A Rogue of One's Own

I really enjoyed the first book of this series, [b:Bringing Down the Duke 43521785 Bringing Down the Duke (A League of Extraordinary Women, #1) Evie Dunmore https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1554743971l/43521785.SX50.jpg 67688634]. This one follows in its footsteps, although I've rated it a little lower because I wasn't quite in the same headspace to appreciate it as much as I did with the first book. It was enjoyable and engaging enough, however.The book tries to tackle many different societal issues from late Victorian England, especially the ones that are somewhat relevant until today. Of course, issues relating to women's rights take center stage in the book, although there are also some others that seem to just pop up as cameos, such as some brief thoughts about British colonialism in India with Tristan's valet, Avi. This follows the trend that I enjoyed in the first book, that we are being taught something about society at the time and that there's a bigger issue at stake in the plot besides just the central romance. But I kinda wished that the scope of this book was a little more focused. Instead of raising a plethora of issues only slightly, I would probably enjoy it more if they really went all in on the main issue at hand, the Married Women's Property Act, and maybe with some side servings of some other related topics.The central conflict of the book, which happened around the last 30% of the book, was a little disappointing. I had expected it to, once again, revolve around Lucie's deeply entrenched principles and support for her cause around married women's rights, but it didn't - I was a little let down when she even expressed disappointment when Tristan first told her that he had a reluctance to marry. I had wanted the conflict to revolve more around Lucie's reluctance to marry. The secondary conflict I had wanted sort of happens near the end, it all felt very slapped on and rushed. I think we spend more time seeing steamy scenes instead of having that conflict really soak in before it gets resolved in a couple of chapters.

I was really looking forward to this book but have decided to give it a miss after reading this extremely thorough and well-written review.

The reviewer highlights the same reason that I give most HRs where the hero/heroine was exploring in either Africa or Asia a miss. There is hardly any complex, critical outlook on colonialism. I've heard people make the argument that such anti-colonialist views would be anachronistic for that time period, but I find it hard to believe that there was absolutely no one in England who questioned colonialism, but perhaps even more importantly, let's not pretend that the authors of HR don't pick and choose which period conventions they want to use in their books. There are far more dukes and feisty heroines in romancelandia than there were in that era.

Even better than the 1st book.

It took a while for Tristan to grow on me, however, I was so shocked at everything Evie threw at us in the last part of the book.

It felt like an afterthought but I still love it so.

WOW the amount of smut in this book versus the 1st preceded my expectations.

I hated Lord Ballentine in the 1st book but getting to see more of his thought process and learning about him softened me up. I thought he was just going to be an arrogant asshole but I was proven wrong.

I love Lucie's cause and the character development.

It was so good I read it twice

Holy moly what a book.

Really enjoyed Annabelle and Sebastian’s story in the first book of the series but …. THIS ONE!! Lucie and Tristan’s relationship has it all. Sometimes an enemies to lovers trope is too far fetched but this was so so well done. C’mon Lucie is literally running a women’s suffrage movement like!!!!!! We love a very strong and independent female lead!! Tristian was literally the most ideal person to be with Lucie.

4.5⭐️

I'm now reading the first book of the series ([b:Bringing Down the Duke 43521785 Bringing Down the Duke (A League of Extraordinary Women, #1) Evie Dunmore https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1554743971l/43521785.SX50.jpg 67688634]), having stumble on the book #3 ([b:Portrait of a Scotsman 55053187 Portrait of a Scotsman (A League of Extraordinary Women, #3) Evie Dunmore https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1607447624l/55053187.SY75.jpg 85846250]) first. So even having read them completely out of order, I'm in love with them. Apparently, book #4 is coming in March 2023 (The Gentleman's Gambit). I mean, something needs to happen with Catriona, right?However, I love [b:A Rogue of One's Own 49202118 A Rogue of One's Own (A League of Extraordinary Women, #2) Evie Dunmore https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1578931679l/49202118.SX50.jpg 73028567] not just because of the chemistry between Lucie and Ballentine, but because of the political setting as well. What was it like for women not to have the vote? To not own property? To lose what few rights they did have if they married? In this book, Lucie is shouting from the rooftops and still she has no voice. Maybe that frustration led to great sex, but it didn't resolve much else. Despite her love for Ballentine, she doesn't believe that marriage to anyone is in the cards for her unless she wants to become even more of a person non gratis than she already is because she was born female.So much of the author's appeal comes from her depth of characterization. I love that she gives her heroes and heroine real fault as well as outstanding good looks and principles. Overall, a great history lesson and a stimulating story.