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I loved Enchanting the Earl, the first book in Lily Maxton’s series about the Townsend siblings, which I called a “sweetly sensual character-driven romance” between a reclusive war hero and the free-spirited young woman who shows him that he’s a man worthy of love and acceptance. I was impressed by the way the author balanced the various elements of her story and by the strong characterisation – which extended to the secondary cast as well as the principals – so I eagerly snapped up the next in the series, The Rogue’s Conquest, in the hopes of finding it to be an equally satisfying and enjoyable read.

As is shown by my grade, that wasn’t quite the case. I didn’t dislike the story, but I didn’t really warm to either of the leads and never felt there was a strong romantic connection between them. The pacing is off, too, with most of the emotional weight of the story coming well into the second half, and I suspect that wasn’t helped by the fact that the book is quite short – something between a long novella and a short novel. The protagonists and their relationship are not given time to properly develop, plus, when it’s time for the hero to admit his perspective has been completely wrong, he is able to shed the beliefs and ambitions he’s held for pretty much all his life in less time than it takes to blink the proverbial eye.

With their brother, the Earl of Arden, now happily married and residing with his wife at his remote castle in the highlands, his siblings Robert, Eleanor and Georgina, have removed to Edinburgh. As close relations of an earl, they move in good society but Eleanor isn’t very interested in that; she is more concerned with the societal habits of insects – specifically, beetles – than the societal habits of humans. She has written several papers on entomology which have been published by the Natural History Society and has been invited to give a lecture – but of course, the society does not allow women members and Eleanor had to present her work as that of a man – Cecil Townsend – rather than as herself.

Robert and Georgiana know how important Eleanor’s work is to her, and surprisingly, Georgiana encourages Eleanor to give her lecture in disguise; people see what they expect to see, and with Eleanor being tall for a woman, it should be quite easy for her to pass as Cecil with a few props and if she can alter her voice sufficiently.

Eleanor, who is reserved and somewhat awkward around people can’t believe she’s considering doing such a scandalous thing – if she’s ever discovered, she will be ruined and so, by extension, will Georgina – but with the encouragement of both siblings she gives the lecture with great success.

It’s afterwards that her problems begin, however. One of the attendees, a man named James MacGregor who looks more like a prizefighter than a scientist, somehow sees through Eleanor’s disguise when nobody else has, and offers her a deal. He won’t reveal she’s a woman if she will gain him an entrée to her circle and introduce him to Lady Sarah, the daughter of the Earl of Lark.

While big, brawny, good-looking and the owner of a fairly successful boxing saloon, James has an inferiority complex the size of Scotland. He’s the bastard son of the Duke of Sheffield, who has made it abundantly clear to James that he despises him and wants nothing to do with him, and yet James allows his father’s disdain to rule his life. He wants to meet Lady Sarah because he believes that if he can court her and marry her, then he will have shown the Duke that he isn’t a failure and is worth something after all. As Eleanor realises later in the book, James “was bending over backward to fit into a Society that didn’t want him, to prove himself to a man who’d abandoned him.” And he’s been doing it practically all his life.

Unwilling to risk exposure, Eleanor agrees to do as James asks, and over the ensuing days and weeks, she introduces him around and eventually makes him known to Lady Sarah. While not a gentlemen born and bred, James acquits himself well, and although their relationship might not have begun under the most auspicious of circumstances, Eleanor starts to think of James as a friend… and then as something more than a friend. He’s the one person who really sees beyond the socially awkward wallflower to the stubborn, dedicated woman Eleanor really is, and she comes out of her shell when she’s with him. But although Eleanor suspects that James has become fond of her, too, he’s still set on marrying another woman purely because he wants to gain the approval he can’t accept that his father is never going to give.

The book is well written and I enjoyed the snarky conversations between James and Eleanor, but ultimately, they’re fairly one-note characters, especially James, who is suffering from a severe case of tunnel vision. The premise also requires rather a large suspension of disbelief concerning Eleanor’s masquerade as Cecil – a wig, a pair of glasses, men’s clothing and bound breasts seems to be all it takes to be taken for a chap – and it’s also remarkably easy for James, a man who works for his living, to be accepted into the social circles in which the Townsends move.

