If you are looking for a book where you have two strong characters who have that I love you I hate you vibe this is the perfect book for you. Both characters are set in their ways. One is a philandering rouge who secretly has a heart of gold, the other is a strong-willed woman who will not allow her gender to stand in the way of her career. Together they make a super strong team. Which is needed when Giles becomes Duke knowing that a past secret means he could lose his dukedom on a moments notice. Luckily for him Diana is great a digging up the past, and while she isn’t always Giles biggest fan, she is intrigued by him. Readers are going to love the playful banter, and the love hate tension that is throughout this book. They will also love the fact that both characters except each other for who they are and don’t ask the other to change. I think that is very modern and nice to see when it really wasn’t something that truly happened during this time period. Or if it did it was not something generally spoken about.
Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

Thank you to Netgalley for this copy of Never Rescue a Rogue by Virginia Heath!

I LOVED the first book in this series, Never Fall for Your Fiancee, so I thought I would love this just as much. I really liked both characters separately and just would've loved to have more time with them actually being together. I liked the mystery part of this but again, I wanted the romance to be the main thing here and I don't think these two plots were juggled all that well. This felt really long to me too, and maybe its because I kept waiting for there to be more romance to this.

I will still read whatever Virginia Heath writes next because I do like the humor and heart she writes with, I just wanted more from this one is all.

A woman of means living in Regency England did not have many "rights," so to speak, such as having the ability to have a job. Diana Merriwell started out with not many means, but due to the turn of fate when her sister married into a well to do family, she now believes she can live as she wishes with that job at the newspaper.

While her family believes she's the gossip columnist and she tries to lead them to believe she just corrects grammar, her notoriety as the Sentinel is unknown to all but herself and the owner of the paper. And she does not need a man. Enter Giles Sinclair, the most known rogue of the ton. Sparks fly when she gets caught up in helping Giles solve a mystery regarding his parentage after his father dies, leaving him the dukedom.

The writing is clever and witty. Many comedic moments will cause you to laugh out loud! There is plenty of sleuthing to draw the mystery out to the very end. Unputdownable! This is the second installment of the Merriwell sisters. As there is a third sister, I cannot wait to see what Virginia Heath has in store for her readers!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the digital ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

Scandals and secrets!

Giles Sinclair, the future Duke of Harpenden, has kicked against his father’s harshness all his life. That is until he discovered the Big Secret about his legitimacy. His father wouldn’t let him step aside however. Complicated laws about knowingly being his fathers heir stymied him. All he wanted was enough time to put the estates businesses in order before he declared himself illegitimate. But time ran out!
Miss Dianna Merriwell strolled through high society finding out gossip about the ton. But that’s just a cover for her true passion—writing! Penning investigative pieces under the name of the Sentinel about various nefarious persons. Revealing their greed and venality. Scandalous and illegal secrets have been revealed from major scams to illegal pursuits by the Sentinel. No one must know her identity, no one!
Giles turns his attentions to Diana as a worthy camouflage for his father’s perchance to try to marry him off by fair means or foul. She agrees to help him particularly as the wolf at the door, circling expectantly is his Uncle Gervais who’d been exiled for crimes that put him beyond the pale. Now he’s back and they need to find out why.
Giles has appreciated Diana’s societal exposes but he hasn’t known what’s she’s really up to until she turns her considerable talent on his problem.
A wonderful pair who have difficulty owning their love for each other, but I swooned along when the couple became just that.
Fun and illuminating all edged with a delightful tension!

A St. Martin's Press invitation ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.

Gird your corsets, Smuttybooks is going back in time to the 1800s for the next few reviews. Lots of new historical romances coming out this month!! Never Rescue a Rogue is book 2 of the Merriwell Sisters series by @virginiaheathwrites and is published on 11/8.

Giles is a new Duke after his good for nothing father kicks the bucket. Giles spends most of the book anxious AF because he may not be the legitimate heir, but doesn’t want his secret spilled bc the other heir is a cocknozzle who will just fuck everything up. He enlists super sleuth Diana to help him find all hidden thruths about his family and real mother. Obvi Diana and Giles fall in love while they spend many hours looking thru ledgers, bc like I always say…accounting is hella sexy. I liked Diana because she really gave zero shits about being a traditional mid 1800s lady- I always like my historical romance heroines a little slutty and a lot fiesty. Giles was a bit whiny and needed to just go smoke a joint or drink some laudanum and calm down.

