The Player

Rockliffe #3

by Stella Riley

Alternate cover edition for B00SEKT3M4.

Tragedy drove him into unwilling exile. Death demands his reluctant return.

In the decade between, he has answered to many names and amassed a variety of secrets.

Now the actor known to Paris as L’Inconnu must resume his real identity and become Francis Adrian Sinclair Devereux, Earl of Sarre … a man he no longer knows how to be and whose name, thanks to the malice of a friend turned enemy, remains tarnished by an old scandal.

Revenge, so long avoided, slithers temptingly from the shadows.
Grand-daughter of a wealthy wool-merchant, Caroline Maitland is not finding her Society debut either easy or enjoyable … but, to Marcus Sheringham, she is the perfect solution to his crushing mountain of debt.

Knowing she will be married for her money, Caroline never believed she would find love; but neither did she bargain for a certain charming French highwayman … and a surprising turn of events.

The stage is set, the cast assembled and the Duke of Rockliffe waits for the curtain to rise.

In the wings, Lord Sarre prepares to make his entrance.

He doesn’t expect to be greeted with applause.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Georgian, Fiction

323 pages, ebook

First published March 6, 2015

About the author

Stella Riley lives in Kent, England. She enjoys theatre, travel and playing the harpsichord.
Her award-winning 7 book Rockliffe series (recommended in The Times!) is available in audio, narrated by Alex Wyndham.
She is also the author of 6 books set in the 17th century: The Marigold Chain, A Splendid Defiance, The Black Madonna, Garland of Straw, The King's Falcon and Lords of Misrule.
All titles are available from Amazon, Kobo, Barnes & Noble and Apple.
Rockliffe Book 6 - Cadenza - is the 2019 Readers' Favourite gold medallist for Historical Romance and also the 2021 Book Excellence Awards winner in the Romance category.

Reviews

[Mo · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

When I read the blurb for this one I didn't think I was going to enjoy it as much as the first two in the series. I was wrong - I think it might be my favourite of the series.

Tragedy drove him into unwilling exile. Death demands his reluctant return.

In the decade between, he has answered to many names and amassed a variety of secrets.

Now the actor known to Paris as "L’Inconnu" must resume his real identity and become Francis Adrian Sinclair Devereux, Earl of Sarre … a man he no longer knows how to be and whose name, thanks to the malice of a friend turned enemy, remains tarnished by an old scandal.

The stage is set, the cast assembled and the Duke of Rockliffe waits for the curtain to rise.

Knowing she will be married for her money, Caroline never believed she would find love; but neither did she bargain for a certain charming French highwayman … and a surprising turn of events.

A wonderful tale! Enjoyed every minute of it ... The narrator is fantastic.

[Caz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taking a break from her epic Civil War series, Stella Riley returns to Georgian England for The Player, the third book in her Rocklliffe Series .

Eagle eyed readers of the previous novel, The Mésalliance, may recall mention of a celebrated and hugely talented actor gracing the theatres of Paris, known as L’ Inconnnu (The Unknown). At one point in the story, the Duke of Rockliffe recalls the rumour that this actor is, in fact, an English nobleman whose life has been tainted by tragedy and scandal.

Francis Adrian Sinclair Devereux, now the Earl of Sarre, fled England following the tragic death of his fiancée when he was just twenty-one. Although her death was accidental, Adrian was suspected of murder – even by his father who didn’t want to hear any explanations and ordered him to leave the country or face the consequences. Exiled and practically penniless, Adrian disappeared, cut ties with his family and proceeded to re-invent himself.

But ten years later, he receives a letter that changes everything. Although he was the heir to the title, he was content for his younger brother to assume the reins of the earldom upon the death of their father some years previously. But his brother’s recent death means that Adrian must return to claim his rightful inheritance. He doesn’t particularly want to be an earl, but he does recognise the responsibility he owes to his tenants and the people who depend on the Earls of Sarre for their livelihood.

Deciding that one of the things incumbent upon him is to take a wife, Adrian travels to London in order to re-enter society. He doesn’t expect to be welcomed with open arms considering the rumours that still dog him, so is surprised to find himself warmly accepted by the set which includes the Marquess of Amberley and Lord Philip Vernon (from The Parfit Knight) as well as his old friend Nicholas Wynstanton (the Duke of Rockliffe’s younger brother). He very soon comes face to face with his former best friend, Marcus Sheringham – the man who seduced Adrian’s fiancée and then accused him of murder. Having learned some months before his return that Sheringham is deeply in debt, Adrian is just waiting for the right time to make his move and take his revenge, once and for all.

When he learns that Sheringham is dangling after Miss Caroline Maitland, an heiress with a dowry of one hundred thousand pounds, Adrian hatches a daring plan to keep her out of the other man’s reach. But he misjudges the lengths to which Sheringham will go in his desperation to secure the lady’s fortune and realises there is only one way he can ensure the man’s downfall and at the same time, protect Caroline – whom he has come to like and respect - from marriage to someone who will make her miserable.

Caroline is something of a wallflower at the beginning of the story; her clothes don’t suit her and are overly fussy and she is shy in company, knowing that most of the people she meets in society look down on her because her money comes from trade. Yet that’s not who she really is, and she berates herself for fading into the background rather than asserting herself. She’s clever and perceptive, with a sharp wit and a kind heart; and knows she deserves better than to spend the rest of her life bound by duty, responsibility and Making the Best of Things. Like any young woman, she longs for romance and adventure – never dreaming to find them in the arms of a mysterious, seductively-voiced French highwayman.

Ms Riley’s heroes are always captivating men – attractive, witty, intelligent and ruthless when necessary but with a vulnerable streak that only those closest to them ever see. Adrian Devereux certainly fits that bill – and when we add his rather unique acting skills into the mix, we have another gorgeous hero to fall in love with. He still feels the betrayal of his friend and his family keenly, but more importantly, he’s a man who has spent so long playing a part – a variety of parts, in fact – that he isn’t quite sure who he is any more. Not quite sure exactly who the Earl of Sarre is either, Adrian adopts an austere persona, presenting himself as a controlled, emotionless man as a way of deflecting the gossip that will inevitably accompany his reappearance in society. But he’s struggling to find his true self, and it’s not until Caroline enters his life that he starts to rediscover the man he is meant to be.

The Player is a truly delightful read with a strong storyline, a well-written, tender romance and a cast of well-developed supporting characters. The two protagonists are attractive and engaging, and while the single love scene is fairly tame by today’s standards, there is no lack of heat between them. The undercurrent of sexual tension that simmers between them is delicious, and although their relationship develops over a fairly short period of time, it doesn’t feel rushed or improbable.

The author writes with intelligence and humour, and her customary eye for historical detail is much in evidence in her descriptions of the fashions and customs of the period. She has a lot of fun in this story, creating different characters as played by her actor/earl-hero and taking a tongue-in-cheek swipe at a familiar “hero-in-disguise” trope that certainly made me smile.

If you enjoyed Ms Riley’s other Georgian romances, then you’ll certainly enjoy The Player. If this is your first experience with this author, then The Player works perfectly well as a standalone - but be warned –her books are addictive. Once you’ve read this one, you’ll want to go back and read the other books in this series and then devour everything Ms Riley has ever written!

[Mei · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!!! Ms. Riley know how to write!!!

The story is really, really interesting!

Our hero, Adrian, has been exiled by his own family because of an accident where he was completly innocent. So he went around Europe earning his livelihood however he could: acting, gambling...

