Includes an exclusive bonus short story!
The first book in the new series Desperately Seeking Duke from USA Today bestselling and RITA award-winning author Caroline Linden.It’s no love match… rake. Defiantly she helps Cathy elope with her true love, and takes her sister’s place at the altar.
It’s not even the match that was made…
Perched on the lowest branch of his family tree, Max has relied on charm and cunning to survive. But an unexpected stroke of luck gives him an outside chance at a dukedom—and which Tate sister he weds hardly seems to matter.
But could it be the perfect match?
Married or not, Bianca is determined to protect her family’s prosperous ceramics business, even when Max shows an affinity for it—not to mention a dangerous ability to intrigue and tempt Bianca herself. And when Max realizes how beautiful and intelligent and desirable Bianca is, he’ll have to prove he’s no rogue, but the passionately devoted husband she craves…
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I thought that this was a really wonderful read and an excellent way to start this new series. The story is fun and engaging and the characters compelling. I loved how well balanced these characters were. Each of them were strong and interesting enough to more than carry their weight of the story and go toe-to-toe with each other and make you believe it! Bianca was fierce and firmly her own woman. I sympathized with her and found her refreshing. I adored her spunkiness, intelligence, talent, and determination. Max was a charming rogue with multiple layers to discover and explore. I thought he was clever and had a good guy heart. Together these two made a couple that was fun to watch and so easy to root for. I eagerly look forward to more from this series. This is my independent, impartial review.
Caroline Linden starts a new series with an interesting core plot. The powerful Carlyle dukedom is left without a direct heir. As the matron of the family, the Duke’s mother sets out to find young and virile males from different St. James branches. She would disburse £500 to each of them, expecting them to become refined gentlemen within 6 months, and would continue to provide £1,500 per annum if they could maintain their respectability, in hope that they could take on the role and responsibilities that come with the dukedom. The first book is about Maximilian St. James, the furthest relation from the Duke, a gamester and a notorious rogue.
Max immediately seizes this opportunity to prove himself capable of making a profession in business. He proposes a partnership with Samuel Tate, a famous potter producing high quality pottery wares. Max would take over the “marketing” and expansion of the family brand using his connections to high society. Even better, Samuel has 2 unmarried daughters, and he was happy to accept Max’s marriage proposal to his older one, so he could keep the business within family. It turns out she’s already in love with someone else …
Strongly opposing to her father’s decision to marry off her sister to a stranger, Bianca Tate helps her sister elope, but finds herself in a position to have to reverse the damage by marrying the man herself. Thinking of him as a London dandy, a ne’er-do-well rogue, a fortune hunter who promises and convinces her poor father with empty words, she hates him with a passion and underestimates his intelligence and his brilliant business mind.
This couple couldn’t be more different : He’s calm, patient, logical, deliberate in his actions, while she acts more on her emotions, speaks boldly, and takes no nonsense. Yet, they complement each other perfectly: He has a great vision to expand the business, and she is superbly talented and creative in her glaze formulations, making their wares stand out in quality. He knows what she thinks of him in the beginning, and he patiently proves to her his genuine interests and his authenticity. Slowly realizing she’s been wrong about him all along, she turns to like him, then loves him… also with a passion …
I’ve really enjoyed this book, the slow burn, hate-to-love relationship is portrayed so well. I love Bianca’s character, she’s passionate, talented, kind, and generous. Her transformation is natural and relatable. Ms Linden provides a marriage-of-convenience story that is filled with challenges to test their love. This book also provides interesting knowledge about the pottery industry during the Georgian era. I can’t wait to read the next books in the series to find out who will finally inherit the Carlyle dukedom!
5- read for me!
*Special thanks to Avon Books for providing me with this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Release date: June 30, 2020
The Duke of Carlyle is very sick and also from an accident he is mentally not there. His last brother has died in an accident and they now have to find someone within the line to take over when the duke dies. There seem to be three candidates, A soldier, A Frenchman, and finally a card shark. Max the cardshark becomes interested in pottery and gets the oldest daughter for marriage. But she loves some else. Bianca helps her run away but ends up married to Max. They, actually she fights with Max. She feels he is not good enough. But he has a few surprises for her and her father.
