The Gentleman and the Rogue

Jul 03, 2010 UniquelyMoi *Dhestiny* BlithelyBookish rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 5-stars, 2010-reads, ebook-own-have-read, romance-mm, mm-historical-romance, historical-mm, reviewed-by-me, mm, starts-with-e-thru-h, mm-romance

Note: This review was edited because I inadvertently left out one of the authors when I was raving about this book, and it's so, so wonderful that both should be given credit where credit is due.

I’m going to start this off by saying that even if you don’t like the M/M genre, please read my review anyway, because I found this book to be such a great story that it’s worth skipping over certain aspects of the genre if you’re not comfortable with them, namely anal sex, in order to experience this s...more Note: This review was edited because I inadvertently left out one of the authors when I was raving about this book, and it's so, so wonderful that both should be given credit where credit is due.

I’m going to start this off by saying that even if you don’t like the M/M genre, please read my review anyway, because I found this book to be such a great story that it’s worth skipping over certain aspects of the genre if you’re not comfortable with them, namely anal sex, in order to experience this story.

This is my first read by Bonnie Dee and Summer Devon, my first m/m historical romance, and my first story with a male prostitute – I’ve gotten lots of firsts for me with The Gentleman and the Rogue, and I’m happy that I didn’t put off reading it any longer.

Sir Alan Watleigh is a seemingly strong military leader who has seen some of the most horrible crimes against humanity imaginable. Unable to save many of the men in his command who died in a disastrous, poorly planned attack, he then had to stand by and watch as others of his men raped, tortured and stole from the people they defeated. Heartbreakingly ashamed of what he sees as his own perverted desires for men, and desperately wanting to end the nightmares of war once and for all, Alan has decided to end his own life. Choosing to spend one last evening experiencing the pleasure to be found in another man’s body, he ends up picking up a street whore named Jem who will do more for Alan than just sate his lust.

Jem Brown, the aforementioned street whore who sells his sexual services to other males, is just so down to earth, yet at the same time, a complex character. He is very comfortable with his sexuality and this during a time when people were executed for being for their “perversions.” But it’s Jem’s keen mind and quick wit that convince Alan to give up, or at least postpone, his decision to kill himself and what starts out to be just a single night of passion turns into an offer of permanent employment – and more importantly, a relationship that will help Alan learn to deal with his nightmares and also, accept himself for who he is – a good and honorable man. Jem could see the pain behind Alan’s eyes, his sheltered expressions, and was determined to make the man smile. It’s one of the things I loved most about Jem. He’d sing songs and tell bawdy tales, just to give Alan a little happiness, regardless how brief. This is one of the tales he told:

"Do you believe in goblins, sir? I've an interesting tale to tell about a woman who met one. Miss Sally Purdy from Pritchett Street told me about her personal experience. Would you like to hear the story?"
Alan looked at him through the rising steam from his cup of tea and raised a brow. “Intriguing. Go on.”
"Well, here's what happened, or so Miss Sally says. One morning she walked out her door and saw a little man in her garden. She snatched him up, saying, ‘You're a goblin. I've caught you, and you owe me three wishes!'
"'Very well,’ the wee man replied. ‘What do you wish for?'
"Sally thought hard and replied, ‘A big house to live in, a wardrobe full of fine clothes, and a table that will provide delicious food for the rest of me life.'
"'Aye, I'll grant your request, but to make your wishes come true, you have to spend the night having sex with me.'
"Old Spinster Sally hemmed and hawed but finally agreed, and that night, her maidenhead was taken at last. She and the man went at it all night long, and in the morning, she demanded her wishes be granted.
"'Tell me,’ he said, ‘how old are you?'
"'Thirty-five,’ Sally admitted.
"'Och, lass! Thirty-five and ye still believe in goblins?’ With that, the wee man scampered off.”

Not only did that win Jem a smile, but Alan actually laughed. Silly as it may sound, that was a very touching moment.

There’s a really intriguing secondary plot that develops which I found to be very suspenseful. It involves a young girl named Annie Cutler, who is the orphaned child of a soldier under Alan’s command. This storyline had me sitting on the edge of my seat, chewing my nails and unable to put the book…errr – the eReader – down. I loved how totally believable the characters are in their actions, thoughts and feelings within the circumstances of their lives and that’s one of the things I found most refreshing about this story, however, as I’m writing this review I can’t help but wonder, who is the gentleman and who is the rogue?

I have to say, this was such a delightful read, and it’s because of the characters. Jem, Alan, Badgemann, Annie – all such compelling people who I enjoyed getting to know. I’m hoping that we’ll see a story for Annie Cutler, but I don’t know if Bonnie Dee and Summer Devon write m/f novels.

Again, for anyone who may be thinking of reading this, but might be hesitant due to the m/m theme and anal sex, I’d encourage you to really consider giving this a try anyway, even if you have to skip those parts. This story is well worth the time invested in reading it.

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Sep 06, 2010 DarienMoya rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010-reads, my-m-m-lovin, historical-m-m, butt-virgins, tag-teaming-authors

^^ NO LONGER A GENTLEMAN!^^

I am a huge fan of historical romance and a huge fan of M/M loving, you put them together, I become extremely happy, and I was extremely happy about this book. It has a bit of everything, the evil villain, the brooding hero and his upbeat and beautiful lover. The sex is just sweet and erotic at the same, plus our upbeat and beautiful lover has to come in and save our brooding hero, I call that a very good read.