Now he's back. He's not a naive young man anymore. He's changed and became aloof. He's not only one person, but he can become whoever he wants and nobody will recognize him!

Let me introduce… Adrian!!!

Our heroine, Caroline, is an heiress. She's plain, hideously dressed, but intelligent!

Well, don't worry, Caroline, stylists with bad taste in dresses persist… LMAOOO

Adrian notices Caroline, because his nemesis is trying to catch her and her dowry. Adrian cannot allow an innocent young woman to be subjected to that fate.

And so it begins...

It is a truly wonderful slow building love story! Neither the heroine nor the hero fall in love with each other until the last third of the book! All the contrary: the hero is too cold and believes that he's incapable of love, while the heroine is feeling betrayed (justly) by the hero!

Still, it is mastefully written that I didn't want the sotry to end!

[Lyuda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant addition to the Rockliffe series and another 5-star story! In our times of oversexed wallpaper historicals where the only “historical” is how people are dressed (or undressed more likely), Stella Riley books provide a shining example of what historical romances should be.
The story, third book in the series, is set in 1776. The hero, Adrian Devereux, left England 10 years ago under a cloud of accusation that he caused a death of his fiancé. He made a very –very brief appearance in the second book as a gifted actor playing critically acclaimed role on stage in Paris. And now he reluctantly returns to England as an Earl to take care of his estates. He is pretty sure that many people still remember a 10 years old scandal and his acceptance to society will not be all rosy.
His accuser and former best friend Marcus Sheringham is now in a dire situation. He lost most of his fortune in gambling, was forced to sell or heavy mortgaged his estates, can’t repay his bills and the only option left for him was to marry a fortune. He is set to pursue Caroline Maitland, a granddaughter of a very wealthy Yorkshire wool-merchant and the only heir to his fortune. Caroline is a plain, well educated girl who would rather spend time with books than go to the balls where she would certainly be pursued by fortune hunters. But she is also in agreement with her mother to marry a title so she can paved a way to sociaty for her two half-sisters. The stage is set with main players and I would rather stop here and not spoil the intelligent plot, delightful and unexpected twists and turns of the story. Enjoy the play! The only complaint I have is that we had to wait 25 years for the third book of the series. Ms. Riley, please take a pity!

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having just completed another listen/read of Stella Riley's THE PLAYER third in the Rockliffe series, I am, as always, left wondering what I can say that hasn't already been said about this author's exceptional writing skills. From the first word to the last Ms. Riley has me enthralled; whether it's with this, her Georgian historical romance series or with her meticulously researched and fascinating Civil War series, to which I am addicted.

Ten years ago Frances Adrian Sinclair Devereux was unfairly banished by his father. With his father now deceased and his younger brother having been killed in a riding accident, Adrian (as he prefers to be known) has reluctantly returned from the continent. Tragedy and scandal sent him into exile and he has returned a closed and unreadable man; his outlook on life coloured by his family’s betrayal and lack of faith in him. The easy going and popular young man he was at age twenty-one, forever gone. Whilst in exile Adrian has discovered he has some quite exceptional and unique talents which have enabled him to make a more than adequate living. The first is a skill at card playing but the second, and by far the more important, is an ability to act which brings him great pleasure. In fact, he finds he can metamorphose into anyone he chooses on the stage or off it. He astounds audiences at the Comédie-Française with characters so diverse that they are unaware that they are being entertained by a handsome, English aristocrat in his prime.

Before his flight to France, he had led the life of a privileged aristocrat although, as a fairly serious young man, he had never taken that life for granted. Since his banishment, he has stubbornly refused to accept any financial help from his father, preferring to make his own way and learning many hard lessons along the way. Thus, on his arrival back in England, Adrian, now the Earl of Sarre, is in possession of a healthy fortune for which he owes thanks to no one but himself. His unusual talents will serve him well on his re-emergence into the upper echelons of society as, thanks to his gaming talents, he is now also a partner in a successful gentleman's gambling club. From the moment Adrian sets foot on English soil, he slips into 'character' so well that his French batman/friend, Bertrand Didier, has to remind Adrian that he is constantly talking about himself in the third person. The persona he adopts for Sarre is cool and reserved, exquisitely clothed in austere, elegant, French tailoring. His only concession to individuality is his vividly decorated waistcoats; maybe they reveal a little of the man hiding beneath the myriad of characters he portrays. He is so used to acting on the stage, but also in life, that he can no longer remember how to be himself. Perhaps it's a coping mechanism; a way of avoiding further hurt, because there is no doubt that the gorgeous, tender-hearted Adrian has been deeply hurt, and I wasn't too far into the book before I felt his bone deep sense of isolation and sadness.

The only real friend Adrian has left from those long ago, carefree days, is Nicholas Wynstanton (younger brother of the Duke of Rockliffe). However, he reckons without the help and influence the incomparable Rock wields. He answers to no man and is, as always, with just a look or gesture, in charge of every situation. The duke makes his appearance early on in the story and, with barely a word, calmly accepts Adrian's appearance as if he has not been missing for a decade. I just adore the character of the charismatic Duke of Rockliffe; for me he will always be the star of this series. His acceptance of Sarre, without question, opens the necessary doors. There are those who would prefer to cut him if they dared, choosing to believe the old and unproven rumours, but Rockliffe, like the wise man he is, keeps his own council. Rock reappears once more near the end of the story, and again steals the show with his je ne sais quoi, perfect timing, utmost integrity and downright gorgeousness.

Marcus Sherringham, Adrian's nemesis, and the man ultimately responsible for his banishment, is determined to carry on with his persecution of him. Sherringham, broke and desperate, has his sights set on Caroline Maitland, a young heiress making her come-out. Regardless of the fact that her relatives are common and her money comes from trade, he is determined to have her. Adrian is equally determined to throw a spanner in the works. Caroline is mostly ignored because of her lack of style and appalling dress sense. But still waters run deep and she is no fool and knows that the angelically handsome Sherringham only wants her fortune. Caroline is not impressed by his elegant good looks, instead she mistrusts him and his motives.

Adrian, wanting to discover what kind of young woman Sherringham has in his sights, initially sees only the reserved and gauche young woman the rest of society sees. He therefore does what he does best and slides into character, this time as a romantic highwayman named Claude Duval... and holds up her coach. He is enchanted by her levelheadedness and lack of fear. But later he is hoist by his own petard when forced to jump in and out of character several times in order to protect her from Marcus Sherringham. Then the unthinkable happens - the practical and down to earth Caroline begins to fall in love with the fictitious Claude.

Caroline continues to hold Sherringham at bay after rashly promising to think about accepting a proposal of marriage from him to buy more time as her social climbing mother continues pressuring her into accepting him. However, time is something that the desperate Marcus is running out of as his creditors close in.

Adrian has always believed that he will never love again after his first and tragic foray into the emotion ten years previously, but in spite of this finds himself becoming intrigued with the unsophisticated but likeable Caroline. At first, his interest in her is anything but altruistic; he wants to stop her marrying Sherringham at any cost, but later, having met her in his disguise as Claude, it is on her own account - and his - that he wishes to stop a match between them. With his astute actor's eye for detail, he sees beneath the crass and vulgarly dressed exterior, created by her loving and well-meaning relatives to the very straightforward and desirable young woman beneath.

