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The Player (Rockliffe Book 3) Kindle Edition

by Stella Riley (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 out of 5 stars 993 ratings
ROCKLIFFE SERIES recommended by Hilary Rose of THE TIMES
B.R.A.G. MEDALLION HONOREE
Tragedy drove him into unwilling exile. Death demands his equally 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.

Stella Riley is the 2019 Readers' Favourite Gold Medallist and the recipient of 14 B.R.A.G Medallions

“This is what historical romance should be.”
“Captivating historical romance”
“Brilliant series, brilliant writer”
“This is an incredible, page turning historical romance which held me captive until I had finished the last page. I found it difficult to put The Player down. When I did, it called me to go back to the stage set by Stella Riley and wait for the curtain to rise.” (Readers’ Favorite)
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  1. Book 3 of 7
    Rockliffe
  2. Print length
    328 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    March 6, 2015
  5. File size
    1.1 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

5 star review from Readers' Favourite
Tragedy, revenge, greed and a wealthy young woman struggling to find her place in society sets the stage forThe Player: Rockliffe Book Three by Stella Riley. After the tragic death of his fiancée, and shunned by his family, Adrian Sinclair Devereux was forced to seek exile in France. Here Adrian scripted his own life known as L'Inconnu, the Actor. Only after the death of his brother is Adrian willing to come home to accept his new role as the Earl of Sarre. Cautiously, Adrian eases himself back into society when he sees his old friend turned enemy, Marcus Sheringham, setting a delicioustrap to ensnareCaroline Maitland, heiress to a wealthy wool merchant. Sheringham wants Caroline's fortune to clear his mountain of debt. However, Caroline finds herself completely besotted by a charming young French highwayman who steals her heart and ruby ring. Never assuming she would find true love, Caroline's world is turned upside down as the curtain rises, the cast is assembled, and waiting in the wings for his grand entrance is Lord Sarre. What will await the characters when the curtain goes up?

This is an incredible, page turning historical romance by Stella Riley. The Player: Rockliffe Book Three held me captive as if under the spell of Claude Duvall, the charming French highwayman, until I had finished the last page of this historical romance. I was completely absorbed into the lives of Adrian Devereux, Caroline Maitland and Marcus Sheringham. As the curtain rose on each scene, the author depicted the beautiful gowns, hair styles and settings of the period in fantastic detail. Stella Riley definitely brought her characters to life from the very beginning. I cheered Adrian on, and yet my heart held sympathy for the injustices he had faced. Marcus Sheringham is the complete opposite of Adrian, and only views Caroline as a perfect solution to his mounting debt. Unaware that Caroline has her own mind about marriage, Marcus is faced with events that will forever change his life. I found it difficult to put The Player down. When I did, it called me to go back to the stage set by Stella Riley and wait for the curtain to rise. The Player is a wonderful story, and I will read more by this author.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00SEKT3M4
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ ; 1st edition (March 6, 2015)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 6, 2015
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.1 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 328 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ B095N4QT49
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 993 ratings

About the author

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Stella Riley

Stella Riley

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Winner of 4 gold medals (Readers' Favourite 2019, Book Excellence Awards 2020, Global Book Awards 2022, Book Excellence Awards 2023) and 14 B.R.A.G. Medallions, Stella Riley lives in the beautiful medieval town of Sandwich in Kent.

She is fascinated by the English Civil Wars and has written six books set in that period. These, like the 7 book Rockliffe series (recommended in The Times newspaper!) and the Brandon Brothers trilogy, are all available in audio, narrated by Alex Wyndham.

Stella enjoys travel, reading, theatre, Baroque music and playing the harpsichord. She also has a fondness for men with long hair - hence her 17th and 18th century heroes.

Visit Stella at https://stellarileybooks.co.uk for all the latest information on her books and her 'Who's Who' and Extras pages.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
993 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers thoroughly enjoy this historical romance novel, praising its sweet story and well-developed characters, with one review noting how the author builds believable situations in a Georgian setting. Moreover, the book is full of humor, pulling one funny scene after another, and customers appreciate the writing quality, with one review highlighting the spectacular use of language. Additionally, customers find the love story tender, with one review specifically mentioning the charming highway man character.