I really loved this story of conflict, well it sort of is. Max stays calm, does not raise his voice, and goes about doing what he feels he has to, to prove himself. This is so worth the time to read. It will fascinate you. The characters are strong and amazing. So very realistic. The story grabs you from the first paragraph. I was entertained, surprised, and can’t wait for the next book. Thank you for giving me the chance to read this marvelous and at times fun book.
I received this ARC from the author and voluntarily reviewed it.
An exciting story. Bianca is a feisty young lady who is determined to save her sister from what she believes will be a terrible marriage. Her character is fun filled with with wit and a wonderful fire. Max is a rogue and a dealer. He is a scrapper who is not afraid of hard work. Often underestimated, he likes to surprise people in the best of ways. These two start there marriage off on the wrong foot and have a long haul to get on on the right track. Max has to work at wooing Bianca which is downright hilarious at times. Family is an important theme throughout the story. Both characters are doing what they do to protect family members. In the end love finds them and all is well.
Series: Desperately Seeking Duke #1
Publication Date: 6/30/20
Number of Pages: 384
Yikes! The Carlyle dukedom is in danger and the duchess is desperately seeking out possible heirs. Her older son, the duke, is sickly and has a very limited mental capacity – he certainly cannot marry and father children. That wasn’t such a problem until both of her younger sons died – one in the Army and the has just died of an unfortunate accident before he could marry and have children. The dukedom’s solicitor, Mr. Edwards, has been diligently searching for the heirs – because the duchess wants them to learn the ways of the dukedom before they have to take over. Three possible heirs have been identified and none of them make the duchess happy. One of them is a Frenchman, one is in the army, and the last is a cardsharp. Our current story features the cardsharp, Maximilian St. James.
Max had no desire to be under the duchesses thumb, but he was grateful for the money she handed him and for the promise of the yearly payout he would receive from the dukedom. Well, except that yearly payout came with strings – he had to become respectable and be on his good behavior. The judgment about whether he was respectable, of course, was the duchesses. Max didn’t care for that at all. Max has always wanted to be independent, but life circumstances just never allowed that. He had to make his life the best way he could. Now, he has a bold plan and he is so excited about the possibility of making his own future.
Max was introduced to Mr. Samuel Tate, owner of Perusia, a fine pottery factory when he was in London. Mr.Tate was impressed with Max and his relationship to the ton and subsequently invited him to visit Perusia. Mr. Tate had no sons and when Max presented him with a partnership proposal – as well as a proposal of marriage for Mr. Tate’s oldest daughter, Cathy, Mr. Tate was thrilled. Cathy, the sweet, docile daughter wasn’t thrilled though and promptly eloped with the man she did love. OOPS!
There was nothing sweet nor docile about Bianca Tate – Cathy’s only sister. Bianca, who was every bit as stubborn and pig-headed as her father, was furious that he’d just sell out his daughter like that. So, when Bianca discovered Cathy packing to run away with the man she loved, Bianca decided to help her. What Bianca didn’t expect was to end up having to marry Max in Cathy’s place!
I absolutely adored both Max and Bianca. Max was determined to win his wife’s affections and Bianca was determined to despise Max no matter what he did. It was so much fun watching Max slowly, but steadily, destroying all of Bianca’s defenses.
One of the most refreshing things about this story was that it wasn’t set in London among the ton. Yes, there were several titles involved, but they weren’t the focus. The focus of the story was Max and Bianca and I felt as if I really got to know them. The romance felt real and I could genuinely feel that they were in love. Also included in my ebook was a short novella featuring Lawrence, who is Max’s valet. It was a really sweet story as well.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am already looking forward to the second book in the series – A Scot To The Heart – which features the army officer – Captain Andrew St. James of his majesty’s Scotts Guards.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
When their beloved father accepts a marriage offer for her sister, Cathy, Bianca Tate is appalled, especially given the fact that the groom, Maximillian St. James, is a notorious rake. Cathy is in love with another and Bianca rebelliously helps her sister elope, only to find herself taking Cathy’s place and obliged to marry St. James.
