Never Rescue a Rogue
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Historical Romance
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 11/8/22
Author: Virginia Heath
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Pages: 368
GR: 4.13

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

My Thoughts: This is the second book in the Merriwell Sister’s series. While this is part of a series, it is perfect as a stand alone read. This one packed a punch! Giles and Diana’s story was intriguing and heartwarming. One of my favorite tropes, enemies to lovers is present and done so elegantly. There was no drama and the trope was not overdone, it was just perfect. The historical aspect is accurate and interesting. I flew this book and loved it. I have the first one and will be adding to my TBR. Our MCs were great but an honorably mention would be Dalton, the butler, I just absolutely adored him! Diana is a strong and independent woman. I was not crazy for Giles at first, but he grew on me quickly. The characters were well developed with depth, witty banter, chemistry, and were intriguing. The author’s writing style was complex, swoony, creative, and the story was just done so well. The pacing and flow was perfect. This book releases next month and I would highly recommend preordering!

This is book two in The Merriwell Sister's series and follows the middle sister Diana. Diana works for the newspaper writing columns about the Ton as well as harder hitting pieces but her family thinks she just proofreads the other writers. This story follows Diana as she helps her friend Giles try and uncover some family history that he wants to keep hidden. I really loved the writing in this story there were so many good lines in this book but my favorite was; "He's my fungus." He's my fungus!!! I loved this line so much and really summed up the entire relationship between the two characters! I also loved all the interactions between Diana and Giles as well as Giles's man servant Dalton! Dalton was such a fun character and really would have liked to have had more time with him. I think they also hinted at the end of this book who might be the love interest for the last Merriwell and I really hope it's who I think it is! After thoroughly enjoying this book I decided to go back and read first book in this series that has been sitting on my kindle since last year and so far I am loving it! Thank you St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for my #gifted copy for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was so cute and I loved it!! Book 1 wasn’t my favorite but it’s still enjoyable so when I seen that there was a book 2; I was like sure let’s give a try. I can honestly say 2 is better than 1. I adored it. I loved Giles and Diana having their own story line. Here’s to hoping a few other characters get their own book!

When I found out book 2 would be about Diana and Giles, I was 100% in, even though book 1 wasn't my favorite. They positively sparkled in Never Fall for Your Fiance and they continued to do so all through this book.

Part of the appeal here was the action component- Diana's job as a journalist made for some exciting scenes that really added dimension and fun to the book. It wasn't all in one location, it wasn't dry, and Heath didn't make us sit with the same internal monologues spinning around over and over again to pad the page count. There was a constant threat to our couple, that required a lot of work, decision-making, time, and scenery changes, and despite the fact that they start the book with lots of sparks, I would still consider this a little bit of a slow burn, which is my favorite.

I also appreciated the side characters here- Vee, specifically, got a LOT more personality, and the rest of the family/household/new folks were colorful and entertaining. Dalton is an eternal favorite, and Olivia and Jeremiah are just as delightful as they were in the past installment. I'm actually really looking forward to getting the rest of Vee's story now since she's gotten some space to breathe.

While I do think some of the dialogue could have been cleaned up and polished more, the banter was great and it didn't take away from my enjoyment. I can also give them the benefit of the doubt that this WILL get polished a little more before publication.

Overall, Diana and Giles are a perfect team, even when they're being ridiculous, but this was simply a hilarious, fun romance that delivers exactly what it promises. Heath appears to have found the stride she was looking for in this series, and if you're looking for a fun and snappy read, this is the one for you

Giles has recently found himself in a position no man wants to be in-- stepping into the Dukedom, while knowing he is not his father's legitimate heir. Based on how his father acted just before his death, Giles knows there's someone out there who may be able to expose his family's lies. He only hopes he can rectify some of his father's mistakes before that happens.
Enter Diana, a friend of the family, Gile's favorite person to verbally spar with, the town's leasing gossip columnist-- and the person behind The Sentinel, the column that takes down evil men. Giles isn't sure he wants to confide in Diana, but he's equally unsure he'll be able to protect himself and the people under his care without her.

