Also this was definitely different from Jenn Bennett's other YA books (i.e. not a contemporary romance), it was still a fun romp through Eastern Europe. I loved all of the folklore and culture as well as the supernatural elements, the small romance that played a part was also fun and the father/daughter element added a very nice amount of depth to the story. Overall a wonderful action-packed adventure, although a diversion from Bennett's standard works.

It's 1937, and Theodora Fox is having a terrible summer. She was hoping to travel the globe treasure-hunting with her father, taking photos of ghostly phenomenon and investigating cursed artifacts, and maybe even visiting her deceased mother's homeland of Romania. Instead, dear old dad abandoned her in a Turkish hotel room with a snotty French tutor who has just run off with the hotel's lounge singer, taking all of Theo's money with her. Now what is she supposed to do? But then she runs into her former adopted brother/best friend/boyfriend (whom she last saw when things were getting hot and heavy between them right before her dad threw him out of the house), and things get even more complicated. It turns out Huck was helping her father with an expedition to find a ring that used to belong to Vlad the Impaler...and Dad is now missing. Theo and Huck embark on a journey across Europe to retrace her father's steps and find him, using his coded journal as a guide. But with witches, wolves and perhaps even a descendant of Dracula himself chasing them, will any of them make it out of Transylvania alive?

I'm a big fan of Jenn Bennett's books, and I wasn't sure how to feel about the fact that her newest one was such a departure from her usual contemporary YA romances. This was a historical madcap adventure, and I'm glad to say it was a heck of a lot of fun. Huck and Theo have boatloads of baggage between them, so there's a hint of enemies-to-lovers going on for the first half of the book. They banter and give each other all sorts of grief, and it's all aided by the fact that Huck is Irish and I imagined all his quips in an Irish accent (aided by his occasional "Jaysus!") which made all of their interactions incredibly charming. Theo starts off as kind of a hot mess and I wasn't completely sure I was going to like her, but that introduction is not really the norm for her. She's brave and smart, able to solve ciphers and puzzles that keep their journey going where anyone else would have seen a dead-end. I really enjoyed the two of them together, and there was a lot of build-up and tension.

The mystery involving Vlad the Impaler's ring was pretty interesting, and there were some twists and turns along the way that I didn't see coming. I kept thinking that the dialogue was a little too modern to fit into 1937 (such as when Theo used the term "FYI"), but somehow it still worked. I can absolutely see this turning into a series, though it also worked perfectly well as a stand-alone with a satisfying ending.

Kudos to Ms. Bennett for going out on a limb and trying something new. It totally worked, and I really enjoyed reading her signature style telling a different kind of story! (But don't totally abandon the contemporary romances, please? Because I super love those, too.)

**Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!**

Wow! I love Jenn Bennett's contemporary YA fiction, so I was expecting a lot from this fantasy, but it honestly blew me away. The characters are engaging, the plot is strong, and the story itself had me reading late into the night and finding every spare moment I had to read in order to find out what was going to happen next.

Expect lots of plot twists, lots of heart-pounding moments, and maybe even a kiss or two (after all, this is Jenn Bennett - yay!). I loved every moment of this book and didn't want it to end!

The Lady Rogue is the story of a spirited girl, Theodora. After she finds herself stranded in Turkey, an old family friend that she was once in love with shows up, and they find out her dad is missing. On top of that, there are some creepy guys following them that seem to have an interest in killing them.

The two travel to Romania, the last place her dad had been seen. As they track him down using clues from his journal, people start ending up dead around them. It's all related to a magical ring that once belonged to Vlad Dracula.

This was a great book. I loved Theodora. She cared about saving her dad, and she wasn't about to let a little thing like murderers tracking her down — or running out of money — stand in her way. It turns out that Huck, the boy she once loved, didn't want to leave her when she thought she had been abandoned. I love watching both her and Huck develop their relationship again.

I love the setting, and Ms. Bennett does a great job of drawing me into the world of Romania in the 1930s, with the cold countryside, creepy forests, and trains that take you from one country to another.

The Lady Rogue is a historical fantasy adventure that I'd highly recommend.

