Thank you to the publisher for this advance copy. Unfortunately after 45% read I found this book lacking in the pacing or romantic spark I expect from a historical romance. The enmity/opposites-attract was drawn out too long and only at halfway through the book had one awkward kiss happened. There’s so much I enjoyed about the very beginning of this book and it’s overall premise, but I just think it’s suffered from a lack of chemistry, energy, and fast enough pacing for my personal taste. I do think this book has its readers which is why I do not plan on leaving this review on goodreads—I don’t want to discourage others from trying it at all—I just know that reader is not me.

Lady Beatrice Bentley is sister of a duke and a wallflower. She was born with palsy that affects the left side of her face. I thought her disability was unique and not one I've read about before. Her goal is to get through a last social season unmarried and retire to the country to work on an etymological dictionary. . After inheriting an old bookshop from an aunt she makes a deal with her mother. She will attend all balls and gatherings while not hiding herself. In exchange she gets time at her shop which she is remodeling into a meeting place for her friends. Her friends are wallflowers as well and I assume will be heroines of future books in the series. She hires Stamford "Ford" Wright, a carpenter to help transform her shop. He worked on her brothers country house where she was bothered by her attraction to him.

I enjoyed many things about the book. Wallflowers and rogues are always fun. Wright being a different class adds challenges. I liked learning many word etymologies. And the use of them added to Lady Beatrice's character. Every character had their own back stories and were fully developed. Beatrice had a modern feel. She was able to express herself honestly and was confident of Ford's returned feelings before it was spoken. Also the families of both were supportive in their ways.

The ending was rushed but concluded the story of Beatrice and Ford. A few plots points were still up in the air (tool patent, potential embezzling). Those may play into other books in the series.

This was my first book by Lenora Bell and overall I enjoyed it. I would definitely look for more in the series and read earlier books by the author. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Beatrice and Stamford's story was a quick, great summer read. I am partial to strong female leads and men that respect their intelligence. This series does not disappoint.

Beatrice has palsy as a result of tools used on her during the birthing process and has not been treated kindly by her parents, or society. As a result, she has retreated into herself and decided to live her life as a scholarly spinster. Ford’s father is the carpenter at Beatrice’s family estate. Ford is currently filling in for his father and is doing nothing but distracting Beatrice from writing her dictionary. Beatrice believes Ford is the very worst of rogues, but is confused by the unfamiliar feelings he ignites within her. Ford knows Beatrice is the last person he should become involved with, but he just can’t seem to stay away!

I was hooked on this book from the moment Beatrice calls Ford a “malapert rapscallion”! Beatrice is such a great heroine. She is completely fine with who she is, but she is also willing to play her mother’s game to get what she wants - to live a life of a bluestocking. Ford’s total acceptance of Beatrice gives her the confidence she needs to finally just be who she is in society and with her mother. Ford, being a typical alpha hero, has to learn how to be vulnerable and willing to love.

I love the direction many historical romance authors are taking the genre. I love that Lenora Bell wrote an unlikely class pairing that many authors tend to avoid in historical romance. Or, if they write it, the hero is written in a way that he is wealthy, or inherits a title, so it is able to compensate him in the eyes of society. There was no “fixing” their difference in class in this book and I greatly admire Bell for taking what some might see as a risk, but is exactly what I want to read!

I seriously LOVE Lenora Bell so much!! And this story did NOT disappoint in any way! It’s by far my favorite read this year! This book had everything you could want in a book: sexy rogue, bookish heroine, Beauty & the Beast themed but gender swapped, and sexy but heartwarming! There wasn’t anything I didn’t love! Beatrice is our bookish wallflower heroine. She is determined to write a dictionary and that love or lust isn’t for her. Ford is our sexy rogue carpenter. These two meet at Beatrice’s brother estate where Ford is doing renovations. They have quite the chemistry even though they try to ignore it at first. When Beatrice is given a bookshop, her fellow lady knitters decide she should hire Ford to help fix up the shop! Beatrice thinks not but she ends up hiring him! The more time these two spend together, the more their guards come down and find passion within one another. Along with their HEA! I loved how Ford brought out the real Beatrice! Ford is also supportive of women power!(which I love) I highly believe everyone should be reading this book when it’s released!! It’s just absolutely wonderful!