The talented Alex Wyndham once more brings his phenomenal and versatile acting skills into play as he gets to grips with Stella Riley's vast and diverse cast of characters. He has the added layers of inner dialogue to contend with (which I loved) and also Adrian in his many guises. He cleverly conveys, without explanation, when Adrian has slipped between characters and, with a subtle change in intonation, the listener knows that Adrian is now Sarre or vice versa. I loved the scene where Caroline is deeply moved by an act of kindness performed spontaneously by Adrian. It moved me to tears. The scene was tenderly written and beautifully portrayed by Alex Wyndham and this was the moment she fell for him, the real Adrian… kind, thoughtful, deeply honourable and stripped of all artifice. My God, I fell for him myself! There is no doubt that Alex Wyndham has played a blinder in his brilliant portrayal of Stella Riley's fantastic story, "The Player'.

Stella Riley is a gifted and original writer and there are few who can rival her. She writes clever, moving, poignantly sad, dramatic, witty, and laugh-out-loud-funny moments. such as when Marcus Sherringham makes his addresses to Caroline...this scene is hilarious. The snotty nosed Marcus is called upon to explain his pedigree to Caroline's mother with the question 'exactly what kind of lord are you'? His utter disgust and effrontery at her cheek is perfectly captured by the combined writing/performing talents of Ms Riley and Alex Wyndham. I'm hoping that the author will be behind her writing desk again soon and, in due course, we will be treated to another great story from this fabulous writer. Highly recommended!

[Jultri · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5. Some unconvincing plot turns, but overall an entertaining read with very likeable leads, especially the hero who had so many layers, each more compelling than the previous. Great supporting cast of characters who provided humour and Stella Riley is highly competent author whose prose is a pleasure to read. A Historical Romance Book Club Buddy Read, thank you ladies.

[OLT · Rating 5 out of 5]

There should be more Stella Rileys. Maybe scientists could work on at least one clone so that we could have one Stella R. to write more Rockliffe Georgian romances while the other Stella R. keeps us supplied with more Roundheads and Cavaliers historical fiction. As it is, there are never enough books by Riley to satisfy me.

Case in point: This one. As soon as I finished it, I already wanted another one. Riley's too good. Most other HRs, with a few exceptions such as those by Cecilia Grant, Meredith Duran, Joanna Bourne and Sherry Thomas, are dreck, drivel or anachronistic silliness in comparison.

This is #3 in Riley's Georgian series. You'll meet old friends from the first two books here but the story belongs to Adrian Devereux, who, in 1776, is returning to England after 10 years in France to take his position as Earl of Sarre. There's tragedy in his past and a cloud of suspicion over his head about the death of his betrothed those ten years ago. He's haunted by her death, by an unexpected betrayal, and by the lack of family care and support.

Adrian's a complicated, complex, charismatic figure. He's also a bit of a quick-personality-change artist, having lived by his wits and his fine acting abilities on the stage while on the Continent. He's such a play actor hiding behind his various roles that it's enough to make one ask "Will the real Adrian please stand up?"

Heroine Caroline is the wealthy heiress of a grandfather in trade. She's been educated fairly well, has lost her Yorkshire accent and has picked up some social graces, but her family is pretty much low-brow. She's having a London season funded by grandfather to find herself a husband from the peerage but it hasn't been too successful so far, with the exception of the wooing by a certain handsome, charming peer badly in need of funds to pay his debts and well known to hero Adrian.

So now you just have to read this to see how it all comes together. It's exciting, often funny, romantic, poignant and just so darned intelligently and well written. Find out how Adrian, with the help of Caroline, is finally able to open his true self to others. Wonderful story of the healing power of love and acceptance.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 STARS

[Jacob Proffitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is third in a series and characters from the first two show up and play important roles in the plot. I'd still recommend skipping those and starting here, knowing you'll miss knowing the details of those characters. There was a long delay between the release of this and the previous books and the author seems to have used that time wisely, I think.

After the trainwreck of The Mésalliance, this was kind of my last try for a Stella Riley book. Fortunately, I liked it a lot better than the previous novels and that gives me hope for more by her. For parts of this, I was worried about the same pattern of the unaccountably successful bad guys but that just wasn't the case. Yeah, the bad guy gets some licks in, but they are about as successful as they warrant and the good guys managed to take effective action in the right moments and that spared me from losing interest in this one like I did in the others.

It helps, of course, that I liked both main characters a lot. I particularly liked that they were very well-suited. Caroline is exactly the kind of person Adrian needs—one capable of rolling with his mercurial shifts and still see the core that is him, within. And his support for her and her broader family concerns was outstanding.

I resented the intrusion of Rockliffe in the story, though. I get the feeling that he's something of an author's-pet with all the capability and knowledge of any three other characters and having him swoop in a time or two got annoying. And I had some issues with some scenes and the responses to events in some instances. Caroline gets irrationally obstinate for a while and Adrian is a bit random with who he confides in and who he doesn't. But those quibbles evened out enough in the end for me to enjoy the story despite them.

So in the end, this is a 3½ star read that I'm happy to edge up on the strength of how well-suited the two were.

A note about Steamy: There's a single sex scene and it's almost not explicit at all. There's enough on page, and references to, erm, events/details, for me to tag this, but at my very most lightest setting.

[Carol Cork *Young at Heart Oldie* · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading The Mésalliance, I was especially intrigued by the actor known as ‘L’Inconnu’, whom Rockliffe recognises at the Comédie Française. Ms Riley subtly hints that a nasty scandal forced this man to flee England eight years earlier and I knew then that this mystery man was destined to have his own book.

The Player is the third book in Stella Riley’s fabulous Rockliffe series and we discover that ‘L’Inconnu’ is, in fact, Francis Adrian Sinclair Devereux, Earl of Sarre. Ms Riley excels in writing the most gorgeous heroes and Adrian is no exception. I also love the fact that he is such a complex character.

The 21-year-old Adrian, then Viscount Eastry, is about to marry Evie Mortimer, the woman he is head over heels in love with. Life seems perfect but suddenly everything changes; his fiancée is dead and there are accusations that Adrian murdered her. Though he professes his innocence and wants to clear his name, his father refuses to allow the family to be besmirched by such a scandal and eventually Adrian is forced to flee the country.

Angry and hurt over his family’s rejection, Adrian is determined to make a new life for himself in Paris. Discovering his aptitude for acting, he soon builds a career as a successful and renowned actor in the Comédie Française. His unique ability to ‘count cards’ and adopt various guises to cover his real identity ensure success at the gaming tables. For the past two years, he has also been a partner in Sinclair’s, an exclusive London gaming-club, with his friend Aristide Delacroix .

However, after an absence of 10 years, circumstances force him to return to England to assume his responsibilities as the Earl of Sarre, knowing that society will not be welcoming and all the old rumours and accusations will resurface.

He wasn’t going back because he wanted to. He was going because his presence had suddenly become an unavoidable duty.
He doubted if anyone would welcome him.

As the granddaughter of a wealthy cloth merchant with no great beauty and an appalling wardrobe, Caroline Maitland is realistic enough to know that her large dowry is the only reason any titled gentleman would be interested in marrying her. At the age of twenty-two, she sees her life as…

…a humdrum existence of Duty and Making the Best of Things; years and years of being sensible and responsible and never, even briefly, knowing what romance felt like.

Despite everything, she secretly dreams of being swept off her feet by a dashingly handsome fellow.

