Even better than the first book but definitely kinkier. This time around the story focuses on Isobel, who has been married for three and a half years without sign of her husband after they consummate the marriage. Nothing happened to him, he just left her at his father’s estate and didn’t return. He was too busy running a gaming hell cum BDSM sex club in London and he is adamant that he does not want to fall in love with his wife—though he remains faithful. In the time since she has been abandoned in the country, she has become one half of a secret writing duo Lady Darcy, who writes all manner of scandalous and sensational publications mostly focused on sex. This gave me such Bridgerton vibes down to how she got published but obviously it’s not really about the hot ton goss but more a vulgar and witty guide to sex specifically for young women who aren’t really given this sort of information otherwise. After three years alone, Isobel decides to take her life into her own hands and track down her husband in London, challenging him boldly in an effort to win him over. And can I say that it was soooo much fun to read! There are balls, visits to the gaming hell, a human auction (not slavery, put your mind in the gutter!), and even a rather interesting reappearance of old enemies the includes nothing less than a knife fight, pistols, and an annoying Italian lady who won’t take no for an answer. It really was a fun adventure and the romance was exciting and kept me on my toes. I mean, will she win him over? It was a game of cat and mouse for a while! I had so much fun reading this! I highly recommend for fans of reformed rakes, Bridgerton, and gaming hell romances. This was a very positive, pro feminist book without any rape content, but does mention drug use although not depicted (in mention of a deceased character).

The Marquess of Roth owns a notorious club, and his reputation as a rake keeps the customers coming. He left his wife behind in the countryside and uses the money to fund noble causes. His wife Isobel is tired of the rumors she hears from London and decides to meet her erstwhile husband. Both are determined not to give in to the other, but there's an attraction and a marriage between them.

This is the second of the Regency Rogues series, following The Beast of Beswick, but each novel stands alone. There's the tie to the first novel in that Isobel is the heroine's sister, but that's not important to know for this novel. We start with the wedding between Isobel and Winter; he runs cold because he needed to marry to satisfy a will, and Isobel wanted to avoid a lecher. After three years of being left in the country, Isobel was fed up enough to go to London. With her best friends in the country, she had penned a series of salacious posts that were printed in the paper. Her husband has no idea, as he had no contact with her at all since leaving on their wedding night.

I really enjoyed the back and forth of the verbal sparring between Isobel and Winter, and the bargain they had. Of course, Isobel wouldn't return to the countryside just on his say so, and his determination to remain alone and not have children is rather flimsy. Isobel stands up for herself and her own needs, and won't accept the excuses. She also knows her limits, and won't allow herself to be taken for granted. As is the case with romances, our hero has a reason for his guarded heart and has to be forced to see that holding himself back from family isn't a good idea. We have our happily ever after for our primary couple as well as our secondary one, and the big bad of the piece gets his comeuppance as deserved. This is a fun novel, and a great way to spend a dreary afternoon in winter.

Winter Vance, the Marquess of Roth doesn't want a wife, but his father is being his usual stubborn self. Just because he has to take a wife doesn't mean he has to live with her.

Lady Isabel Roth is fed up with being ignored so it's time to take control of what she wants. London and a grand adventure await.

There is much more to both our lead characters than anyone could guess. Secrets and denials are the rule, and sexual tension is running high. There are also plenty of giggles between all the females.

I loved it.

This book of historical fiction/romance was a very entertaining read. It had all the intricacies usually found in the Victorian age romance books, with an emphasis on romance. In this book, the handsome and rakish Marquess of Roth, Winter Vance, marries Miss Isobel Everleigh in a marriage of convenience in order to save her from what could be a disastrous scandal and villainous Earl. However, Winter has vowed to never wed, so he takes his bride home, beds her so that she is truly his wife, and then leaves her at the country estate to return to London. Three years later he finds Lady Isobel at his London home, much changed and ready to resume their marriage and all that entails. The sexual tension between these two is very evident and cannot be ignored by either of them. The love that strengthens as they spend more time together becomes evident to all except Roth, and reluctantly by Isobel. The character of Clarissa brings much humor and friendship to the story, as she and Isobel are together the infamous Lady Darcy of the scandal sheets. Family drama and danger intersperses with heart-stopping love scenes to make this book one that keeps you turning the pages and not wanting to put it down. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing LLC for the opportunity. #NetGalley #TheRakehellofRoth #EntangledPublishingLLC

I haven't read the first book in this series so I can speak with assurance that you do NOT have to read the first book to absolutely LOVE the second. This book is racy and engrossing escapism with a pretty decent plot. It jumps right off with the wedding night then cuts to three years later when the couple is estranged. Basically, a romance in reverse.

