This book was very enjoyable. The rich blend of humor, drama, snappy banter and emotion reads easily and keeps you entertained. The sparks and chemistry between Diana and Giles is obvious to everyone but them and that adds plenty of tension to the story. Overall, I just thought this was a really fun read that had some really nice feels.

This was a charming and passionately funny historical romance. Never Rescue a Rogue is the second book in the Merriwell Sisters series and was positively a delight to read.

Diana Merriwell is independent and closed off to the idea of a relationship. Giles Sinclair is a bachelor who enjoys his lifestyle. The two have a bumpy relationship, they get along for the benefit of their friends but mostly they enjoy a spicy banter. When Giles becomes Duke of Harpenden long lost secrets may be revealed and Giles needs the help of the one and only Diana.

This book includes witty banter between the hero and heroine, a pirate who over steps his boundaries, and a slew of busybodies that only add to the chaotic and amusing storyline. Overall I really enjoyed this book. The writing in this book was definitely more rom com, it was fun and quick paced.

I was so excited to read Virginia Heath's follow-up to Never Fall for Your Fiance and this did not disappoint. This is about Diana and Giles, who we were introduced to in the previous book. Although it was nice to see some of the characters again, you can definitely read this as a stand-alone. This enemies-to-lovers book is very well done, and you can tell from the start that their antagonism is going to turn into a beautiful romance. This is more of a slow burn and was more angsty than I anticipated, but I enjoyed the payoff in the end. I also loved the side characters in this book. Virginia Heath gives personality to every one of her characters which always makes me more invested in the plot and in the families. This was an enjoyable addition and I'm looking forward to reading more books in the series!

Diana Merriwell and Giles Sinclair are two strong and independent people who tolerate one another. They both have complicated pasts and secrets. When circumstances arise that threatens Giles's future, it is Diana who comes to his aid. Could it be that there is more to their relationship that either thought before?
Well plotted and engaging, the book is a pleasure to read. It is packed with wonderful characters, adventure and witty dialogue. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Having not read the first book in this series, I can say that this one perfectly worked as a stand-alone. Even though there were characters mentioned from the first novel, I had no trouble keeping track of who was who and what part they played in this story.

This could be because the background characters stayed mostly to the background. We got to know who they were, and we got certain scenes of them either trying to play matchmaker between our two leads, or adding details that we needed to move the overall story along, but their presence wasn't overpowering.

When it came to Giles and Diana, I loved everything about them. I loved their witty banter, I loved their insults, and I loved the way they eventually learned to trust each other. I was especially thankful that this was a slow burn romance as I absolutely HATE insta-love.

The problem with this one for me, laid within the mystery. While it kept me guessing, it was was also slow. Too slow. To the point that I was either bored, or there was so much information dumped on me at once that it was hard to keep track of. It was irrating because the whole is he the legitimate Duke or isn't he was a solid concept. Even the addition of his meddlesome uncle who would stop at nothing to prove he was the rightful heir was good. It was just the execution that was lacking in my opinion. Also, as troublesome as the uncle was I would have like to have seen him actually get what was coming to him instead of just being told that vengeance was on its way.

Besides that, this was a solid and enjoyable read that will appeal to fans of slow burn historical romances. I would read more from this author.

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

At first glance, Giles Sinclair is your typical rogue but the young future duke has a lot going on under the surface. Something Diana Marriwell, ever sensible and practical, wasn’t prepared to discover. While these two may seem completely opposite they find they have a lot in common.

To begin with, they both keep dangerous secrets. While Giles’ secret might land him in Newgate, Diana’s secret could be deadly. Still, Giles has no choice but turn to the prickly middle Merriwell when his father dies, he inherits the dukedom, and his secret is threatened to be revealed.

While the initial setup is your typical wallflower and rogue romance, it’s quickly turned on its head. Giles is actually a pretty poor excuse for a rogue while Diana is definitely no meek wallflower. After her sister’s marriage to an Earl drags the other Merriwell sisters into society, rather Diana wants it or not. She uses her new position to secure herself a position as one of the premiere gossip columnists, giving her financial independence to fade into quiet spinsterhood.

After being introduced as a lay-about and rogue, we quickly learn that Giles is a really stand-up guy who mostly lives to get a rise out of his overbearing father. He cares deeply for his people and only wants to do right by them.