Adrian wants revenge on his onetime best friend, Marcus, Lord Sheringham, the man who betrayed him and destroyed his reputation all those years ago. He has been keeping tabs on Sheringham over the years and knows that he is deeply in debt, with creditors nipping at his heels. Discovering that his nemesis has Caroline and her dowry in his sights, Adrian sees it as the perfect opportunity to exact his revenge by ruining Sheringham’s plans. But first he wants to discover Caroline’s true character and if she is worth saving from Marcus’s clutches. So, he dons one of his disguises and becomes the dashing highwayman, Claude Duvall, not knowing that the tangled web he is about to weave could cost him the one thing he wants most in the world.

Adrian is such a wonderfully complex character. I could understand his sense of hurt towards the family who basically disowned him, and I could feel the anger and bitter resentment boiling beneath the surface during the fraught meeting with his unfeeling mother.

Over the years, he has played so many different roles that he no longer knows who he really is.

“I’d become a rag-bag of all of them; a collection of miscellaneous bits and pieces –so many that, somewhere along the way, I’d forgotten who I really was.”

In so many romances, there is an instant spark of attraction when the hero and heroine first meet and it was refreshing to see a very different scenario in this story. Adrian’s initial opinion of Caroline is that she is garishly dressed and socially inept while Caroline sees Adrian as cold, unsmiling and emotionless. It is only when Adrian is in his guise as Claude Duvall that he glimpses a very different Caroline…a woman of character, intelligence, quick-witted and stubborn. In fact, as he is in search of a wife, he could do worse than marry Caroline. However, without giving too much of the plot away, there are complications in the shape of a very determined Marcus Sheringham and it seems that Adrian might just have burnt all his bridges when Caroline discovers his deception.

I could sympathise with Caroline’s anger and disappointment at discovering Adrian’s duplicity, particularly as Claude Duvall had been the handsome, dashing hero she had always dreamed of. But she is not one of those heroines who refuses to see the reality of the situation, accepting that Adrian had never intended for matters to go this far or for her to be hurt. I also like her logic in reasoning that, if she enjoyed Claude’s kisses, and he and Adrian are the same person, there was no reason to suppose she wouldn’t enjoy Adrian’s kisses too!

Caroline also begins to see that there may be a very different Adrian lurking beneath that cloak of icy reserve.

He’s different, somehow. Is this what Bertrand meant? Am I being allowed a tiny glimpse of the man behind Lord Sarre? If so, it’s interesting. But though I’d like to push it further, I’d better stop before he realises what he’s doing and crawls back into his igloo.

When he reinstates two formerly dismissed servants, she realises that it is not just an act of responsibility, but he truly cares about them…that he has kind and loving heart which he doesn’t want anyone to see.

The romance is sweet and heart-warming and their gradual falling in love seems so natural. They complement each other perfectly; Caroline helps Adrian discover the man he was meant to be while Adrian sees Caroline’s inner strength and beauty. Their declarations of love are positively heart-melting.

“…there’s been a … a sort of void inside me for years. A dark empty place that I’d become so used to, I no longer noticed it was there. And then you came along and, in some way I can’t explain, you made me whole again. So I don’t just care for you, my darling. I need you and want you and … love you."

"I love you. I love your honesty, your unfailing kindness and the fact that –though you’ve had precious little of it yourself or perhaps because of that –you have a passion for justice. I think you are the most remarkable man I’ve ever met and utterly beautiful, both in body and spirit. And your smile doesn’t just make me sigh, Adrian. It steals my breath and lights the world."

The Marquis of Amberley (The Parfit Knight), the Duke of Rockliffe (The Mésalliance) and Lord Nicholas Wynstanton, Rockliffe’s younger brother, all prove welcome allies for Adrian and I love their scenes together because, beneath their banter, there is always a sense of the close bond between them. I love Rockliffe…so unflappable even under the most extreme of circumstances.

I adored Adrian’s factotum, Bertrand, who is more friend than servant. Knowing Adrian better than anyone, he is the one who provides the impetus for Caroline to think that there might be more to Adrian than appears on the surface. Bertrand also provides some humorous moments with his broken English and questioning of Adrian’s actions.

I was certainly intrigued by the exchanges between Nicholas and Aristide’s sister, Madeline, and I do hope they get their own book.

Just reading this book is an absolute pleasure, but listening to the audiobook narrated by the sublimely talented Alex Wyndham takes the enjoyment to another level entirely. He brings Ms Riley’s wonderful story vividly to life and captures all the details and personalities of each individual character perfectly. He particularly excels in voicing authentic sounding women’s voices.

MY VERDICT: Stella Riley’s brilliant storytelling combined with Alex Wyndham’s superb narration is sheer magic! VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Rockliffe series so far (click on the book covers for more details):




**I received a free download of this audiobook from the author in return for an honest review**


This review is also posted on my Rakes and Rascals Blog:

https://rakesandrascals.wordpress.com...

[Piper · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ★★★★

Loved this third and last book in what I found to be quite a delightful little series. I cannot recommend the audio-book version, narrated by the very talented and sexy Alex Wyndham, highly enough. He brought the books to life. Magnifique!!!

[Nelly S. (brain fog sucks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tropes: Class Differences, Wallflower, Marriage of Convenience; Revenge

Our Main Characters

Adrian Devereux, the thirty-four year old Earl of Sarre is the mysterious L'Inconnu and goes by many names and disguises. A consummate actor, he flees his home at the age of twenty-two, when he is falsely accused of murdering his betrothed, Evie. Evie was a temperamental and mentally unstable beauty. The night before their wedding, Evie lures Adrian to the top of a building and falls to her death after telling him she won’t marry him and is pregnant with his best friend's (Marcus Sherman) child.

Caroline Maitland is the twenty-two year old grand daughter of a wealthy cotton and trade merchant. She is no great beauty but has two beautiful sisters and an ambitious mother who is determined to marry off her daughters to titled gentlemen. Her mother's and sisters's broad Yorkshire accents and common manners are objects of mockery among polite society.

As It Happens
In addition to Marcus's betrayal with Evie, Marcus also accuses Adrian of murdering her, claiming that Adrian did so in a fit of rage because she was planning to leave him. Adrian's family doesn't believe in his innocence and forces him to flee to France, where he lives for 10 years. While Adrian lived in France, he acted at the famous Comedienne theater where he was known as the great L'Inconnu. He also gambled to earn a living and earned a small fortune; this allowed him to invest in London and found the exclusive gaming hell, Sinclair's. Adrian, however, keeps his part ownership of Sinclair’s secret. He returns home out of a sense of duty after his brother dies to assume the earlship.

Although Marcus is a baron and used to be wealthy, he squandered all his money gambling and on a lavish lifestyle. Among other creditors, he owes a huge debt at Sinclair's. Sinclair's continues to extend him credit long past other gaming halls have cut him off because Adrian seeks to ruin him. Marcus's creditors are breathing down his neck so his only hope out of his predicament is to marry a heiress. He is therefore determined to marry Caroline even though he feels utter contempt for her common background. But she turns down his proposal.

Adrian's interests as the Earl of Sarre are best served by Caroline not marrying Marcus. He finds his most challenging role to date is as an earl, where he presents himself as cold, remote, worldly, and impeccably dressed. But Adrian needs a wife in order to fulfill his duty as an earl and decides he can do far worse than Caroline. Plus marrying her would take away Marcus’s only hope of salvation. So, he proposes a marriage of convenience to Caroline but she also turns him down.

