This was my first book by Mae Thorn. I was unimpressed, though I would be willing to give the author another go. Rebellious is the third book in a series, and while it calls itself a standalone, there were numerous plot points and references that I simply did not understand as they took place in another book in the series. I think this is also why I could never really get into Lynette (which is unfortunate as the book is told solely from her POV). Much of her history felt like it was missing and I just couldn't find a connection.

The story itself is interesting enough. Our heroine Lynette is kidnapped (or rescued) by a group of highwaymen, led by a man with the alias Wyvern. Wyvern turns out to be Max Rycroft, half-brother to Lynette's brother-in-law (I think). While recovering at Wyvern's home, Lynette meets his half-black half-sister - though I am pretty sure they aren't actually related at all - whom Max hides away to prevent her from being taken back to Barbados where her mother was a slave. Lynette and she form a friendship, and then a misunderstanding between the women sets into place two (actual) kidnappings, an attempted sexual assault, two last minute rescues, and various other happenings. (There is a LOT happening in this book.)

Lynette is a good heroine in that she is not shy and retiring, she wants to be a part of. She was mixed up in hard times in her native America, and still thinks of them often, but I never saw any real vulnerability about her. Max's character development is almost non-existent. It felt like he went from "I will never marry" to "I can't live without you as my wife" in seconds with no real motivation as to why. Again, the story is told strictly from Lynette's POV, which might explain this seeming almost instantaneous change. I also found it disconcerting when the narrative suddenly switched from calling Lynette by her actual name and started calling her by her alias, Harpy. I get what the author was trying to do, I am just not sure she did it successfully.

Some steam. Lots of references to sexual assault, which may be triggering to some. 3 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and Dragonblade for providing me an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Lynette Wolcott's thrill for adventure is terrifyingly met when her carriage is stopped by notorious highwayman Wyvern and his gang of thieves. She is accidentally shot in the scuffle and wakes up to find herself basically a prisoner in Max Rycroft's home until she's recovered enough to journey home. But when his sister is kidnapped, Lynette surprises everyone by dressing as a man to go along on the rescue and proves herself fiercely able to protect herself against their attackers.
Lynette seemed like such a simple character through most of the last book, Dangerous, but we started to see her feistiness come out at the end when Rycroft comes into the story. He was such a wild and brooding character, I was anxiously waiting to read more about him. In a time when the women are sheltered and protected, Max encourages her with training and new swords and he isn't shocked to see her in pants. This was my absolute favorite book in the series and I hope the adventure continues with more.
I received an advance reader copy of this book. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.

This is book three of the series, Poisonous Passions. It can certainly be read as a standalone, but I would highly encourage you to read the previous books because they are both so entertaining. You will find plenty of drama, danger, and excitement in this when the heroine, Lynette, encounters highwaymen.
Smugglers and kidnapping also adds to the danger and intrigue and definitely kept me turning the pages, anxious to find out what happens next. Through all the drama, Maxwell comes to her rescue and the passion that flares between them is incredible.
I found this to be a very entertaining and enjoyable read and the story captured my attention from the start and kept it till the end. The characters were engaging and nicely developed and there was no question as to how strong their chemistry was. The storyline was interesting and intriguing. A wonderful addition to the series and I look forward to reading the next one.
I received a complimentary copy from Dragonblade Publishing via Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Exciting, nail-biting action and toe-curling romance!
Lynette is set upon by thieves, and then finds herself rescued and in the hands of notorious thief, the Wyvern. She is a tough woman who has survived much in her life, and she refuses to stay caught. So begins a journey of back & forth, is she a captive or accomplice? The story is delightful!
Lynette is one of the fiercest heroines I’ve read, knowing her sister I should’ve seen it coming. Max is a grizzly bear with a soft heart, strong, fierce and tender. The quick bond of sisterhood between Maggie & Lynette was wonderful. She was just what Lynette needed to heal from her past. I thoroughly enjoyed this story!

Thank you NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for the chance to read and review this book!

This book should be really good. While regency romance typically has very white characters, this has characters of colour. We also have kidnapping and we're trying to rescue someone who was kidnapped by their former master (well, mothers master but you get my point). Our heroine also has a secret involving murder that she seems to be afraid of being judged for, and has an allergic reaction in the book.

All of this should have worked.

