I am giving my fair and honest review as agreed for being allowed this ARC. This story has all the necessary ingredients! A villain, a rogue, a befuddled scientist, a lovely damsel and a plot to turn them all upside down.

Publisher's Description:
Hide your daughters and your maiden aunts…Lord Samuel Travis is back.
—The London Hearsay, special society edition

Equal parts scoundrel and seducer, he’s returned to London determined to mend the rift with his older brother. All Sam must do is take possession of a tumbledown town house. A seemingly simple task, except the house is occupied—by an infuriating, whip-smart beauty who refuses to do his bidding.

Miss Juliette Lacey’s wallflower days are over. She has a plan to turn her eccentric family into the toast of the ton—but the devilishly handsome rake trying to oust them from their home thwarts her at every turn. How can one man be so vexing and make her simmer with desire?
As her attraction to Sam deepens, Julie’s problems grow—she may have, once upon a time, secretly shared a kiss with his honorable older brother. Suddenly, Julie’s caught between a rogue and a marquess, between passion and respectability. Torn between two brothers, what’s a girl to do?

My Thoughts:

This is my favorite book of this series and that's saying a lot!

When the second son, Lord Samuel Travis returns to London, he starts out rather badly by resuming his Roguish and debauched ways.
Mistaking his neighbors home for his own, he ends up in the bed of an elderly spinster. This was the straw that broke the camel's back resulting his brother ousting from his home.

This was just the excuse his older brother needs. He wants Sam to oust the people residing in a house that belonged to their father that he has inherited.

Julie lives in the house with her elderly uncle who is somewhat eccentric and who may well be having senior moments.
Sam's brother wants Julie as his mistress and thinks to force the issue by threatening eviction from their home.

Will Julie and Sam get past their beginning to form a lasting love?

This at times humorous and sometime heartbreaking story is one I couldn't put down. I finished it in one day. After I started reading it I simply couldn't put it down.

I gave this book 5.0 of 5.0 stars for storyline and character and a sensual rating of 4.0 of 5.0 flames. The intimacy is a wonderfully written part of this book. A five out of five star rating is very unusual for me to give but this book was simply delightful.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley to read and review. This in no way affected my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is book three in the Wayward Wallflower series. I did enjoy this a great deal. It was a pretty well done series. I loved how the guy finally stood up for himself.

The last Lacey sister is content to stay home and take care of her eccentric uncle. Sam only wants to redeem himself in his older brother’s eyes, and in order to do that, all he needs to do is evict Alister and Juliette from their long time home. Juliette’s first impression of Sam is definitely not flattering and she hates him on site for barging into her home telling her she and her uncle need to move out looking like he had just fallen out of bed after a long night of drinking. A reluctant bargain is set that allows Sam to stay at the home, while Julie looks for proof that her uncle owns the house and not Sam’s brother. Sparks fly really quickly but Julie resists because she can’t trust the words of the notorious rake, Sam, and she holds secret feelings for his brother and thinks everything is just a big misunderstanding. But when Nigel proves to be far more the villain and Sam less the scoundrel, Julie can’t help but fall in love with Sam and he with her. The conflict was complicated and interesting. Which brother would she choose? And which brother was the real scoundrel and villain? I enjoyed their story and how everything ended well. I would have loved to hear of something befalling Nigel as poetic justice but I am glad how the story ended for Sam and Juliette. It was entertaining, passionate, had intense moments, and heartwarming moments.

This author writes such fun and witty heroines and fun loving rogues.

The Rogue is Back in Town is the first book I have read by Anna Bennett and has inspried me to read more of her stories, especially the stories of the other two Wayward Wallflowers about Juliette's two sisters. The author's characters are very likeable and this story flowed very well. I always enjoy reading about characters redeeming themselves and Lord Samuel Travis definitely needed redemption. I also really enjoy female heroines who are strong, steady and indepentdent. Juliette Lacey is those things and more. Author Anna Bennett added lots of fun and interest with her characterization of Juliette's Uncle Alistair. He is such a quirky, yet lovable character. The interaction between Sam and Juliette kept me turning the pages and I adored them as a couple.

The Rogue Is Back in Town ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️by Anna Bennett
(The Wayward Wallflowers #3)

A charming novel about a scoundrel Lord Samuel Travis.
Sam has been put to the test by his brother Nigel to have a tenant vacate a house Nigel owns. He has instructed Sam if he does not complete this task he in will be cut off financially.
Sam has the reputation of being a gambler and Rogue thus deserving this treatment by his brother.