Sir Alan Watleigh is home from the war, and as to be expec...more ^^ NO LONGER A GENTLEMAN!^^

I am a huge fan of historical romance and a huge fan of M/M loving, you put them together, I become extremely happy, and I was extremely happy about this book. It has a bit of everything, the evil villain, the brooding hero and his upbeat and beautiful lover. The sex is just sweet and erotic at the same, plus our upbeat and beautiful lover has to come in and save our brooding hero, I call that a very good read.

Sir Alan Watleigh is home from the war, and as to be expected from most soldiers of war, he is plagued by nightmares and his reality is all kinds of hellish. He decides he is going to end his life with a bang, by giving into his forbidden desires for another man. All he wants is just a night of good sex and he is calling it quits. He spots his target a beautiful male prostitute and takes him home. What he does not expect is to be charmed, and to start liking the very young man, who makes a living by selling his body.

All Jem has known is the streets, the streets is where he lives and makes his living. Until he gets picked up by a very distinguished looking gentleman with the sad eyes. Jem swears to give him the best night and to make the broody looking gentle man smile. What he never expected is to want to stay in Alan’s company and never leave his life. All that is gonna take is to convince Alan he is right for him, put a smile on his face, and to erase him of his guilt because he likes cock, phew seems likes Jem has some serious work to do.

Throw in both Jem and Alan on the open road on their way to rescue a girl caught in the clutches of a mad man, and you have yourself a well-balanced book. This little journey is the defining moment in their relationship, there is sexual tension and the occasional “this is not right” from Alan, this dude just never quits. He is the ultimate brooder I tell ya, after sex, this guy thinks about the war and how it’s his fault, he got everyone killed. Right after sex come on, at least catch your breath first.

I love Jem; he is just a ray of sunlight. This man single handily knows what pain is but he continues to smile and wants nothing more than Alan to smile with him. He makes this book entertaining with his bawdy jokes and witty sense of humour, and even though he was a prostitute, he is quite innocent in his flirtations, but when it is time to be dirty, Jem gets down like no other. That Sir Alan Watleigh never had a chance. The two together is just a great balance, and it becomes a beautiful story about finding love in the least unlikely of places.

I really liked this book; the villain was a sick bastard. My fave thing was the word “bugger” we have come along way if that word use to be a swear word for men who like other men. That’s child play now but I find it so entertaining “bum buggerer” classic fantastic. I loved Jem and this is a book I will be giving another go in the long run. The sex was hot, I like when people are vocal during sex and Jem has that down, ah the dirty thing he says. If you like M/M romance check this one out, the writing is superb and there is never a dull moment, unless you count in Alan, ha kidding I like him.
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Jun 17, 2013 ElaineY rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: mm, may-december, audiobook, historicals-regencies, liked-to-reread

If there's any book that could draw me back to historicals, TG&TR would be the one!

This book engaged me from the beginning - Baronet Alan Watleigh decides to give in to his forbidden desires just once, before committing suicide. He has decided life is not just worth living and I was hooked right up to when he discovers he has someone he wants to live it with.

Jem, his savior, is very, very lovable. Street-smart, as expected for a male whore, but with an innate sense of goodness. He possesses...more If there's any book that could draw me back to historicals, TG&TR would be the one!

This book engaged me from the beginning - Baronet Alan Watleigh decides to give in to his forbidden desires just once, before committing suicide. He has decided life is not just worth living and I was hooked right up to when he discovers he has someone he wants to live it with.

Jem, his savior, is very, very lovable. Street-smart, as expected for a male whore, but with an innate sense of goodness. He possesses a zest for life which causes several annoying moments for Alan for Jem can't understand why a man like Alan, who lives in comfort and security, would be filled with such melancholy. He tries to discover the cause as well as help the man whom he has become very fond of, and who, he believes, returns that sentiment. I loved the nicknames he gave Alan - Lord Doom and Gloom, Lord BumBuggery...!

Despite Jem's sunny personality and optimistic streak, he has moments of insecurity, thinking Alan will throw him out. After all, Alan had only brought him home for one night's pleasure and the man's overall demeanor didn't look like he'd want a whore living with him permanently, even as his valet. The first half of this story is dedicated to the formation of this tenuous relationship, to Alan struggling to face his homosexuality in a time when it was a hanging offense.

The second half brings in the suspense and action and which earned the 5th star from me. Up until then, TG&TR was only just managing 4 stars, already a big thing for this reader who doesn't normally enjoy historicals.

The suspense sequence in the latter part of this M/M romance which had already captured my heart gave me my piece de resistance, bringing the story to a satisfying HEA. If all M/M historicals were like TGTR, they'd be auto-buys for me. I usually bypass a book as soon as I see the label 'historical' but somehow this time, I stopped to glance at the synopsis and read the word 'valet' and thought this would be a plausible situation for an M/M relationship to flourish.

I'm so glad I thought so because Bonnie Dee and Summer Devon certainly delivered. I'll be buying the next book and will check what other titles they have, if any.(less)

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Oct 20, 2010 Mel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Mel by: Nightcolors

Shelves: e-book, m-m, historical, favorites

Former Commander – now Sir- Alan Watleigh is fed up with life. Having lived through the horrors of Badajoz, only to come home and learn that his family died of a terrible fever, and constantly chastising himself for his 'sinful perversities', Alan has given up the fight. On his self proclaimed last night on earth, he allows himself one indulgence: a night with a male prostitute. His eye is caught by the vibrant Jem whom he takes home. But the night has many surprises and Jem turns out to be more...more Former Commander – now Sir- Alan Watleigh is fed up with life. Having lived through the horrors of Badajoz, only to come home and learn that his family died of a terrible fever, and constantly chastising himself for his 'sinful perversities', Alan has given up the fight. On his self proclaimed last night on earth, he allows himself one indulgence: a night with a male prostitute. His eye is caught by the vibrant Jem whom he takes home. But the night has many surprises and Jem turns out to be more than just a few hours of fun. He amazes Alan, makes him laugh, makes him angry, makes him feel. And so Jem becomes the little spark of light that Alan needs to hold on to life.

