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The Irish Rogue
Passion Destroys Marriage of Convenience in The Irish Rogue by Judith French
-- Baltimore, Maryland, 1820 --
To save her reputation and avoid her father's ill-will, heiress Annie Davis needs to catch a husband quickly--and she's willing to pay. So when a handsome stranger rescues her from a throng of street punks, she convinces him to exchange his name in marriage for the promise of her wealth.
Michael O'Ryan came to America to escape the war in Ireland and a hangman's noose. A marriage of convenience to the daughter of a prosperous Maryland plantation owner seems like a serendipitous chance to change his situation. Until his spirited bride unwittingly uncovers his dangerous past and the undiscovered passion in his heart.
Publisher's Note: No one brings unlikely strangers together, and sparks the past alive like Judith French. Fans of Elizabeth Keysian, Erica Ridley, Emilia Ferguson and Elliee Atkinson as well as readers of early American romance will enjoy The Irish Rogue.
-- Baltimore, Maryland, 1820 --
To save her reputation and avoid her father's ill-will, heiress Annie Davis needs to catch a husband quickly--and she's willing to pay. So when a handsome stranger rescues her from a throng of street punks, she convinces him to exchange his name in marriage for the promise of her wealth.
Michael O'Ryan came to America to escape the war in Ireland and a hangman's noose. A marriage of convenience to the daughter of a prosperous Maryland plantation owner seems like a serendipitous chance to change his situation. Until his spirited bride unwittingly uncovers his dangerous past and the undiscovered passion in his heart.
Publisher's Note: No one brings unlikely strangers together, and sparks the past alive like Judith French. Fans of Elizabeth Keysian, Erica Ridley, Emilia Ferguson and Elliee Atkinson as well as readers of early American romance will enjoy The Irish Rogue.
339 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 4, 2018
79 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Judith E. French
41 books60 followers ABOUT JUDITH E. FRENCH
Judith E. French captures the essence of passion and brings her special characters alive on every page. A multiple award winner, including RT's Historical Romance Lifetime Achievement Author, Best Historical Author of the Year, The PEARL award for Best Anthology, and The Delaware Diamond Award for Literary Excellence, she is best known for her American frontier historical fiction. A master storyteller, she finds inspiration in her Scottish, Irish, Welsh, English and Lenni-Lenape ancestry near Chesapeake Bay, where the French family has made its home for more than 300 years. Judith’s novels have sold millions and been translated into French, Spanish, German, Italian, Swedish, Norwegian, Bulgarian, and Mandarin. She appeals to readers of Christi Caldwell, Mary Balogh, C. J. Petit, Shirleen Davies, Karen Kay, Madeline Baker, Elle Marlow, Ellen O'Connell, Vonna Harper, Kathryn Le Veque, Colleen French, Julie Garwood, Cecelia Mecca, Caroline Fyffe, and Hannah Howell. She is the mother of bestselling novelist Colleen French.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 27, 2016
4 and 1/2 Stars! Irish Hero to Love in Early 19th Century America
Set in 1820 in America, this is the story of Anne Davis, a daughter of a wealthy plantation owner, who has managed to end up pregnant but with no husband. Then an incident on the docks and a rescue by a daring Irishman leads to a marriage of convenience with Michael O’Ryan. Michael has escaped a hanging in England for his role in the war in Ireland only to find himself impoverished in America so Anne’s bargain to pay him to wed her comes at a good time.
French does a great job of portraying the plight of the Irish in America in the early 1900s and slavery in Maryland. Many Irish had skills but could not find work and could barely feed their children. And slaves, even those who were valued, longed for the self respect freedom would bring. Michael, raised as a nobleman’s son, having experienced prison and poverty, now seeks to help both the slaves and his fellow Irish. Anne doubts Michael’s honesty and his motives but grudgingly comes to trust him and to see he has a good heart. And though Michael plans to leave her according to their bargain, he finds he wants to stay.
