read the first two books in this series, but I can see where I would have benefited from them. There are a few references and character introductions (Jack’s two brothers – heroes of Books 1 & 2) that allude to more details of Jack’s past. His mother and father (stepfather?) also figure into this observation. Rest assured, it feels like loose ends get tied up for everyone involved. Jack and Tess get their HEA and all is well.

If you are looking for something a little deeper and darker, this book may be the right fit for you. The writing is strong and the characters are compelling. There are times you may want to throttle them for being too stubborn, but overall they are a fairly satisfying couple.
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Much Ado About Rogues (Blackthorn Brothers #3)

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