Rules of the Rogue Book 2
Yes, it’s June, but I did read this last Christmas. I’m six months behind posting my reviews.
I don’t normally do Christmas books at Christmas (yeah, I’m weird), but I thought this might help me feel more festive. Plus, as a Brit, I’ve been longing to read a Regency romance written by a fellow Brit using U.K. English.
It’s set at a Christmas house party, so I expected lots of shenanigans and it didn’t disappoint. The author included lots of historical details to help the reader feel absorbed in the period. My favourite part was the use of British phrases and witticisms.
I liked that both characters were a bit older. Lily is a widow rather than a naive debutante, and Asher is a silver fox spymaster. They each have their quirks, too. Asher has what I think would be termed as a form of OCD, and he’s obsessed with calculating probabilities in every situation. I found him very endearing.
Lily is an intelligent woman who’s exploring her freedom following the death of her controlling husband. She longs to break free but also struggles to accept her desires after years of trying to please someone else.
Supportive and witty friends who encourage the main characters to get together are always a bonus for me. I laughed out loud at Rosalind’s encouragement of Lily to take Asher as a lover:
‘Snorting, Rosalind patted her hand. “You don’t want normal and average in bed, Lily. You want impassioned, vehement” – she flung her arms out – “adoring, zealous and…huge.”’
The heat is mid-scale with only one on-page scene which is deliciously sensual. This is not a complaint, but some may prefer more scenes with more explicit details. The focus is very much on the romance, the little touches, the lingering kisses, and the building of trust, friendship, acceptance and love.
This is an enjoyable story with hearty, good humour. I recommend reading it while snuggling into the couch on a cold winter evening, tucking into a mince pie and sipping an Irish cream liqueur. (Bonus points for the purple cover – beautiful.)
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Feels: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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