Max has relied on his own shrewdness and charm to survive, never knowing much permanency. When a wild chance of fate sees him second in line to a dukedom, Max finds himself the recipient of a healthy allowance. But this stroke of luck comes with conditions imposed by the dragonish Duchess of Carlyle, the most pressing of them being the need for respectability. Since the fastest way to being establishing that respectability is a perfectly respectable marriage, it doesn’t much matter to Max which of the Tate sisters he marries. Either way, he gets a stake in their family’s successful business and positive changes in his lifestyle to report to the duchess.
Bianca is determined to protect her family’s successful ceramics business and her role in it, no matter what. Despite Max’s apparent business acumen and the temptation he presents, Bianca is determined to keep him at bay. When Max takes note of the lovely, brilliant woman beneath the bluster, he’s determined to show Bianca all the love and devotion he’s developed for her, even if she never returns his sentiments.
This book was such a pleasant surprise. It took me awhile to get into it and to warm to the characters, especially Bianca, but it was well worth it. She and Max wound up being so lovely together and, despite its inauspicious beginnings, they had such a pure relationship by the end that it was a great read. This was a well-executed enemies to lovers trope with just a bit of intrigue to keep me turning pages and yet still light-hearted and perfect for my current mood. This was a promising start to a new series that I’ll definitely be keeping up with now.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Maximilian St. James sees the perfect opportunity to finally become a responsible gentlemen when he agrees to marry Caroline Tate, an heiress to the famous Tate pottery empire. His perfect plan goes awry when Caroline runs away to marry her true love. Her sister Bianca finds herself agreeing to marry Max in her sister’s stead after a heated row with her father. Bianca despises Max and though they are married, she does everything she can to stay away from him. It’s up to Max to win her over, but is this one challenge he cannot win?
I loved all the lively conversations early on in Max and Bianca’s marriage. This was no love match and Bianca reminds Max of that fact every day, but Max is determined to make a go of this business marriage. There was a slow build up of feelings between these two and it was definitely believable, but Max is keeping a terrible secret that threatens to tear this couple apart forever. Will Bianca be willing to forgive Max for his deception? This book had good pacing and I was quickly turning the pages to see how things would work out. There was also a delightful short story at the end about Kit and Jennie.
I voluntarily read this advanced reader copy and all opinions are my own.
I absolutely loved this book!! I could not put it down once it got started. The first few chapters were slow but I felt like they were necessary for the information to be given. Maximilian St. James is a gamester, rake, and his reputation is well deserved. He has not had a fair shake in life but has grown up knowing he was distantly related to the Duke of Carlyle. When her last son dies unexpectedly Sophia, the Duchess of Carlyle knows she must find the next relation to become the Duke. She brings in all 3 that are even remotely related and gives them a small stipend to set their selves up and prove to her they can handle being a Duke. Max is second in line, but is very intelligent and wants to better his life. He wants to be business partners with Samuel Tate, but the only way in is marriage. He is supposed to marry one and ends up married to the other, Bianca. She agrees to the marriage only because she cherishes the business and doesn’t want any of it given to Max. This springs up some animosity between them. But through it all they discover just how much they have in common and work together. But can they find the love she desires?
4.25/5
Enjoyed this first in the Desperately Seeking Duke series from one of my favorite historical romance authors.
Max is a down-on-his-luck rogue who gets a second chance for redemption through a possible inheritance from a dukedom. Bianca is a headstrong young woman who works as a glazer at her father’s high-end pottery works. Max sees a business opportunity as well as a perfect wife in Bianca’s older sister Cathy. Bianca sees a gold-digging scoundrel and schemes to save her sister and their legacy.
