Virginia Heath is a massively talented author who knows banter like I know the back of my hand, but snappy dialogue isn’t enough to disguise the fact that the plot points in this second book in her Merriwell Sisters series are somewhat stale.

Giles Sinclair, the newly-minted Duke of Harpenden, disguises himself as a womanizing rogue in order to avoid the marriage mart so that instead, he can devote himself to fixing his estate’s financial issues, as his cold-hearted father won’t even so much as let him on the grounds. But when his father dies, securing the title and lineage becomes of utmost import. Giles soon learns that his father tried to marry Dahlia, the draper’s daughter, to sire a legal heir upon her, which begs the question - why would an elderly man throw himself on the marriage mart at his advanced age to get a legitimate heir when he already has one? That would be because Giles is actually illegitimate; he has no ideas who his biological mother is, and if the secret is revealed, he will be stripped of his title. Giles decides to prove he has a legitimate claim.

In desperation, he turns to Diana Merriwell, an old chum (and younger sister of Minerva, heroine of Never Fall For Your Fiancée, the first book in the series). Everyone around Diana and Giles thinks that their constant arguing stems from a buried attraction, but they truly dislike each other – or so they say. Diana’s father left the family when she was only a child, and the trauma has taught Diana to depend only on herself and her sisters – she will never marry because of this. To wit, Diana has dedicated her life to journalism, working as an investigative reporter under an assumed name that has made her notorious, but disguising her activity by telling family and friends she’s a gossip columnist, which is considered much more ‘suitable’. She’s the perfect person to help Giles figure out who his mother is. But the more time they spend researching the situation, the closer they get.

Never Rescue a Rogue gets most of its charm from Heath’s signature rapid-fire patter. She knows chemistry, she knows strong, smart characters. All of this works and works well, and while she does use some well-worn tropes, she makes magic by twisting most of these notions upside down. It’s the one she doesn’t twist that feel rote. And while it’s refreshing that both of our leads here have daddy issues, I am weary of daddy issues in romances keeping characters from fully committing.

Giles and Diana are both likable people; he’s secretly got a heart of gold, and she’s smart and resourceful. And yes, it’s a traditional enemies-to-friends-to-lovers sensual slow burn between them, one that pays off very well, and includes some compelling and spirited banter.

There are a few pacing issues, and an ending that seems to rear up out of nowhere. But the quality of the writing and chemistry between the leads make things well worthwhile. A memorable heroine and a memorable hero, meddling family members, and some fun ideas almost raise this one to a solid B, a worthwhile read, if not a top priority one.

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In this sequel to Never Fall for Your Fiancee, Giles Sinclair, the dashing, devil-may-care Duke of Harpenden, faces an unexpected fight for his inheritance. When his father dies and the new duke's legitimacy is questioned by a dangerous threat, Giles turns to the only person he trusts to get him out of this situation- Diana Merriwell, the sister-in-law of his best friend. Diana moonlights as an investigative reporter only known as the Sentinel, and when Giles discovers her secret identity he knows that he she is the right person to ask for help. But as Giles and Diana traverse the country looking for clues together, they realize that the attraction between them might be growing into something more.

This was such a fun, delightful story. The chemistry between Giles and Diana was off the charts, and I really appreciated how both were willing to acknowledge and take stock of their feelings for each other in a reasonable fashion instead of trying to turn a blind eye for most of the book. It was actually quite refreshing to see lead characters be in tune with their emotions like adults, even though other things may have kept them from acting on them. I remember thinking to myself at some point while reading this, "these are somehow simultaneously the most and least self aware characters I have ever read". That made the development of the romance even more interesting though, and I was really rooting for them by the end of the novel. The plot involving Giles' inheritance was also interesting, and I appreciate the change in tone from the last novel to something darker and more complicated while still keeping the lighthearted romantic comedy aspect.

Overall, I highly recommend this novel for historical fiction readers! Thank you so much to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advanced reader's copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review!