Had The Rogue’s Conquest been longer, I am sure that Ms. Maxton could have smoothed out those wrinkles, spent time creating more fully-rounded personalities for her principals and then in developing a stronger, more emotionally satisfying romance between them. As it stands, the book is a bit of a missed opportunity. There’s some great material here when it comes to Eleanor’s desire to be taken seriously as a scientist and in James’ needing to learn what’s really important and what isn’t, but it all needed a longer page-count to be properly wrought together into a stronger, more cohesive whole.

Grade: C+ / 3.5 stars

the rogue's conquest continues the story of the townsend family, picking up some time after enchanting the earl left off, the siblings stories continue with science-minded eleanor getting a chance on center stage.

eleanor has recently published a paper on the mating habits of a beetle that has been honored by a natural science society in edinburgh. because the society will not publish work by women, she used a pseudonym. and when she is invited to speak before members of the society about her work, she really wants to go.

and so, cecil townsend is born. but what eleanor doesn't count on is prizefighter james macgregor to suss out that she is a woman in disguise. he's been looking for a way to court another debutante and decides to blackmail eleanor for an introduction.

when the ploy works he blackmails eleanor for dance lessons and then for a ball. eleanor wishes she could hate james for the blackmail and for his plan, but she kind of admires him. he's charming and unruffled and has absolutely no shame. and eleanor who is used to bowing to society's strictures loves that about him.

there's a lot she loves about james. and james finds himself wanting to spend more and more time with eleanor, making up reasons to see her that have nothing to do with his plan or his blackmail. and soon he has reason to question what his plan will accomplish after all. because sticking to it could mean losing the one thing that has come to mean more to him than anything.

james is a delightful character, even when he is doing things that are morally suspect, he does so with such charm that you can't help but like him. it's easy to see why eleanor falls under his spell. the sheer force of his personality drives a lot of the story, and it works. he's a great hero, in part because he is not the average lord about society you usually see in these historical novels.

Rogue’s Conquest has the best boxing scene (and afterwards) that I’ve read. Lily Maxton’s latest has some fun scenes where her hero and heroine reveal their inner hearts to each other and to the world. Great fun!

'The Rogue's Conquest' by Lily Maxton is Book Two in "The Townsends" Series. This is the story of Eleanor Townsend and James MacGregor. This can be a standalone book.
Eleanor lives with her brother and sister. Eleanor is a happy confirmed spinster who in addition is what I would call a Bluestocking. Eleanor loves Science and has even written papers about beetles. Eleanor when wanting to post her work with the Natural History Society she has to pose as a Man because they do not accept women. So she tries to pretends to be a man and is found out by James. James who wants to become a Gentleman along with getting the hand in marriage to Lady Sarah Lark. James thinks that with Eleanor she can help him those goals and if she does he will help keep her secret. But sometimes what you think you want isn't really what you wanted.
Loved their story! I could not put this book down!
"My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."
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The pugilist has coerced the entomologist to take part in his design to woo a lady or he will divulge her secret which will ruin her reputation.

The pugilist is the former prizefighter James MacGregor, the bastard son of a duke, who covets all things aristocratic which was denied to him from birth. The entomologist is Lady Eleanor Townsend, whose interests and knowledge on beetles would rival any male scientist but denied membership to the illustrious Natural History Society because of her gender and thus her disguise as Mr Cecil Townsend where she gained access, presented her research and has received accolades from the distinguished members of Society. James saw through the disguise and pressured Lady Eleanor for an introduction to the beautiful Lady Sarah, which he sees as his passport to gain entry to the ton.

The uncouth Scot and the Wallflower was each other's strength and weakness as they grapple for approval. James and Eleanor might have employed deceit to secure entry to Society but they had always been aware of each other's purpose.

This was wonderfully written. Lily Maxton's soul-stirring description of the characters' struggle for acceptance was affecting. Their wordplays were fantastically witty.

It's poignant. It's beautiful. Five stars.

I received an arc from the publisher through NetGalley. This is my impartial review.

What a great read I so enjoyed this book it had love some mystery and overall a fab connection between the characters. This book is written so well.