It’s a story of struggle and learning to trust and along the way there is much excitement with pirates and treachery and envy. Some great characters and a worth hero make for a great story. A very well written tale!
Set in 1820 in America, this is the story of Anne Davis, a daughter of a wealthy plantation owner, who has managed to end up pregnant but with no husband. Then an incident on the docks and a rescue by a daring Irishman leads to a marriage of convenience with Michael O’Ryan. Michael has escaped a hanging in England for his role in the war in Ireland only to find himself impoverished in America so Anne’s bargain to pay him to wed her comes at a good time.
French does a great job of portraying the plight of the Irish in America in the early 1900s and slavery in Maryland. Many Irish had skills but could not find work and could barely feed their children. And slaves, even those who were valued, longed for the self respect freedom would bring. Michael, raised as a nobleman’s son, having experienced prison and poverty, now seeks to help both the slaves and his fellow Irish. Anne doubts Michael’s honesty and his motives but grudgingly comes to trust him and to see he has a good heart. And though Michael plans to leave her according to their bargain, he finds he wants to stay.
It’s a story of struggle and learning to trust and along the way there is much excitement with pirates and treachery and envy. Some great characters and a worth hero make for a great story. A very well written tale!
June 10, 2020
This was my first book I've read by this author and I am amazed I haven't discovered her before now.
This book is filled with everything you want in a Historical Romance. Romance, suspense, twists, intrigue and a darn good story line, with a tad of spice.
Not everything runs smoothly or is without tragedy. Since this is my first read, I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was captured by this author's writing from beginning to end. It is filled so many layers that I couldn't stop reading.
I am not usually a fan of stories set in America, but this may change my mind. It captures the ignorance of people who own slaves. You get some perspective from the slaves point of view. No matter how well the owner's treated them, they wanted to be able to choose their own way. This was handled in such an inspiring way from the owner to the slave, which gave me pause.
The h was practically raised by a free slave and thought of her as a member of the family. When Aunt Kessie makes an important decision for herself, it broke my heart. You understood why she did it, (even though I thought the timing could have been better), it was moving.
The H holds many secrets and I liked how they were slowly peeled away like an onion. My only thing I was upset with the H, had to do with the h. He discovered something and he believed the worse, thought out of character for him.
The h endured so many heart aches in such a short period broke my heart. There are many villains that kept the story very interesting. The ending and epilogue were filled with action, violence, surprises and suspense. Great main and secondary character's.
There is lovemaking within marriage, heat level 3 out of 5 and only described in detail a few times.
No cheating, no cliffhanger, HEA - very bumpy road, romance and a tad of spice. I highly recommend this fast moving story. Allow yourself plenty of time to read it because it is hard to put down. (ljb)
This book is filled with everything you want in a Historical Romance. Romance, suspense, twists, intrigue and a darn good story line, with a tad of spice.
Not everything runs smoothly or is without tragedy. Since this is my first read, I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was captured by this author's writing from beginning to end. It is filled so many layers that I couldn't stop reading.
I am not usually a fan of stories set in America, but this may change my mind. It captures the ignorance of people who own slaves. You get some perspective from the slaves point of view. No matter how well the owner's treated them, they wanted to be able to choose their own way. This was handled in such an inspiring way from the owner to the slave, which gave me pause.
The h was practically raised by a free slave and thought of her as a member of the family. When Aunt Kessie makes an important decision for herself, it broke my heart. You understood why she did it, (even though I thought the timing could have been better), it was moving.
The H holds many secrets and I liked how they were slowly peeled away like an onion. My only thing I was upset with the H, had to do with the h. He discovered something and he believed the worse, thought out of character for him.
The h endured so many heart aches in such a short period broke my heart. There are many villains that kept the story very interesting. The ending and epilogue were filled with action, violence, surprises and suspense. Great main and secondary character's.
There is lovemaking within marriage, heat level 3 out of 5 and only described in detail a few times.