The Gentleman and the Rogue is a wonderful and gripping tale of two men finding love. The men couldn’t be further apart: Alan is high bred, disciplined, dark and brooding. Jem is a street kid, cunning, youthful and vibrant. Both men have been through a lot and have evasive tendencies when it comes to dealing with raw emotion. But where Alan inclines towards glooming, Jem finds humor helps him deal. It’s the same humor that he uses to make Alan smile and endears him to us readers.

Jem is truly a wonderful character. His wit, charm and playfulness captures your heart and it’s no surprise he captures Alan’s too. I loved the way the men’s relationship was described. The emotions, the thoughts of pleasure, guilt and love, the sex.

My minor complaint is about the action plot which was weaved in about halfway the story. It wasn’t badly done. And afterall: Alan needed to face the demons of his past and little Ann was an interesting character. But I didn’t think it was necessary. I don’t think a(nother) traumatic experience was needed for the men to deal with their feelings and come together. I for one would have been more than happy to see the two men's love unfold while going through the motions of their everyday lives.
I was also surprised to see that the age difference between the characters (Alan is more than 20 years Jem’s senior) wasn’t touched upon at all.

But despite my peeves, The Gentleman and the Rogue was a wonderfully gripping and endearing tale. A must read for all who love romance, especially historical romance.
4,5 stars
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May 14, 2010 Leslie Nicoll rated it 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this. Bonnie Dee and Summer Devon are becoming must-buy authors for me, especially with their historicals.

This has some similarities to Seducing Stephen, with an older man who is unhappy with life meeting a younger man who shows him what joy and happiness is. In this story, the older man is Sir Alan Watleigh who has returned from the Iberian War, injured and ill and also family-less. The younger man is Jem, a prostitute that he picks up, intending on one night of sexual release...more

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Sep 16, 2010 BarkLessWagMore rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-book, romance

I read this for JERR's newsletter and cannot post it here but I will say I loved everything about it. If you’re looking for a moving love story you simply can’t go wrong with this book. This is how all love stories should be written, IMO. I loved brooding Alan, loved wise-ass, cheerful Jem and together they were intense. So good, I hated to come to the end.

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Mar 19, 2012 Emma rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: employer-employee, historical-setting, child-abuse, raising-kids, ex-military, hurt-comfort

A charming historical m/m romance, and my new favourite with a 19th-century setting.

Sir Alan is heartsick with both personal loss, and denial over his "dirty animalistic" attraction to men. Jem is the gutter rat who persuades him not to be so worked up about liking cock. Jem has learned to take his pleasures when he may: a dry place to sleep, a full belly, a strong man's body. He functions as a cross between best friend, valet, court fool, and errand boy, and quickly wins Sir Alan over.

The grow...more

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Mar 24, 2010 J.L. Merrow rated it 4 of 5 stars

Oh, this was fun! Read a lengthy excerpt from the start of the book and was hooked - I had to dash out and buy it! And the rest of it didn't disappoint. Regency rentboy meets toff - do I have to say more?
Some wonderful turns of (profane) phrase from the lovable eponymous rogue, Jem, and a colourful supporting cast.

Some of the slang used seemed a little suspect to my admittedly ignorant ear, (ETA: but turned out to have been thoroughly researched - see comments!) but the whole thing was told wit...more

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Dec 13, 2012 Mercedes rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle-lendable, mm-romance, historical

Very entertaining Regency period MM romance. This little story has it all: romance, mystery, action, comedy and more.

Depressed Alan hires Jem for one last hurray before killing himself. But as it is usual in these stories, little does Alan know the street rat will turn his life upside down. With his jovial attitude Jem makes Alan think that maybe things are not as grim as he thought and on an impulse hires him as his valet. Toughened up by his life on the streets Jem turns to comedy every time h...more

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Jun 13, 2012 Jennifer rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, male-male, european-historical, historical, tortured-heroes, victorian-era, 4-and-a-half-stars, favorite-heroes, ebooks, books-i-own, stand-alone

The Gentleman and the Rogue is a well-written, absolutely romantic story about the relationship between two men from different backgrounds. Bonnie Dee and Summer Devon provide readers with a fascinating historical setting, richly detailed characters, plot twists, and, of course, plenty of romance.

The two main characters (Jem and Alan) are completely fleshed out and seem like they could jump off the page. I was especially impressed with the characterization of Jem, the street rat turned valet. H...more The Gentleman and the Rogue is a well-written, absolutely romantic story about the relationship between two men from different backgrounds. Bonnie Dee and Summer Devon provide readers with a fascinating historical setting, richly detailed characters, plot twists, and, of course, plenty of romance.

The two main characters (Jem and Alan) are completely fleshed out and seem like they could jump off the page. I was especially impressed with the characterization of Jem, the street rat turned valet. His past is full of strife, but he never seems to let that effect his overall outlook on life. It was extremely refreshing to read about someone who takes what life throws at them in stride with little complaint.

I could also see how someone like Jem could be perfectly suited for a character such as Sir Alan Watleigh. Sir Alan has had a rough time lately with returning to England after the Crimean War so he decides to take his own life, but first he will indulge himself in forbidden pleasure. I found it entertaining and gratifying to watch Alan slowly open up to Jem and the readers about his feelings. He is a character that does not wear his heart on his sleeve, but he is still worthy of love and respect.

