Rating: 
Summary: A good read
Review: As much as I adore the hero, I didn't adore the heroine, so this book only received four stars from me. I do enjoy all of Mary Jo Putney's novels and the Fallen Angel series is the best.
Rating: 
Summary: Really, all the "Fallen Angels" books are excellent.
Review: I don't know how I had not discovered this author sooner. I have been reading romance novels for about 3 years now and never before had I read a book by Mary Jo Putney. The first one I read "Dearly Beloved", was so beautiful that I went back for more, and after reading "One Perfect Rose" which is part of the Fallen Angels series, I was hooked. I knew I had to read the whole series, and so far none of the books I have read have dissapointed me.
In the case of this book, I have not yet read "Petals in the Storm", so I did not have any background knowledge about Lord Robert Andreville, but he is a fascinating character. His dazzling personality was so well portrayed that it leaps from the pages and you feel like you know him. I loved his sense of humor, his charm, his varied and amusing talents, the fact that under all that fancy facade there was a core of steel. Maxima was an exceptional heroine too, even though I can't really say that I feel a strong conection with her (I would never even dream of embarking on a trip of over 200 miles on foot, on a strange land and with almost no money) But that is what makes her extraordinary besides, she is also very kind, courageous and intelligent and those are qualities I admire.
The only thing that I found that was a little unbelievable and incomprehensible is the fact that Robin would embark on this trip with her with no money, and no provisions whatsoever. That he felt the need to accompany her, I can understand, but why didn't he make a small detour to the house first to fetch money, and two horses or a carriage to make the trip more confortable? I know he is an adventurer and an excentric, but my practical and comfort-liking mind just rebelled at the thought that someone would deliberately choose the hard path when there was an easier and more efficient way to accomplish things. I guess I'm not very adventuresome.
I connected more with Robert's brother Giles (which doesn't mean that I liked him better than Robin, just that I find his personality easier to relate to) He and Maxima's aunt Desdemona are great secondary characters. I wish they had gotten their own novel instead of just being a sub plot of this one. But their story definitely enriched this book.
All in all, I think this book is excellent. I would recommend this and all the books in this series to anyone who likes a well written story, with strong lovable characters and a mix of passion and adventure to make it all more interesting.
Rating:
Summary: Can I give ten stars?!
Review: I don't normally rave about romance novels. I enjoy them enough to buy them and pass them on. This is one of the only ones that I kept. It is so wonderful! It is a refreshingly new twist on a worn out genre. First, the hero and heroine are absolutely wonderful and the side romance adds a nice contrast and comparison. Contrary to what Ms. Pecone (another reviewer) said, neither romance is love at first sight. It is interest sparked by meeting an intriguing new person that grows into attraction and finally love. For once we have a romance that isn't raw, animal passion masquerading as love at first sight. Second, I was also slightly annoyed by the constant mention of Robin's slight stature, but this was due to the repetition of that fact. I found it nice to have a hero that wasn't all big and brawny and overbearing. Third, I liked Robin's character. He had a rather dark past and a bit of a broken heart, but he didn't let this drag himself and those around him down. It wasn't an excuse for him to be a jerk. Instead, his constant wandering, quietness, and willingness to join up with Maxie indicated a man who was sad and a little lost, but trying to recover and overcome. He was trying to find himself rather than wallow in his own muck. This is someone you can sympathize with as a human being with a human life. Fourth, Maxie's character was another refreshing change. Females in these romances are either passive and submissive or annoyingly spunky past the point of good sense who battle the men at every step. Maxie is a little bit hotheaded, but this is tempered with intelligence and ability. She made some foolish decisions, but this made her human, without her making so many that she was just stupid. She is independent, so she doesn't want Robin's help, but they didn't become antagonists, which is too often used as a plot device to bring the raw, animal passion about. In fact, they settle down and enjoy each other's company and work together. (By the way Ms. Pecone, Robin did try to get Maxie to take a safer route, she would not be deterred.) Finally! I got sick of the opposite happening in most romances. I'm not going to go over the Indian issue Ms. Pecone started that so many others have addressed already. Finally, I am one of those people who finds bad grammar akin to nails on a chalkboard, but Ms. Putney's writing did not drive me off. I don't know where Ms. King learned her grammar, but there is a difference between bad grammar and informal grammar. This is a work of fiction, not an essay or research paper. The only real problem was in her last example. Ms. King seems more to be one of those people who looks for problems rather than relaxing to enjoy the ride. This is too wonderful a book to let anyone dissuade you from reading it. It's good for the jaded romance reader, the novice romance reader, even someone who doesn't normally read romance. Don't let this book pass you by, this is too good to miss!
