I received an eARC from Netgalley in exchange for a review.

I really enjoyed the Taming of the shrew similarities with a little twist. I like that there was not much unnecessary drama in the book. I liked that they didn't instantly fall in love with each other. The relationship and their feelings for each other developed slowly over time. I also liked that neither of them were very high in society and so had different points of view and different things that were important to them. I liked the supporting characters and the bonus novella at the end was nice.

I have really enjoyed reading this author's numerous other works and can't wait to see how this new series unfolds from here. I can't wait to see who else we will meet and how they will tie into this world.

I really appreciated that there were no grammar/spelling errors. There was no weird spacing or random characters popping up in words, no missing words or letters. It was really well edited. It really takes me out of the book when i have correct or read a sentence or paragraph several times to make out what it says/means.

This was my first book by Caroline Linden, and I would definitely read more by this author whenever I'm in the mood for historical romance with interesting, well-developed characters. (I have to say, it was sometimes a little strange seeing my name over and over, but eventually I got used to it, ha.) This is a slow-burn marriage of convenience with an enemies-to-lovers aspect. The heroine Bianca is determined to hate the hero Max from the moment she realizes she has to marry him. It takes quite a while for her to warm to Max, which might bother some readers but didn't bother me at all.

Overall, I would recommend this to those who enjoy reading historical romance.

Caroline Linden’s latest is an incredibly satisfying read on many levels. Abandoning the Regency for the earlier Georgian era, just after the American Revolution, instead of falling into the fashion porn so many other authors writing in this time period over-indulge in, she drops us smack into the middle of romance set amid a fascinating and rising new industry of the era – high-end English pottery.

It’s a common set-up, but with the typical Linden original twist. A Duke is about to die without heirs to his Dukedom, common enough. The uncommon bit is that the Duke is mentally impaired due to a childhood head injury and is unable to make any decisions for himself, so his elderly and very intelligent mother takes it upon herself to locate three distant relatives with the best claims to the title in order to bring them up to scratch. She tells them it is up to them to prove themselves worthy and lets them know they are expected to marry respectably and in due course, provide heirs.

Only two of the three can be found, and they are second and third in line by order of primacy. Second in line is a Scottish army officer. Third in line is a disreputable gentleman who makes his living as a gambler. He is our hero, Max St. James.

He decides from the outset that his shot at the Dukedom is slim to none, especially as the Army officer is taking it very seriously and doing his best to curry favor, but he takes the Duchess’ 5,000 pounds and admonition to go and prove himself respectable to heart. It’s the best shot he has ever had for stability in his life, and he runs toward it with all his ambition. Because Max is a gambler by necessity, not inclination, and he does well with it by having a good head for numbers, nerve, and an understanding of what is a calculated risk and what is a reckless one.

That being said, he’s determined to find himself an opportunity to earn his own income and not be reliant on the Duchess. Her money is the start he needs, not the end. So he becomes acquainted with a man who owns and up-and-coming pottery in Staffordshire (Which if you look into the history of Wedgwood, Spode and Doulton, you’ll see was a major new industry in this era.) who happens to have a prosperous business, two unmarried daughters, and no sons. Max meets them and convinces the father to let him marry the oldest daughter, Cathy, who is amiable and beautiful for ¼ interest in the business. Unbeknownst to Max, but well known to both Cathy and her younger sister, Bianca, Cathy is already in love with the local curate, who hasn’t yet come up to scratch. But Cathy agrees because Max is very nice and very handsome and her father wishes it.

Bianca, who is tall, stubborn, and an inventor of pottery glazes at her father’s factory, is having none of that. She convinces Cathy to run off with her true love instead of the obvious fortune hunter no matter how well-mannered and pleasant he seems. When Max returns to London to make arrangements, Cathy and Bianca make plans to get Cathy away and eloped with her curate. The morning of the wedding, the bride is nowhere to be found and seeing their father has already decided to have Max as a son-and-law and he has a spare daughter just lying around, he goads Bianca into agreeing to take her sister’s place.

Now Max is stuck with an ambitious and suspicious wife who wants nothing to do with him, a pleased father-in-law willing to take him into the business, and a lot to prove. This is literally just the set-up.

The way Linden builds their relationship is masterful and I’m not going to spoil it in this review. But this is a romance that is built on far, far more than physical attraction, though both hero and heroine are very attractive. Both characters are ambitious and driven, both work extremely hard, both care deeply for the people in their lives and as the story unfolds you can see how very well-suited they are in all of these traits. And once they get together, the love scenes are hot, meaningful and drive the plot..

You really like these people and you root for them, including in a very unconventional and fun game of cricket, which women played in the Georgian Era.

And the bits about the pottery industry are interesting, too. Surprisingly interesting and surprisingly integral to this story. Everything from shipping dinnerware without breakage to finding an ideal way to sell to the upper classes is discussed without ever being dull. It’s all there to show just how intelligent, talented and useful as people both Max and Bianca are.