I loved both leads as headstrong, hard-working characters who discover that first impressions are often misleading. Max is compellingly sweet as he falls for and woos the intelligent, creative Bianca, and she is surprised to find a man she can trust and count on in Max. Also a few sexy, steamy scenes as well. Nicely done, and I’ll look forward to the second book, A Scot to the Heart.
The e-book version also includes a short novella featuring a sweet HEA for his valet Kit and her lady’s maid Jennie.
Thanks to #NetGalley , #HarperCollins and #Avon for providing me the ARC. The opinions are strictly my own.
Maximilian St James hasn’t lived an exemplary life, so when he’s given the chance to improve himself, he grabs it and makes his plans. Tate’s pottery in Marslip makes some of the best known earthenware, Perusia. Samuel Tate also has two eligible daughters. Max’s plan is to marry the eldest, but she elopes with the man she loves before the wedding. Samuel offers his other daughter, Bianca to Max and so they are married. A successful partnership in the business will bring trust, but Max is hiding a secret. An interesting start to the book sets the plot for the possibility of Max becoming a Duke with a twist or two at the end. Great start to the series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
I received an eARC from Netgalley in exchange for a review.
I really enjoyed the Taming of the shrew similarities with a little twist. I like that there was not much unecessary drama in the book. I liked that they didn’t instantly fall in love with each other. The relationship and thier feelings for each other developed slowly over time. I also liked that neither of them were very high in society and so had differnts points of view and different things that were important to them. I liked the supporting characters and the bonus novella at the end was nice.
I have really enjoyed reading this author’s numerous other works and can’t wait to see how this new series unfolds from here. I can’t wait to see who else we will meet and how they will tie into this world.
I really appreciated that there were no grammar/spelling errors. There was no weird spacing or random characters popping up in words, no missing words or letters. It was really well edited. It really takes me out of the book when i have correct or read a sentence or paragraph several times to make out what it says/means.
An inconvenient marriage, a strong connection, a blurred line between passion and ambition.
Lord Maximilian St. John discovered he was in line to inherit a dukedom. His chances of really inheriting were slim, but he intended to use the allowance he was granted and the connection to establish himself in life.
That is how he ended up offering marriage to Catherine Tate, heiress of the famous and prosperous Tate Pottery.
Everything was working perfectly fine until he was forced to exchange the docile Catherine for her indomitable sister Bianca.
What was supposed to be a calm marriage of convenience turned into a crash of wills. A delicious enemies-to-lovers!
I felt an immediate connection with the characters, and I was emotionally invested in their HEA.
Maximilian is an adorable and vulnerable hero. He is ambitious and practical, but he is also loyal. Bianca is intelligent and full of spirit. Her love for her family and her dedication to the pottery were very inspiring.
Their bantering was fun, and they had great chemistry together.
As a bonus, there is a novella that retells the story from the perspective of the servants. Kit Laurence and Jennie (St. John’s valet and Bianca’s lady’s maid) get their very own HEA.
About a Rogue is very entertaining and tenderly written. Highly recommended!
Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
*For more reviews, book art, and book-related articles, please visit https://lureviewsbooks.com *
One of my favorite reads of 2020, About a Rogue is the first in Caroline Linden’s new Desperately Seeking Duke series. The series starts with the unexpected death of the heir to a dukedom, and there is no immediately apparent spare. The duke himself is ailing, so his mother begins a search for possible candidates. While all distantly related, the search reveals a Scottish military captain, a gaming scoundrel, and a Frenchmen as the most likely possibilities. The Frenchmen has yet to be located, but the captain and the scoundrel are actually contacted and summoned to the duchess. The duchess is less impressed with any of her options, so she provides both men with resources and incentive to clean up their act and make themselves worthy of the responsibilities they might inherit. About a Rogue is the scoundrel’s story.