Overall this one was meh for me. It was perfectly fine, but didn’t grip me quite as I wished. But if you like a historical romance with low steam (one sex scene) and a mystery to be solved, this may be up your alley.

Thanks @netgalley and @smpromance for the ARC.

Smut- 2 stars
Romance- 4.3 stars
Story- 3.9 stars
Being feisty and slutty- 17 stars

I really, really loved this book! The Merriwell Sisters have my heart to be sure. While I probably relate most to Minerva due to my eldest sibling's status, I absolutely loved Diana. I knew from the first book her spunky and feisty attitude was going to have us, readers, in for a wild ride by the time we got to her book. And boy were we not disappointed. I absolutely adore the fact that Diana is this lyrical journalist getting dirty, making her own money, and finding her independence in a world where most women aren't given the opportunities. The fact that she knows that this is a chance of a lifetime and understands that part of it is due to her sister's recent elevation in society and still manages to discuss how she doesn't care because this job is rightfully hers is incredible and so so so important to me. I love historical romances and the ones that provide this commentary on women's standing in society are so necessary because while the situations are certainly better than all those years ago we're still nowhere near where we need to be.

Then you throw in Giles, who I have to admit I loved a lot more than I expected. There is something about a cocky man who is secretly a good samaritan that truly holds my heart. I thoroughly enjoyed his storyline not only because it's unique, but also because it fits well for his character. I also can't help but love the way he loves Diana. The brief moments we as the reader get where he and Diana are apart are truly so profound. Even though they're pages for us they're months and weeks for these characters and Virginia Heath really captures that longing in such a brilliant way. And yes, he certainly had me swooning. Giles is by far one of the best heroes in a historical romance I've read as of late.

Overall, I really loved the book and the storyline. I'd probably give it 4.5/5 stars. I can't wait for Vee's book she was so much more mischievous this time around and I loved that her character is starting to take shape especially as she is getting older! Bravo for this book indeed!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Virginia Heath for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Never Rescue a Rogue coming out November 8, 2022. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Diana Merriwell and Giles Sinclair are barely tolerable to each other. Their closest friends and family believe they’re meant to be together, but they share a mutual disdain of each other. Diana won’t give up her career at the newspaper for marriage. Giles loved his bachelor lifestyle. But they do have their secrets in common.

Giles’ father, the Duke of Harpenden dies suddenly. Giles realizes the truth might come out about the circumstances of his birth. He also doesn’t know all the details himself. He realizes Diana is his best hope at finding out the truth. As they work together, they start to find common ground. Can they find out the truth in time?

First of all, I really enjoyed the first book in the series. It was a fun plot and I loved the couple. I don’t think I enjoyed this story as much. I don’t think it was as funny. It was hard to get to know Giles and Diana’s personalities for me. Enemies to lovers isn’t my favorite trope. There were parts of the story I enjoyed. The ending was good. I normally love British historical romances, but I didn’t feel a connection between the characters. I liked it, but it was really a miss. I will definitely read other books by this author though.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical romance series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Duke of Harpenden has a 'Dirty Secret' and apparently someone has found out something about it. this has him scurrying to wed a woman half his age to beget an heir. The thing is he has an heir, Giles, Lord Bellingham.

Giles found out four years ago that the duchess wasn't his mother. He's confronted the duke and has had to face that truth. His whole life is a lie perpetuated for the good of the duchy. Now he's confronting the duke once again about an engagement announcement he's heard about thinking it's him facing a fait accompli. He's surprised and angered that the duke is remarrying he knows this man and he's cruel to everyone he doesn't consider an equal, he doesn't even socialize or have any friends that Gile's knows of. Giles on the other hand treats everyone with kindness and respect.

When his best friend Hugh, the Earl of Farnham married Minerva Merriwell, he moved her sisters into his home. Diana has reached her majority and is an independent soul, working for The Times editing. Although the family suspects she is behind much of the gossip that appears. It's Diana who gave Giles the news about the impending announcement.

When Giles shows up to speak with Hugh, he appears disheveled and lacks his usual casual flair. Although he declines the offer initially, Hugh's mother Olivia convinces him to stay for dinner. While they are finishing the first course his manservant Dalton shows up with the news the Duke of Harpender has died.