I loved it. This book is good y’all. The adventure starts right away and I was instantly sucked into the life of Theodora Fox. She is feisty, smart, and stubborn, and I knew from the first chapter that I was going to love her. When Huck reenters her life with instructions from her treasure-hunting father, so does the drama. Every second of this book was exciting, mysterious, and fun. It was a great mix of action, puzzle-solving, and magic with an angsty historical teen romance. Theo and Huck’s chemistry was evident from the start, and I loved their history together. The pacing of the whole book was so well done, always keeping the plot moving forward in an entertaining way. The writing was stunning, witty, and oh so readable. Bennet created such a perfect atmosphere for this story, and I fell in love with the setting and its mysticism. The magic and occultism in this book were fascinating and fit so well in the world. This book was a little outside of my fantasy comfort zone, but I am so glad that I went with it because it’s fantastic. I highly recommend.

I liked The Lady Rogue. I thought it was a good story but, felt it was a bit drawn out. A fascinating, descriptive setting that brings you to the time and place. I liked Theodora and Huck and the adventurous quest they set out on. Lots of action, especially at the end. I liked the way Theodora broke the cypher code that helped her find her Father and the way she solved the secret of the rings.
#TheLadyRogue #NetGalley

This story had it all. Mystery, romance, action, witchcraft, and magic. This was right up my alley. Theodora is chasing after her missing father who is a treasure hunter and is on a mission to find Vlad the Impaler’s, or better known as Dracula, cursed ring. Theodora’s life will never be the same after this wild chase through Romania. Thank you NetGalley for the early review copy. 🌟🌟🌟🌟

If you're a fan of historical fiction with a gothic feel and a paranormal twist, this book will make your heart happy. The story follows Theodora as she travels across 1930's Romania with her ex (who she has no closure with) in order to save her father from a mysterious group of people who want to get their hands on Vlad the Impaler's evil magical ring. Theodora is plucky and intelligent---a woman who holds her own in a man's world. The romantic tension between her and Huck is palpable, which I loved. I did wish the magical elements had been a bit more pronounced throughout the book, but that's just my personal preference. Things took a definitively supernatural turn at the end of the book, and I was riveted during the climax! This book reminded me a lot of Kari Maniscalco's series (but with a magical flair), so if you like those, you should definitely pick this one up too!

***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***

I really had fun reading this book! And let’s be honest here, that’s really why I read, to have a good time. I was caught up in this story right away. Literally from the first page I was like the Kool-Aid Man going, “OH YEAH”! However, towards the end it kind of lacked it’s shine. Books are usually the other way around for me. It takes me awhile to get into them and then the ending has me wow’d.

Characters: Theodora was actually pretty funny. She was cleverly sarcastic, believable in her actions, and fun to read about. I LOVED her sense of adventure. She was a “damn the consequences” type of gal. She was a dreamer. Huck, was the opposite. Poor guy was dragged along to her wild adventurous ways (even though he kind of liked it). He was also very practical which was a good balance. He was also very charming. They had good chemistry also, and I liked that they had a deep history before the story started. You don’t see that too often.

Plot. Like I said, the plot pulled me in from the get-go. I was all about that Vlad life, you know? And not Bram Stoker’s Vlad but historical Vlad. I find him extremely interesting. I also liked the creative direction the author took for his story! The historical part was actually pretty rich and deep considering it was a shorter book! BUT I feel like more could have been done. It felt almost too magical realism rather than fantasy. The fantasy element only came into play maybe the last 50 pages or so? I felt as though more could have been done with the magic and the surprise element at the end.

Writing. I can understand why so many people are Jenn Bennett fans! She’s actually quite funny! She is clever and a bit mysterious in her writing. I will definitely be reading her other works!

Final Thoughts. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes just a taste of magical horror. Vlad is a very interested historical figure to read about and books like these might help teens to get interested in history. As an adult, if you are looking for a short, fun read, check it out!

"See this? I was named after a great empress. I'm royalty--nay, I'm an independent young lady! You may call me Lady Rogue."

Going in to this novel, I was so excited! The cover, the premise--it was right up my alley and I couldn't wait. Overall, it was what I wanted it to be, but alas, it did not live up to my complete expectations.

I loved the history, the mythology, the legend behind this book! I think that was definitely the most enjoyable thing about it. Learning about Vlad the Impaler and other people throughout history (even if some liberties with the truth were taken) was super intriguing and I Googled so many people the author mentioned afterward just to learn more about them.

As far as characters go, I thought it was strange the father's name was Richard Damn Fox. Is that a real thing, Damn as a middle name? He is an explorer so maybe he self-made that his middle name.

