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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
Frustrating
I almost didn't finish this book. For the first 2/3 of the book, Phoebe acts like a spoiled child, and is not particularly charming. But once she travels to Cornwall, she becomes a delightful, mature woman. Although she is now removed from her highly overprotective brother, the dramatic change is jarring. Also, the mystery of who wants to kidnap Phoebe just doesn't make sense. This is just not one of the author's finest.
I almost didn't finish this book. For the first 2/3 of the book, Phoebe acts like a spoiled child, and is not particularly charming. But once she travels to Cornwall, she becomes a delightful, mature woman. Although she is now removed from her highly overprotective brother, the dramatic change is jarring. Also, the mystery of who wants to kidnap Phoebe just doesn't make sense. This is just not one of the author's finest.
who knew i had a thing for bodyguard romances, bed sharing and fake marriage/dating????????
(i did.)
(i did.)
Dearest Rogue is the latest installment in Hoyt’s Maiden Lane series; a series that I have not read. Being the eighth book in the series, I worried that I would come into this one and be completely lost, but the premise caught my attention and I decided to give it a try. While characters from the previous book make appearances, I never felt lost, and I ended up loving the book (I may even have to read the previous books in the series).
Lady Phoebe Batten is sister to a powerful duke, but because her eyesight has been slowly deteriorating since childhood, her brother would prefer to have her guarded at all times. And since kidnapping attempts ensue, that need for protection just might be warranted even if Phoebe would understandably like some freedom in her movements.
Guarding Phoebe is Captain James Trevillion, a quiet, older, former dragoon with a severe leg injury. Trevillion is dedicated to his job, but it certainly helps that his charge is young and beautiful. Even knowing that nothing can come of his attraction to Lady Phoebe, Trevillion is determined to protect her from all things. Unfortunately for Trevillion, his charge has decided that this protection business is getting in the way of living life. When the latest attempt to kidnap Phoebe is thwarted, Trevillion decides that he needs to take action, and suddenly Phoebe is aware that her guard is much more than a silent shadow.
What was so appealing about Dearest Rogue was the seemingly mismatched pairing of Trevillion and Lady Phoebe. James Trevillion is silent and grim, whereas Phoebe is optimistic and giving to rambling, and together they are quite simply adorable.
“I am not kissing you,” he said with the awful finality of a judge pronouncing a death sentence.
“Why not?”
“You know very well why not.”
“Nooo,” she said slowly, thinking it over. “No, I can’t say that I do, really. I mean I know why you think we oughtn’t kiss again: you’re as old as the Thames, you’re below me in rank, I’m too young and frivolous, and you much too serious, et cetera, et cetera, and et cetera, but frankly I don’t have any reasons not to kiss you.”
From the start, Trevillion is attracted to Phoebe, but it’s his own personal misgivings about a possibility of a relationship between them that holds him back. Trevillion is caught up in their difference in ages and station, but it’s only when Phoebe starts to reciprocate his feelings that Trevillion starts to realize that they just might have a chance. It’s Phoebe’s persistence in pursuing Trevillion that made Dearest Rogue such an endearing romance.
Alongside one of the most adorable romances that I’ve read in awhile, is a mystery element. Who exactly is behind the attempted kidnappings? Readers are treated to that information early on, and with that, they are also introduced to the heroine of the next book in the series, Sweetest Scoundrel. Eve Dinwoody is the sister of the man that tried to kidnap Phoebe, and it’s clear from the start that she has a complicated past and relationship with her brother. This “setting of the stage” worked really well for me. Not only does it have relevance to the plot in Dearest Rogue, it also captured my attention and encouraged me to add the next book to my to-read pile.
If you’re a fan of fast-paced and adorable romances, you can’t go wrong with Dearest Rogues. This is a romance of opposites and it was executed very well as by the end, readers are well aware that despite their differences, Trevillion and Phoebe compliment each other perfectly.
Originally reviewed at The Book Adventures.
*Review copy provided by the publisher via Edelweiss.
Lady Phoebe Batten is sister to a powerful duke, but because her eyesight has been slowly deteriorating since childhood, her brother would prefer to have her guarded at all times. And since kidnapping attempts ensue, that need for protection just might be warranted even if Phoebe would understandably like some freedom in her movements.
