Title: The Lady's Bargain with the RogueAuthor: Melissa Oliver
Series: The Disreputable Marsden Brothers #1
Pages: 251
Publication Date: Jan. 16, 2025
Publisher: Harlequin
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Historical
Synopsis:
Lady Elisabeth Bawden-Trebarr is determined to reclaim the Cornish ancestral home her good-for-nothing late husband gambled away and unearth her family’s long-lost riches. As the new owner is Sebastian Marsden—a notorious rogue she would rather avoid—she’ll ensure he cannot dismiss her by storming his gaming hell!
Sebastian wants nothing more to do with the ton after a bitter family scandal. But when Lady Eliza refuses to give up without a fight, he entertains her treasure hunt—if only to stop her pressing on his every nerve! He reluctantly admires her tenacity, and a sizzling attraction begins to stir…
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The Lady’s Bargain with the Rogue is the first in Melissa Oliver’s new Victorian romance series, and it’s filled with tension, adventure, amazing banter, and a fantastic romance. The story follows Lady Elisabeth Bawden-Trebarr, a widow determined to reclaim her family’s Cornish castle, which was lost due to her late husband’s reckless debts. Her only chance lies in negotiating with Sebastian Marsden, a brooding gaming hell owner with a reputation for ruthlessness. When Sebastian reluctantly agrees to her request for three weeks to repay the debt, an unexpected partnership and a quest to uncover a long-lost family treasure begins.
Eliza and Sebastian are dynamically developed characters with compelling arcs. Eliza is resilient and clever and so determined as she works to uncover her family’s hidden fortune. She’s independent and intelligent and not one to underestimate, as Sebastian soon learns. Sebastian is fabulous too! Intially, he’s guarded and pretty cynical, but this isn’t surprising considering his tumultuous past and the family scandal that left him and his brothers with nothing but each other. I like how we see Sebastian soften and open up as he grows closer with Eliza. She definitely challenges him in ways he never anticipated, and it’s lovely to see him slowly let his guard down.
I’m also curious about some of the secondary characters, especially Sebastian’s brothers. They’re all so different, and there’s an unshakable bond between them that I’m eager to see explored in the next book. Each brother sounds swoon-worthy in their own way, and I’m a sucker for a swoon-worthy love story.
Speaking of swoon-worthy, the romance between Eliza and Sebastian definitely made my heart melt, and it’s filled with some of my favorite tropes – opposites attract, enemies to lovers, and only-one-bed. From the moment Eliza and Sebastian meet, the chemistry between them is electric. Their fiery banter and constant sparring are so much fun to read, especially as it becomes clear that beneath all the bickering, there’s a deep and growing attraction they can’t ignore.
The plot’s blend of romance, mystery, and adventure makes for an engrossing and entertaining read. The treasure hunt is an exciting backdrop to the story, and I like how their physical journey often parallels their emotional ones as they discover more about themselves and each other. This is Melissa Oliver’s first venture into Victorian romance, and I’m excited to see what comes next!
- opposites attract
- forced proximity
- only one bed
- enemies to lovers
‘We must do what we can to move forward in life and live with what fate throws at us.’
Melissa Oliver is from south-west London where she writes historical romance novels. She lives with her lovely husband and daughters, who share her passion for decrepit, old castles, grand palaces and all things historical.
Melissa is the WINNER of The Romantic Novelist Association’s Joan Hessayon Award for new writers 2020 for her debut, The Rebel Heiress and the Knight.
When she’s not writing she loves to travel for inspiration, paint, and visit museums & art galleries.
This sounds like a great start to a new series, Julie. Nice review.
Thanks, Carla!