Review of When You Wish Upon a Rogue by Anna Bennett

Overall: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Plot/Storyline: 📖 📖 📖 📖 📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋
Romance: 💞 💞 💞 💞 💞
Emotional Depth: 💔 💔 💔 💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡️ ⚡️ ⚡️ ⚡️ ⚡️
Sensuality: 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥
Sex Scene Length: 🍆 🍆 🍆 🍆

This book was pure sweetness. It was full of joy while at the same time brimming with an underlying sadness that gripped my heart. And it was my favorite kind of romance. Where two people just fall in love. It just happens, unexpectedly. Wonderfully and beautifully. I loved it.

Sophie and Reese meet accidentally when she’s trespassing on his property and they have an instant connection. Reese suffers from PTSD and is grieving the deaths of several people. He’s lost and alone and you can sense how much he’s hurting. Sophie is dealing with some personal sacrifices and is not expecting to meet someone like Reese and he turns out to be utterly perfect for her. Because Sophie takes care of everyone. She’s sweetness and light to his dark and damaged. But she’s shouldering burdens she shouldn’t have to and Reese is really the first person to step up and take care of her.

And that was part of what I loved about this story. Because their whole relationship is centered around him needing Sophie. But whenever they are together he forgets that he asked for her help and ends up taking care of her. There are some incredible, romantic moments from this man who is barely capable of functioning when he meets her and it’s a testament to how deeply his feelings for her go.

Their excuse for being together every Friday was absolute nonsense, but I loved that. It was such a facade that it was cute and charming. These two just couldn’t stay away from each other but the had no Earthly reason to ever be in contact with one another if not for their flimsy bargain. It was like that from the beginning, even before they knew it. And once they did know it, they were so far past resisting that they ignored it. They were so drawn together. The pull was so compelling and it manifested in the most perfect slow burn romance.

I’ve never thought to say this about a romance before but the timing in this book was perfection. Anna Bennett built such incredible tension and longing and somehow did it to the exact moment when I found myself wanting the very thing that was being drawn out. By page 60 I was yearning for them to touch. Waiting for it. Thinking about when it would happen. Really dying for it at that point. And just like that, as if the book wrote itself around my thoughts, Sophie tells Reese that a rule of their arrangement must be that they cannot touch each other...even if they both wanted it. God, the tension was already so good and those few sentences somehow knocked it off the charts. There’s nothing I love more than when they are dying inside to be touched and I knew it was going to be a scorcher right there.

The book didn’t disappoint. There is a super hot scene where they don’t touch each other at all. And yet that scene, like the rest of the book, was all sweetness. It’s a sweetness that incinerates you from the inside. Makes you melt and sigh and tingle.

Woven throughout the book is a theme of life and death that manifests itself in a decaying garden that Reese brings back to life through Sophie’s guidance. I loved the parallel of the garden. He brings it back to life, just as she brings Reese back to life. She gives them both something to live for, as if she’s invented a new meaning for air and water and sunshine. And she has, because that is what Sophie becomes for Reese.

One of the things I adored about this book was that there were no lies. No deception. Just two people inadvertently falling in love even though they shouldn’t be. They didn’t deny their feelings. In fact, they acknowledged them and even spoke them out loud on occasion, when the thoughts burned them up inside and they couldn’t bare to keep it to themselves, despite the heartache that continued to grow.

I loved the first half a bit more than the second half. It fizzled a tad but was still wonderful. I would have liked longer chapters. They felt a bit short and I just wanted more, more, more with this book. The book was only 280 pages so there was room there for a bit more development that would have catapulted this book right into the stars.

The sex was pretty good but after such a slow burn, I wanted a little more fire when they finally came together. But it was incredibly sweet and still satisfying. This too is a matter of personal preference and I wouldn’t say it should sway anyone from reading this book.

Its for those minor quibbles that I give it 4 stars. But they are 4 glory stars. This book would likely be 5 stars for many. It just doesn’t quite rank with other books I’ve given 5 stars to, but it’s close.

I loved it and definitely recommend it. It’s perfect for a Sunday afternoon read when you want something just emotional enough to make your heart flutter, but not so devastating that it feels torn right out of your chest.

Thanks to netgalley for giving me an arc of this book!

I enjoyed this romance and the characters very much! Also loved the idea of a garden designed like the underworld!