***
Maximillian – Max – is a distant cousin to the current duke, something his father liked to trade on, but it doesn’t really mean much as far as having an actual connection/relationship or his daily life. For various reasons, Max hasn’t had the easiest life. Even though he has the manners of a gentleman and knows a lot of people in the right circles, he’s known poverty and has had to resort to gaming as his main profession. This new interruption to his life might actually be just what he needs to finally make a name for himself.
Max is a born marketer. He has brilliant ideas and ambition; he has just lacked the opportunity. After his meeting with the duchess, he makes contact with a previous acquaintance, Samuel Tate, who is a potter (think Wedgwood). Tate has a thriving business (that Max thinks he can make even better) as well as two daughters. Max hopes to make an alliance with Tate not only as a new business partner but also as his new son-in-law. Of course, while men might think that sounds pretty simple and straightforward, the women take a very different view of things.
***
This is a hate-to-love romance, but it’s actually one-sided. The heroine, Bianca, “ ,” while Max actually really respects and admires Bianca and meets her stubbornness with his own as he tries to make the best of the situation.
Bottom line, I really loved this book. Max is definitely book-boyfriend-worthy. Beta-hero alert! He’s really a decent guy and a brilliant businessman – he just needed someone to give him a chance!!! He is also incredibly patient when it comes to Bianca’s rebuffing him.
Because Max was such a loveable rogue, it was hard for me to love Bianca in the beginning. But over the course of the story, you see that Bianca is a badass boss lady. She is vital to her father’s business, and she knows it, but she is also willing to grow and admit that she doesn’t know everything. She can also admit when’s wrong.
While Bianca says she’s determined to hate Max, this isn’t a slow burn. We’re not forced to watch Max woo her the entire book, just to have her act like a jerk in the face of his kindness until the last few pages. The couple has a chemistry right from the start, which provides a lot of really great banter. This was just the feel-good book that I needed among the current craziness. It’s definitely become one of my favorites from Caroline, and I’m looking forward to seeing how the rest of the series plays out and who becomes the duke.
About a Rogue by Caroline Linden brings a fresh setting and engaging characters to this historical romance. Bianca Tate can’t stay silent and do nothing when her older sister Cathy needs to accept a marriage offer from Maximilian St. James. Therefore, she helps her sister elope with her true love and takes Cathy’s place at the altar. Max has had a hard life and has relied on charm and wit to survive. However, he has learned that he has the slim possibility of coming a duke.
Bianca and Max are fully developed characters with lots of chemistry. However, this is not an instant love story. Additionally, several of the secondary characters are well developed and provide additional interest and conflict.
When this author puts a marriage of convenience, a disdain for the groom, and an indifference to which sister is the bride together with a pottery works at the bottom of Marslip Hill, the novel is a winner. I enjoyed learning more about how the earthenware was produced. The world-building was great in the country setting and during the trip to London. There was always a strong sense of time and place transporting me to 1787. I also enjoyed the everyday life and the cricket game.
Secrets, lies of omission, misunderstandings, business ventures, family, friendship, intrique, gambling, wit, enjoyable plot, hurt feelings, and much more keep the story moving at a good clip. There are some steamy scenes in the latter part of the book and there is very little violence. This novel isn’t super twisty, but if you like intelligent scientific female protagonists and strong male leads, then this may be the book for you.
Overall, this was engrossing, entertaining, and a good start to a new series. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
I won a digital copy of this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
Bianca and Max’s is a great love story. It’s very much a slow burn story so be prepared, but it’s worth the wait once it gets steamy. I really enjoyed the main characters story arcs. Max learning to value himself and Bianca learning to trust. I’ll definitely read more from this author. A five star read!
There’s also a cute novella at the end with Jeannine and Kit, the lady’s maid and valet’s, love story.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Amazing read and truly deserving of 5 Full Teacups! We first meet Lady Carlyle at the death of yet another son, the last heir to the Carlyle estate. She realizes there must ben an heir to take over Carlyle estate and since her son has died she is left to chose from three distant cousins. So, she decided to summon them all to Carlyle estate. One is a soldier, who is the most promising of the three, another who is a Frenchman, the least promising as they aren’t even sure if he can be located, and then there is Maximillan St. James a gambler. After being summoned only the soldier and Max show up. She gives them each a sum of money and they have six months to prove themselves worthy of earning that money and they also must get married. Max has in mind exactly who he’ll marry, he goes to the Tate’s where he offers to marry Mr. Tate’s daughter Cathy but Cathy doesn’t love Max, she loves another and her sister Bianca is outraged that her father would pair her with such a rogue. So, she offers to take Cathy’s place instead and let Bianca marry her love. The fake marriage goes off without a hitch that is until Bianca feels very drawn to the rakish Maximillan St. James. Will she allow herself to love him? Will he gain the Carlyle Dukedom in the end or end up gambling his life away?
This story was just riveting and kept me glued to the pages, sipping tea long into the wee hours of the morning! I absolutely loved Lady Carlyle, she reminded me of my grandmother, all decked out with her rings, fancy gowns, and sassy spirit. She definitely added a lot to this great tale and I’d love to see more characters like her! A remarkable story and one I would most highly recommend!
About a Rogue
Desperately Seeking Duke
book 1
by Caroline Linden
The first in what looks like a pretty exciting new series! Love the enemies to lovers trope.
There’s a Dukedom that’s in peril and Maximilian St. James is a contender with two other relations on the same far removed end of the family tree. But before Max can hold the title and what goes with it, he needs to show that he’s a reformed rake. He needs to show the current duchess he’s willing to work hard at respectability even get a wife if need be. A chance meeting with a pottery business man and his daughter has Max asking for the young woman’s hand in marriage. Samuel Tate is super happy to have his eldest daughter marry a titled man, a would be Duke no less! As long as Cathy is a biddable wife things can only get better! Or do they?!
Bianca is livid her father decided to auction off his daughter Cathy to the highest bidder, and too make matters worse the deal is half of the pottery business is part of this merger! Her sister is in love with someone else and their father just won’t listen. Bianca is ready to fight fire with fire, a switch-a- roo and problem solved. Her sister ran off with the man she loves and the wedding is off. Right!? What follows is an entertaining tale of the best laid plans gone astray.
This was such an entertaining and enjoyable read, it reminds me of the taming of the shrew. Loved the banter and sexual tension between Bianca and Max their relationship was a work in progress a build of trust and friendship. I absolutely loved these two! Can’t wait to read the next instalment.
I was gifted an ARC this is my honest unbiased opinion.
I very much enjoyed reading this story. It was unique, unpredictable, and enthralling. As a long-time lover of historical romance novels, I’ve read dozens of rogue stories. This one, however, is different, in that it is more of a slow burn, a story that takes time to unravel, and allows the characters the time they need to reach their Happily Ever After. Max is a stellar hero – loving, understanding despite having been misunderstood and underappreciated his entire life – and Bianca is a smart, no-nonsense independent woman, willing to do anything for those she loves. I must say, I fell a little in love with Max myself, as who doesn’t want a spouse that loves one for oneself? I would highly recommend this book for anyone seeking to spend a few hours enjoying a brilliant love story.
4.5 stars, as reviewed at Roses Are Blue: https://wp.me/p3QRh4-1gn
Maximillian St. James’s life has not been easy, as every means of support he had has abandoned him or been taken away. Basically on his own, he has earned his living by becoming a gambler. He has also earned the reputation of being quite the ladies’ man, and it’s a reputation well deserved. When Max is summoned by a distant relative, and informed that he is in direct line to become heir to a dukedom, along with another St James cousin, he is shocked. Years ago, when Max and his mother were in desperate financial straits, and applied to this family for help, they were given a grand total of five pounds. Now he’s being given a huge living allowance, with the caveat that he become “respectable.” While Max appreciates the windfall, he also is determined to use his inheritance to find a way to make his own fortune. That way leads to a successful pottery company, owned by Mr. Tate, who has an eligible daughter…
Bianca Tate is passionate about the family pottery business, and is a major part of its success, thanks to her designing and research. When Max appears on the scene, courting her older sister, Cathy, Bianca is incensed that her father is encouraging the match. Unlike the fiery and outspoken Bianca, Cathy is timid and only wants to please her father, even agreeing to marry a man she doesn’t love. Bianca urges Cathy to elope with her long time love, which she finally does, on the eve of the wedding. Little did Bianca suspect that her angry father would offer her up as a substitute, or that Max would be willing to accept her as his bride, in Cathy’s place.