There is also a bit of a mystery plot from Max’s past that I don’t want to discuss so as not to spoil the surprise, but even that is both realistic, era-appropriate, and lets our characters show the best parts of themselves, including some side characters you will also very much enjoy. The ladies in this book all acquit themselves very well. No shrinking violets or useless, sighing maidens allowing things to happen to them are in evidence. Cathy is the closest thing to conventional, and she elopes with her boyfriend.

Which is also realistic. Georgian women had far more freedom than we tend to remember. They went to coffeehouses to discuss topics of the day, ran salons and debating societies. While their legal rights were curtailed, which also comes into this story, they did a lot more work and thinking than many authors remember to give them credit for. Linden is not one of them and their work is well thought-out here.

This book is a truly satisfying read, cover-to-cover, with plenty of romance to delight and plenty of plot to make it a real page-turner. The ending is absolutely as happy as you could wish as well. You should read it and get your friends who love romance to read it, too.

3.5 stars

This was an enjoyable pre-Regency era historical romance with likeable characters (especially the H), an engaging story line, and steamy goodness!

In assisting her sister flee the bonds of marriage, the spirited h (Bianca) ends up trapping herself... to a very likeable rogue (he was described as a rake, but he really didn't come across that way at all). Max (the H) is an unlikely heir to a dukedom having spent much of his time as a card shark and dealer, and Bianca is not certain he is up to her standards for a husband, but Max does all he can to prove her wrong.

I liked this story, though I felt at times it moved a little slowly.

This book was so entertaining. I was drawn into the story from the beginning and was involved until the end. The characters were complex and interesting. I found the story to be well paced and engrossing throughout the whole book. I was invested in the couple throughout the book and felt all the emotions through both the highs and lows of the story.The side characters were such an integral part of this story as well. This is the love story i needed to read at this time. If you want an entertaining and well written book this is it for you

This was a pretty good book. The story was well paced. The main characters were really exciting to follow on their journey. I hadn’t read this author before so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was not disappointed!
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

Before I review About a Rogue I have to admit that I love Caroline Linden. And I really can't remember ever reading one of her books that I didn't enjoy. I went into this totally expecting to love it.
Y'all, Ms. Linden's book About a Rogue is so good! This story has an arranged marriage with a swapped bride, enemies to lovers, and a family business that's worth preserving. It's a good read. I set the bar pretty high for her books because she's had some greats and I was not disappointed.

I really enjoyed this book! I always enjoy a good enemies to lovers story and Bianca and Max were not only interesting but they made the story that much more enjoyable.

This seems to be the start of a good series. Max is a great character. He is interesting and very likable. Bianca was enjoyable to read about too. She is loyal and caring. I wish the author showed her working after they get married. Overall, I liked this book and look forward to reading the next installment.

Not a standout read, but enjoyable. I thought it would be more of a Taming of the Shrew battle of the wits style story, but it ended up being sweet and earnest. Not a bad thing! Interesting details on the main character's profession.

Sorry to be late in posting this --

I love, love, LOVE marriages of convenience as a trope in historical romances and I love how Caroline Linden wrote this one. Although I did like the hero much much more than the heroine, Bianca does soften by the end of the story.

Highly emotional and sexy, ABOUT A ROGUE is a lovely romance!

A delightful story with entertaining characters and a fun plot.
In the running to inherit a Dukedom, Max St James is determined to reform his ways and show he is the best to inherit.
A chance meeting with a man who owns a pottery business and his daughter set the stage for him to marry a respectable lady and show he is series.
Unfortunately the daughter he is set to marry loves another and her sister Bianca helps her run off and marry her love. She will go in her place and marry Max.
Of course sparks fly and there is such humorous banter you have to laugh.
Wonderful start to this new series!

About A Rogue by Caroline Linden is an entertaining historical romance novel. It grabbed my full attention with a stubborn yet smart heroine who won't let guard down around a particular rogue. One who is in line to a Dukedom and financial cash if he behaves the way the Duchess wants him to behave. He must take up a wife, participate in the government, and leave all his rogue ways behind him. St. James knows he has no chance at this opportunity yet he does do his best to behave better. The money handouts do help. Considering the life he lived as a child, this was an opportunity to better himself. So, he does.

He arranges with a potter to marry one of his daughters and have a stake in the business. Only the daughter that is promised to him doesn't love him and runs away. The contract he signed with the potter could put the family in worse shape so the other daughter, the one who hates him, agrees to marrying the rogue. Oh, and what a rogue he is! I loved their banters. Fun, charming, and deliciously steamy-this duo made this a worthy read indeed. I found myself not wanting to put the book down. The heat, danger, and risks, were high. Secrets leak, enemies draw near, and hearts were on the line.

I loved the enemies-to-lovers trope. Perfectly done, well-crafted characters, and an interesting plunge back into history. Also, I enjoyed following as a strong female character kept falling hopelessly in love with a rogue she was so determined to hate and keep at length. The rogue turned out to be not so much a rogue after all...

Thank you for letting me read and review this book. Unfortunately this book was not for me. I think I have a case of pandemic reading.

About a Rogue was my first book from Caroline Linden, but it won't be my last. I found it to be utterly delightful.

