Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my fair and honest review. The book starts off with an attraction between Diana and Giles and it grows from there. Giles has always had difficulty with his father and has a secret that could destroy his life. Diana writes for a newspaper and has a gift for ferreting out secrets as they go about looking into Giles birth. This is done with humor and the romance builds as Diana learns to trust Giles. The first book had a more humorous viewpoint whereas this one is an adventure story with a hea. I rate it 3.5* and round up.

Never Rescue a Rogue by Virginia Heath is s the second book in the series. Another cute, romantic story that had me captivated until the end!

Book 2 in the series, and I liked Diana and Giles banter and connection. There was laughter, mystery, and chemistry between the two, and I liked how the supporting characters didn't dominate the storyline. It is clear who Vee's love interest will be and I'm excited to read how that plays out given the twist at the end of this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

This regency romance follows Diana, a newspaper writer and Giles, a duke and family friend who recently inherited following the death of his father, but also recently found out a family secret that could threaten everything.

Diana is an investigative reporter that everyone believes is merely a gossip writer, and she works with Giles to uncover the truth about the secret his father hid for years.

There were a lot of things that I loved about this book. It's funny and witty and kept me interested in the mystery for the most part. I really loved the characters and their back stories. They worked really well together and there was chemistry between the characters, which is the most important part for me. The larger cast of characters also worked well together, which made me excited for the 3rd Merriwell sisters story.

It did take longer for me to read because it felt drawn out at parts. I think it was a bit longer than it needed to be, and felt uneven in the pacing. Also, the alliteration and wordplay parts between Giles and Diana were sometimes funny/cute and sometimes too much. This is my first book by this author and I think I'll likely go back to read the first in the series.


I received this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press.

thank you NetGalley for the arc!

i don't think historical romances are for me lol. but this is one of the bests i've read i think!

synopsis:

Diana Merriwell and Giles Sinclair only tolerate one another for the sake of their nearest and dearest. Everyone believes that the two of them are meant to be together, but Diana and Giles know that their constant pithy barbs come from a shared disdain—not a hidden attraction. Diana loves the freedom of working at the newspaper too much to give it up for marriage, and Giles is happily married to his bachelor lifestyle. But they do have one thing in common—the secrets they can’t risk escaping.

When Giles’ father, the curmudgeonly Duke of Harpenden unexpectedly turns up his toes, it’s only a matter of time before someone comes crawling out of the woodwork who knows the true circumstances of his only son's birth. As the threat of blackmail becomes real, Giles must uncover the truth of his parentage first, or else he and all those who depend upon him will be ruined—and dogged bloodhound Diana is his best hope at sniffing out the truth. As Giles and Diana dive into his family’s past, the attraction that the two of them insisted wasn’t there proves impossible to ignore. Soon, the future of the Sinclair estate isn’t the only thing on the line…

Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In true Virginia Heath fashion, the writing is compulsively readable and she grabs the readers attention from the start. This was a fun 19th century rom-com that is a quick escape read. 3 stars because of some pacing issues where the book really slowed down in the middle and a rushed ending that was hard to follow at times.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series and look forward to reading more by this author.

Another light, fun read by Virginia Heath; if you loved her first novel you'll love this one too! This is a romantic and cute story, similar to Never Fall for Your Fiance. Although I didn't enjoy it as much as the first novel, I still recommend it!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin for this ARC in exchange for my fair and honest review.
Rating: 4 Stars
Publication: November 8, 2022
Series: The Merriwell Sisters #2
Pages: 368

“Never Rescue a Rogue” is the second installment of the Merriwell Sisters series and I thought it was quite enjoyable. The book re-introduces Diana Merriwell and Giles Sinclair, who from the first book, had this supposedly love/hate relationship, but the chemistry is there lurking underneath. Everyone around them can see how they are made for each other…except for the two that have been thrown together at every turn.

Giles has always had a difficult relationship with his father that has been an annoyance for him more than he gathered until his father’s death and the realization that the secret they held could cause him to lose everything including scandalizing his legitimacy as the Duke. Diana too has had her share of life’s difficulties. She writes for a newspaper while trying to fit in with the upper class by association of her married sister. She also puts herself in danger trying to help those in need.

Both characters are likeable and have longing to uncover the truth because they understand one another more than they think. I do think that their characters could have developed a bit more as there was history from the first book, although the relationship was on point. Plot was enjoyable and there were twists and turns that made the story more predictable. I was looking for angst and it was evident in the romance of the story.

Virginia Heath has a nicely written story that brings out the enemies to lovers trop with a bit of mystery and suspense. It is a bit slow burn in parts but the romantic tension between the H/h is refreshing…especially to see both individuals letting down their guards to let love take control. Recommend the read.

I haven’t read a historical romance in a while and I was so excited for this one! This is the second book in the series but it can be read as a standalone. I love a good enemies to lover story and while I did feel like this one was a bit slow it also delivered on many of my favorite aspects. The tension and banter were top notch and the cast of secondary characters made this story more enjoyable!

Diana’s character was predictable and fella little flat for me at times but I loved Giles and felt like his backstory was realistic and added an extra element to the story!

