In THE ROGUISH BARON, the ninth in Sophie Barnes' DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH SERIES, the diamond is imperfect.

The book reads like an outline for a better book. Jack Lancaster, heir to an earldom, has unknowingly been in love with the vicar's daughter Sophie Fenmore for many years.

But Sophie's ancestry is unknown. She was left at the vicarage when she was a tiny, tiny baby. In terms of marriage prospects, she has none.

Jack knows his duty, so he runs off to London to avoid temptation in the form of Sophie.

As a reader, I didn't care about any of these people. How could I? They are cardboard characters in a plot full of holes.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Sophia Fenmore has loved Jack Lancaster, Baron of Hawthorne, since childhood, yet she has given up on him, when she had no response to any of her letters over the past four years. When Jack finally arrives home, it is to find that Sophia is engaged to Edward, the son of the vicar, and the family who adopted her when she was left at the vicarage at birth. Yet when they meet again, neither of them is prepared for the intensity of their feelings for each other but Sophia is determined to not break Edward’s heart.
Both Sophia and Jack are such great characters who are determined in their own way, to do what is right. Yet Jack soon realises that his father’s expectations are not what he sees for his future. There are some challenges in the path to love, with this couple, but Sophie Barnes manages to bring it all together, in this sweet novella.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Will he realize too late what he had been missing all these years…

In some way, this novella is a second chance as Jack left his family seat and never came back from four years, never once answering Sophia’s letters. Beijing her heart a bit more with each passing day. Worse, she feels like he is no more the boy turned man she fell in love with. Now he is a rake, a rogue, a scoundrel.
Why she determined to put the past behind and make do with the only offer she will ever receive. Jack believed he made the right thing when he left, it would give time for Sophia to get over her infatuation. But soon he realizes he lied to himself.
A cute tale of forbidden lovers finding a way toward the other.
4.5 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 Kisses

I have been granted an advance copy by the author, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

The way that the romances are intertwined and misdirected in this latest book in the Diamonds in the Rough series reads like the kind of convoluted plot that Shakespeare would have loved.

The Lancaster children, Jack, Felicity, and Kaitlin, and the Fenmore siblings, Edward and Sophia, grew up together as one romping tangle of friends. But the Lancasters are the offspring of the Earl of Turner, while the Fenmores are the children of the local vicar. There’s an even larger gap in station between Sophia Fenmore and the others, as Sophia is an orphan who was found wrapped in a blanket in the church that the Fenmores’ father is the vicar of. They raised her as their own, but with her origins obscure at best, she’s not quite the social equal of the others.

A difference that makes no difference when they are all children, but drives a wedge in the close friendship between Jack and Sophia when they reach the cusp of adulthood. Not that either of them cares one whit, they are the best of friends even if Sophia is just beginning to understand that she wants more.

But to Jack’s father the Earl, it matters a great deal. To the point where the Earl threatens to cut off Jack’s inheritance if he marries Sophia. Something that Jack hadn’t even thought of up to that point. (The title and the estate are entailed, Jack will inherit those whatever his father wants. But the money is his father’s own to dispose of as he pleases. Inheriting the estate without the money for the upkeep of the stately pile is a recipe for bankruptcy.)

Jack runs away to London for four years, earning enough money to no longer need anything his father doesn’t want to give. He ALSO earns a well-deserved reputation as a rake as he cuts a wide and smiling swath through the female population of London in an attempt to deny his father’s accusation – that he’s in love with Sophia. Even though he is.

Jack returns home to a mess. Sophia is more beautiful than he remembered, and even more captivating. But she’s also engaged to, of all people, her adopted brother Edward. Who is in love with Jack’s sister Felicity. But Edward and Felicity both believe that their love is doomed, that Felicity’s father would never consent to a match between them.

In other words, everyone is being self-sacrificing – except Jack’s father who is still being an ass.