The dynamic between Giles and Diana is really lovely-- they strike the perfect balance of respectful antagonization. The fact that everyone else wants them together while they're both fighting their feelings adds some really fun tension to the mix.
Never Rescue a Rogue was a bit of a mystery wrapped up in a period romance, and it was tons of fun all the way through. My only issue was that the ending felt a bit rushed, with back-to-back reveals that left no room to catch your breath in between. Even so, I really loved the book and am definitely anticipating the next one by Virginia Heath.

Thank you to Virginia Heath, St.Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. Never Rescue a Rogue come out November 22, 2022!!

Never Rescue a Rogue is the second in a series of interconnected stand-alone historical romances, the series is centered around three sisters. This book focuses on the middle sister Diana, a women who is strong, independent and very stubborn. Even with the new connections and money her sisters new marriage has brought to the trio of sisters, Diana has a job as a secret reporter at a popular newspaper. Also through her sisters new marriage she has had to put up with the presence of Giles, her sister's husband's best friend. A man who at the same time annoys her but who also sparks her interests. The two have been frenemies for the last year with no plans on changing that dynamic. That is until Gile's father dies and he is now the new Duke, this wouldn't been an issue if it wasn't for the fact that four years prior he is told by his mother that he is not her son and in fact he is a bastard. With the help of Diana and a few unlikely allies the two start to move past their animosity to discover the truth of Gile's parentage. They will also uncover if the line between frenemies and love is actually very very thin.

This book was an absolute delight to read! I had been waiting for this book to come out since reading the first in The Merriwell Sisters series, and i was not disappointed. The writing was sharp, witty and fast-paced. Diana is such a strong female lead who is loyal, loving even with her tough outer shell, and so intelligent. Gile's is her match loyal, strong and absolutely ready to prove that Diana can trust him with her love. A lot of the characters from the first book, Never Fall for Your Fiancé, make appearances in this book mixed with a few additional side characters you have such an amazing eclectic mix of found family and friends. If you are looking for a historical romance with humor, a little spice and a lot of heart I highly recommend Never rescue a Rogue!

Never Rescue a Rogue is, in a word, delightful. After enjoying the previous book in the series, Never Fall for Your Fiancée, I was fully ready to see Giles and Diana navigate their frenemies-to-lovers romance. Both were set up so well in book #1, and their personalities shine through even brighter here.

Right away, it’s clear that while Never Fall for Your Fiancée was a mostly light and fun read, Never Rescue a Rogue explores some weightier moods. There is some serious stuff here, primarily concerning Giles: he was unloved and even neglected by his parents; the true identity of his mother is unknown; his father suddenly dies, making him the (possibly illegal) Duke of Harpenden. He is dealing with a lot of grief and conflicted feelings, and this sets a heavier tone for Never Rescue a Rogue early on. However, the novel does also capture the sense of humor and fun that defined its predecessor, preventing it from going too far in the other direction. After the sadder themes are introduced, there’s more room for the story to breathe and take on a silly, cute mood and weave in some tender romance.

Also in contrast to the previous book, Never Rescue a Rogue combines a bit of historical mystery into the Regency romance. While the love story between Giles and Diana is the main focus, untangling Giles’s situation is of roughly equal prominence. The mystery is intriguing, and I enjoyed following the clues and forming my own theories alongside the characters.

Though fairly plot-driven, the characters of Giles and Diana captured my full attention. They are so enjoyable to watch together, and I love how well matched they are. They revel in their rivalry, having too much fun in their pointed remarks and impassive insults. Underneath all that faked hostility, it’s clear that they genuinely care for each other and are quite similar.

One thing I found charming is Giles’s love of alliteration. Perhaps partially due to his centuries-long list of ancestors with names starting with the letter G, Giles is fascinated by literary devices. He’s also beguiled by Diana’s writing style, grammar, and overall intelligence. That he’s the only one who figured out Diana’s secret writing gig shows how much he pays attention to her. He respects her and is able to confide in her in his darkest hour.

Giles also worries about Diana’s safety, and indeed, her secret job certainly puts her into precarious situations. One of my favorite scenes is when he helps her with a gig by the sea port – what hilarity! But the feeling goes both ways: Diana also wants to protect Giles, and is fierce in her commitment to help him.

