Emily Sullivan has written a wonderful and interesting spy bluestocking historical novel. The characters are well developed and the story is both fun and attentive. Though not my favorite romance trope I thoroughly enjoyed this novel!

Rafe, a rake who is on a mission to protect the lady of the estate, who is hosting the party in her Scotland home, meets his match so to say with Lady Sylvia. Lady Sylvia is a rebel of sorts and she is at the party trying to protect herself and her past. The two find themselves drawn to each other and more so than not seeing each other for who they truly are (or want to be) than for what the world sees them as.

Do their missions get completed? Do they find romance in the midst of the mission? Read this sweet novel to find out.

I think it was Sandra Brown who said “If your hero is a firefighter, your heroine had better be an arsonist!" Well howdy does this book embody that, and it absolutely catches fire.

Rafe is a spy, and Sylvia just so happens to be the thief he's been hired to catch. And I was enthralled from page one. I really enjoyed the first in this series, and this one is even better. The writing is rich and funny, and the romance between these two is just crackling. The mystery is engaging without being too convoluted, and the romance remains the central driver all throughout.

Some tropes to expect:
-house party
-agent of the crown (with some healthy skepticism about imperialism)
-Bluestocking, lady's companion heroine
-experiences heroine (with absolutely zero slut-shaming)
-ROPES
-FIRE steaminess.

I'm really excited to keep my eye on Emily Sullivan. If you like Sarah MacLean or Erica Ridley, I absolutely recommend you pick this one up.

Thanks to NetGalley and Forever for this ARC.

For fans of historical romance, The Rebel and The Rake, by Emily Sullivan, is going to stop you in your tracks and make you do a double take.

The setup is a classic. One of the Crown’s most valuable agents, the handsome and very charming Rafe Davies, is attending a house party and everything is on the line. Hello, House Party, Secret Agent, Charming Rake.

At the party he encounters and is mightily intrigued by the prickly Miss Sylvia Sparrow, who attempts to blend into the background, desperate to keep her true identity a secret, but cannot help her unrelenting attraction to Rafe Davies.
Nice to see you, Prickly Heroine, Secrets, Unrelenting Attraction.

But hear me out. This book is so much more, set in the late Victorian era and exploring some of the politics of the time. The writing is strong and thoughtful and deliciously intelligent. Sylvia is utterly compelling, a political activist who sticks to her beliefs even when they might cost her everything – how refreshing and rare! Rafe is delightful and willing to entertain opinions other than his own (gasp) and although he is conflicted, is never indecisive. The plot is fabulous, making the houseparty the backdrop against which play out struggles both great and small. Also worth noting is the wonderful friendship between Sylvia and the noblewoman, Georgiana, as well as between Rafe, and his wounded friend, Henry.

Those who enjoyed Sullivan’s first book, A Rouge to Remember, are going to love this one even harder. As she took on the road-trip trope in her first book and turned it on its head, Sullivan does for the houseparty trope this time, adding elements of real politics, true intimacy, and of course, lots of swoony steam.

I had several issues with this romance. First, nothing really happens in the first half of the novel. There is far too much internal dialogue! Second, neither of the main of the characters are very interesting. Sylvia does things completely out of character and potentially very damaging. One example is she gets into her ex-,lovers carriage.
There is no resolution to all the government corporation!!!
And suddenly the evil husband dies...
It was just to convenient.

I absolutely adores the first book in this series and was thrilled when I get approved for an ARC of the second book.

Much like the first book, the first 20-30% was a little slow, but once you get through that things pick up. One thing I really love about this series, the heroine always ends up having a modern way of thinking. I really enjoyed this regency romance and will definitely pick up the next book. I can’t wait to see who it is about.


Thank you NetGalley and Forever Publishing for the ARC

***this review is my own opinion***

I really enjoyed the premise of this story. There is a fake rake who realizes he wants more but he never realizes that until the very end and the rebel isn't exactly the rebel I've come to expect from my historical romances. There was nothing wrong with the story. It was perfectly delightful, but the characters - despite seeming interesting - were boring from chapter to chapter and I found myself wishing something more would happen.
I really enjoyed the twist with the under handed millionaire but it screamed Scooby-Doo to me with the villian being revealed at the last minute, also he didn't get any justice which was a letdown.

Book Review!

