Lady Sophie’s Society SplashWhen Sophie, the least interesting of the Talbot sisters, lands her philandering brother-in-law backside-first in a goldfish pond in front of all society, she becomes the target of very public aristocratic scorn. Her only choice is to flee London, vowing to start a new life far from the aristocracy. Unfortunately, the carriage in which she stows away isn’t saving her … isn’t saving her from ruin . . . it’s filled with it.
Rogue’s Reign of Ravishment!
Kingscote, “King,” the Marquess of Eversley, has never met a woman he couldn’t charm, resulting in a reputation far worse than the truth, a general sense that he’s more pretty face than proper gentleman, and an irate summons home to the Scottish border. When King discovers stowaway Sophie, however, the journey becomes anything but boring.
War? Or More?
He thinks she’s trying to trick him into marriage. She wouldn’t have him if he were the last man on earth. But carriages bring close quarters, dark secrets, and unbearable temptation, making opposites altogether too attractive . . .
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Sophie and King! I loved this book so much. It was funny, cute, and I couldn’t put it down.
Sarah MacLean books feel like coming home. I know as soon as I pick it up, I’ll have that warm feeling, leaving me completely settled.
Loved this Regency romance! Top-notch banter, which is my favorite.
I don’t read a lot of historical romance. But, I had the great pleasure of hearing feminist romance author Sarah MacLean speak at a conference last year (keynote and a workshop on writing dialogue). I picked up one of her books, The Rogue Not Taken, and immediately added it to my TBR list. I finally got a chance to read it recently, and I’m so glad I did.
I find it hard to resist quirky/punny titles. Most of all I love smart, strong, sassy heroines, and Sarah MacLean does not disappoint.
She’s an unmarried woman from a scandalous but well-to-do family who causes a scene at a London society function, creates a huge mess and then tries to walk away from it—and the high society life she never wanted. Along the way a Duke tries to rescue her even though he doesn’t really want to. I don’t usually care for the virgin deflowered trope (one reason I don’t read a lot of historicals) because it puts too much of the power in the man’s hands (pun fully intended), but this one is done oh-so-right.
The main characters’ banter is sarcastic, their attraction apparent, and the sexual tension scorching. My only quibble, and it is a mere quibble, is that the book could have ended a little sooner. I didn’t need the final plot twist to be satisfied—and neither did the heroine (yeah, pun fully intended again).
And of course, our hero is completely devoted to making the heroine feel A-mazing every time they kiss or touch or fool around. Love that!
I really enjoyed this book and ripped through it a little more than a day. Whether you read historical romance or not, this book is definitely worth your time.
I think I pushed the button on just about every category in the “what did you like about this book” section because to be honest, there’s nothing about it that I didn’t like. I don’t read a lot of historical romance but this is by far my new favorite. I couldn’t put it down. Once I started there was no stopping until King and Sophie fought their way to their happily ever after. It was funny, their banter making for the best kind of flirtation. It was sweet, with King taking care of Sophie and her, in turn, taking care of him. It was sexy beyond any historical romance I’ve ever read. I laughed, I cried, I wanted to yell at these two to get it together already and get on the same page. The journey was quite literally the important part, not the destination, at least for these two. They’ll be going into my reread rotation just as soon as I finish Book 2 in the series which I’ve already downloaded and plan to jump into immediately.
Sophie Talbot a spoiled outspoken individual manages to get herself tangled up into trouble and put to rights by the Marquess of Eversley who tried to steer clear of the marriage mart as possible. Unfortunately, he is taught to love by Sophie a woman who does not fit the image of a proper lady. The tug of war on wordplay between the two was just that and had its moments of being humorous. Think this could have been a bit better by SM who I am an avid fan of her novels.
Sarah MacLean is one of the few romance writers whose stories are original and whose characters are not carbon copies of one another. Writing is good enough for me to slow down and not skip anything. Sexual intimacy between the leading lady and man is well done, but not overdone. One’s own imagination should suffice for such details! Nothing cutesy or coy. No characters so far whose cable cars don’t make it to the top of Nob Hill.
It Was Ok
I don’t regret reading this book. The characters were likable, though not particularly interesting. The plot held my attention, but the story was not at all moving.
Wonderful dialogue, an enchanting heroine, a not-so-charming “hero”, and a wild ride – a truly enjoyable read.
Laughed a lot
I loved it!
I enjoyed this first in series! Loved the heroine’s determination and the hero’s reluctance (of course), but also his genuine CARING. It was a refreshing take and I recommend.
Well….since I’ve finished my revisit with every Lisa Kleypas book available in audio, who should be next on my list but Sarah MacLean? I’ve been a fan ever since Lady Calpurnia decided that she needed to visit a fencing club. I mean, come on. That’s my favorite part about Sarah’s heroines – they have all reached a point in their lives when it is time for them to take control of their lives. And I love joining them on that journey.
Sophie and King’s journey is literally a journey. 🙂 She changed her life by pushing her cheating brother in law on his ass in a fish pond (who, btw, deserved that and more) in front of the ton and then proceeded to lambast them all for the way they’ve treated her and her sisters. Sophie’s loyalty to her family is beautiful- even when they don’t particularly deserve it, she still defends them to the end. Anyway, read the book. Meet Sophie and King. You won’t be sorry.
This book had everything I didn’t know I needed in one book and I want to scream from the rooftops about how amazing it was. I’m slowly coming around to some historical romance thanks to Sarah MacLean and Julia Quinn. But Sarah is 100% my favorite.
Sophie is my now very favorite heroine from a historical romance novel and frankly, one of the best female MC’s I’ve read lately period. She’s intelligent, outspoken, funny and fiercely protective of her family. Frankly, she’s everything you aren’t “supposed” to be as a woman in her time. After standing up for her sister at a ball, Sophie ends up running away, yearning for the life she remembers before money became the end all be all of life.
Our hero, King, has quite the reputation for charming women and meets his match in Sophie. Full of witty banter, their relationship progresses, despite all odds and grows in to something neither one of them expected or wanted.
I had a smile on my face throughout much of the book and when I finished it, I was sad I would never read it again for the first time. If you’ve been on the fence about this one, I highly recommend you pick it up. I don’t think you’ll be sorry.
Sarah MacLean is another writer of exceptional talent. Her characters are well developed and, if you continue through this series, you will see them reappear in later books. Her heroines are strong minded. There is quite a bit of steaminess, which you can skim over if that bothers you, but the rest of the book is fun.
Any book by Sarah MacLean is a wonderful escape and a delicious adventure! Great characters never let the reader down.
4.5*
I really enjoyed this book. It is a fun read.
This has become my favorite historical romance – I liked everything about it – it was so witty and entertaining, with such interesting characters. Highly recommend.
I absolutely LOVE this whole series. Everyone is witty, fun, and lovely. I cannot speak highly enough about this cast of characters.
The Rogue Not Taken is the first of three books in the Scandal & Scoundrel Series and I really enjoyed this one. This was the first book by Sarah MacLean that I have read and I really enjoyed this book and all the characters and the problems they got themselves into. I enjoyed seeing how Sophie came out of her shell and learned to embrace who she was as well as seeing how her and King’s relationship grew during the book. I also liked the way the author gave us details about the characters pasts and what made them into the people they were. I look forward to reading the next book in the series A Scot in the Dark.