I would call this more a novella than a book. It's a heartfelt story of two youngsters in love. Her father keeps them from marrying due to the fact that he was poor and their too young. She felt he abandoned her, he tried to contact her but she never knew that. He never heard from her thinking it her choice. Eleven years later they meet again. Still in love but with the same problems seem to plague them. The way society expects them to act due to their station in life. Will they find love this time or will history repeat itself?

Sweet and happy short romance
4 stars

As I count it, this is the eighth Sinful Suitors story - but since novellas are counted as ‘half books’ - this is actually book number 5.5.

As with all the Sinful Suitor books, you don’t have to have read any of the others to read and enjoy this one - although since many of the characters pop up in each others books (and not just as cameos), you probably will get the gist of things a bit easier - or more quickly - if you’ve read the previous books.

This is the tale of Captain Lord Hartley Corry and Lady Anne/Miss Anne Barkley. The pair were young sweethearts before a refusal for Anne’s hand, and youthful foolishness, drove Hart halfway across the world in the army. 11 years later, the pair bump into each other (literally) and the sparks are immediately evident again. Yet now that’s tempered with a healthy amount of distrust.

I remembered Anne from a previous novel of Ms Jeffries where she fleetingly appeared. Who could forget those hats and that hair? She describes herself as something of an oddity and certainly not the season’s greatest beauty. The fact that Hart sees her quirks and loves her for them - and also sees her as the prettiest thing he’s ever seen - well, it’s a triumph for all us weirdos out there!

Hart - well, he was a bit funnier in earlier novels although some of his humour did come through on occasion in this book. The peacock’s bum comment, for example, made me laugh out loud. I thought it was a bit rich of him to expect Anne to blindly trust him while he didn’t plan to do the same but some men don’t react well to falling in love so I’ll forgive him that one!

As usual, Sabrina Jeffries doesn’t actually write a book but rather invites you to join her in the story. You’re absorbed in the detail and the story of the couple so the pages just fly by.

This was a novella and took little under an hour to read all in. I would have liked to see a little more development from the characters in the first half of the story. It felt at times like we were being told that the only thing the couple had in common in the past had been lust. As much as I adore a second chance romance - I want the fairytale of their true loves having been lost and found. Not that they were randy teens and love only grows now they’re adults. The second half showed the pair had truly been in love but I wanted more from the first half. And some more sexy shenanigans wouldn’t have gone a miss either!

This is still an excellent book and one that kept me happy on a rainy afternoon. I wished it could have been longer - but I wish that of all Sabrina Jeffries’ books. She excels at storytelling, and at love, and I’m always happy to recommend any book of hers. 4 stars.

The Risk of Rogues by Sabrina Jeffries
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lady Anne and her hats find their HEA in this conclusion to the Sinful Suitors series. It was fun to watch as Hartley tried to start a re-courtship with Lady Anne. Love that reappears again after years is a nice theme and in this case leads to some fun scenes.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

Sabrina Jeffries always does a great job with her characters and this book is no exception. It is always a fun story when childhood lovers are reunited and find they are still in love. After having lost touch for 11 years they accidentally meet at a house party.
The conversations go back and forth between longing and doubt - is it right to try again or not. This short sweet story is worth the read to get to the Happily Ever After.
I received a free copy of this book.

I liked the unique people in this book as well as their unusual situations. It was a nice touch about Anne being the "hat lady". She worked WITH her oddity instead of against it. Besides she really loved creating and wearing hats.
They were so young when they were first in love. And of course, they made many of the mistakes that go along with their youth. Of course in the past, they did have some people trying to keep them apart. And their motives were not done out of love but out of cold determination.
Both Anne and Hart are good characters who are letting pride, hurt feelings, a sense of betrayal get in the way of their getting together now. They don't fully trust each other anymore and are afraid to get hurt again. Both have insecurities that amp up those feelings.
There are other people in the book but we don't get to see too much depth about them. I guess because the story really is more about the "battle for love"between Anne and Hart.
It ends up being a fun short story with a well deserved H.E.A.
I gave it 3.5 Stars on Amazon. Yes, I know they don't give half stars but I can add that on my review title. And I did.

The Risk of Rogues (The Sinful Suitors,…by Sabrina Jeffries I have read all the other books in the THE SINFUL SUITORS series and this novella was short but as enjoyable to read... Thanks to #NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book. Hart (Captain Lord Hartley Cory ...spy) Lady Anne ( of the fancy hats) This is a second chance love story.. with laughs, fears and insecurities...some steam and a HEA. I hope there will be more books in this series.

