Title: A Scoundrel for the SuffragistSeries: The Disreputable Marsden Brothers #2
Pages: 269
Publication Date: Feb. 24, 2026
Publisher: Harlequin
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Historical
Synopsis:
An enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn Victorian romance
Can a rebel with a cause…
Love a rogue without a care?
As an ardent campaigner for women’s rights, Cecily Duddlecott is accustomed to exasperating men. But gaming-hell proprietor Dominic Marsden beats them all! Wherever she goes, he’s there—smirking. Most infuriating of all? Their friction makes sparks fly…
Then Dominic reveals why he’s tailing He suspects her latest suitor of conducting criminal activity in his club. Cecy joins his cause, and the attraction between them becomes impossible to ignore! As do Dominic’s hidden depths… Cecy determined long ago she’d never again risk her heart. So why is she tempted to stake it all on a scoundrel?
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I really enjoyed The Scoundrel and the Suffragist, the second book in The Disreputable Marsden Brothers series. This is an enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn historical romance, and the banter is fantastic. From the very beginning, Cecily and Dominic are at odds, and their interactions are sharp, witty, and full of chemistry.
Cecily Duddlecott is a passionate suffragist, and Dominic Marsden is a gaming-hell owner with a scoundrel reputation. They’re total opposites in many ways. Cecily has so much passion for what she believes in, and though her heart is guarded, Dominic proves difficult to resist. She is driven by principle and reform, whereas he moves in darker, morally gray circles. I liked both of them, and though they’re different, they complement each other well.
Dominic is super swoon-worthy, and I’m not surprised. I had a feeling when we met him in The Lady’s Bargain with the Rogue that he’d win me over. What I adore most is how completely and unapologetically he falls for Cecily. This is very much a “he falls first and harder” situation, and I adored that. He does not just admire her beauty; he admires her intellect, her passion, and the work she does fighting for women’s rights. He sees her for exactly who she is and loves all of it. And some of the things he says to and thinks about her absolutely made my heart melt. Cecily has never really had that kind of support from the men in her life. Her brother, especially, tends to judge her harshly because of a past scandal and holds it over her head. He even tries to force her into a marriage she doesn’t want, which made me so frustrated on her behalf. Seeing Dominic cherish the very qualities others criticize was everything.
The antagonists were as easy to dislike as Cecily and Dominic were to like. Cecily’s brother proved difficult to like for most of the book. His judgment and his attempts to control her future painted him in such a bad light, and there were times when I just wanted to shake him. That said, once we learn more about him and his connection to the mystery, I could appreciate his attempts to redeem himself and repair his relationship with Cecily. The mystery element added an extra layer of intrigue, too. The man Cecily’s brother wants her to marry is clearly shady, and Dominic suspects criminal activity tied to his club. I loved how that storyline brought Cecily and Dominic together and gave them a common goal. It defintiely made me eager to see how everything would unravel.
Overall, I enjoyed this historical romance, and though it’s the second book in the series, it can definitely be read as a standalone. Special thanks to Melissa Oliver for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
- enemies to lovers
- slow burn
- opposites attract
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.
Nice review, Julie. I will have to see if I can find this series at the library.
Thanks, Carla! I’ve enjoyed all of Melissa Oliver’s books.
I’ve only ever read one, but have others on my TBR shelf. Too many books, too little time.