This fun historical romance is my first read from Lenora Bell, but it won’t be my last! Love is a Rogue is the first book in a new series, Wallflowers vs Rogues; though it has ties to Bell’s previous series, School for Dukes, I hadn’t read anything by her before, and didn’t find myself lost. This is the perfect kind of book to read when your brain just needs something fun and enjoyable. you’re aware it’s tongue in cheek. The Mayfair Ladies Knitting League, a group of bluestockings and businesswomen who do anything but knit, is full of the classic anachronistically feminist tropes of the genre, but Beatrice’s decision to manage her bookshop herself, and indeed almost all her interactions with Ford, are even more deeply on the fantasy side of things. For me, I can suspend my historical disbelief if I’m enjoying a book enough, and that was exactly the case here.

Both main characters are really enjoyable in their own rights, and they work well together. Beatrice is just my kind of heroine: a smart, independent woman whose scholarly pursuits are worth a lot to her. Her interest in etymology means her narration has a fun way with language; as a fellow word nerd I found this fun, though some may think there’s too many of her etymological interjections. I also like that she wears glasses, which I almost never see in historical romance! Ford is less of a rogue than the title implies; mainly, he’s an incorrigible flirt and super hot to go with it, which gives him a slightly unwarranted reputation. His blunt nature makes his chapters a lot of fun, and offers a fun counterpoint to Beatrice, who is so careful with her choice of words. There’s plenty of chemistry between the pair, right from the very first scene, and their conversations are just full of sparks.

This is very low on the angst and emotional drama scale, but I did enjoy the emotional arcs. Beatrice has been bullied horribly all her life because of the effects of a facial nerve palsy, which has caused one side of her face to droop. I loved watching her learn to come out of her shell and stand up to the acquaintances and family who have been so awful to her. Ford’s development is centred around his fraught relationship with his grandfather, which adds an interesting angle to his character. And of course, the difference in their classes is a source of some tension. All the threads are juggled lightly, so if you’re looking for intensity, this may not be the book for you, but if you’re after something fluffy and fun, this will be perfect.

Since reading this I’ve tracked down several other books by this author to read, so that should make it very clear just how much fun I had with this story. It’s delightfully lighthearted.

Another wonderful historical romance! From the brilliant characters to a gorgeous romance I was well and truly entertained. Ford and Beatrice made quite the pair! I loved their interactions they were witty and full of chemistry. Beatrice was instantly likeable and I thought it was lovely to see her confidence grow as the story progressed. What can I say about Ford? Well, he made a great hero and really came across as the perfect partner for Beatrice! Plus he works hard for a living so this makes him slightly different to a typical hero in a historical romance.

The story moves at a good pace and there was a brilliant energy between the characters. I especially enjoyed the way Ford could wind Beatrice up so easily. With a look or just a distracting presence! There isn’t a straightforward journey to a happy ever after but it was certainly entertaining for the reader. Love Is A Rogue has brilliant characters, a fun story and a romance that kept me invested the whole way through!

This book had some really interesting elements that I truly appreciated - the heroine suffered from palsy, so her eye and one corner of her mouth were affected by nerve damage and she had a lopsided smile. It is very rare for any heroine in HR to have any sort of facial disfigurement. She was a true bibliophile so there was a lot of book talk, and we also have an opposites attract storyline.

Regency HR these days is period fantasy, and so I am ready to suspend disbelief, but I did struggle to believe in some of the action in this one. Lady Beatrice has a few months at her brother's country estate to work on her etymological dictionary, and get a respite from her mother's constant matchmaking. She knows that her parents had little faith in her ability to make a match due to her looks and reputation as 'Beastly Beatrice'. She wants to remain a spinster and be left to work on her dictionary, rather than be married for her dowry.

Unfortunately her respite has been interrupted by the word of Stamford 'Ford' Wright, the head Carpenter, employed on leave from the Navy to renovate part of the Duke's residence. The noise and disruption keep breaking Lady B's concentration, and she is also very attracted to the handsome and brawny Ford.

I found the love story between them a little uninspired, and I didn't like Beatrice's monologues on books and words, they were a bit stilted and clunky. I did enjoy the Knitting circle and the friendship between Lady B and the other members. The subplot about Beatrice's inheritance and the books/bookshop was fun, but ultimately this felt a bit too fluffy and just not engaging enough.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book and all opinions are my own.

Julia Quinn fans who are yet to discover Lenora Bell’s warm, witty and warm-hearted Regency romantic comedies are seriously missing out. Her latest novel, Love is a Rogue is a captivating historical tale of forbidden passion and illicit desire sprinkled with plenty of humour and heart that is simply irresistible.

