Trying to forge your way in an unyielding society as an independent woman is difficult. Caroline Deveruex has been left high and dry by her family. Between her dad and his gambling debts and brothers who are not interested in helping, the family is teetering on the edge of losing everything. To save everyone and keep what they have Caroline turns to blackmail. A Farce marriage turns into-finding a man she loves and accepts and respects her for who she is. I love great historical romance. I really enjoyed reading this book. I had not read the prior book but found it easy to get into and enjoyed it from the start. Will be adding the first book to my TBR! Thank you to Entangled and NetGalley for the ARC which I voluntarily read, and these opinions are my own.

Twenty-four-year-old spinster Caroline Devereux has a secret life. She writes moderately successful Gothic pamphlets under a fake pen name-C. D Winthrop. The Earl of Rockford, Lord Gabriel Kane, is more upset though, because Caroline had written him a letter about a clandestine affair that his mother had, which means that Gabriel isn’t really the true earl’s son. Caroline does have a solution for Gabriel to marry her, keeping the affair secret, and when he marries her, she will give him the letter. Gabriel decides to marry Caroline after all. This is a business arrangement and nothing more. As Gabriel spends more time with Caroline, he discovers that maybe she isn’t the enemy after all, by sabotaging her deviousness and ends up falling for her instead.
I was happy to be offered this book to read by Netgalley. It’s so nice to find a book that you can read and just enjoy all the hijinks that will happen. Ms. Lydia Drake writes some pretty compelling stuff that I just love reading about. A historical Regency filled to the brim with crazy shenanigans, but most of all, the heroine blackmailing the hero is just one I would never ever imagine. Yes, it’s unusual because I would think it would be the other way around. Yet, all the characters mainly did sparkle, especially the heroine, Caroline, and Gabriel were just her perfect counterpart. I think Gabriel didn’t know what to make of Caroline’s audacious and feisty nature, but who wouldn’t love it? The book definitely hit on all points, and I loved reading it. Gabriel didn’t really strike me as much of a rogue, yet he was still a great hero. I look forward to more of Ms. Drake’s stories and can’t wait to read more!

The Writer and the Rogue is an utterly delightful historical romance brimming with wit, tension, and irresistible charm. Caroline is a bold, clever heroine whose secret life as a Gothic writer—and her daring blackmail scheme—makes for an unforgettable entrance. The Earl of Rockford is deliciously brooding with just the right hint of danger, and their fiery banter crackles with chemistry. Lydia Drake crafts a captivating enemies-to-lovers tale full of heart, humor, and surprising tenderness. With twists, scandal, and swoon-worthy moments, this book is impossible to put down. A sparkling gem for fans of sharp heroines and roguish gentlemen!

I dove back into the genre that addicted me to reading, historical fiction. Now the little girl that was so fascinated with history added a little romance and smut to her tastes.

Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice 🌶️🌶️

This book was all the historical expectations mixed with modern behavior and reactions and I loved it!

Just when I thought the story was over it just kept going and still I want more. Please tell me there’s going to be a spin off of the other characters????

Charming historical romance with a competent, likable FMC, and an MMC who is not nearly the rogue everyone believes him to be.

Caroline has held her family together since her mother’s death, despite her father gambling away the family’s fortune. An accomplished author, she sells her writings as serial stories (penny dreadfuls) that are wildly popular. They’re enough to keep her family out of the poorhouse - barely.

At her wits end, she latches onto the idea of blackmailing the Earl of Rockford over a family secret she discovered in her father’s past correspondence with the Earl’s late father.

What ensues is a tantalizingly delightful story of finding trust and love in the most unusual circumstances.

3.75⭐️ Round Up

This was a fun story! I really enjoyed Caroline’s character. She’s a strange, intelligent, and a little morbid. I loved that she wrote gothic fiction, as well as her very straightforward, yet apologetic, manner of blackmailing an earl. Her and Rockwell had a great dynamic that was fun to follow. Their banter and cat and mouse style interactions were entertaining. It was also nice seeing their characters behind their social masks. I did feel bad for Caroline and the lack of support she gets from the people around her. I think even her brother and her best friend are a bit callous and uncaring, even though they’re supposed to be her main support in this. Her father is an idiot but gets some clarity in the end.
The overall angst in the story was relatively low until the very end, and it resolved itself pretty quickly. I enjoyed Lydia Drake’s writing style and will most likely continue with the series

Gabriel and Caroline came together due to a desperate circumstances that forced Caroline to make a decision. Gabriel immediately enjoyed Caroline’s gumption although it did frustrate him to be in a situation where he lacked control. The more time they spent together the more they enjoyed each other. A series of unfortunate events lead them to pause their love but they did reconnect and found their way.