The romance, too, feels so real between them. There’s mutual pining but also mutual denial of feelings, an accidental kiss, and some fun times while spying on criminals. Giles and Diana are adorable together, whether engaging in banter, admiring each other’s wit, tracking down the dangerous truth, or finding each other alone in a room together.

The side characters are equally delightful and add to the fun. Giles employs an unconventional, overly opinionated man as his butler, and he ended up being one of my favorite characters. Diana’s younger sister Vee (the youngest Merriwell, whose book will complete the trilogy) is a great presence here, though not the most effective chaperone! She, along with everyone else in the book, is trying so hard to get Giles and Diana together, which contributes to the frivolity. And then there’s Giles’s evil uncle and wild card cousin. By the end, the plot and cast of characters becomes comically convoluted; I loved it.

Never Rescue a Rogue was a joy to read, and I flew through the book. Even with some slightly heavier elements, the novel is filled with humor, wit, and fun. Giles and Diana make a cute couple who ultimately lift each other up. I already want to read more about these two and their future together.

So far, I’ve absolutely loved both books in the Merriwell Sisters trilogy. Never Rescue a Rogue was the perfect escape, and the book that got me out of a bad reading slump. I look forward to reading Vee’s love story in the next book… and is it just me, or was that already set up a bit here? We shall see!

* I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this book. All thoughts are my own.

This book was much better than the first one. It did take me a little while to get used to the writing and regency style, but the story was good and I really enjoyed the characters! I do wish there was less time where Diana and Giles were apart in the middle because we don’t read too much about the couple months so it didn’t make too much sense to me.

Never Rescue a Rogue is the second book in The Merriwell Sisters series. Never Rescue a Rogue is a historical fiction regency romance filled with well meaning meddling relatives/friends. Heath did a nice job building the chemistry between Giles and Diana, while also including so much more in both characters’ lives, I look forward to reading the third book of The Merriwell Sisters series.

Thank you, St. Martins Press for my eARC of this title.

Such a fun romcom! I enjoyed the pacing and the setting was vividly described. Recommend! It’s the second in a series so do be aware of that.

This is the story of Giles Sinclair who becomes the duke of Harpenden upon the unexpected death of his father. He asks Diana Merriwell, his best friend's sister in law, to help him uncover who knows the secret of his parentage that he and his father had been keeping a secret. Shortly before his death, his father had suspicions that the true nature of their relationship would be exposed and if that happened he would not have an heir. His father was on ther verge of remarrying before his untimely death with the aim to have another heir. As Giles is investigating who else could know his secret, his uncle Gervais returns and informs him that he has proof that he is not the true heir and the title should be his. While Giles and Diana are searching for the person who supposedly knows the truth or proof that could prove he is not the legal heir, a romance blooms between them. When her family tries to demand he offer for her if he is interested in pursuing Diana, Giles does not want to commit until he is sure he has cleared up truth surrounding his birth. This is the first book I have read from this author and I am looking forward to reading more from her.

I received an ARC from Netgalley and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

Cute friends to lovers with a slight mystery thrown in. Very funny. A touch of modern feminism involved. Fans of Evie Dunmore would enjoy.

Never Rescue a Rogue was an exciting addition to the Merriwell Sisters Series. While I enjoyed the first book in the series, I loved this one. It had all the fun elements of a historical romance that sum up to a perfect book.
-Brother (in law)'s Best Friend
-Duke that doesn't want to be a Duke
-Lady who just wants to be a journalist
-Mystery that needs to be unfolded
-Pretending to hate eachother while secretly pining
-All the Banter
-Former pirate with a peg leg
-Meddling Relatives & Servants
-Scandals in a Garden

My only disappoint was that the end did not feel wrapped up. It ended on their engagement and none of the "dirty secret" stuff gets fully wrapped up (I was looking forward to seeing justice against the Uncle). I feel like there should have been an epilogue with these events. I guess well find out more in Vee's book but considering this book is about them looking for the truth of his family and his Uncle's crime, I wish it was added to the end so everything would be wrapped up. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed this book and can't wait for Vee's story.


Tropes: Class Differences, Brother's Best Friend, Secret Pining, Slow Burn, Found Family, He falls first

Rating: 4 Stars
Spice: 0.5 pepper

Thank you to NetGalley & St. Martin's Griffin for the ARC!