Lady Beatrice Bentley has got no intention of ever getting married – much to her matchmaking mama’s despair who has made it her mission to see her daughter walk down the aisle! More at home in a library with her nose in a book than in a ballroom forced to make small talk and flirt coquettishly with the suitable suitors her mother had lined up for her, Beatrice just wants to be left alone so that she can finishing working on the dictionary she is compiling. Beatrice has got neither the time nor the inclination for romance – and even if she did, her brother’s carpenter Ford Stamford Wright would be the last man she would ever contemplate having a future with. He is arrogant, infuriating and the most handsome she has ever clapped eyes on. Sparks fly from the moment the two of them meet, but Beatrice would surely never even dream of letting anyone – least of all Ford – close…or would she?

Ford likes to keep his relationships as short and casual as possible. With his aristocratic mother having turned her back on her privileged life to marry a penniless man like his father, she had been condemned to a life of scrimping and saving. Ford had vowed never to make his parents’ mistakes and had kept his heart firmly under lock and key – until he met fiery Beatrice who had managed to turn his life upside down with her fiery red hair, quick wit and dazzling intellect. But Beatrice is a Lady whilst he is a commoner. A future for the two of them might be out of the question, but giving into temptation quickly proves inevitable. As their intense passion gives way to something far deeper than the two of them had ever imagined, will Beatrice and Ford find the courage to admit the truth about the depth of their feelings for one another? Or is theirs a love that is simply not meant to be?

Lenora Bell’s Love is a Rogue is a spellbinding historical romance that sparkles with delicious humour, searing emotional drama and red-hot sensuality. Beatrice and Ford are two fantastic characters it is impossible not to fall in love with. Beatrice is a strong, intelligent, clever and loyal heroine I absolutely adored and Ford is a dashing hero who will have readers swooning with his charm, wit and intelligence.

A captivating historical romance that touches the heart and tickles the funny bone, Lenora Bell has got a winner on her hands with her latest novel, Love is a Rogue!

4.5 stars

This author is new to me but I will look out for other books. I enjoyed this novel. Beatrice is a Duke's sister but a bluestocking. She suffered from palsy so her face is not regular and this meant she didn't thrive in the marriage mart. Her mother is determined to see her married to at least an Earl. Her brother has allowed her to live in Cornwall where she was writing a dictionary. Our hero, Stamford (Ford) is a carpenter and is visiting the estate helping his father. He realises that the Duke's estate manager is embezzling funds and doesn't want his father implicated so needs to find out when the Duke will return from his honeymoon. It was at this point I wondered if the book was linked to another series as the Duke's spying and rescue of another sibling was stated as though we should have known Ford said to be a rogue, but he came across as just a normal male. It was Beatrice who wasn't living her life and he points this out to her. She returns to her friends in London to meet her obligations to her mother. There's lots of characters which I quite liked as often romances have quite a small cast. There are problems with Ford's grandfather and a would be fiance but everything is resolved well. It's quite a short read, there are passionate scenes. . Beatrice's other friends are waiting in the wings for their books.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Loved this book! It’s a very charming read, I read it in one sitting as I was instantly hooked!
It’s well written and easy to imagine what the writer is trying to convey. There was never a dull moment. Certainly one for the wish list! Lovely stuff, highly recommend people read it.

A truly delightful historical, with all of the classic elements that made me fall in love with the genre in the first place. The arrogant rogue, the feisty wallflower, the group of supportive girlfriends. Despite hitting those same beats that we all know so well, this book still felt fresh to me and I adored all of the characters. A slightly saccharine ending perhaps, but it hit the spot for me!

This was an engaging read with very likeable characters. Lady Beatrice Bentley wants nothing more than to be allowed time to work on her dictionary, she was obsessed with the origin of words. While staying at her brother’s house she was definitely not attracted to the handsome carpenter! Stamford Wright was a flirt and very popular with all the women. He just loved to tease Beatrice. Beatrice’s mother is determined to see her married to a titled gentleman. Beatrice belongs to a group of ladies who have been forced to hide their talents and intelligence because of society’s expectations. I enjoyed the way Beatrice and Stamford got to know each other and the way Beatrice came into her own. There are family relationships, on both sides, that play a part in this story. I’m looking forward to reading the other stories in this series. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

The wallflower sister of the Duke of Thorndon, Lady Beatrice has always known her parents would want her to marry well. But when an accident at birth left her with palsy, the duke and duchess lamented her chances, and her time at school, where she was known as Beastly Beatrice, has ensured she hates going into society. All Beatrice wants is the freedom to write her etymology dictionary in peace in the family's country seat. Well, that's all ruined when her brother's hired carpenter, Stamford Wright is left to renovate the Gothic mansion. Her peace is shattered, and the fact that Ford is as handsome as the devil doesn't help matters. They clash, again and again, but now the dowager duchess is spiriting Beatrice off towards the season, and a promised match, and Beatrice can get over her ill-advised feelings. But, when an unexpected inheritance comes Beatrice's way, and she needs a carpenter to keep a wicked business man, who just happens to be Ford's estranged grandfather, at bay, Ford is the only person she can turn to. Will they both be able to find happiness, either alone or together, or will they very different statuses in society always be at odds with reality?