But it didn't. it

It felt kinda confusing. I didn't find any of the characters interesting enough to keep reading more on and I gave up around the 30% mark.

Lynette Wolcott it traveling to her sister's home in a borrowed carriage when it is held up by highwaymen.

Our heroine has had a lot of upset in the last few years and hates always being told what to do. Her lust for adventure is going to cause her and others grave danger.

Max Rycroft has made a tentative peace with his half brothers. Now that is threatened by the trouble that is now in his home.

Our hero is not a gentleman at all and has many secrets that could cost lives if they are discovered. How can he keep everyone alive and safe???

An action packed, slightly steamy historical romance. All the characters are complicated people and will definitely keep you interested. This is part of a series and while you can enjoy each book on it's own, I personally think that they are much better read in order.

All great fun.

Rebellious by Mae Thorn is the third in the Poisonous Passions series and features Max and Lynette, opening when the notorious Wyvern, a smuggler and highway man, attacks Lord Greyborne’s carriage in which Lynette is traveling to the home of her pregnant sister. They didn’t want her; they wanted the good secreted in the carriage. The story was a good one, but confusing with all kinds of half-brothers and such. Bottom line: Lynette is not the little woman to stay home and do embroidery when the men are having adventures. At first, she snuck along, but gradually, when it became obvious she was going to be part of it, they invited her. And she was good at it and they came to respect her. She knew Mac was not the marrying kind and that was OK with her. She wasn’t sure she was, but she didn’t mean to miss out on anything.

The most likable thing in this story was the friendships. Sadly, where there are friendships there is also jealousy and deceit. That there was aplenty, as well. Max was the ultimate friend: protective, loyal, and willing to share. It took Lynette a while to assimilate this. He, and she, did not forgive disloyalty, especially when someone either of them loved was put in harm’s way. It was a good plot, if a little confusing at times. They were good characters and there was adventure aplenty. Well worth the read.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Rebellious by Dragonblade, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #dragonblade #maethorn #rebellioius

Wild Adventure and Romance

Lynette wanted adventure, and she got it. She first got abducted by a highwayman, and then, her life became a lot more dangerous. What could be more perilous than being abducted by a highwayman? For the answer, you must read this wild story. There were lots of twists and turns, and many characters that might confuse you at times. Maxwell might be the most confusing of them all. Just exactly, who was he? Did he and Lynette stand a chance? I did enjoy the story and would recommend it to those who like historical romance with adventure, secrets, and dashing highwaymen. Not everyone was who they appeared, and not everything was what it seemed.

Maxwell Rycroft wants nothing but to be left to his own devises. When Harpy, Lynette Wolcott, demands to be out of his life but then to be included in his life.
This a suspense. However I couldn't help but smirking at the antics of the characters. Although I had the ending figured out way before then, I still enjoyed the plot and the action enough to finish in 2 sittings.

I recieved a free copy so that I can tell you what I honestly think. Hope you enjoyed my review. Now go enjoy the book.

I enjoyed the story with its many facets, the swindle, the chase, the interactions between the main characters and it held my interest throughout.

Had a lot of action while reading it, it was pretty good. She wakes up doesn't know where she is they give her something that makes her choke, she basically was left an almost dead. Then she ends up in some strange house with people she doesn't know. And how to help her go back. Alot of action, involving kidnappers smuggles and highwaymen. I kept turning the pages becuase I wanted to see more and what happens next. Great read

They say there are three kinds of people in life: those who make things happen; those who watch things happen; and those who wonder what happened. When I reached the end of this book, I definitely fell into the third category as I was bemused, confused, and bewildered. Part of that may be because I did not have the full background to the plot, and from that point of view, one cannot say that this book is a standalone as it leans heavily on previous novels. Nevertheless, there was plenty of fast-paced action and suspense, with ladies who refused to be ignored and took matters into their own hands (those who made things happen). This action-adventure comes to a happy conclusion, even though I personally had a number of questions to which there were no answers. I received a copy of this book as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

Sometimes you get more than you wish for and such is the case in this story filled with mystery, many characters and a quickly moving plot!

When her carriage is stopped by highwaymen, the journey takes off when she tries to determine where she is and what has happened! A nonstop page turner!