Giles and Diana’s quarrelsome relationship is amusing, as is their family’s on-point teasing and encouragement despite their vehement protests.
The mystery about Giles’ family history was well-done and it was nearly the end before I figured it all out. Their slow-burn relationship was perfectly paced and their banter was quick and fun. It was a great cast of characters and the only issue I had with the entire book was I could only picture Giles from Buffy the Vampire Slayer which was rather distracting. >.<

Scandalous, seductive, and fun!

Never Rescue a Rogue is a playful, heartwarming tale that sweeps you away to London during 1826 and into the life of Diana Merriwell, a young, clever journalist who is determined to keep her identity as “The Sentinel” a secret at any cost, even if it means befriending and helping the annoyingly handsome, newly appointed Duke of Harpenden, Giles Sinclair who seems to be inundated with troubles and devastating secrets of his own.

The prose is amusing and light. The characters are loyal, charming, and endearing. And the plot is a delightfully enchanting tale full of family, friendship, societal expectations, scheming behaviour, tricky situations, desire, illegitimacy, danger, and steamy romance.

Overall, Never Rescue a Roque is a fast-paced, enticing, highly entertaining read by Heath that is the second book in The Merriwell Sisters series and a novel that I absolutely adored.

Straight away this book
Surprised me with the complexity of the characters problems they deal with throughout the book. For what I expected, I was pleasantly surprised.

I did not read the first book in this series but I didn’t feel like it was necessary for this book to make sense. The first book followed a different sisters story is all!

This historical fiction romance reminds me somewhat of Bridgerton and I’m okay with that!

Overall a good book! I’ll have to read the first now !

What a fun and wonderful romance. Yea just enjoyed the book from start to finish and I can’t wait to read more by this author just as soon as possible.

Diana Meriwell is living her best life. Since her sister Minerva married into a wealthy family, she and her younger sister have had a safe place to live. No more struggling to survive their ne’er-do-well father and his shenanigans. She has a job at the newspaper, which she loves. Even though she is a mere woman, she can still be, as she puts it, ‘a nitpicking grammarian (or as her family all accuses her, a gossip columnist). Either way, she’s very happy in her independence and has no desire to change that.

Giles Sinclair is the son of a Duke. He’s just not the son of a Duchess. He learned this as his mother was dying, and he couldn’t forgive his father. But he could understand why his parents resented him his whole life, once he learned that. It all became clear. And all the work he had done, to try to undo the damage his father had done in so many lives, became that much more important to him. He wanted to the be the opposite of the man his father was. And he was succeeding at that. Until his father died.

Becoming the Duke of Harpenden, Giles is bequeathed the estate in Shropshire where he grew up, as well as significant riches. It’s more than enough for him to help out the tenants his father had been overcharging for years, to taking care of the repairs he had been neglecting, to offering retirement plans for the servants who had worked for his father so faithfully.

But Giles worries that someone out there knows the truth about him, and he can’t completely relax until he knows if there is another shoe that’s going to drop. So he turns to his best friend’s family, namely the sister of his best friend’s husband, Diana. He and Diana have been bickering for years, trading barbs and some minor flirtations. But now, he needs her for her intelligence, for the way she can dig out the truth. Although her beauty is not bad either. But since Giles doesn’t really know what he’s up against, as his secret could come out at any time, he needs her help right away.

Diana agrees, as underneath her crusty independence, she cares deeply for her family and friends. And she doesn’t want Giles to get hurt. So she agrees to help him figure out who his mother really is, despite the growing attraction she can’t seem to shake. But will their investigation put them in danger, or is she just in danger of losing her heart to a Duke?

Never Rescue a Rogue is Virginia Heath’s second Merriwell sister novel, and it is filled with smart repartee and a simmering sexiness. This continues the story of Never Fall for Your Fiancée, which told the story of Minerva. And while these are stand-alone novels, the fun and charm that Heath writes with will mean you will want to read more than just one.

I loved Never Rescue a Rogue. I thought that the characters of Diana and Giles are both smart and self-directed, independent and strong. They both had a lot of childhood adversity to overcome, and the way their stories come together is as good as any great movie romantic comedy. The fact that they both have secrets that could destroy their reputations keeps the energy high and the pages turning, and the delightful courtship that develops between them is both hot and heartwarming. I fell in love with both of these characters, and I think other romance readers will to.

