This was a challenging forced marriage - beauty & the beast story. I found myself intrigued with how Ms. Hoyt was going to bring this to a happily ever after. Being the master storyteller she is, she did it wonderfully. The hero of this story came from the gutters of London to do the dirty work of an evil Duke and is rewarded with the Duke's orphaned niece. How can a man prove to his wife he loves her above all and how can she believe that of a man with no heart who appears to be using her to attain only wealth and status.

Gideon Hawthorne is The Duke of Windemere's Enforcer. Augustus has very dirty fingers and he rescued Gideon from the slums of St. Giles so he could keep his hands clean. Gideon has worked his whole life to rise above his beginnings and have money & success in life. He's finally in a position with his side investments to be able to leave the Duke's employ with one final job that will will the hand of the woman he has loved for years, Messalina Greycourt, Windemere's niece. Messalina and her siblings stay as far away from Uncle Augustus after they reached their majority as he's cruel and manipulative. She's shocked when she's drug home from the country and forced to marry Gideon immediately knowing who and what kind of man Gideon is. The story progresses as Messalina matches wits with Gideon learning the heart of the man in her uncle's employ. The plot thickens when we discover Gideon's last job is to murder Julian Greycourt, the Duke's heir and Messalina's older brother. Through all of this someone is trying to either kill Gideon or Messalina. This was such a complex story full of twists and turns and who's attacking Gideon that it kept me reading to the end.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Second in the Greycourt series but can be read as a stand alone.   Messalina has been living under the thumb of her tyrannical uncle, the Duke of Windemere.  He controls her dowry and her life.  Returning from a house party she finds that a marriage has been arranged by her uncle to Gideon Hawthorne.  Gideon isn't a gentleman.  He has been her uncles hired henchman for the last 10 years.  I don't usually like when women have no choice but Messalina negotiates some conditions with Gideon that makes her situation more acceptable.  

The Duke has his own evil plans.  He offers Gideon his niece in exchange for one large service.  It isn't till after the marriage he learns the Duke wants his heir killed.  Messalina is wonderful as the heroine.  She accepts things that she must, but plots and plans for her own escape and for the protection of her sister.  She also can see the kindness in the thug she has married.  Gideon is the surprise in the story.  He comes from poverty and has had to fight for things his whole life.  There is a true rough and violent side to him.  But he genuinely loves Messalina and desires to make her happy.

I enjoyed this book more than the first in the series.  I was happy to see have appearances of Freya, Messalina's childhood friend.  Oddly I felt some of the set up in the first novel wasn't continued into this one.  Also small plot points weren't tied up in this book which I hope will be cleared up in the future.  The ending was rushed and the epilogue only being a month afterwards didn't add much.

As an added bonus the book contains a complete novella by Kelly Bowen called "Night of the Scoundrel".  Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Like It? Hate it? Love it? Why? The second book in the Greycourt series takes readers deeper into the Greycourt family and their secrets with Messalina and her marriage-of-convenience to Gideon. I enjoyed this book more than the first because there was more focus on the romance. I do love a mystery and the Greycourts are definitely hiding some big secrets but at the same time this is a romance and I want that to be the center of the story.


While I think that this series has been entertaining so far, I think the problem it's been having is simply that it follows a highly successful predecessor. So many people, myself included fell hard for The Maiden Lane series so starting a new series that has nothing to do with it, well it's difficult not to compare the two. The author set the bar so high with that series that any other series is going to have a hard time competing. That said I have to chuckle at the opening scene in When a Rogue Meets His Match. Leave it to Hoyt to remind readers of the less than glamorous side about those old days where there was no such thing as a road side toilet. That scene grounded the story for me and made the setting, the characters, and the time realistic. 


It's implied that Gideon had a thing for Messalina for quite some time yet that emotion, that yearning was never shown. There was no prologue to set the tone for Gideon's feelings, nor were there any real indications throughout the book that showed Gideon's feelings for her had begun a long time ago. It felt more like Gideon wanted to acquire Messalina because she could elevate his social status and provide some kind of security for his future. I didn't really feel that shift from marriage of convenience to a real marriage from him until the last quarter or so of the book and it felt very abrupt.


I had a tough time with Messalina though. I thought she was silly and a tad uptight. I don't feel she changed much from beginning to end. I honestly couldn't see why Gideon was so interested in her other than her social status and breeding. 


Click It or Skip It? Click it. Hoyt's stories shouldn't be missed, even when they're not The Maiden Lane series, her books should be passed up.

