A Rogue of One’s Own
A League of Extraordinary Women
By Evie Dunmore
ISBN#9781984805706
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele
Synopsis:
A lady must have money and an army of her own if she is to win a revolution – but first, she must pit her wits against the wiles of an irresistible rogue bent on wrecking her plans…and her heart.
Lady Lucie is fuming. She and her band of Oxford suffragists have finally scraped together enough capital to control one of London’s major publishing houses, with one purpose: to use it in a coup against Parliament. But who could have predicted that the one person standing between her and success is her old nemesis, Lord Ballentine? Or that he would be willing to hand over the reins for an outrageous price—a night in her bed.
Lucie tempts Tristan like no other woman, burning him up with her fierceness and determination every time they clash. But as their battle of wills and words fans the flames of long-smouldering devotion, the silver-tongued seducer runs the risk of becoming caught in his own snare.
As Lucie tries to out-manoeuvre Tristan in the boardroom and the bedchamber, she soon discovers there’s truth in what the poets say: all is fair in love and war…. (Goodreads)
Review:
A Rogue of One’s Own is the fabulously entertaining follow up to Evie Dunmore’s Bringing Down the Duke, but it can definitely be read as a standalone novel. With characters that leap off the page, it will keep readers captivated long into the night.
Lady Lucie has devoted her life to the suffrage movement and women’s rights. She feels so passionate that she has sacrificed her own happiness, but she is elated to have the financial backing to purchase a portion of a major publishing house to further the reach of her message. However, things do not go as planned when Lord Ballentine sweeps in and buys the majority share. Lucie and Tristan have history. Their mothers were very close friends, but Tristan has become everything Lucie despises about the male-centered social construct. He has quite the reputation as a womanizer and living his life without a care in the world, but, little known to Lucie, he has carried a torch for her since childhood. When he makes an indecent proposition in exchange for the majority, she is insulted but also cannot deny her attraction. This oil and water pair must learn to work together in business and personal matters alike.
I like Lucie a lot. She is feisty, full of conviction, and not so unlike women of the twentieth century. She is realistically flawed and relatable. Tristan is much deeper than his frivolous façade would suggest. Even though he is completely unlikable when introduced briefly in Bringing Down the Duke, here he grew on me, and I now find him quite endearing. Is he perfect? Heck, no, but readers learn his motives and how he has also been a victim of society and his father’s cruelty. Lucie’s friends do make appearances throughout the book, and they are always great fun. The other characters, including parents and Lucie’s cousin Cecily are not very likable, but they do play important roles within the story.
My problem with this book is the virgin/rogue trope. It is used to show the vulnerabilities and shortcomings of Lucie and Tristan and their growth as individuals and as a couple, but I wish there was some other way to convey it. That said the chemistry between the characters is palpable, the sex scenes sizzle, and the banter between Lucie and Tristan is marvelously smart and witty. Overall, it is a very satisfying historical romance. I recommend A Rogue of One’s Own to any romance reader looking for well researched history, snappy dialogue, engaging characters, and an intense romance.