As I mentioned earlier, the romance between Jem and Alan is sweet and sensual. The relationship starts out as pure lust, but eventually turns to one where neither character can imagine life without the other. I thought the development was realistic and poignant especially as Alan began showing Jem his true feelings.

I also loved the plot that Bonnie Dee and Summer Devon used to showcase Alan and Jem's growing romance. Sometimes I find the subplot in historical romances to be contrived or anticlimatic. This was definitely not the case in The Gentleman and the Rogue. The search and rescue of an innocent child was harrowing and kept me turning pages until the conclusion. It is very difficult to balance out a suspense plot with a romance, but Dee and Devon do it wonderfully.

In conclusion, I found The Gentleman and the Rogue to be a highly entertaining and romantic historical full of vibrant characters and plenty of suspense. I look forward to reading more of Dee and Devon's works especially if they continue to write such wonderful historical romances.

See more reviews on my blog.(less)

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Jan 20, 2012 Christina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m-romance, historical, rent-away

4.5 stars

The Gentleman and the Rogue was such a great story. It had a little of everything - romance, humor, a bit of suspense, hot sex, well developed characters, and above all I thought it was beautifully written. Two men from totally opposite worlds find each other and end up realizing that there is more to life than what's right in front of them.

Sir Alan Watleigh is a wealthy, high class gentleman who is wounded at the Battle of Badajoz. He returns to England to find his entire family has di...more
4.5 stars

The Gentleman and the Rogue was such a great story. It had a little of everything - romance, humor, a bit of suspense, hot sex, well developed characters, and above all I thought it was beautifully written. Two men from totally opposite worlds find each other and end up realizing that there is more to life than what's right in front of them.

Sir Alan Watleigh is a wealthy, high class gentleman who is wounded at the Battle of Badajoz. He returns to England to find his entire family has died. He is a brooding, tight-lipped and lonely man. He has continuous nightmares of war atrocities and believes he has nothing to live for, so he decides to end his own life. Before he does, he wants one night to indulge in his deepest fantasies. So he sets out to hire a male prostitute to spend his last night with. Alan has never been able to accept his attraction or “perversion” towards men. To be with another man is a crime punishable by death. He's learned to keep his desires well hidden, that is until he meets Jem.

Jem, is a fun-loving, light-hearted, energetic, young prostitute living on the streets. Alan picks him up for his one night of pleasure. I love Jem’s character. He has an innocent quality about him that draws Alan right in. He’s just the type of man to break into Alan's heart. Jem sees through Alan’s pain and is determined to make him smile. He jokes to get that smile and laughter from him but he also jokes to cover-up his own feelings.

His nicknames for Alan were priceless: Lord Muckety-muck, Lord Gloomy, Lord Bumbuggerer, Lord Doom....so many more.

Alan begins to see that there’s more to life and he wants Jem to stick around. He begins to realize what he’s been missing in his life - someone to hold him and make the nightmares go away and someone he can protect and love.

I loved the clash of these two men’s personalities. Alan is so emotionally closed off and Jem can barely keep his mouth shut. Their reactions to one-another sets the stage for sparks to fly. The chemistry between these two was sizzling and Jem is one firecracker in bed.

Jem teaches Alan to smile, to accept himself, to live and to feel more than just pain and Alan shows Jem that he deserves to be loved and feel safe regardless of where he comes from.

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Apr 10, 2013 Pjm12 rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: angsty, history, hot, lgbt, romantic, twisty

Great historical adventure with two great main characters. Loved Jem's optimistic attitude to life and his never-give-up attitude towards Alan and his possible death later in the novel.

Alan made a great tortured lord, struggling with demons, not all associated with the horrors of war. His realisation of how much Jem saved him is depicted with realism and tenderness.

Loved the badgerman, and little (orphan) Annie.

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Mar 31, 2010 Kathy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook, favourite, glbt, romance

Fabulous read. I loved the historical elements and the romance was stellar. And the story took an unexpected turn that was thrilling and tense; Brava!

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Oct 09, 2012 Tʀɪsʜᴀ Hᴀʀʀɪɴɢᴛᴏɴ rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, didn-t-love

I really liked this book, it had a great pace and the characters were well written. The reason I gave this book 4 instead of 5 is because Jem was a prostitute. I knew this before I read the book but it marked it down from a 5 for me. Alan and Jem made a good couple in the book but they lacked something for me that I cannot quite put my finger on. I really did enjoy the book though and it was well written. I liked the fact that it was realistic to the time it was written about and not trying to s...more

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Jan 20, 2013 Molly Ringle added it

Okay, so this isn't a 'Les Miserables' kind of great, but it's a solid "great" for the sophisticated slash-fiction fan looking for quality erotica and just plain fun in a historical m/m romance. I enjoyed it enough that I consciously slowed down my reading pace to make it last longer--nothing to do with wishing to linger in the moment in those juicy intimate scenes; no, of course not. (*practices her innocent look*) Bonus points for the authors' research on street cant of the times. The linguist...more

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Apr 13, 2013 Robyn Elliot rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: the entire Universe

Recommended to Robyn by: my fabulous intuition

Shelves: rude-historicals

I won't put the entire plot onto this review -- why? Read the darn book. Seriously, I loved this! Wow! First class erotica, and the bar is set for any writers out there (like me, ahem). The pacing of the writing was pitched beautifully, the character development fluid and completely unforced. It wasn't formulaic in the sense of a misunderstanding/misinterpretation of the other and all the angst that ensues before a reunion, it was just rollicking, rip roaring, erotic fun and splendour all the wa...more

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Feb 18, 2013 Jane Stewart rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: gay-male-historical-romance, male-male

3 ½ stars. Above average for erotic sex between two men - set in Regency England.

