PamG's Reviews > A Remarkable Rogue

Anna Harrington provides readers with a historical fiction tale that includes romance, danger, and suspense in A Remarkable Rake , the fifth book in the Lords of the Armory series. Set mostly in London, England in the summer of 1817, this novel features Captain Nathaniel Reed and Lady Sydney Rowland. Nate is with the King’s Horse Guards. He and his half-brother Alexander (Alec) Sinclair, Earl of St James have been tasked by Clayton Elliott, the undersecretary for the Home Office to find the men responsible for attempts on the life of the prime minister and to overthrow the government and monarchy. Their organization is called Scepter and rumors say Lady Sydney is involved with them.

Lady Sydney is obstinate, fearful, unpredictable, complicated, and independent, but at the same time, her secret has made her vulnerable. Nate is heroic, selfless, determined, dedicated, and honorable, but he also suffers from grief and guilt. Both characters transform and grow during the course of the storyline. Characters from previous books in the series have secondary roles in this one and add continuity and familiarity.

This book has a solid plot, with great character depth, extraordinary characters, and a fascinating mystery. The author captured the characters and cultural lifestyles of the times and brought them to life. This beautifully executed story had characters that felt emotionally rich. With some unpredictable moments in the story, it gradually builds momentum until its action-filled conclusion. While the main mystery is solved in this book, there are still several threads that could be used in future books in the series. Besides the instant attraction and gradual romance between the two main characters, the author weaves in some deep themes related to family, forgiveness, selflessness, social classes, trust, fear for others’ lives, political unrest, and much more.

Overall, this was a moving and memorable novel with some pivotal stressful and emotional moments. I am looking forward to reading more from this author. The series is best read in order.

SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca and Anna Harrington provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for July 26, 2022.