When a Rogue Meets His Match is the second book in the Greycourt series by Elizabeth Hoyt. It can be read as a standalone story.

Gideon Hawthorne has worked his way up from the slums of London, first of all by becoming a knife fighter, and then by working for the Duke of Windemere. He did and does all the nasty jobs that the Duke wanted him to do. Gideon has invested in mining and wants to stop working for Windemere but when he tries to quit he is persuaded not to. Windermere has offered his niece's hand in marriage if he carries on working for him and he has one particular job in mind that needs doing ASAP.

Messalina Greycourt is Windemere's niece. Gideon, as the Duke's 'fixer', is the one to pretty much kidnap her and take her to her Uncle. It is there that she is told that she is to marry and she is to marry Gideon. Circumstances prevent her from being able to say no and so starts her and Gideon's story.

Messalina wants to hate Gideon, but the more she comes to know him the more she realises that he isn't as hard and uncaring as she believed. She starts her marriage fully intending to take her sister and run away as soon as she has the money, but she starts to question that plan. She sees a new side to Gideon that she could love. Already she finds herself lusting after him and wonders if she did the right thing telling him that she didn't want to consummate the marriage for a month. Gideon has been in lust, perhaps love, with Messalina for a very long time. He wants nothing more than for their marriage to become a real one, but with what he has to do for her Uncle in the works he is sure to lose her one way or another.

I must admit that it was quite strange to read a story where the hero is quite violent. I know that he's brought himself up and that he's rough, but it was just strange reading scenes where he actually murders somebody! For a little while there I didn't like Gideon at all but as his character developed he soon became a proper hero. Messalina, well, she annoyed me at times because of her indecision, did she want a real marriage, did she trust Gideon, or didn't she? Yes, she did, hang on no she doesn't. It was definitely a case of will they won't they right to the end.

I read the first book in this series and loved the plot involving the 'Wise Women'. A secret society of women who do all they can to help other women in trouble. Women who in the days long gone would have been condemned as witches. I really looked forward to reading more about them in this book but there was very little mention of them.

Also, I felt like I had missed books in the series when there were references to something terrible happening in the past involving the Greycourt family, something that changed them for the worst. It involved the death of one of the Greycourt siblings, but we don't how they died and I am guessing that the author might go into more detail in future books. But, I am the type that wants to know the whys and wherefores at the time, I don't want to read about the fallout and then wait for future books to find out what caused it. 

Other than that though, this book was a good one which for the most part I did enjoy.

FINAL DECISION: Absolutely amazing book because of the deep affection between Gideon and Messalina. Loved how he is completely devoted to her. Romantic and dark, this is my favorite Hoyt book since Duke of Sin.

THE STORY: Gideon Hawthorne has watched Messalina Greycourt since he was a young man in her uncle’s employ. Now her uncle, the Duke, has a special task he wants Gideon to complete and is willing to induce Gideon to agree by giving him Messalina in marriage. Messalina agrees to the marriage but has her own plans — to leave Gideon as quickly as possible with at least part of her dowry in her own hands so that she can create her own life.

OPINION:  I really loved this book. I enjoyed the first book in the series, but this one was superior in my estimation. There is incredible chemistry between Gideon and Messalina from the beginning. Funny and gritty, I loved that these characters have to examine their expections of one another as they find common ground.

Gideon is a man who has lived in a morally ambiguous world. He has done bad things and owns them.  Gideon has been obsessed with Messalina for years — but from a distance because he knows that she is not for him. He is her despised uncle’s “fixer,” meaning that his low-class background (coming from St. Giles) allows him to do things that the Duke needs done but cannot sully his hands with. Unsurprisingly, Gideon has agreed to do things that are illegal…but never murder, which is what the Duke wants from him now. One thing that was powerful for me is that Gideon has finally managed to build up his own life enough that he can leave the Duke’s employ, but agrees to put himself, perhaps permanently, at the Duke’s mercy because the Duke offers Messalina to him.

In the beginning, Gideon sees Messalina more as a symbol than as a person. This book is really about Gideon discovering Messalina as a person — and Messalina doing the same as to Gideon.

The focus here is primarily on the romance, so the book spends a lot of time with their issues rather than on external plot issues. I prefer books this way as I am interested in the characters more than some other storyline.

Messalina finds her dreams shattered when she decides to agree to the marriage to save her sister. I loved that she was blocked, but she continued to plan and find a way to make a dream for herself — even if it wasn’t the original one. She definitely is not a woman who is going to submit to her fate. I liked that about her, but I especially enjoyed that she was thoughtful and willing to have her mind changed. As she discovers truths about Gideon, she is willing to reconsider her opinion of him.

