The Princess and the Rogue by Kate Bateman

A princess in disguise is forced to live with a rogue in order to protect her from danger in this fun, sexy regency romance from Kate Bateman.

In The Princess and the Rogue, Bow Street agent Sebastien Wolff, Earl of Mowbray, doesn’t believe in love—until a passionate kiss with a beautiful stranger in a brothel forces him to reconsider. When the mysterious woman is linked to an intrigue involving a missing Russian princess, however, Seb realizes her air of innocence was too good to be true.

Princess Anastasia Denisova has been hiding in London as plain ‘Anna Brown’. With a dangerous traitor hot on her trail, her best option is to accept Wolff’s offer of protection—and accommodation—at his gambling hell. But living in such close quarters, and aiding Wolff in his Bow Street cases, fans the flames of their mutual attraction. If Anya’s true identity is revealed, does their romance stand a chance? Could a princess ever marry a rogue?

Review

Third and last in the Bow Street Bachelors, Sebastien Wolff enjoys his life of rakery and freedom, right until he meets a beauty at a brothel who kisses him once then turns him down. For her part, Anya has been hiding under an assumed name but her pursuer is closing in. Sebastien offers both protection and temptation, but do they have a future once her true identity is revealed?

I've enjoyed the two previous Bow Street Bachelor books (not necessary reading for this) but neither of them quite hit the spot. This one hits it dead centre. Royalty in disguise? Rake with FEELINGS (but he hates it)? Matchmaking friends with a light touch but much teasing? Banter and an emotional connection along with a physical attraction? LOVE

The story draws from the tale of Snegurka (the Snow Maiden) sprinkled with Anastasia (the most Disney princess tale not produced by Disney), but it's also a typical Regency Romance fantasy with a ball and the ton. I very much enjoyed this book and would recommend it if any of the above sound like your cup of tea, though I do note it's a tad pricey for its genre.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

The Viscount's Convenient Bride by Josie Bonham

Luke, Viscount Enstone’s, resolve to avoid a love match is tested to its limit when he accepts responsibility for the Davenport family.

Luke has found it hard to sort out his late father’s affairs. A dishonest secretary and ailing land agent have left the family estates in disorder. With new people in place, he sets off to one of his smaller properties to discover the extent of an obligation that seems out of keeping with the cold-hearted father he remembers. Who is the young woman living at Shepley Hall and what was her connection to his father?

Miss Kitty Davenport has waited for a long time to find out if the new Viscount Enstone will continue the support his father gave to her family and her patience is wearing thin. Will he carry on paying for her young brother’s education and even assist him in finding a career? For herself, all she needs is help to find a suitable position as a companion and to escape from the unwanted attentions of a persistent suitor.

Purchase Links
UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Viscounts-Convenient-Bride-Reluctant-Brides-ebook/dp/B08MHH4M8Z
US - https://www.amazon.com/Viscounts-Convenient-Bride-Reluctant-Brides-ebook/dp/B08MHH4M8Z

Review

Impoverished and orphaned, Kitty's life and her brother's education are dependent on the late Lord Entstone's heir, a man who she has never met. Though first impressions are less than ideal, she quickly finds herself falling for Luke - but he has vowed to never to give his heart away. Will a proposed marriage of convenience lead to love or only more heartbreak?

This is a charming and enjoyable Regency romance between two lonely people. Kitty and Luke are both sensible and interesting, though Luke tends towards maudlin introspection and Kitty towards self-doubt. Despite Kitty's misgivings, Luke's sister and aunt are nothing but welcoming and supportive, and Luke has a support structure of his own even if it was at times too large for me to follow.

There are a few things that drew me back from loving this - the climax of the plot doesn't coincide with the emotional climax, so it feels like the book should end earlier than it does, and the mystery about Sir Sewell and Davenport Court fades away and could well have been cut without affecting the main plot at all.

The romance was engaging, the dresses were sumptuous, and the supporting cast convincing. Overall, a solid historical romance for anyone in the mood.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book via Rachel's Random Resources; all opinions are my own

Author Bio

Josie lives in the English midlands, surrounded by towns full of history such as Evesham, Stratford-Upon- Avon, Warwick and Worcester. Which is perhaps why her favourite reads are historical. Out of all the periods to choose from the Regency Era stirs her imagination the most. The true Regency lasted from 1811 until 1820 but dates as wide as 1789 to 1837 have been included in the extended Regency period. For Josie the true flavour of this period emerges after the iniquitous hair powder tax of 1795, unsurprisingly, scuppered the fashion for hair powder almost overnight.
Josie has always dabbled in stories but it took the combined efforts of her sister and eldest niece to set her on the path to writing novels. Her Regency romances, with a dash of adventure and intrigue, are the result.
There is more information on her website at www.josiebonhamauthor.com

Social Media Links
Twitter @BonhamJosie
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