No cheating, no cliffhanger, HEA - very bumpy road, romance and a tad of spice. I highly recommend this fast moving story. Allow yourself plenty of time to read it because it is hard to put down. (ljb)
January 6, 2019
Love's Reformation of a Rogue
Michael O'Ryan has never claimed to be anything other than a unrepentant rogue. He also has never said his offer of marriage would be forever. What Michael has are secrets aplenty, and he has his own brand of honesty. So, can an Irish rogue be reformed?
Anne Davis may be a bad judge of character when it comes to men. She may also be in desperate need of a husband and a temporary marriage with no strings attached. So, can Anne's jilted heart ever trust again?
As I read the first few chapters of The Irish Rogue, I was uncertain I was going to like this tale. It did take me a few chapters to warm up to both Michael and Anne. However, after the 25% point in this stand-alone American saga, Judith E. French had me hooked. I could not put down my Kindle. The telling of this tale was also helped along by Ms. French's descriptive writing style and her multifaceted characters. I was also impressed that Ms. French did not rush either the story or the happy ending. All in all, I liked this book and look forward to reading more of this author's works.
Content alert: There are a few intimate marital scenes that are moderately descriptive.
Disclosure: I received this book for free from eBook Discovery via Prolific Works. I voluntarily post this review. This is my honest review that I posted on both GoodReads and Amazon.
Michael O'Ryan has never claimed to be anything other than a unrepentant rogue. He also has never said his offer of marriage would be forever. What Michael has are secrets aplenty, and he has his own brand of honesty. So, can an Irish rogue be reformed?
Anne Davis may be a bad judge of character when it comes to men. She may also be in desperate need of a husband and a temporary marriage with no strings attached. So, can Anne's jilted heart ever trust again?
As I read the first few chapters of The Irish Rogue, I was uncertain I was going to like this tale. It did take me a few chapters to warm up to both Michael and Anne. However, after the 25% point in this stand-alone American saga, Judith E. French had me hooked. I could not put down my Kindle. The telling of this tale was also helped along by Ms. French's descriptive writing style and her multifaceted characters. I was also impressed that Ms. French did not rush either the story or the happy ending. All in all, I liked this book and look forward to reading more of this author's works.
Content alert: There are a few intimate marital scenes that are moderately descriptive.
Disclosure: I received this book for free from eBook Discovery via Prolific Works. I voluntarily post this review. This is my honest review that I posted on both GoodReads and Amazon.
January 17, 2019
From the dramatic and suspenseful opening of this story, the writer crafts a well written historical romance. Caught in a difficult situation, Anne Davis takes the offer of a marriage of convenience made by Michael O'Ryan. Set in an era where law and order are still being developed, Anne and her family face dangers both from outside and within the family. Betrayal comes from an unexpected source, but ultimately unconditional support also comes from surprising quarters. I personally found the violence in the book a bit unnerving, however it formed part of the context of the plot and the main characters more than made up for any squeamishness I may have had. The story is a standalone and comes to a happy conclusion. I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily post this review. This is my honest review.
January 23, 2019
Michael O'Ryan has never claimed to be lucky in love only playing cards! Anne Davis accepts an offer from Michael for a marriage of convenience only! She was dumped by her former lover and left with child. Her reputation is at stake, so she accidentally meets Michael who definitely becomes her hero in a damsel in distress situation. There's a lot of romance and twists and turns to the story along the way. Set in early Colonial times. I enjoyed this story very much.A definite page turner. Look forward to more of her books. I received this book for free from Ebook Discovery. I volunteered to review it and this is my honest review.
January 25, 2019
Expecting a baby, Annie is desperate when her betrothed won't marry her. When Michael, an Irishman, rescues her from thugs, Annie tells him her dilemma. When Annie agrees to marry Michael, she wonders about Michael's secrets. When they return to her father's plantation, they soon discover they have more to deal with. I receive a free copy of this book from eBook Discovery. This is my honest and voluntarily reviews. I like this book. Michael seems to be a good man, but Annie isn't sure if she should trust Michael. This is a good historical romance. With threats from pirates and Michael's past, there are some suspenseful moments. This is a good fast read.