When I got accepted to review this book I decided it was past time to read A Rogue to Remember, the book one of this series. I loved it so much, it was a roadtrip romance with tons of forced proximity and I’d recommend anyone to also read it.

For the Rebel and the Rake, this is what you can expect:
🕵️‍♂️ Hero is a spy in disguise, he works for the Crown but pretends to be an aristocratic rake
📇 Heroine is a political activist with very strong views, working as a lady’s companion and has a big secret from her past
❤️ Hero and heroine are almost instantly drawn to each other and the hero isn’t used to being rejected, so he pursues her even more
👯‍♀️ Amazing women supporting women relationships between the heroine and her best friend (heroine of book 3 I hope)

I really enjoyed this book, it had a great plot with some mystery, the hero and heroine had amazing chemistry and the side characters were so wonderful.

Can’t wait to continue reading more books by Emily Sullivan 🥰 thank you Forever Pub for my complementary copy.

This is a story that draws you in with fun characters and a plot full of twists and turns, I couldn’t put it down!! Rafe and Sylvia are a fun couple, both of them have past regrets and secrets, but as they get to know each other and see past carefully constructed persona’s, they figure out they are exactly what the other needs. Watching them get to their HEA makes for a great story!

4.5 Stars ⭐️ | 4 Flames 🔥

It was a delight to read about this Victorian James Bond and headstrong bluestocking--the perfect mix of history and romance-- with a dash of mystery for good measure. There is a lot of ground to lay in the beginning but sitck with it because once the house party gets going, it is a thoroughly engaging story. I like a good fluffy romance but it is nice to come across one that actually teaches me something about history and Sylvia and Rafe's story does just that. I'm a sucker for Scotland so the only thing that was a bummer was not exploring more of the country but otherwise this was a treat! This is my first Emily Sullivan book but can't wait to read about Henry & Georgiana in the next installment!

Many thanks to Forever Grand Central Publishing & Netgalley for the ARC.

This is the second book in a new series and while you do not need to read the first, I recommend it, because that one was lovely as well.

Rafe and Sylvia meet at a house party where they are both in disguises. She's a companion and bluestocking and he's a dumb rake. Despite their early misconceptions, they find themselves falling in love. This story was so clever, I loved the premise and it was so well executed. I had a bit of a problem getting into it because it took me a minute to figure out what was going on but once I got past the first couple of chapters, it was hard to put down.

Rafe is on a mission for the crown and meeting Sylvia causes him to reevaluate his life choices. Sylvia has a scandalous background that could compromise any political aspirations Rafe has. There's a lot for these two to overcome to be together and I thought the book wrapped up pretty neatly considering.

Emily Sullivan is definitely a new author to watch.

I adore series because reading them feels like visiting old friends. I get to experience the book for the first time but also already know a character. So when Rafe walked into this book, I was so excited to learn what he was up to.

Rafe's cover as a spy in part relies on his reputation as a rake and dilettante. Meanwhile, Sylvia has a scandalous past. She used to write radical articles for a feminist newspaper, including one particularly outrageous piece that suggested women should be paid equally to men. Her dear friend helped her hide her activities, so she could get a respectable job as a lady's companion. As you can tell from my tone, I adored her. The two of them have a lot to overcome to be a match.

For the most part, I loved the book. There was one part that required a bit too much suspension of disbelief for me though. It was quickly reconciled. And I especially appreciated the author's note at the end and the opportunity to learn more about the history of "New Women."

Rather than compare it to the Bridgertons series (as in the marketing), I would compare it to Evie Dunmore's series that highlights woman's rights. And I love it all the more for that comparison.

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. These opinions are my own.

Goodness, this book was amazing. Emily Sullivan is quickly becoming a favorite with these out of the box historical romances.

The SPY and the bluestocking?? Get in my heart!

The book started a little slow for me, but picked up around the mid point. Rafe and Sylvia both have their secrets which I desperately loved and want a spin off series of these two solving crimes together hahaha.

A great follow up to a stunning debut!

Thank you, Forever for the ARC!

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the advance review copy; all opinions are my own!

Ever since reading A ROGUE TO REMEMBER, I've been intrigued and excited to read the enigmatic Rafe Davies' story. THE REBEL AND THE RAKE delivered on a satisfying inside look into Rafe's life and his cultivated rakish persona hiding the real man beneath: spy, scorned son still hoping to be seen and validated by his half-siblings, someone with an urgent need to prove his worth and leave his mark.