Fun character combination. Sir Alan is depressed and plans to commit suicide. He meets Jem a 19 year old male prostitute and thief. Alan hires Jem for the night and ends up keeping him for more. Jem lives in poverty and is hungry most of the time, yet he has an incredible attitude. Jem tells jokes and stories and is full of happy feelings, Alan is the opposite. It’s a good story about the relationship, how they fit...more

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Jan 07, 2013 Mary Davis rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Gay Romance Readers

Shelves: books-read-2013

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. B&N Synopsis:

"Genre: LGBT Historical

A lad from the streets meets a lord of the manor...

When war veteran Sir Alan Watleigh goes searching for sex, he never imagines the street rat he brings home for one last bit of pleasure in his darkest hour will be the man who hauls him back from the edge of the grave.

A night of meaningless sex turns into an offer of permanent employment. As Sir Alan Watleigh's valet, Jem offers much more than polished boots and starched cravats. He makes Sir Alan Watleigh...more B&N Synopsis:

"Genre: LGBT Historical

A lad from the streets meets a lord of the manor...

When war veteran Sir Alan Watleigh goes searching for sex, he never imagines the street rat he brings home for one last bit of pleasure in his darkest hour will be the man who hauls him back from the edge of the grave.

A night of meaningless sex turns into an offer of permanent employment. As Sir Alan Watleigh's valet, Jem offers much more than polished boots and starched cravats. He makes Sir Alan Watleigh smile and warms his bed. Just as the men are adjusting to their new living arrangement, news about a former soldier under his command sends Sir Alan Watleigh and Jem on the road to save a child in danger.

The journey brings them closer together as they travel from lust toward love. But is Sir Alan Watleigh's love strong enough to risk society discovering the truth about him?"

I immediately fell for Jem. He felt real, I enjoyed his character very much, and could tell why Sir Alan was drawn to him. And even though I take suicide and feelings of suicide very seriously, and I don't believe for a minute that such feelings are easy to overcome and/or be dealt with in a healthy manner without help - I was able to suspend my disbelief and allow Jem to charm me as well as Sir Alan.

Of course, the storylines were too easily wrapped up, although the Doctor character was quite creepy, and I appreciated the fact that he was more into the psychological aspect of his experiments, instead of sexual abuse. It reminded me of Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal Lector. After the suicidal tendancies of the first half, I don't think I would be able to deal with sexual abuse of a minor.

Overall, I enjoyed this book very much, due to the characters, and the pace of the story. I liked that Sir Alan struggled with his attraction, the only confusing part sometimes was the age of Jem, because sometimes he seemed and was treated as a young man, and then when the sex happened, he was referred to as a man. Regardless, I enjoyed it, read it all in one night, and would recommend to readers of gay romance.(less)

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Oct 25, 2012 Charly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Good story with more sex than I’ve seen in other m/m Regency romances

Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.

Rating: 8/10

PROS:
- Jem is awesome. I loved him. He’s sweet and open and disarming, yet at the same time he’s practical and cynical. I found some of the things he says to be hilarious (for example, when they’re on a carriage and he has to relieve himself, Alan offers to stop and Jem replies, “Good idea to stop, sir. I’d be liable to fall off while waving me...more Good story with more sex than I’ve seen in other m/m Regency romances

Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.

Rating: 8/10

PROS:
- Jem is awesome. I loved him. He’s sweet and open and disarming, yet at the same time he’s practical and cynical. I found some of the things he says to be hilarious (for example, when they’re on a carriage and he has to relieve himself, Alan offers to stop and Jem replies, “Good idea to stop, sir. I’d be liable to fall off while waving me pego in the air. You’d have to lash me corpse to the back”). But although he’s wonderfully lighthearted and dismissive the majority of the time, he knows when to be serious, too.
- I felt that the story had an authentic feel to it. Not just in the descriptions of the setting, but in the characters’ dialogue too. When Jem gets going in his natural dialect, he’s hard to keep up with at times: “Don’t be caught with more ‘n a pound in your dabblers, or the beak will pass the cramp word, and it’ll be the hemp for you, lad. Better to be a clouting lay.”
- The depiction of Alan’s closeted desire and fear--almost to the point of panic at times--is very well done.
- Details about the characters’ backgrounds are related at a good pace--enough to keep me from being confused for long without any long passages of exposition that were a chore to wade through.

CONS:
- Jem inexplicably knows (and properly uses) some large words--flabbergasted, apoplectic, etc.--and has the ability to imitate the speech patterns of higher classes as though he were better educated than he is. He also does some really foolish, thoughtless things that made me want to throttle him.
- When one of the characters confesses his love for the other, I thought it was one of the sweetest “I love you” scenes I’d ever read. But the other guy never says it back! (To be fair, the emotion is obviously there, but I wanted to HEAR it!)

Overall comments: Despite a few small disappointments, I think this book is pretty wonderful overall. The villain is atrocious…no, more than that…sick, twisted, demented…but his deeds (both past and present) are not described in too much detail: just enough to horrify me and make me very glad when the good guys won. The sex scenes here are more detailed and graphic than in other Regency romances I’ve read, but they fit the story: this isn’t about two well-bred, repressed gentlemen (only one). Jem begins the story as a prostitute, and the story incorporates a decent amount of sex accordingly.(less)

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Jul 25, 2012 Sunne rated it 4 of 5 stars

It was good. I'm a bit at a loss what to say about it, though.

For me it had had one big problem...I'm German, but I read and write constantly in English, I know and use words I don't even remember the right German translation for but if I look them up, I've used them the right way.