This is quite a particular story for its time. The heroine is part of a secret society and is looking for a place to host her meetings. She finds an abandoned shop whose owner is a penniless aristocratic suffering from insomnia. From this encounter they begin to know each other and both fall in love. Unfortunately their love is undermined by a sentimental situation quite difficult to overcome. An historical romance that flows smoothly without any great jolts. I loved the hero very much, a tormented and passionate soul, while the heroine seemed too submissive and dull. A nice read. I’m voluntarily leaving a review after receiving a courtesy copy of the book.

This book was as exciting and steamy as the other two were. It was easy to get right back into the theme of the series. I couldn't wait to see what happened to Sophie.

This is a heartwarming read. The author did a great job with all the characters. Sophie is determined to save her family from ruin by marrying without love. But she when she meets Reese she may decide differently. Reese sport is wounded from to many tragic she causing him insomnia. But after meeting Sopha and sleeping for the first time after she talked with him and brewed some tea he believes she is the answer to his problem when the tea does not work when she's not present. So he makes a proposition if she helps him with his insomnia she can have the use of his building one night a week for her secret meeting place.

This was a page turned and I enjoyed it very much. However I wished it had an epilogue at the end as it felt a little unfinished.

I received this book from Netgalley for an honest review.

Last of trilogy. This was Sophie's story, last of the debutante underground society.
Sophie meets Reese while searching for a location for her meetings..
Lovely, to see Sophie and Lily, and Fiona again.
Recommend reading whole series

•Friends to lovers
•Beta Hero
•Sunshine heroine
•Slow Burn

HER
"In a sea of decay and death that rose was a stubborn spot of sunshine and it reminded me of you"

HIM
"A grumpy gentleman, to be sure, but always respectful of boundaries, and of her"

When I read the synopsis I thought that the hero was going to blackmail Sophie to get her to have sex with him but after reading some reviews I realized it wasn't the case and that's why I decided to read this book.

Our hero, Reese has insomnia and when he meets Sophie he feels relaxed enough to sleep so he makes a bargain with her. He's going to lend her his place so she can meet with her friends (it's like a "only women's club" where they share their opinions about life, marriage, their sexuality, etc.) if she spends a night with him once a week and helps him sleep.

You have to suspend your disbelief for a while because Sophie is taking a HUGE risk staying at Reese's property even if no one knows. She tells her parents she's staying every Friday night at one of her best friend's house.

Their arrangement is an excuse for them to spend time together on page and their encounters are lovely to read so I didn't mind that Sophie's was risking a lot by helping him.

I haven't read the previous book of the saga nevertheless you can read this book as a standalone.

I really enjoyed WHEN YOU WISH UPON A ROGUE, I loved Reese and Sophie as a couple. Their relationship stars as a sweet friendship and develops to love. You can easily see them as a married couple and they bring out the best in each other.

Reese was an amazing hero, he's such a good man, he takes care of those he loves and he wants to save everyone. At the beginning of the book he was grieving for his brother's and friend's deaths and there was a few scenes where he SOBBED that were heartbreaking to read. I loved seeing him overcome his inner demons and learning to live again.

On the other hand Sophie is, like Reese would say a sunshine, I loved her, sunshine heroines are my favourites. I loved her sense of duty even if it was exasperating at times because I wanted her to marry Reese and the fuck with everything.

I would have liked if Sophie's fiance wasn't portrayed as a villain and I liked that he got his happy ending, for me it didn't make any sense why he was so adamant on marrying Sophie.

Aside from that I had a great time reading this book, Anna is a "new to me" author and I'm looking forward to reading more of her work.

💙If you love character driven historical romances, grumpy-sunshine couples and friends to lovers this book is a must read!

When You Wish Upon a Rogue is a sweet romance. A quick read that you can enjoy.

In this story you are introduced to our hero, Reese, Earl of Warshire. He is suffering from insomnia, fighting the demons of war that he left behind. He is feeling guilty that he is not there to be with his men. He is also suffering the lost of his older brother. He is just having a really hard time and when he meets our heroine she does something that he has not been able to do. Soothing, a calm for his mind that allows him to relax and rest. He needs to keep her next to him as he is convinced she is what he needs.

Sophie Kendall, our beautiful and gentle heroine, is the leader of a group “The Debutantes Revenge”. A group of women that meet weekly and share experiences, offer comfort but most of all offer friendship. She happens to run into Reese while she is inspecting his building as a potential site for her group to meet. She does not have the silliness of young misses, and she has a strong calm presence. She helps our Reese with some of the demons hunting him.