4 1/2 stars - After reading her first two books, Lenora Bell quickly moved to the top of my 'must buy' list of authors. I love her unconventional heroines and swoon worthy heroes! Love is a Rogue did not disappoint. My favorite thing was that Wright was a carpenter. Not a carpenter that later finds out he is a Duke, but an actual carpenter...for the whole book! Now, don't get me wrong, i love a Duke, but this was a refreshing change of pace and he was certainly a swoon worthy hero! Beatrice was an enjoyable heroine. I loved her gift for words as well as her charming friends that I cant wait to read more about! Highly recommend!

Lenora does it again with a wonderful read. I'm never disappointed in her books.

Trope: different classes/different stations in life. Heroine is a lady, a sister to a Duke. Hero Ford is a Carpenter also serving in the Bristish navy.

If you want something light or easy to read, I wholeheartedly recommend this book. Lots of feels, lots of kisses, low key on the steam until it happens but when it does it hot.

Beatrice is bookish and she loves to read. She Loves to define words, and is currently writing a dictionary. She's also a wallflower being smothered and controlled by her mother. She's unhappy with her life and tries to find herself through her books and fancy words. Her goal in life is to take control and be a spinster. Little does she know her life will change and she will fall for a rogue .

Ford never wants to be married or tied down. He prefers to be free, until he meets Beatrice.

Shes spies on him all summer long through a window and He pretends to not know or see. knowing she spies on him makes him work harder and faster. He loves the color of her hair, the way the sun shines on it, and she loves his big arms. She imagines how he would carry her. Funny because these two secretly crushes after eachother, and they both act as if they don't want eachother.

One day she inherits a book shop and hires Ford to do the renovations. As he does the renovations they slowly at first start to fall for one another then boom they can't get enough of eachother.

Together they face many challenges. One, Her mother is a controlling monster, and tries to marry her off. Two, Ford has a secret grandfather who wants to steal away B's property. Her mother bribes him, and his grandfather tries to blackmail her.

With all that being said, B is not alone and is loved by her friends and family. Ford and B also have the support and blessings from her brother the Duke. Ford also has his mother and aunt's support and together they kill his grandfather with kindness.

Out of all this, my favorite part is how B comes out of her shell, and follows her own heart head on. I'm happy she goes against her mother and marries who she wants. Being a daughter in that era and especially being a high born lady means you are mostly powerless, have no voice/choice, your life is lined up and planned out for you. I just love how she stands up against her mother, That gave me great satisfaction. It Goes to show she has a backbone.


Thanks Netgalley for giving me this opportunity to read this arc. These are my opinions and mine alone.

Lady Beatrice Bentley is the sister of a duke. She was born with a palsy of the face, so she is unable to move the left side of her face. When she was in school, she would be teased and called "Beastly Beatrice." Beatrice has no interest in getting married. Her main goal is to create an etymological dictionary. However, she cannot focus on writing the dictionary because she is constantly distracted by Stamford "Ford" Wright, the carpenter that is renovating Thornhill House. When Beatrice's aunt dies, Beatrice discovers that she has inherited her aunt's book shop and all of the books and manuscripts in its inventory. Beatrice hires Ford to renovate the book shop, and the attraction between them grows. I enjoyed the characters in this book and look forward to reading the other books in this Wallflowers vs. Rogues series. The ending of this book felt a little cliché, but it did bring closure to the characters. I liked how this historical romance featured a man who was of a lower social class than the woman; it felt like a spin on an old romance trope. For fans of Eva Leigh.

Beatrice is a total wallflower. And she adores books. I know many of use like our heroines that are bookworms, but Beatrice is by far the best book-obsessed heroine I've read. She is staying her brother's mansion, basically living in the library and working on her dictionary. She loves words, their origins, use, pronunciation. She would be totally, utterly content if only she wasn't constantly bothered by the annoying Stamford Wright.

Ford has been working on the renovations of Beatrice's brother's country house. His goal is to complete them before he must go back out on the sea to serve in the navy. He knows someone is always peeking at him through the windows, and it's made even more obvious when a pair of spectacles drops on his head while he's standing under a certain window.