Duh...and here comes my problem. I really didn't know words. They were old fashioned slang, etc....so maybe for a native speaker it is better to read. For me it was arduous to read sometimes because I really had to re...more

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Jul 23, 2012 Kaje Harper rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, m-m, favorites

This story has great characters, believable period detail, and an interesting plot, resulting in a very readable and engaging historical romance. Jem is a 19 year old male prostitute, picked up off the streets by Sir Alan for one night of indulging Alan's long-denied need for a man's touch, before Alan plans to commit suicide. But Jem is no down-trodden silent body to be used. His spirit, his humor and his zest for life have survived all that he has gone through on the streets. By the end of the...more

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Oct 11, 2011 Violet rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, mm

Alan is a retired army captain. Having witness the horrors of war and the subsequent death of his own family, left him tired and utterly depress. The night of the anniversary in"the Battle of Badajoz" , he decides to allow himself in an forbidden pleasure. He hires a whore Jem to indulge himself in a last bodily pleasure before he executes his plan to take his own life. But after a brief night with Jem, life becomes less dim and hopeless. He longs for Jem's companionship. Alan decides to keep Je...more

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Jul 23, 2011 Barb Manning rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance, romance-reviews, gay-romance

The Gentleman and the Rogue takes place in England after the Battle of Badajoz. Sir Alan Watleigh, late from the war finds himself out on the town looking for a bit of pleasure in a dark moment of his life. What he finds is Jeremy Brown. Jeremy, or Jem as his friends call him, is a prostitute and thief. He has a quick mind and a willing wit. Jem’s honest acceptance of the passion he feels for the war veteran, forces Alan to examine the censure he’s been living his life under. A night of intimacy...more

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Jan 27, 2011 Joanna Terrero rated it 5 of 5 stars

An amazing journey towards love.
This book delighted and surprised me big time. I bought it thinking I was only getting a romance between two guys in a historical setting. I got much more. Explaining my impression better, I could say that if all the explicit sex scenes were tone down to sweet romance, the plot would still stand.

The Gentleman and the Rogue is about Alan and Jem, the most different men one can imagine, united by their contrasting needs. Jem's days are full of hardship, but he make...more

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Apr 28, 2010 Kassa rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Gentleman and The Rogue is pretty classic MM historical romance with steamy sex, sly nods to class differences, witty banter, historical settings, and a requisite but interesting mystery sub plot. The writing is solid with some great touches of humor and delightful dialogue combining with solid characters that step just enough outside of classic outlines to stay interesting and fresh. This may not be the most exciting story but it’s incredibly easy to read, very engaging, and ultimately pret...more The Gentleman and The Rogue is pretty classic MM historical romance with steamy sex, sly nods to class differences, witty banter, historical settings, and a requisite but interesting mystery sub plot. The writing is solid with some great touches of humor and delightful dialogue combining with solid characters that step just enough outside of classic outlines to stay interesting and fresh. This may not be the most exciting story but it’s incredibly easy to read, very engaging, and ultimately pretty satisfying. TG&TR is a great story when you’re craving something historical but mostly sweet and thoroughly entertaining.

The story follows Sir Alan as he struggles with overwhelming depression from losing his entire family to disease and horrible memories of war. He decides to give himself one night of forbidden pleasure with a male prostitute before he kills himself but Jem’s wit and charm light a spark in Alan to live. Realizing that perhaps his depression will eventually lift and he can enjoy life, Alan keeps Jem around to help alleviate his sadness and eventually his sexual desire too. While the two are becoming closer, there is a sudden lost child that is thrown into the mix they must race to rescue.

The plot is somewhat formulaic but it works well and the writing helps elevate this story to something engaging and interesting. The mystery subplot, which is usually a throw away in historical romances, has some weight and purpose. It actually adds quite a bit to the story instead of just being another source of tension. Now the two men must work together and some of the best scenes come from the later half involving this thread. Part of this is due to pretty great writing. There is a light touch with humor that gives Jem a delightful character and some very entertaining dialogue. His witty, ridiculous stories about friends and family keep the tone light even with more serious overtones. These tales keep the story fresh, light, and entertaining.

The characters are developed just enough to step beyond the well known outlines. Jem is the prostitute with a heart of gold that falls in love with Alan and defends him against his own nature. His funny commentary really helps carry the book with an irrepressible charm and surprisingly happy demeanor. Whether he’s referring to Alan as Lord Bumbuggerer or Sir Doom and Gloom, his dialogue and antics offer numerous easy laughs. His love affair with the older man is easy and without much angst. There are very few comments or concerns about the differences in wealth and status due to Alan’s reclusive nature so there is no angst or drama about the two falling in love. Alan is a pretty typical older man weighted by loss and trauma that finally finds happiness in the least expected place. Together the two make a nice couple with some very interesting secondary characters to round out the cast of engaging characters.

This is an easy book to recommend and like if you’re a fan of MM historical romances. It stays within the well known and loved guidelines but offers some fresh writing and charm to keep readers interested and engaged. Although I actually enjoyed TG&TR more than Seducing Stephan by the same authors, they both offer satisfying and enjoyable romances. There are a few stumbles but nothing that will ruin your reading experience.
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Mar 21, 2010 Elfscribe rated it 2 of 5 stars

The story is that Sir Alan, a gentleman, home from witnessing war's horrors and weary of life, picks up a street urchin, Jem, for a last night of pleasure before he offs himself but finds that the exuberant youth captures his fancy and eventually his heart, causing him to want to live again. That actually happens early on in the story and then there is a secondary plot in which they both gallop to the rescue of a young girl held in the clutches of a maniacal doctor who they fear will do the girl...more The story is that Sir Alan, a gentleman, home from witnessing war's horrors and weary of life, picks up a street urchin, Jem, for a last night of pleasure before he offs himself but finds that the exuberant youth captures his fancy and eventually his heart, causing him to want to live again. That actually happens early on in the story and then there is a secondary plot in which they both gallop to the rescue of a young girl held in the clutches of a maniacal doctor who they fear will do the girl harm.