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40 customers mention "Readability"37 positive3 negative

Customers find the book readable and thoroughly enjoy the series, with one customer noting they were enthralled from beginning to end.

"...by hope, friendship, humor, courage and love and the reader is swept up in the fascinating, ever-evolving relationship between the Earl of Sarre and..." Read more

"...I'm still relishing the series and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series." Read more

"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 -..." Read more

"Her plots are imaginative and complex and layered. Totally satisfying and compelling. Now I have lovely new worlds to visit." Read more

38 customers mention "Story quality"35 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the story quality of the book, describing it as a wonderful historical romance with an interesting plot. One customer notes how the author builds believable situations in a Georgian setting.

"...For me, she is the epitome of romantic fiction, writing with the skill of a master craftsman who creates a world so realistic that a reader wishes..." Read more

"...Ms. Riley is a great writer who captures the Georgian period well...." Read more

"Her plots are imaginative and complex and layered. Totally satisfying and compelling. Now I have lovely new worlds to visit." Read more

"...A good romance. Stella Riley certainly knows how to write these love stories." Read more

28 customers mention "Character depth"28 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the depth of the characters in the book, with one customer noting the clearly defined heroes and villains, while another mentions the genuine friendships between the protagonists.

"...It is balanced by hope, friendship, humor, courage and love and the reader is swept up in the fascinating, ever-evolving relationship between the..." Read more

"...Caroline, likewise, is an engaging heroine but doesn't have the graceful appeal of Rosalind or the acerbic wit of Adeline...." Read more

"...He has used this gift to become an accomplished actor both in the theater world and in French Society...." Read more

"...this has an intriguing premise & the main characters are easy to care about very quickly...." Read more

14 customers mention "Writing quality"14 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, with one customer noting the author's ability to weave great stories and another highlighting the spectacular use of language.

"...book 5 stars, and wish I could award more, as this quality of writing is such a treasure – and as such, is rare. By all means, do read this book!!!" Read more

"...Ms. Riley is a great writer who captures the Georgian period well...." Read more

"...funny, romantic, poignant and just so darned intelligently and well written...." Read more

"...She is such a good writer, her stories are complex, her secondary characters are fully developed, and the tales she tells are enchanting...." Read more

10 customers mention "Humor"10 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's humor, describing it as full of wit and pulling one funny scene after another.

"...It is balanced by hope, friendship, humor, courage and love and the reader is swept up in the fascinating, ever-evolving relationship between the..." Read more

"...Amusing dialogue as always, & we get to revisit the characters from the previous books. *..." Read more

"...It's exciting, often funny, romantic, poignant and just so darned intelligently and well written...." Read more

"...Stella Riley has penned a lovely slow burn romance that is full of humor and angst...." Read more

7 customers mention "Love"7 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the love in the book, with one review highlighting the charming highway man and another noting the tender and generous nature of the characters.

"...It is balanced by hope, friendship, humor, courage and love and the reader is swept up in the fascinating, ever-evolving relationship between the..." Read more

"...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..." Read more

"...in this story that drew me in, namely Adrian, the H, who is a wonderfully tender man underneath his cold and tortured exterior, and his evolution..." Read more

"...I wish there was more sex in these novels but their embracing and kissing was lovely" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Linda Jean
    5.0 out of 5 stars You Must Read This Book
    Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Adrian, Lord Sarre, falls in love with Caroline Maitland, wealthy textile heiress and Stella Riley has outdone herself with this lovely, lovely romance. For me, she is the epitome of romantic fiction, writing with the skill of a master craftsman who creates a world so realistic that a reader wishes to never leave. Reading her novels are a bittersweet experience for me – I want to devour them quickly, but simultaneously don’t want them to end. I find myself anxiously watching the page count, and try very hard (unsuccessfully) to ration what remains. Her books are works of art and this book is no exception.

    As others have so aptly stated, this book is exquisitely written. The characters live long after the book has ended – and, unlike other books, I remember their names and characteristics. This book has it all – tragedy, scandal, murder, betrayal, exile, secrets and drama – yet it is not at all a tragic book. It is balanced by hope, friendship, humor, courage and love and the reader is swept up in the fascinating, ever-evolving relationship between the Earl of Sarre and Caroline. Both molded by their circumstances they share low expectations for their futures, it is a thing of beauty to watch their romance unfold. I love watching a relationship evolve – and this author does it beautifully.

