The Virgin and the Rogue (The Rogue Files #6). By Sophie Jordan. 2020. Avon (ARC eBook).

Seeking to distance himself from London society and his rakish associates, Kingston decides to travel to his stepbrother’s country estate. He expects a rather cold reception from Warrington, his relationship with his stepbrother has always been estranged; but Kingston is surprised to find Warrington married and a guardian to his wife’s two sisters. Planning to remove himself from the property the next morning, Kingston instead finds himself embarking on a roguish mission instead. To seduce the forbidden Charlotte Langley, the mild-mannered country miss who erotically entranced him in the middle of the night in Warrington’s library.

Charlotte’s wedding day is fast approaching and she is struggling with her doubts about her betrothal to her childhood sweetheart. After drinking a healing tonic prepared by her younger sister, Charlotte is mortified that she succumbed to passion and accosted Kingston later that night and believes Nora dosed her with an aphrodisiac instead. But Kingston refuses to believe her assertions that her actions were due to the effects of a love potion.

The Virgin and the Rogue delivers a quick steamy read with two characters seeking a fresh start, even though neither one know exactly how to achieve it at first. The epilogue is really cute and I look forward for Nora’s story, who has been corresponding with a soldier about herbal remedies.

I enjoyed this while reading it, but it was ultimately forgettable. I'm sure plenty of romance readers will enjoy it, as well.

I received a free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The is the latest in the series by sophie Jordan. I have enjoyed all of the other books in the series and this was no different. This book can be read as a stand alone even though Charlotte's sisters from the last book do have a significant presence in this book. Charlotte is engaged to Billy her childhood neighbor and friend. However, when her sisters husbands stepbrother shows up the sparks for instantly. This book is definitely insta lust but it works. The characters are great and the combustible energy between the h/h made me not want to put the book down. Can't wait for the youngest sisters story.

I was reading this book in public, and several times I laughed out loud and then had to look around to see if anyone was observing me. The interactions between Charlotte and her sister Nora are just not to be missed. They are to be savored. Charlotte has her life well planned, even if it’s a little boring. She has a guy to marry and her childhood home to go back to. Then her sister gives her a tonic on the night Kingston arrives. Kingston is hiding in the one place he thinks he will be unwanted and where no one will look for him. What he finds instead is excitement. These two could not seem any more different, yet they are what save each other. This is a hilarious story from start to finish that I will definitely read again.

I really wanted to like this book more than I did. It was very steamy. The plot was okay, a love potion to help the heroine fall in love. She has friends who try to do their best but end up making a mess of things for her. I felt that there was not much character development and almost too many steamy moments. I'm not one to say that something was "too" steamy but I felt that that's all the book had going for it.

The age-old debate – to insta-lust or not. If you’re a fan, then The Virgin and The Rogue have all the instant lust you could ask for. In this case, it did and didn’t work for me.

Before we get into the did nots, what does work is Jordan’s characters. As usual she crafts interesting people put into interesting situations. Take our rogue of a hero, Kingston. He’s the typical rakehell, or he used to be. Looking to escape his life for a bit Kingston decides to hide out as his step-brother’s home. The last place anyone would expect him to go since he and his step-brother are like oil and water. Our hero is having a crisis moment, where he’s figuring out that there is more to life than sleeping with woman and partying all the time. Of course, he can’t escape women entirely. At his brother’s home he meets Charlotte Langley, a sister-in law who is betrothed to another. She’s a beauty, but nothing to tempt the likes of him, until she decides to accost him in the hallway.

Charlotte doesn’t do things like maul strange men in the middle of the night and have her way with them. She blames a love potion for causing her to pounce on Kingston, a therapeutic concoction gone wrong. But the experience makes Charlotte question the path she’s chosen, including the man she plans to marry. Charlotte has always been meek and quiet, her encounters with Kingston bring out the part of her willing to stand up, speak up, and take what she wants. It was fun watching Charlotte bloom under the attentions of Kingston.

As for heat, this book has it in spades. Every time Charlotte and Kingston interact after that first kiss its combustible. The insta-lust is Grade A, for those who enjoy it. My hiccups came not from the characters or the story, but there were some gaps in timeline, which I usually can forgive in galleys, but in this case it was hard to tell if the bulk of the book happened over a mere two days or a couple weeks. I also really wanted a few of the characters to get a comeuppance or for Charlotte to tell some fools off, but that didn’t happen as I hoped it would.