This story was a bit confusing at first I won’t lie. It felt like the story had already started and we missed the inciting incident. That being said, after a few chapters the story started to flow much better. We are following Caroline, the daughter of a baron who has been quickly depleting all their funds, who has secretly been penning gothic tales for extra cash. She found some damning information in a letter to her father and is using it to her advantage to blackmail the Earl of Rockford, Gabriel, into marrying her to secure her family’s stability. The two verbally spar over the situation, but eventually work out a deal where they go on outings to make the impending engagement seem more organic. I liked their relationship progression. They took time to get to know each other and Gabriel is very supportive of Caroline’s writing. Although I know the book is supposed to evoke the idea of a gothic tale at points and one of the features of that time period of gothic books was their length, this book went on a little long for me. We would hit a good ending spot and then something else would pop up to prolong the story even more. In the end, I enjoyed this story and I was happy to have a little cameo of the hero from the previous book in this series.

This second book in the Debutantes of London series was an absolutely brilliant and fun historical romance. I really enjoyed this captivating and intensely entertaining love story. I highly recommend reading!

I received an ARC of this book from Entangled Publishing via NetGalley.

I have been in the mood for a historical romance so when an opportunity came up to read this book, I immediately applied. I’m so glad I did as this is exactly what I wanted!!

A historical romance that doesn’t feel like a history lesson. The banter between the FMC and MMC was perfect and kept this story entertaining. Everything I love about romance was captured in this story.

A definite recommend for fans of Historical Romance. If you’re interested in giving the genre a try, this would also be a great entry point.

An entertaining read with a charming premise and good chemistry between the leads. Some parts felt predictable and the pacing was a bit uneven, but the characters were likable enough to keep me interested. A decent romance that hits the basics but doesn’t fully stand out.

I enjoyed this immensely!
I love when a heroine is also an author in her own right! And during this time period in England when it wasn’t allowed makes it all the better! Add in a devilishly handsome take to the mix and we get ourselves a deliciously wanton book 😜
Thankful to Entangled publishing NetGalley and the author for the ARC 🥰🥰🥰

The Writer And The Rogue pairs Caroline Devereux, the daughter of an impoverished baron and Gabriel, Earl of Rockford, whom she has attempted to blackmail in a bid to secure some much needed funds to support her family. Of course that plan is doomed to fail and it does when Gabriel arrives on her doorstep to confront her. Of course the zing of attraction is there from the start but it is the banter between Caroline and Gabriel that made this story so entertaining for me. They're both great characters and I was cheering for them from the moment they met. Caroline is wonderful and utterly committed to keeping her family fed and housed, despite her father's constant investment in the next great thing. She's a strong character and a perfect match for Gabriel, who is a thoroughly decent man. This story moves along at a clipping pace, though it is also sensual and allows readers to immerse themselves in the romance between Caroline and Gabriel. This book has been a very enjoyable read.

I haven't read a historical romance for a long time & I'm so glad I picked this book. It's a well-written and entertaining read with a smart and likable female protagonist, along with a kind and caring male protagonist. I loved the banter and chemistry between them with a suspenseful ending. Overall, a heart warming romance, now I need to read the first book in the series. I'm hooked!

I received this advance review copy from NetGalley & the publisher for my honest review.

I loved about 95% of this book. There was a small irritation that annoyed me, necessary to a point, but the same argument over and over... but now for the good stuff. Nearly the entire book was excellent. I love historical romance with some mystery that makes me chuckle. One of my favorite tropes is Regency or Victorian females that dress as males to get things done - I eat that up with a spoon. It confounds the men in their lives and always leaves me giggling if written right, and this is so very right! A lovely book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC | Entangled: Amara for providing an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

The Writer and the Rogue was such a fun, witty, and daring book! Note, this is the second book of the “Debutantes of London” series, and I have not read the first book. With that being said, I feel they can be read individually or out of order.

Desperate times call for desperate measures, and Caroline leans into her boldness to do what she needs to to take care of her family; she blackmails the Earl of Rockford. Cue fake dating and an engagement with stipulations.

This book was such a fun read. Caroline is incredibly bright and though he father has his faults and landed them in debt, it’s Caroline’s gumption that will likely save the family name. She faces a lot of adversity when it comes to her home life… and her life as a pen-named writer. Sometimes those strongest get caught off guard and have second guesses, and we see that with both Caroline and the Earl.

