A Rogue by Night by Kelly Bowen | ARC Review

Series: The Devils of Dover, #3
Tropes & Traits: titled hero; suspense
Publication Date: 05.28.19
Genre/Setting: Historical; Regency; England
Heat Level: 3.5/5
Rating: 5 stars

Lord Harland Hayward wears many hats. He's a baron and a doctor but also moonlights as a smuggler at night. His role as a doctor gives him legitimate excuses to pop up in odd places and times when he's bringing in illegal cargo. He's done what he must to save his family's finances but even though his coffers are now full and the family business is thriving, he's stuck in a 20 year contract with a London crime lord known as King with no way out.

Katherine Wright grew up in a family of smugglers and is dismayed when she returns to Dover after years of working as a field surgeon to find her father and brother once again working for a smuggler. When her brother is shot, she convinces them to move and start anew somewhere else, but they insist on honoring their last contract first. Since her brother is injured and her father is in poor health, Katherine is forced right back into the vicious world she left behind and straight into the path of Lord Strathmore.

Katherine can't help but be snarky with the mysterious lord doctor and subsequently even more suspicious when he still continues to be nice to her despite her vitriol. She's been burned before and now carries strong prejudices against the titled and privileged. She makes the widowed Harland feel things he'd rather not after his disastrous marriage and it soon becomes apparent that these feelings are mutual. Even as he needs her help with his latest smuggling assignment, Harland is determined to keep Katherine safe. As much as she longs to leave the smuggling life behind, Katherine knows she has the skills to help Harland and that it would be unforgivably selfish not to. This last job will give her enough money for her family to move and start over so it's worth it, but she's still full of betrayal-fueled hatred and has nothing left to give Harland romantically, despite the temptation he poses. But Harland knows what that emptiness is like so he's not willing to give up the not-wholly-welcome feelings Katherine is reigniting in him.

This premise was quite unique and provided a good bit of depth for both main characters. Despite Katherine's hatefulness, I didn't dislike her (which would normally be the case), likely because she was willing to communicate with Harland about her reasons for such behavior, she was big enough to apologize, and she showed growth and development. This one had some good suspense, as well as some steamy goodness and it was very well-written and enjoyable all around.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2541000398?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1


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