The main character Theodora, Theo if you will, was a stubborn but brave and feminist character for her time (1937). That being said, I don't think he voice really matched someone of that time or her upbringing. She very much sounded like a friend of mine now speaking. I like that it made her relatable, but not necessarily that it took away from the accuracy of it.

Another thing I was unsure of was the romance aspect between Theo and Huxley Gallagher, Huck for short. First, let me swoon at that very perfect name. Unfortunately, their love did not make me swoon as hard. They were raised together after his parents died, and Theo's dad kind of expected them to fall into a brother-sister relationship. However, they fell for each other and, after her father catches them together, Huck leaves. I liked the dynamic between them after they're reunited after a year of separation. Theo thinks he left her and never thought of her again, so she gives him a very moody teenager reception, which I really enjoyed. I like that enemies-to-lovers kind of concept. I just wish their backstory was a little different.

Overall, I enjoyed the rich setting and storytelling that Bennet does in The Lady Rogue. I felt like I was in a race through Europe, mountains, and fairytale towns with them. There's mystery, witty banter, and so much more. I do recommend giving it a try!

Jenn Bennett evokes classic movies and stories of derring-do in her latest novel, Lady Rogue. Set in Europe in 1937, this fun twist on the treasure hunting tales of yore is laden with romance, adventure, and just a touch of magic.

The last time Theo (Theodora) Fox saw sexy Irish hunk Huck Gallagher she’d been enthusiastically draped across  his naked body and it had led to all kinds of trouble. So it should be no surprise to her that on a day when she has been falsely accused of  theft, arrested, rescued and then dumped by her chaperone/tour guide and been splattered with feces while hailing a cab,  he is waiting for her in her hotel room. Trouble and Huck seem to go hand in hand, which is proven yet again when thugs break into her room while she is still trying to kick Huck out of it. Fortunately, they are able to use the balcony to escape. Unfortunately, their escape results in Theo once more sprawled across a naked Huck.

The thugs leave without what they are looking for because it was the one item Theo had taken with her onto the balcony. Once their safety has been assured, her room secured  and the proper attire acquired, Huck lays out the details of why he was taking a shower in Theo’s Istanbul hotel room while she was busy having a thoroughly horrible day. He’s been sent by her father, wealthy explorer/adventurer  Richard Fox,  to bring Theo to Romania, where  Richard has followed the latest clue in his quest for the legendary, magical ring of Vlad the Impaler. She’s to bring with her Richard’s travel journal, the item she was fortuitously holding when she and Huck had to exit the room. They have tickets for a train out of Turkey that night.

Their luxurious journey via the Orient Express is going smoothly until their breakfast is disturbed by a mysterious man and his wolfish dog. Both Theo and Huck believe they have encountered ‘him before; Theo met him in her hotel just before her reunion with Huck and finds it odd that he ‘happens’ to have left the place at the exact time she did. Huck is convinced he had seen him in Tokat, the area he was in before joining Theo, and is certain the man and uncanny canine followed him to her. Excusing themselves from the dining table, they hastily head back to their room to hatch a getaway plan. During the train’s next stop, they avoid the depot and disappear into the Turkish countryside, determined to lose their disconcerting pursuer.

Before their journey reaches its conclusion they will share a drunken evening in a caravan camp, tour crime scenes in the pouring rain, steal a plane, and have their fortune told by a witch. And a love they both feared had gone cold will reignite as they search for the cursed, powerful ring of a man with a deeply violent history.

Some books I just want to gush about, and Lady Rogue is one of them. In fairness, I was predisposed to love it since I’m a big fan of tales of treasure hunts and equally enthusiastic about Jenn Bennett’s writing. It helped that I thoroughly enjoyed the characters. Theo is my preferred type of alpha heroine; she leads when she is the one with knowledge or expertise on a subject but is equally willing to follow when she is not. She’s got a strong sense of self-worth but isn’t made difficult or conceited by it, she has a nice sense of humor and is kind, loyal and loving. She trusts her instincts and has a fair sense of which people will help her and a keen intuition for who her rivals are.

Huck is the best sort of beta male. He doesn’t need to be in charge but that doesn’t mean he’s a pushover. He’s competent, completely trustworthy, congenial, funny, and perfect for our heroine.