Rating:
Summary: Can I give ten stars?!
Review: I don't normally rave about romance novels. I enjoy them enough to buy them and pass them on. This is one of the only ones that I kept. It is so wonderful! It is a refreshingly new twist on a worn out genre. First, the hero and heroine are absolutely wonderful and the side romance adds a nice contrast and comparison. Contrary to what Ms. Pecone (another reviewer) said, neither romance is love at first sight. It is interest sparked by meeting an intriguing new person that grows into attraction and finally love. For once we have a romance that isn't raw, animal passion masquerading as love at first sight. Second, I was also slightly annoyed by the constant mention of Robin's slight stature, but this was due to the repetition of that fact. I found it nice to have a hero that wasn't all big and brawny and overbearing. Third, I liked Robin's character. He had a rather dark past and a bit of a broken heart, but he didn't let this drag himself and those around him down. It wasn't an excuse for him to be a jerk. Instead, his constant wandering, quietness, and willingness to join up with Maxie indicated a man who was sad and a little lost, but trying to recover and overcome. He was trying to find himself rather than wallow in his own muck. This is someone you can sympathize with as a human being with a human life. Fourth, Maxie's character was another refreshing change. Females in these romances are either passive and submissive or annoyingly spunky past the point of good sense who battle the men at every step. Maxie is a little bit hotheaded, but this is tempered with intelligence and ability. She made some foolish decisions, but this made her human, without her making so many that she was just stupid. She is independent, so she doesn't want Robin's help, but they didn't become antagonists, which is too often used as a plot device to bring the raw, animal passion about. In fact, they settle down and enjoy each other's company and work together. (By the way Ms. Pecone, Robin did try to get Maxie to take a safer route, she would not be deterred.) Finally! I got sick of the opposite happening in most romances. I'm not going to go over the Indian issue Ms. Pecone started that so many others have addressed already. Finally, I am one of those people who finds bad grammar akin to nails on a chalkboard, but Ms. Putney's writing did not drive me off. I don't know where Ms. King learned her grammar, but there is a difference between bad grammar and informal grammar. This is a work of fiction, not an essay or research paper. The only real problem was in her last example. Ms. King seems more to be one of those people who looks for problems rather than relaxing to enjoy the ride. This is too wonderful a book to let anyone dissuade you from reading it. It's good for the jaded romance reader, the novice romance reader, even someone who doesn't normally read romance. Don't let this book pass you by, this is too good to miss!
Rating: 
Summary: Yeah but!
Review: I don't really know if I liked this novel or not. The heroine of the story was too far fetched for me. She wore her Indian heritage like a badge on her sleeve yet she was not raised among the Indians, and her mother died when she was ten. Where did all her deep seeded Indian instincts come from? What was implied by her great archery skills and her martial arts style of fighting? Are all girls of Indian heritage good at such, simply because they are Indian? If that were not the implication where did she learn such skills, let alone have time to perfect them? Surely her mother, who was living among civilized folk did not teach them to her little girl? Ms Putney tried to paint her as deep and heroine-like, but it just did not work for me. She was too false and uninteresting. Lord Robert was just as unbelievable as she was. Several times his small stature was eluded to. Yet he was able to (with the help of his "warrior princess" of course) fend off a trained fighter, far greater in size then he. How silly! Why not just make Lord Robert a big man in the first place? Isn't that what we truly want in our heros? He was really a nice sort of chap, if not a little scattered though. Imagine a girl trips over you in a field and lo you just decide you want to travel, by foot, two hundred miles with her. Don't bother to pack anything for the journey, or try to talk the girl into a much safer journey, via a coach or horse, just head off. Too unbelievable for me. He had lived the life of a spy, what he could possibly found interesting about Maxie eluded me. I don't really know what inspired such love and instant loyalty between them. The side story between Lord Robert's brother and Maxie's Aunt was so uninspiring as well. The novel would have done just as well, or not, without it. Another silly love at first site story with no real depth. Anyway I don't think I'll be buying another Mary Jo Putney novel. Maybe I'll borrow one from the library so I do not waste money again. Sorry to the fans of this novel, my intention was not to offend, merely to give another point of view.