I bought this on the strength of reading the extended opening teaser that got me hooked. Lots of good atmosphere and I had to see what would happen. I enjoyed Jem's ebullient nature and wealth of jokes and stories. The book is competently written, with some pleasant sex scenes (a little too formulaic for my taste in places with the requisite one, two , three fingers, but okay), and the relationship between the two men and the pacing kept me reading. It was a quick and pleasant read. However, despite the clothes and carriages, Jem's street urchin patois (which clearly took some research), and the master/valet relationship, this didn't convince me that it actually took place in mid-1800s England. The attitudes were very contemporary, particularly the almost equal relationship between lord and servant and the ease both exhibited about gay sex, even though, yes, they were suitably careful not to get caught by the other servants. In addition, I felt the problems were solved too easily, the villain too one-dimensional, and the whole secondary story about the evil vivisectionist doctor and his little ward was really there to give the two main characters something to do, since they seemed to sort out Alan's problem fairly quickly. There was a squicky scene between the doctor and Jem, which I won't spoil, that had me worried for Jem, even though I was rather sure things would work out, and I was quite relieved at the end of it. On the whole, I felt that the story was more of a costume romance than a convincing historical novel, but it was better done than others I've read in the genre.

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Mar 03, 2013 Julz04 rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, historical-romance, m-m

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Let me just say that ya'll are seriously missing out by not reading this story. Like another person said, for those who are reluctant to read a m-m story, just skip over the parts that might make you uncomfortable because the rest is so worth it.

This story is about a haughty, brooding aristocrat (Sir Alan) who hires a dirty ragamuffin male prostitute (the lowly Jem Brown) for one last guilt-ridden toss before he offs himself. However, after spending just a short amount of time with Jem, Ol’ Sti...more Let me just say that ya'll are seriously missing out by not reading this story. Like another person said, for those who are reluctant to read a m-m story, just skip over the parts that might make you uncomfortable because the rest is so worth it.

This story is about a haughty, brooding aristocrat (Sir Alan) who hires a dirty ragamuffin male prostitute (the lowly Jem Brown) for one last guilt-ridden toss before he offs himself. However, after spending just a short amount of time with Jem, Ol’ Stick-up-the-Butt figures that if someone with so little can still have hope, then surely he could find something to live for.

Jem is just fantastic! I love how the writers drew out this character, from his mannerisms to the streetwise lingo of the time period that he uses. He’s literally the uncultured street rat with no education or manners but faces life with an upbeat attitude. Every strong emotion and situation he faces with a joke (and they’re actually funny :D). The reader knows that a lot of it is just his way of coping with a really hard life but it works. And even though he is the underling and is at the mercy of Sir Alan’s whim, we know that it’s really Jem who has the run of the show, even if he doesn’t know it.

The distinct contrast between the two main characters is just a riot at times. One of my favorite scenes is where they are traveling and the Sir Alan is having some soft thoughts about Jem…right when he breaks out with some raunchy, gutter trash song and tells Alan to “sing along!” as if he and his family sat around singing it in their fancy parlor on Sundays and would know every word. The scene was not only funny (and really awkward ;D) but showed how totally different each man was in character and background. Yet they complimented each other. I’ll quit there with the retelling, because I can’t do it justice. Just take my word for it that the authors did a bang up job making the reader believe that two of the most unlikely characters could grow and develop into being indispensable to each other.

I will say that I almost dropped a half star because it got really sugary for a bit at the end (related to the little girl in the story), but I just couldn’t. This book is just too good not to put it out there as one of my top favorites. I’ll definitely be reading this one again.
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Jan 05, 2012 Lena Grey rated it 5 of 5 stars

“God moves in a mysterious way, his wonders to perform;” are the words of a hymn written by Thomas Cowper when his planned suicide attempt was thwarted by bad weather; Cowper considered this Divine intervention. In 'The Nobleman and the Knave' by Bonnie Dee and Summer Devon, is a similar story is presented. This time though, the Divine intervention comes in a more unconventional form. Jem, a male prostitute, is picked up by Sir Alan Watleigh, who is also contemplating suicide. Instead of a brief...more “God moves in a mysterious way, his wonders to perform;” are the words of a hymn written by Thomas Cowper when his planned suicide attempt was thwarted by bad weather; Cowper considered this Divine intervention. In 'The Nobleman and the Knave' by Bonnie Dee and Summer Devon, is a similar story is presented. This time though, the Divine intervention comes in a more unconventional form. Jem, a male prostitute, is picked up by Sir Alan Watleigh, who is also contemplating suicide. Instead of a brief tryst, Jem inspires hope in Sir Alan; their introduction proves to be a blessing in disguise for both of them.

Jem is one of the most delightful characters I've ever encountered. Although he's had a difficult life, it still hasn't dampened his inner light. Jem has a special aura about him; he is a beautiful person inside and out. People are drawn to him because he's so genuine and has such good instincts, always able to sense just what to say or do to put things into perspective, especially for Alan. Jem also proves his loyalty and devotion when he helps Alan with his plans to rescue a kidnapped girl. Jem puts himself in harm's way so Alan doesn't have to.

Without Jem, Alan would have given up, but Jem's magic works so well on Alan that he doesn't want to let him go. He needs Jem like he needs air, not just in bed, but in every aspect of life. Jem's enthusiasm is contagious, he restores Alan's will to live, to be able to spend more time with Jem. Neither of them truly understand, but both are eternally grateful.

