Review: A Rogue to Remember (The Hellion Club #1) by Chasity Bowlin
Print Length: 222 pages
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing (June 11, 2019)
From Goodreads.com: Douglas “Devil” Ashton, Lord Deveril, was forced by his father to join the army and was exiled to India. It was punishment for all his many wicked, wild and reckless ways. While serving his country, the unthinkable happens at home. Devil’s sister is seduced by a fortune hunter and cast out by their father. By the time Devil returns to England, he’s too late to save her… but if he can obtain the right governess, one who specializes in working with children others have deemed unmanageable, he might be able to save his niece.
There is only one problem - no respectable woman would ever consent to be employed in the house of the Devil Lord. If she did, she’d never be able to be employed elsewhere again, as his very name is synonymous with ruin.
But Wilhelmina Marks is no ordinary governess. She’s a graduate of the Darrow School, an integral member of The Hellion Club, and a determined lady in her own right. Marina, Lord Deveril’s niece is a challenge… but not nearly as challenging as her uncle. He is all that they have said of him. Hedonistic. Rakishly charming. Too handsome by far. But also kind and perhaps a little broken. It’s that combination which draws Willa to him and makes him irresistible to her.
But danger looms when Marina’s wastrel, fortune hunting father returns, intent on claiming his daughter.
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My Rating: 3 stars out of 5
I liked Douglas well enough. He was a man with a well-deserved reputation who didn't shy away from who he was or what he wanted. I loved the depth of feeling he showed not only for his sister, but for his niece, taking her in as his ward when someone else of his station would have likely shipped her off somewhere (especially when she proved to be a difficult child at first). It was incredibly hard to relate to Willa however. On one hand, when it came to Marina and her wellbeing, Willa was a great character. However, the fact that she constantly looked down her nose at Douglas, and judged him at every turn, made her come across as a holier-than-thou type. So much so that I consistently wondered why he put up with her behavior. Had I been him, I would have left her to her duties as Mariana's governess and been done with her. In fact, I found it hard to believe that he could find anything to like about her, much less could have fallen in love with her.
Not only was their relationship something I felt could have been done differently, but there were also other parts of this story that I feel tripped it up just as much. For example, Marina is three years old - and yet Willa not only insists on speaking to her as though she is an adult (claiming it is better to do so), but when Marina finally does start to respond, she speaks in full, coherent sentences. Not very realistic for a three-year-old.
I also found the original premise too far-fetched. We are told that Willa couldn't possibly move into his home as governess due to his reputation (it would apparently sully hers and make her unemployable to anyone else), and instead had to masquerade as his pretend fiance. I'm still not sure how she masqueraded as anything when they barely stepped outside of the house, nor did he put it out that they were engaged. In fact, all they succeed in doing was fanning the fire that Marina was his own child and Willa her mother.
The villains were all exceptionally over the top (with a lot of unnecessary plotlines being inserted here), although I will admit that it was good to see them get what they had coming to them.
Despite the things I mentioned above, I do believe this story will appeal to others more than it did to me. And I would give this author another chance.
I liked Douglas well enough. He was a man with a well-deserved reputation who didn't shy away from who he was or what he wanted. I loved the depth of feeling he showed not only for his sister, but for his niece, taking her in as his ward when someone else of his station would have likely shipped her off somewhere (especially when she proved to be a difficult child at first). It was incredibly hard to relate to Willa however. On one hand, when it came to Marina and her wellbeing, Willa was a great character. However, the fact that she constantly looked down her nose at Douglas, and judged him at every turn, made her come across as a holier-than-thou type. So much so that I consistently wondered why he put up with her behavior. Had I been him, I would have left her to her duties as Mariana's governess and been done with her. In fact, I found it hard to believe that he could find anything to like about her, much less could have fallen in love with her.
Not only was their relationship something I felt could have been done differently, but there were also other parts of this story that I feel tripped it up just as much. For example, Marina is three years old - and yet Willa not only insists on speaking to her as though she is an adult (claiming it is better to do so), but when Marina finally does start to respond, she speaks in full, coherent sentences. Not very realistic for a three-year-old.
I also found the original premise too far-fetched. We are told that Willa couldn't possibly move into his home as governess due to his reputation (it would apparently sully hers and make her unemployable to anyone else), and instead had to masquerade as his pretend fiance. I'm still not sure how she masqueraded as anything when they barely stepped outside of the house, nor did he put it out that they were engaged. In fact, all they succeed in doing was fanning the fire that Marina was his own child and Willa her mother.
The villains were all exceptionally over the top (with a lot of unnecessary plotlines being inserted here), although I will admit that it was good to see them get what they had coming to them.
Despite the things I mentioned above, I do believe this story will appeal to others more than it did to me. And I would give this author another chance.
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A Rogue to Remember is available from Amazon.com
 by Chasity Bowlin){kind=link}
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