eak1013 's review for:

Dearest Rogue by Elizabeth Hoyt
3.0
Another solid historical, with well-fleshed characters, interesting plotting, diverse sex, and unremarkable chemistry. Yeah, we're in a bit of Romancelandia when it comes to plausibility, but stringent historical accuracy is not why I read romances. I enjoy the mixed-class romances, even as I'm a little, "...really? Reeeeeeeally?" about it all.

SpoilerAnd, yes, I'm still here for the Duke of Montgomery, who has that merest soupcon of Lymond/Wimsey air, i.e. blond fop who hides behind appearances to outsmart everyone, and I am definitely looking forward to his book, which makes me all the more impressed that Hoyt goes as far as she does in making him legit villainous. He saved the day a bit in the previous book, even after being all ominous and control-y, but here he is outright the source of bad things that happen to the protagonists. I wouldn't be surprised if there ends up being a deeper motive we find out in his book, but in the meantime, I'm kinda enjoying him being exactly as ruthless as the story tells me he is. So often characters are described as ruthless and manipulative and heartless, but their actions don't back it up. Yes, yes, I do not advocate kidnapping and forced marriage in real life, and I tolerate it from this character in part because I'm fairly confident in some sort of redemption arc, but in the meantime it's an awfully fun read.