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Untameable Rogue (Bennett Family #2)

by Kelly Hunter (Goodreads Author)

3.88 of 5 stars 3.88 · rating details · 96 ratings · 17 reviews

Businesswoman Madeline Delacourte has no time and no need for a man in her life; after all, her late husband left her independently wealthy. But then she meets Luke Bennett. With his hard body and even harder attitude to life, he poses a challenge and awakens a hunger she didn't know she had....

Luke is only visiting Singapore for a week and Madeline knows she's playing wit

...more

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Published by M&b Publishing (first published June 15th 2011)

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Feb 05, 2011 Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: bomb-demolition-technician, widow, set-in-singapore, asian-setting, navy-or-sailor, owned-copy, favorite-or-autobuy-author, favorites, category-contemporary-romance, harlequin-presents, affair-turns-to-love, family, 2011-reading

Kelly Hunter is two for two now. I tend to avoid the Modern Romances for Harlequin Presents, but now I know I can get a satisfying read when I reach for her books. She writes chemistry beautifully. The attraction between her characters sizzle, and the dialogue jumps off the page. Her characters are layered, three-dimensional, and have issues, but they work through them and communicate.

I love the Bennett family, just from the two I've read, this and The Maverick's Greek Island Mistress. I am esp...more Kelly Hunter is two for two now. I tend to avoid the Modern Romances for Harlequin Presents, but now I know I can get a satisfying read when I reach for her books. She writes chemistry beautifully. The attraction between her characters sizzle, and the dialogue jumps off the page. Her characters are layered, three-dimensional, and have issues, but they work through them and communicate.

I love the Bennett family, just from the two I've read, this and The Maverick's Greek Island Mistress. I am especially fond of Jake, and I am excited to read Red Hot Renegade. She's already set the stage for the reunion between lonely warrior Jake, and delicate but strong Jianne. I wanted to meet the rest of the Bennett clan after the first book, so I worked on acquiring the Bennett books that were published, and I bought this one when I saw it was out, expecting an enjoyable read. However, Madeline and Luke's romance took me by surprise. I was expecting the story to be about a hot affair that slowly becomes love, but there was a depth and an intensity to their emotions from the start. They didn't fall mindlessly into bed right away. They spent some time getting to know each other first. Initially, a compelling attraction drew them together, but they weren't sure they liked each other and what the other person represented in each of their minds. But respect developed very quickly. They just had to come to realize that they could be together, and not compromise who they both felt were integral aspects of their being. I loved the touches about Luke's job. He defuses bomb and explosive devices, and he can be called to work at a mere moment's notice. He's not eager to give that job up, for any woman, so he settles for casual relationships. But he wants more with Madeline, even if he's not sure how to make that happen. Madeline is considered an older man's trophy wife, despite the fact that she brought his corporation back from the brink, and expanded it in the time since his death. I like that she freely admits that she didn't love her husband and married him for security. After her tumultuous youth, she deserved it. I respected her for who she was. Sometimes marriage is about things other than true love. William loved her and gave her security, esteem, and devotion when she'd never had that as an orphan and ward of the state. She showed William respect and devotion in turn, and he had no reason to complain. She didn't deserve being judged by anyone. I'm glad Luke realized that he was wrong to judge her that way.

I loved the Singaporean setting. Something about Asia always calls my name. I could see the appeal that drew Madeline, Luke, and Jake there, despite them being Australian. I loved how Madeline adopted Po, a streetwise, orphaned youth, and provided a safe, stable home for him with Jake, and later Luke and herself. And then there is Madeline's ~~bossy~~ savvy housekeeper who saw Luke clearly despite his tough warrior facade. These elements just reinforced the feeling of family that this book resonated with, in a delightful way.

Kelly Hunter has made it to my autobuy list after this book (although I had previously made a note to read all her Bennett books after The Maverick's Greek Island Mistress), and I am counting the days until Red Hot Renegade is in print. I'd recommend her to fans of short contemporary romance. (less)

6 likes · like · see review

Jan 17, 2011 Jacqueline rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance, from-the-library, harlequin

Kelly Hunter's writing just seems to do it for me. My favorite is still The Maverick's Greek Island Mistress but this was very good. The plots of this series so far have not been typical of the Harlequin Presents line. There is little melodrama, no revenge and not a single secret baby yet.

The hero, Luke, and heroine, Madeline, here are as usual very well characterized. Luke' character is dark and he is consumed with his job. He tells her that he won't give up his dangerous job for her and he me...more

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Mar 20, 2011 Ana rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: z-read-in-2011, harlequin-presents

Kelly Hunter is fast becoming a favourite HP author, next to Mira Lyn Kelly. Another five star read from her.

I liked both Madeline & Luke, and the way that their issues are real, not ridiculous ones, that most RL people would solve in 10 seconds flat.
The way that Luke had troubles with Madeline's wealth and her issues with his rather dangerous job, is something that I understand.

