This one was good! The tonic thing was funny, Kingston wasn't a jerk, and I think it is really nice to have "the virgin" not be some blushing shy bore.
Here's how you know I loved this book and, especially, love this series: as I was listening to the audiobook I was in the bookstore buying more from this series. This was steamier that some of Sophie Jordan's previous books I've read and I was here for it. I really loved Charlotte in this book and her strength and character and what she knew she deserved and wanted--she was a fantastic heroine.
This one started really fun. I love a silly plot and this has one in spades. Alchemist sister is dosing our virginal heroine because she doesn't like her betrothed and wants her to throw herself at their hunky houseguest? The sex scenes were plentiful and steamy but towards the halfway point it just started to feel like historical erotica? Ms Jordan knows how to write sexiness, that's for sure.
But the story bogged way down and I basically skimmed it once she broke her engagement. I think there was a fire? I dunno, I could NOT get into these two. I couldn't really care about either of them much. Kingston has been raised by horny awful people and Charlotte conveniently doesn't have any parents anymore and is living with her sister and brother in law, a duke. There was nothing really keeping them apart other than themselves and her refusal to marry him even once she broke her engagement was just stupid. At that point you're like, ok so NOW what is your excuse? When she left to her house I was like maybe you should just leave her there?
Also, let's talk about her sister basically drugging her without her consent? What if she had wandered off and gotten raped? It seemed really shortsighted and cruel and then her sister "did it again" but nope, surprise, she was just lying. At that point I wanted to push Nora off a bridge. What kind of awful family is this?
I didn't feel any pull. Something about the writing felt kinda off. This is my first Sophie Jordan and I'm not sure how many I'll be back for, I wasn't really vibing with this one other than the love scenes.
Okay, first let me say, the entire premise of this book is ridiculous. Now that I’ve acknowledged that, can I tell you how much I enjoyed it? It was so yummy, I loved the characters and their romance.
Not really sure what to feel about the whole aphrodisiac potion thing; feels a bit rapey to me. Aside from me wanting to strangle Nora at multiple points throughout the story, this book is entertaining enough to finish in one sitting.
The Virgin and the Rogue is a book that I have been meaning to get to ALL the year long and I finally got the courage to pick this one up. This newer series by this author has been a bit of a hit or miss for me and I can tell you I am beyond grateful I chose to read this one in audio format, because it did start out a bit slower than I would have liked if I had started it out in physical form. And oh boy, the crazy stuff that happens in this book was just laugh out loud fun at times and other times it provoked such swoony feels and even though the flow of the story wasn't quite as smooth as I would have wanted, it was still a solid romance to enjoy.
Our story begins with our heroine, Charlotte Langley. She is betrothed to be married to a man she grew up with. She is comfortable with him but he doesn't stir emotions like what she sees with her sister and her new husband. While having a dinner with her in laws and the family, she meets the brother of her brother in law...Kingston. Kingston has been known to many as a rogue, although Kingston is tired of the city life and the demands and misconceptions about his character. But when her sister gives her a potion to aid in her monthly' pains but only to have something worse given to her ...a aphrodisiac, one that provoked her into practically attacking Kingston in the library without realizing what was happening to her. Even though Charlotte believes she has been drugged by her sister, she knows that Kingston has awakened something inside her she doesn't want to give up but will she choose her own happiness over duty and obligation?
The Virgin and the Rogue was such a interesting take and I don't think I have read a book where the heroine is overcome by a aphrodisiac before, and it was pretty entertaining and HOT to see that scene unfold. Because I think that might be one the steamiest scenes that this author has ever written, although I could be wrong, she does do many well written sensual scenes within her books. And I will say as we are talking about this scene, side not....the SISTER I am NOT a fan of and she is the heroine in the next book *sigh* it might be a while before I read her book to be honest. Because I so didn't like her lack of remorse or care for her sister and the way she manipulated her in this one.
She, dull and proper Charlotte Langley, had a liaison with a renowned rogue, and he was still hanging about, complicating her life with public proposals.
The romance that builds within this story is so beautiful and I really liked seeing these two together. The sensuality is what kicks off their romance with a bang, but we go from the library to the mermaid in the lake scene to seeing them discover what is between them while all at the same time Charlotte is debating her engagement. You see how she wrestles with the expectations of her getting married, to actually realizing she has no fierce love for her fiancee and she wants more out of her life. Seeing these two journey towards each other in their own realization and expectations of what they desire in life was actually very heartwarming in many respects. Sophie Jordan is so talented in writing the balance of smexy and heart within her books and I found myself charmed within every chapter seeing their love blossoms so beautifully.
“You,” he answered thickly, his voice hoarse as he collapsed against a tree. “I was thinking of you. Only you. I only ever think of you. Your peace. Your happiness. You . . . you are everything to me, Charlie.”
Overall I found The Virgin and the Rogue to be a romance that offers a unique take that readers will find refreshing in most unexpected ways.