And just when it seems like they’ve all gotten past all of the roadblocks they’ve put in their own way, the truth about Sophia’s origins finally comes to light. And those roadblocks just get higher.

Escape Rating B: The Diamonds in the Rough series has been charming romantic fluff from the very first book, A Most Unlikely Duke (still my favorite in the series) to this 9th book in the series. And this one feels like the last. Not that it doesn’t stand alone, because it most certainly does, but because all of those Diamonds and their equally happy spouses are guests at the wedding that ends this entry in the series. It felt like closure, although I’ll be happy if I’m proven wrong!

The best part of The Roguish Baron isn’t the Baron. It’s Sophia. What made her interesting was that, in spite of some of her over-the-top descriptions of her feelings, her thoughts and actions were very, very pragmatic. And she wasn’t shy about letting Jack know when he’d stepped in it and on them. She doesn’t cry and expect to be patted and soothed, she speaks up and uses her words very clearly and forthrightly.

Her situation in this story is very much “one down”. She’s female in a time and place where she has no rights and her only hope of a comfortable future is to marry and hope that her husband isn’t a brute or a gambler or a spendthrift. And she may not have a say in who she marries, and then she’ll basically be property in the marriage.

Under those circumstances, her acceptance of Edward’s proposal may not be the best of all possible worlds, but it is far, far, far from the worst. With her origins obscured, it may be the only offer she’ll get, and she knows it. Whatever dreams she might have of marrying Jack, she’s not wrong to think that society will look down upon them both and that his father will not be forgiving. She’s doomed before she starts.

Jack loves her and wants her but takes, not so much convincing as beating about with a clue-by-four to get that if they’re going to untangle the mess their in that there are no half-measures. And that if he can’t commit to this course he needs to leave her alone. Which he has a hard time even imagining, let alone actually doing.

The thing that made this work was the way that Jack was forced to grovel, publicly, for the mess he’d made of his life, and the mess he’d very nearly made of both their lives. Sophia may have forgiven him, but he still had to earn back the respect he’d squandered when he was punishing both himself and his father – who honestly didn’t grovel enough.

That Sophia does learn who she came from was lovely, even though it did seem like a bit of deus ex machina. And I have some mixed feelings about whether that was the right way to solve things.

But this was still a lovely, frothy bit of holiday Regency romance. If this is the end of the series, it provides a charming bit of closure to five years of romantic reads. If it turns out there are still more to come, I’d be happy to watch more of these unconventional couples find their HEAs..

Well crafted characters, an underlying sense of menace and an immersive narrative combine for a suspenseful, one sit read.

I was immediately hooked. A fast paced, effortlessly quick read where the pages just turned themselves and I was engaged throughout.

Sophia Fenmore was abandoned as a baby. Left in a basket in the church, the vicar and his wife raised her as their own daughter with their son, Edward. Jack Lancaster, Baron Hawthorne, and his two sisters, Felicity and Katlin, were their playmates. Jack left for London four years ago never answering Sophia's letters or visiting home. While there he earned a very bad reputation. He's back, but Sophia is going to marry Edward. What a tangled web is woven. Even Edward loves someone else, but knows it is hopeless. Jack has to be the one to make the first move and make it right. But the discovery of Sophia's true identity puts everything on hold and a promise is made to wait for a year. A novella with lots of heart.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

This is a quick read and the ninth book in the Diamond in the Rough series.
Jack Lancaster, The Baron of Hawthorne, has come home after a four year absence, the prodigal son returns. He is only home to support his sisters during the house party over the Christmas holidays. He has spent his time getting quite the reputation with the ladies. Upon his return he is forced to face his decisions and the reality that he truly can't escape from the draw of one of the reasons he left, Sophia.
Sophia Fenmore is the foster child of the local vicar, she had been raised as their own. She had also been the playmate of the Lancaster children and had always been closest to Jack. She was devastated when he left as she's been in love with him forever. And when he didn't respond to her letters she knew he didn't feel the same. Now faced with the choice of a future as a spinster she chooses one type of love over passion. Until twist and turns take everyone down another path.