In an ironic twist, Adrian unwittingly creates his own obstacle to marriage because he has also been pretending to be a romantic French highwayman (Claude Duvall) all along. His original intention had been to use the role to provide a harmless distraction for Caroline and to make Marcus seem less attractive to her. He meets Caroline several times as Claude and never intends for things to go far but she ends up falling in love with "Claude". And they also end up eloping. Caroline is naturally furious once she discovers the deception. But once she learns about Adrian's past with Evie and the reasons for his bad blood with Marcus, she forgives him.

Hits
• Adrian's backstory with Evie and how he came to be L'Inconnu.
• Caroline’s strong character and refusal to marry Marcus despite immense family pressure.
• Marcus's villainy and his convincing portrait of deceit and greed.
• Well-drawn secondary characters.
• Droll humor and wit.

Quibble
• Caroline forgives Adrian for his deception remarkably quickly (couple days).

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having found this series I can’t put it down, though perhaps I should say can’t put the headphones down as each is narrated brilliantly by Alex Wyndham.

The third in the Rockcliffe series, it’s a thoroughly enjoyable read/listen. The premise of this one struck me as a bit fanciful, but when I decided to run with it there was plenty of fun to be had.

It seems a staple of the genre that attachments form very quickly, but Riley’s handling of her characters is such that she gets away with it. One of the things I liked about this book was the lack of misunderstandings, once the question of Adrian’s colossal and, as he rightly feared, nearly unforgivable deception is dealt with. Riley sets up some wonderful, emotionally charged scenes, and this confrontation is one of them.

The characters are well-drawn and unique. Adrian isn’t your typical hero, he’s a man of masks who finds refuge in acting and is often unsure of himself in his interactions with Caroline. I enjoyed seeing their feelings for each other grow. Adrian could see Caroline in a light she couldn’t, as she’d lived in the shadow of two beautiful sisters and with a mother who called her plain. When she broaches this with Adrian, the way he reassures her shows a man to whom beauty is much more than skin deep. To see the way he draws out Caroline’s confidence over time is both sweet and touching.

Then there’s the rest of the characters, both new and old. Loved the fact that the Duke of Rockcliffe - who strolls in and out of the pages with scene-stealing panache - has much more than a cameo role. Anything less would have been a disappointment.

Add to this the mechanics of organising an elopement, a wild and remote beach setting in which a revenge plot is played out, and plenty of time spent with the main couple, and I think this one’s another winner.

[Shabby Girl ~ aka Lady Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, how I loved this book. How much I love this series. I'm so glad when I found The Parfit Knight, book 1, that it was only a couple of years ago and not 25 years ago, then I would have had to wait 25 years for this one. I love this writer, I very much loved this book. The hero is one of my favourite ever, I would so love to meet him and see him act. He was so sweet and interesting. The heroine is a lovely woman, and together they are fabulous. Now I can't wait for the next book in this series and am so glad this writer is writing again. I have the first two books in my reread section and have reread them recently and loved them just as much as the first time. This book is going there as well. After reading this, I feel like I want to read them again right now.

[Bj · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 "The Gentleman Actor and the Merchant's Daughter" Stars for the story and 5 Stars for the narration!

(Narration by Alex Wyndham)

Stella Riley's creative imagination and wit are in top form for the third book in the Rockcliffe Series, The Player. Proving her ability to weave in unconventional and unique circumstances into a romantic tale, Ms. Riley kept me intrigued and on my toes throughout the entire listen (a 10+ hour listen which I devoured over two short days!). Moreover, Alex Wydham's appealing and soothing voice kept me glued to my earbuds.

The rumors surrounding his rushed departure from his home in England have kept Adrian Sinclair Devereux away for a decade. But upon becoming the Earl of Sarre, he can no longer run away from his fate, so home he returns with revenge plans in hand.

Having survived in the interim in Paris through an unconventional trade for a gentleman--one which mixed gambling and acting--he soon finds himself leaning on old habits when he uncovers a potential damsel in distress (Caroline Maitland). Caroline appears perilously close to falling victim to a former friend who betrayed him in the worst of possible ways (Marcus Sheringham). Caroline's grandfather has determined to marry her off to a gentleman with a title, and as is typical of the time, the one who has taken a particular interest in her (Marcus), is much more interested in her dowry than love. But the only way Adrian can get close to her involves him polishing off his old acting skills, so he dusts off one of his favorite roles and puts on a show worthy of an encore.

But though Sarre first crossed paths with Caroline as an unintended effect of his planned revenge, he must soon determine if his role in the play that involves her salvation (and, in turn, Marcus' damnation) is merely an act spurred by revenge or driven by something much deeper and heartfelt. Moreover, having met her under a cloud of deception will he be able to convince Caroline that he has her true interests at heart?

As always, Alex Wyndham delivers a spell-binding narration. Without a doubt Mr. Wyndham is one of my top-favorite historical romance narrators. His voice is so soothing and his deliver is always perfectly timed to give heightened effect to the scene enacted. Additionally, Mr. Wyndham's attention to even the minutest details is sublime. From the age to the regional accent of each character (and even of the same character, like Adrian who switches accents back and forth depending on the role he is playing), you can count on Mr. Wyndham to present both an authentic and easily distinguishable voice for each and every character that perfectly matches the story Ms. Riley has written.

Perhaps one of my favorite things about Ms Riley's romances is her ability to capture the societal conventions of the historic times she writes about. Things that appear trivial in today's world, such as whether you earned or inherited your wealth, had profound ramifications in the times Ms Riley writes about. Capturing this cultural depiction and mixing it together with compelling characters worthy of a true HEA makes her romances especially endearing. The Player is no different, and given Mr. Wyndham's extraordinary narration to boot, deserves to be on every historical romance listener's to be listened to list.

Source: Review copy provided in exchange for an honest review.

[Lisazj1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars, and my favorite of the series! I loved Rock, the Duke of Rockliffe in The Mésalliance and I think he still might be my favorite of the heroes in the series but oh it's so close!!! Here's how I feel about Adrian Sinclair Devereux:




Adrian was a bit dark and brooding *at first* due to his tragic and most unfair past. But as the story progresses, he becomes quite charming and romantic as well. *sigh* I loved Caroline as well, she was strong and spirited, unwilling to be ordered about by anyone, possessing a wealth of kindness and understanding. As she got to know him, her fierce defense of Adrian was one of the things I liked best.

This was a wonderful, sweetly romantic series. I enjoyed them all. As with the previous, I'm sure a huge part of my enjoyment was the wonderful Alex Wyndham and his gorgeous voice performance of the book. I'll definitely be looking for more from him!

[Lu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although the plot itself is a little fantastic, Stela Riley’s prose never disappoints.
Lovely story of a broken heart, an unfeeling family, a woman falling from the roof, a long exile and the return home to face the demons and find love.
Adrian is adorable an Caroline is so down to Earth.
Great read!

[Lady Wesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic audiobook! Adrian is an actor and a master of disguise. Naturally, he changes his voice and accent according to his disguise, and Alex Wyndham really nails it. Truly, listen to this book!

[Kam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would give 6 stars if I could! Thoroughly enjoyed this one, the best of the series.


This third book is about the actor Francis
Devereux whom Rock noticed in France in a previous book. There's a mystery surrounding his exile to France and now that he's back in England it all comes to a head. The story was fast paced and held my interest right to the end. I really liked Caroline and also her common family ;) Nice to see the appearance of Rock and Adeline but hardly any mention of Amberly.

