This book was very cute! The romance between Jon and Emma was slow and had a lovely build throughout the book. Emma was a likable main character whose natural curiosity in the pursuit of her art got her into difficult yet funny situations. If you like historical romances by the likes of Tessa Dare or Sarah MacLean, you will enjoy this book! Thank you Net Galley and Kensington Books for giving me the ARC!

I received an ARC of Every Bit A Rogue from Netgalley. This is the first book I have read from the author, Adrienne Basso and I can affirmatively say that it won't be my last. She does a fabulous job of weaving her characters lives' into those of her readers and making us feel all their emotions. Jon, Viscount Kendall is left at the altar by Dianne Winthrope. Emma Ellingham has lost her passion for art and hopes to somehow seize that fleeing passion again. They meet accidentally one night caught up in a storm, and then enter a marriage of convenience as the truth that they spent the night together gets out. Add to it the beautiful growing respect for each other, the wit, the romance and to top it off... the intrigue of solving a murder and figuring out the intricacies of an inventor's mind. This story is about love lost and trust regained. Spectacular!

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

Simply sweet at first with a genuinely good male protagonist, but it built up to be satisfyingly spicy. Perfect five

Part of this is a “shame on me” for not having read the previous books because I felt lost. But I also thought there would be a chunk of time between Jon between jilted and he and Emma beginning to fall in love. Just came off as odd to me.

I think this might be my new favorite romance trope - if it even counts as that. Two people who both start off the story in love with someone else but find true love with each other. Is that a thing? If not - it should be! Jon, Viscount Kendall, is left at the altar at the beginning of the story. His former fiance says she wants "more." Jon is devastated by the events - having loved his fiance "deeply." Emma has spent the last few years dealing with the consequences of her unrequited love for Sebastian. Emma fell in love with Sebastian when she was very young - and he rebuffed her telling her he loved her as a sister. This pretty much wrecked Emma and turned her off of social life for the most part.

Emma and Jon are both definitely broken when they first meet. They start to get to know each other when Emma discovers Jon's engineering project of a threshing machine. She is inspired by it as an artist and wants to see and learn more about it. But Jon is reluctant to share anything more because he is worried about being open about his ideas. They get caught in the rain together and end up spending the night alone in Jon's workshop. a turn of events related to that forces them into a marriage to save Emma's reputation.

Jon doesn't know anything about Emma's unrequited love for Sebastian. In fact no one does - except for Sebastian. But moving forward into marriage - both Jon and Emma want a real marriage - sex an all! They both start out assuming they won't love each other, but they will find companionship and family. For both of them, however, it quickly turns in to more.

There are a lot of missteps on both their parts - but as they get to know each other it is clear that the love they had for their former chosen partners was different and not as fully formed as the love they find in each other.

Overall - this is a story about second chances at love after being hurt badly. Both Emma and Jon mature significantly during the book and learn a lot about themselves.

Overall - I just really really liked everything about this book. The only thing that bothered me was <spoiler> Emma running off to London at the end without an explanation to Jon beforehand. I think a chance encounter with him at his country estate would have been a better way to handle that situation. I think Jon was more than patient with her about it, in a way that really probably wouldn't have been ok with anyone in reality. No matter the fact that she closes that chapter in life out and returns to Jon. I think most husbands/boyfriends/etc. wouldn't have been accepting of how she acted or as immediately forgiving.</spoiler>.

This is a great regency read - one of the best I have read in a while!

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley, but these opinions are all mine.

Was read as a standalone, thank you to netgalley for the book.

Found some of the writing a little cringe worthy and the story a bit slow for about half of it. The HEA was lovely though.

This is a story about two creative people who have been rejected by other suiters and believe that they will never find love again. I very much enjoyed Emma and Jon’s story. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Kensington Books for my honest review.

Jon and Emma have several things in common. Both are very decent, good people. Jon was madly in love with his fiancée and is recovering from her jilting him at the alter. Emma is still recovering years after the man she loved did not return her feelings. Jon is an inventor and Emma an artist who has lost her passion for art until she sees Jon’s invention. (It was hard to believe that an artist who painted portraits and landscapes could be inspired by a machine.)

There’s a murder, an alibi that leads to a hasty marriage and the two main characters getting to know each other in and out of bed.

This story is well written and captivating. A second chance for two really nice people. Jon is a great guy who was left at the altar. Emma gave up on love when the man she lived told her he loved her as a sister.

Lots happening in this story! Murder, big dog, inventions...great read.

#EveryBitaRogue #NetGalley

⭐⭐

Jon and Emma are two heartbroken people who are forced by circumstances to marry. They promise to be partners to each other but - surprise! - end up falling in love.

This the 4th book in a series I have not read. It reads fine as a standalone but, man there is a lot backstory on all these people!

I liked how many positive, loving relationships were depicted in this book (another side effect of being book #4) and I enjoyed Emma and Jon's personalities. The author took time to sketch out their separate personality outside of each other and how they grow and change with one another.

Some of the things that kept me from 3 stars were that some parts of the story were a little thin (There's a murder mystery that kinda went nowhere). The 3rd person narrative kept including T'was (t'would, t'etc) which just took me right out of it. I kept thinking it was dialogue because every other part of the narrative was modern English.