The Earl’s circumstances and background aren’t what you’d assume. One might think he’ had a privileged life but he reveals a much more complicated story that has lead to his ventures to other countries.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The characters are complicated, snarky, and determined. I’m looking forward to going back to read the first book!

This one was a fun surprise!

The Writer and the Rogue is exactly the kind of historical romance I reach for when I want something light, witty, and just a bit rebellious. It’s got all the elements I enjoy—banter, a rogue with a mysterious past, and a heroine who is completely done with society’s expectations.

Our heroine is an aspiring writer who wants nothing to do with the ton or its silly rules. I loved how headstrong she was—smart, opinionated, and unwilling to play the part everyone expected of her.

"She was made of ink and steel, it seemed."

The hero, meanwhile, is charming in that rogueish way that could have easily been cliché but somehow worked. Their interactions were full of tension, flirtation, and just enough vulnerability to keep me invested.

The banter sparkled in places, and the romantic tension had me turning pages to see how it would all play out. I also appreciated that while the story stayed relatively light, it still gave the characters emotional depth—especially toward the end, where things came together in a mostly satisfying way.

That said, it wasn’t perfect. The pacing in the middle sagged just a touch, and a few of the plot twists were fairly predictable. The third act breakup was annoyingly typical of these kinds of books.

But honestly? I still had a great time with this one. It was engaging, entertaining, and just the right kind of escape. I’ll definitely read more from Lydia Drake, especially if she keeps giving us strong heroines and swoony rogues. In fact, this is actually the second book in a series of interconnected standalones. I plan on going back to reach book one, The Duchess and the Wolf.

The Pros:

Engaging Banter: The chemistry between the leads comes alive through clever, snappy dialogue.

Strong Female and Male Leads: A headstrong, relatable heroine who refuses to conform makes the story feel refreshing, and an observant, kind, and caring, yet mysterious and daring male lead.

Fun and Accessible Read: The book strikes a nice balance between romance, humor, and a hint of emotional depth—perfect for fans of feel-good historical romances.

The Cons:

Slight Mid-Book Lag: The pacing slows a bit in the middle before picking up again toward the end.

Some Predictability: A few of the plot beats follow expected romance tropes without much surprise and the third act breakup is predictably annoying.

Language: The language throughout the story is predominantly very good, however, there are times when the word choice took me completely out of the story as it did not fit.

Final Thoughts:
If you're in the mood for a light, romantic escape with a touch of sass and a heroine who knows her worth, The Writer and the Rogue is a solid pick. It’s not without its flaws, but the charm, chemistry, and breezy writing make it an enjoyable read. Perfect for fans of Regency romance who don’t mind a familiar trope or two when they’re delivered with heart.

Rating:
Overall, using my rating system, this book is a 3.75 out of 5, but I rounded up to a 4 Super Splatters out of 5 because I am in love with Gabriel.

Lydia Drake continues to impress me in her storytelling. Miss Caroline Devereux has been doing all she can to keep her family afloat. She has been using her writing to keep away creditors for the debts racked up by her father. But her latest move is extreme even for her. She decides to blackmail Gabriel, the new Earl of Rockford. She doesn’t want money from him but instead wants him to marry her.

I enjoyed this historical romance. I love that Caroline has found a way to make a path for herself. I laughed at her plotting her life as if it were a novel and thinking of the outcomes. I love that they both choose to be caught and blackmail isn’t necessary. You gotta love when he falls just as hard. I was a bit frustrated with all the meddling at the end but of course I wanted to get to my HEA.

This is the author's second book in the Debutantes of London series and it also is in the same world as her Renegade Dukes series. I like the crossover characters and am hopeful that I have correctly identified a few potential leads for her next story. (4.5 Stars)

Thank you to @NetGalley + @entangledpublishing for the E-Copy of this ARC.

I have never read Lydia Drake before. I truly enjoyed her writing style + look forward to more from her. The Writer and Rogue featured many fun tropes: blackmail, feminist heroine, and hot man swoons. Caroline was a great protagonist who had my admiration from the very beginning. She and Gabriel were destined to be together.
The Writer and the Rogue was a beautiful romance tale. Witnessing the main relationship go from initial enemies to begrudging friends to genuine lovers was enthralling.
My only complaint for this book was that it jumped a way from the historical time frame randomly, but otherwise a very enjoyable story.

#entangledpublishing #romance
#arc #regencyromance #netgalley #romancebook

An exciting, saucy, steamy story that keeps you turning pages to see what shenanigans Caroline gets in to