There is no real villain of this story, mainly the characters face their own internal struggles of becoming who they should be rather than play to the person other people wish them to be. I enjoyed how Charlotte received support from her sisters to own her choices. Though felt that Kingston got the short end of the stick in the support department. This does make Kingston’s transformation more heartfelt since he must struggle a little more.

Overall, Jordan continues to prove inventive with scintillating encounters and dialogue. This book, while not my favorite of the series, certainly has some bright spots and I still stayed up late to finish this in one sitting. I’ll be eagerly awaiting the next Rogue Files to see if the last Langley sister finally falls in love.

~ Landra

Well! This is an unusual Regency romance!

A young engaged woman, Charlotte Langley, takes a concoction to treat the onset of her menses, made up by her herbalist / pharmacutical inclined sister, Nora. After feeling strangely like her skins on fire, she then 'jumps the bones' of her brother-in-law's visiting illegitimate step brother, the rakish, handsome Kingston.
My head was reeling and this was just the opening salvo! After deciding she had obviously been under the influence of an aphrodisiac mixture, Charlotte does it again...and again. Like a cat on heat really when she's around the gorgeous Kingston. And this is the quiet, boring, middle sister.
It was so ludicrous, verging on the comic, that I found I had to keep reading even as I mentally winced...continually!
All this whilst Charlotte is betrothed to a childhood friend, Billy, whose mother is a social climbing tyrant.
I'm in two minds about this novel. It's either a five star brilliant parody playing with the rake and innocent young miss genre, or it's a one star trite historical romance relieved by heaps of panting sexuality.
I've decided to settle for somewhere in between. The plot calls for suspension of belief of any preconceived notions of how a Regency miss should or would behave. I felt like I'd wandered into an Alice in Wonderland plot, where the innocent Alice (Charlotte) goes down a rabbit hole and comes out at the Fanny Hill end. I kept reading to see what was going to happen! Charlotte overcome by the force of attraction for Kingston keeps succumbing to her feelings, even when the excuse of having unknowingly drunk an elixir that stimulates her hormones runs out.
The story is littered with surprisingly insightful cameos, even as the storyline made my head spin. Like Charlotte catching a glimpse of Billy's grandmother peering out from a window, seemingly trapped within the walls of the house, looking out at the world, and never being able to partake. In that moment Charlotte makes the connection of how her future with Billy and his pernickety, bossy mother would be. Hauntingly realistic.
I was annoyed when Charlotte kept failing to find her voice. The moments never seemed right for her to exert herself. Someone else's need is always paramount. When Charlotte did find her voice it came as a complete shock to all. Now that was a wonderful show stopper!
Kingston the misunderstood rogue is at heart a man who we just know can grow into a better person when given the chance, and of course I kept hoping that Charlotte will be that catalyst.
So for this regency reader, this is a winner if somewhat astonishing.
I'm now contemplating what the series has in store for Nora, our pharmacy whizz. When she comes into her own I except her story to be equally as strange and complicated.

A HarperCollins ARC via NetGalley

This story is a hoot and everything I've come to expect from Ms Jordan. Unique sub characters bring unique plot twists. I've read a few in this series but it's been a while and I didn't read the last book. ( In which I plan on rectifying!)

Kingston, sadly, was my least favorite character. I don't think we really got into his head so he seemed very one dimensional.

Charlotte and Nora totally stole the show and carry the story to the next level. I can't wait to read the next installment which Nora's story.

The ONLY thing I didn't like was the ending seemed abrupt.

I would also like to add that I also got an audio copy from cloudLibrary on release day and the narrator is very good.

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Story in 4 Sentences or Less: Charlotte Langley is considered the “dull” sister so when she makes the very practical choice to marry a man she’s been friends with all her life, no one is surprised. Then one night Charlotte finds herself drinking what she thinks is a healing tonic when it is in fact an aphrodisiac and leads Charlotte to all but throw herself at a man who is not her fiancé! After having a rather disturbing epiphany, Kingston heads to his half-brother’s estate for some much needed alone time, only to find his uptight brother has married and has sisters in law staying as well, so he makes plans to leave the next day. When one of the sisters surprises Kingston with a kiss, he’s suddenly not so sure he wants to leave without exploring more of the attraction between him and Charlotte.










Like It? Hate it? Love it? Why? I’m always wary of the “Love Potion” as a catalyst for a romance because it can lead to a very false sounding declaration of love from two characters. In the case of The Virgin and the Rogue it led to some very steamy moments between Charlotte and Kingston but little else in the way of emotional or romantic development. It all felt rushed and half done.