    The plot is intricate, as is the character development. The book is emotionally satisfying and somehow feels substantial. The theme is that of a tortured Hero, which is always a favorite of mine – especially when it is resolved in such a manner as this one is. Ms. Riley’s heroes are all that one could wish – they’re quite masculine, witty, urbane, in control, well groomed, appropriately sarcastic and a bit unpredictable. When they fall in love, they fall hard – I just love it. Her heroines are just as well crafted – usually attractive (after some adjustments), strong-willed, emotionally stable and intelligent – and always give the Hero a bit of a difficult time. But, the resolution, the HEA is SO worth the reading.
    One of my favorite things about this book was the inclusion of Rock from the previous book, The Mésalliance. He is as dependably heroic in this book as he was in his own story. I can only add my voice to the other reviewers who awarded this book 5 stars, and wish I could award more, as this quality of writing is such a treasure – and as such, is rare. By all means, do read this book!!!
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Mainer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting story
    Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Adrian Devereaux has been earning his living as an actor and gambler in France, but returns to England at the death of his brother necessitates him taking up his role as Earl of Sarre. Exiled by a scandal ten years earlier, he knows his peers will reject him, but he hasn't any choice if he doesn't want the title to go into escheat. His old enemy doesn't hesitate to attack him when they first meet, but Sarre is unexpectedly supported by some new friends.
    Caroline Maitland is a cit and an heiress, granddaughter of a wealthy wool merchant, who is trying to land a minor noble to improve her family's chances in society. Impoverished Marcus Sheringham is prepared to wed her for her fortune and to pay off his immense debts from gambling. When Sarre steps in, Caroline suddenly has more choices.
    I loved the first two books in this series and I enjoyed this one also. Ms. Riley is a great writer who captures the Georgian period well. Adrian is a suitable hero though not quite as mesmerizing as Rock or as vulnerable as Amberley. Caroline, likewise, is an engaging heroine but doesn't have the graceful appeal of Rosalind or the acerbic wit of Adeline.
    I'm still relishing the series and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
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  • Judge Tabor
    5.0 out of 5 stars Okay... Now I Better Understand the Rave Reviews
    Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    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 things to adjust. 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 therefore 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
    7 people found this helpful
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  • Elgin Lilly
    5.0 out of 5 stars Simply the best romance writer!
    Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Her plots are imaginative and complex and layered. Totally satisfying and compelling. Now I have lovely new worlds to visit.
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  • flogig
    3.0 out of 5 stars A Little Too Long with a Short Love Story
    Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    This novel has everything one could wish for in an "historical" romance. Although Lord Sarre has been away for a decade it takes him one short week to meet the woman he will love. His enemy, Lord Sheringham, see that he has lost again which makes it much easier to watch him finally fall. A good romance. Stella Riley certainly knows how to write these love stories.
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • lisa matheson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Series
    Reviewed in Canada on November 29, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Great book, love this authoress
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  • Cristina
    4.0 out of 5 stars The Player...
    Reviewed in Spain on August 20, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Esta es una gran serie para los fans de Georgette Heyer. Los libros de Riley tienen un verdadero sabor y sensación del mundo de la Regencia en sí, a pesar de que en la prosa se pueden encontrar un par de giros y anacronismos como el hecho de que el café en aquella época no se podía encontrar tan fácilmente en cualquier lugar a cualquier hora.

    La serie de Stella Riley está escrita en el período de Georgiano, siendo este el tercero, y a pesar de no caracterizarse por el humor nato de las novelas de Heyer, sí destaca por una veta de sensualidad entre los diálogos de los protagonistas que no encuentras en las de Heyer por ejemplo.
    Por eso, si te gusta el estilo de Georgette Heyer, o tienes ganas de leer un romance blanco sensual e inteligente, te recomiendo esta serie encarecidamente, como también los libros de Jude Morgan.
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  • Beatrix Fitze
    5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it
    Reviewed in Germany on April 5, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    This is the kind of writing I really enjoy. It flows and feels authentic to the period, the characters are interesting and believable, and the story line drew me in right from the start. The sort of book that makes me go looking for the next in the series immediately I get to the end. More please!
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  • DL
    4.0 out of 5 stars Revenge through the power of acting!
    Reviewed in Australia on April 14, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    A long time ago, Sarre was a nice young man and the heir to an earldom. He has a lot of names, one of which is Adrian, but I’m going with Sarre because it’s slightly sexier. He was engaged to a beautiful, adventurous young woman and he was in love. Not long before their wedding, she lures him onto the roof to let him know that she’s pregnant with another man’s child. Her lover is Sarre’s best friend, and he’s on his way, and they are going to ride off together and be blissfully happy. She thought Sarre ought to know this. She thought she should reveal this information on a roof because she understands the importance of a dramatic setting when breaking a young man’s heart.

