I've known Jenny and David since January 2024, when I read an ARC of the first book in this series and came away absolutely SCALDED by their split-second scene of understated chemistry. I've never been so desperate for a sequel, like, I've had actual dreams about them for years. So, I, for one, am grateful that there is very little preamble here: After a bits-and-bobs setup, we shoot straight to the sexual tension, and it's FIRE.

From his prior appearances, it was clear that the stoic and measured David was head over heels in love. But I was not prepared for how utterly GONE he is for Jenny. The way he literally trips over himself around her and acts a fool... A knife could not cut through that depth of yearning, it's absolutely delicious. This is beyond reformed rake territory; it's an imploding obsession, a sensual unraveling, a desperate dismantling. The scene where Jenny leaves for Paris... Ruthless. Poor David!!!

As with many relationships, real or fictional, the central conflict derives from challenging upbringings: she has issues with trust after a life spent waiting for the other shoe to drop, while his formative years lacked open affection. It's David's gradual willingness to be honest with himself about his fears and Jenny's outright refusal to be honest about hers that fuels their conflict until the end. On one hand, it's a pleasure to witness her utter failure to maintain physical and emotional distance from David. On the other hand, her inner turmoil is too prolonged and starts to lose credibility precisely because of that failure.

But I find I can't knock even a half star for that because this novel met and, at times, exceeded my hopes for this pair and their HEA. [Apropos of nothing, I know people want a book about Jenny's mom, but I'd personally like a prequel or novella about David's brother and Kit.]

In spite of the free arc copy, I intent to buy for various reasons:
1. It was that good!
2. The author is self publishing this one, so gotta support one of my favourite authors

Yays 👍
- Boy did this one live up to the hype!! The one night was that good. Hot, spicy, tender and left everyone - including me - wanting more.
- The buildup through the first 2 books definitely added to the anticipation and it delivered
- The story has so many tender moments that it does seem plausible for the character arcs
- FMC has a career so yay for her
- He fell first (I am a sucker for this trope in a marriage of convenience)

Nays 👎
- Not technically a nay but the steamy scenes were so good, I was left wanting more
- MMCs previous exploits were personally a bit off putting given how into the FMC he was supposed to be. I get it he was a rake but I have never been a fan of the whole, he can't function without sex trope

Verdict 🪒
I devoured this in 5 hours straight. Well written and crafted with very human emotions, insecurities, while avoiding forced plots or villains. Recommend for a swoony, hot, spicy read, that can be read standalone.

Highly recommended!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this title!

I have just started my journey with Harper St. George's historicals, but this was a delight. The ending of book 2 sets up this one, but you can go in without having the backstory between Lord David and Jenny Dove. This is a fast read and one where it is so clear that this man is down bad for his wife in this marriage of convenience.

Jenny Dove is an opera singer who needs to get married to help her family out, but she doesn't want to give up her career and opportunities as an opera singer in Paris. Lord David is a notorious rake who has had his eye on her since they met in a ballroom when Jenny and her family arrived in London. Lord David will one day be a Duke, so he doesn't need her inheritance, but he's fascinated by her. They come to an arrangement. Marriage, 1 night together, and then live separate lives before a quiet divorce. Of course, our guy is down bad, and this discovery for both of them is amazing.

This historical also has discussions or nods to the Opera scene in Paris, birth control, and gender expression. Highly enjoyed this and can't wait to read more from Harper St. George's backlist.

For Jenny Dove, her sisters’ happiness is worth any price, so when it becomes clear that their “guardian” Mr. Hathaway, isn’t going to give her sister Eliza her promised inheritance, because he didn’t approve of her choice of a husband, Jenny knows what she has to do. She makes a deal with Lord David Felding, the heir to the Duke of Strathmore, to marry him and spend one night in his bed before she leaves for her opera debut in Paris, agreeing to live separate lives until enough time has passed to get a divorce. He agrees to her terms and Jenny then approaches her guardian to make a deal, she will marry the heir to a duke and Hathaway will give both Jenny and Eliza their inheritance, knowing the draw of duke would cinch the deal. She thinks she has it all worked out, until she spends a night, she will never forget with David. But David is a rake and Jenny has been burned before, so even if he makes her heart flutter and her body sing, she can’t risk giving in to her desire to stay.

Lord David Felding has wanted Jenny since the first moment he met her, but she has consistently shot him down, so when she comes to her with a request for a marriage of convenience and the promise of a night in his bed, he is all in. He figured the desire for her would wear off once he has spent the night with her, but he couldn’t be more wrong. Even after she leaves for Paris, he can’t forget her and can’t seem to pick up his life. When a request for his signature on a contract comes, he jumps at the chance to go to her and is determined to woo his wife into a real marriage. Too bad Jenny is just as determined to get a divorce. Can he convince her that his heart is true, and she can trust him with her heart or is she too scared to take the risk?

I have been waiting Jenny and David’s story since the first book – their chemistry has always been undeniable and the pages sizzle whenever they are together, so I was a little worried that this book might not live up to expectations. Thankfully that was not the case, in fact, this book exceeded expectations! The book had all the same emotion, banter and angst as the previous books, but with more spice – a lot more (FYI – That is NOT a complaint)! I could feel Jenny’s pain and David’s desperation; I wanted so bad for them to let go of their fears and realize that they truly were soulmates and then I was overjoyed when they finally confessed their love – even though I knew this book would end with a HEA! So, if you are looking for a romance with wonderful characters, steamy love scenes, some angst, excellent chemistry and witty banter – look no further, this is the book you have been looking for! This is the third book in the series and while you could read this book as a standalone, I would recommend reading the series in order for the best reader experience.

4.5 stars

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

The third Dove sister story brought it! I knew Jenny’s book would be certified JUICY when paired with a roguish, next in line for Dukedom, MMC. It had that slow burn you yearn for and the best swoony moments that remind you why Harper St. George is a historical romance queen!

Historical Romance is NOT dead! Harper St. George is one of the authors keeping the genre alive.

This book has everything I love about historical romance; a marriage of convenience, angst of both main characters wanting each other so bad even though they have both sworn they will not fall in love, a rake being reformed and falling HARD and enough spice to be hot!

I felt like I waited soooooo long for Jenny and David's story and it was worth the wait! I will continue to read everything Harper St. George publishes!

**Thank you to Harper St. George, Victory Editing and NetGalley for an eBook ARC in exchange for my honest review**

Jenny Dove, an American bastard from modest origins but heiress to a fortune if she marries well, has two dreams: become an opera singer and see her sisters happily wed. She has a role in an opera house in Paris already, and for her other dream, she strikes a bargain with Lord David Fielding, a notorious rake and heir to a dukedom. In exchange for a sham wedding and one night in his bed, Lord David will lend respectability to her younger sister's marriage. Jenny is certain he'll do it, alongside the promise o a future divorce, because he's been pursuing her since the Dove sisters arrived in England. Will one night be enough? For either of them?

You know exactly what you are getting when you open this book: a marriage of convenience, the promise of one night, and a couple head over heels for one another but too vulnerable to admit it. Harper St George nailed the assignment. Entering this book, we get enough of a sense of their past (even if you haven't read the other books in the series yet), that the proposition of marriage and tension between David and Jenny doesn't feel contrived because of their history.

Most importantly, the biggest plot point is that Jenny promises David one night, and in doing so, Harper St George promises us that night as well, in exquisite detail. When a large portion of a book is spent with the characters in bed, the author has her work cut out for her to progress the characters and the plot in those same scenes. St George has the talent to do it, and the experience and the restraint to make it elegant. The Dove and the Rogue is a real treat for historical romance readers.