This is a wonderful book which I greatly enjoyed!

WORTH MENTIONING: Fans of Hoyt can be assured that a dog appears in the book and has an important role.

CONNECTED BOOKS: WHEN A ROGUE MEETS HIS MATCH is the second book in the Greycourt series. Although there is a continuing storyline in the series, the romance here is a standalone and indeed this book can easily be read without the first in the series.

STAR RATING: I give this book 5 stars.

NOTE: I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. I was not required to write a review or to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.

Wow!  This was a great romance.  I was hooked from the first chapter to the end and didn't want to put it down.  

I liked that Gideon was a strong character that wasn't a noble.  Messalina was the perfect heroine for him.  This was a well written novel with great characters.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher.  Thank you!

Messalina and Gideon end up in a forced marriage due to her evil uncle who has ulterior motives. Gideon is a different kind of hero who is actually from an extremely different background and grew up all life working for her uncle in his nefarious activities. But now he has made enough riches and wants to establish himself. 

Though Messalina enters this marriage with hate for him, she gets to see his true personality and starts to fall for him. It is a slow burn romance and gets nice and steamy. There is some major steamy action in the bathtub! With the romance going on, there is another track with betrayal, mystery and secrets making the plot more thrilling. The way their relationship matures was really good compared to those where the couple falls in love in the first instant itself. I liked Messalina’s sister and I am looking forward to her love story! I definitely look forward to the rest of the series as there are some secrets yet to be unraveled.

Ive waited a long time for this couple's story and Hoyt doesn't disappoint with Gideon Hawthorne and Messalina Greycourt  . Set within her Greycourt series,  mystery and betrayal go hand in hand when one man will do whatever it takes to save the woman he loves; even if she never forgives him for it. A roller coaster of emotions takes readers on the ride of their lives as the past and present fight for dominance in this seemingly unwelcome marriage of convenience.

Engaging, seductive, and entertaining!

When a Rogue Meets His Match is set in London during the late eighteenth century and features the spirited, intelligent Messalina Greycourt who after reluctantly agreeing to wed the dangerous, yet roguishly handsome Gideon Hawthorne finds herself inadvertently falling for his hidden charms and tender nature.

The prose is witty and sharp. The characters are tough, feisty, and passionate. And the plot is a delightfully scandalous blend of familial drama, Georgian traditions, desire, deception, betrayal, danger, gossip, tricky situations, and titillating romance.

Overall, When a Rogue Meets His Match is an adventurous, compelling, highly amusing tale that I thoroughly enjoyed. It is the second title in the Greycourt series by Hoyt, and if you ask me this series just keeps getting better and better.

Oh no, a cliffhanger! I want to know what the evil Uncle is up to! Well he get to Gideon? Gideon is in love and it's quite wonderful! I love the characters in this story! Messalina is strong and dtermined as is her family. There's so much going on, I can't wait for the next Greycourt story.

When I think of Elizabeth Hoyt, I think of two things: slow burn romances and unusual series arcs. Her books stand out by showing us relationships that build instead of insta-love. Her series stand out for not relying on the usual band of brothers or family ties. The Greycourt series revolves around a mysterious death. In order to fully comprehend this mystery, I recommend starting with the first book in the series. 

Gideon Hawthorne combined some of my favorite hero tropes with some of my least favorite. To be honest, I enjoy rich, powerful heroes. (Shallow, I know.) Gideon isn't titled or rich. He is, instead, an employee of a powerful man. However, Gideon's personality is exactly what I like to see in a hero. He is dark and hard. The parts of the book told in his perspective are almost necessary because without them he would be hard to love. Since we get to hear his thoughts, we can see the damage being mended and his inner conflict.

It was wonderful to watch Gideon and Messalinda (take a moment to shudder over that name) come to see each other in a new light.

When a Rogue Meets His Match
Book 2 in the "Greycourt" series
Rating: 3 stars
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC given through NetGalley for review.  All opinions are my own.

When a Rogue Meets His Match was a good read.  It had passion and intrigue.  It had been a while since I had read one of Ms Hoyt's stories and I am always surprised of how in depth her stories are.  Gideon Hawthorne is not your typical hero.  He's a hired man for Messalina's uncle.  He has done many things he is not proud of.  He did all of that thinking of having a better future for himself.  I was a little uncomfortable of his ways in getting Messalina to marry him.  He seemed very determined to have her, that he would do anything the duke would order him to.  It is not until he's given his task that he realizes that it would not benefit him and Messalina to go through that job.  Messalina seemed a little spoiled at the beginning.  Even her comments at time were a little belittling of the working class.
Many disagreements and misunderstanding occur before they can reach their HEA.

