ARC Review: A Rogue to Remember by Emily Sullivan

Title: A Rogue to Remember

Author: Emily Sullivan

Series: League of Scoundrels (Book 1)

Page Length: 336

Publication Date: March 9, 2021

Publisher: Forever

Synopsis: In this irresistible historical romance debut, a seasoned spy sets out to rescue the childhood friend he once loved from a reputation-destroying rumor—only to discover that she is actually the source.

After enduring five interminable seasons, Lottie Carlisle has had enough of shallow London society, her boring little life, and her uncle Alfred’s meddling. When he demands she accept a proposal by the end of next season or else he will choose a husband for her, she devises a plan: create a scandal shocking enough to make her unmarriageable and spend her spinsterhood far enough away in the countryside where no one will ever recognize her.

Alec Gresham hasn’t seen Lottie since he left his childhood friend without a word five years ago. So he’s not surprised to find her furious when he appears on her doorstep. Especially bearing the news he brings: her uncle is dying, her blasted reputation is still intact, and Lottie must return home. As they make the journey back to her family estate, it becomes increasingly clear that the last five years hasn’t erased their history, nor their explosive chemistry. Can Lottie look past her old heartache and trust Alec, or will his secrets doom their relationship once again?

LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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My Review:

A Rogue to Remember follows Lottie and Alec, childhood friends who haven’t seen each other since his devastating rejection five years ago. Alec is sent to retrieve Lottie, who has left London to create a scandal that would render her unmarriageable, and return her home to her uncle. As the pair journeys home, old feelings and chemistry flares. Can Lottie forgive Alec for his past rejection? Will they admit their feelings for each other and find their happily-ever-after?

This is an engaging and romantic story with a fabulous setting and fantastic characters. Lottie is definitely one of my favorites, and her independent, liberal spirit is a breath of fresh air. Stifled by the constraints and expectations put upon her by her uncle and elite society as a whole, Lottie flees. She longs for freedom and adventure and love, and she refuses to marry for anything less. I love that Lottie stands up for herself. Even with Alec, Lottie fights for what she wants and refuses to give up on him and their love.

Some of my favorite stories follow characters who go on physical and emotional journeys, and A Rogue to Remember does just that. The setting of the story follows Lottie and Alec through Italy and takes the reader to lush landscapes, quaint villages, Venetian canals, and more. As the couple travels, they face internal and external obstacles, and I like that the mystery, tension, and intrigue they go through throughout their journey parallels the internal turmoil they experience.

Both Lottie and Alec must come to terms with their long-buried feelings for each other. Even though Alec deeply loved her, he always believed that he wasn’t good enough for Lottie. Lottie still feels the sting of rejection from five years ago and doesn’t fully trust Alec with her heart. Both characters must learn the truth of the past and face their feelings for each other as the story progresses.

The chemistry between Lottie and Alec is amazing! They have such a deep and profound connection that spans almost two decades, and this friends-to-lovers-to-enemies-to-fake-marriage-to-lovers romance is filled with yearning, regret, and hope. Lottie and Alec have such a strong bond, and it’s clear that they love each other, though neither wants to admit it. Lack of communication, feelings of unworthiness, societal pressures, the past, and a meddlesome relative prove difficult obstacles to overcome, but the pair proves that their feelings for each other are greater than anything that stands in their way.

“Is she worth it?” They both knew the signore would not soon forget this. “She’s worth everything.”

The story also touches upon some heavier subjects, especially the grief and pain that comes with losing a loved one. Both Alec and Lottie lost their parents at a young age, though their lives and the feelings toward the losses are very different. There’s a lot about the past that Alec doesn’t know. Secrets about his parents that have purposely been kept from him have detrimentally affected Alec and his relationship with others. He’s good at keeping people at a distance and not showing his true self to anyone. Lottie is one of the few who sees the man beneath the tough and emotionless exterior.

Intrigue, adventure, secrets and lies, a fake relationship, and a second-chance romance all make for a delightful and memorable read. I enjoyed the love story and the setting, and the book introduces intriguing characters that I can’t wait to read about in future books in the series! Thanks so much to NetGalley, Forever, and Emily Sullivan for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Rating:

Favorite Parts:

The romance, of course!! I love Lottie and Alec and wholly rooted for their happily-ever-after.

The intrigue. There are many secrets and lies, as well as a bit of danger.

The journey – both physical and emotional.

Favorite Lines:

For a very brief moment, she caught a glimpse of the passionate creature he had once been, of the boy who had simply blazed with life.

A person could spend their whole life waiting, only to be left with nothing. That seemed like a rather obvious lesson she should have learned a long time ago.