A Gentleman and a Rogue By: Stephanie Burkhart Series: The Windsor Diaries Book Number: 2 Star Rating: Sensuality Rating:

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Synopsis

Time travelers, Alice and Edmund Windsor of the British Royal Family from the Present of 2011, and Alice's fiancé Grayson, from the Victorian age, travel back to 1855 to make right changes that have occurred in the future due to their interference in the past. They are followed by Edmund's brother, Richard, who is the Guardian of the Time Machine, and who is determined to keep them from messing things up in the past. Jonas Byron, the son of the time machine's inventor, beat them to the past, and he is working with an inventor of the time to develop a windmill machine, which will alter the future if the trio cannot prevent him from helping Sir John Russell to win a contest for alternative energy sources put on by Queen Victoria.

His daughter, Lady Keira, has not faded from Edmund's memory of his last trip to the past. He hopes that he can renew their bond, and perhaps convince Keira that they belong together. Since her invention of a natural gas compressor is actually the progenitor of the energy sources used by the United Kingdom in the future, the trio will work hard to make sure that Keira wins the competition, even if they have to resort to some dirty tricks. Richard is determined to stay removed from the past, but he has to go incognito as the assistant to Jocelyn Dunkirk, an unusual woman who helps her father in his inventions. His determination to stay unmoved is tested when he begins to fall in love with Jocelyn. A lot is at stake on the Windsors return journey to the past, both the future and their hearts.

Review

A Gentleman and a Rogue actually took a while to get going for me. I didn't get fully engaged in this story. The writing is technically well-executed, although it's not as engaging as I would have liked. The story itself was a good idea, but I questioned why the focus was placed on the technicality of building the inventions instead of something more exciting and interesting, considering the subject matter of time travel, which is ripe with possibilities. It slowed down the story for me, because I didn't find it all that interesting. The romance was a strong point of the story, and there was technically three for the price of one. I did feel that some of the interactions between the modern time travelers and their historical counterparts didn't ring true fully, as far as the mores of the time. I could understand the future travelers making social faux pas, but I expected something more in keeping with the Victorian sensibilities for the characters of this time period in their interactions with the time travelers. As far as moments that stood out, I definitely appreciated the cameos of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

Overall, A Gentleman and a Rogue is technically well-written, but I didn't find the story that engrossing. The romance makes up for the lack of an exciting storyline, and the time travel concept is interesting. End verdict, this series might appeal to readers who like time travel romance, but I wouldn't call this book a stimulating must read.

Note: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. 

*Reviewed by guest reviewer, Danielle Hill.

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Stephanie Burkhart