When Sam goes to the house in question he is confronted with Miss Juliette Leary and her absentminded Uncle Alistair.
Juliette has been long since named a wallflower and takes care of her uncle. She tries everything to oust Sam from the house saying she is sure this house was bequeath by her dead aunts brother to Uncle Alistair to live in for life not being burdened by bills. Juliette,however, has no proof of ownership by her uncle and Sam refuses to leave the house.

As they argue back and forth over a course of days the handsome rake begins to win her heart. I enjoyed this story but the ending was quite predictable. This story just did not challenge the reader. There was no edge to the story.

*I was given an ARC copy in NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

What I liked about this book: I enjoyed the plot and the main characters. Both Sam and Juliette are well rounded characters. The way they meet and challenge each other each step of the way shows a balanced interaction between them. I also enjoyed Alistair's character and Sam's growth in the book.

What could have been better: I feel a little bit of insta-love from Sam and Juliette, as they seem to move from attraction to care to love fast. I understand that the circumstances in which the author brings them together doesn't allow for a long time to pass, a few parts felt rushed. I also would have liked a villain a little better fleshed than Nigel.

Overall, it was a highly entertaining book to read and I'd recommend it to others.

The third in a Series, sad to say, it is not up to the first two. Beautiful Juliette let's herself become ensnared by The Marquess of Carrington. She thought herself in love with him, until she meets the younger brother, Lord Samuel, a Rogue, that of course, only she can tame! The Marquess wants her as a Mistress!? Yet, one sister is married to a Duke, and the other to an Earl!? The Marquess is threatening to remove her Uncle, and herself from the house they have lived in, since her parents deaths. Her Uncle loves the home, due to the fact, he came there with his beloved bride, years before. I understand this, what I don't understand, is why she let's herself get trapped by the threats of the Marquess, when all she had to do was write her sisters, and let their husbands take care of this vile Marquess?! I guess if you want to finish the series, this is your opportunity. I found it, too silly, to take it seriously.
Thanks!
Carolintallahassee👒

The Rogue Is Back in Town by Anna Bennett was a fast paced read for me. I feel this romance novel is lacking something overall a good read that just does not hold up.

I love to read books by Anna Bennett. She is talented and creates characters who are fun and funny and charming and terrific. This is not my favorite book by Ms Bennett.

Sam has been a trial for his elder brother. His brother is a marquess, a responsible man and admired all over London. Sam is a rogue with a reputation for being a waste of space.

So, Sam is sent to recover a home which belongs to his brother. He must evict the people who live there as quickly as possible.

The house has been occupied for years by Juliette, her Uncle who is a scientist, and two sisters. Her sisters have married very well and moved away.

Julie has become the caretaker for her eccentric Uncle. When she finds that they are about to be evicted, she makes a deal with Sam to give her time to find the deed or a lease to allow him to stay in his home.

Sam agrees because he has immediately fallen in lust for Julie. He also becomes a researcher for her Uncle. Sam is neither a true rogue, nor is he thoughtless and inconsiderate. His previous actions and reputation seem to vanish.

The plot is well developed and Ms Bennett has created a plausible story about society's treatment of people who are not wealthy nor average.

Julie and her sisters were once considered wallflowers who were saddled with an eccentric guardian as well as not enough money. Thus their standing in society is not valued.

I had issues.

Julie who is a nice young woman loses her sense of propriety very quickly. She finds it difficult to refuse valuable jewelry and and offer to become a mistress from a man so oily he could slip under a door. She enters a physical relationship with Sam without much persuasion needed.

All in all, I would have felt better if Julie and Sam had stayed true to character a little longer.

I am not against lust, but it seemed to happen a wee bit too soon on both sides.

I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are completely my own.

Third book in The Wayward Wallflowers series, The Rogue Is Back in Town is a good light reading, very enjoyable although personally I didn't liked it as much as the previous books. Don't get me wrong I had a great time reading, but I simply wasn't as hooked as with other ones.

Our main characters definitely don't have the best start, and the circumstances they're in hardly provide room for our heroes to fall for each other. But there's an immediate attraction and despite appearances there's more to them than meets the eye. While Sam is tasked with evicting Juliette and her uncle from his family's property; this is not something he takes pleasure in doing, but he has to in order not to be left out of his own family.
Now of course Juliette wouldn't just go, and so as he tries to bide his time hoping that they leave, they start spending time together and become allies in trying to figure out a way so she and her uncle don't have to leave. And besides working together, they also start to develop feelings for each other, and this was one of my favorite things from the book; how their relationship starts to develop.

I sure wasn't a fan of Sam's brother Nigel, he may be one of the reasons I couldn't completely connect with this book; also the heroine Juliette was a a bit too naive. But I repeat those were personal issues and overall I consider this book to be a great read for fans not just of this series but of historical romance or romance in general.

