The Bourne Matrimonial Agency has one rule: Never fall in love with a client, which shouldn’t be a problem when one’s faking an engagement to the rogue across the street . . .Ainsley Bourne needs the family business to succeed. But one obstacle stands in her way—Reed Sterling, the huge, handsome, former prize fighter and owner of the gaming hell across the street. His scandalous customers scare … the street. His scandalous customers scare off all her marriage-minded patrons and since the devilish brute has no intention of relocating, she sets out to ruin his unsavory establishment. Yet when a vile suitor from her past reappears, Ainsley hastily claims an attachment to the first man who comes to mind . . . Mr. Sterling, to be exact.
Reed doesn’t know who is more surprised by Miss Bourne’s declaration. She clearly hates him, and he’d never admit their arguments simmer with unrequited attraction. Something about the pleading look in her eyes calls to Reed, and against his better judgment, he quickly plays the part of the besotted fiancé.
Pretending to be in love requires a convincing charade. But with each tantalizing touch and every scandalous kiss, Ainsley starts to wonder if Reed was ever really the enemy at all.
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Vivienne Lorret’s The Rogue To Ruin is the third installment of Misadventures In Matchmaking with one code: Never fall in love with a client. Reed Sterling is not a client, but a neighbor Ainsley Bourne dislikes. Or did she? Reed Sterling is the owner of a gaming hall that threatens her family business, leaving Ainsley no choice but resorts to put him out of business. The story is filled with witty, yet fiery dialogues between Ainsley and Reed, but also a sweet and passionate story of two people falling in love.
The Rogue to Ruin
Misadventures in Matchmaking book 3
by Vivienne Lorret
Oh my this was sooooo good! Ainsley and Reed have such chemistry, their banter is witty and every time Reed’s in close proximity you can almost see the goosebumps that appear on Ainsley. She’s determined to run Reed and his gaming hell out of her neighbourhood, for the good of the Bourne Matchmaking business. This results in some funny antics that don’t faze Reed one bit, to Ainsley’s dismay. But Ainsley is running away from a secret, and her secret just came to town, Ainsley acquires a betrothed, and being the gentleman he is Reed steps up to the plate!
A page turner that kept this reader reading way past my bed time. Vivienne Lorret is one of my favourite authors! She’s a one click buy. There’s villains, mystery a kidnap and a hero that will do anything for the woman he loves. I urge everyone who loves a good historical romance to pick up a Vivianne Lorret book, you’ll not be disappointed! Now on to the next one!
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via Edelweiss. This is my honest unbiased opinion.
This engrossing Regency romance engages all of the senses. I was captivated from the opening pages right through to the closing chapter. I found myself laughing out loud in parts and had tears in my eyes at others, as there is humour, suspense and romance all wrapped up in one package. I especially enjoyed the fact that the plot is about ordinary people who have surmounted obstacles and overcome them. Ainsley is self-contained and in control of every aspect of her life, and I am sure that there will be many women who will identify with her, as I did myself. Reed is a successful, self-made businessman, but he could have turned out so differently. His youthful experiences have made him more caring and protective towards women, and not the other way around. When he recognises the signs of violence in Ainsley’s past, he takes special care to approach her carefully and slowly wins her trust. When pushed into a corner, a panicked Ainsley states her understanding with Reed and although shocked, he quickly assesses the danger to her, and acknowledges that he is betrothed to her. That of course sets in motion a whole chain of events, both hilarious and tragic. It seems that this book cannot have the one without the other and consequently I found myself going from one extreme of emotions to the other within seconds. This is a truly enjoyable novel and not one to be overlooked. I received a copy of this book as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.
I discovered Mrs Vivienne Lorret work with the second book in this series. And since I have read some more as I loved her style and humour.
I confess I do not remember a lot about Ainsley from the previous book, Briar’s story, just she had often raw arguments with their neighbor Reed Sterling and she was rather blunt and had not a romantic bone in her.
My first thoughts were confirmed as she appears as being haughty and having preconceptions about Mr Sterling.
I didn’t like she wanted to put his business down, blaming it for their thriving enterprise. While she was presented as woolgathering about her neighbor instead of working to improve her job.
Then Reed Sterling showed with his own reservations, blending all the nobility in the same basket, with so heavy blinders, he refuses to notice Ainsley is not whom he believes her to be.