The romance here is lovely. Huck and Theo have history that has to be worked out, but they are willing to listen to each other and trust each other almost immediately. They work well together and I loved the mixed up proverb jokes they share throughout the story. It not only added a humorous element to the narrative but served as a nice way to highlight the bond between them. And the story is very much a romance; while the ring is the impetus for the plot, the author spends an equal amount of time creating a charming love story.

The pacing here is brisk and the action almost non-stop. An occult society is also searching for the ring and its members seem willing to go to great lengths - including murder - to acquire it.  Theo and Huck expand a lot of energy avoiding this dangerous band of villains, which leads to some of the more thrilling moments in the tale. The history and mystery and magic surrounding the ring are fascinating, and add an interesting, eerie zest to the quest for the historic and possibly cursed item.

My only complaint is that I felt the author didn’t utilize her time frame enough. The late nineteen thirties were a period of great upheaval, as the old order was being ushered out and modernization was gripping the world. I didn’t feel as though Jenn Bennett quite captured a sense of the era, in terms of clothes, food or culture in her story. That’s a quibble, though, as the tale works fine without it.

Lady Rogue is a fun and adventurous romance novel that I think anyone who enjoys treasure hunts or road romances will love. I am happy to be able to recommend it for those looking for a book featuring daring exploits and sweet romance.

Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo
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The Mummy meets Dracula in this fantastically fun romp of a YA novel. I cannot wait to get my full thoughts down in a review for The Young Folks. Quick sketch of that is: how deliciously plotted this was, enough that I found myself late to things because I wanted to read one more chapter or two. I loved Huck and Theo and have now titled Jenn Bennett as the Queen of the hate to love (or maybe the exasperated to love). I need all the Jenn Bennett novels in my life from here on out.

*I received a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

I was on the hunt for a book that would scratch the goofy explorer itch I've had since watching The Mummy from the late nineties, and this comes pretty close! I really enjoyed the romance between the two main characters, and it had some interesting plot points with Vlad the Impaler. I could definitely see this turning into a movie!

The Lady Rogue was fun, quick, and a light-hearted treasure hunt. It follows Theodora Decker, who is the daughter of a famous treasure hunter. When her father goes missing, Theo uses her quick wits and skills in order to track him down and find what he had been searching for, a legendary magical ring that once belonged to Vlad the Impaler. Theo is accompanied by her childhood friend and once lover, Huck.
There is a lot of cheesy banter between Huck and Theo throughout the book that is oozing with chemistry and tension. The story is solely told from Theo’s point-of-view to boot, which added a humor to every interaction between the two. This book was well-paced, it was quick but didn’t feel like it was ever rushing through things. The only issue was the ending. The story stepped over into a realm that I wish was avoided. Without spoilers, there are magical/fantastical things that happen in the end that turned this romantic comedy/treasure hunt into a dark fantasy.
Other than that though, this book was a quick read.
I received an advanced copy of this title in exchange for my honest opinion.

A SUPER fun adventure novel, this had so many elements I love: A quippy heroine! Myths and magic! Creepy woods and castles! The Orient Express in the 1930s! A second-chance romance wherein we first meet the dude in the nude!

Here we follow Theodora Fox, daughter of a famous treasure hunter who has gone missing on his hunt for a cursed ring that supposedly belonged to Vlad Dracul. Theo journeys across eastern Europe with her witty ex Huck to find her father and uncover the mysteries of the ring- a nonstop romp I would call "cinematic" as I could easily see this being adapted into a thoroughly entertaining movie.

I especially loved the descriptions of all the Romanian cities and towns - it really made me want to go and visit every medieval and Gothic place Theo and Huck stopped at. But hopefully with a little more money and fewer villains than they had.

Is there anything better than a Jenn Bennett book? Why yes there is. A book by Jenn Bennett that is unlike anything that she has every written before. A touch of the magical and mysterious. Romance and even better still, set all in a beautiful mysterious historical setting and time that appeals to my ever love of the genre itself.

I never knew what I was missing until this book came into my life. Jenn Bennett writing a historical mystery with a touch of romance, danger, and the paranormal. Goodness, yes please!

And all I can say is WOW! This meet my expectations and then thoroughly blew them away. I loved every single things about it. To the legends, lore, witchcraft. Curses. Black magic, love, family dynamics, mystery...goodness, just all of it. I want more. I am hoping, wishing and keeping my fingers crossed that this becomes a series but heck yeah does this girl want more.