Rebellious is the third book in the Poisonous Passions series. Lynette is a strong willed young lady. She has gotten into trouble in New York and now in London her carriage is stopped by the Highwayman known as Wyvern. She is injured and taken somewhere where she is locked in a room. Never one to accept or cry over circumstances she tries her best to escape, which ends up causing her more problems than if she had left well enough alone.

Lynette will meet many people but there are many name changes depending on the game. A family of brothers, a half-brother, a half-sister, sisters, brother-in law and others not related by blood. This is a group of highwaymen, kidnappers and smugglers. Lynette will use a sword to defend herself from some of the people that ride together. But when Lynette finds she doesn't fit the mold her family wanted for her will she fight for the life she wants to live.

This book can be a stand alone, but I found it difficult to follow and had to go back and reread to make sense of it all. It would have been better for me to have read the others in the series before this one. Still a wonderful story but with all the family members having different last names and the aka's the group used it was a lot to keep straight.

A very confusing plot with a lot of kidnapping riding and fighting. I didn't even know what was going on in the first chapter and if you haven't read the other you have no chance of following this. I found this more an action and adventure book than a romance there seemed little involvement or getting to know you in this just straight to lust and from their sex despite the heroine's back story involving some sort of assault in America. Not a very cohesive plot all in all.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

tl;dr
Rebellious eschews a lot of common Regency romance staples in exchange for an adventurous romp with two firey leads. Probably won't make much sense without the context of the first two books in the series.

About
After Lynette Wolcott is injured in a run-in with the notorious highwayman, The Wyvern, she finds herself healing up at the house of Lord Maximillian Rycroft. Her bedroom door is frequently locked, and residents of the house are hesitant to discuss Max's activities. What secret might he be hiding? And what dangers lurk for Lynette if she keeps trying to dig them up?

Thoughts
There are plenty of stories about women getting swept up by mysterious masked highwaymen/pirates/robbers. Very few of them include the lady taking up a sword and joining his crew. Even fewer have a leading lady with a kill count. Rebellious starts with a bang (literally), and keeps the pace from there. Readers expecting some of the more common tropes of regency romance (balls, afternoon tea, and strolls through the garden) will probably be let down, but anyone looking for messy adventure, kidnapping, action, and a good deal of stabbing will definitely find it here. There are also a handful of steamy lovemaking scenes. Our lead couple has a very stormy relationship - Max is a moody scoundrel with a heart of gold, and Lynette is a confident woman who longs for adventure. The arguments and the lovemaking are equally passionate in turns, ideal for anyone looking for a hatred to love romance. Writing is narrative-heavy with a lot of descriptive flourishes.

This is the third book in the series, and new readers might struggle to keep up with all the names and history without the context of the few two books. Readers should also be advised that sexual assault plays a major role in Lynette's history, and that sexual assaults are also in the present-day narrative.

Lynette Wolcott is bored. Her call for adventure slams into her when her carriage is stopped by the notorious highwayman known as the Wyvern. Maxwell Rycroft wants to be left alone. When the harpy, Lynette Wolcott, lands in his lap she’s nothing but trouble. He must return her to Briarwyck before she learns his secrets, or he may have to kill her.
The third book in the series but easily read on its own. An interesting read with lots of action, a delightful mix of adventure & romance. There are highwaymen, kidnapping & smugglers which makes it quite a page turner. I really liked bad boy Max & Lynette & liked their chemistry. I did however needed my wits about me with all the characters & a couple of times I was confused & needed to go back to get things sorted in my mind. A well written book which I thoroughly enjoyed
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Keep up with this one. The names change depending on the game. A family of brothers, a half-brother, a half-sister, sisters, brother-in law and others not related by blood. Highwaymen, kidnappers and smugglers. The competition is a constant battle of whose on top. Guns and swords fight for the right to claim the goods. Lynette accidentally becomes part of one group of men.The leader of the group is known as Wyven. Passion flares up between Lynette and the man who saved her. A little confusing plot with a lot of riding and fighting. Wasn't exactly sure how to rate this one.
Hest level 3.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

What to do when adventure finally finds you and the situation becomes dire? Left for dead on the ground after a highwayman holds her up; she awakens in a strange house, with mysterious people around her. How is she to find help and get back to civilization? What an interesting plot surrounds her in this Poisonous Passions volume. Keeps your attention and the pages turning.