[Ira · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

[Topastro · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a bit lackluster after the reading Rockliffe 2 &3. Maybe I didn't connect to the hero and it made his secret identify a bit off putting.

[Caz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review from 2016

A+ for narration; A- for content.

Keen-eared listeners may have already worked out the identity of the hero of this, the third book in Stella Riley’s series of Georgian romances. In The Mésalliance, the Duke of Rockliffe mentioned seeing an actor at the Comedie Française in Paris who bore a striking resemblance to one Francis Adrian Sinclair Devereux, Earl of Sarre, who was the subject of a terrible scandal some ten years earlier.

That scandal concerned the death of his fiancée, who fell to her death from a rooftop and whom Adrian was subsequently accused of murdering. A day or two short of his twenty-second birthday and their wedding, distraught at the death of the girl he loved to distraction, Adrian protests his innocence, but all his autocratic father cares about is that there is no way of proving it and he immediately hurries Adrian out of the country to try to mitigate the scandal.

Betrayed, furious and grieving, Adrian vows never to touch a penny of the meagre allowance his father sends him, and sets about reinventing himself and making his own way in the world. For the past five years, he has been L’ Inconnu (The Unknown), the most highly praised actor of his day in Paris, if not all of France, and he takes great satisfaction from knowing that everything he has, he has earned for himself. He is content with his life and continues to live in Paris, but a tragic accident calls him home and Adrian reluctantly bows to the inevitable. He must return to England and assume his position as the Earl of Sarre.

The problem is, however, that Adrian has spent so much of his life – the past decade, in fact – being someone else, that he has no idea who the Earl of Sarre actually is. He’s become so good at shutting off his emotions that when he needs to express feeling, he simply acts it. The Player is, in part, the story of a man who needs to rediscover his identity and learn to be himself rather than assuming role after role. But after ten years, acting is a habit Adrian finds very difficult to break – until he meets Caroline Maitland, the grand-daughter of a wealthy Yorkshire cloth-merchant.

Caroline has a dowry of one hundred thousand pounds, which naturally makes her a target for every fortune hunter in London. One such is Marcus Sheringham, formerly Adrian’s best friend and now his greatest enemy, having been the one to accuse him of murder all those years ago. Sheringham is in desperate straits and is determined to have Caroline by hook or by crook – but she very sensibly wants nothing to do with him, sensing his desperation and that there is something unpleasant lurking beneath his handsome exterior.

She is well aware that she’s no beauty, but knows she deserves better than a life built around duty and responsibility even though she has resigned herself to that fate. But even though she is a practical young lady, she can’t help wishing that just once, she could meet a man who is genuinely interested in her rather than in her money. Much to her surprise and delight, she gets her wish in the form of the dashing, seductively-voiced French highwayman who holds up her carriage late one night and insists on a moonlit dance and a kiss before sending her on her way.

Adrian’s re-entry into society turns out to be not nearly as difficult as he had expected, thanks in part due to his friendship with Lord Nicholas Wynstanton – the Duke of Rockliffe’s younger brother – and his acceptance by Rockliffe and his set. When he learns of Marcus Sheringham’s plan to marry an heiress, however, Adrian is determined to take steps to make sure that such a match will never happen. For the last couple of years, he has been taking careful note of Sheringham’s activities, just waiting for the moment to exact his revenge, and now that Sheringham has all but beggared himself at the gaming tables, that moment is near.

When Sheringham attempts to abduct Caroline – an attempt foiled by the intervention of a certain Frenchman – Adrian, who has come to like and respect her, realises that there is only one sure-fire way to keep her safe and proposes marriage to her himself. But Caroline is already half-in love with her mysterious highwayman and turns him down, leaving Adrian with few options, any one of which he knows is likely to make her hate him for a very long time.

Once again, Stella Riley has written a compelling and thoroughly entertaining story that is full of wit, warmth and memorable characters that listeners can come to care about. We’ve met some of them before – Nell and Harry Caversham and the Marquis of Amberley, for example – but Adrian’s business partner Aristide and his pithy manservant, Bertrand Didier, are new and engaging introductions. As is ever the case with this author, the male friendships are very well-written, with an outer layer of easy teasing and banter covering strong bonds of affection, and her heroes are attractive, honourable men. Adrian is intelligent and witty with an aura of quiet competence about him that is very sexy, but possesses a vulnerable streak he has worked hard to suppress and ignore. And while Caroline may be a bit of a wallflower, she’s no simpering miss; she’s warm-hearted, quick-witted and insightful, and it’s easy to understand why Adrian falls for her so completely.

I could conclude this review by saying “Alex Wyndham narrates” and that would be sufficient to assure anyone reading it that they’re in for a great listen. But I won’t be so cruel ;) And in fact, Mr Wyndham does a great deal more than simply “narrate” – he invests, he performs, he inhabits; whatever the description, he brings Ms Riley’s words and characters to brilliant, vibrant life with an incredible amount of skill and insight. Every single character is clearly delineated, from the principals to the smallest bit-players, and those we have met before sound consistent with the way they are portrayed in the previous book(s). Of the secondary characters, I particularly enjoyed his interpretation of Nicholas, who sounds exactly as I imagined him; less reserved and altogether more outgoing than his brother, but just as charming, and of Bertrand, who has clearly been with Adrian through thick and thin and is one of the few people to know him well.

Having read the book, I knew that there was going to be one aspect that might present a particular challenge to a narrator, as there are several places where the reader is made privy to characters’ internal monologues. Differentiating between thought and speech is tricky, as it needs to be in character but distinct enough from both dialogue and narrative for the listener to be able to tell the difference. Needless to say, Mr Wyndham carries it off seamlessly and to excellent effect, especially in those places when the character concerned is switching quickly between what is said and what is thought.

This is the last book in the Rockliffe series – but I can confidently say “so far”, as I believe the author has more planned. The Player is another beautifully realised romance, and I don’t think Alex Wyndham has ever been better.

[Drache.... (Angelika) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was delightful!
I enjoyed the storyline and the writing style, the characters were drawn beautifully.
I loved how Caroline got over her initial infatuation with Claude and got to know, care for and love Adrian. I loved how Adrian's character was revieled slowly.
5 stars.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and it's a classic example of why this genre is so appealing to me - not that jewels such as this story are readily available - because in my experience and among my searches for such, they're a rare treat. I do appreciate reviewers that I follow who are usually ahead of my game and often point the way to these gems. Thanks, OLT, Danker, Lark, Sandy and others who contribute greatly to my reading pleasure - yes, I am a spy.

This is the third book in the Rockcliffe Series with the previous books being "The Parfit Knight (Rockliffe Book 1)" and"The Mésalliance (Rockliffe Book 2). "Among the three, this book is definitely vying for first place in my heart along with the first book in the series - Amberley's and Rosalind's story.

What to say about this particular book - that is the question. We got a brief mention of our main character, Adrian Sinclair Devereux former Viscount Eastry and Earl of Sarre, in Book #2 when Rockcliffe went to France and attended a theatre production - not by name but by an inference made by Rockcliffe. That evening, as Rockcliffe enjoyed a particularly talented actor playing his role onstage, he believed he caught a glimpse of someone he had previously known - which we later come to understand was our own Adrian. This isn't fully revealed until the opening pages of this book upon Adrian's return to England when he arrives to take up his responsibilities as the Earl of Sarre, following the death of his younger brother who had been tending to the family estates in Adrian's absence.