Second sons are notoriously too naughty or too nice. They always seem to be making up for the fact that they weren’t born first. It’s no different for Lord Samuel Travis. Always the life of the party, he’s a constant disappointment to his older brother. Their father was often there to mend the gap, but since his death, the brothers can’t seem to find a common ground. After one humiliation too many, big brother gives Lord Samuel a seemingly simple task, evict tenants in a crumbling town house.

The last unwed Lacey sister, Juliette, is making the best of life with her eccentric uncle in their slice of heaven. When Lord Samuel Travis bangs down her door claiming to be there at his brother’s instruction, Julie is shocked beyond belief. She had believed the house she’d spent most of her life in was owned by her uncle and wants proof that he doesn’t. Until that proof appears, Sam sets up house in the guest chambers because in truth, he has no where else to go.

At first, I really didn’t like Sam. I thought he was a spoiled brat who was used to getting his way. Gradually, Bennett brought to light what one could perceive as flaws were actually the best part of the man. Yes, Sam is a rogue of the first order, but he was forced into the position of naughty brother by his sadistically perfect older brother. Once he finds the woman worth putting it all behind for, his character seems rather charming.

As for Julie, I adored her in the previous two novels and found her even more amazing in this installment. She is completely selfless and maybe a little stubborn. When confronted with a man she can’t help but crave, she puts up a good fight and makes every challenge interesting.

Delightfully batty, Uncle Alistair, plays a huge part in this novel. His true nature is touched upon in the first two books, but we get a look at his brilliance and logic as he befriends Sam and shows his love for his niece.

There are so many aspects of this book I adored. Without giving any spoilers, I love how Bennett gave both Julie and Sam their own character building metamorphosis bringing the tale of the Lacey sisters full circle. While this may be the end of this series, I know Bennett has more stories to tell and I will be happy to devour every one!

I received this book for free. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Anna Bennett’s The Rogue is Back in Town finagled her way into the trope of lust conquers all. There was a lack of emotional buildup between the main protagonists, as well as just plain lack of believability throughout the entire novel. The displacement of reality in the writing (stemming from Juliette—the heroine’s—circumstances as a sister-in-law to members of the peerage while living in destitution) made this an extremely slow read that I had to force myself to finish. There were so many head shaking moments due to breach of etiquette for the time period in Juliette’s behavior that it tarnished the story.

Stories are great when they have action and heart and development in characters that allow the reader to root for or empathize with a fleshed out human. Unfortunately, when a book falls short on these stabilizers, it is redundant and boring.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I DARED THE DUKE, the second book in the WAYWARD WALLFLOWERS trilogy is one of the best books I've read this year, so I was so excited to dive into the last book of the trilogy when it became available here. I did like THE ROGUE IS BACK IN TOWN but it lacked some of the wit and depth that I so loved about I DARED THE DUKE. Enjoyable, but not my favourite. Still, a good and satisfying conclusion to the trilogy, I'll miss these characters and I'm looking forward to see what this author writes next. :)

This was an uneven read for me. I really liked the characters and was instantly on-board with their romance from their first meeting. I loved Julie's uncle and watching the three of them interact. I did not really like the rest of the plot though. It all seemed heavy handed to me with the ridiculous villain and Julie's intensely silly actions. The end seemed really thrown together for me as well, Overall I had a good time reading this one and was glad I was given a copy in an exchange for an honest review. I am not sure if I will read the first books in the series or just wait to see what the author comes out with next.

I love this series by Anna Bennett and I loved this book. I really enjoy the London Hearsay it is a special touch. All Sam wants to do is mend fences with his brother and take possession of a town house. Miss Juliette Lacey’s was a wallflower and she now wants to be the toast of the town. Julie likes Sam but she may have kissed his brother once upon a time. I really enjoyed Julie's character in the book.

I thought this was a lovely fun story to while away the afternoon. Sam is a rogue who loves his family and wants to make amends and realizes that love and hard work goes a long way in personal happiness. Julie is the quintessential good girl (mostly) who looks after her uncle and patiently helps him get along in life. When these two meet it is fireworks but she has a past with Sam’s brother Nigel, the marquess. Now she is conflicted in who she is more attracted to, Sam the bad boy or Nigel the good marquess. Is Nigel as upstanding as he portrays? What I liked about the story is Sam’s progression from a rogue who only wants his own pleasure to wanting to help others by helping himself.

what is a rogue? They are womanizing,gambling, and debauchery committed by a male member of the human race Lord Samuel Travis is considered one of these. He has spent a lot of time on the continent and has recently returned. Miss Juliette Lacey is the last of the three Lacey sisters who is not married. She spends her time taking care of her Uncle Alistair.
This is really quite a neat story. Julie has agreed to go to a ball and she meets Nigel, a marquess. He kisses her her and she think she cares for him. But as time goes along and he does not pay her a call, she realizes he doesn't care. The descriptions are wonderful and the dialogue follows along nicely. There are a few twists to the plot but it is so good. Poor uncle is afraid when they are evicted. Julie and Sam meet and feelings are off the charts. A marvalous tale of love finding a way. Beautifully written, easy to read, and evenly paced. I loved this book and can hardly wait for the next .
I received this ARC from Net Gally and reviewed it voluntarily.