Blue-blooded Messalina is saving her pin money. She's planning a secret trip to America with her younger sister—to escape the grip of their heartless uncle the duke. 

But her uncle upends her plans. He forces her to marry Gideon, whom he plucked from St. Giles to do his bidding and hide his crimes. Gideon knows Messalina doesn't want him, but he's willing to compromise with her to secure her consent. 

In one month, Messalina will have the funds to sail to freedom. But will Gideon's love convince her to stay? 

This is another masterful historical romance from Elizabeth Hoyt. It's a "Taming of the Shrew" type love story between a hero and heroine who are tough on the outside and fiercely guard their hearts. If you like enemies to lovers stories, don't miss this one.

When a Rogue Meets His Match has everything I love in a story – romance, mystery, suspense, dynamic characters, and a well-layered plot. Much like Not the Duke’s Darling, the first book in Elizabeth Hoyt’s Greycourt series, this story gripped me from the first pages when Gideon and Messalina are pushed into an arranged marriage by Messalina’s dastardly uncle. Messalina determines not to fall for Gideon, one of her uncle’s most-feared henchmen and a man she loathes. Instead, she plans to obtain her dowry money and flee with her younger sister. However, as she gets to know this enigmatic man, Messalina finds him harder and harder to resist. Gideon is a man who knows what he wants, and he wants Messalina. However, what will Gideon do when Messalina’s powerful uncle charges him with a task that is sure to ruin his future with Messalina?

Something that I like about the series how dynamically developed the characters are. The main characters, in particular, learn from their mistakes and are willing to change. They are not flat, stagnant characters, and when they realize that they have misjudged a person or situation, they are willing to admit it, even if it is sometimes a bit begrudgingly. Messalina and Gideon are prime examples of characters whose opinions change, especially in regards to each other.

The enemies-to-lovers romance between Messalina and Gideon is chemistry-laden swoon-tasticness! It’s pretty clear from the start that Gideon desires Messalina, but Messalina does not like Gideon at all! They’ve known each other for a long time, but as they commit to each other and truly get to know each other, their connection deepens beautifully. Gideon listens to Messalina, and for the first time, she feels heard by a man. Gideon is also overly generous with Messalina, in his time, money, and patience, which is the opposite of what one would expect of a man with his reputation. I love that Messalina brings out the best in Gideon and helps him to let his guard down. I also love that Gideon teaches Messalina what it really means to be admired and loved.

Several of the minor characters in the novel are absolutely charming as well, including Messalina’s younger sister, Messalina’s new pup, and several of the men who work for Gideon. I also loved that a few of the characters from Not the Duke’s Darling make an appearance in this book. Though they don’t have large roles, they give Messalina support and confidence when she most needs it.

I’m also intrigued by the event that happened at Greycourt many years before the series starts. It’s fascinating and devastating to see how that tragedy affected so many characters in so many different ways. I like how the overarching story about Greycourt is slowly unraveled throughout the series. It makes for a well-layered and compelling story.

When a Rogue Meets His Match is a great enemies-to-lovers romance that I very much enjoyed, and though it is the second book in the Greycourt series, it can totally be read as a standalone. Thanks so much to NetGalley, Forever, and the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Elizabeth Hoyt writes so well that I always feel like im in I am loving the Greycourt Series so far! From the very first page when Messalina is being attacked by some highwaymen while she is relieving herself in the privacy of her carrainge while Gideon and her ladys maid wait outside.
Gideon Hawthorn is a man who grew up on the streets of St. Giles. He grew up literally fighting for everything, and will do whatever it takes including forcing Messalina into marriage. 
Messalina knows she has no choice, but is going to do what she can to make sure she also gets something out of the arrangment.. Saving her sister from her uncle.. 
I sat and read this in one sitting. The romance was perfect, I loved watching them fall for each other. Gideon was supposed to do a job for the duke in exchage for marriage to messalina and was on the edge of my seat waiting to see how all of that was going to play out.. 
I loved this book, and can't wait to read more from this series and from Elizabeth Hoyt.. 

I also really loved the short story by Kelly Bowen I thought it  was great! and now I want to read more of her books,

Get ready to swoon for Gideon!