Also.... The machine and Emma's artistic obsession with it. I just didn't follow. I appreciated the authors attempt to discuss that it was a strange inspiration, buuuuuuut I didn't buy it. Also, Emma's thought process and dialogue with regard to this inspiration was decidedly odd. She kept referring to it as "his glorious machine"; "Lord Kendall's magnificent machine" and (not kidding) “I confess that I have been constantly thinking about your machine since I first saw it." I know we're supposed to be talking about farm equipment, but doesn anyone else feel like this a a euphemism for some other kinda equipment? 😜

Aside from those minor items, this was an easy fluff read. If you've read the rest of the series, you may want to pick this up since you get an updates on all the other characters.

When circumstances bring together two broken-hearted persons, do they get a second chance at love ...

I know, I often say this, Mrs Adrienne Basso is a new-author-to-me, so it is the blurb that caught my eyes. I love stories set outside ballrooms and people driven by pursuits far away the conventional ones.
I adored this book!
The story begins with Jon’s heartbreak rudely spread in front of everyone when he is left waiting at the altar by his selfish runaway bride.
After I might say lucky him as her character was portrayed as a spoiled brat, only thinking of herself and ready to deplete his coffers for her own enjoyment.
Still he didn’t saw her under this light so smitten by her colorful personality.
Why he retreated from society’s prying eyes to nurse his wounded heart and bury his mind in scientific fulfillment.
Emma suffered too from her own devastating heartache, the difference it was left a secret lingering only between herself and the man whom never returned her feelings. Still it affected her painting muse, shattering her will and need to express herself on paper and canvas.
So when unexpectedly it is reawakening when she stumbles upon Jon’s creation, whatever his rebuttal, she is drawn to him and his engineered machine.
I loved their straightforward personalities, they are honest and caring, thus their tale is one of a romance slowly filling their heart and mind, satisfying their bodies and without rush their need for more than what their firstly expected.
It was nice to see two people with a level head, they might make mistakes, still they give each other time to adjust, they rehearse before giving to doubt, they act maturely able to wait for the other to take the first step.

5 stars for this stirring lively romance of two people who never foresee love might just need a spark to ignite their heart and soul and it was awaiting them in corner.

I was granted an advance copy by the publisher Kensington, I preordered too my own.
Here is my true and unbiased opinion.

Even though this is the first in the series that I have personally read, I had no problems whatsoever keeping track of who was who. This is a stand-alone novel that exists independently of the others, although characters are referenced from prior novels, it does not take away from the readers understanding or enjoyment of this novel.

I adored these two characters. Emma is a feisty woman who loves her family deeply and has a strong sense of right and wrong. Jon is a more serious character, who works hard, but has acquired a bit of a reputation since his fiance jilted him. When you put them together? The easy way they interacted with one another, the way they could make the other laugh, was a real pleasure to read. Even the secondary characters were well thought out and multi-dimensional (although this may have something to do with the fact that most of them came from the prior novels).

As for the plot? It was well executed, with very little taking place that didn't add to the overall story. Even things that may not have made sense in the beginning, ended up making perfect sense by the time the story concluded. The writing style was smooth, seamlessly blending things together until the story drew the reader in and kept them immersed in this unconventional pair. You found yourself rooting for them, knowing that they had the potential for their own happily ever after.

I have no doubt that this novel will appeal to not only fans of this series, but also to historical romance enthusiasts who are just reading this author for the first time. I will definitely read more from this author!

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

Oh I do love Adrienne Basso!

I haven't actually read any of the previous books in this series but, although there are mentions of prior events and characters, that didn't affect my enjoyment of this story.

I love Jon, I love Emma, I love a nobleman who actually works!

Bizarrely, I think that one of my favourite things about this book is that Dianna was not turned into a scheming hussy who was out to get her first love back, as would have been the case in most books, but rather was a flawed woman who had come to realise and regret her mistakes.

I always enjoy a story of second loves and the way this is written shows the human capacity for experiencing love on so many different levels.


I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 stars

This is an engaging story between two people who believe they've lost the loves of their lives when in reality their future is in front of them. I really liked both the hero and the heroine. This was a kind story. I really appreciated that instead of the cliche misunderstandings which could have arisen the author instead showed the trust which had grown between the two.

Every Bit a Rogue is the fourth book in The Ellinghams series. It was wonderful to see new work from this author. The book had a wonderful plot, interesting characters, mystery, and was great fun to read. It was fast paced and kept your attention until the end. Jon Burwell, Viscount Kendall, was devastated when the woman he ran off with another man. He became a recluse and dedicated all his time to his mechanical inventions. Emma Ellingham wasn’t interested in social activities and marriage. She loved to paint, but her muse has disappeared. When she came upon Jon in his workshop, all she wanted to do was paint his invention. Jon just wanted to be left alone but Emma was not about to give up on having a chance to paint again. One stormy night, a murder, and a ruined reputation lead to a marriage between the two. But can they get over the pasts and let themselves love again?

I received an ARC of this book and voluntarily read and reviewed it with my honest opinion

Delightful read. Enjoyed the characters and the plot. Heroine wasn't a wishy-washy miss - I enjoyed how Ms Basso worked her ending. Will be handselling this one for sure.

Lord Jon, an inventor, has been left at the altar by a woman he truly loved. Emma, an artist, has resigned herself to life as a spinster after being rejected by the man she truly loved. After it has been revealed that they spoke to the night together they are forced to wed to save her reputation. But will they come to truly love one another?

Adrienne Basso has breathed new life into the old trope: people who love another being forced to marry.. and come to love their partner not their former loves. Jon and Emma become real faceted people whose motivations make sense and fit into the story without seeming forced. The plot moves along well without being hackneyed for being a familiar trope. Although the secondary characters are bit bit less well drawn, the subplots are interesting. And the love scenes are hot!

I would recommend this book to my patrons.