It's Dalton who suggests the only hope of finding the truth of Giles' birth is with Diana's help.

This is a fun and suspenseful tale, with plenty of twists, turns, romance and sizzle.

4.5 Stars
Diana Merriwell and Giles Sinclair only tolerate one another for the sake of their nearest and dearest, her sister Minerva who is married to his best friend Hugh. Everyone believes that they are meant to be together, but Diana and Giles know that it is animosity, not attraction, that fuels their barbed exchanges. After Giles' curmudgeonly father, the Duke of Harpenden, unexpectedly dies, it's only a matter of time before the circumstances of his only son's birth are revealed. With the threat of blackmail hanging over him, Giles must uncover the truth, or he and all those who depend on him will be ruined.
Diana is the second Merriwell sister to find love. A well written engrossing romance, which also has an intriguing mystery. Strong characters & a well paced story had me reading well into the night to finish it. I loved the biscuit eating Giles & the intelligent feisty Diana, they were like oil & water but perfect for each other. He gives the persona of a carefree nobleman but he’s an astute businessman & also very caring, she acts like a wallflower but whilst blending into the background listens & ferrets out gossip & more for her newspaper column. I loved their journey to a HEA & would have loved an epilogue to tie everything together
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Never Rescue a Rogue might just be one of the exceptions to the rule of a sequel not being as good as the original. I loved the banter between the characters (specifically between Giles and Diana). I didn't want the book to end, I hope Virginia Heath will be writing Vee's story soon.

Thank you #NetGalley for the advanced copy of #NeverRescueaRogue by Virginia Heath for an honest review of the book.

This was my first book my Virginia Heath and it's part of a series but can be read as a standalone. I enjoyed getting to know Diana and Giles. They both have some big secrets and have to decide if they trust the other with the burden of those secrets. Ms. Heath does a great job of telling this story that is heavy on plot and low on steam. I really enjoyed Diana and her sisters, especially Vee and I'll be on the lookout for her book when it comes out.

I loved the banter between Diana and Giles through this story. I also loved that Diana was fierce and Giles did not want to change anything about her. I love the mystery that Giles brought into the story and how developed. While I enjoyed Minerva and Hugh’s story more, I did enjoy Diana and Giles as well. Dalton was also wild and was such a great side character. I also can’t wait to see Vee’s story.

I enjoyed the dialogue between the H and H, however it was all a bit too predictable. Diana, the heroine, is interesting as she doesn’t have the standard upper-class background that most Regency heroines do. And she works as an anonymous newspaper columnist taking on both society reporting as well as investigative journalism exposing the wealthy crooks who are cheating people. It’s not clear how she discovers any of that information; it’s just basically thrown in as a detail to make her more interesting. I would have liked more about that.

But now she turns her investigative skills, such as they are, to help Giles find out more about the secrets behind his parentage. Knowing that this was a romance novel, it wasn’t any surprise to find out the truth that will make their HEA possible.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

An absolute delight of whimsical wordplay, charming shenanigans and witty banter. I adored the taunting, verbal sparring and combative love language that is Giles & Diana. Though seeming to be oil & vinegar, they are actually the perfect compliment to one another. The convoluted ways Giles’ ‘Dirty Secret’ evolved was highly entertaining and kept you on your toes, Fearless ‘Hunter of the Truth’ Diana was fabulous in her self-reliant glory. Proving again and again that she can stand on her own, but finally coming to understand that it even better to stand as one with someone you love. This story completely charmed me. I loved these two characters immensely in Minerva’s story and am happy to say, they lived up to all their potential in this story. I cannot wait to read Vee’s story, and look forward to hopefully seeing the match I expect.

3.5 stars, rounded up.

Miss Diana Merriwell and Giles Sinclair are not friends and most certainly are not infatuated with each other, but since her brother-in-law is his best friend, they must spend time in each other’s company and pretend to tolerate each other for the sake of familial harmony – yep – that’s their story and they are sticking to it.

Diana has trust issues thanks to her vile father and has no desire to marry and be “owned” by a man. She has worked hard and has earned her position at The London Tribune, a job she hopes will ultimately support her dream to live independently as a spinster. But for now, she resides with her sister and brother in law, her family knows she works at the paper, and despite her insistence that she is just a copy editor, they all think they know her secret – that she writes for the gossip column - which she does and is happy to let them believe that is her secret, but the truth is she also writes serious, investigative exposes under the nom de plume of the Sentinel.