Adrian has been gone for ten years, banished as it were from hearth and home due to circumstances surrounding the death of a young woman with whom he was madly in love. Since that time, he's re-created himself - becoming an expert at portraying a variety of characters. He has used this gift to become an accomplished actor both in the theater world and in French Society. It's been particularly helpful since he's earned much of his living playing cards - he's an extraordinarily gifted "card counter."

Now he's back in London and he has some issues to deal with. Primarily, he's out to deal with his former friend, Marcus, Lord Sheringham, who played a part in the most dreadful night of Adrian's life. Adrian also needs a wife and he deems it convenient to go after Caroline Maitland, the young heiress Marcus has set his sights upon to bail him out of his financially disastrous circumstances.

If the above layout seems to make Adrian appear a selfish man bent upon vengeance, then let me dial you in - that is not the case. The reader will eventually learn that Adrian is indeed "The Player" for there's way more to him than meets the eye. Having known tormenting rejection for ten long years, he's still an honorable, generous kind man although much of these qualities are hidden beneath a veneer that isn't easy to crack. Thankfully, he has a few friends who know him and see beyond the shell into the true heart of the man.

Caroline Maitland is an innocent bystander as it were, to the machinations of Marcus, who wants her only for her money and Lord Sarre, who she has no inkling is even remotely interested in her, primarily because he exudes a somewhat icy, yet polite manner when in her presence. There's one exception - she has no clue he's the same "warm and friendly" man she knows in a completely different disguise. I won't spoil the book by revealing this juicy tidbit.

In truth, I thought the romance part was very slooooow to get going - however, when it comes into play, it takes off with a bang and this is where we finally become acquainted with the heart and soul of Adrian. I was simply enthralled. Caroline also comes through the difficult situations brought about by the respective interests of both men, revealing her spunk, insight, generosity and best of all - she's no pansy to be shoved hither and thither at the whim of men - good for her.

Loved it. I look forward to more books by this author.

Review by: Judge Tabor

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

5.5/6 ‘swept me off my feet’ STARS!!!

This is one of those books you begin convinced it will be worth your time, but the further you read the clearer it becomes that this story is going to stay with you forever. After my success with the previous book in the series, ‘The Mésalliance’, I decided to continue reading the Rockliffe series in chronological order (and will read its first instalment, ‘The Parfit Knight’, for last).

Fully expecting an encore of Riley’s clever storytelling in this third book in the series, I was wholly unprepared for how addictive ‘The Player’ would reveal itself to be.

A character driven romance featuring multi-layered and out of the ordinary characters, this story follows the Earl of Sarre’s, Adrian Deveroux, cautious return to London society after a quite traumatic scandal in his past and a decade of adventures on the continent. He now holds the title of one of my favorite romance Heroes: I just can’t resist a sharp mind & even sharper cheekbones combo.

The perfect counterpart to this tormented and mercurial hero, Caroline Maitland is a sensible 22 year old heiress from Yorkshire, hoping to satisfy her family’s expectations of an excellent marriage while secretly yearning for love. I fell in love with the heroine’s bravery, and her inner conflict between fulfilling her family’s expectations and realising that she deserved something more than ‘Making the Best of Things’ felt relatable. Riley does an amazing job of inexorably drawing these two strangers together, from their first inkling of interest in each other to their turbulent but charming courtship.

The scene where Caroline’s carriage gets held up by Adrian pretending to be the 17th century highwayman Charles Duvall and the two of them dance in the moonlight will definitely live in my mind for a long time as one of the most effortlessly romantic moments I’ve ever come across. The storytelling pacing was pitch perfect, an improvement even on The Mésalliance (which, although highly enjoyable, sometimes gave the impression that the main plot was being diluted for the sake of drama), it always allowed the characters the proper amount of pages to mature and make up their minds, while keeping the the stakes, and therefore my interest, high until the very end. The plot features one ‘big’ antagonist and a few extremely likeable secondary characters, but I appreciated how the conflict mainly originated from the main characters battling their personal demons and insecurities. I love to see character growth in a romance, and this book surpassed my every expectation.

This is probably the best ‘from indifference to love’ plot I’ve ever read: there were no unbelievable jumps from opposite emotions, and all the love declarations (and there were MANY on both sides) were awe-inspiring in their sincereness. The chemistry and connection between the two leads were palpable even (or perhaps even more so?) while they were at odds with each other. A good deal of angst and delicious grovelling on the Hero’s part sealed the deal for me. I highly recommend this romance to anyone with a preference for well-researched historical detail, wonderful characters and an effortless but complex love story.

[Lexxi Kitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caroline Maitland is a rich heiress in London for the season hoping to pick up a husband, preferably one with a title. Well, preferably one she loved, but, eh, that’s what you do for family, find someone who would be best positioned to help the rest of the family.

She has two advantages and several disadvantages. Advantages: she has money; she’s being ‘sponsored’ by someone with a title. Disadvantages: fashion sense (there are reasons); a certain amount of ‘plainness’ that may or may not be because of the bad fashion choices and the constant refrain from an important source (mother) that she isn’t exactly pretty (so low confidence in own appearance); ‘common’ blood (money is from gramps who is a self-made man).

The vast majority of the beginning of the book her two main suiters, and really the only ones who seemed to actually ever court her, is a man who never had money and has problems keeping it when he does get some (the cousin of the woman who is sponsoring Caroline), and a handsome man with a title, though deeply deeply in debt (of his own making), and with a bad, super bad addiction to gambling. Caroline gets on somewhat well-enough with the one I’ll call ‘cousin’, but that fella was never really a serious contender (mostly because he didn’t have a title and mother wants her daughter to get someone with a title, preferably high up, at least higher than a Baron (of which her other suitor holds as his position in society, Baron). Right, and the other suitor, Baron Handsome Douche both finds Caroline unattractive, but also finds it difficult to actually be in her company. BUT! He needs her money.

This book seemed determined to pack every cliché, trope, etc. etc. from romance into it. Including a few things from films of roughly the 1980s/1990s – the one being the ‘ugly duckling’ who, with a few modifications, suddenly becomes a beautiful swan. We have the revenge plot, the rich heiress, the penniless handsome con artist type (though he does in fact have a title; con artist type because he only wants the woman’s money and is playing a long con to get it, lying left and right, etc. etc.), the rivals who used to be best friends but are now bitter enemies, highway robbers, etc. etc. There are many things missing, I’m sure. Like no one has a physical or mental defect, though the Earl has a very bad cloud hanging over him (*people chanting behind his back and to his face* ‘murderer! Murderer!’), and the Heiress is . . . um, badly dressed and has ‘common’ blood.

I put in my status updates, 41% in, that the book, up to that point, was more of an ‘Anti-Romance’, and a revenge plot. An Anti-Romance because the two seriously circling each other (not counting cousin) kind of hate each other. Revenge plot? Well, hadn’t gotten to that part yet – there are several point of views in the book actually. One is Caroline’s, another is Baron Douche, sorry, that’s Marcus Sheringham. But Marcus isn’t the ‘mastermind’ behind the revenge plot theme/plot-line, but the target. For there is also a fella who goes by many names, but I’ll call him Earl Sarre to be quick about it.