I liked both Charlotte and Kingston individually but as a couple I thought the relationship needed more work for it to be believable and something to cheer for. They spent extraordinarily little time together where they weren’t trying to get each other out of their clothes. I love heat and sexiness in the romances I read but I also need to feel that there’s more to the relationship than just sex and I didn’t get that feeling here. Because of the whole “love potion” bit, I felt that Charlotte used it as an excuse for her behavior rather than being an adult and owning up to her wants, desires, and doubts about her betrothal. That’s a big problem for me with this trope, it’s easy for characters to hide behind a supposed magical concoction and can make the romance fall flat.
One character I did like a lot though was Charlotte’s sister Nora. She’s a budding herbalist which made her stand out to me. I say “budding” because instead of giving Charlotte a tonic for one thing, she ended mixing up an aphrodisiac instead. I’m hoping there’s the same amount of steam in her book but with more emotional depth.

Click It or Skip It? Depends. I’m game to try another book in the series, this one wasn’t a total loss for me but it wasn’t a win either.

I DNF'd this book at 26%. I absolutely hated the premise: mild-mannered "good girl" accidentally takes an aphrodisiac and turns into a raging nymphomaniac, humping herself to orgasm on a total stranger like a cat on a table leg. I found it completely revolting.

Second problem: two chapters from the hero's point of view in which he gazes pensively across the lawn, sipping manly liquor, and info-dumping his whole life up until that point of ennui all over the reader, and also pensively observes the heroine to be drab, proper, common, matronly, somber, a fitting match for a dullard, lackluster, meek, disappointing, mild-mannered, weak-willed, and a doormat,

First of all, there's no such thing as an herb that would cause that sort of reaction. People (men) have been seeking it for centuries and just -- no. This is not believable. The scene where she accosts him is not believable. But let's say it is. Then she becomes interesting, attractive, and desirable to him as a result of a chemical intoxication. This is not heroic behavior to me.

I don't know why I keep reading Sophie Jordan's books. Authors I follow like her, but they don't do it for me. I find her writing overwrought and not very strong, with little plot. I couldn't get into the aphrodisiac thing and was mostly just grossed out and irritated by the female main character. That said, I've read nearly this whole series. Not great, but compelling.

Charlotte is the quiet good girl but when she takes a potion created by her sister, she can’t seem to keep her hands off her brother-in-law’s step-brother, Kingston. Charlotte is betrothed to another but Kingston can’t stop thinking about his steamy encounter with her. Will Charlotte marry her childhood sweetheart and life a quiet boring life or take another direction completely. Fast-paced historical read with loads of drama and steamy chemistry. Fun and steamy. I liked it.

Charlotte Langley, being the cautious sister of her family, has agreed to marry her lifelong friend. When she drinks a cordial that's supposed to help relieve her discomfort on the night of a dinner involving her betrothed's family, the cordial turns out to act as an aphrodisiac that elicits in Charlotte a desire for Kingston, a man who isn't her fiancé. He's the visiting stepbrother of her brother-in-law the Duke of Warrington. Sexy shenanigans ensue.

I loved this book! The unique premise attracted me in the first place, and the fact that Charlotte begins the story experiencing the onset of the painful cramps that precede her menstruation hooked me in. Not at all what I've come to expect from historical romance, to be honest, but completely welcome. (And relatable.)

Since the idea of someone being dosed can be problematic because consent, I want to be clear about how it's handled in the book.

Somewhat spoilers ahead:

Charlotte is given the tonic that turns out to be a kind of aphrodisiac by her sister Nora, an herbalist and scientist who gives her a tonic for her pain every month but has tinkered with the ingredients this time around. The fact that neither one of the main characters dosed each other and that the tonic's effects were essentially an accident allowed me to read through their first sexual encounter without feeling squicky. Having said that, I know these events are going to affect different readers in different ways.

What I loved about the book is the character growth of both Charlotte and Kingston. Their interactions with and attraction to each other lead to the two of them realizing their own true worth. This realization allows them to break out of their predefined roles and choose each other. In that way, the title of the book is perfect.

Besides the extremely satisfying and lovely character growth of the relatable main characters, the rompy plot was enjoyable and fun, with just a touch of angst, and the steamy scenes were well done (read: hot). This is the kind of historical romance I'm here for.

I look forward to reading more by Sophie Jordan.