I love Heath’s writing style and can’t wait for the next installment in the series! Thank you NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3 stars

I haven't read a historical romance in a hot minute so I was super excited to read this one, and even more excited when I saw it was the second book of a series that I enjoyed!

I would classify this book as a friends to lovers trope. In general though, I wouldn't classify this book as a romance. It was more a story with hints of romance here and there that went along with the greater events that occurred, which is fine!

This book is also super slow burn, so if that's your thing, this book is perfect for you!

Overall, it was a sweet book, albeit slow and not romancy enough for me, but that's just my two cents!💜

I totally understand the wasp nest on the cover now!🙈

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the earc in return for an honest review.

This series just gets better and better!

I adored Never Fall for Your Fiancée book one!
When I read the first book in this amazing series I couldn't stop thinking about it days after I finished.

Never Rescue a Rogue is book two in the The Merriwell Sisters Series.
And I swear its better than the first. And I didn't think that was possible.
Where do I even start?
Virginia Heath, is becoming a big time favorite of mine!
Her writing is just flawless and utterly addicting.
The writing went right into the plot and just didn’t stop.
I Ioved the characters and the humor.
Diana and Giles, are so much fun! I fell in love with these two!.
The laughs, the banter, the fun... Is bound to have you up all day/night finishing this heart warming story.
I found the storyline very compelling, engaging and truly one of the greatest stories I've had the pleasure of diving into lately.
Such a wonderful, witty, sassy, and entertaining historical fiction romance novel that I truly enjoyed.
And this is one regency romance you can't miss out on.
A fun, perfectly witty and sweet historical romance.

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

St. Martin's Press|St. Martin's Griffin,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

You knew from the first book that Giles and Diana were going to have their own installment in the Merriwell Sisters series. Theirs in an enemies to lovers trope that felt a little forced, but still was great read with some mystery (although, it was pretty obvious who was behind the blackmail but whatever). All in all, it’s a great series and I’m excited for Vee’s story!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

“Never Rescue a Rogue” by Virginia Heath is the second installment in the Merriwell Sisters historical romance series. I enjoyed the first book in the series; it was fairly lighthearted and reminded me a lot of a romantic comedy. “Never Rescue a Rogue” follows the middle sister, Diana, and Giles Sinclair, the new Duke of Harpenden as they navigate new responsibilities and a burgeoning romantic relationship. Although I was intrigued by the premise, I felt like the story fell a bit flat for me. I didn’t buy into the “enemies to lovers” trope between Diana and Giles, and Diana’s secondary storyline did not have the suspense and gravity that I felt it should have. Giles’s backstory was a bit more fleshed out and felt more realistic to me, so I did appreciate that. The wider cast of characters in this world is fun and enjoyable to read about. Even though I wasn’t a big fan of this installment, I will still likely pick up the third book when it comes out.

Never Rescue a Rogue was a fabulous dive into a historical romance. This book has so many intriguing plot points from an enemies to lovers plot, great banter, a mystery, and a few twists along the way. This is my first historical romance and I could not get enough of Giles and Diane. Even more so, the supporting characters were equally as well developed and wonderfully charming. I will certainly be on the look out for more upcoming releases from Virginia Heath!

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.

Ever since Diana's older sister, Minerva, and Giles' best friend, Hugh, fell in love and married, the pair have been thrown together. Neither seems to really like the other, but those around them believe that it's all a front, and that they are hiding a torch for each other. Diana is struggling being a member of the upper class, or at least, by extension, and so she spends her days writing investigative pieces for the newspaper, though tells her family she's just copy editing. Giles' sees right through the facade, though even he can't picture the truth about how much danger she's placing herself into. But Giles has his own secret, and if it was ever discovered, he could lose everything, and so he can't let anyone get too close. However, soon they need to rely on each other more than ever, and as they work together to discover the truth, they realise that they'd do anything to have a life together.

When I read Never Fall for your Fiancee last year, I was just hooked by the Merriwell sisters, and especially independent Diana. She clearly had a strong tale to tell, and Virginia did not disappoint in Never Rescue a Rogue. Hearing all that Diana faced before Minerva managed to bring them out of poverty was heartbreaking, and it's completely understandable why Diana is so driven and focused on helping those who need it. She is strong, but also has a vulnerable side that she rarely lets out, but with Giles she was able to rely on someone else, who would be there for her, and do what he could to help. Giles, for his own part, I always saw as a bit of a player, and rake, when we met him before, but his history with his father, and the 'secret' about his birth, has affected him more than most people realised, but Diana always saw through the act he played for the masses. I really enjoyed the plot line here, and felt like there were twists and turns at every page, and I was properly on the edge of my seat until the end. The romance is filled with angst, and longing, and it was refreshing that Giles was aware of his feelings long before Diana was, and was willing to sacrifice his future to keep her 'safe'. A truly fantastic story, and one I can't recommend enough!

Almost exactly a year ago (3 days off) I read and reviewed “Never Fall For Your Fiancé”. In this review I said, “It was funny and sweet and I have a feeling there will be a sequel. Perhaps with Hugh’s best friend Giles and Minerva’s sister Diana? I sure hope so, because I’ll read the heck out of that.”