December 31, 2018
An enjoyable read about early colonial days in America. Annie and Michael meet under unusual circumstances, yet it seems it was meant to be. They enter into a business arrangement that leaves each party wondering about the feelings and intents of the other throughout the story. I enjoyed the characters and situations presented in addition to the underlying suspense around Michael’s past. It was also satisfying to see the plantation slaves freed. All in all a satisfying read. I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.
January 17, 2019
There were so many strands to this story, at times, it felt like a little too much. It had an interesting start but often the pace slowed. The ending came quite quickly and dramatically. Overall, it was an entertaining read. Michael was a bit of a rogue, Anne, I both liked and disliked. She really did want things her way, even though Michael had helped her. I liked her more, as the story continued. I received a copy from eBooks Discovery and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
January 8, 2019
A fast paced page turner!
This was an edge of your seat read. I totally enjoyed it plenty of twists and turns, intrigue and villains a plenty. A smouldering Irish hero a damsel in distress and a sizzling love affair. I loved the ending. Judith E. French is an amazing storyteller I’ll definitely will be looking out for her books.
“I received this book from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review."
This was an edge of your seat read. I totally enjoyed it plenty of twists and turns, intrigue and villains a plenty. A smouldering Irish hero a damsel in distress and a sizzling love affair. I loved the ending. Judith E. French is an amazing storyteller I’ll definitely will be looking out for her books.
“I received this book from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review."
July 11, 2021
The road to romance was not smooth for Anne and Michael, more action-packed than average. A MOC allowed them to indulge their mutual lust that led to love. The heroine's vacillating on whether to trust a husband who was nothing but decent toward her was somewhat irritating but good-natured Michael took it in stride. Instead of "bros before hos" we had "sisters before husbands" as Anne's sister decided that her only sibling was irreplaceable whereas her villainous husband was not.
November 7, 2023
She married the first man who came along, Michael O'Ryan. Annie Davis is in trouble and she makes a snap decision to get married as soon as possible. As luck would have it she lands in the arms of a stranger and he agrees to exchange his name for the promise of a heiress's wealth. It is mutually understood to be a marriage of convenience, however, sometimes the heart has other ideas. A good historical romance story. A fast-moving, page-turner of a story.
December 29, 2018
In 1820 America is still raw. The slave trade still flourish and an unwed mother will be cast out.
A ruined girl meets an Irish man who marries her in a mutual agreement of convenience.....but will it stay that way?
A good story line filled with twists and turns will entertain you.
I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. This is my honest review.
A ruined girl meets an Irish man who marries her in a mutual agreement of convenience.....but will it stay that way?
A good story line filled with twists and turns will entertain you.
I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. This is my honest review.
January 22, 2019
After being left by her fortune hunter of a fiance with a pregnancy, Anne desperately need a way out to prevent being disowned by her father. She accepted the offer of a marriage of convenience by Michael O'Ryan. The book is quite interesting and engaging. "I received this book for free from eBook discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review ".
November 8, 2019
Hardly a true rogue
But a man of substance and idealism. He and a young lass in distress go forth into an adventure of intrigue life threatening events and questions as to the longevity of their strange bargain
But a man of substance and idealism. He and a young lass in distress go forth into an adventure of intrigue life threatening events and questions as to the longevity of their strange bargain
January 14, 2019
Great book. I enjoyed the adventure and romance of the story. I am looking forward to the next book.
January 24, 2019
The story was a little long and the ending had a lot of twists and action. I'm not a fan of said action. I got the book though ebook discovery and this is my voluntary and honest review.
May 8, 2019
Happy Irish
This was an entertaining story that was easy to read and made a very good happily ever after story to be enjoyed
This was an entertaining story that was easy to read and made a very good happily ever after story to be enjoyed
March 20, 2017
3.85 quite good wasn't sure if I was going to like it, but enjoyed it
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews