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This is the third book in the Rakes, Rebels and Rogues, but it’s by a new-to-me author. After this experience, I’m definitely checking out their other works.
And, this not just because of how they sneak in characters from previous books (though that was fun) but because I genuinely enjoyed this one. The characters from the earlier books pop in and out, but never in a way that overshadows the story here. It just made me curious about their own arcs.
The plot is fairly straightforward. Our male lead, Sebastian, comes from a family he believes has been ruined by the wives of his ancestors – generation after generation.
He carries this belief for a good part of the book, and when we finally meet his family (who are wonderfully scandalous), we start to see where it comes from. But you’ll have to read the book to find out the details.
Because of this family history, he’s adamant about marrying someone pious and devoted and not for love, just duty.
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Our female lead, Lucy, on the other hand, is the daughter of an overly pious vicar, who himself is the third son of his family and had to follow the path of chaplaincy. He genuinely loves it – so much so that one of the running gags in this book is how he’s constantly tormenting his congregation with endless sermons.
But here’s what I appreciated: the story doesn’t focus on this family drama. It’s there, but it doesn’t take over the entire book.
Her father assumes she’s meek and mild, but she wants to see the world, explore, and finally do things she’s been forbidden from doing. With the help of her adventurous maid, she sets out and meets our male lead, the very scandalous Earl.
From there, they realize there’s undeniable chemistry between them, but also that they are absolutely not what the other is looking for in a spouse.
Now, I’ve read quite a few historical romance books where the male lead insists on a very specific type of wife, often due to family trauma or some misguided belief about his bloodline. It’s a problematic trope, but it’s one that’s been around forever, and I admit I enjoy it when done well.
One of my favorite books of all time, Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn, does this beautifully – the male lead’s struggle with how different the heroine is was explored in such a heartfelt way.
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In this book, however, I found the male lead’s condescension a bit too much. His hypocrisy was called out repeatedly by the female lead (and I appreciated that she didn’t hold back), but it started to feel repetitive after a while.
I wanted to see more growth from him – something deeper and more gradual. We do get a bit of that towards the end, especially when the tables turn and he’s the one chasing after her, but I wished the journey there was more climactic. His big realization – his come-to-Jesus moment – happens, but it didn’t pack the emotional punch I was hoping for.
That said, I still really enjoyed the book. There’s a good amount of steam (always welcome), and despite my issues with his character arc, the romance worked overall. I just wanted more drama and self-awareness from him before everything wrapped up.
So yes, I’ll be continuing with this author’s works, because this book was decent and engaging enough to make me curious about the others in the series.
If you’ve read it, let me know your thoughts in the comments – I’d love to discuss.
And if you have any recommendations for other slow-burn historical romance books with this same trope, please send them my way. I’m clearly not done with it yet, even if these books sometimes test my patience.
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