These two know from the get go how much attraction they share, but they also know they have their challenges. Sophie is close to being engaged to a Marques, a union that will save her family from financial ruin. Reese is not able to offer for her as he is unstable both personally and financially. It is very sweet to see their relationship develop. It was a little incredible to believe that she is able to stay out all night and her friends be so understanding. Her parents to allow her to stay with her friends overnight. That was a little interesting but if you can get pass that, you will do fine.

I did find at times that I found myself thinking that Sophie may be more mature than our Reese. That there was something about her that may have have benefited from a stronger partner, but Reese was really sweet and he could not help but want to make her happy, even with their restrictions.

I have not had the opportunity to read the previous book in the series, but this story does read well as a stand alone.

“We are connected in more ways than you know.” When You Wish Upon a Rogue by Anna Bennet

Anyway, 3.5 stars for this regency romance. It’s the last in the series and I missed the 2nd book. Will have to revisit that.

We now have Sophie, who needs space for secret meetings for women, and Reese, who cannot sleep. So they strike a bargain: once a week, Sophie can use Reese’s building for the meetings. In exchange, she helps Reese sleep. But only till her betrothal is announced.

This is was a nice story. It was unique in that Sophie had more freedom of movement, walking alone at night, without an escort. I had to remember that this is a regency romance. But it’s fine. Sophie’s a little activist too, which I like. Reese is a tortured soul, ex-soldier with PTSD. And she settles him. That part of the plot where she helps him sleep is the best part of the story. And what kept me hooked on it. I was curious to see how it ended.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for the arc of this book. Release date is May 26, 2020. Remember then you historical romance fans. Than you too NetGalley

I ADORED this book. LOVED it. I started it when I should have been sleeping and instead stayed up half the night reading 70% of it. I have never tried this author but oh she has climbed quickly up my next to read list for more.

This is book 3 in the series and can be read as a standalone. The heroines from the previous 2 books are in this story, but just briefly and you can easily grasp the story and their friendship without reading them prior to this.

Reese is the hero. It has almost a beauty and the beast feel to it in some parts. He tempts her with a rose. He has a tangled, beastly garden they help nurture, though it retains its underworld feel. But he is not a beast. He is wonderful. Utterly sweet, receptive, loving, such a beta hero through and through. Reese was never meant to be the Earl, so he went into the military. He suffers from PTSD from a few things that have occurred in his life. But he finds Sophie to be the perfect balm for his tortured soul.

Sophie is promised to another. She doesn't love him but she knows what she must do to save her family. Her family is near destitute because of her father's gambling and drinking. Her favorite thing to be a part of is the Debutante Underground and escape her reality for a little while. It's unusual for me to really love a heroine. I loved her. I want her in my life and being my friend. She's one of those just wonderful people that brighten your day no matter what. I was literally felt happier reading about her.

This book starts out introducing us to the Debutante Underground, a secret group that discusses whatever women love and focuses on the weekly newspaper clipping of The Debutante's Revenge. This is what binds the heroines from the 3 books of the series together. It was wonderful to read and experience, something a bit new and different.

This book had so much sweetness in it. So much love. There were feels everywhere for me with this book. I have no hesitation about the couple being together. I know they love each other. I know they will be happy ever after. Some stories I'm just not fully convinced by the end but I can see Reese and Sophie's future clearly.

I remember looking at the page count and saying I love this book. It was 7%. I remember thinking I REALLY love this book. It was 12%. And then I was completely and absolutely lost in the story. It takes a good story to get me fully immersed, just watching the characters play out before. And before I knew it, it was 4am and I was 70% done. Can't wait to try another one by her.

Right now all I can read is historical and this story was perfection. I love the idea that the heroine helps the hero to sleep and heal. Loved the debutante revenge meetings and the friendships. This was another hit. I am going to read the first two books in the series. This can be read as a standalone.

"He moved behind her and slowly removed the handful of pins left in her hair, running his fingers through the honey-colored stands as he kissed the column of her neck."

Sophie and Henry were great characters. I felt captured with a feeling of sympathy for Sophie being forced to marry for the sake of saving her family. Henry was a tortured soul looking for peace that alluded him.
The story had a great flow and was a perfect HEA.

My only complaint was that although this book was set in the Regency era, it was not historically accurate whatsoever. I put that out there as a warning if that bothers any other readers. In my humble opinion, the love story was enough to overlook the inaccuracies.