Luke's relationship with his brother, Jake, is great, and I love his patience when dealing with Po, Jake's appren...more

3 likes · like · see review

Aug 22, 2012 Saly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: category-romance, cops-law-enforcement-security, harlequin-presents, harlequin-silhouette, read-in-2012

Rating 3.5 stars
Not my favourite of the series, I kind of didn't get on board with the romance that much and like the other book this didn't have much humor and sexual tension. What I liked was the unusual heroine, she was tough and proud of herself, after a childhood spent in foster homes and seeing her father and brother self destruct, she married an older man who showed her love and affection, she didn't love him but honoured him and after his death made his business successful. She doesn't c...more

2 likes · like · see review

Mar 29, 2012 Ridley rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ebook, 3-star, contemporary, read-2012, category-romance, hqn-presents

I really wanted to love this one, but I just didn't. I enjoyed the widow heroine who married her first husband for the security his fortune provided, and the hero who disabled explosives for a living was intriguing. As nice as their romance was - the security-starved heroine raised in the foster care system falling for a guy who risks his life with every job and the proud hero reconciling his need to provide for a woman with the object of his desire needing nothing from him materially - I didn't...more

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Feb 15, 2013 Estara rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: fans of strong-willed couples and of Singapore

Recommended to Estara by: Li

Shelves: ebook, read-in-2013

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I actually read this after reading the final Bennett book (which I had read to see if Hunter managed to write about the family without dropping a ball like that unnecessary death in the first book).

The most intriguing secondary couple in that book were these two: the one brother who can fight with Jake when he loses his control - at least for a time. Whose passion in life is being a warrior who saves people - and since your average soldier also has to kill people, Luke has made himself into a fr...more I actually read this after reading the final Bennett book (which I had read to see if Hunter managed to write about the family without dropping a ball like that unnecessary death in the first book).

The most intriguing secondary couple in that book were these two: the one brother who can fight with Jake when he loses his control - at least for a time. Whose passion in life is being a warrior who saves people - and since your average soldier also has to kill people, Luke has made himself into a freelance bomb disposal specialist for the really hairy situations.

Now Madeline is a piece of work, a self-made one at that and she knows it and owns it and if you want her, you better accept that. She married a rich, older man for security, who doted and emotionally supported her till his death, when she inherited his slightly crumbling empire and built it up again. Anyone who wants to get with her better be aware of that.

The first bit of tension (also rearing its ugly head near the end) is that Luke who is massively attracted to Madeline when he meets her (she brings a street kid - called Po who keeps stealing the show - to Jake Bennett's dojo to sponsor him getting a better life: it's one of the things she does with her wealth on a regular basis, but not always so hands on) keeps probing why she married her husband.

It's never really spelled out, but when Madeleine eventually talks about her brother and we get some interior monologue about herself, I think she might have been either a beauty of a teenage pickpocket or a teenage hooker who simply had the luck that a rich older man wanted her as his Eliza Dolittle. He did teach her to cherish the love she is offered, even if she couldn't give it back in the way he had hoped for.

The bigger bit of tension is that once Madeleine knows the kind of work Luke does, and the first time he gets a call in the night to fly off, now has to deal with the fact that a sexy-hot fling (and the sex was truly scorching in this one) - all they had previously agreed on - just won't work for her with Luke - and what is she willing to deal with now if she wants to make a full-on attempt to win his heart. Even the old Chinese housekeeper she inherited from her husband thinks Luke is a bad risk.

Jake's estranged wife is introduced in this book and illuminates the role the Bennett family play in their interactions for Madeline and eventually both Luke and Madeline realise their feelings for each other are worth the risk, even if neither of them will be completely tame in their interactions. Really, let me quote, Hunter really makes it work:

(view spoiler)[

‘Do you need me to come to Shanghai?’ offered Luke quietly.
This was how he must sound to the people he worked with, she thought with pride. Impossibly calm, instantly focused, and ready for anything. ‘I’d love you to come to Shanghai,’ she told him. ‘For I’ve a powerful need for you, and it’s only getting stronger. But if you’re asking whether you should come here to protect Jianne, I don’t think that’s wise. This man doesn’t see me as a threat—not yet—but he’ll see you as one, and he has far too much authority here. Singapore would be better. And he will come for her, Luke. He’s not going to go away.’
‘Don’t you dare put yourself in danger or, so help me, Madeline—’
‘You know, that’s rich,’ she interrupted wryly. ‘Coming from you. Welcome to my world, warrior. Wallow in it a while and then we’ll talk. I’ll show you a coping mechanism or two that I picked up while you were pulling apart warheads in Guam. One of them was to believe, with all my heart, that you knew what you were doing, and that you were the best man for the job.’
Silence.
‘Now you’re angry with me,’ said Madeline on a sigh. ‘Does this mean we get to have wild, angry make-up sex when I get back? Because, you know, I’m all in.’
‘Madeline,’ he said tightly. ‘Just get here safely. Let me worry about the intricacies of the sex.’
‘Control freak.’
‘Control’s not really going to have a lot to do with it,’ he said, and a promise was born. ‘You call me as you’re getting on the plane, do you hear me? I’ll meet you at the airport.’
‘Impatient,’ she said.
‘Protective,’ he countered. ‘And by the time I see you next there’s every likelihood in the world I’ll be insane. Do not take stupid risks. If the situation comes unstuck you go to ground and you call me and you wait for me to come for you.’
‘I have this insatiable urge to salute you,’ she murmured. ‘Why is that? Did you have some kind of high-falutin’ Naval rank I should know about, or should I just call you sir?’
Luke hung up on her after that. She guessed it was going to be wild, angry make-up sex after all. Madeline put the phone back in its cradle, shed her high-powered businesswoman clothes, and wriggled her way down between the thousand–thread-count sheets and a duvet lighter than air.
She closed her eyes and figured the timing good for a couple of hours’ sleep if she tried—Lord knew she was tired enough. She willed her body to relax and smiled as faintly, on the whisper of a warm jungle wind, she thought she heard a thwarted tiger roar.

