The Rake and the Rose

Love all the sibling conflicts here! This is a delightful Regency-era "best friend's little sister" romance, that starts with Alex being told in no uncertain terms that he is to stay far away from his best friend's sister, Rose. Henry and Rose have struggled to make good of their lives after their father's scandal saw them lose everything, and both siblings are convinced that Alex is an unrepentant rake who will only lead them into more trouble. The trouble that comes is on two fronts: Rose insists on gaining access to the pleasure dens of London in order to write about them to encourage change, and she insists that if Alex won't help her she'll find someone else who will. And, as much as Alex wants to honor his promise to Henry, it's far more important to protect Rose as she naively ventures forward in disguise. He's not only in trouble with Henry, but with Rose as well, who can't see beyond her judgmental assessment of him to the honorable man he truly is. As the third in a series, I enjoyed catching up with the earlier couples and thought they brought a lot of common sense to the current storyline. Both Alex and Rose have to grow beyond their initial opinion of the other that was based on their childhood friendship, and I did enjoy their lively interactions. There was plenty of respect shown to those women who lived at the edge of propriety, and I loved how Alex's grandmother was able to give an insightful view of the other side of life for women in that time. Their HEA was solid and I read this through in one sitting. I recommend it for anyone who likes Regency romances with a little steam and a dash of social commentary. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

I enjoyed Rose's fresh perspective on educating young men about how they can be harmed by a dissolute lifestyle. Despite the historical setting, the book has a contemporary sensibility, especially Rose's attitude toward engaging in a physical relationship with Alex. Both of them have some misconceptions and prejudices that get in the way of their future together, and that was handled well. Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

This is a story of discovery, redemption, and forgiveness. Rose starts the story as a judgement termagant. The things that she sees and experiences help her to learn more than how badly some men (rakes) behave. She finds that almost everyone suffers loss and disappointment, but that how they handle it is personal. She meets new and interesting people, learns that life is poetry, and finds love with Alexander. I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.