This book was so funny!
Contains spoilers.
The story starts at the Annusl Reprobate's Ball hosted by Lord Bellingham. He had always been a disappointment to his father, the Duke of Harpenden. His mother never showed any love to him and he found out why four years ago on her death bed. So, our hero always went for the shock factor. His father hasn't seen him over the past ten years, except to lecture him and he had been banned from the dukedom's estate. He is the hero.
This story is part of a series about three sister's whose father was a forger. He was NOT a good man, and our heroine, threatened him with going to the police and kicked him out. He was killed shortly after, because he had been dealing with the wrong men. The three sisters worked hard until the oldest sister married an aristocrat and they all moved to Mayfair. Once the heroine was able to go to balls and parties and could contribute to the gossip column at the newspaper she proof reads for, she was able to collect a salary and was more independent than her sisters. She is at the Annual Reprobate's Ball and slips the hero an embroidered handkerchief with a woman's new initials, and this woman's father has been meeting with his father and there were marriage settlements being signed. It looked as if the duke was trying to force the hero into marriage. The hero is in shock and plans to see his father the next day. The heroine is worried for him, but does not add this to the gossip column because her loyalty is to her family and since he is her brother-in-law's best friend. And because she secretly likes him.
My description doesn't sound very funny, but the hero is very laid back and only acts to shock the duke, he really doesn't drink and he quietly goes about trying to correct the vile actions of his father. He has earned most if his money by investing and the money from the duke is used for the people the duke has fired or kicked off his estate. The duke is very rude and is constantly firing people with no references and refuses to pay pensions. The heroine is smart and has a verbose and sharp tongue. She is very satirical and sarcastic and doesn't say very much to people at the balls, but sits and observes so she can write her articles.. She would be in trouble if anyone at the parties knew she was gathering information. The characters are very likeable and easy to cheer for. The story draws you in and you are right there. This story had drama, intrigue and comedy. I would recommend reading and I will definitely re-read. I give it 5 stars.

This book started a little slow for me, but I did enjoy the book as I got into the story. I did like the prickliness of Diana and Giles relationship and how they were always butting heads. I overall liked the ending, but felt like it took a long time to get there. Overall, I give this book 3.75 stars. It was definitely better than average, but didn't leave me with a book hangover that usually elevates my star rating

I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Merriwell sisters continue to both charm and make me laugh out loud in this second novel. (You don’t need to have read the first book to enjoy this one. But I highly recommend it! NEVER FALL FOR YOUR FIANCÉE is an absolute hoot). Giles Sinclair is an heir in trouble. He has a terrible secret and no one is better at sniffing out secrets then the journalist called the Sentinel. Who also happens to be Miss Diana Merriwell. The former foes become friends and solve a family mystery. It’s a witty war of words with two likable protagonists.

Heat level: Diana has her way with the Duke 😉.

I loved this second book in Virginia Heath’s Merriwell sisters series. Giles and Diana had a fun back and forth relationship, and I enjoyed the mystery tied in to the storyline. I appreciated how strong of a woman Diana was - definitely not a damsel in distress as was more par for the course at that time. I cannot wait to read Vee’s story! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

A delightful second book in the Merriwelll Sisters Series. Dianna is a prick!y, tough determined woman who wants no part of any man in her life, messing up her freedom. Giles is a dashing Duke who loves to trade barbs with Dianna, but is busy with a secret he needs to deal with. The two team up on a solution to his problems and sparks fly. Throw in a former pirate Butler and it's all in good fun!

I adored this! I just recently read Never Fall For Your Fiancée in preparation for this ARC and, while I did enjoy Hugh and Minerva’s story, I loved this one so much more!

Giles is absolutely ridiculous but lovable and Diana is independent and fiercely protective. I really enjoyed the witty banter and sparing between them (this isn’t necessarily enemies to lovers because they’re both only pretending like they don’t tolerate each other). They were my favorite characters in book 1 so I was thrilled that we got to see their story unfold in Never Rescue A Rogue. I love them both even more now!

I thought the overall storyline and the investigative journalist aspect were interesting and filled the book with fun drama. Everything culminated into an outrageously entertaining ending. Also, I think the cover is adorable and ties into the story really well—the hornets nest will make sense, I promise.

One of my new favorites and I can’t wait to see what book 3 has in store for Miss Vee!

This was a purely indulgent read that hit points for tenderness, humour, and heart. It was everything I love in a historical romance without being "too much." It was over the top in some spots, yes, but in a romp type of way. It's a hit and I can't wait to read the final book in the series.