The characters of Captain Lord Hartley (Hart) and Anne Barkley were very engaging. They were renewing their connection from years ago when circumstances were against them. I liked the fact that Hart had to work hard to convince Anne how he had changed and the fact that Anne was no pushover, however tempted she might have been. This was a short entertaining read that can be enjoyed in an afternoon, ideal, for when time is limited. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Letter of Reference for The Risk of Rogues by Sabrina Jeffries
Dear Reader,
If you’re looking for a petite Morsel of Romance for this holiday weekend, page 3 has one just for you.
The current Marquess of Knightford hosted a house party last week and his brother Captain Lord Hartley was in attendance. Rumor has it he lost his heart to a young heiress long before he left for war. It is said that his father, the former Marquess of Knightford, purchased his son’s commission in order to separate the il-suited young couple. But dear reader, I do believe the young lady in question was none other than the now impoverished Lady Anne. Lord Hartley seemed shocked to encounter the young woman at his brother’s home and they were observed animatedly conversing on several occasions. They were also seen breakfasting, walking in the snow and Lady Anne mysteriously disappeared on at least one occasion. An inside source confirms the young couple are indeed going to wed. But what, pray tell, are the torrid details of their whirlwind romance? By all accounts their reunion was short but quite sweet.

--Lady Pendragon

Lady Anne is known for her unique hats, and Captain Hartley "Hart" Corry is known as a gambler, a wastrel, and a rogue. While Anne knows her reputation for hats is well earned, she's not sure about Hart's reputation. If true, she should steer clear of the man she once hoped to marry. If not, she needs to find out why he never eloped with her as promised and if they can still have a future. Hart has to convince Anne they are still right for each other without telling her any of his past actions of future plans- all of which revolve around spying. Can he balance both worlds and come out the winner?

Readers to Jeffries' Sinful Suitors series will recognize Hart and Lady Anne as secondary characters from the other books and be thrilled that they get their own story. And Jeffries works her usual magic, bringing humor, heart, and happy endings to even a quick novella. While I'm not usually a fan of second chance romance, Rogues is the perfect kind of second chance story- two people who were kept apart because their parents disapproved, but who were both too young to be ready for marriage at the time- even if they didn't realize it. Both have lived and grown and discovered themselves as people, and now get to meet again for the first time.

Anne is a practical woman trying to look after herself and her mother, and no longer the romantic, lovestruck teen that Hart knew, so he's both surprised and suspicious when she asks practical questions about things like his future plans and money. I loved how Anne stood up for herself, refusing to be swept along by passion and chemistry (which was instant and electric) and insisting that she was right to try to get to the truth of Hart's life and reputation before agreeing to marry him. Both of them were smart enough to recognize that they weren't necessarily the same people they had been eleven years ago and they needed to get to known each other again- but Hart especially was also smart enough to know that the kind of chemistry they had was not something that should be ignored. Readers can look forward to some truly romantic grand gestures as each works to prove their love to the other, and a most satisfying happy ending in true Sabrina Jeffries' style: discovering the true risk of rogues!

Sabrina Jeffries couldn't finish off her Sinful Suitors series (The Secret of Flirting) without giving us Lady Anne and Captain Hartley's story, and here it is! A short novella, The Risk of Rogues gives readers either the final helping of Jeffries' Suitors characters or, if this is your first taste, a delightful sample of what's in store when you read the rest of the series.

This novella is the last in Sabrina Jefferies Sinful Suitors series and a nice addition. It features one of my favorite tropes in romance...lovers reunited.
Captain Lord Hartley Corry and Lady Anne Barkley are two people who have always loved each other, but let life get in the way. This novella is full of past regrets and renewing trust to reach a HEA and I thought Sabrina did it wonderfully. What a great end to a fantastic series. I can't wait to see what she has planned next.

The Risk of Rogues by Sabrina Jefferies was from the series The Sinful Suiters. It is a novella, so is a quick easy read. It works well as a stand-alone book also, as I did not read any of the other books in the series. This is a love story between Captain Lord Hartley and Lady Anne. The characters worked well together after reconnecting 11 years later. It was a second chance at love for them. I found the novella was a love story worth reading and of course they get their HEA in the end. Recommended reading.

Captain Lord Hartley Corry is headed to his brother Warren’s hunting lodge for some male bonding, cards, brandy only to discover women and dancing! His sister-in-law reminds him it’s St. Valentine’s week and that most of his friends are married. He notices the guests also include single ladies and bachelors.