Has a bit of a Bridgerton vibe. A very slow burn with lots of witty back and forth banter. Reading felt like a bit of an adventure with their time spent together. Not gonna lie, the first couple chapters were a bit dull. Too many characters I could not keep straight. Once the story picked it got real interesting.

After enjoying Never Fall for Your Fiancée, I was excited to begin the second Merriwell Sisters novel, Never Rescue a Rogue. After Hugh Standish, Earl of Fareham and Minerva Merriwell have found love with each other, it is time for the middle sister, Diana, to find her match. Her story follows her growing relationship with Hugh’s best friend, Giles Sinclair, Lord Bellingham, and Heir to the Duke of Harpenden. The two of them were introduced in the first novel with hints of their budding relationship in the background, so I was very excited to read their story.

As a writer for the newspaper, Diana writes pieces about the Ton and other subjects, however, her family is under the impression that she is only a proofreader. As Giles is on the search for the truth about his history, Diana makes the perfect ally. There is drama surrounding Giles and his title along with heavier tones from his traumatic past. Between Diana’s investigative skills and Giles using her assistance, the two of them spend more time together where they continue to discover their feelings for each other. The two of them share great banter and chemistry, so it was just a matter of time before they became a couple. Since some of their history with each other is established in the first novel, some readers may miss this part between them if they only read this as a standalone. While it still read well, this would be a factor for other readers to consider.

The two main characters are great as it was nice to get to know them further, although I always wish for more as there is a lot more to them than can fit on a page. The writing of this novel is easy enough to follow while being interesting. There is a Martha Waters-vibe to the novel while still holding its own as a unique tale. The side characters are all enjoyable. Giles has a butler named Dalton, who definitely stole the show in some scenes. I love how the three sisters all connect to keep the series cohesive while being distinct enough to have each of their stories stand on their own. While it is still taking me a little bit to warm up to the youngest sister, Venus (Vee), I am still looking forward to reader her story next!

**I give a special thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin, for the opportunity to read this entertaining novel. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

Regency novels are hit or miss for me, but Never Rescue a Rogue was so much fun! It's an angsty but delicious slow burn, with great banter, and my favorite trope: enemies to lovers!

A slyly fun take on the enemies (well not really) to lovers trope set during the Regency. Giles enlists Diana for hep when his father, the Duke, dies unexpectedly and someone tries to blackmail him. She's a journalist, an unusual career (wow a career at all was unusual for a woman of her class) for the period. There's sprightly dialogue and a light, albeit it twisty, mystery. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I'd not read the first book and this made a fine standalone.

Never Rescue a Rogue
Book 2 in The Merriwell Sisters
Rating: 4 stars
Thank you to the author/publisher for the ARC given through NetGalley for review. All opinions are my own.

Never Rescue a Rogue is the story of the second Merriwell sister, Diana, and Giles Sinclair. I really enjoyed this story. I think it was very entertaining because it had witty banter and great chemistry between the two leads. I loved seeing them denying their feelings for each other while everybody else could tell that it wasn't an annoyance they felt for each other.
I think what made the story so much fun was the added mystery of Giles true background. Because of this we are taken on an investigative adventure of trying to uncover the truth. It was fun seeing Diana's brain work and that Giles' was in awe with her because of it.
Overall I enjoyed these two characters working together while fighting their attraction. Theirs was a slow burn romance that finally came to fruition thanks to the matchmaking antics of her family. Which is another thing that I liked because they welcomed Giles into the family even before he and Diana came together.
I highly look forward to the next one!

Fun light and airy read. Not be totally not realizing this was a series. It had me researching the other book to read first. But I am glad to say I enjoyed both of them.

👑ARC Book Review👑

Never Rescue a Rogue by Virginia Heath

Synopsis: Book two of the Merriwell Sisters series follows Diana and Giles. Everyone thinks Diana and Giles should be together, except for Diana and Giles of course. They trade barbs and banter, while insisting they only tolerate each other for their family and friend’s sake. Diana loves the freedom of working for the newspaper and Giles loves riling his father, the Duke of Harpenden, up with his bachelor lifestyle. When the Duke passes away, leaving Giles as the new Duke, their family secrets are at risk of coming out. Diana has secrets of her own that she is keeping, secrets that could help Giles with his own family problems. They band together to figure out Giles family problems and keep their secrets under wraps. Their attraction only grows as they work together.