This was the first book I've read by Lenora, but it will not be the last. Love is a Rogue saw two unlikely characters fall in love, and I just loved them both. Beatrice has had a hard lot in life, albeit in the pampered position as the daughter of a duke, and she wishes to have solitude and time with only her closest of friends, the Mayfair Ladies Knitting League, and matrimony does not seem to be in the cards for her. However, her mother is nothing if not tenacious, and will do just about anything to marry Beatrice off. Even resorting to blackmail, with giving Beatrice some time at her new bookstore, if she relents to taking part in the season. For Ford, he's always known that his grandfather disowned his mother for marrying beneath her, and has therefore been sensitive to class distinction. He's attracted to Beatrice, but she's well above his place in life as a navy carpenter, and son of the estate's carpenter, but still, he can't leave her to the proverbial wolves, including his own grandfather. I liked the intrigue surrounding the inheritance of the book store, and the mystery to be found in the letter, but what I found the most pleasing was how the relationship between the two formed into something real. I honestly believed their affection for each other, and hope we see much more of them in the next book in the series.

A captivating yarn with strong female characters and a sexy hero. Perfect combination for a happy read and definitely a good way to pass some lockdown. I look forward to reading more by Lenora Bell, Thanks to Netgalley and Piatkus for this free ARC and an afternoon of escapist pleasure

This book made me smile from start to finish. I loved the idea of such a non traditional heroine who is not only an etymologist but also not traditionally beautiful. Although a romance this book also has a wonderful theme of female empowerment and friendship running through it. It’s a really uplifting story and well worth a read!

I love Lenora Bell so much. Her books are the perfect mix of humour, sorrow and steaminess!
I loved this unconventional hero and heroine and the difference in their social class was what made the book interesting for me.
I look forward to the next book in this series!

I definitely preferred the second half of 'Love is a Rogue'. The plot became more progressive and the subplots and romance took centre stage.

The first half was all centred around the events of the first chapter in which the lead couple meet, which is fine but it felt too repetitive. They met and then spent the next half of the book regurgitating that one meeting. I grew a little bored of it, especially as neither Ford nor Beatrice had much emotional development during this period. In fact, Beatrice actively annoyed me. She did feel too snooty and aloof, it was only after the halfway point that she came out of her shell and opened herself to the reader as well as Ford.  Lady needed a serious chill pill.

I did like Ford, he was charming and his physical attributes were well described so I could picture his strong forearms and winning smile. There is nothing I love more than rolled up shirt sleeves. The relationship was fairly well paced and it progressed naturally, initially a physical attraction that ended up leading to the cheesy declarations of love. But I felt it had an ebb and flow, at times it felt unemotional and flat as though they had no real connection except to exist for the book, then there would be a section that was really emotional and I felt the connection and I wondered what I had been thinking to consider it unemotional, but then the next event would be quite flat again. I actually found their sexual build up quite sizzling but the actual horizontal jogging a bit meh 🤷🏻‍♀️.

I also found the actual writing repetitive at times. If I'd knocked back a shot every time Beatrice's hair was described as 'copper' and/or 'flaming' I'd have been too off my face to make it to the end of the book. Add this to the plot which - as previously described - was quite repetitive in the early stages as well and it did almost lose me before it got to the good bits.

Thankfully the second half was much better plot wise and Beatrice saw some great development that bought the book alive.

Definitely not the worst Regency romance that I have ever read, but definitely not the best, nor the best Lenora Bell that I've read.

Firstly let me say I loved the language in this book! It was so refreshing to find a book using uncommon words which did test the reader, and I must admit, did provoke the cracking open of a dictionary. It was good to see a character who was a bluestocking actually being one, and not just someone who occasionally opens a book as some authors seem to think it should be. Ford was a wonderful hero who stood by his Lady and stood up for what she wanted above all, and it was nice to seem them both fight for the relationship. The vengeful side of me wishes the ending with Foxton was different, but it was nice to see all the loose ends tied up with no cliffhangers. There were several explicit sex scenes which I felt detracted from the story, and have put me off reading further books by this author, but if you prefer your historical novels to have it in, I would recommend this book as the story itself is good