Sylvia Sparrow (Wilcox) was a fantastic fiery, feminist bluestocking heroine. I instantly liked her for her passion, her bravery, and her vulnerability; and I admired her tenacity in the face of so much disappointment and rejection both of her and her values. Seeing Rafe learn every corner of her, when she finally felt safe to trust him with that truth, watching him be challenged and grow to be a truly supportive partner to her, which is exactly what she deserves, was so swoony.

Speaking of swoony, I'm ready to swoon hard for Henry, Rafe's friend, aka The National Hero, who we meet briefly and I instantly liked. I hope I'm not wrong in thinking there's something between him and Georgiana, Sylvia's tough as nails best friend who finds herself relieved to be widowed at the end of this story. Fingers crossed that a delicious (second chance?) romance awaits us!

This was just as good as Emily Sullivan's first book. A really enjoyable read, with charming characters who had a genuine and palpable connection with each other. I had such a great time reading it.

This was an exciting addition to League of Scoundrels series!

I absolutely loved Sylvie’s character. She is the strong heroine we all love to see in historical romances. I love that she didn’t compromise her beliefs and continued to voice her opinions by the end of the book.

Secrets are such a integral part of this book, and also inherent biases held by most of them men of this time period.

“She was so tired of being forced to leave, forced to give up the things and people she loved. And for what? Because she had dared to have an opinion? Dared to lend her voice to the voiceless?”

I’m definitely looking forward to the next book in the series, we got a little insight to the two main characters, but I need to know their backstory!

You can definitely read this one as a standalone, there are a few characters that overlap from the previous book, but nothing that would keep you from enjoying this one!

I really appreciated the pace at which the romance unfolded in this story. Early attraction, but they both seemed to want to trust the other, and almost become friends first. I expected a little more action and intrigue since the male lead is a spy, but it was still a very entertaining and spicy romance.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This is the second book in Sullivan's League of Scoundrels series, and it's another absolutely wonderful ride! After meeting him in the first book, I was excited to get Rafe's story, and it doesn't disappoint. Is there anything better than watching a hero completely lose his head over a smart, opinionated heroine? No, there is not. Speaking of which, I adored Sylvia and all her rebellious secrets, plus her friendship with Georgiana was a delight. The mystery was fantastic, and the time period so interesting to read about. I'm looking forward to more!

I absolutely loved A Rogue to Remember by Emily Sullivan, so I was so excited to read The Rebel and the Rake. Thank you to the publisher for the eARC copy. All thoughts are my own.

I definitely love a good spy and bluestocking historical romance. Also, this takes place during a house party in Scotland! This is the perfect recipe for everything I love in my historical romances.

Both Rafe and Sylvia have aspects of their lives that they are hiding from each other and the other guests of the party. The story is slower to build, but the action is very exciting once we hit that build-up and the romance heats up, too!

I really enjoyed this book - it is a great follow-up to A Rogue to Remember and while the pacing is slower, the quality is equally wonderful.

Known in society as a notrious rake, Rafe Davies is actually a spy, who uses this persona and reputation he has constructed as a front for his secret missions for the Crown in late-Victorian era England. Davies is hired by a wealthy entrepreneur to spy on the guests at a house party in his newly acquired Scottish castle in the hopes of uncovering who has stolen an important letter with Crown secrets. Davies meets a lady's companion, Sylvia Sparrow, who challenges his opinons and views, unexpectedly grabs his attention, and starts to unmask the careful guise he has constructed to see his true person.

There are several aspects of this rake-wallflower-trope romance that made it stand out from others, the least of which is the fact that both the rake and wallflower personas were contrived by their characters as guises to hide their true selves! First, I appreciated the historical context. In many HR books I've read, the period is merely a backdrop for the story and the characters; here, the period is part of the plot that helps drive the characters together. Rafe is a spy for the crown. The inciting incident is that a letter is stolen, ostensibly, by Scottish separatists. Sylvia's past is marred by her "anarchistic" beliefs regarding women's sufferage. The plot of this book is steeped in the historical context of the time, and it was fun to read an HR where the history was more a part of the story than simply a backdrop.