Ten years ago Sarre, who had been a Viscount at the time, was engaged to be married. For various reasons that don’t really matter, they were waiting for his 22nd birthday to pass before the marriage could be performed. Well, exactly on that specific day, the 22nd birthday, Sarre’s fiancée popped over and lured him from his room. He followed her, trying to get her to stop. She wandered into the ‘bad’ parts of the castle/manor/whatever-the-building-was, the parts in disrepair. Then up to the roof. While basically dancing around in her long white gown, wiggling and hopping on that roof, fiancée asked Sarre to guess something. Though first she told him that a) she isn’t going to actually marry him, and b) she’s pregnant and they both know it can’t be his since they’ve never screwed around in that way. Then she asked him to guess who the papa of her unborn child might be. One thing leads to another, Sarre learns that his supposedly best friend has impregnated his fiancée, and he also watches as his fiancée trips on her own gown and plummets off the roof to smack grotesquely against the hard ground.

Sarre is now on the ground, his parents are demanding to know what all the fuss is about, and then Marcus pops up. For, you see, he was there to gather up the fiancée and leave with her. Learning that the woman was dead, Marcus started screaming such things like ‘Murderer!’ Even though Sarre had already told his parents what happened, they kind of looked at him and asked something like ‘so, did you?’ Then the Earl, no not Sarre, I’m referring to Sarre’s father here, sent Sarre to Europe with the kind words of ‘I’ve another son, he’ll be Earl.’

Seven years passed from that date. Sarre is 29 and has made a fortune through several means while in Paris and around Europe. Some from counting cards, some from being a highly sought after actor (sought to hire not arrest, I should be careful there). Pops dies. Sarre remains in Europe for he did still have that brother. Let him ‘rule’.

Three years pass. The brother is dead. Sarre ‘must’ return to England to assume the Earlship. For reasons. Whereupon the book opens with him on a boat heading to England.

Quite interesting book. Both of the people who make up the ‘love couple’ in the romance are, in their way, acting. Though the acting of one is bluntly noted – for Sarre has been an actor for these long years, and doesn’t really know how to be an Earl now so he plays a role. Caroline? Well, she’s also playing a role, more subtly alluded to in the book – the role of a ‘suitable’ type. She has a mind, and wit, and all that but she’s been hiding herself – she also has a much better fashion sense than might be guessed, but she’s hiding that as well (for her grandfather, the person funding her, liked certain dresses, garish horrible dresses, so she wears them even knowing they suck balls).

I liked the book. Not exactly sure why this specific book needed to be part of a series, per se, instead of just being there. Alone, adrift in a sea of stand-alones. But that Rockliffe dude does appear in this book and plays a somewhat important part, though his brother Nick plays a much larger role for most of the book. Speaking of Nick – reading a romance involving him and the fiery French woman whose name now escapes me (sister of Sarre’s business partner) would be neat. And something I’d wish to do. But the next book in the series involves neither, and considering that it took 4 years for book 2 to appear, then 25 years for book 3 to appear, and then 2 years for book 4 to appear, I would have to assume that no book involving Nick and that fiery French woman will appear. Despite how interesting the few scenes involving both were.

I do this sometimes so I’ll do it here: the first book in the series involved: Rosalind Vernon and Marquis of Amberley – both pop up in this third book though neither has much to say; the second book in the series involves: the Duke of Rockliffe and Adeline – both play larger roles in book 3 than either of the people from book 1, though the duke plays a larger role than his wife; and those people in book 4? Do they appear in book 3? Well, while I haven’t read book 4, I do recognize one of the names - Cassandra Delahaye is/was one of Caroline’s friends in book 3.

sex: There were a few moments wherein it seemed as if actual graphic sex might suddenly break out, but unless I blinked and missed it, graphic sex either didn’t occur or was quite quick.

Age: Caroline, I believe, is 22. And Sarre is 32.

Rating: 4.32

June 22 2017

[Marguerite Kaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am really enjoying this series, and I think this is my favourite so far.

I do love a tortured hero, and you couldn't get more tortured than Adrian, who left England when the woman he loved fell off a parapet and died in front of him, just before she delivered some heart-breaking news. Ten years of making a living as a card shark and actor, and then Adrian is forced back to England when he inherits an earldom.

Meanwhile, Caroline Maitland, a plain Yorkshire lass with a fortune, is being wooed by the baddie of the story, and so Adrian plans his revenge by stealing Caroline for himself. Put like that, the plot sounds a little bit contrived, but who cares - it was an excellent read. Adrian has tons of opportunities to use his many disguises, and Caroline is an excellent and very likable heroine with a mind of her own. Like the previous books, it's impossible not to compare some aspects of the story to Georgette Heyer (in this one, The Masqueraders) but if anything Riley is paying tribute, and there's never any question of plagiarism or even inadvertent copying, more like a tongue in cheek tribute.

The writing is fresh. The action makes this a page turner. The romance is breath-taking. An excellent feel-good book with a lovely ending. How I would love to see this made into a film.

[Emmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was this a little over the top? Did it have half of the typical Regency era tropes? Both yes. But I still really liked it.

This was different than Stella Riley's older books. This one, written almost two decades after the majority of her other books, actually felt more "sensational" than her past books. More scheming, more convoluted plot, less "clean," etc. But still well written. It still had all the heart and emotion and well-developed characters that I would expect from one of her books. If it was slightly less sensational, this could have been a 5-star book.

[Tracy DeNeal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caroline and Adrian

Exiled from England’s shores for ten long years, Adrian, Lord Sarre returns reluctantly to take up the mantle of his earldom and to seek retribution on the person primarily responsible for his trials. Taking up his earldom also entails continuing his line. With that in mind, a bride he must procure as well.

Caroline Maitland has no illusions about her lack of beauty, she knows that any marriage alliance she makes will be solely on the basis of the ginormous dowry her beloved merchant grandfather has set aside for her. The fortune hunters are circling. What will she do? Who will she choose?

Stella Riley has penned a lovely slow burn romance that is full of humor and angst. Adrian Devereaux is a marvelous character whose tragic past has haunted him relentlessly. His courage in facing adversity head-on and ultimately triumphing in spite of the unwarranted evil that has been heaped upon him is inspired. Caroline is no milk and water miss. She is honest and straightforward. Though she leads with her heart, she does not fail to use her brain. I love a heroine with grit. She has plenty of it.

I cannot say enough about the seamless blending of historical detail in Riley’s prose. A simple walk in the Kent countryside provides a wealth of historical detail. Do you love historical romance? If you do, you will love this third book in the Rockliffe series. I highly recommend it.

[Mela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now, that was a romance! There were all the best parts of previous books, but, obviously fifteen years between a publication of the second part of the series and this, the third one - made the difference. I even liked better Rockliffe in 'The Player' than him in The Mésalliance.

Francis Adrian Sinclair Devereux, Earl of Sarre, 'The Player' - let's just sigh... ;-) This was his story. The romance was in second place (in my opinion). He was so excellent hero that the book could have been much much longer - there was big potential. I mean, I loved this novel, but I hope that someday Stella Riley writes another historical fiction with such a hero, when we will see more of his life, struggles, transformations.

A bunch of other splendid characters. Love scenes to make your heart flutter. The wit to make you smile. People I met in prior books. And this time, the lack of plot twists didn't matter at all. Just be ready to be carried away by this story.

PS There was (at one critical point) a little jump in the romance when it would have been more believable and more enjoyable if it had been done more gradually, but I understand that Mrs Riley wanted it to be a typical size novel. This time, I forgive it because the rest was great.

PS2 Stella Riley's books are made for movies. So, to all film producers: I am waiting. ;-)