Rating:
Summary: mjp at her best
Review: I have never read a MJP book that wasn't simply wonderful. Even her contemporaries (which I don't really care for) deserve five stars. Angel Rogue is no exception, it is an unusual, beautiful love story that will leave you sighing long after you turned the last page. Lord Robert Andreville (Robin) has returned to England after a dozen years of spying for the British crown in the fight agaisnt Napoleon. He is weary in mind and spirit and tortured by memories of the past when he meets Maxima Collins. Maxie is an American with an unique heritage: she's half Mohawk and half English and she has come to England with her father who died shortly afterward. Maxie feels all alone in the world, she feels like an alien among her aristocratic English family. She also has reason to suspect foul play in her father's sudden death. So she decides to leave the country manor where she was staying with her uncle and travel to London masquerading as a boy to learn what she can about her father's last hours. She meets Robin on the way by literally falling over him. He is immediately taken by her exotic looks and unconventional ways. He decides to appoint himself her guardian and together they embark on a perilous journey during which Maxie teaches Robin to trust and let go of the past while falling irrevocably in love with him. Maxie is a delightful heroine, she is strong,intelligent and independent. No chin lifting, blushing, simpering heroines for MJP. She creates characters that are real, with credible issues and feelings that the reader can relate to. Robin is adorable and
even though he's extremely drool-worthy I found it interesting that he's of average height. I had never before read about a hero in a romance novel that was less than a six footer so this was a refreshing change and made him seem more real to me. In short, this a great book and certainly another winner in MJP's long list of excellent romances. :)
Rating:
Summary: This book is great
Review: I read the Fallen Angel series and the silk and something series. After finishing reading these I sold everyone of them except this book. This book was the only book I would recommend by Mary Jo Putney. The adventures in the other books were too fantastical to be believed, but this one where a half Indian woman walking back to a boat because she does not like England was both fun and enjoyable.
Rating:
Summary: Mary Jo Putney is a writer of extraordinary talents!
Review: I will read any book published with Mary Jo Putney's name on it. She has a gift for developing very special characters and for making strong characters interdependent in a most unique and positive way. I look forward to her next publication.
Rating:
Summary: A personal favorite.
Review: I've enjoyed all of Mary Jo Putney's books, especially the Fallen Angel series, and Angel Rogue is a personal favorite. I can identify with both hero and heroine, something that one can rarely count on in romance novels. To the reviewer below, I must protest the complaints that Maxima and Robin are "unrealistic." Though Maxie wasn't raised as an Indian, she was not cut off from them, and she spent a fair amount of time among them... and obviously she identified with them strongly, easily accounting for her skill in archery and her interest in and knowledge of their customs. As for Robin, he was painted from the beginning of the books as a creature of whimsy--he warned his brother that if he vanished, it would just mean that he had taken off with some passing gypsies. How is it a stretch to assume that, if Maxie showed no signs of being dissuaded from walking to London, he would decide to go with her? Furthermore, one doesn't have to be big and powerful to be an effective fighter; agility can count for as much as, if not more than, sheer strength. I personally don't like romance heroes to be huge and hulking. Well, it's a matter of taste, I suppose. Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed Angel Rogue (despite its rather saccharine title). Robin, with his mixture of elegant whimsy and inner darkness, is one of my all-time favorite heroes, and likewise tough, sensible Maxie is one of my favorite heroines. This book isn't for those who prefer their heroes dark and menacing and their heroines sweet and gentle, but it is an excellent read.
Rating:
Summary: This was just an awesome book!
Review: I've only recently discovered Mary Jo Putney and what a wonderful discovery she is! I've read all but one of the "Fallen Angel" series, and where each installment has characters that become near and dear, I have to say this was absolutely my favorite. The emotional rapport and sexual tension between Robin and Maxi is as intense as anything I've read by more steamy authors. And I love the way Ms. Putney interweves the other "Fallen Angels and their wives" into each new story. Just awesome!
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