Tender, adorable, and hilarious. I loved Diana and Giles and the banter they had. Virginia Heath continues to write some of my favourite regency historical romances. They're authentic to the era yet contemporary in voice, humor, and values. I'm immersed in the time period and the story yet not disgusted by the archaic values of the regency and the ton.

One point that did bother me was the use of unnecessary binary and gendered language. This is a regency so I understand that contemporary terms like non binary and so on are not time accurate but what can be adjusted is the divorcing of genitals and gender presentation. There's a part in an explicit scene where Diana talks about her "womanhood" how she has never felt more "feminine" and so on. As a non binary person reading this book, it's incredibly triggering. I can enjoy a romance with cis characters but the jarring experience of seeing an author explicitly associate vaginas with women and penises with women is alienating and hurtful. The excuse that it's time accurate doesn't cut it anymore. There are other ways to skirt around modern language without outright hurting the queer, trans, and gender non conforming readers.

Lovely book. Can't wait for the third in the series!

• Historical RomCom
• Enemies To Lovers
• Cozy mystery
• Strong heroine
• Roguish duke with a hidden heart of gold

I had a blast reading this one and just did not want to put it down. My only regret is now I have to wait for the next book! After reading the first book in the Merriwell Sisters series (Never Fall For Your Fiance), there was no doubt in my mind that I would be picking up a copy of book two to try. The first surprised me with it’s Historical RomCom, Comedy of Errors vibe in an absolutely delightful way.

This time around, the story is about middle sister Diana – strong, independent, and sworn spinster and the family friend we met in book one the charming and roguish Giles. Where book one was a full on comedy, this one definitely had a slightly more serious tilt. While still a historical romcom, we also got a fun and adventurous cozy mystery element to this story too.

I loved the enemies to lovers tilt, and really enjoyed the great banter, interactions, and slow burn that brewed throughout the story for Diana and Giles. Both characters were interesting and well developed – I felt like we got real sense of each and how they complemented one another. I loved Diana’s sharp mind, and keen ability to search out the truth and I was a big fan of the hidden (or not so hidden) heart of gold that Giles had.

In addition to getting to revisit other characters from the previous novel, all of whom were wonderful and added some levity and fun with their meddlesome ways. I also really loved the mystery angle and following along to find out the ‘truth’ of the scandal as it were. The found family element was here once again and I am a sucker for it.

I’m hoping the later part of the book was hinting at what’s to come for Vee, because my interest was definitely piqued. Looking forward to more from this author and the next book in the series.

Thank you to Netgalley and SMP Romance for the chance to read an early copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and freely offered.

This is an interesting read post Bridgeton, definitely best for fans of A rogue of Ones One and the rest of the Dunmore Books

I love a good reluctantly-helping-each-other while "hating each other"!! This one reminded me of To Love and to Loathe by Martha Waters, in the best way!! Diana was a bit bratty in the first book of this series but she definitely grew on me.

Never Rescue a Rogue is book two of the Merriwell Sisters series, this time following middle sister, Diana and Giles as they try to uncover the truth of Giles’ birth. There’s also a subplot of Diana’s career as an investigative journalist.

What I liked: I found book two to be really enjoyable and preferred it to book one, Never Fall for Your Fiancée. The banter between Giles and Diana is really funny and while you could say they are enemies to lovers, it’s more sarcastic as they both challenge the other.

The romance really shines in this one, all the characters and the reader can clearly see the main characters are attracted to each other, even if they fight against it.

Prickly Giles and independent Diana were just really great characters.

What didn’t work for me: I had a feeling how the story would work out.

Diana’s job could have been explored more to make the reader care about that aspect of her life.

Who should read it: I’d skip book one and go right for this one, it’s a funny regency romance with a handful of spicy scenes (nothing too crazy if spice isn’t your jam).

Diana Merriwell, who works for the local newspaper The London Tribune, is 23 and never wants to marry. That doesn’t sit well with her sisters Minerva and Venus or her sisters new MIL Olivia. Trying to get her and Giles together, little do they know about the scandal or dirty secret the next Duke of Harpenden harbors.

Lord Bellingham or Giles Sinclair lives the life of a Rogue who will become the next Duke of Harpenden. He and Diana butt heads whenever they meet, and that is quite often, as his best friend Hugh, the Earl of Fareham, is married to Diana’s older sister Minerva.

I liked the way Giles learned about is parents and where he came from. Dalton was a hoot! I did not always like Vee’s meddling or how forward she was.