I love a good bad boy story, though I rarely find one in a historical romance.  Here, Gideon's story arc is the whole reason for the book and the only reason you need.  He's more than a rogue (he's nearly a villain when one considers his history) yet his love for Messalina becomes a driving force in his redemption.  

And wow, does he love Messalina!  It takes a while for even Gideon to realize the depth of his feelings, beyond the obvious attraction and amazing chemistry, and I loved every bit of the journey.  Messalina, likewise, takes quite a while to see Gideon's hidden layers and realize that he's everything she's ever wanted.  Faced with absolutely no choice in her life, she fights to negotiate a set of terms that at least cedes a modicum of control over her choices.  

Once the forced marriage takes place, the action really takes off.  This is a complicated story with hidden motives, secret alliances, and tested loyalties.  I was glued to the book all the way through and I cheered when they finally cemented their HEA.  Still a few loose ends left for future books as far as the family dynamics and ongoing mystery are concerned, but this book works as a standalone romance for Gideon and Messalina.  I'm looking forward to reading more in this intriguing series.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

The first chapter hits the ground running and doesn't stop. The Duke of Windemere keeps a tight rein on his family manipulating them for his pleasure. Messalina, her oldest brother, Justin, the Duke's heir, another brother, Quintas and sister Lucretia are the Greycourts. Their "dear" uncle's puppets. Gideon Hawthorne is a puppet, too. The Duke's fixer since he was hired off the dirty streets of London at seventeen.  Gideon has always wanted Messalina, but knows he's not good enough. Ahh the Duke. He offers Messalina in marriage ...for a price. Is Gideon willing to accept the bargain and risk losing Messalina after their marriage? Complex relationships with several different people. Unexpected beginnings and endings. A darkness that sits in the background. Don't expect to put this book down, even when you finish. A reminder of why reading a book by Elizabeth Hoyt is a good choice.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

This was a wonderful book. I enjoyed the main characters and their interactions. The level of heat was good and the plotline while predictable was highly enjoyable. I'll look for more by this author. Thanks for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Gideon Hawthorne has worked all his life to climb out from the gutter he was born in.  At the service of the ruthless Duke of Windemere, he seems to be a man without morals or emotion with only his goals for money and power to guide him, but it will all change when he marries Messalina Greycourt in exchange for an unknown favor to Windemere, her uncle.
This story was unexpected.  Messalina and Gideon are both strong characters, each pulling to get away with their respective goals and once her siblings arrive and start running interference the plot will take its fair share of twists.
I liked their relationship before and after the afore-mentioned interference and the intrigue surrounding the various murder plots at hand.  Once again, the author brings a swoon worthy couple, a sensual romance and enough intrigue to keep the reader hanging until the very last page.

A cruel duke, a feared henchman and a determined niece .... What can come of this mixture?

Messalina is taken out of the carriage in which she travels with her younger sister by order of her uncle and goes to his home accompanied by the dangerous and lethal Gideon. She has no idea what her uncle wants but she already imagines the worst and the worst can be even more complicated when she discovers that she will have to marry the murderous henchman.

Gideon is a man who grew up in adversity, saw his brother die and after gaining fame in the fight with knives he becomes the duke's fixer. On the contrary, Messalina was born in a golden cradle but lost her parents and found herself and her siblings at the mercy of the duke's will and cruelties. Both she and Gideon want to get rid of the bonds that bind them to the duke and when Gideon convinces her to accept the marriage to have the freedom she wants and for her to help him approach the aristocracy to have good investors for his business everything seems to fit in. What both did not expect was that this union would yield much more than their freedom.

Messalina, initially angry with the whole situation, does not move a finger to help Gideon, but little by little she gets to know the crude man she married and realizing that there is more to him than she can imagine. She convinces him that he needs to improve the house he bought, wear appropriate clothes to walk around the aristocracy and have good manners to get the position he wishes to occupy with the nobles.

Between walks, shopping, secrets, hot moments and attacks, these two stubborns  will realize how much  strength they have and what they really want for the future. But is it simple to get rid of the duke and find out who wants to see our protagonists dead?

I loved too much how the two characters matured over the course of the plot and how it was noticeable to see the desire turn into love. I just found the beginning a little slurred and a little repetitive but when Messalina's siblings arrive and the confusion begins to unfold the book takes off. The ending was surprising and the revelation left my jaw dropping because I spent much of the reading weaving theories about who was behind the attacks on Gideon and Messalina.

4/5 stars