Hart has spent the last years spying for England and is soon to be made spymaster for the Foreign Office. He’s only ever loved one woman, Anne Barkley, but he can’t find her and fears she is married. Lady Anne is also at the house party and is shocked to see him again. The man who broke her heart.

As this is a novella, and you know there will be a HEA, I will not write more and spoil this wonderful book. I really enjoyed it. It’s a perfect ending to this series.

This author is one of my favorite authors and it's like a surprise to me when I read a novella and didn't realize it was supposed to be a novella.. I was all settled in to read for the evening, when I found that I finished the book way faster than I expected. That is my own fault for not reading the description.

This is book 5.5 in The Sinful Suitors. This is the story of Anne and Hartley. They fell in love in when they were really young and their families did not approve of their marriage plan. Hartley got shipped off to the military and when he came back, Anne was no longer there. However, as Anne later pointed out, he did not try very hard to locate her. This novella is sort of a second chance for the two star crossed lovers. Anne wasn't really interested at first because she felt so betrayed...but then she did want a chance at a happy marriage. The novella is fun and passionate. If you are looking for a Victorian HEA, this is a good choice. Those happy endings are needed for summer escape.

The Risk of Rogues by Sabrina Jeffries is book 5.5 in The Sinful Suitors. This is the story of Anne and Hartley. This was easily a standalone book.
Hart and Annie were in love and wanting to get married but she was a young women around 16 years of age with a wealthy father who didn't approved nor did his family go for the marriage. Annie's father told her that Hart was a gambler and other things also to put doubts in her mind. Hart didn't show up when they had spoke of running away together but just left her. Hart had joined the military to work toward having something for Annie but later when he returned she was no longer in town. Hart moved forward with his career that took him to becoming a spy. But now their paths has crossed again while he is working on assignment but he doesn't want to loose this chance to reopen their relationship why she didn't answer his letters.
A great second chance at love....quick easy novella read.

The second Corry brother finally got his story in a closing novella to “Sinful Suitor” series. Honestly, I didn’t think Captain Lord Hartley Corry as much of a character when he appeared a few times in the previous books. Useful to a certain spymaster baron, perhaps, but not really... “shone” as a character. Consider me mistaken as it turned out there was depth about this man than the carefree, laid-back second son.

For a short novella, this installment summed-up Hart and his lady’s past quite well in an even paced dual POVs tale. The basic idea might appear formulaic: misunderstood star-crossed lovers. However I quite enjoyed the telling from the first meeting (after eleven years apart) to the conclusion of the story; even if a few times either Ann or Hart or both maddened me.

Lady Anne certainly put Lord Hartley in damn if I do damn if I don’t situation here. Not that I thought Hart was free from any fault, but she didn’t particularly listen well, did she. I get that you can’t just trust what a chap told you to defend himself, but she’d been ready to believe The. Worse. of Hart. And didn’t like when table was turn on her, huh!!

While Anne’s hot and cold indecision exasperated me, in a way it’s sort of understandable too. If nothing, at least it drove Hart to go out of his way to prove to her that his intention is true. She even provoked Lord Fulham (the spymaster cum (new) foreign secretary) to react in a seldom way. To summarize, “The Risk of Rogues” is fun, wicked, and passionate. And it nicely concluded the St. George’s club members’ journey in “Sinful Suitors” series.


Advanced copy of this book is kindly given by the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

❤️❤️ out of 5
I love Sabrina Jeffries as an author as well as many of previous series however, I got pulled into a false sense of security by the author and it is the one thing I dislike most- a novella. This one furthered my opinion that there just isn’t enough to to give it any real depth.
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Our hero has been at war for almost 10 years and comes to his brother’s house party to find the one woman he lost his heart to a decade earlier. Now that he has found her again he doesn’t want to let her go. Our heroine is shocked to see him but knows she still loves him. The hero proposes a re-courtship to see if they still suit- and mainly just give him a chance to win her back.
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Problem number 1- the “re-courtship” is short, as in maybe 2 outings. Problem number 2- the hero describes the heroine as being unique, well the story was so short I didn’t see any sign of it or a personality really (one the main gripes I have with novellas). My last problem is not actually the fact that it’s a second chance romance where neither the past nor the present gets fleshed out enough, but rather that there was no real change or development in the characters after 11 years. For a woman going from a girl of 16 to a woman of 27 requires a lot of maturing but apparently the heroine didn’t change at all.... not buying it.