This was a novella that ties into an existing series. I have read several of the books so knew some of the characters who came late in the story.

Sophia is an orphan raised by the local vicar and loves the neighbor and friend she grew up with who happens to be the son of an Earl. Jack enjoyed spending time with the interesting girl who enjoyed adventures. When they grow up and Jack starts to notice Sophia as a woman his father threatens to cut him off if he pursues her as she is not worthy to marry in to the gentry.


After a not so fake engagement, shenanigans by sisters and a winter storm our MC's reveal their feelings. There is also the secret of Sophia's birth that comes to light. In the end these 2 finally have their HEA and are accepted by Jack's father.

Sophia Finmore adopted daughter of the Vicar and Mrs. Finmore had been looking forward to the home-coming Jack Lancaster, Baron Hawthorne, though she felt she should be forgetting him, because he never answered her letters. His sisters Felicity and Kaitlin wanted her to pretend she was in love with someone else so that Jack would realize that he really loved her and wanted to marry her. This is a story that Ms. Barnes told of them finding each other and hopefully settling that they really loved each other. It's a very good book and you should read it I highly recommend it...

Jack and Sophia had been friends since childhood, shrimp was an orpah and he was nobility. It's a sweet story with twist and turns and sometimes you want to slap Jack for his honesty. Ugh. Lovely story.

While I really enjoyed this story, I was a little put off by Jack. Honestly, I wanted to slap him a time or two and say “wake up”. You know a story is probably good if you feel that way about one of the main characters. This was a quick read in the Diamonds in the Rough series (which I have thoroughly enjoyed). A very sweet story that will put a smile on your face by the end.

I recieved a free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I am a fan of Sophie Barnes and every book gets added to my list it seems, however this book was a little lacking.
This was short novel which may have added to that feel and the twist at the end was disappointing.
Jack and Sophia grew up together along with his sisters and her brother.
Sophia was left on the steps of the vicar who adopted her. When Jack disappeared to London and with no other prospects due to her unknown origins she agrees to marry Edward, her adopted brother.
When Jack returns he is determined to have her and not even an engagement will stop him.
I feel like even by the end, we don't really know Jack and Sophia and I think it would have been better to see what their childhood and relationship was like before the current period.

Quick Review: The Roguish Baron by Sophie Barnes is a sweet story of friendship and fighting for true love. It’s a well-written quick read that will make you root for all the characters involved so that everyone gets their happily ever after!

Jack Lancaster is the Baron of Hawthorne and the future Earl. Sophia Fenmore is the foster child of the local vicar. Sophia and her foster brother Edward grew up near the Hawthorne estate of Eastgate Abbey, the home of Jack and his sisters Kaitlin and Felicity.

Jack is coming home for Christmas. Sophia has been in love with Jack forever. When Jack left four years ago, he made it clear to Sophia that they were just friends. Jack’s sisters want Sophia to pretend an engagement with Edward to make Jack jealous and realize he loves Sophia. Instead Edward makes a real proposal and Sophia accepts.

Now that Jack is back Sophia must confront her feelings. Sophia is confused and conflicted about her feelings for Jack.
Is it too late to be with Jack since she is engaged to Edward? Can Sophia marry someone when she is in love with another? What does Jack really feel for Sophia? Is Jack in love with Sophia? Jack’s father did not approve of Sophia four years ago. Society will not approve their match. Will Jack risk it all to be with Sophia?

This is a second chance at love for Jack and Sophia. Will they take it? This is a quick novella. It is book nine in the Diamond’s in the Rough series. Jack has never admitted to himself how he really feels about Sophia. Now that he is back and she is engaged to another his eyes have opened up. This is a sweet story with wonderful characters. There are twists in the story that Jack and Sophia do not see coming. Jack and Sophia will fight for what they want. At the end of the story we get to see all the main couples from the other books in the series. It was wonderful to see them all again. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

England 1823

"It is our belief that Jack could be persuaded to make you an offer of marriage" said Felicity, Jack's sister.
"How romantic," Sophia muttered. "Perhaps we should tie him up and force him speak his vows?"