The main female characters, Isobel & her pal Clarissa are extremely sexually advanced (or they pretend to be) which is a refreshing change from the ignorant virginal female romance characters that are more realistic to the time period. Isobel keeps herself busy by growing into a bad-ass, horse riding, pistol shootin', smut writing, independent lady while pining for her absent husband. She doesn't need him to support her, but she wants him for his body.

The male lead, Winter has his own "stuff" to work through. He's distanced himself from his whole family after losing his sister instead of having a conversation with his father and brother to clear up misunderstandings which is (gah!) frustrating as a reader. There is NO WAY I believe that Winter, as owner of a sex club, would not have a mistress for the three years he estranged himself from his wife. That was a bit unbelievable to me, BUT it's fiction so I rolled with it because it made him more forgivable. I was kind of disappointed that he never told his wife he'd been faithful. He just let her believe he was a mysterious man-slut.

The chemistry between these two LEAPS off the page. They are such absolute horn dogs for each other, you just want to slap them both and send them to therapy. I was hoping Isobel would divorce him or at least threaten to, so that he would realize how much he couldn't live without her... but she chose to seduce him instead. And let's face it, we read these books for the romance & sex, so it works.

This romance stood out because of the gender-role reversals, backwards love story and most of all because Ms. Howard sure knows how to write a delectable sex scene (**fans self and shoots whiskey**). She hasn't disappointed me yet!

"The Rakehell of Roth" by Amalie Howard
I liked the story. It is a good story, although, there was more sex than I prefer, thus the less than 5-star rating. In a print format those scenes are not that difficult to skip over.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this story from the publisher. This is my honest opinion.

Will he be able to see past his blinders before loosing his way to redemption...

I have read the first book in the series, and while it was good, it did not reach the level of this one.

How young both were, as winter married Isobel before his twenty-first birthday.
Still there was an ocean of differences between them, when She was naive, he was bitter, gullible to the fault, cynical to the bone, blind to his flaws, conscious of the muddy waters he was walking in.
I confess despite the hero’s causes to act the way he did, which was very wrong. I was 1000% behind the heroine to teach him a lesson. So each time, she faltered, I was shooting at her « stand up Girl! », to steel her spine, grit her teeth and face him her head held high. He was the one who left her behind to rot alone after he got what he wanted. Worse repeatedly he hurt her, again and again, deliberately.
I just would have liked her to have more mastery over her emotions, I am not fond of women turning into puddle of drooling. Yet when it mattered truly, I liked she was able to lock her knees and jumped straight into the fight.
Isobel changed a lot in the course of three and a half year she was left to languish in the country. Left and forgotten.
I loved she was taken in hand, striped of her ingenue’s skin. She found a new family and allies in the place her cad of a husband dumped her and washed his hands of her. There she recreated herself in a stronger, more confident and independent young woman. She can take care of herself and stand for herself. Yet when you receive blow after blow, it is understandable your resolve can falter.
Winter while I understand his reason to be angry from his point of view, not once did he seek to understand the hows and whys. He let his ire take control and decided to become the worst possible heir to spat on his father. He used Isobel as a pawn, and while he is drawn to her, he slapped her emotionally many times, rejecting her again and again, because he denies his feelings and chooses his revenge over everything even else, even love.
I know love is forgiveness why Isobel too readily took him back, but he really needed to grovel and crawl a lot more, after the many blows he threw at her, some grand gesture would have soften the path.

But oh my, the love scenes, hot hot hot and wondrous. Get an atomizer at close range, because it will be handy when the heat around you will rise.

And while the plot is all about Winter and Isobel, there is a second romance in the background, and if look could kill, Oliver the uptight younger brother of the hero would be long dead, killed by their childhood friend Clarissa. Clarissa was the breath of fresh air in this tale, witty, outrageous and impertinent renaming at will all those bothering her, mostly Oliver.
And more often than less, she stole the limelights, she is such an accomplished performer with words, it is hilarious, she wields her peculiar language like a blade, slicing and pricking.
I hope the author will one day offer them a novella.

In all, if you are in for a mouse turned cat, a dashing hero in need of his head being bashed, supportive witty characters and ton’s intrigues, do not miss this clever and brilliant read, you will a fan to cool off during certain scorching passages.
4.75 because I needed more groveling rounded up to 5 stars.

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 hot hot hot

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

The story tells of Isobel’s determination to save her marriage at any cost and at the same time, Winter is as determined to avoid any commitment. In the three years they have been apart, Isobel has grown into a force to be reckoned with and now she is ready to fight for what she wants. It is a battle of wills between the two of them and as she slowly breaks through his barriers, he learns some unexpected family secrets and truths. This is a great read that makes you want them to become a family they both need. They are both strong willed and sometimes brutally blunt which makes for some great reading. This is a book worth reading and I would recommend it.
I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley and are voluntarily leaving a review.