Since the death of his mother, Giles has known the family’s “Dirty Secret”, but his father never expressed any concern about it, until recently when out of the blue he decides to remarry. But when he dies just days before his wedding, Giles learns why his father was in such a rush to wed when someone threatens to expose the secret and destroy everything Giles has worked for as the new Duke of Harpenden. He isn’t sure how to thwart the villain, that is until he figures out Diana’s secret and wonders if she would be willing to put aside their animosity and help him find out the truth, without revealing his growing regard and desire for her.

This was a well-written, nicely-paced romance story that happened to have a really great mystery. This book is supposed to be a “enemies to lovers” trope, but I don’t feel like that is accurate, I never believed that they disliked each other. Distrusted? Yes. Hated? No. I also found Diana’s constant denial of her true feelings to be a bit too much – to quote the Bard “The lady doth protest too much, methinks.” and she doesn’t stop until almost the very end of the book. I understood the reason for her mistrust, but Giles proved himself time and again, and yet, she still refused to let it go, Sigh – I love strong heroines, but Diana’s refusal to even consider any future other than being alone got tiresome. For me, the best part of the story was when they began to investigate Giles’ “Dirty Secret”, it was really well done, very touching, and stuck it to the villain. This is the second book in the series, but it could easily be read as a standalone title. Bottom line; This book was a fun read that is light on the romance, and heavy on the mystery story that ends with a HEA.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*

Never rescue a rogue

The second book in the series, set right after the regency era, has Diana and Giles as the protagonists.
Diana is just a commoner in the eyes of society especially since she is the third sister out of three and her father was a criminal. She is strong and resilient as her life hasn’t been so easy. But she knows how to make a life for herself. She’s a secret columnist for the newspaper. Now that her sister is married into the high society, she has access to the big gossips and it’s taking all the advantages out of it.
Giles is a man that is maybe too good for himself. His family is not who he thought they were and his right to inherit the next ducat is in danger as the actual duke doesn’t care about it and only spends the money left and right.

I loved how much banter and feelings go behind this story. They are true to themselves at all times and while they recognise their feelings towards each other , the whole situation is not so easy at may seem.

There are however some moments where I felt the book is stalling and made me skip a few pages to be honest. It felt like going on and on on the same page and nothing is moving.
But overall it’s a nice read that many historical romance lovers will enjoy.

Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy through NetGalley.

This book is filled with intrigue, romance and humor from the first page to the very last. I didn't want to stop reading it. A wonderful sequel to Never Fall For Your Fiancé, you a treated to glimpses into the lives of all the characters from the first novel while delving deeper into the lives of Giles and Diana. I love how even though this is a regency romance, the female characters are strong and independent - especially Diana. Giles is your typical regency rogue but he has a soft heart and makes a great hero in the story.
If you love Regency rom-coms with a bit of intrigue rolled in, you're going to adore every minute of this one.

This historical Regency romance series just keeps getting better and better!! I loved that this book sees a playboy heir with a secret philanthropic heart teaming up with a strong, independent newspaper investigator to dig into his past and stave off a blackmailer.

The banter between Giles and Diana is top notch and the cameos from the first book made me so happy. Unapologetically feminist with great steamy scenes, this book truly had it all. Highly recommended for fans of Martha Waters or Evie Dunmore and great on audio! Much thanks to NetGalley and @prhaudio for early digital copies in exchange for my honest review!

Never Rescue a Rogue is an absolutely delightful story about Giles and Diana trying to solve a mystery that threatens to ruin Giles if it goes unsolved. Reminiscent of Bridgerton, this regency romance is one that has plenty of laughs, tension, and love in it. It was thoroughly enjoyable and I can't wait to see where the adventure goes from here!

I love the cover art. Virginia Heath has a winner in this wonderfully witty and charming story. Giles and Diana are friends who find great fun in trading barbs. Giles is a Duke in waiting and a rogue. Diana is a writer and also a Commoner. The author does a marvelous job of bringing all the characters together. There is tension as well as funny moments as they investigate and seek the truth. Throughout it all we see the sweetest love story unfold between Giles and Diana.