This is a lovely, romantic, passionate story written in an easy flowing, flowery style befitting the time period and reflecting the characters' personalities perfectly. Add to this intrigue, mystery, danger, and abiding love and all the elements of a fantastic, enjoyable story are present. I'd recommend this to everyone who loves romance, finding true love with a bit of adventure and action added to the mix. Thanks Bonnie and Summer for another delightful story.

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Apr 12, 2010 Jenre rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m, romance, historicals

I really enjoyed the last historical story, Seducing Stephen, by this talented pair of authors and so I was looking forward to this book especially since it contains one of my favourite themes of the gentleman who falls in love with the prostitute. I'm glad to say that this story didn't disappoint in the slightest.

Male whore, Jem, is picked up one evening by a mysterious gentleman and take to the man's house. The man in question is Alan, who has returned from the Peninsula war a broken man both...more I really enjoyed the last historical story, Seducing Stephen, by this talented pair of authors and so I was looking forward to this book especially since it contains one of my favourite themes of the gentleman who falls in love with the prostitute. I'm glad to say that this story didn't disappoint in the slightest.

Male whore, Jem, is picked up one evening by a mysterious gentleman and take to the man's house. The man in question is Alan, who has returned from the Peninsula war a broken man both mentally and physically after being injured in the battle for Badajoz. Alan can't bear the lonely life he is living or the horrific memories of the battle and its bloody aftermath, so he has decided to have one last night of pleasure before doing away with himself the next day. Fortunately for Alan, Jem cottons onto his plans and successfully thwarts them. Having become oddly attached to Jem, Alan then offers him a job as his valet and Jem accepts. Things are not smooth sailing for the pair as their stations in life are so different and it takes a trip away from London before Alan realises how much his 'valet' means to him.

The strength of this book lies mostly in the character of Jem who is irrepressible. He's lived a tough life as the unwanted babe of a prostitute and having been brought up on the harsh streets of London. Despite this he has an optimistic attitude to life and a cheerful acceptance of all that life throws at him. It is this optimism which Alan finds so attractive and which helps to bring him out of the funk he's in. At one point Alan marvels at this fact:

How could this youth live the rough life he did and be so unblemished? And Alan didn't mean that in a purely physical way. There was a lightness, a sense of a soul untouched by the vagaries of life, that imbued Jem's very being. Cheerful. Buoyant. As if his terrible circumstances hadn't stolen his hope yet. What was his secret?

One of the highlights for me were the numerous humorous stories which Jem told about so called friends and members of his family which were scattered about the book and had me laughing along with Jem and Alan. Jem is also quick witted with a delightful pragmatism. When Alan offers him the job of valet, he knows that really it's just a ruse to keep Jem in his bed, and yet instead of being offended, he grasps at the chance to escape from the slums and better his situation. Despite finding it difficult to adjust to the confines of life 'below stairs' Jem tells himself constantly that he may be bored but at least he's warm and well fed reminding himself and the reader of where he's come from. This constant reference to the differences in social status between Alan and Jem, added a tension to the story and the relationship. I liked that this side of their relationship was addressed because it fit in well with the historical setting where it was very unusual for those from the slums to mix even with servants, never mind Baronets like Alan. I also liked that this book didn't turn out to be an 'Eliza Doolittle' story for Jem. He's still the same at the end of the book as he is at the beginning. This means that the relationship focus is on the strength of Jem's personality changing Alan, or at least improving Alan's life, for the better, rather than Alan influencing and changing Jem.

Another part which worked well in the book was the change in pacing and plot as the book progresses. The first part is focused on Alan and Jem meeting and getting to know each other; on Jem fitting in with life as a valet; and on Alan's gradually pulling away from his depression. It's quite a static setting with the majority of the time being spent in Alan's house. However, about half way through the book the pace changes from quite a slow, but steady build up of feeling between the pair, to a much faster paced story as Alan and Jem take a road trip to Sheffield. This change of pace added a freshness to the story and helped to prevent any sort of 'mid book slump' which can occur in some books. Instead the swift pace carried me through to the end of the book. I like how Jem and Alan's relationship continued to develop whilst on the road and that the problems with their social differences were also still explored. The move away from the house and into the country meant that Jem is taken out of his comfort zone but also allowed Jem to show some of the streetsmart cunning that he'd developed growing up on the streets.

Overall, I was completely hooked by this story. The character of Jem was an absolute delight and his exuberant personality was nicely counterbalanced by the more thoughtful and, at times, melancholic Alan. The other minor characters were well fleshed out and I forgave the fact that the bad guy was a little too much the 'mad doctor' cliché. The story took the old m/f historical romance plot of the whore and the gentleman and turned it into something new and exciting with the m/m twist. I highly recommend The Gentleman and the Rogue to all those who love historical romance. I'm hoping that there're going to be more historicals from this pair of authors because I've certainly liked what I've read so far. Highly recommended(less)

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Nov 16, 2011 Tinnean rated it 4 of 5 stars

Truthfully, I wasn't sure how I'd react to this historical, considering the period and the fact that getting caught resulted in hanging. This was mentioned on more than once. However, I was pleased to find that I wasn't battered to the ground with it.

Jem looks at life as cheerfully as he can. He works the streets and is aware of the danger that faces him there. We're given tantalizing glimpses into his early days, and it would have been interesting to learn more of them, but I imagine the reade...more

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The Backlot Gay B...: The Gentleman and the Rogue by Bonnie Dee and Summer Devon	1	6	May 10, 2013 09:27am
Crimean War?	3	14	Aug 10, 2012 10:06pm

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