Eleanor Townsend was a spinster and an entomologist. She lives with her brother and sister. She has written a paper on her beetles for the Natural History Society. Unfortunately, she is a female and they don't accept papers from females. James MacGregor is a pugilist and he is a Scot. He wants to meet Lady Sarah Lark, she is everything he wants, wealth, connections and she is lovely. I thought the story was excellent, It kept my interest thru out. It was fun and you get to learn about beetles, at least their mating habits. The characters are witty, humorous, but also have a serious side, too. I loved where she felt, she had to tell Lady Sara about her deception and James MacGregor. She liked her to much to hurt her. If you like an easy going read that explains everything then this is the book for you.

This is book two in the Townsends series. In this one we are given the story of Eleanor one of the Townsend siblings. The story was really entertaining. I enjoyed the characters and how she tames James a rough neck trying to fit into the town mold. I thought it was a in intersting story and I can't wait for more.

I really liked James and Eleanor's story. I loved their back and forth banter. I am really loving Lily Maxton's story telling. She writes beautifully. Not a lot off heat in this story but you don't miss it. I am looking forward to the rest of the books in the series.

I wasn't sure about this book when I started it. But as I continued to read it I couldn't stop.

Really felt conflicted with this book. I liked all the characters, there really weren't any particular reasons to dislike any portion of the story, but it just wasn't compelling or even interesting. The beetle angle was dull, there wasn't really any fire to the romance and the end just hap, no real passion. Not an exciting or even interesting story. Sorry.

Publisher's Description:
Description
Wallflower Eleanor Townsend is not like most women. She has no interest in marriage, the ton, or fashion. Instead, her heart lies with science. And when the opportunity to present a paper arises, she takes it, even though it means dressing as a man. But her disguise doesn’t quite work. Someone notices—and the brute intends to blackmail her.
Former prizefighter James MacGregor wants to be a gentleman, like the men he trains in his boxing saloon. His first step is gaining a beautiful, wealthy wife. Eleanor Townsend is not that woman, but a chance encounter gives him the leverage he needs. She’ll gain him entry to high society and help him with his atrocious manners, and in return, he won’t reveal her secret. It’s the perfect arrangement. At least until the sparks between them become more than just their personalities clashing. But there’s too much at stake for James to give in to his growing attraction.

My Thoughts:

If Eleanor could only be accepted by her scientific counterparts as what she is, an intelligent inquisitive woman. But no, society believes only a man holds such interests as bugs and their mating habits. Women are too delicate to cultivate such interests or so the scientific community of men believes.
Eleanor has written her detailed observations under a male pseudonym so when she is invited to present her observations to the local scientific community she decides to carry the mascaraed one step further by dressing as a man.
She is certain that she has been successful in her endeavor until James, a social climbing ex prizefighter let's her know in no uncertain terms that she has failed to fool him. He decides he needs her help in obtaining a certain woman of higher social standing as his wife.
What starts out as a comical romp progressed quickly into a convoluted tale culminating into a most unusual love story.
I gave this book 4..25 of 5.0 stars for storyline and character development and a sensual rating of 4.5 of 5.0 flames. The intimacy in this story was late in this stories development but very heated being closer to hot than warm.
I received a complimentary digital ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley to read. This in no way affected my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

I read a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. I have read and enjoyed several of Lily Maxton’s book, so I was quite happy to have the opportunity to read this one. I think this story is my favourite of the ones I have read so far. This book is the second book in the Townsend series, I had not read the first book Enchanting the Earl prior to reading this one and I don't think it matters much as this story definitely stands well on its own. I will however, definitely back track and read the first one and look forward to reading the others in the series. Back to this book … one would not think that a cross dressing, beetle obsessed, shy and retiring spinster would be a good match for a semi-retired prize fighter looking to marry up in order to prove himself worthy to the world but some how they do match and are dynamite together. Both Eleanor and James are looking for acceptance by pretending to be someone they are not and it's wonderful to watch them grow and to learn to accept themselves as they truly are.

The one thing former prizefighter James McGregor wants and strives toward is to be a gentlemen and accepted by the ton. He wants to marry a wealthy young woman of the ton to further that dream. When he blackmails the shy Eleanor Townsend into introducing him to Society, he gets more than he bargains for when he begins to want Eleanor more than just a friend.