Well, there was a sequel, it was with Giles and Diana, and I just read the heck out of it. It was so good. Who doesn’t love a good enemies to lovers story?

We met Giles and Diana in the previous book and knew from the chemistry that they would definitely get their own story. And lo and behold, here it is. The book starts off with both Giles and Diana hiding huge secrets. When Giles is in trouble they decide to trust each other with those secrets and team up to find evidence that will help Giles.

Working so close together causes them both to realize just how much they truly care for each other. Predictable? Yes. Amazingly fun? Absolutely! The banter and tension between these guys is *chef’s kiss* beautifully done. And the secondary characters were a hoot.

I find that I truly enjoy Heath’s witty writing style and I look forward to Venus’ story. Because c’mon! Vee was definitely having some serious eye connection with Giles’ newfound cousin. Calling it now: Vee and Galahad are HEA in book three. I’m sure I’ll be here reviewing it same time next year.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for releasing this arc to me in exchange for an honest review.

Giles is Diana’s brother-in-law’s best friend. They snipe at each other. Everyone thinks they are perfect for each other. Diana is an investigative reporter. Giles is a Duke that might not a Duke. He needs Diana to help him find clues before his evil uncle Gervais ruins the dukedom. Diana and Giles are in love with each other. They act on their feelings. There are many twists and turns in their investigation.

The book was well written and fast paced. I was sorry for it to end.

3.5 stars
Set in 1826, Diana Merriwell and Giles Sinclair only tolerate one another for the sake of their nearest and dearest. When Giles’ father, the Duke of Harpenden, dies, it’s only a matter of time before someone comes forward who knows the true circumstances of his only son's birth. As the threat of blackmail looms, Giles must uncover the truth of his parentage—and Diana is his best hope at finding the truth.

Giles has a deeply troubled relationship with his father and has encouraged the idea that he had a horrible reputation purely to annoy his cruel and greedy father. It’s a marvel he’s turned out as charming and good natured as he did given his horrible parents.

Diana claims to be a copywriter but secretly writes exposés for a London paper and is struggling with her sister’s marriage that has elevated her status. She finally has her own income and has no intention of marrying and giving up her autonomy.

Diana was a clever character but I found her a little flat and cliché. Giles had more depth.

If you want an accurate late regency setting, this isn’t it. There’s some repetition and not as much soul searching as you’d think for two people who are adamant that they don’t belong together. The resolution was so predictable I got angry at them for not considering it sooner, but somehow I still kept eagerly turning the pages. It took more than half the book before Diana started to help Giles, but it was fast-paced with good chemistry that made me want to read the whole series.

I received an arc from NetGalley

This book is for you if you like a fiercely independent heroine (who may or may not be the best investigative journalist in the country) and a good-hearted, as decent as they get Duke (who may or may not be a Duke after all). In this enemies to lovers romance, both main characters have big secrets to keep, with their futures on the line.

Also, if you love both hero and heroine pining at each other, and I mean a lot of pining, this book is definitely for you!

Diana Merriwell and Giles Sinclair only tolerate one another for the sake of their nearest and dearest. Everyone believes that the two of them are meant to be together, but Diana and Giles know that their constant pithy barbs come from a shared disdain—not a hidden attraction.

What both DO share is a desire NOT to get married to anyone, ever!

Their family and friends see this totally different though and are meddling and playing matchmaker whenever possible.

Diana and Giles are thrown together to uncover a truth that could cost them both everything while trying to protect their secrets. The stakes are high and so are the emotions as both fight their attraction to each other the more time they spend with each other, using barbs and banter to keep themselves from revealing their true feelings.

Despite the content warnings below, the book does have a lighter feel to it, especially towards the end as it took on more rom-com touches. The heat level is on the low side.

While the story line is intriguing and I enjoyed both characters, I would have loved for them to have deeper development on page while they are together. And while Giles gained a lot of Diana's trust by keeping her secret, I did not care for the development towards the end of the story.

This is the second book in the Merriwell Sisters series but can totally be read as a stand-alone.
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Griffin for a copy of the book ahead of its official publication date.

Content warnings: All in the past and retold by the characters - parental abuse and neglect, attempted sexual assault, kidnapping.

Thank you to St Martin's Press and Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Never Rescue a Rogue is a sweet, fun and escapist adventure that follows Diana Merriwell and Giles Sinclair, two opposites who actually have more in common than they care to admit. When Giles's father dies unexpectedly, causing him to inheret his dukedom and all the secrets that come along with it, he is forced to turn to Diana and her skills as a journalist to help him uncover the truth of his family's past. What ensues is a very lovely slowburn, enemies-to-friends-to-lovers story that spans from London to the borders of Wales and is filled with witty banter and familial hijinks. This isn't a book that will crush your soul, or cause you to delve deeply into the historical politics of regency England, but it is rather a story that you can escape into and enjoy for a few hours while drinking a cup of tea on a rainy day. I really enjoyed both Giles and Diana, and I loved watching them fall in love and then try to deny it to everyone and eachother. For people who like Martha Waters, or post-Bridgerton Julia Quinn, this is a good series for you!