Review: This book was so much fun! There was romance, adventure, and mystery. Giles was one of the most lovable MMC I’ve ever read and Diana was great too! I had to know what would happen next so badly that I stayed up late reading to the end. Which if you know me, you know how important sleep is to me. It takes a pretty amazing book to keep me up past my bedtime. I was desperate to know more about Giles’ family and couldn’t stop cheering the characters on. This is one of my favorite series and I’m dying for the next one, when this one hasn’t even come out lol. 4.75/5⭐️

Never Rescue a Rogue
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Historical Romance
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 11/8/22
Author: Virginia Heath
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Pages: 368
GR: 4.13

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

My Thoughts: This is the second book in the Merriwell Sister’s series. While this is part of a series, it is perfect as a stand alone read. This one packed a punch! Giles and Diana’s story was intriguing and heartwarming. One of my favorite tropes, enemies to lovers is present and done so elegantly. There was no drama and the trope was not overdone, it was just perfect. The historical aspect is accurate and interesting. I flew this book and loved it. I have the first one and will be adding to my TBR. Our MCs were great but an honorably mention would be Dalton, the butler, I just absolutely adored him! Diana is a strong and independent woman. I was not crazy for Giles at first, but he grew on me quickly. The characters were well developed with depth, witty banter, chemistry, and were intriguing. The author’s writing style was complex, swoony, creative, and the story was just done so well. The pacing and flow was perfect. This book releases next month and I would highly recommend preordering!

This is book two in The Merriwell Sister's series and follows the middle sister Diana. Diana works for the newspaper writing columns about the Ton as well as harder hitting pieces but her family thinks she just proofreads the other writers. This story follows Diana as she helps her friend Giles try and uncover some family history that he wants to keep hidden. I really loved the writing in this story there were so many good lines in this book but my favorite was; "He's my fungus." He's my fungus!!! I loved this line so much and really summed up the entire relationship between the two characters! I also loved all the interactions between Diana and Giles as well as Giles's man servant Dalton! Dalton was such a fun character and really would have liked to have had more time with him. I think they also hinted at the end of this book who might be the love interest for the last Merriwell and I really hope it's who I think it is! After thoroughly enjoying this book I decided to go back and read first book in this series that has been sitting on my kindle since last year and so far I am loving it! Thank you St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for my #gifted copy for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was so cute and I loved it!! Book 1 wasn’t my favorite but it’s still enjoyable so when I seen that there was a book 2; I was like sure let’s give a try. I can honestly say 2 is better than 1. I adored it. I loved Giles and Diana having their own story line. Here’s to hoping a few other characters get their own book!

When I found out book 2 would be about Diana and Giles, I was 100% in, even though book 1 wasn't my favorite. They positively sparkled in Never Fall for Your Fiance and they continued to do so all through this book.

Part of the appeal here was the action component- Diana's job as a journalist made for some exciting scenes that really added dimension and fun to the book. It wasn't all in one location, it wasn't dry, and Heath didn't make us sit with the same internal monologues spinning around over and over again to pad the page count. There was a constant threat to our couple, that required a lot of work, decision-making, time, and scenery changes, and despite the fact that they start the book with lots of sparks, I would still consider this a little bit of a slow burn, which is my favorite.

I also appreciated the side characters here- Vee, specifically, got a LOT more personality, and the rest of the family/household/new folks were colorful and entertaining. Dalton is an eternal favorite, and Olivia and Jeremiah are just as delightful as they were in the past installment. I'm actually really looking forward to getting the rest of Vee's story now since she's gotten some space to breathe.

While I do think some of the dialogue could have been cleaned up and polished more, the banter was great and it didn't take away from my enjoyment. I can also give them the benefit of the doubt that this WILL get polished a little more before publication.