Why it became so very entertaining to see how they will overcome all the prejudices they had against another, a true enemies to lovers tale.
It was not an easy journey for them as they had a lot of growing up to do before being able to move on. They were both too focused and too stubborn persons to at first comprehend why they were so drawn to another.
« “I knew that if I could get close enough to her, she could teach me how to absorb every small moment. And I was right. Whenever we met, time slowed down, noises faded, the constant driving voice in my head went quiet, and all that was left was her. »
What began as a war for the land of the other evolved to a battle of wills then to a conquest of each other trust and love.
« Whenever she reached out, she wanted her hand to find his. Whenever she lifted her arms, she wanted to be swept up in his embrace. And whenever she closed her eyes, she wanted to taste his kiss. »
Both had bottled their fears and inner self to protect themselves against the world, fearing to look weak. But Reed is quicker to accept his feelings for Ainsley, while she is scared to let it go and lose herself on the way.
Worse, Ainsley was nearly fooled by the sort of man she thought to avoid and it awakened the worst in her, robbing her of her self confidence and self esteem. Why she rushed to judge Reed for his past. Not thinking straight and unable to translate the signs her body and her id were sending to her.
Some of the greatest moments were their battles of wits and quip. They plastered a smile on my lips for most of the book and the last scene was epic with the perfect dose of humour and drama and heartache.
A special note for the lovely and sweet epilogue.
I was graciously provided an advance reader copy by Edelweiss and Avon for my true and honest review, but I have already purchased my own copy.
My Favorite In This Series
The skirmishes between Ainsley and Reed were entertaining. Ainsley was too obstinate for her own good, but thankfully Reed was levelheaded. This is an engaging read with some happy surprises.
The Rogue to Ruin is the third in the Misadventures in Matchmaking series but can be read as a stand alone story. This is a enemies to lovers, opposites attract and things aren’t always as they seem story. Ainsley is trying to keep her family business, The Bourne Matrimonial Agency, afloat but blames the lack of business on her neighbor’s business. Reed Sterling is a former pugilist who now owns Sterling’s Gaming Hall, across the street from the matchmaking agency. Ainsley and Reed have a somewhat war going to put the other out of business but every time they are near, the sparks of attraction fly. When a terror from Ainsley’s past comes back, Reed does everything he can to protect her, even agreeing that he is her betrothed. The story that follows is filled with drama, a little bit of terror, a whole lot of banter, a character of a cat, and a great love story. An entertaining read.
Third book in a series but could be read as a stand-alone. I love the characters! Can Uncle Ernest get his own story? I adore this author. I’m going to start searching to see if Lord Savage or Raven have been published or will be!
I had SO much fun reading this story! I immediately downloaded the first two in the series because I just HAVE to know about her sisters! *eeeppp*
The perfect sparring between these two with an undercurrent of teasing and flirting! And then the #feels started to pour out of the pages! They both have a bit of past that doesn’t lend well to trusting others and it just so dreamy the way they both lean on each other to break thru the barrier and take a chance on each other!
I think you could call this both an enemy to lovers and/or close proximity/fake relationship trope. I won’t expand on that since it will give away a few plot points, so you’ll have to just #oneclick a copy and read! 🙂 This was a really great read all around! Excellent banter and feels and the right amount of sexy!!
Copy provided for blog tour
A wonderful ending to a delightful series!
The Rogue to Ruin is a enemies-to-lovers / fake relationship story–two troupes that can be so much fun on their own when done well, but together…? Romance gold!
I loved Ainsley and Reed–both as individuals and as couples, they’re delightful. Their banter is outstanding (there may have been some snort-laughing while reading over here) and their chemistry is undeniable. I really enjoyed seeing their evolving relationship from both sides–even when one or both of them was making a misstep, it was so easy to empathize with what they were trying to do (or thought they were trying to do…) I loved them even when they made me a little crazy.
And that epilogue? OMG, so many happy feels 😀
If you’ve read the other two books in the series (you don’t have to; this one would work fine as a standalone too) there’s a delightful symmetry to the series with a reveal here that I didn’t suspect until about 50% in–but once I did, I may have given a rather loud and happy squeal 😉
Just when you think Ainsley might be the sister not to break the Agency’s “one rule…” LOL!
I’m bummed that the series is over, but am really looking forward to seeing what Ms. Lorret has in store for us next!
Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
The Rogue to Ruin by Vivienne Lorret is book Three in the Misadventures in Matchmaking Series. This is the story of Reed Sterling and Ainsley Bourne. I have read the previous books but feel you can make this a standalone book if you wish to do so..
Reed owns a gaming hell right across the street from Ainsley business of matchmaking. Which is impacting her business. Of courses she goes across the street daily to let him have it about what he is doing and his customer have done. Although they doing nothing but fight they both feel the underling spark between them. When Ainsley’s old love interest comes forward she tries to throw him off with the first person she thinks of…Reed. Reed has secretly enjoyed his sparing with Ainsley so he doesn’t put up much protest when he has to pretend to being involved with her. But pretend sometimes leads to real.
Loved their story and the epilogue…that adds to my rating always.
Vivienne Lorret’s “The Rogue to Ruin” was a great enemies to lovers story, and I adored it. The banter between the main characters, Ainsley and Reed, was delightful and very funny. They really kept each other on their toes! I also laughed out loud a number of times while reading about the antics of Reed’s cat and Ainsley’s servants, as well as when Ainsley “intervened” in the fistfight between Nigel and Reed at the end of the book. It was wonderful that Ainsley was able to get her own revenge on Nigel and not just stand back and watch Reed do all of the fighting for her. While Reed’s decision to fight to defend Ainsley’s honor was a lovely gesture on his part and allowed him to show how much he loved her, Ainsley’s actions demonstrated that Nigel no longer held any power over her, and that she didn’t need Reed or any man to fight battles on her behalf.
While I found the book to be very funny overall, it also had a number of touching moments, particularly as Reed and Ainsley started to grow closer. I thought that their relationship was very well developed, and the gradual transition from enemies to lovers was completely believable. When Ainsley finally let go of her animosity towards Reed and realized that she loved him, it almost brought me to (happy) tears. Her relationship with Reed made Ainsley stronger and also helped her to realize that love is worth fighting for.
This is the first book I have ever read by Ms. Lorret, but I am already looking forward to reading more of her work! I plan to go back and read the first two books in this series soon and also look forward to checking out whatever she plans to publish next.
*ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Ainsley Bourne has spent the last two years at war with her neighbor. He is such a cad! Carriages rumble up to his gaming hell day and night and leave trash all over her front entrance. That gaming hell being direct across the street certainly doesn’t garner any new customers for her matrimonial agency – and probably drives plenty away. Almost every day she has some new reason to trek across the street and flay him and she’s getting tired of him hurting her business. So – the war is about to get serious.
Reed Sterling looks forward to his almost daily visit by his neighbor. She has a sharp tongue and he loves trading insults and barbs with her. He views her as a prim, proper, pampered princess who was born with a silver spoon in her mouth. Reed, on the other hand, was born a commoner and has worked hard for everything he has. He was a renowned pugilist who saved his winnings and used it to open his gaming hell. Now, he is determined to make it the best, most exclusive hell in London and some spoiled little rich girl isn’t going to change that.
Although they fight it, Reed and Ainsley are attracted to each other and when something from her past comes back to haunt her, Reed is right there to help – even if it means that he ends up in the boxing ring again.
I loved Reed throughout the book. He was large, strong, smart – and a marshmallow on the inside. His childhood was a tough one and he had every reason to dislike aristocrats given how they had treated him and his family.
Ainsley hadn’t had the life Reed pictured. Her mother married her ne’er do well father because she loved him, but he didn’t reciprocate. He eventually moved on to start yet another family – and others beyond that. Her mother died of a broken heart after that and Ainsley doesn’t trust love or marriage.
I liked Ainsley throughout most of the book. She was smart and wily and pulled some really good stunts on Reed to put him out of business. Frankly, though, I find that attitude a little offputting. Her needs/wants were much more important than those of Reed simply because she decided it was so. She never thought about or considered the number of people she would cause to lose their jobs or the harm she’d cause. She only thought about herself and what she wanted. Then – at Harrowfield – she just went off the deep end and I wasn’t sure she could redeem herself in my eyes. However, she did manage to do that finally, but it was almost at the end before she did.
I loved the epilogue – it takes place seven years later and gives a wonderful peek into the family they created.
It is a lovely read – not my favorite of the series, but still a lovely read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.