Egalleys for Never Rescue a Rogue were provided by St. Martin’s Griffin through NetGalley, with many thanks.

Virginia Heath has SUCH a beautiful cadence to her writing that suits historical fiction, and immediately tosses the reader back in time. Her choice of words sets the scene as much as any other part of the novel, and are positively wonderful to read. This book in particular follows the second Merriwell sister, Diana, after her sister’s marriage in book 1.

Diana strains against the confines of womanhood in Victorian society. As an FMC, she’s more serious, more independent, more removed from the society she’s been thrown into, with her sister marrying a peer. She’s wonderfully defiant, brave and not at all interested in men, marriage or love. Her match, therefore, could only be Giles, a man determined to thumb his nose at his father and his ‘duty.’ Giles is determined to be known as a rogue, but is secretly magnanimous on all counts. Both of them are determined to maintain their independence, determined to avoid love.

As much as the first book took on the tenor of Minerva’s good and unfortunate luck, this one too takes on Diana’s personality too. There’s a maturity to this book, compared to book one - one that is the perfect match to Giles’ irreverence and giant heart. The situations that Diana finds herself in are more dire. However, the banter and comedy on this story cannot be overlooked. They are glorious.

This novel has excitement, comedic moments, passion, and indeed a delightful amount of spice. I loved it, and possibly even more than the first book! If you are a fan of Lisa Kleypas or Evie Dunmore, you should definitely check out this series!

Never Rescue a Rogue
Another great one by Virginia Heath! Historical Romance lovers rejoice! This is the 2nd in a series, and I highly recommend starting with the first book, Never Fall for Your Fiancée. In the first book we meet the three Merriwell sisters, along with the dashing Lord’s, Hugh, and Giles. The first book is Minerva and Hugh’s story. This book is Diana and Giles’s story.

Giles has a ‘Dirty Secret’ and need help. The only person who can help him dig the truth out and save him is his friend/enemy, Diana. Both claim to loathe the other in that friendly ‘we tolerate one another because we must’ attitude. None of their family buys it. It’s obvious they both are hiding deep feelings for the other. When Giles confides in Diana about his problem, she then makes it her mission to figure out the truth and to make it go away. When faced with the loyalty and devotion she shows, denying his feelings for her and vice versa becomes more difficult. But with his ‘Dirty Secret’, he refuses to make his feelings clear because that would link her in with his trouble. But maybe when it is handled…

Diana is a fiercely strong, smart, and determined woman who has put up emotional barriers to protect herself from being hurt. Giles understands her strengths are to be applauded not changed. And with no real family love or connections, his family is truly his friends.

The story is a great representation of what true friendship and love look like when you are open and vulnerable and ask for help. It was a very enjoyable read with heart touching moments and relatable struggles to all of us who have been going at it alone and trying to break those walls for those who are worthy. Happy Reading!

A intriguing storyline with interesting characters. The enemy to lover troupe is always a fun read for me. Throwing in a well paced mystery to keep you engaged kept the story moving along nicely for me.
Overall, I found Never Rescue a Rogue to be a ok read. The bit of humor was fun.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I read an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book had some interesting plot twists, with the focus being on the mystery more than on the romance. It kept the story fast paced and easy to read.
Diana was headstrong and intelligent, and I liked her and Giles as a couple. Dalton was an amusing addition.
I'm hoping the next novel will be about Galahad and Vee.

One of the best things about Giles and Diana from Never Fall for Your Fiance was their banter. Diana was quick to call Giles out on his reputation, and Giles wasn't just going to sit and take it. And unfortunately, Never Rescue a Rogue pretty much skipped to where Giles and Diana have come to a mutual understanding of the other being a part of their lives. They've even made it far enough in their relationship to already have regard for each other. So I felt like we missed some of the best opportunities that come with an enemies-to-lovers story.

The first time I read a book where the scoundrel turned out to have a reason for his reputation I thought it was super clever. And then I read another story and another story. And now the idea isn't as original as it once was for me. Yet, I've also read more than one story where the rake was truly uninterested in his reputation or a lady's before where the story begins. Giles was somewhere in the middle of these two. Giles has a reason for keeping distance between himself and eligible single ladies who are pursuing a husband. Yet he also is not innocent.