Overall, Diana and Giles are a perfect team, even when they're being ridiculous, but this was simply a hilarious, fun romance that delivers exactly what it promises. Heath appears to have found the stride she was looking for in this series, and if you're looking for a fun and snappy read, this is the one for you

Giles has recently found himself in a position no man wants to be in-- stepping into the Dukedom, while knowing he is not his father's legitimate heir. Based on how his father acted just before his death, Giles knows there's someone out there who may be able to expose his family's lies. He only hopes he can rectify some of his father's mistakes before that happens.
Enter Diana, a friend of the family, Gile's favorite person to verbally spar with, the town's leasing gossip columnist-- and the person behind The Sentinel, the column that takes down evil men. Giles isn't sure he wants to confide in Diana, but he's equally unsure he'll be able to protect himself and the people under his care without her.

The dynamic between Giles and Diana is really lovely-- they strike the perfect balance of respectful antagonization. The fact that everyone else wants them together while they're both fighting their feelings adds some really fun tension to the mix.
Never Rescue a Rogue was a bit of a mystery wrapped up in a period romance, and it was tons of fun all the way through. My only issue was that the ending felt a bit rushed, with back-to-back reveals that left no room to catch your breath in between. Even so, I really loved the book and am definitely anticipating the next one by Virginia Heath.

Thank you to Virginia Heath, St.Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. Never Rescue a Rogue come out November 22, 2022!!

Never Rescue a Rogue is the second in a series of interconnected stand-alone historical romances, the series is centered around three sisters. This book focuses on the middle sister Diana, a women who is strong, independent and very stubborn. Even with the new connections and money her sisters new marriage has brought to the trio of sisters, Diana has a job as a secret reporter at a popular newspaper. Also through her sisters new marriage she has had to put up with the presence of Giles, her sister's husband's best friend. A man who at the same time annoys her but who also sparks her interests. The two have been frenemies for the last year with no plans on changing that dynamic. That is until Gile's father dies and he is now the new Duke, this wouldn't been an issue if it wasn't for the fact that four years prior he is told by his mother that he is not her son and in fact he is a bastard. With the help of Diana and a few unlikely allies the two start to move past their animosity to discover the truth of Gile's parentage. They will also uncover if the line between frenemies and love is actually very very thin.

This book was an absolute delight to read! I had been waiting for this book to come out since reading the first in The Merriwell Sisters series, and i was not disappointed. The writing was sharp, witty and fast-paced. Diana is such a strong female lead who is loyal, loving even with her tough outer shell, and so intelligent. Gile's is her match loyal, strong and absolutely ready to prove that Diana can trust him with her love. A lot of the characters from the first book, Never Fall for Your Fiancé, make appearances in this book mixed with a few additional side characters you have such an amazing eclectic mix of found family and friends. If you are looking for a historical romance with humor, a little spice and a lot of heart I highly recommend Never rescue a Rogue!

Never Rescue a Rogue is, in a word, delightful. After enjoying the previous book in the series, Never Fall for Your Fiancée, I was fully ready to see Giles and Diana navigate their frenemies-to-lovers romance. Both were set up so well in book #1, and their personalities shine through even brighter here.

Right away, it’s clear that while Never Fall for Your Fiancée was a mostly light and fun read, Never Rescue a Rogue explores some weightier moods. There is some serious stuff here, primarily concerning Giles: he was unloved and even neglected by his parents; the true identity of his mother is unknown; his father suddenly dies, making him the (possibly illegal) Duke of Harpenden. He is dealing with a lot of grief and conflicted feelings, and this sets a heavier tone for Never Rescue a Rogue early on. However, the novel does also capture the sense of humor and fun that defined its predecessor, preventing it from going too far in the other direction. After the sadder themes are introduced, there’s more room for the story to breathe and take on a silly, cute mood and weave in some tender romance.

Also in contrast to the previous book, Never Rescue a Rogue combines a bit of historical mystery into the Regency romance. While the love story between Giles and Diana is the main focus, untangling Giles’s situation is of roughly equal prominence. The mystery is intriguing, and I enjoyed following the clues and forming my own theories alongside the characters.

