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lynguy1's review against another edition
4.0
About a Rogue by Caroline Linden brings a fresh setting and engaging characters to this historical romance. Bianca Tate can’t stay silent and do nothing when her older sister Cathy needs to accept a marriage offer from Maximilian St. James. Therefore, she helps her sister elope with her true love and takes Cathy’s place at the altar. Max has had a hard life and has relied on charm and wit to survive. However, he has learned that he has the slim possibility of coming a duke.
Bianca and Max are fully developed characters with lots of chemistry. However, this is not an instant love story. Additionally, several of the secondary characters are well developed and provide additional interest and conflict.
When this author puts a marriage of convenience, a disdain for the groom, and an indifference to which sister is the bride together with a pottery works at the bottom of Marslip Hill, the novel is a winner. I enjoyed learning more about how the earthenware was produced. The world-building was great in the country setting and during the trip to London. There was always a strong sense of time and place transporting me to 1787. I also enjoyed the everyday life and the cricket game.
Secrets, lies of omission, misunderstandings, business ventures, family, friendship, intrique, gambling, wit, enjoyable plot, hurt feelings, and much more keep the story moving at a good clip. There are some steamy scenes in the latter part of the book and there is very little violence. This novel isn’t super twisty, but if you like intelligent scientific female protagonists and strong male leads, then this may be the book for you.
Overall, this was engrossing, entertaining, and a good start to a new series. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
I won a digital copy of this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
Bianca and Max are fully developed characters with lots of chemistry. However, this is not an instant love story. Additionally, several of the secondary characters are well developed and provide additional interest and conflict.
When this author puts a marriage of convenience, a disdain for the groom, and an indifference to which sister is the bride together with a pottery works at the bottom of Marslip Hill, the novel is a winner. I enjoyed learning more about how the earthenware was produced. The world-building was great in the country setting and during the trip to London. There was always a strong sense of time and place transporting me to 1787. I also enjoyed the everyday life and the cricket game.
Secrets, lies of omission, misunderstandings, business ventures, family, friendship, intrique, gambling, wit, enjoyable plot, hurt feelings, and much more keep the story moving at a good clip. There are some steamy scenes in the latter part of the book and there is very little violence. This novel isn’t super twisty, but if you like intelligent scientific female protagonists and strong male leads, then this may be the book for you.
Overall, this was engrossing, entertaining, and a good start to a new series. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
I won a digital copy of this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
hellodiana's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
sarah_moynihan's review against another edition
4.0
‘It’s no love match…
Bianca Tate is horrified when her sister Cathy is obliged to accept an offer of marriage from Maximilian St. James, notorious rake. Defiantly she helps Cathy elope with her true love, and takes her sister’s place at the altar.
It’s not even the match that was made…
Perched on the lowest branch of his family tree, Max has relied on charm and cunning to survive. But an unexpected stroke of luck gives him an outside chance at a dukedom—and which Tate sister he weds hardly seems to matter.
But could it be the perfect match?
Married or not, Bianca is determined to protect her family’s prosperous ceramics business, even when Max shows an affinity for it—not to mention a dangerous ability to intrigue and tempt Bianca herself. And when Max realizes how beautiful and intelligent and desirable Bianca is, he’ll have to prove he’s no rogue, but the passionately devoted husband she craves…’
________________
About a Rogue is the first book in Caroline Linden’s new series, Desperately Seeking Duke and is a historical romance.
I’ve had this book in my Kindle library for over a year now, but it kept getting shifted down on my TBR list. But I recently read my first book by Caroline Linden and really enjoyed it, so I moved this back up to the top of my list. I appreciated that this didn’t include main characters that you usually find in historical romances. Max is not really a member of the ton, although he has spent time among some prominent individuals in London and is able to call them friends. And Bianca is the daughter of a man in trade who has been very successful but is from a small town, not one of the bigger cities in England. It starts as a marriage of convenience, but instead of her being elevated into the higher ranks of society, he is given entrance to her fathers company and the ability to make something of himself and prove himself.
Bianca is a bit of a brat early on and determined to see the worst in Max. Granted the hero’s reputation precedes him and has not lived as reckless of a life as his reputation suggests. I expected not to like her, but she became much more likable as the book progressed (once she got off her high-horse and stopped looking down on the hero as a default). It showed how she really grew as a character throughout the book, as she learned to keep an open-mind when presented with people who did not come from the same upbringing as she.
I’ve only read two books by this author so far, but I’ve really enjoyed them both and I think she may be one of my new go-to authors. I’ll be continuing on with this series and will go back and read some more of her older books.
Bianca Tate is horrified when her sister Cathy is obliged to accept an offer of marriage from Maximilian St. James, notorious rake. Defiantly she helps Cathy elope with her true love, and takes her sister’s place at the altar.
It’s not even the match that was made…
Perched on the lowest branch of his family tree, Max has relied on charm and cunning to survive. But an unexpected stroke of luck gives him an outside chance at a dukedom—and which Tate sister he weds hardly seems to matter.
But could it be the perfect match?
Married or not, Bianca is determined to protect her family’s prosperous ceramics business, even when Max shows an affinity for it—not to mention a dangerous ability to intrigue and tempt Bianca herself. And when Max realizes how beautiful and intelligent and desirable Bianca is, he’ll have to prove he’s no rogue, but the passionately devoted husband she craves…’
________________
About a Rogue is the first book in Caroline Linden’s new series, Desperately Seeking Duke and is a historical romance.