Don’t know if we’ll see more of Galahad Sinclair if there is a next book for Vee (Venus) Merriwell.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

After reading the previous book in this series, I knew I had to get my hands on Never Rescue a Rogue. Heath took all of things I love about shows like Bridgerton and elevated them in this book. Diana isn't your typical damsel in distress. She is strong and can stand on her own two feet. The witty banter between Diana and Giles is everything. Each time they were in a scene together, i was locked in and ready to see what happened next. I highly recommend this to anyone that enjoys this genre. The twists and turns throughout the plot will keep you engaged and wanting more.

Historical romance? Check.
Fiercely independent female lead? Check.
Cheeky roguish duke with a heart of gold? Check.

The relationship between Giles and Diana is sweet and full of life. Their interactions are full of witty banter and his nicknames for her are adorable. I loved the honesty between them and the way they were always looking out for each other in the way neither had experienced before.

Overall this book was a quick, fun, heartwarming read with a slow burn and some light spice. I didn't realize it was part of a series so now I am excited to go back and read the first one! Also hope to see more of Diana + Giles in the next book!

4 stars. This regency romance was absolutely delightful! I loved that it featured a heroine that was modern in her pursuits, and a hero that was completely smitten with her. Plus, he was a total troublemaker, and it was impossible not to fall in love with him. Giles finds himself in a bit of a predicament— he may in fact not be the legal heir to the dukedom. And because of her knack for uncovering the truth, and a good story, he enlists the help of Diana, family friend and secret journalist. These two were constantly going at one another, and boy was it fun. Diana and Giles had a banter and chemistry that was palpable from the very beginning, and I loved every scene that they shared, which thankfully was the majority. They also got into trouble…. So much trouble. In the most delightful of ways. There was one steamy scene, so I wouldn’t consider this a completely closed door romance, but I also wouldn’t consider it terribly spicy either. There were a few moments, especially in the beginning, that were a bit slow, but once I got into this, I had a lot of fun. I didn’t read the first book in this series, but you can totally read Never Rescue a Rogue as a standalone. So sit down, relax, grab some biscuits, and get ready for shenanigans and swoon-worthy romance (at least according to Giles) to ensue.

I really enjoy Heath’s approach of writing and scene-crafting. The best way I can think to describe the style is period accurate sitcom, with both laughs and tender moments. I felt like the story was fresh and truly kept me excited to come back and pick up the book.

I did find myself a little lost at times with such a large cast of characters, many of whom play key roles in the plot. Even with having very recently read the previous book in the series, Never Fall For Your Finance, I found myself a little tied up. I think reading this series in order will be necessary; not a true standalone. It’s worth it, as the first one is also great.

Overall, really lovely. Can’t wait for the third book in the series.

Diana never wants to marry. She enjoys her independence writing, anonymously, articles showcasing important men’s abuses of the masses. Giles has always enjoyed sniping quips with Diana. Thrown together more when Diana’s sister marries Giles’ best friend they start to realize there is more between them. When Giles needs help rescuing his dukedom, he turns to Diana and her investigative strengths. I received an ARC from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my honest review.

Virginia Heath is back again with another laugh-out-loud modernized historical romance story featuring enemies to lovers, meddlesome family, and a matchmaking pirate butler. What's not to love?

Diana Merriwell is the middle Merriwell sister and the most head-strong where it comes to her future: she wishes to be left alone to pursue justice and save those that need help. Behind a secret identity, she's the famed detective journalist that's the talk of London. To Giles, she's the woman he'd be with if it weren't for his Dirty Secret. When Giles' father, the Duke, unexpectedly dies, thrusting him into his father's title, he thinks it's only a matter of time until it all unravels. Never fear, Diana, his goddess of the hunt and kicker of hornets won't rest until the real truth comes to light. With his trusty butler Dalton and Diana on the case, things are sure to go well, right? Let's just hope everyone else that knows them doesn't ruin anything by playing matchmaker along the way.

As soon as I finished Minerva's story and saw that Diana and Giles were next I couldn't wait to get my hands on the book. Receiving the ARC to read it early was a highlight, and I thank St. Martin's Press for that. I love this new style of historical romance genre where it's set in the time period, but it feels modernized at the same time. Martha Waters also comes to mind for this. It's also a perfect read for those that prefer more closed-door romance and typically can't read historical romance due to it's more spicy nature. I only ask in the third that we get the return of Dalton because he along with Payne from book one remains my new favorite pair of butlers.

This is such a fun slow burn regency romance. Both main characters were entertaining to read, and the author executed the “will they/won’t they” trope perfectly. Characters being in denial of their feelings is always a hit or miss for me, because sometimes authors drag it out into absurdity, but this story managed to avoid that trap.