I was a little thrown by the title of this story because James is definitely not a Rogue and there was no conquest. I loved that the book was based in Edinburgh and not the ballrooms of London. That was a refreshing change. The friendship that developed between James and Eleanor after a not so auspicious start was a delight to see. Their conversations were witty and surprising, especially on Eleanor's part. Most young women would never be so honest in talking with a man. The story is short and I wish their growing attraction between them had been more fleshed out. All in all, this is enjoyable book.

I am giving a fair and honest review in return for this ARC. A pugilist and a lady who dresses like a man to get her scientific papers published. He is intent on another lady but can't resist this unique woman. Nice read.

Eleanor Townsend is fascinated by science which from the start, makes her an unusual character; however, this does not detract from the novel, but only enhances it. Eleanor must pose as “Cecil” in order to present her journal, a common undertaking of the era. James MacGregor, a former prizefighter, seizes on Eleanor’s secret and attempts to blackmail her into helping him. What starts off as a means to elevate him into society, soon turns out to be a passionate relationship.
The plot was well structured and the characters delightful. The witty dialogue between Eleanor and James was entertaining as was that between Eleanor and the Townsends. I look forward to reading more in this series, especially between Robert and Georgina.

Women and children were to be seen and not heard.

Cecil is always the inbred cousin's name.

She could pass for a man just by changing her hair and wearing glasses? Now there's a confidence booster.

Why is he trying to hide his accent, if they already live in Scotland?

Georgina is fun, if a little crazy.

She really isn't aware of social niceties, is she?

Did he just...? Oh honey, you certainly have your work cut out for you.

She and Lady Sarah sound like kindred spirits.

Someone's jealous.

I knew it.

His father is more the bastard than he ever was.

They are going to fight in the snow? They couldn't find an abandoned building?

Ouch, the guy pulled out James's hair?!

I predict Robert's future wife will walk all over him.

It's nice that he gets her.

Ah, very tricksy, James. You must really like silk damask.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Rogue's Conquest is a sweet read featuring an improbable romance sparked by blackmail. Eleanor Townsend is a smart woman with an interest in beetles; however, due to her gender she is unable to present her findings to an academic society. Her sister suggests that Eleanor present as a man, which she does only to be discovered by James MacGregor, a prizefighter who is aiming to enter the upper echelons of society through marriage. James blackmails Eleanor into helping him woo the woman he intends to marry otherwise he will share Eleanor's secret, which will spell ruination for her. Naturally, feelings get in the way of this plan.

In all honestly, The Rogue's Conquest requires a large suspension of disbelief when one considered the large social gap between Eleanor and James, as well as the unlikely fact that Eleanor gets so much help in making her masculine disguise. If you can set aside the less than historically accurate premise, The Rogue's Conquest is a rather sweet read. James' drive to better himself is understandable and the characterization of Eleanor is well done - her motivation to be accepted into an academic setting as well as her longing for a relationship with James is quite lovely.

While The Rogue's Conquest is cute and sweet, I did find the romance to be lacking in depth. This was a short read and because of that, I felt that the romance seemed more instantaneous than it should have been. I liked the fact that James and Eleanor's relationship was founded by friendship (at least after starting with blackmail), but there wasn't a lot of page time devoted to the developing romantic relationship. I would have liked to have seen the growing relationship between these two more fleshed out.

This was a very enjoyable read that is easy to get through in an afternoon. The main characters are Lady Eleanor and Mr James MacGregor. Lady Eleanor is described as a timid wallflower by others in society but that's not quite how we see her, especially when she's around James. She has been secretly publishing her scientific work under a pseudonym and has masqueraded at a lecture as this male counterpart. When James discovers her secret, he sees her as a means to help him become more refined and gain introduction to another woman that he wants to court. They have a very endearing relationship that full of wit, barbs, and teasing. While James is not your typical male hero, he has an attractive rough around the edges quality that is likeable.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book had an interesting premise that I haven't encountered in the many historical romances I've read. The H, James, uses the h, Eleanor, to gain entry into the ton. The H is not an aristocrat or lord, which is what makes the story different. I enjoyed the chemistry between the H and h and liked reading the angst that fraught their journey to the HEA. However, the reason for the one star deduction was because I'd have liked to see the H's relationship with his father explored more and would have liked to see what happened with the dad after a key moment at the end of the story. Despite those elements, I did enjoy the story and would recommend it.