This was a charming, witty historical romance, I really enjoyed it. The banter between Diana and Giles to establish/attempt to maintain their mutual disinterest is highly amusing and their inevitable slow burn romance is very sweet. Light on the spice, there is really just one scene that is more explicit, the romance is focused more on the “we don’t but actually we do” situational humor. I especially liked that they find out each other’s secrets early on, no drawn out deception or avoidance. Also, Dalton was quite possibly one of the most amusing side characters ever, every scene with him made me laugh.

I look forward to the next book in The Merriwell Sisters series, the teased burgeoning relationship for the youngest sister promises to be just as fun!

Historical romance in Regency-ish era England; Book 2 of the Merriwell Sisters series. Our second sister, Diana, is the main character here who is known to work at a newspaper as a grammarian. Her family thinks she secretly writes for gossip columns, but she actually secretly does hardcore investigative journalism (which is very dangerous). She warns family-friend Giles of an impending engagement, which he confront his emotionally distant father about. Turns out his father (a duke) is planning to marry in order to secure his succession due to a big secret from the past that renders Giles at risk for not being the true heir. After the duke’s sudden death, Giles has to clean up the estate and uncover the evidence before it can be used against him and he teams up with Diana to do so. Whew. Lots happening here. Plus Diana’s family being obnoxious matchmakers and pushing her to Giles. Enjoyable read, and the secret-hunting has a great payoff.

Lovely, lovely, lovely. Diana and Giles get to spend so much time together, which gives the reader time to fully get to know them and invest in their relationship. Probably one of the most satisfying relationships I’ve read.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

Never Marry Your Fiancee, the first book about the Merriwell sisters, didn't hit right with me. It wasn't bad, it just bored me to death. But I thought the sparks between Diana and Giles in that book would pan out for me in this one.

They don't.

I guess I just don't find this author's writing engaging. Everything feels drawn out and none of the characters have much depth. I mean, I thought Giles was supposed to be a rogue (it's in the title!), but he's incredibly tame despite his Dirty Secret and the supporting characters are entirely forgettable.

And no, I would not call Giles and Diana's romance a slow burn because that, to me, would indicate that the romance was satisfying.

Love, love, love this story! Giles confides his family's DIRTY SECRET to Diana, whom he refers to as the harridan. She, in turn, resolves to help the man she refers to as the idiot. From there the story evolves from anxiety and despair to an outright farce. This is the second Merriwell sisters book and I cannot wait for the third!

Never Rescue a Rogue revolves around a duke who is not sure he is a duke. Giles has a horrible relationship with his father. I was not even sure I would like Giles, but he turns out to be a loveable, honest, caring guy. He and Diana have been at loggerheads since meeting, but all of that is hiding that they really like each other, but do not think the other likes them. What better way to start a romance. Plus, you have the mischievous Merriwell sisters to add fun to the story.

Although a stand-alone, I appreciated having read Never Fall for Your Fiancée first. It adds just a bit to the background and charm of this romance.

Both Diana and Giles have secrets which come out in the story as they are figuring out love. The ‘villain’ of the story is not horrible, just unlikeable. So, this is an enjoyable, light-hearted romance with sweet characters. The Merriwell sisters are all adorable with more romances to come, soon, I hope!

Oh my goodness “Never Rescue a Rogue,” by Virginia Heath was an amazing book. I was hooked from the get go. I really liked both Diana and Giles, their chemistry was out of this world. Not only was their relationship well developed, it was also not rushed. I had the chance to get to know Diana and Giles as individuals and not just their relationship. Giles was a good character because he was very kind underneath his roguish exterior. I really liked his relationship with Dalton, they were so funny together. I enjoyed Diana because she was strong minded and right to the point. I also liked her investigations and their reasons. I thought that it added good depth to her character. I thought that ending fit really with the characters and their ideals. The pacing was great and kept me turning the pages. I didn't want to put it down! “Never Rescue a Rogue” was a great book. It was a quick and easy read with good pacing and great characters. I am really looking forward to reading Vee’s book! I will definitely be reading more of Virginia Heath’s books.