The Rakehell of Roth is the second book in the Everleigh Sisters series by Amalie Howard. A steamy historical romance that pulls you into a drama-filled world that takes you away to another place, another time. The characters are vivid and real, with intriguing backstories that keep you on the edge of your seat, wanting more. Let me just say that The Rakehell of Roth is not what I was expecting, and I am so glad! This is one hot and fiery story!

4.5 Stars
As owner of the most scandalous club in London, the last thing the notorious Marquis of Roth wants is a wife. Keeping up his false reputation as a rake brings in the clients with the deepest pockets—money he needs to fund a noble cause. Winter Vance, the Marquis of Roth marries Isobel Eversleigh to give her protection form a dastardly earl & also to meet the codicil to his inheritance, he beds her & promptly leaves her at his father’s country seat. Three years later, tired of her scoundrel of a husband headlining the gossip rags, Lady Isobel Vance decides enough is enough. She is no longer a fragile kitten, but as the anonymous author of a women’s sexual advice column, she’s now a roaring tigress...and she can use her claws. Isobel decides to go to him in London, channelling her powers of seduction to make him beg to take her back.
This is the second book in the series but is easily read on its own. I loved both Winter & Isobel not only was their attraction combustible but their verbal bantering was brilliant too. Winter had lots of emotional baggage, which he found hard to let go of but then he learnt that not everything was as it seemed. I loved how the quiet docile Isobel came out of her shell & often took a leaf out of her alter ego on how to behave. I also loved the secondary characters, Clarissa was a hoot & I'd love Westmore to be brought to his knees! An entertaining, engrossing read which I found hard to put down
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Stunning sequel to The Beast of Beswick!

Were you as shocked as I was when Isobel showed up married to Roth at the end of Astrid and Thane's book? Well, here we get the rest of that story. Winter Vance, Marquess of Roth, had his own reasons for agreeing to the quick wedding, as long as it didn't interfere with any other aspect of his life. That's why he deposited his new wife at his father's estate the very next day and promptly returned to London, but not before securing the marriage with a quick yet satisfying consummation. Hate him yet? Yeah, me too.

Isobel waits patiently for THREE YEARS while he's off supposedly still living the life of a confirmed rake, until the latest scandal is the proverbial last straw. Now the game is ON, and it's anybody's bet as to who is going to win (not really - we know Isobel holds all the cards - Winter is a man, after all).

Isobel has matured tremendously in the ensuing years, while Winter hasn't been able to forget a single detail of his lovely wife and their brief time together. NO WORRIES here - he remained faithful to her, regardless of the rumors to the contrary. Their battle to break down the walls between them is predictably steamy while surprisingly tender and sweet, and it cleverly includes scenes and tropes that I have never before seen done so well in a historical romance.

Along the way secrets are dredged up, enemies known and unknown complicate matters, and a secondary romance delightfully gives new meaning to the concept of "tea parties." This amazing story is every bit as engaging and entertaining as its predecessor. If you read The Beast of Beswick, then you already know you have to read this one. If you haven't, then you want to read that one AND this one and I guarantee you won't be disappointed. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, The Beast of Beswick, and added its follow up to my TBR list even before I knew what it would be about. The Rakehell of Roth features the younger Everleigh sister, Isobel, and the husband who abandoned her at his country estate almost immediately after their hasty wedding.

I wasn’t sure what to expect since the blurb kind of gives the impression that there might possibly be some cheating on the hero’s part since he is the owner of a disreputable club and often appears in the scandal sheets. I am happy to report that this isn’t the case. The Rakehell of Roth starts out by introducing the main characters and showing how their marriage starts out, a naive young woman looking forward to a new life and a man who married in order to save her from a despicable Earl, but who really doesn’t want to settle down. So he weds her, beds her, and then leaves her for three years at his father’s country estate. So she heads to London with the intention of reining her absent husband in.

This was a fun, fast read. Once I was satisfied that the hero hadn’t been cheating on his wife during their separation, I allowed myself to enjoy this couple and their romance. I was quite annoyed with the hero at times and wished he and Isobel could have had just one constructive conversation, but I can say that their chemistry was off the charts and their frustration with each other led to some pretty hot sex scenes.

Isobel is a wonderful heroine and one of the best parts of this book was her relationship with her best friend. Their banter, playfulness, and loyalty to each other were some of the best parts of this story. We need to see more of these types of friendships in romance.

