A Rogue of One's Own by Evie Dunmore
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Summary from GoodReads
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, Lord Ballentine? Or that he would be willing to hand over the reins for an outrageous price—a night in her bed.
As Lucie tries to out-manoeuvre 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…
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.
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REVIEW
The second book of Evie Dunmore's series tackles Lady Lucie, the leader of the suffragette chapter in Oxbford and one very tough woman. Banished by her family, she makes ends up with different kinds of work but also is a strong believer or women's rights and most of all she finds ways to save them from abusive marriages.
Enter Tristan, Lord Ballentine a childhood frenemy, who has reasons of his own to become financially independent from his family. And what better way to do it than buying a publishing house to use it for his own books. There's one small hiccup; Lucie also wants the publishing house in order to promote to a wider audience her findings and propositions for the Married Women's Property Act, an amendment that would allow a married woman to remain autonomous instead of being wholly under the 'protection' of her new husband.
Which, taking into consideration that the century the book takes place, is radical on its own and has lots of enemies.
As Lucie and Tristan become more entangled with each other, they slowly realize that attraction burns hotter than hate.
There was one part of the book that I did not like; how Tristan thought he could get what he wanted but also his idea that he would be untouched by his feelings for Lucie. Dude, you were lying to yourself. But he learned his lesson the hardest way.
I loved, loved Lucie in this book. She is so strong and angry at the world on behalf of all women, she wants something better for them and for the future and she doesn't stay silent about it. Her friends are there supporting each other and I feel this is by far the best example of female friendship in the historical romance books I have read this year (as of now).
I loved how this book took us out of the glittering ballrooms and the cotton-candy ideas of a victorian marriage and make us see how in truth most marriages were actually a financial trade where a woman and her dowry were a purse for the husbands and that didn't always translate into a companionship but even to an abusive marriage.
The romance and yearning were off the charts. Evie knows how to write scenes that are both tender and sexy but also beautifully emotional.
I enjoyed this very much and my next review will be for my sweet Hattie!
And don't miss the rest books of this amazing series!
About the author:
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Evie wrote The League of Extraordinary Women inspired by the magical scenery of Oxford and her passion for romance, women pioneers, and all things Victorian. In her civilian life, she is a strategy consultant with a M.Sc. in Diplomacy from Oxford. Scotland and the great outdoors have a special place in her heart, so she is frequently found climbing the Highlands and hunting for woolly tartan blankets. She is a member of the British Romantic Novelists' Association (RNA).
The best way to contact Evie is via Instagram
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