Diana is sassy and determined to follow her dreams. Husbands and men, in general, tend to let you down and try to control you. Or at least that's her experience with them up until her sister Minerva marries Hugh. And Giles doesn't easily fit into the category that Diana once assigned him. No matter what, she isn't interested in giving up her career or her freedom. She took much longer to come around to the idea of a relationship with Giles.

The mystery these two set out to solve was interesting and not entirely predictable while also not being entirely unfathomable either. As always, the mysteries/story always takes a backseat to the relationships in my preferences. Never Rescue a Rogue straddled the fence of being both relationship and story-driven.

A small pet peeve is that Giles and Diana ultimately followed the exact journey in their relationship that Hugh and Minerva did. I don't see why these two couldn't have forged a slightly different path. I suppose that would require too much time in the storytelling to get two people properly married before they could get to the physical stuff since I guess Virginia Heath is more of a romance writer? I'm guessing there. Just a smallish pet peeve. I don't remember there being an abundance of physical descriptions, but I'm writing this review exactly one month after finishing the book so my memory isn't the best.

Favorite quotes:
-"You continue to linger on the periphery of my life like a bad smell."

-"One of those teas is for drinking and the other is for dunking." To prove that, he picked up a shortbread finger and plunged it into Diana's cup. "That way, all the dunking sludge remains in this cup while the other is sludge-free. Don't you just hate a chewy beverage?

I had another favorite quote but it was long and spoilerish. Anyway, Never Rescue a Rogue was such an enjoyable book. I do think there was a missed opportunity with Giles and Diana being on much more friendly terms when the story started than I expected. We still get some funny quips, but most of the hatred-to-friends piece has already taken place before this book began. I enjoyed the mystery, but I always enjoy the relationship even more. Overall, I really liked Never Rescue a Rogue, but I think my expectations might have been a smidgen too high. Either way, Never Rescue a Rogue gets 4 Stars. And I'm looking forward to book 3. Have you read Never Rescue a Rogue? What did you think? Let me know!

Book Review #bookreview #netgalley #griffin #virginiaheath #neverrescuearogue

I absolutely adore a hero falls first romance, and this novel definitely delivers. This is the second installment in the Merriwell Sister’s series by Virginia Heath. This banter filled novel is a delightful frenemies to lovers romance full of mishaps and reveals, and an absolutely wonderful hero. Heath’s writing is fun and accessible and the pacing is well planned keeping the story moving along from page one. If you are looking for a charming read with an equally charming hero and a heroine who can stand on her own, definitely check this book out!

Diana and Giles only tolerate each other for their family’s sake, but every one believes they are meant to be together. Diana loves the freedom she has working for the newspaper and Giles loves the freedom his bachelor life provides. But soon these two learn they will have to work together to keep secrets hidden that they can not let escape.

Their is definitely a fine line between tolerance and attraction and Heath does a lovely job exploring this with Giles and Diana. I always enjoy watching the journey that both hero and heroine must go on to truly understand their feelings towards the other. I think a great strength in this book is that under all the barbs and disdain, these two actually respect and see the true worth in the other. Once they arrive at a mutual understanding it is very obvious how easily they work together and how open and comfortable they can be with each other. Plus, Giles is just absolute gold, I will always adore a hero who says he is one way but is really deep down one of the most caring and considerate and observant people. These two together are really just an absolute delight, they are both professional and smart, they weigh their options and make smart and well thought out decisions. This book in terms of sensuality and steam is a bit on the lighter side, their true chemistry spurns from the ways they test each other and trust each other.

If you have loved other Heath novels this is sure to delight you. I would definitely recommend this novel and Virginia Heath as a historical romance author you should read!

THIS 👏🏻 FLUFFING 👏🏻 BOOK

When I read Never Rescue a Rogue back in October, it unexpectedly snuck up & broke me in the BEST way possible. My mind stayed stuck in the story & I couldn’t read anything else for days after, which never happens! I even ended up rereading the majority of the book again this weekend while working on this review!

NRAR is book two in Virginia Heath’s Merriwell Sister’s series. If you are new to historical romances, I highly recommend this series as a starting point! Both are hilarious, low angst romances with the most delightful cast of characters.

What I Loved:

•First & foremost, Diana and Giles’ characters are just PERFECT for each other. Diana is fiercely independent, highly intelligent & always with a sharp, well-placed barb on her tongue. After a difficult upbringing, she is highly suspicious, slow to trust but deeply loyal.

