I may be biased because I already loved Allie Therin before I started this book, but let’s just stay that this book didn’t make me love her any less.

“Proper Scoundrels” is one of my favorite books and I have been both scared and looking forward to reading this one, but it turned out even better than the first book! It was so good to be back with Sebastian and Lord Fine in this universe again, and the chemistry (and banter) between these two characters are off the charts.

Also, very few writes magic and mystery like Allie Therin, and the captivating plot in this book is Allie at her best.

To make it short, this is fantasy at some of it finest and I am so, so, so looking forward to the next book already!

"His ice-cold heart didn't know what to do with this damned tropical sunbeam, this kind-hearted darling who saw the world through the figurative rose-colored glasses, ignoring the ugliness of reality and choosing instead to see only beauty in mangy strays and beastly viscounts."

ONCE A ROGUE picks up a few weeks after the events in Proper Scoundrels.

Sebastian's blood terrors have eased with Wesley's nightly presence, but he's still haunted by his traumatic past and burdened by guilt. Wesley remains cynical as he tries to overcome tobacco addiction and is stubbornly unwilling to admit that feelings are a thing that happens to him. The support they find in each other has positive effects, but their romantic relationship isn't treated as a cure-all, which I'm grateful for.

The book opens with Wesley and Sebastian having just arrived in America with Sebastian's younger brother, Mateo, who is heading back to college. They have plans to meet Jade and the other paranormals while in Manhattan but soon discover their American friends have vanished. The only clues are cryptic messages which lead them from Fifth Avenue to the seedy underbelly of a picturesque tourist trap. With Sebastian's magic growing unstable and the concern for Arthur, Rory, and the other paranormals increasing, the race is on to find the missing Americans and stop a plot that will unleash devastation on the world.

I don't want to give away too much, just that Once a Rogue was my most anticipated book of the year, and my expectations were HIGH. It did not disappoint. It has everything I love from the previous book and more! The writing is up to Allie Therin's standard, with plenty of witty dialogue, compelling characters, a page-turning plot, and a nice balance between action and romance (with a few steamy scenes). Plus, a few familiar faces show up and get their time to shine.

Book 3 is going to be glorious!