Daring to take a risk, this couple reunites after a long absence complicated by misinformation. Sabrina Jeffries always comes up with a new take on romance. Having read all of her books, I know fans will love the latest installment of rogues and rascals. Really enjoyed the way she made this hero THINK about his actions, and their ramifications. Love really does conquer all!

Risk of Rogues was a fun, quick read. The characters are likeable and easy to root for. Their love story is that of reunited lovers which is a favorite of mine.

However, it was a little rushed-especially on the side of the heroine. She goes from being furious with the hero (Hart) to saying she's his fiance (when she isn't). This is one of my regular complaints about novellas. They often feel rushed/forced. Hart's feeling came across much more authentic.

Overall, this was a pretty standard historical romance novella. If you like that and/or Sabrina Jeffries I'd say this would be an entertaining read for you.

Publisher's Description:

Featuring New York Times bestselling author Sabrina Jeffries’ “hallmark humor, poignancy, and sensuality” (Romantic Times), this entry in the Sinful Suitors series inspires you to risk all for love.

Lady Anne is shocked when Captain Lord Hartley Corry—her former fiancé who left for India after her father forbade their marriage—returns to England and acts as if everything is all water under the bridge. He never fought for her hand or eloped with her as he promised and he thinks she’d still be willing to marry him? Not a chance.

Hartley is equally shocked to literally run into his past love upon arriving at his brother’s house. Though he yearns to take advantage of this second chance to woo his beloved, he can hardly admit that he is secretly a spy—at least not until he can be sure he trusts her. But convincing Lady Anne to let him prove his sincerity by courting her respectably all over again might be his undoing. Because all he wants is to show her how much of a rogue he can be when the right woman is in his arms.

My Thoughts:

You can always count on Sabrina Jefferies to entertain her readers.
This book is a short read. It can easily be completed in one sitting. The characters are interesting and well developed in spite of the shortness of this book.
Hartley's one wish in life was to marry the love of his life, Anne. When her father refused his offer of marriage he was determined to change the man's mind by proving he could and would support them so he purchased a commission in the army and left for India. He wrote to Anne constantly but she never received his letters which were intercepted by her father.
Now Anne's father is dead and Hartley has returned to England with no idea where she has disappeared to.
Imagine his surprise when literally running into her at his brother's house party.
Will he be able to convince Anne of his undying devotion?
Read this enjoyable read of less than two hours and find out for yourself.
I gave this novella 4.75 of 5.0 stars for storyline and characterization and a high sensual rating of 4.25 of 5.0 flames. Although Anne is still a virgin the intimacy ran very hot indeed.
I received a complimentary ARC of this title from the publisher to read and review. This in no way affected my opinion of this title which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

4.5 stars

Years ago Lord Hartley Corry fell in love with Miss Anne Barkley, but when their father's refused to approve a marriage between them, he left to join the army - hoping to make a living to support her. But when he returns to England five years later, Anne has disappeared. He is devastated and returns to India, but he has never forgotten her. When he returns to England again, six years later and takes a position spying for Lord Fulkham, he doesn't use his connections to find her, because he doesn't want to learn that she married and will never be his. He makes it clear to family and friends that he is a confirmed bachelor, because if he can't marry Anne, he won't marry.


So imagine his surprise when he arrives at his brother's hunting lodge for a week of manly pursuits and finds not only a house party in full swing but his lost love Anne! But she is no longer Miss Barkley, she is now Lady Anne. He convinces her to meet him alone and is ready to pick up where they left off - but Anne has other ideas.


Anne was heartbroken when Hart left her with no word, he promised to elope with her if her father refused and instead he just up and left. It was probably for the best, her father told her that he was a gambler and a wastrel and the rumors she has heard over the years have only confirmed what her father said. She insists that they don't know each other and she doesn't trust him. He asks if he can court her, give them time to reacquaint themselves and see if marry is possible.


Anne is still in love with Hart, but old fears and new secrets keep her from fully committing to him. He is sweet and woos her with gifts and kisses, but she can't seem to accept him - especially when he is so closemouthed about his prospects. Hart wants to tell her, but he needs her to trust him and commit before he can. When they finally make love and she still refuses to marry, he knows what he has to do to prove that he loves her for her and not for what she brings to a marriage.


This is a very sweet second chance at love story, it is very short, but it is well written, flows without feeling rushed and has wonderful characters, warm love scenes and a very lovely ending. It is part of the Sinful Suitors series, but it can be read as a stand alone title with no issues.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher*