A Rogue of One's Own by Evie Dunmore
Title: A Rogue of One’s Own
Author: Evie Dunmore - Listen to our interview with Evie here.
Part of a Series: Yes, book 2 of A League of Extraordinary Women series. Check out our podcast review of Bringing Down the Duke.
Genre: Historical Romance, Feminist Romance
Plot: Lady Lucie is fuming. She and her band of Oxford suffragists have finally scraped together enough capital to control one of London's major publishing houses, with one purpose: to use it in a coup against Parliament. But who could have predicted that the one person standing between her and success is her old nemesis and London's undisputed lord of sin, Lord Ballentine? Or that he would be willing to hand over the reins for an outrageous price--a night in her bed.
Lucie tempts Tristan like no other woman, burning him up with her fierceness and determination every time they clash. But as their battle of wills and words fans the flames of long-smoldering devotion, the silver-tongued seducer runs the risk of becoming caught in his own snare.
As Lucie tries to out-maneuver Tristan in the boardroom and the bedchamber, she soon discovers there's truth in what the poets say: all is fair in love and war...
Review: A case where the sequel is better than the original. Really enjoyed Lucie and Tristan. This book was a fun one because I was trying to figure out how they could be together at the end of the book with a HEA wedding, when it goes against everything Lucie stands for. She completely doesn’t believe in giving over all her property and self to a man when she marries, which is what her suffragette movement is focusing on. I was pleasantly surprised to find that she didn’t just give in (ie marry Tristan), but that they were able to come up with a solution that kept them both respectable and allowed her her freedom.
This book also was definitely steamier than book 1. Which I always appreciate (obviously).
It is always fun in a novel with the main characters are at odds for reasons outside of their dynamic. In this case, they each want to own the newspaper for their own purposes, not to spite each other (although Lucie certainly thinks Tristan is trying to spite her at the beginning!). And with this unlikely partnership, they learn to respect each other’s goals and voice alternative methods and paths for the other person to get to their end goal.
There were a couple of things that may be problematic for readers that have been noted by other readers. His tattoo which features prominently in the plot he received in India during the wars and is a blue multi-armed naked woman. Also, one of the people who wrong Tristan is a jilted ex male lover which the stereotype of a closeted jealous male getting revenge can be harmful.
As a fan of Evie Dunmore’s writing and first book, which we reviewed on the podcast Romance at a Glance, I was very happy to discover that this book was an excellent story as well. And just enough intrigue was dropped about Hattie’s suitor for me to be very excited for her book to come out.
McDreamy to McSteamy: McSteamy with a McDreamy heart
Classy to Nasty: Classy if pre-marital!
Hero rating: 🍆🍆🍆🍆
Heroine rating: 🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑
Overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
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May your books be your lover and your hand your best friend
On Romance at a Glance, Bridget and Shani review a different genre of romance novels each season and interview some of romance’s biggest authors. They crack each other up while getting into the nitty-gritty of real-life romance, relationships, and sex. Expect spontaneous singing, funny anecdotes, life lessons, naughty language, and 1000% honest reviews. We’ve been called savage and we’re not mad about it.
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