2.5

I unfortunately did not have a great time with this book. it felt like someone wanted to write a regency romance but had no curiosity for the time period or understanding of what made the genre work. chock full of anachronisms in terms of plot points and personality traits, but then certain things were kept in place for plot reasons (aka women having no rights but having to run the household). it felt like the Netflix version of persuasion (/neg)

I found the narrative voice quite juvenile. our MC is spunky and not like other girls, but still wholly unable to stand up for herself when it actually counts. so she ends up being rude to the guy she’s blackmailing who has never wronged her but can’t talk back to her dad who is gambling the family into debt.

the plot resolution was way too convenient and the regency society was way too accepting of a lot of things they wouldn’t be accepting of (meanwhile, the whole plot relies on that prejudice).

there were some funny and sweet moments but I probably would have dnf’d if this weren’t an arc.

Blackmail, balls, scandal. All can be found in this enemies to lovers historical romance. The time frame written about can be hit/miss for me but this one was a hit. Our main characters are in a battle of wits for much of the book until things change then they must battle other circumstances.

I liked this one. I loved the fmc she was spunky and made a way for her family no matter what. I was super impressed by her. The banter between her and the mmc was top notch and I laughed out loud more than once. I wasn't sure how I felt toward the end but liked the way it ended up coming together. Excited for the next in this series.

The Writer and The Rogue is the second book in the Debutantes of London series by Lydia Drake, and it’s a delightful Regency-era romance that I absolutely loved!

This was such a fun and sweet story. I loved Caroline and Gabriel’s relationship—their chemistry was amazing, and their back-and-forth banter made me laugh more than once! They were such a great match, and it was a joy to read their story.

I did feel frustrated at times—not with the characters, but with how society worked back then. It was shown really well in this book, and it’s sad to see how unfair things were, especially for women. But it also made me appreciate how some things have improved since then.

I was especially happy for Caroline. I admired her determination to hold onto her dreams, even when they seemed out of reach. She always did her best to take care of her family, even if it meant making some desperate choices. And Gabriel—watching him grow with her, support her, and fall in love despite the chaos—was truly lovely.

Overall, this was a fantastic read, and I’m really looking forward to reading more by this author! ^-^

~ Thank you to NetGalley, Entangled Publishing, and the Author for providing me with an ARC. I’m leaving this review voluntarily! ~

Whitty sassy independent FMC!

Very well done (not -cheesy) historical romance 🙌 loved this!

Perfect for fans of Bridgeton

Thank you entangled and netgally for a copy of this arc! I will definitely be buying a physical copy of this book.

I was really drawn in by the description of this book, unfortunately it didn't live up to my expectations. While I liked the two main characters well enough I found the pacing of the book a bit uneven and the third act conflict a bit of an eye-roll.

ARC READER:
I finally had a chance to read this book. I have to say I'm not typically a historical romance type reader, but I really really enjoyed this! The story of Caroline and Gabriel kept me interested from the very beginning. This has so many twists and turns, the perfect amount of humor and romance. Overall just a really entertaining story. It is an interconnected stand alone, and I did not need to read the first one to understand the story in this one. However, this one was SO GOOD that I will be going back and reading the first one and continuing with this series.

There’s just something about a regency romance that speaks to my soul.

There was: scandal, family dilemmas, a STRONG fmc, a dang handsome mmc, angst, fake dating, and so much more.

To say I loved this book would be a vast understatement. It had just the right amount of spice (I’d say on the pepper scale, a 1.5) to add to the overall vibe of the book.

I’ve always thought I would have thrived in London in the 1800’s but I forget how utterly viscous the ton could be!

Anyways, thank you to Entangled publishing & NetGalley by proxy for an ecopy of this book!

I am a sucker for heroes named Gabriel and this Earl is totally sucker worthy. Both protagonists were very well written. There was emotional depth and the romance played out really well too. This book is a compelling read. My only peeve was the 3rd act breakup. I would have rather seen them married and fighting the scandal than, what was written. Anyways, the breakup was well written so it was a very small peeve on my part.

#netgalley #TheWriterandtheRogue

Gothic writer blackmails earl into marriage. Earl is inexplicably charmed by blackmailer.

For a book with a blackmail meet cute this was very low angst. The MCs are compatible and both have lives outside of the relationship. I really liked the mutual blackmail "oopsie!" moment. The dark moment seemed a bit overwrought for such a nice couple, but all's well that ends well!

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

Lydia Drake is a fairly new writer to me, but so far, I’ve really liked her stories very much. After The Duchess and the Wolf, The Writer and the Rogue is the next story in the Debutantes of London series.

But you can read the stories of this series as a standalone perfectly. In this story we meet miss Caroline Devereux. She is desperate, because she tries to keep her family afloat with her writing. But as a female, it is hard to make some money in these times. So, when she finds a letter in her late mothers affairs, with some incriminating information about the Late Earl of Rockford, she decides to blackmail the latest Earl into marrying her.