I’ve had this book in my Kindle library for over a year now, but it kept getting shifted down on my TBR list. But I recently read my first book by Caroline Linden and really enjoyed it, so I moved this back up to the top of my list. I appreciated that this didn’t include main characters that you usually find in historical romances. Max is not really a member of the ton, although he has spent time among some prominent individuals in London and is able to call them friends. And Bianca is the daughter of a man in trade who has been very successful but is from a small town, not one of the bigger cities in England. It starts as a marriage of convenience, but instead of her being elevated into the higher ranks of society, he is given entrance to her fathers company and the ability to make something of himself and prove himself.
Bianca is a bit of a brat early on and determined to see the worst in Max. Granted the hero’s reputation precedes him and has not lived as reckless of a life as his reputation suggests. I expected not to like her, but she became much more likable as the book progressed (once she got off her high-horse and stopped looking down on the hero as a default). It showed how she really grew as a character throughout the book, as she learned to keep an open-mind when presented with people who did not come from the same upbringing as she.
I’ve only read two books by this author so far, but I’ve really enjoyed them both and I think she may be one of my new go-to authors. I’ll be continuing on with this series and will go back and read some more of her older books.
jillmlong's review against another edition
3.0
This seems to be the start of a good series. Max is a great character. He is interesting and very likable. Bianca was enjoyable to read about too. She is loyal and caring. I wish the author showed her working after they get married. Overall, I liked this book and look forward to reading the next installment.
colleen1011's review
4.0
I enjoyed the 1st book in Caroline Linden's new series. I thought Max was a wonderful character. I loved his interactions with Bianca. This was an intriguing premise for a series. I love when a historical author takes readers out of the ballroom and explores other faucets of life in this time period. I am looking forward to the rest of the series.
books_and_more_books_byt's review
5.0
About a Rogue is the first book in the new series Desperately Seeking Duke and it was a hit! It had an interesting storyline, wonderful characters, and it was easy to read. The series is based the Duchess of Carlyle had lost a son and did not think the potential heirs were up to the task of taking care of the Carlyle heritage. Therefore, she takes steps to ensure they can.
Bianca Tate’s family had owned Perusia, a manufacturer of pottery for several generations. When her father announces he had arranged a marriage between her sister, Cathy, and Mr. Max St. James, Bianca could not believe it. She helped Cathy to elope before the wedding, never dreaming she would become the bride.
Max was impressed by Perusia and he saw an opportunity for a successful business partnership. Max was a known gambler, but he had contacts in Society that would help him improve the business. He agreed to the change in bride knowing that was the only way he could be a part of Perusia.
Max knew Bianca thought the worse of him but he was determined to win her affection and respect. Bianca might have married Max but she had no plans of their marriage ever being real. Bianca is impressed with Max’s ideas to grow the company and slowly comes to know and admire him. I really enjoyed the book and I cannot wait for the next book. The ending of this book leads you right into the next book.
Bianca Tate’s family had owned Perusia, a manufacturer of pottery for several generations. When her father announces he had arranged a marriage between her sister, Cathy, and Mr. Max St. James, Bianca could not believe it. She helped Cathy to elope before the wedding, never dreaming she would become the bride.
Max was impressed by Perusia and he saw an opportunity for a successful business partnership. Max was a known gambler, but he had contacts in Society that would help him improve the business. He agreed to the change in bride knowing that was the only way he could be a part of Perusia.
Max knew Bianca thought the worse of him but he was determined to win her affection and respect. Bianca might have married Max but she had no plans of their marriage ever being real. Bianca is impressed with Max’s ideas to grow the company and slowly comes to know and admire him. I really enjoyed the book and I cannot wait for the next book. The ending of this book leads you right into the next book.
blodeuedd's review against another edition
3.0
It did not take long to know where the drama and secrets would come from, and mostly I am all, what not speak up!? But, then it was explained and I understood, some secrets if told too soon will not be seen in the best light, even if to us they are nothing. So for once I had to agree with secret keeping.
Max is suddenly the heir to a Duke, but he is rake, and he needs to prove himself. In comes the Tate family and their pottery factory. There he can show that he is more than meets the eye. If he can only get the Tate daughter to marry him.
Ok so he kept a secret. Bianca despised him at once cos she saw him as a no good rogue that only wanted her for her money.
She argues, he is patient. He is falling, she thinks he is a scoundrel. He learns everything there is to know about their company. She looks at his well turned calves, wait what? Yes she is slowly melting by the sight of that.
I liked Max. He saw an opportunity. He had connections, they had money. And he liked her spirit. It was a fine dance they had
I liked the narrator. Good male and female voices. Good pace and I could easily fall into it
Max is suddenly the heir to a Duke, but he is rake, and he needs to prove himself. In comes the Tate family and their pottery factory. There he can show that he is more than meets the eye. If he can only get the Tate daughter to marry him.
Ok so he kept a secret. Bianca despised him at once cos she saw him as a no good rogue that only wanted her for her money.
She argues, he is patient. He is falling, she thinks he is a scoundrel. He learns everything there is to know about their company. She looks at his well turned calves, wait what? Yes she is slowly melting by the sight of that.
I liked Max. He saw an opportunity. He had connections, they had money. And he liked her spirit. It was a fine dance they had
I liked the narrator. Good male and female voices. Good pace and I could easily fall into it