Reviewed by Ami
Title: A Rogue of One’s Own
Author: Evie Dunmore
Series: A League of Extraordinary Women #2
Hero/Heroine: Lucie & Tristan
Genre: M/F Historical
Length: 444 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: September 1, 2020
Available at: Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads
Blurb: A lady must have money and an army of her own if she is to win a revolution—but first, she must pit her wits against the wiles of an irresistible rogue bent on wrecking her plans…and her heart.
Lady Lucie is fuming. She and her band of Oxford suffragists have finally scraped together enough capital to control one of London’s major publishing houses, with one purpose: to use it in a coup against Parliament. But who could have predicted that the one person standing between her and success is her old nemesis and London’s undisputed lord of sin, Lord Ballentine? Or that he would be willing to hand over the reins for an outrageous price—a night in her bed.
Lucie tempts Tristan like no other woman, burning him up with her fierceness and determination every time they clash. But as their battle of wills and words fans the flames of long-smoldering devotion, the silver-tongued seducer runs the risk of becoming caught in his own snare.
As Lucie tries to out-maneuver Tristan in the boardroom and the bedchamber, she soon discovers there’s truth in what the poets say: all is fair in love and war…
Review:
Lady Lucie Tredmore is one step closer to control one of London’s major publishing house, which is part of the plans from her band of Oxford Suffragists. They plan to release the report of how women are suffering because of the Married Women’s Property Act. Unfortunately, one rake stands on their way, her childhood nemesis, Lord Tristan Ballentine…
I am always a bit leery with enemies-to-lovers trope … because for me to believe in the change from “enemies” to lovers, well the romantic development has to be very convincing. Part of what charmed me about Dunmore’s debut, Bringing Down the Duke (2019), was reading (and believed wholeheartedly) the change of heart from Duke of Montgomery, in the process of falling in love with Annabelle.
Now, as separate characters, I enjoyed Lucie and Tristan, her more than him. Lucie is a heroine that I admire. She believes in the Cause and she marches in her own drum. Lucie stands tall against the male counterpart, and she challenges the “traditional” notion of marriage. But Lucie also shows vulnerabilities, especially when she tells Annabelle about being jealous and worry that marriage has changed her friend. Lucie is not perfect and her heart does ponder… and that’s make her wonderful.
Tristan is one of those rakes that hide secrets of his own; that what he shows to the tons of society and to the women are façade of what he is truly, inside. Tristan writes a collection of romantic poetry, for God’s sake *laugh*. He has admired Lucie from early on, but Tristan also needs to help his mother from his ruthless father, and he may hurt Lucie in the process.
Unfortunately, the romance between Lucie and Tristan failed a little, in my own humble opinion. Yes, there were tensions between them, quite delicious sparkly tensions… I swear, almost halfway through, I was almost screaming to my kind, “KISS EACH OTHER SILLY ALREADY, FFS!”
However, I felt that Dunmore spent more time in that built-up tension, or in Lucie and Tristan as characters of themselves, but not enough in the “romance”. I felt that when they finally got together, there weren’t enough time about them as a couple. Then there was the family drama that followed them. I guess it felt like missing that intimate ‘bond’, one that made me root for them at all cost.
I am rounding my rating up, though, because the whole book is still a good sequel. The historical context of British women’s fight for equality, mentions of real-life historical figures (there’s even a cameo from Oscar Wilde!), they all make a wonderful reading material. I am definitely in for the next book – look’s like it will be Hattie’s 😊
Overall Impression: I really liked it
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for a fair and honest review.*
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