I loved Beatrice. She has been diagnosed with palsy, and one side of her face doesn't quite have the muscle control society desires in their drive for perfection. She's mastered hiding behind potted plants at balls. She has made the best group of friends that meet under the guise of knitting and I'm very excited for the other wallflowers stories. She's an independent heroine, but still still cares about those around her. She struggles with finding her own path and keeping her mother happy. Ford is perfect for her. He shows her how beautiful she is and gives her the boost in confidence hiding in side and she shines.

Ford is more of a beta hero. He can come off as rather arrogant and conceited in the beginning, but he's not at all. He's just a lady's man, and doesn't have a problem with striking up a conversation and knowing his own assets. Haha. But overall I felt like he was more beta. He's very gentle and tends to let Beatrice lead the way.

Give this story a try if you are in the mood for
-class differences – Beatrice is the brother to a duke and Ford is a carpenter/navy man
-slight disability – the heroine has palsy of the face that 'disrupts the symmetry of her face'
-wallflowers – we have a heroine wallflower (and the whole series will include wallflowers!)
-soldiers – though not a huge part, the hero belongs to the navy and is on leave during his time in the book. He doesn't have ptsd, or flashbacks, it's just a minor part of his character.
-medium to heavy steam - although there's only 2 sex scenes - one full and one implied - there's a lot of kisses and thinking about kisses and other fun that is explicitly described.

Overall really enjoyed this book. It's got Bell's classic mix of sexy and humor and is just a fun read. Sometimes being the first in a series can be tiring setting up other characters and plots, but I don't find that here at all. It makes connections with other characters just enough to move the story and make you excited to see the next installment.

This didn't quite get to 5 stars for me, just personal preference on the hero. I wasn't super in love with him, but can't exactly pinpoint what was missing for me. Could just be the covid pandemic speaking as it has made me into an emotionless robot.

I'm never going to be over highly intellectual historical heroines! Lady Beatrice is a delight, and while the way some of the subplots fit together is a little clunky, the relationship between Beatrice and Ford is the right balance of fun and sexy and emotional (though lacking a super convincing romantic foundation at the beginning, in my opinion). Also, I find myself wishing, though, for a genderbent Beauty & the Beast inspired romance where, like the original fairy tale, it's more about what's inside than on the outside—where the heroine has to undergo major character growth, and her beastliness is not primarily about her appearance.

Completely charming! Beatrice is a strong, smart, and fierce heroine. And she put pockets in her gowns for books. :) I really related to her personality. And I love how Ford is completely gone for her. He supports anything and everything she wants to do be it write a dictionary or learn carpentry or give women a safe place to gather to plot the end of the patriarchy. Such a wonderful, fun book.

Thank you HarperCollins and NetGalley for the ARC!

Bluestocking wallflower Lady Beatrice Bentley wants to be left alone to work on her etymological dictionary, but she’s distracted by the construction at her brother’s estate and the too-handsome contractor, Stamford Wright. When they reconnect in London, Beatrice needs Ford’s help and the line blurs between work and play.

This is the first book in a new series and it checked a lot of boxes for me. The characters were relatable, the banter was clever, and attraction built nicely. I was smiling most of the way through the book. I did think the ending wrapped a little too easily but I still give it 4.5 stars rounded up to five. I’m already looking forward to the next one!

* I received an ARC and this is my honest review. #LoveIsARogue #NetGalley

I absolutely enjoyed reading the book.

The hero is a commoner but has skill, drive and ambition. He loves his family and is honorable despite his rakish reputation. The heroine is an heiress, albeit a bluestocking. They meet, bicker and come to an understanding. I enjoyed reading the depth and development of their attraction for each other. The story was well-written. It has humor and romance all over it. The hero and heroine really complemented each other. I like that the hero is not dark and brooding. I also like that the heroine is not stubborn and too outspoken or obnoxious. Family plays a lot of role in this books which for me made it enjoyable. Happy endings all around. And an epilogue.

This was an absolutely swoon worthy read! The romance was great and the characters were amazing. The story follows a bookish Lady Beatrice, who just wants to be left alone to her books, and a roguish navy man/ builder Stamford Wright. Beatrice has recently inherited a bookstore that needs some real repair and so she hairs Stamford, even though every time they’re in a room together the sexual tension is crazy and she can barely think straight. Beatrice is a very strong and courageous character, she tries her best even though she hasn’t had the best time in society, and works hard to achieve her freedom. Her love for books and words was charming. Stamford was a wonderful love interest for Beatrice. He was caring, he saw her and didn’t want to change her, he accepted her and always encouraged her. I absolutely loved this book and had so much fun reading it! I think any romance reader would really enjoy this! The romance was great, the story wraps up nicely, and I honestly’ can’t wait to read more of this authors work!

* Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins Publishers for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Love is a Rogue by Lenora Bell reminds me why I love historical romance so greatly. Even if I’m not reading the genre as much as before, every now and then I try to get back into the fascinating world of the English countryside and fall into a beautiful love story like this one.
I love that our hero, Ford is not your usual high society lineage duke or any other nobility person. He’s so down to earth, caring,loving and most of all respects a woman’s life,heart and mind. He acknowledges her as his equal and that’s the most important thing for me, even in times where women weren’t allowed to have their own voice.
Beatrice is a wonderful character and her personality is a perfect mix between stubborn and strong but also loving and sensitive or better said feminine.
Their interaction is so good and many times I had laughed out loud as well as felt the heartache. The balance is very well done and you just can't seem to stop needing more from them.
Wonderful characters, witty banter, funny moments and romantic happily ever after story.

Love Is a Rogue is my total catnip!

Smart, strong, wallflower/bluestocking meets charming, witty, clever carpenter. Yes, carpenter! I LOVED that this book took me me away from the titled hero and gave us a real man. I kept envisioning a young Harrison Ford for, well, who else, Ford. Ford has that charisma, boyishly playful, and is completely devoted -- to his work and to those he loves.

This is an easy read book has a lot of heart and steam (Ford has a deliciously dirty mind). These characters actually SPOKE to each other. Beatrice is a people pleaser and it was refreshing to see her grow and mature and realize she needed to put herself and her wants first. She took the world by the, ahem, hammer, and didn't stop swinging when Ford gave her the confidence to believe in herself. In turn, Beatrice gave Ford the unconditional love he craved, regardless of their classes and stations in life.

Great scenes and witty dialogue. I hope to read future novels about the impressive ladies of the knitting society!



Thank you to the publisher, Kelly Oakes, and NetGalley for a copy of this book, the thoughts and opinions are freely given.

Beatrice is a wallflower with a way with words. Old, rarely used words she is trying to reintroduce. Wright is a handsome rogue who has a way with a hammer. And the ladies. Together they are like both ends of a magnet: attracting and repelling at the same time. It is such fun to see their paths and temperaments cross time after time.

What was was one of my most-anticipated reads of the year, and is now just one of my FAVORITE reads of the year!
•••
Lady Beatrice is a bluestocking who would really just like to be left alone to finish her etymological dictionary. Unfortunately, not only is her mother is determined to see her married off to a titled gentleman, but her countryside refuge is being disturbed by some very loud construction and a very roguish and handsome carpenter, Stamford Wright.
•••
We often get the rags to riches Cinderella story for our HR heroines, but it’s a nice to have a break from the constant dukes and earls to instead enjoy a swoony commoner hero. Meet my newest book boyfriend: Ford, a handsome, loyal, decent, hardworking carpenter. I absolutely love him and Beatrice together. He's protective and wants to help Bea, but he also recognizes that Bea doesn't need rescuing. Bea is a strong-willed heroine, but she’s an introvert with more of a quiet strength. She’s quirky and adorable, and a titled gentleman would never have made sense for her non-traditional ways.

The perfect blend of funny and touching with well rounded characters and an unexpected twist at the end.
A comedy of highly pleasurable errors from start to finish that couldn't of been sweeter. Had me chuckling with laughter, in awe and stitches at one crotchety caretaker and his fiery wife's antics, building with anticipation, warmed with touching uncertainty and seduced by one besotted, brooding, knight and his debate with himself to freely love the damsel of his dreams, with spicy results.
A riveting good read that might be short, but never feels it, as it packs in the yearning desire and amusement to overflowing!!

Lenora Bell writes a fabulous story with Love is a Rogue. Beatrice and Ford come from two vastly different worlds, but when love strikes, it doesn't care. Ford jumps in to help Beatrice and her friends save her inheritance to the dismay of the man who wants the property. A lovely story follows. Readers will not be disappointed.