I was sort of afraid that Max would be a difficult MC to like, but he was really someone I enjoyed for the entire book. He was smart and resilient, and just very, very likable. Plus. his chemistry with Bianca was electric. I really enjoyed the slow-build, enemies-to-lovers romance, and I felt as though everything evolved very organically. Bianca was a little harder to like as she hates Max at the beginning, and runs with that hatred for way longer than Max deserves. However, I liked how fiercely loyal she was and how she fought for what she believed in.

Everything from the plot to the supporting characters was really well done. It was the kind of book where I had trouble finding something I didn't enjoy. Sure, it wasn't the kind of book that I stay up all night reading, but I would recommend this book again and again to my historical romance-loving friends.

A very solid romance and a great introduction to Caroline Linden. A big win for me.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

HJ Top Pick!

About a Rogue is the first book in the new series Desperately Seeking Duke and it was a great start for the series. It had an interesting storyline, wonderful characters, and it was easy to read. The series is based on the men who might inherit the Carlyle dukedom. The Duchess of Carlyle had lost a son and all hope of any of her children providing the dukedom with an heir. She did not think the potential heirs were respectable or up to the task of taking care of the Carlyle heritage. Therefore, she takes on the task of turning them into respectable and responsible men.

Bianca Tate’s family had owned and worked at Perusia, a manufacturer of pottery for several generations. Bianca was dedicated to the business and worked on making new glazes. When her father announced he had arranged a marriage between her sister, Cathy, and Mr. Max St. James, Bianca was furious. She knew Cathy was in love with another man so she helped her plan to elope before the wedding. Bianca hastily decided to take Cathy’s place while arguing with her father on the morning of the wedding.

Samuel Tate and his business impressed Max when he meets him, but he saw ways to help improve Perusia with better marketing. He saw an opportunity for a successful business partnership and a way to please the Duchess by acquiring a wife. Max gambled to support himself and had no potential income, but he did have contacts in Society that would help him improve the business. He agreed to the change in bride knowing that was the only way he could be a part of Perusia.

Max had a rough childhood but was able to overcome the obstacles and still see the potential to improve himself. He knew Bianca thought the worse of him but he was determined to win her affection and respect. Bianca was opinionated and sharp-witted and sure, she thought she knew who Max was. She might have married him but she had no plans of their marriage ever being real. Max’s knowledge of Perusia and his ideas for improvement were surprising to Bianca. She little by little comes to see him for his true self. As the couple slowly get to know one another, their attraction to each other grows. When a secret from Max’s past is revealed, their relationship could be tested.

I really enjoyed the book and the characters who were perfect for each other. I cannot wait for the next book with Captain Andrew St. James. The ending of the book leaves you wondering what has become of him after he left Carlyle.

4.5*
I thoroughly enjoyed this book - my first from this author. To quickly summarize the story, Bianca marries Max when her sister, the intended bride, elopes with her true love. Max is second in line to a dukedom and sent out with an allowance from the Duchess to “make something of himself.”

The part I did think was very different from most books is we don’t see the first meeting between all parties involved. It’s told after the fact when Max comes to town to start courting Cathy, Bianca’s sister. However, to be honest, it probably shortened the book by several chapters and I tend to prefer shorter books as of late.

Bianca works at the family’s pottery business developing colorful glazes. I actually found this very interesting! And it was so much better than the usual HR books where the women are ladies of leisure. Bianca had a lot of spunk!

I’m very curious to see if this book ends up having a sequel due to the ending. I hope so!

Highly recommend.

An amazingly written book filled with realistic people who had raw emotions and feelings. I absolutely loved the main characters Bianca and Max. Bianca was full of excitable argumentative energy. She also considered her impressions of Max from gossip to be absolutely true. She always thought she was in the right. But you could not help but like her. She was so passionate about her thoughts and feelings. She was smart and creative. The heart and soul of her father's business. Max was unbelievably patient with her. He had a rough life and knew what it was like to be down and out and separated from his loved ones. He never took anything for granted and took great care of all that he owned. Good and bad he weathered it all with humility but he was intelligent to know when a good opportunity presented itself not to let it pass. He felt he had a dark secret that he could never share with anyone. Bianca felt it but knew when to leave him alone. Max's secret came out and when he thought all he worked for and dreamed of was all gone Bianca and her aunt took his side and went all out to support him. It felt like the wild, wild west at that moment. I could not put this book down. It drew me in from the very beginning. The story started running from the very top and did not stop till the end. Very exciting, very relatable, extremely enjoyable and I smiled pretty much through the whole story. This is a must read. You will not be disappointed. I highly recommend it. I look forward to the next book and I hope to learn what the future holds for Bianca and Max.
Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Action-packed
Entertaining
Funny
Original
Page-turner
Romantic
Realistic
Steamy
Unpredictable
Wonderful characters

This is the first book in a series and I loved it! I enjoyed watching the growth of Max as a person and how he and Bianca fell in love after a marriage of convenience (of a sort). I am looking forward to the story of the next Mr. St James. 5 stars.

This is an enjoyable and believable romance with likable main characters. This is the perfect book for fans of the enemies to lovers type of romance books. This would be a book I recommend to anyone looking for a fun historical romance novel.