Let's get it out of the way, shall we? The cover. Is. HOT. I had an e-version, so I don't know if there's a step-back, but if there is, you'll probably need a cold shower afterwards. Ok. now that's out of my system, here we go...

I did not like the title of this book. It was way too spot on, especially since the others in the series have such great names. Plus, it just gave the book a creeper-type feel right from the get-go.

I am happy to say that poor title choice aside, it was a fun book. The love potion premise was new, and Charlotte's extreme reaction bordered on NC-17, but overall the story was enjoyable. Not the best in the series, but still a strong entry. The characters were fun and interesting, and I enjoyed seeing the growth in both Charlotte and Kingston. And as one would assume from the cover, the love scenes were incendiary.

Overall, a nice quick read with lots of bodice ripping - or more to the point, waistcoat ripping - and romance. Definitely worth the read.

This book was interesting because there was a love potion plot but not what you would usually imagine. Charlotte, the heroine, is staying with her sister and takes something for cramps but her sister adds an aphrodisiac. It leads to Charlotte embracing a sensual part of her personality with the hero Kingston. The characters are well written and their love story is very engaging. It’s not the typical story and Sophie Jordan has a way to move the plot in unexpected ways. Both characters address their pasts and grow together in a way that moves you. It was a fun story to read.

The Virgin and the Rogue by Sophie Jordan is book 6 in The Rogue Files Series. This is the story of Samuel Kingston and Charlotte Langley 'Charlie'. I have read the previous books so that added to my enjoyment of this book, but I did feel you could make this a standalone book if you wish to do so. Charlotte lives with her sisters and brother-in-law. Charlotte's younger sister works with herbals to help with health issues. So when Charlotte has issue with cramps she goes to her sister for help. But this time her sister tries something new which turns out to be a aphrodisiac. Kingston is Charlotte's brother-in-law's stepbrother who has turned up to stay a few days. Kingston doesn't really get along with his step-brother but just wanted a place to rest and get his thoughts together. Kingston was once a very popular man with the ladies but has since stop has he no longer seems to have the stomach for his past life. Charlotte ends up getting up in the night because of the tonic her sister gave her and happens to meet Kingston. Passion takes over for her and she throws herself at him. By the light of day she tries to brush it off because she has her life planned out to be married to her friend who like her wants a quiet life but Kingston can't forget the passion that they share nor the feelings he has for her. Enjoyed this book and loved the cover!

I knew I had to read this book as soon as I saw that cover, that deliciously old-school romance cover. I knew the plot involved a love potion trope but here is a content warning for anyone who might want to know about consent issues. The female main character is under the influence of a love potion when she first… ah… puts the moves on the unsuspecting male main character. Trying not to spoil this, but I want to give fair warning that there’s a fine consensual line, on both their parts.

Anyway, I felt that the love potion plot made for a topsy-turvy romance book, one that was very enjoyable and easy to read. It’s mostly in the heroine’s voice, as she untangles what her feelings are, which are due to the love potion, and why she’s never known her true self before.

A bonkers book, in the best way. Part of a series, but definitely works as a standalone. I loved the relationship between Charlotte and Kingston, but I especially loved Charlotte gaining confidence and realizing she wanted more out of life than a quiet marriage to someone she only had friendly feelings for. The perfect story to get caught up in and forget the real world for a few hours.

3.5 stars. Overall, I enjoyed this one. As promised, the heat level between the H/h is through the roof. Sophie Jordan gives very vivid descriptions of Charlotte’s and Kingston’s physical reactions which further heightens the tension. The consent issue that inevitably follows with Charlotte being drugged is dealt with well, with Kingston making it clear that Charlotte is in control of what happens. I was hoping for a little more depth or complexity to the characters and story, but sometimes you just need a fun, dirty story and this fits the bill.

Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for providing an ARC for review!

Was it the love potion concocted by her herbalist sister or was it immediate chemistry that attracted Charlotte to Kingston? Or was it that Charlotte didn't really want to marry her childhood sweetheart who had dumped her when she was impoverished after the death of her father? I wouldn't want to marry him either.

Samuel Kingston, bastard son of an Earl and stepbrother to the Duke of Warrington was wandering the country, trying to find some meaning to life. A rogue who hasn't had sex in over a year, he visits his stepbrother and his new family. Kingston is attracted to his stepbrother's sister-in-law. And she is very attracted to him.

Charlotte and Samuel dance around each other until they mold their own found family.