    Unfortunately, what she doesn’t know is how to trot about on the edge of a roof without falling off. Which she does. She dies, her lover assumes that Sarre pushed her because of the baby, and Sarre’s family are really not all that concerned about Sarre’s innocence, it would just be terribly inconvenient if he went on trial for murder. So Sarre pops over to Europe.

    In Europe, Sarre becomes an actor and a master of disguise. He’s a card counting genius, so he makes money gambling. He picks up a loyal retainer. He involves himself in several lucrative business ventures. It all sounds very dashing and he should be having a great time, but Sarre is still pretty unhappy and nightmaring about his dead fiancé and how his family didn’t love him enough to believe in him. His father dies, and then his brother dies, and Sarre decides to go home.

    He visits his horrible mother, but still no love there, so Sarre activates his revenge plot, with a few side plots to do disguise things to help out friends and romance the heroine.

    The heroine is Caroline. Her grandfather is rich and he’s given her a huge fortune of 100,000 pounds. It’s in trade, so the aristos are really snobby about it. Caroline is in London with her mother and younger half-sisters. Caroline has a wardrobe full of expensive and ugly clothes that make her look plain and terrible. Caroline knows she looks terrible, but is going along with wearing these clothes because she is dutiful, and her grandfather cried and was so proud of her when he saw her in one of the ugly dresses, and they were all really expensive. Caroline’s mother is awful to her, and has basically written her off as a bad deal. She wants to get Caroline married to anyone in society, so she then has contacts to get her other daughters married to aristos. They’ve arranged to pay a lady to introduce Caroline to society, and Caroline’s money has managed to get two fortune hunters interested in her. One is a plain mister, but when Caroline’s mother discovers that the other is a lord, Caroline is ordered to accept his proposal. Caroline says she needs a week to think about it. Incidentally, that fortune hunter lord is Sarre’s ex best friend and revenge target. Caroline’s all ‘oh no, how will I escape marrying this handsome man who is indifferent to me, but I can’t work out quite why I don’t like him?’ when she meets a French highwayman and falls in love.

    Caroline’s ok, she’s just a bit standard romance heroine. Sarre was so much more interesting and she was completely and forever in his shade. And he wins at everything: Caroline doesn’t even get to be the richest, because Sarre seems to have that sewn up too.

    Sarre is all adventures and schemes and revenge plots and being noble about stuff and nursing his broken heart, and there’s Caroline: everyone’s mean to her, she’s having no fun, and she won’t stand up for herself. She’s set up as the damsel in distress for Sarre to decide if he wants to rescue her or not. He takes his time making that decision, which is not very flattering. Sure, Caroline gets a bit more personality when she starts snarking at Sarre, and she has moments of bravery, she’s kind-hearted, but she just seemed to blend into the background most of the time. It would also never occur to her to reveal dramatic secrets in dangerous locations, so I don’t quite see her as Sarre compatible. Sure, he works out her colour scheme which is sweet, and she can mentally torture him a little bit by being more in love with one of his characters than with him, but it’s minor.

    And another thing! Rockliffe turns up to win this book. He already won ‘The Mesalliance’ so being the most inscrutable and awesome hero in another hero’s book is poor form. And Sarre is trying so hard to be interesting but also complex and layered and vulnerable, and he carries this book. Still, I love Stella Riley books, and I’m thrilled to get a new one.

    (also posted on Goodreads)
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  • Annoyed in Seattle
    5.0 out of 5 stars A good laugh and a captivatingly touching romance
    Reviewed in Germany on December 28, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Hugely enjoyable!
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