Reviews with content warning for War - A Rogue of One's Own

I was worried this book wouldn't live up to the first in the series but I had no reason to be. Evie Dunmore does it again!

This book is so damn tender, so sharply vulnerable, and so historically grounded. Lucie is a heroine you instantly love; her insecurities about being too difficult to love protected by a hard exterior of cold intelligence and wit are incredibly charming, and they offer a lot for readers to relate to. We've all secretly felt lonely, wondered if we would have to make ourselves small to be loved, worried that if we're too much ourselves we'll chase away everyone close to us.

Tristan is a first-class scoundrel with a heart of gold. The "I've always loved you" dynamic is so strong with these two, and the way he quickly realizes how badly he needs Lucie, while knowing she doesn't need him at all, is just so sweet. I love the way Lucie let's herself soften and the way Tristan gains purpose when they're together.

The balance between internal and external conflict is just perfect in this book! The sex could have been a little sexier but the yearning between these two is so powerful it makes up up that. I just loved it.

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jmusil44's review

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funny informative inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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kabrahams's review

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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readwithde's review

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challenging funny inspiring fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I spent quite a lot of time trying to find something I disliked about this book, any reason to give it 3 or 4 stars, but the truth is I absolutely adored it.

Lucie is completely different than what I remember from Bringing Down the Duke, but of course her strong exterior shrouds her vulnerability -- her loneliness and sacrifices made for the Cause.

Likewise, Ballentine reads much differently

when you realize his reputation is a facade, a way to numb his pain and provide space from entanglements that may jeopardize his plans to free himself from his father.

Childhood connection plus this passion for freedom inevitably turn their indecent proposal into love

(Ballentine's long-term crush on Lucie notwithstanding). Every choice they make seems real, and Dunmore gives them both space to think through these choices: when Ballentine realizes he waited too long to tell Lucie his plans, he knows she will be angry, possibly hate him, so he chooses to remain silent on the matter, clinging to as much time as possible.

They both grow and change so much through the process; in the end, Ballentine is right -- love makes them stronger. The challenges faced are truly considered and managed, not brushed aside for whim or fancy or "being in the moment." They are two serious people with real stakes; the respect that grows between them is tangible.

Though Cecily and Arthur tried various ways to disrupt the couple, neither had truly wrong intentions and neither truly paid for their involvement or insolence. In the end, Arthur actual gets what he wants from Ballentine (though he doesn't realize it); he is seen and heard and understood for his feelings, without judgment or shame.

It's a rare case where everyone wins, though not how they planned to. And it's beautiful in the making.

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