By order of his brother, the marquess, Samuel must evict Juliette and her uncle from their home or he will be thrown out to the streets and have his allowances cut off for being a rake and a disgrace. But Juliette is willing to fight for her rights and won’t give up. This is a story of fight at first sight, but she doesn’t know that he’s only the messenger; the ruthless marquess whom she kissed once at a party is the one to blame.

Julie lives with her uncle Alastair who suffers from (I suspect) early stages of senile dementia. She needs proof that Sam’s brother is the actual owner of the house they live in so she demands that the brothers show said proof. In the meanwhile she won’t tell her uncle and be a cause of distraught. Julie is very protective of her uncle, but with her sisters unavailable at the moment, she is very much alone.

Sam realizes that it would be better if Julie and himself worked together for the common good, that they both would have a place to live in. For the time being he asks her to give him shelter for he has nowhere to go. Of course she doesn’t know about this fact so he convinces her to live in the same house. Little does he know that this is the first step to his own reformation. His days as a rogue are over.

So Julie finds a way for Sam to live with them without having brows raised at them, he will be uncle Alastair’s assistant and will help him organize his work in order to present it before the Royal Society of Sciences. It is the work of a lifetime so the task will be neither easy nor short-lived.

Julie and Sam’s brother, Nigel, had that one kiss once, and she felt quite overwhelmed by it, but he never called on her afterwards… how will he react when he knows that he is about to have that woman out on the streets? Her wrath will fall onto him when they meet again! Will Sam get the blow just by standing in the middle of them?

This is also a story of two men wearing masks, the elder brother has a perfect mask and the younger wears the face of a rogue, a rake, someone who you wouldn’t trust at first sights. But the thing with masks is that they hide the real faces, none of them is what they seem. And it will be up to Juliette to describe truth from fake. And the reader will do the same along with her. But probably just as with our lovely, fierce, strong Julie, we will see the truth at first sight, what will be the task then? She and we will have to demonstrate that we were right from the beginning.

Although the year is not over yet I think I can say that this was for me one of the best new historical romance novels of the year. It’s not the best but it comes as close as it can. It is not only an incredibly beautifully written sweet love story between a man and a woman, but also a story about love for what it is important in life, the family. Juliette has a family she wants to protect at all costs; Sam’s family, his only brother, is estranged and severed and he longs to make peace just because he promised his late father, and because he’s alone in the World. This is important because it’s both their strength and their weakness, and unless they consider themselves a family, they won’t be able to create one.

The bed scenes are sweet and sexy but I must remark the almost-first-kiss. It is one of the best and sexiest almost-first-kisses I’ve ever read about; usually they would make me feel frustrated (as one or both the characters would feel) and wanting more, but it left me wanting more though not frustrated. That isn’t an easy thing to achieve. And the other particular thing I must remark is the fact that the male character realizes his feelings earlier than expected and before his female counterpart does, although of course the feelings were there from almost the beginning. But having a man’s feelings so sure and decided so early, when usually he would be confused for many chapters, is something that I find pleasantly refreshing.

Sam was my favourite character. I loved Julie and uncle Alastair very much, don’t get me wrong. But I felt a connection with Sam almost immediately. Perhaps it is because his brother had him kicked out of their home like a dog in the first chapter and from then he begins his path to redemption. But I did love him, and I did want to protect him. He had so much to deal with and it would mean a revisit of his own past and the reasons why he’s a rogue, how did he end up like this. Given that past he should have been careless and cold and hard hearted but instead he’s caring, lovely and supportive to the last breathe, you only have to look at how he helps uncle Alastair in his endeavours when everyone says he’s a madman. And he supports Julie despite the fact that at some point it seems that she’s chosen his brother…

I could go on forever commenting the different things that I liked about this novel but instead I prefer to get myself all of Anna Bennett’s books and read them.

Oh, and there’s one thing, or rather one person I really hated and that was Nigel. I hated him so much that I think he was perfect as a ruthless antagonist/nemesis. So just because of that I should like him but I loathe him instead, and I can’t help it. Aunt Elspeth would approve.