Thus began the news that Jack was returning home after four years away. She had always had feelings for him, but he was a titled gentleman and she was an orphan, raised by the vicar.

But a plan just might work and who know what will happen to these two when they spend time together again! A sweet, romantic story I absolutely adored!

Jack and Sophie were a sweet and enjoyable story about unrequited love. Friends to lovers, this was a quick easy read that had me almost all in, a few of the twist/sub-plots were a bit over tried. I would purchase this book and recommend as well.

The book was read as an eARC on NetGalley.

Jack Lancastercomes homes to find his best friend engaged to his childhood friend. Distraught doesn't name his condition. He must figuer out how to fix it. Sophia Fenmore, does what she needs to do to survive. Which is to get married.
A surprise at the end beings a kink to everyone's plan. I enjoyed this book enough purchase it. Its also a continuation of a series which I didnt quite remember until they listed the other couples that were involved.

I recieved a free copy so that I might tell you what I honestly think. Hope you enjoyed my review. Now go enjoy the book

Jack Lancaster, Baron of Hawthorne, had not come home in four years and still wouldn't have even now. When he finally returns, the lovely Sophia Fenmore has grown up and become engaged. He ignored her and lost her. She is the adopted daughter of the Vicar and has one son, Edward. He asked for her hand, and she agreed. She could never have Jack and she made all kinds of excuses while he was gone about the scandalous papers and yet now, he was proving himself to be a cad.

Sophia Fenmore was twenty-two, kind, sweet, and caring. She loved her family and would do anything for them. She adored her brother, who was also to become a vicar, like his father.

A sweet and enjoyable story about unrequited love. It is easy to read, and the characters are wonderful.
Their interactions are so entertaining and at times witty. I am sure you will find this appealing.

I received this ARC from Net Galley and voluntarily reviewed it.

A fun quick read that is perfect for a beach / vacation read.

I am iffy about the mysterious orphan trope and the twist at the end was perfect. I really enjoyed the story of Jack and Sophia, and think that you will too.

This was a real treat! I had assumed that the Diamonds In The Rough series ended after book 8, so yeah! Bonus! Also, Sophie Barnes is one of my favourite novella writers. She can hook you in quick and she delivers a great romance in a tiny package! Who doesn’t love a bitesize treat!?!

Sophia is a foundling that was taken in by the village vicar and his family. As a child her and her adoptive brother become close with the local gentry children, Baron Hawathorn and his two sisters… but childhood friendships don’t easily adapt to adult roles. Sophia finds herself in love with Baron Hawathorn, even though their positions make this a impossibility.

In order to avoid Sophia and her feelings, Hawthorne leaves his family estate and has started away for many years. Now that his sisters need to find husbands, he has been summoned home to assist in hosting a house party for potential husbands and is shocked to find Sophia is just recently engaged!

The heart always wants what it can’t have the most! Hawthorne is kicked into gear and needs to see if there is still hope for Sophia and him, before she marry another!

I was quickly swept away into the family dynamics of both Sophia and Hawthorn’s families and the dichotomy of a woman’s need to marry for security, compared to mans ability to create his own financial security.

I was surprised by some interesting twists that I didn’t see coming and exceedingly pleased by the final HEA.

Overall this was a great addition to the Diamonds In The Rough series, even if I had a had time placing Hawthorne previously within the series. I enjoyed the cameo appearance of the series favourites as well.

The Dishonoured Viscount by Sophie Barnes is scheduled to release 24th, 2022.

#TheRoguishBaron #SophieBarnes #NetGalley #pinkcowlandreads