This was an enjoyable read. Despite it being the second book in a series, I do think you can read as a stand-alone, although the first book in the series is pretty great. Just go ahead and one-click both.

I received "The Rakehell of Roth" from Netgalley and voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Amalie Howard has a way with words that brings the readers right into the story.
Lady Isobel Vance, the new Marchioness of Roth, is married to Winter Vance who leaves her right after consummating their marriage...  on their wedding night. Now, three years later, Isobel wants to have a true relationship with her husband, who seems to be cavorting in every vice possible, and scandalizing the ton.  She hides a few truths about herself as well when she meets Winter again. A fabulous love story.

The Rakehell of Roth by Amalie Howard is a steamy novel of a man who married who just wanted to be the white knight for once in his life....and the woman he married who grew into a fiery, independent woman. No longer the timid woman that he married and bedded before leaving at dawn, Lady Isobel Vance decides to travel to London with her father in law to get her husband back.

She isn't prepared for how much she will have to fight for him within the ballrooms of the entitled town and in the seedy game house that he owns. The chemistry between Isobel and Roth sizzles throughout the book. My favorite parts are all the parts with Lady Darcy and her sensational advice she offers to the town. The writing is smooth and flows well, the characters are flawed and yet somehow just perfect for each other and there are stories within the romance between Isobel and Roth. A fun historical romance and part of a series (A good standalone as I do not believe I missed anything by not reading the other books.)

The Rakehell of Roth is the second book in the Everleigh Sisters series.. The couple from this book were first introduced as side characters in The Beast of Beswick. After a steamy wedding night with her husband, Isobel doesn't see him again for three years. He has spent the last three years in London, seemingly continuing his rakehell ways, (all a show) and seemingly not caring at all about Isobel, or her feelings. Well, Isobel has had enough, and with the help of her friends she sets out to get her husband back. The results of her efforts are played out in this book, which was pure fun to read and super sexy. Highly recommend. As an aside, I see some reviewers concerned about cheating. There is ZERO cheating in the book, only the suggestion of.

Loved, loved this book! Just when you think you know what's going to happen, BAM, the author leads you in another direction. I really enjoyed the growth of both main characters and the look forward to reading about the secondary characters too. The pacing was just right and the amount of heat between the two was a hot sizzle.
You had intrigue, secrets, heartbreak, family baggage, humor , sexiness and heart to make this is a can't miss read.

The Marquess of Roth, Winter, needs a wife and young Isobel needs a husband to save her. The Marquess comes to her rescue and she is looking forward to their future together. Unbeknownst to Isobel, Winter has another idea. The cold words he used, “once and done.” He goes back to London and leaves her in the country.

After 3 years, Isobel is going to London to get her husband. She is not the same green girl and Winter is going to be surprised in so many ways!

Romance, scandal and life changes. This book is so fun and flirty and keeps you on your toes. If you love harlequin style romance/risky reads this would be one for you.

It lost me in the first chapter when the rake, Winter, was only 20 years old. Umm... What? No. No way he would have been marrying at that age. No father would have made it an expectation at that age and no way he would have the experience he supposedly had. Does the author not understand regency? Need to add 10 years to make it plausible. Also zero respect for night vs day (They were at a ball... It was their wedding night... But they stayed till the end, which would have been dawn... Then they went to visit her sister which is highly improbable because again, dawn and not a visiting hour... Then they took a carriage ride to the Duke's residences somewhat far away and were awake the whole time... Then got there and bathed and ate for hours... Then suddenly it was their wedding night. Except that would have been an entire day later and there was no sleep). And then a rushed sex sense. I stopped reading after that, there really no point in continuing. I will not post this review elsewhere but frankly think it needs a rewrite.

While I enjoyed this book it was not up to the quality of its predecessor "The Beast of Beswick" for me it seems our hero here spent more time just being an ass than displaying any redeeming qualities. We find out eventually he was not such a bad kind but was manipulated as a child and had some mental issues dealing with things from his youth. All that together still did not endear him to me until late in the story when he started to display some redeeming qualities. Our heroine was a much better character as a mouse to lioness transformation and her alter ego "Lady Darcy" . The story was very good but unlike the "The Beast of Beswick" which had an equally unpleasant hero, I was hardly able to put that book down, I had no such problem with this story. I am still liking the overall series so far and I see the next one coming from the co-owner of the "club" our hero co-owns. If I had to make a recommendation I would have to say, be sure and read "The Beast of Beswick" and then maybe this right on the heels of that book and it might go a bit better since this does have a good ending for all and bad guys get what's coming but while "The Beast of Beswick" was close to 5 Stars, this was barely crawled over the 4 Stars mark for me.