Rate this book

How To Tame A Modern Rogue (2009)

by Diana Holquist(Favorite Author)

3.45 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

044619705X (ISBN13: 9780446197052)

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

Forever

review 1: This story is definitely like nothing I have ever read before; a crazy old lady (I totally see myself turning into her because of all the regency books I read), a Duke of Whatthehell, and frumpy schoolteacher. I'm three chapters in and feel like I should write some comments but honestly I'm flabbergasted as to what to say, not because it is awful but because it is so damn good and intriguing right now. When someone asks you to waltz, you waltz. I understand Ally's fear for her grandmother (grandmother ran away and has dementia) but she did find her safe and sound and with so many people around it would have been safe and ok to have a night waltz in central park with Sam. Yeah, yeah I get the author is trying to establish and make known Ally's personality here. She has iss... moreues from her parents abandoning her, I get it. Just please let the lady waltz! Awesome stuff, when Sam is imaging Ally's "garden" (personality/environment) and how it differs from Veronica's and is possibly full of poison ivy but doesn't care and wants to scoop her out of it and carry her to his jungle. Funny, Funny. Up until ch. 11 I kind of brushed Sam off as carefree, rich, and good looking male but after he reads "The Dulcet Duke" (regency romance book Ally's grandmother thinks she is living in) and proceeds to get drunk at the pub the reader gets an insight into the real man. These couple of pages that show Sam's thoughts, feelings, and past are fantastic and add some much needed heft to his character and the story. The trip in a horse carriage through New York seemed kind of crazy and a bit fortuitous how everything worked out perfectly for them. However, in the pursuit of the greater good (storyline) I was able to forgive the author for these nagging little unbelievable parts. I liked Ally's friend June, great secondary character doesn't try to take over the story but adds something and is intriguing in her own right. Very touching how Sam is hurt that Ally doesn't think him worthy. He is also bothered that he and Ally had to role-played as a duke and princess in order for Ally to sleep with him. After they sleep together he just wants Ally to respect him and see him for who he really is. So touching; story becomes about breaking through walls to get to the true essence of a person. Oh the late night conversation between Ally and Sam when they are at the Brazilian hotel is where I felt like the fun, frivolous aspect of their relationship stopped and it started to become meaningful. Ally wants him to tell her about his past but he argues he is his own man and his past doesn't matter (even though it's obvious it affects who he is and his actions) and that only what they feel and do here and now matters. This little part was incredibly meaningful and brought this couple out of "Chik-lit" for me.Oh Sam what a hero sigh sigh sigh. I refuse to tell you what made me type this, you must read for yourself. Oh letter writing such a lost art form! When Sam writes his "prologue" my eyes watered for some weird reason. The last chapters of this book are guaranteed to make your heart clench. Ally is the focus of the first half of book then Sam last half, it worked, sort of. Mateo (carriage driver) was nice character but his soccer story was unnecessary. The quotes from a regency romance called "The Dulcet Duke" was just about one of my favorite things from this story. I want to read that story! LOVED the ending (I really want to waltz) just sigh, sigh, sigh.Read this book people. Sure it's a little fluffy, glossed over heavier tones the author tried to introduce in regards to her character's background, a hero/heroine not fully flushed out, and some unnecessary secondary character drama. But the overall story is wonderful from it's humor, sheer romanticism, and sigh inducing moments. Simply a modern day fairytale. This book is going in keeper purgatory. Meaning it was really, really good but I don't know if it is quite keeper worthy. I have a bad feeling that the magic and sigh worthiness will fade after the first reading. You all know books like that where some dialogue loses it's weight with a second reading. Time will only tell, we'll see after I read it a second time in the distant future.
review 2: I was surprised by how much I loved this! It played with the typical gender roles of romances - Ally's grandmother had a stroke and thinks she's part of a Regency romance she was reading when it happened. She's determined to get Sam and Ally to marry, and while they are not keen on that idea, they do play along with the 1812 thing. Sam decides to read the book and then he and Ally each think that the other is the rogue that must be tamed. It was damned funny, the role play scenes were hotter than expected and I was so so so glad to see Ally's priorities stay the same through the end of the novel. I also really sympathized with Ally, even at her lowest moments, because I completely understood where she was coming from. Neat. less

Download links for: How to Tame a Modern Rogue

Advertising