Series: The Rogue Files, #3
Traits & Tropes: titled hero; forced proximity; only one bed; road trip; class difference; reformed rake; slow burn
Publication Date: 07.24.18
Genre/Setting: Historical; Victorian; Scottish lowlands/Highlands
Heat Level: 4
Rating: 3/5
Narration Rating: 3/5
While journeying to his estate in the Scottish Highlands Marcus Weatherton, the Duke of Autenberry is surprised to come upon a woman being auctioned off like a broodmare in the village square. Following a protective impulse, he submits a winning bid, thinking he’s giving her freedom and instead finds himself with a new wife.
Alyse Bell is nearly free of her marriage-in-name-only, but the friend who promised to buy her in the wife auction fails to show up, leaving her alone to face an increasingly restless group of bachelors eager to take his place, until a wealthy stranger changes everything.
Marcus has no idea what to make of Alyse, but he knows she’s no duchess. Proclaiming their marriage to be an unenforceable sham, he brings her with him on his journey to Scotland, planning to leave her there as housekeeper on his estate. However, on their perilous trip north, Marcus grows increasingly fond of Alyse until all at once he realizes he can no longer imagine his life without her.
I’m not sure if it’s me or the book at this point. There was nothing wrong with this one, like several others I’ve read recently, but it also didn’t really grab me. The main characters and their story were fine, but not compelling, and the pacing sometimes felt rather slow. Somehow, though there was a lot going on here, there were also lulls in the story that didn’t pique my interest. The storyline itself was the sort of bonkers I’ve come to (happily) expect from this author, but I had a tough time warming to either Marcus or Alyse. It took Marcus a long time to become aware of his poor behavior and start to do something about it, and by this time my interest was waning a bit. Then, of course, when he finally got it together, Alyse threw things right back into chaos. By the time Marcus and Alyse finally established some real communication and reached an accord, the book was basically over so, though I liked the story overall, their HEA wasn’t as satisfying as it could’ve been just because it felt so abrupt. I also really wanted to see Marcus’ reconciliation with his stepmother and best friend and him giving them the apology they so deserved, but this disappointingly seems to have occurred off page.
https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/3594023984
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2506301263
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