Guarding Phoebe is Captain James Trevillion, a quiet, older, former dragoon with a severe leg injury. Trevillion is dedicated to his job, but it certainly helps that his charge is young and beautiful. Even knowing that nothing can come of his attraction to Lady Phoebe, Trevillion is determined to protect her from all things. Unfortunately for Trevillion, his charge has decided that this protection business is getting in the way of living life. When the latest attempt to kidnap Phoebe is thwarted, Trevillion decides that he needs to take action, and suddenly Phoebe is aware that her guard is much more than a silent shadow.
What was so appealing about Dearest Rogue was the seemingly mismatched pairing of Trevillion and Lady Phoebe. James Trevillion is silent and grim, whereas Phoebe is optimistic and giving to rambling, and together they are quite simply adorable.
“I am not kissing you,” he said with the awful finality of a judge pronouncing a death sentence.
“Why not?”
“You know very well why not.”
“Nooo,” she said slowly, thinking it over. “No, I can’t say that I do, really. I mean I know why you think we oughtn’t kiss again: you’re as old as the Thames, you’re below me in rank, I’m too young and frivolous, and you much too serious, et cetera, et cetera, and et cetera, but frankly I don’t have any reasons not to kiss you.”
From the start, Trevillion is attracted to Phoebe, but it’s his own personal misgivings about a possibility of a relationship between them that holds him back. Trevillion is caught up in their difference in ages and station, but it’s only when Phoebe starts to reciprocate his feelings that Trevillion starts to realize that they just might have a chance. It’s Phoebe’s persistence in pursuing Trevillion that made Dearest Rogue such an endearing romance.
Alongside one of the most adorable romances that I’ve read in awhile, is a mystery element. Who exactly is behind the attempted kidnappings? Readers are treated to that information early on, and with that, they are also introduced to the heroine of the next book in the series, Sweetest Scoundrel. Eve Dinwoody is the sister of the man that tried to kidnap Phoebe, and it’s clear from the start that she has a complicated past and relationship with her brother. This “setting of the stage” worked really well for me. Not only does it have relevance to the plot in Dearest Rogue, it also captured my attention and encouraged me to add the next book to my to-read pile.
If you’re a fan of fast-paced and adorable romances, you can’t go wrong with Dearest Rogues. This is a romance of opposites and it was executed very well as by the end, readers are well aware that despite their differences, Trevillion and Phoebe compliment each other perfectly.
Originally reviewed at The Book Adventures.
*Review copy provided by the publisher via Edelweiss.
Phoebe and Trevillion were great, but I miss how it all started. With the Makepeaces and the Ghost of St. Giles. Excited to read about Asa next.
Rating is more like 4-4.5 stars but I'm rounding up to 5 because I love Phoebe. Some parts of the book seemed a bit silly to me . When I really love a book, I always have a hard time writing a review for it so all I can say is read this because it's amazing! I adore so many of Hoyt's heroes and heroines and I'm really glad I discovered her writing this year.
Spoiler
I'm kind of tired of seeing heroines getting kidnapped more than once in romance books and that's exactly what happens to Phoebe. I also thought the conflict with Maximus (Phoebe's brother) was resolved way too quickly
3.5 stars
I really enjoyed the pairing of Phoebe and Trevillion, much more than I thought I would. I think Hoyt did a good job with Phoebe, and I adored the early parts with Trevillion as her bodyguard - his explanations of what was happening around her never felt patronising and I was quickly onboard with their relationship. Phoebe's blindness is a thought-provoking plot device, much more interesting than the obscure motive for the actual kidnappings (you would have to have read the much earlier books to understand it).
The story also lays the foundation for the next couple, so the narration shifts characters which, in this book for some reason, distracts from the main tale and feels a bit disjointed. But it is well-written as always. Since there are so many intertwined characters now, I recommend that the author include a relationship"who's who" in later volumes in the series--it's getting complicated to keep them all straight.
I really enjoyed the pairing of Phoebe and Trevillion, much more than I thought I would. I think Hoyt did a good job with Phoebe, and I adored the early parts with Trevillion as her bodyguard - his explanations of what was happening around her never felt patronising and I was quickly onboard with their relationship. Phoebe's blindness is a thought-provoking plot device, much more interesting than the obscure motive for the actual kidnappings (you would have to have read the much earlier books to understand it).
The story also lays the foundation for the next couple, so the narration shifts characters which, in this book for some reason, distracts from the main tale and feels a bit disjointed. But it is well-written as always. Since there are so many intertwined characters now, I recommend that the author include a relationship"who's who" in later volumes in the series--it's getting complicated to keep them all straight.
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
phoebe and james thats some otp shit!!!!!!!!!!1
emotional
lighthearted
tense
slow-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:
No