Caroline didn’t realize that the Earl wouldn’t go down without a fight. So, their arguing and tricks to trap the other party are more than funny. They keep their antics up during the whole book, which provides us with a wonderful story. so, in all, five out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

There’s always something a little enjoyable about a woman being able to earn a living in a period novel, especially one way she can manage to help her family out as well. Even if she does tend to get taken for granted and just wants to be able to write in peace.

Miss Caroline Devereux is one such lady, although feeling like she’s at her wits end she thinks it’s a good idea to blackmail an Earl. What follows is an enjoyable battle of the wits and inevitably someone is going to fall in love. But hey, that’s what we are here for. It’s enjoyable, and fun, and with just a touch of the gothic mysteries that Caroline herself writes.

It really was just an enjoyable read.

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

The Writer and the Rogue, the second in the Debutantes of London, is an absolute wonderful edition in this series. These two love interests go toe-to-toe in their witty banter and smolder. The Duke's ability to love all of her had me swooning at his adoration.

Fans of this genre, let this book charm you! It is fun, flirty and full of love.

Thank you, Entangled Publishing, LLC | Entangled: Amara

I just adore this author! I’ve read all her historical romances! This one was so fun, sweet, and swoony! I adored the main characters and the dynamic of them. I loved how the MFC was her whole self and not afraid to take what she wanted! She was perfectly paired with the MMC. I just loved this book! I can’t wait for more from Lydia!

Thank you to publisher for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I realized after I read this book that it was a part of a series. I enjoyed it so much I now need to go back and read the first book.

This book hooked me from the very beginning to the last page. I don't read a ton of historical romance, but I will make sure to include Lydia Drake as a favorite author. I loved the main character Caroline Devereux is so spunky and I just loved her.

You know that moment where you start a novel and you know from the opening line that it's going to be one of your favourite books?!

I instantly felt this for The Writer and the Rogue by Lydia Drake.
"I believe I've found the perfect way to murder him," Caroline Devereux said with a smile.
I have loved all the novels of hers that I have read and this one is probably my absolute favourite.

We have blackmail! And not blackmail for money.... for marriage!!!! (*Insert delightful giggle here!)

Miss Caroline Devereux is in dire straits. Due to the gambling of her father, she has done what has she's needed to from economising, selling whatever of their possessions they can and becoming a published writer of gothic pamphlets. But when she believes a creditor has come calling on her publisher, Caroline uses the one card she has left, blackmail! The Earl of Rockford is intent on teaching the woman who dares blackmail him a lesson. What he doesn't expect is to fall for her quick wit and in his maneuver to make her regret her actions he finds that he wouldn't mind being tied to such a lady.

I LOVED Caroline so much and if there is an FMC that I would love to be more like, it is definitely her. Her POV had me cracking up and I laughed so much at her 'if this was a novel' scenarios they were perfection. I truly enjoyed watching her journey of discovery and of being truly discovered and seen by Gabriel. And we all know I love a brawling second son who comes into the title when it was the last thing he wanted. AND he falls for her first!!! It was just perfection from page 1 to all the drama that unfolds by outside forces especially when the MCs are already bring the antagonism from the outset.

I also adored seeing Felicity again and her connection to this novel. I gasped the moment she re-appeared on page and I so hope one day Lydia Drake writes her an HEA. It would be an absolute delight to read.

I have already purchased the paperback and wish it will one day be an audiobook because I would purchase it in an instant.

The Writer and the Rogue by Lydia Drake is the second in the Debutantes of London series. As in the first, a young lady of the ton, this time Caroline Devereaux meets her match in the Earl of Rockford when she blackmails him with the news that she has a letter that his father had written to hers acknowledging the fact that new Earl is a bastard. She uses this letter in a plan to get him to marry her, but will her cunning plan be enough to capture the Earl? I enjoyed this novel, as I did the first one.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Desperate times call for drastic measures…and Miss Caroline Devereux is most certainly desperate! Her spendthrift father has been gambling away every spare shilling, racking up debts, selling off their family’s art, and bringing them to the edge of ruin. The family is running out of time and Caroline must play the one card she has left: blackmailing the Earl of Rockford.

This is the second book of the Debutantes of London series. I did not read the previous book and this one can stand alone. Characters from a previous story (Cinderella and the Duke) play a smalll role.

This book started on a high and kept going. It had me smiling and chuckling all the way through. Loved this couple!

Tropes: Spinster, Enemies to Lovers, Secret Job/Working Heroine

Steam: 3

* I received an ARC and this is my honest review

I absolutely loved this book! I thoroughly enjoyed the FMC and how fun she was. She was such a strong and opinionated woman in a time when those traits were more frowned upon than anything and I truly loved that. I think that showing independence and strength in period romances is so fun because it goes against the societal norms of that time but also it had to be reality for some woman. If I grew up in the regency era I would have been just like her. I also loved the inner struggles and turmoil that our MMC went through. It was so refreshing to see him fumble through his own feelings and ultimately fall for her first.