The wedding goes forward, with Bianca making it clear that it’s going to be a chaste marriage. She believes Max to be a phony fortune hunter, intent only on acquiring her inheritance. She doesn’t hide her dislike and scorn of Max, and he’s well aware of her feelings. Max knew that Bianca didn’t like him while he was still courting Cathy, so he simply avoided her when he could, while maintaining a politeness to her. Now that she’s his wife, he is intrigued by her fiery nature and her passion for the family business. He even enjoys her slings and barbs, answering each one with a smile, and telling her that someday she will willingly come to him to make their marriage real in every way.
It’s kind of interesting that I started off reading ABOUT A ROGUE, and thought that it was never going to work for me, as the hero and heroine are just the kind of characters I didn’t like. A rakish man who uses his physical attributes and charm with the intention of marrying into a wealthy family, and a woman who is direct to the point of being rude, as well as sarcastic and abrupt, made me shake my head. But, I was so wrong! Those are only the surface qualities of Max and Bianca. Max is truly tired of scrambling to make a living by gaming, and he works tirelessly to bring fresh ideas to improve the business and its bottom line. He knew that he would never be able to become an integral part of the company without becoming part of the family. In truth, we learn that he has been working for years for a very honorable cause, using funds he could ill afford to give up. As for Bianca, she loved her sister enough to want her happiness rather than her own. She is also willing to admit that she was mistaken about Max, and sees that he is genuine in his desire for the company’s success, as well as his desire to make a good, solid marriage.
Max’s attraction soon becomes raging desire for Bianca. I love how he admitted that he was falling deeply in love, and how he put such effort into making Bianca happy. While she was slower in coming to realize her love, she quickly became equally attracted to Max, and their coming together was hot and steamy. I love the developing romance, and though it happened over a short period of time, the progression from enemies to allies to friends to lovers, seemed natural and right. Of course, they encountered some obstacles, and I particularly like how quickly the last hurdle was resolved quickly and satisfactorily. I found ABOUT A ROGUE to be entertaining, warm, romantic, and with characters I came to truly admire and fall in love with.
When Max St. James learns that he is in line to inherit The Carlyle Dukedom, the Duchess gives him and his cousin six months to settle (marry) and prove they are worthy to inherit. Max immediately takes advantage of the income granted him to settle debts and make for himself something he hasn’t had in a long time, a safe and respectable life. He finds his opportunity at Perusia Potteries. When Bianca Tate discovers that not only has her father agreed to a marriage between her sister Cathy and Max, but is giving him a quarter interest in the company, she is livid. One, she loves Perusia and feels like her father has given away part of her heritage. Two, Cathy is in love with the local curate. Bianca’s solution helping Cathy elope with her true love results in her own marriage to Max St. James. Will Max prove to be the fortune hunter she believes him to be, or will he show that he is truly interested in the company and wants to help expand and improve it? Will Max’s marriage to Bianca be just a marriage of (in)convenience?
Max is a wonderful hero. He is intelligent, determined, and patient. He watches and works hard to learn the business he has joined. Bianca is very much like her father Samuel, and a brilliant asset to Perusia. She is fiercely devoted to her family and their business. Max and Bianca are perfect for each other, but you may not be able to convince them. This is an entertaining story with some very interesting characters, lots of humor, a secret or two, an amazing cricket match, and a few surprises. There is also an absolutely charming bonus story. I enjoyed and recommend this one. Another winner for Caroline Linden.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.