Giles uses his built up reputation for debauchery as wall to hide himself from the world. He “viewed the world through the same cynical, jaded lens as she did, adored the ridiculous, was fluent in sarcasm, and didn’t take himself too seriously.”

Their personalities complimented each other, making them a perfect fit. They have a playfulness to their sharp & witty banter that I love to see in relationships, both fictional & in real life. Plus, I’m just gone for a man who appreciates a smart mouthed woman 😉

•The slow burn pacing is so well done, on top of Heath’s clever writing & the mysteries to be solved weaved into the storyline. I couldn’t put it down just as much as I never wanted it to end!

•The secondary characters here completely did me in! From Diana’s family to Dalton - Giles’ pirate butler (yes, you read that correct 😂), they add all the comedic relief you could ask for through their lovable & unrelenting meddling.

Now, I’ll be waiting patiently for Vee’s story & secretly hoping for more bits of Diana & Giles in the process 🤞🏻🤞🏻

While I was looking forward to the story between Diana and Giles, there were a few things at the beginning that made this a slow starter for me. Namely, the pair of them poking fun at a woman they thought Giles’ father intended to force him to marry. (To be clear, this was not done within hearing of anyone else, including the poor lady.) There was a lot of derogatory language used about this poor young woman who, by their own admission, was a harmless and kind person. It came up a few more times throughout the story, but not to the extent it did in the first chapter. I think I understand what the author was going for, but it just felt very mean-spirited and unnecessary to me.

In the long run, I’m glad I continued the story. Diana and Giles are great at denying their true feelings, but everyone around them can feel the chemistry they have. Their banter and nitpicking are fun instead of tedious. They are able to open up to each other far more than they can with anyone else. When it comes to the romance, I felt the story was spot on.

Giles’ valet. Dalton is such a hoot. He’s grumpy but loyal. Once he spends time with Diana, he becomes just as loyal to her as he is to Giles. He understands her mind and where she came from. Diana has a need to be independent and spending the majority of her life struggling to make ends meet she doesn’t understand the need for propriety. Dalton gives her far more leeway than Giles ever would, but it’s what is needed for her job and Dalton still makes sure she is always safe.

All of the characters, from Diana and her extended family and Giles and his staff, add a zany richness to this story. Not in an over-the-top way, but in an enjoyable comedic way. When it comes to the storyline and characters I really can’t complain. But there were times I felt the author needed to reach outside the box she was in. When describing facial expressions she often fell back on the same phrase and it stood out because it was an interesting phrase to use. It became much less interesting when used numerous times throughout.

I found that once I got into this story, I liked it even more than the first book. I can already see where the youngest Merriwell sister will find her love and it should be quite interesting.

Never Rescue a Rogue is the second book in Virginia Heath's series The Merriwell Sisters. Never Rescue a Rogue is a lovely romance with a fantastic cast of memorable characters. I loved this book even more than the first one in the series. There is a believable romance in Never Rescue a Rogue and it has understated humor, mystery and witty dialogue which appealed to me.

The hero and heroine are first introduced in Never Fall for Your Fiancée. When Diana and Giles met and rubbed each other the wrong way but had obvious chemistry. I had hoped that they would be the main characters of the second book.

The heroine Diana Merriwell is the middle sister and she is such an interesting character. I love Diana's skill set and the way she handles family and professional situations in her life. Diana behaves in a manner that makes sense to me and I was thrilled with her development throughout the book. I like her spunk and determination. Her relationship with Giles develops in a believable way.

Giles Sinclair is the best friend of the hero from book one and he is a man with a reputation or is he? Giles has his reasons for his outlandish behaviors and the reader gets to discover the truth of the matter along with Diana. Giles is protective without being stifling and I enjoyed his character very much. I always end up adoring Virginia Heath's heroes and Giles is no exception.

There is intrigue, passion and humor along with the standard wit and character development that Virginia Heath consistently brings to her writing. I really liked how visual this book was for me and Virginia's descriptions brought the locations, history and situations to life. Never Rescue a Rogue a definite must read .

Reviewed by Gayle

ARC provided by St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin

As a lover of “Never Fall for Your Fiancée” I had high hopes for this book. And for the most part I would say it delivered.

The couple was cute and had good chemistry. They both had a lot going on but that somehow added to the romance instead of distracting from it. Loved their dynamic.

This book was exciting and romantic and had just the right amount of everything I like.