Though fairly plot-driven, the characters of Giles and Diana captured my full attention. They are so enjoyable to watch together, and I love how well matched they are. They revel in their rivalry, having too much fun in their pointed remarks and impassive insults. Underneath all that faked hostility, it’s clear that they genuinely care for each other and are quite similar.

One thing I found charming is Giles’s love of alliteration. Perhaps partially due to his centuries-long list of ancestors with names starting with the letter G, Giles is fascinated by literary devices. He’s also beguiled by Diana’s writing style, grammar, and overall intelligence. That he’s the only one who figured out Diana’s secret writing gig shows how much he pays attention to her. He respects her and is able to confide in her in his darkest hour.

Giles also worries about Diana’s safety, and indeed, her secret job certainly puts her into precarious situations. One of my favorite scenes is when he helps her with a gig by the sea port – what hilarity! But the feeling goes both ways: Diana also wants to protect Giles, and is fierce in her commitment to help him.

The romance, too, feels so real between them. There’s mutual pining but also mutual denial of feelings, an accidental kiss, and some fun times while spying on criminals. Giles and Diana are adorable together, whether engaging in banter, admiring each other’s wit, tracking down the dangerous truth, or finding each other alone in a room together.

The side characters are equally delightful and add to the fun. Giles employs an unconventional, overly opinionated man as his butler, and he ended up being one of my favorite characters. Diana’s younger sister Vee (the youngest Merriwell, whose book will complete the trilogy) is a great presence here, though not the most effective chaperone! She, along with everyone else in the book, is trying so hard to get Giles and Diana together, which contributes to the frivolity. And then there’s Giles’s evil uncle and wild card cousin. By the end, the plot and cast of characters becomes comically convoluted; I loved it.

Never Rescue a Rogue was a joy to read, and I flew through the book. Even with some slightly heavier elements, the novel is filled with humor, wit, and fun. Giles and Diana make a cute couple who ultimately lift each other up. I already want to read more about these two and their future together.

So far, I’ve absolutely loved both books in the Merriwell Sisters trilogy. Never Rescue a Rogue was the perfect escape, and the book that got me out of a bad reading slump. I look forward to reading Vee’s love story in the next book… and is it just me, or was that already set up a bit here? We shall see!

* I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this book. All thoughts are my own.

This book was much better than the first one. It did take me a little while to get used to the writing and regency style, but the story was good and I really enjoyed the characters! I do wish there was less time where Diana and Giles were apart in the middle because we don’t read too much about the couple months so it didn’t make too much sense to me.

Never Rescue a Rogue is the second book in The Merriwell Sisters series. Never Rescue a Rogue is a historical fiction regency romance filled with well meaning meddling relatives/friends. Heath did a nice job building the chemistry between Giles and Diana, while also including so much more in both characters’ lives, I look forward to reading the third book of The Merriwell Sisters series.

Thank you, St. Martins Press for my eARC of this title.

Such a fun romcom! I enjoyed the pacing and the setting was vividly described. Recommend! It’s the second in a series so do be aware of that.

This is the story of Giles Sinclair who becomes the duke of Harpenden upon the unexpected death of his father. He asks Diana Merriwell, his best friend's sister in law, to help him uncover who knows the secret of his parentage that he and his father had been keeping a secret. Shortly before his death, his father had suspicions that the true nature of their relationship would be exposed and if that happened he would not have an heir. His father was on ther verge of remarrying before his untimely death with the aim to have another heir. As Giles is investigating who else could know his secret, his uncle Gervais returns and informs him that he has proof that he is not the true heir and the title should be his. While Giles and Diana are searching for the person who supposedly knows the truth or proof that could prove he is not the legal heir, a romance blooms between them. When her family tries to demand he offer for her if he is interested in pursuing Diana, Giles does not want to commit until he is sure he has cleared up truth surrounding his birth. This is the first book I have read from this author and I am looking forward to reading more from her.

I received an ARC from Netgalley and I am voluntarily leaving a review.