I give When You Wish Upon A Rouge 4.5/5 Stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and St, Martin's Paperbacks for the advance copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Typical storyline where the daughter must marry to save the family fortunes,lively heroine and modern hero.

We've already loved Fiona's and Lily's stories. And now it's time for Sophie's.
This book was a lovely romance, with each person already committed to a certain path in their life. The ending however was a splendid twist that makes true love prevail in the end.

When You Wish Upon a Rogue features an unconventional heroine and a broken hero in a sensual and sweet tale of love. Miss Sophie Kendall leads the scandalous group of women called the Debutante Underground but spends her days preparing to make sacrifices for her family. Henry Reese, Earl of Warshire is a broken man, buried in his grief. Sophie needs a new venue for meetings and Reese's empty store front hits the spot. Reese finds glorious peace in Sophie's presence and cuts Sophie a deal. A little sleep for a secret meeting place, what could ever go wrong? The more time they spend together the harder it is to separate as true love battles family loyalty for a sweet, satisfying HEA that will leave you wanting more. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.

When You Wish Upon a Rogue is a refreshing regency romance that goes beyond the love of the two protagonists, to explore being happy and finding peace with yourself. Sophie is set to be betrothed to a man she's ambivalent about to save her family from financial ruin because of her father's drinking and spending. But along with her two friends, her real passion is the Debutante Underground, a newspaper column and weekly gathering of women to inspire positivity and assertion. While searching for a place to meet she runs in to Reese, who is desperately trying to run away from his own demons. The pair quickly discover deeper feelings for each other but there's no simple solution for them to be together, since the death of Reese's older brother has left him with little financial wiggle room. While there are a few points in the book that get a little cheesy, they are far overcome with a romance that feels authentic, and great side stories of Reese having to come to terms with departing his regiment at a crucial time and the work Sophie does to help him and the women she meets that need inspiration and empowerment. I definitely recommend this one!

I loved the hero. He started off grumpy and grouchy but ended up sweet, romantic and kind. The heroine was sweet and it was nice to see her come into her own. This was a sweet story and I enjoyed it very much.

I loved this book. It’s loosely based on the Hades and Persephone myth and our hero even has a garden designed after it. Reese can’t sleep after returning from war to take his place as earl after the death of his brother and a chance encounter with Sophie gives him peace and she seems to calm his inner demons. They come to a mutual arrangement that benefits them both. Sophie is betrothed to another and so they know their friendship must soon come to an end but as they grow closer they both dread the oncoming loss of being together.
This story is so well written and I just loved all the little twists and turns and how things connected in the end. I love the Hades and Persephone myth so I really appreciated the tie-ins. There was an unexpected twist at the end that I really happy to see. If I could have asked for anything it would have been a bit more at the end to see how things wrapped up for Reese and Sophie. I highly recommend.

Henry Reese, Earl of Warshire, is suffering from insomnia. He seems to find the most peace in one of his abandoned properties. That is where Henry runs into Sophie. When Sophie helps him get through a pretty rough night, Henry asks her to enter into an arrangement. She will help him sleep more and Henry will give Sophie the use of his property no questions asked.

Miss Sophie Kendall loves being in charge of her weekly meetings for the Debutante Underground. With the growing number of women attending, they need a new meeting place. Sophie finds the perfect establishment to host it in, but the cost might be a little more than she expected. Sophie is promised to another, but it's clear early on that Henry is the one she really wants, the one she loves. When the time comes, how will she ever let him go?

Author Anna Bennett's DEBUTANTE DIARIES is absolutely charming. It consists of three well-written novels, FIRST EARL I SEE TONIGHT, THE DUKE IS BUT A DREAM and concludes with WHEN YOU WISH UPON A ROGUE. I love the idea behind the story of three young women producing an article for the paper to embolden/support other women. The column is witty, fun and full of the facts women can't ask out loud or pondering. Sophie is one of my favorites of the trio. In WHEN YOU WISH UPON A ROGUE, she meets her match in the scarred hero, Henry. Sophie has no idea what she's getting herself into with Henry. It's easy to see why she falls so hard for him. And the fact that she's willing to give him up to save her family is sad. I couldn't have asked for a better heroine. I give WHEN YOU WISH UPON A ROGUE 3.5 stars.

Sophie is such a kind hearted person. I really liked her right from the beginning. I enjoyed the way the story played out and how the different characters came together.