(hide spoiler)]

ETA: Also, have you ever read a Harlequin that ends with the heroine staring at the hero's bulge in his trousers and smiling? Well, if you read this book you will and it'll work in context, heh.
(less)

1 like · like · see review

Aug 22, 2011 Diane rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, hp, romance

the 2nd book in the bennett family series, and for some reason i just couldn't get into it. set in singapore, which is nice, but we didn't find out much about the country, customs, etc. i know that's a bit much to ask for in a category book. but....

1 like · like · see review

Feb 19, 2013 Melissa Maxwell rated it 5 of 5 stars

I love this book but it took me forever to finish. I love Luke and Maddie they are such wonderful characters. Luke believes his ideal mate will be some innocent girl in constant need of rescue this goes well with his hero complex but Maddie does not need saving because she has saved herself. She married a wealthy older man not for love but stability and people find her whorish because of it. She does not love easily because everyone that she has has died. Luke and Maddie compliment each other we...more

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Dec 29, 2010 Cheryl rated it 4 of 5 stars

Fresh and satisfying. Refreshingly free of cliche.

1 like · like · see review

Nov 19, 2011 Kat at Book Thingo rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: australian-authors, romance-category, romance-contemporary

Click here for my full review at Book Thingo.

If you can overlook the daggy warrior references and underutilised Asian setting, there’s enough depth in the central relationship to make this book a pleasure to read. If you enjoy the daggy stuff…well, that just makes it even better.

This was my first Kelly Hunter book, but it won’t be my last. I don’t care what anyone says about the super daggy Karate Kid-style set up at the beginning of the novel, or the constant references to Chinese zodiac signs...more

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Mar 18, 2012 Li rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: category-romance, contemporary-romance, romance, read-in-2011, series, favorites

Fourth in the Bennett Family series, and just as good as the previous ones.

I liked how Kelly Hunter inversed the usual M&B tropes here, with Maddy, the heroine, being the insanely wealthy one. Luke was a very alpha hero, which could so easily have gone wrong, but I think it was pulled off perfectly here.

The (unusual for an M&B) Singapore setting and the secondary characters also stood out, especially Maddy's housekeeper, with her hilarious pokes at Luke and references to the Chinese zod...more

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Sep 28, 2011 Ruthie Knox rated it 4 of 5 stars

This might be the least Harlequin book I've ever read that came out from Harlequin. It's almost hard-boiled, like a 1930s detective novel. Odd, but compelling nonetheless. Enjoyable, but don't expect a classic Presents experience.

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Sep 25, 2011 Shallowreader VaVeros rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, contemporary, category

I could cope with the unprotected sex in a lift, the martial arts, the kid off the streets with a heart of gold etc etc., I read for those plotlines. However, the phrase "...or so she thought" is a deal breaker for me. DNF

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Jan 19, 2012 ms bookjunkie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, contemporary, harlequin-silhouette-m-b, romance, to-reread

I enjoyed the straightforwardness of the story (no Big Mis where another author might've used one). Compelling and emotionally satisfying.

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Nov 01, 2010 Harlequin Books added it · review of another edition

Shelves: harlequin_presents, 2010

Miniseries: Rogues & Rebels

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May 15, 2012 Subathra S rated it 2 of 5 stars

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Mar 12, 2011 Jen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2011, mills-boon-harlequin, australian, owned, favourites

Rating: 4.5/5

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May 18, 2013 Amber rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: brain-candy, contemporary-traditional-romance

May 15, 2013 Pebbletope rated it 4 of 5 stars

May 15, 2013 K. Bell rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-on-ibooks-and-nook

May 15, 2013 Lully marked it as to-read

May 13, 2013 Shwetika marked it as to-read

May 10, 2013 Rochelle rated it 3 of 5 stars

May 04, 2013 Ltlmer2 marked it as to-read

Shelves: possible-finds

May 03, 2013 Devika rated it 4 of 5 stars

May 02, 2013 Mimi marked it as to-read · review of another edition

May 18, 2013 Miss rated it 2 of 5 stars

Apr 26, 2013 Malkelia marked it as to-read

Apr 22, 2013 India rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013

Apr 19, 2013 Lh rated it 4 of 5 stars

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About Kelly Hunter

Australian born Kelly Hunter is a three time Romance Writers of America Rita finalist, a USA Today Bestselling author and loves writing to the demands of the short category romance form.

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Untameable Rogue (Bennett Family #2)

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