About the Book:
Title: Never Rescue a Rogue
Author: Virginia Heath
Series: The Merriwell Sisters #2
Page Length: 368
Publication Date: Nov. 8, 2022
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Synopsis: Virginia Heath’s Never Rescue a Rogue, the next book in the Merriwell Sisters series, is filled with whip-smart banter, swoony romance, hilarious mishaps, and twisty reveals that will make you gasp and laugh in delight.
Diana Merriwell and Giles Sinclair only tolerate one another for the sake of their nearest and dearest. Everyone believes that the two of them are meant to be together, but Diana and Giles know that their constant pithy barbs come from a shared disdain—not a hidden attraction. Diana loves the freedom of working at the newspaper too much to give it up for marriage, and Giles is happily married to his bachelor lifestyle. But they do have one thing in common—the secrets they can’t risk escaping.
When Giles’ father, the curmudgeonly Duke of Harpenden unexpectedly turns up his toes, it’s only a matter of time before someone comes crawling out of the woodwork who knows the true circumstances of his only son’s birth. As the threat of blackmail becomes real, Giles must uncover the truth of his parentage first, or else he and all those who depend upon him will be ruined—and dogged bloodhound Diana is his best hope at sniffing out the truth. As Giles and Diana dive into his family’s past, the attraction that the two of them insisted wasn’t there proves impossible to ignore. Soon, the future of the Sinclair estate isn’t the only thing on the line…
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My Review:
Never Rescue a Rogue is the second book in Virginia Heath’s Merriwell Sisters historical romance series. The story follows Diana, a newspaper reporter masked as a proofreader, and Giles, a duke and friend of the family. The pair were introduced in the first book, and it was clear in their antagonistic behavior that there was something between them.
Diana and Giles are such compelling and dynamically developed characters, and I really enjoyed their stories. Diana is intelligent and intuitive and incredibly strong. Like her sisters, she has a difficult past, and that has led to trust issues, especially when it comes to men. Though faced with many obstacles, Diana worked hard to establish herself as an investigative journalist, and she is in no rush to lose her independence. She is a woman who has broken barriers with her intellect, investigative prowess, and skilled writing, though no one knows it because she tells everyone she is a proofreader. I love her independent spirit, determination to help her family, and drive. She’s fierce and won’t let anything, including her confusing feelings toward Giles, stand in her way.
Giles is so much more than the rake most people think he is, and Diana is one of the few to see him for the kind and generous man he is. Giles has a complicated past, and a secret that could ruin his reputation and livelihood. Luckily, Diana takes it upon herself to help Giles solve the mystery in his family. Working with Diana makes both of them realize just how much they really care for each other.
Diana and Giles have a fantastic enemies-to-lovers romance filled with witty banter and tons of chemistry. Everyone can tell that they are made for each other except Diana and Giles. They constantly bicker and antagonize each other, but it’s clear their animosity disguises their real feelings. Something I really like about Giles is that he doesn’t try to change Diana, nor does he judge her for not conforming to the dictates of society. Both characters accept each other unconditionally, and their slow-building enemies-to-friends-to-lovers romance is wonderful.
The mystery is also interesting and adds a bit of intrigue to the story, and the secondary characters are fantastic, especially Dalton the butler and Diana’s younger sister Vee. Dalton has some particularly memorable lines! And I want to be part of Diana’s family! They are loving and supportive and funny, and their constant matchmaking schemes are equally comical and sweet.
I would definitely recommend Never Rescue a Rogue to readers who enjoy heartwarming historical romances with witty banter, some fun laugh-out-loud moments, and a swoon-worthy, slow-burning love story. I can’t wait to read Vee’s story in the next book! Special thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Griffin, and the author for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
Rating:
Favorite Parts:
- The romance!
- The mystery.
- The secondary characters.
- The banter!
Favorite Lines:
She wasn’t so much a woman who marched to the beat of her own drum but one who made everyone else seem as if it were they who were out of step.
He’s tall and dark and adamant.
Without thinking, she groped for his hand beneath the table and as if he, too, sensed trouble, his fingers laced tight with hers. Very tight. And something odd happened. Something very odd. Because it felt as if that was exactly where her hand was always meant to be.
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