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nicolet2018 's review for:
Dearest Rogue
by Elizabeth Hoyt
I had originally seen this on a historical romance with disability recommendations video but did not want to pick it up because it is an age-gap romance. I don't fancy relationships where the female is much younger than the male. But then decided to give it a try as it is rare to find a romance where both characters are disabled.
One thing I am annoyed by is that the female model on the cover and step back is so slim but on the first page of the story, Phoebe is described as plump. I wished cover models were more accurate to their characters. I have read another book (To Beguile a Beast) by the author and found it to be okay though it features a scarred hero.
Set in the Georgian era of 1740, 21 year old Phoebe is almost blind and that is why her brother, the Duke of Wakefield hired 33 year old Captain James Trevillion to be her bodyguard. James was injured while in the King's Dragoons and uses a cane. That sounded brave and cool. Phoebe used to be able to see but lost her sight over time and now can only see blurry images if there is sunlight.
I thought it was unique that the author blends fairytales with her stories. But didn't quite link the tale of The Kelpie to the main storyline.
Oh her female character names are unusual too. Some of the ladies names are Hippolyta, Artemis and Hero...
Relationships with age gaps are not unusual in this time period. Young women have their Season and seek husbands in the Marriage Mart. Most marry for title and riches and only some find a love match.
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this! The tropes this book has are age gap, grump sunshine, social class difference and close proximity. So if you like these, you would probably enjoy their story.
He is very aware of the help she needs because she can't see and though his legs can be problematic with too much movement, he still is able to protect Phoebe. I didn't feel the age gap so much though that is something he raises a few times.
I thought it was sweet where he wears perfume for her so she can identify him. He made an effort to be thoughtful such as making suggestions even if there was things she could not do. I felt the way he cared and thought of her. I liked that she learns to stand up for herself even though the kidnapping plot throughout the entire book was rather dramatic. It is a valid concern her brother and James have because she needs help but she rightly points out that she can't be kept and controlled her whole life. She needs to be be able to lead her life and make her choices.
There was some discrimination and presumptions about her blindness and I liked how the author focuses on how she ignores it or has people around her to support her despite experiencing this. She knows that she is invisible because of her blindness, to society, her value is less. I thought that it was heart rending for someone with a chronic illness or disability to read her experience.
They take awhile to finally give in to their desires and while the first few sex scenes were steamy, it isn't often that you read about a character who only experiences sex by touch and smell. I thought that the rest were too safe.
The language used can be funny at times like: Twas, Sirrah etc things you won't expect someone to say now with a straight face.
The side plot with James' family was interesting too and his sister has a development issue but she still leads a happy and fulfilled life awww. More representation! I liked reading about the horses his family rears as well and his niece was mature for her age. I did not read any of the previous seven books before picking this up and felt that it can be read as a standalone. Though, characters from previous books do show up.
One thing I am annoyed by is that the female model on the cover and step back is so slim but on the first page of the story, Phoebe is described as plump. I wished cover models were more accurate to their characters. I have read another book (To Beguile a Beast) by the author and found it to be okay though it features a scarred hero.
Set in the Georgian era of 1740, 21 year old Phoebe is almost blind and that is why her brother, the Duke of Wakefield hired 33 year old Captain James Trevillion to be her bodyguard. James was injured while in the King's Dragoons and uses a cane. That sounded brave and cool. Phoebe used to be able to see but lost her sight over time and now can only see blurry images if there is sunlight.
I thought it was unique that the author blends fairytales with her stories. But didn't quite link the tale of The Kelpie to the main storyline.
Oh her female character names are unusual too. Some of the ladies names are Hippolyta, Artemis and Hero...
Relationships with age gaps are not unusual in this time period. Young women have their Season and seek husbands in the Marriage Mart. Most marry for title and riches and only some find a love match.
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this! The tropes this book has are age gap, grump sunshine, social class difference and close proximity. So if you like these, you would probably enjoy their story.
He is very aware of the help she needs because she can't see and though his legs can be problematic with too much movement, he still is able to protect Phoebe. I didn't feel the age gap so much though that is something he raises a few times.
I thought it was sweet where he wears perfume for her so she can identify him. He made an effort to be thoughtful such as making suggestions even if there was things she could not do. I felt the way he cared and thought of her. I liked that she learns to stand up for herself even though the kidnapping plot throughout the entire book was rather dramatic. It is a valid concern her brother and James have because she needs help but she rightly points out that she can't be kept and controlled her whole life. She needs to be be able to lead her life and make her choices.
There was some discrimination and presumptions about her blindness and I liked how the author focuses on how she ignores it or has people around her to support her despite experiencing this. She knows that she is invisible because of her blindness, to society, her value is less. I thought that it was heart rending for someone with a chronic illness or disability to read her experience.
They take awhile to finally give in to their desires and while the first few sex scenes were steamy, it isn't often that you read about a character who only experiences sex by touch and smell. I thought that the rest were too safe.
The language used can be funny at times like: Twas, Sirrah etc things you won't expect someone to say now with a straight face.
The side plot with James' family was interesting too and his sister has a development issue but she still leads a happy and fulfilled life awww. More representation! I liked reading about the horses his family rears as well and his niece was mature for her age. I did not read any of the previous seven books before picking this up and felt that it can be read as a standalone. Though, characters from previous books do show up.