I should point out, that there is an excellent Author's Note at the end of this book that discusses women in late-Victorian era England that explains the construction of Sylvia's character.  I actually think that this Author's Note would be best read before reading the book, because it provides such interesting and critical context that enhances the believability of the story.

Second, I appreciated the adult relationship. Rafe and Sylvia actually talked to one another about their developing feelings, replacing pining with actual conversation. It made the relationship that much more believable and no less satisfying. Sylvia never shied away from taking what she wanted from Rafe or telling him what she felt. Her forwardness in their relationship mirrored the strength of her character and her socio-political ideology making for a well-rounded, self-consistent character.

Finally, the dialogue throughout the book among all of the characters was superbly done. When I read various excerpts of the dialogue I remember thinking, "Wow! This actually reads as people would have spoken to one another at that time." The word choice and phrasing were spot on, and again, it made for a more authentic historical experience.

There were a couple of things that pulled me out of the story, but only in minor ways. First, the big plot reveal felt a little "Bond-Villain-esque." The antagonist holds Rafe and Sylvia at gunpoint and basically explains the entire mystery as well as the remaining secrets that Rafe and Sylvia are holding from one another. It actually worked fine, and moved the story along, but I think things could have been revealed a bit more subtlely than a major Bond-Villain info-dump. Second, there were a couple of scenes where the male characters were discussing their feelings with one another. In those scenes, the voices of the male characters seemed to change. Suddenly, they were able to openly articulate and discuss their feelings about love and relationships clearly and directly in a manner they hadn't done before and that reminded me of dialogue between the female characters in the book as opposed to their own characters. Their introspection in these conversations and the subsequent change in their character's beliefs seemed quite abrupt. This is a minor quibble, but it did pull me out of the story in those moments.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I will definitely read on in the series. This is quality Historical Romance, with emphasis on historical, which was unexpected and pleasurable for me. I liked the characters, and with the setup for the next couple in the series, I'm definitely hooked!

The Rebel and the Rake is the second book in the League of Scoundrels series, and it follows Sylvia Sparrow, a lady’s companion hiding a rebellious past, and Rafe Davies, a government spy. When both attend a house party, they find themselves inextricably drawn to each other, but they both have secrets. Rafe Davies is a spy tasked with finding out who is sending threatening messages to and stealing from the host, and Sylvia is being blackmailed and must steal documents from the host or risk having her scandalous, rebellious past exposed.

A huge advocate for social reform, Sylvie fights for what she believes in. She is a strong, intelligent, and forward-thinking woman, and I love that she is unbending in her convictions. She has been burned by love in the past, but she hasn’t let that defeat her. A political activist, Sylvie has very strong ideals, and her perspective opens Rafe’s eyes a bit. I love Rafe! He is charming and charismatic, and he has a great character arc. Rafe has become disenchanted with his career and questions his role as a spy dedicated to the government. He begins to wonder if he’s missed out on life, and he seems to want more for his future.

Rafe and Sylvie both live double lives, though for very different reasons. Sylvie is the only one to see past Rafe’s disguise, and Rafe knows there is more to Sylvie than meets the eye. Both are such interesting, layered characters with compelling pasts. I like how you slowly learn more about them and how their pasts helped to define their current situations. Most of all, I love their romance! They have such great chemistry, and there is this tension between them that is fantastic.

I also really liked the strong female bonds in the story. Sylvia and Georgiana are wonderful friends and fiercely supportive of each other. It seems like both have difficult pasts, yet they have always remained loyal to and protective of each other. I’m eager to learn more about Georgiana in the next book in the series. She’s such a compelling character, and I have a feeling her story will be fantastic!

There’s also an abundance of intrigue and mystery, especially regarding who is blackmailing Sylvie and who is threatening the host. Sylvie and Rafe find themselves entrenched in dangerous and potentially deadly situations, and since both are also keeping secrets, the tension is high. It was interesting to see how Sylvie’s blackmailing and the other situations at the house party connected, and I enjoyed the building suspense throughout the story.

I enjoyed this addition to the League of Scoundrels series. It has great characters, a lot of intrigue, interesting history, and a sexy romance. Plus, it can easily be read as a standalone. That being said, the first book, A Rogue to Remember, is fantastic, and I highly recommend it! Thanks so much to NetGalley, Forever, and Emily Sullivan for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.