Theodora was everything I love in a stubborn, smart, and strong willed heroine. Huck in a fun loving, support, and swoon worthy hero and her father, even he was hard to like, but not to love. ;)

So well done, so much fun, and so addictive. I need more!

Meh.
What was billed as an adventure turned out to be a slog. I'm all for slow burn stories, but this was one plodding footstep in front of anothed The writing bothered me as well--anachrinistic speech all over and immature characters that seemed more like middle grade children.

Maybe I'll come back to this when I have more patience.


I received this ebook from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are mine alone.

Thanks to Netgalley for my complimentary copy of this book. All opinions provided are my own.

If there’s ever a book to get lost in, it’s Jenn Bennett’s The Lady Rogue.

First of all, that title. Second, nearly every other thing about the book.

I’m not kidding: this cross-Asia-and-Europe adventure of thrilling proportion—set in 1937 and featuring an intrepid heroine and hero on the hunt—is so great. The Lady Rogue seems to have been created with maximum entertainment in mind, from the journal excerpts to the legends to the Big Bad Ring itself, and it succeeds beautifully. It’s sassy, smart, and bold, like the heroine herself.

Theodora (Theo) Fox can’t believe it when her father Richard “Damn” Fox abandons her with a companion so that he can search for a magical ring believed to have belonged to Vlad the Impaler, the inspiration for Dracula. But her father doesn’t return when he’s supposed to. Instead, Richard sends Huxley Gallagher, or Huck, in his stead, with his mysterious journal and warnings about the danger his search has put them all in.

Theo’s great quest takes off with her looking for her father, who is looking for a ring, while she’s accompanied by the young man, Huck, who broke her heart.

Bennett makes these characters come alive. Their motivations, quirks, and insecurities are blissfully and skillfully made clear, and I felt like I came to know them. Also like I would love to read a book written by nearly any one of them, or perhaps join them for tea on a very long train ride.

And you can see history’s charisma in The Lady Rogue, too: it’s in the description of the hotels and trains, the towns Theo and Huck visit, the caravan they stay in, the stretches of wilderness they pass through, and it feels cinematic in nature. Like one of those gorgeous classic films, when everything was done in a big way.

Zingers fly between Theo and Huck but there's also an underlying camaraderie that can't be ignored, even if they were estranged for over a year before the book opens. The book is pretty chaste, but the passionate feeling between Theo and Huck explodes off the page.

I’ve been a huge fan of Jenn Bennett’s YA contemporaries (if you haven’t read them yet, do that already), and I was so excited to see that she was writing YA historical fantasy and that she was super excited about this book. You can sense that excitement—that joy—from beginning to end. The Lady Rogue is fun, even as Theo and Huck are scared (nearly) witless, even as they try to figure out a way out of the messes they’re in.

And I'd follow them every step of the way, because Bennett makes it impossible to do otherwise.

What a great book! Jenn Bennett is one of my favorite YA romance writers so I was beyond excited when I saw she was branching into historical fiction/fantasy. She expertly combined her skills of writing great dialogue, awesome female leads, and swoony romance with gothic Romania in the 1930s, cursed artifacts, adventure, and other supernatural creepiness.

This book feels like a standalone but the ending also seems to leave it open for another book. Regardless, this was a fun read that caught me from page one and wouldn't let me go. I'd highly recommend this!

Lady Rogue is a fast-paced adventure featuring a determined, intelligent and likeable heroine!

Theodora has wanted to join her treasure-hunting Father’s adventures for as long as she can remember but she’s typically relegated to a hotel room while he discovers priceless artifacts. She’s upset that she’s been left behind once again and is ready to give her father a piece of her mind when he returns. Instead she’s surprised when Huck returns without her Father.

Soon she finds herself trying to decipher her Father’s journal and retracing his steps across Romania in search of Vlad the Impaler’s ring. Theo hopes that once she finds it she’ll also find her missing Father. Theo soon discovers she’s not the only one searching for the ring and that her Father may be in more danger than she thought. Adding to the stress of this entire situation is the complicated and long history between Theodora and Huck.

I loved Theo. She’s smart, creative, funny and prone to mishaps. I also really enjoyed the relationship between her and Huck. Their interactions were beyond entertaining and their history just added another level to the story. I really loved the magical elements of the book but would have enjoyed if there had been a little bit more magic throughout the story. The book moved along quickly, the characters were well developed and overall this was a great read.