This is a fun, slow-burn romance with my favorite trope: enemies to lovers (with a pitstop to friendship on the way).

Giles inherits a dukedom that he’s not actually sure is his. He enlists Diana, an investigative journalist (!) to help him uncover the truth about his past. These two can’t seem to stop bickering…or kissing.

What I liked:
-the banter between Giles and Diana
-it was fun to have a mystery to solve along with the romance
-Diana’s entire family try to push them together
-Dalton

What I didn’t like:
-this is a verryyy slow burn
-the mystery surrounding Giles’s dukedom at times was a little too much and I wanted more love story
-it took a few chapters for the story to pick up

Spice: 🌶
Rating: 3.5 ⭐️

Diana Merriwell and Giles Sinclair both have secrets and scars from their pasts, not to mention getting on each others' nerves despite family and friends recognizing they are made for each other. The second in the Merriwell Sisters series, this is a thoroughly enjoyable historical romance with an appealing heroine, hero, and secondary characters. I look forward to the next entry.

To keep it short and brief, this was boring. I didn't care much for the first book of the series and the sequel was no better. I tried to give it the benefit of the doubt considering my love of the enemies turned lovers trope, but the start of the novel started terribly slow and my desire to further complete this read—poof! Vanished.

My mind wandered off more times than I could count and without forcing myself to finished this historical romance that will surely diminish my reading experience—I decided to nip it in the bud and cut this read short. Sorry not sorry.

I really enjoyed this one. I have the first one but hadn’t managed to read it yet, so I’m going to have to do that ASAP.

This is sort of a slow burn, and has a lot of good banter. It’s also fairly fast paced and low on the steam meter. Really a good, fun, comfort read and I enjoyed her characters and their development.

This is the second book in the Meriwell sisters series. Diana and Giles were some of my favorite characters from book one, so I was really looking forward to reading their story.

What I loved about this book:
- Diana! She was such a fun, strong and witty female main character. The way she spoke to Giles was hilarious. I loved that she worked secretly as a writer for a newspaper.
-I loved Giles! He had the best comebacks and an easy going, funny personality.
- The enemies to lovers trope always has the best banter between characters
- I liked the mystery aspect of this story
- You get to know Vee’s character better in this book and it makes you look forward to reading her story next.
- Dalton! He was a funny side character
-My favorite scene was when Giles and Diana were hiding in the bushes at the Christmas Eve Soriee. It has be laughing out loud.

There wasn’t much I didn’t love about this book. I thought some of the scenes were a little too long but overall it was a great regency era romance and I look forward to the next book in the series!

This book was seriously adorable!! My cheeks hurt from how often I smiled! This deserves a Bridgerton level show or movie! I need Vee’s story ASAP!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I just want to say first of all thank you to netgalley for this arc!
I want to start out by saying I had pretty high hopes for this book and it met all my expectations! I loved the storyline and how it had a bit of a mystery vibe since Diana, the main character, worked at the newspaper as a gossip writer. Giles , the heir to the dukedom , was your typical charming rake who always clashed with Diana. I absolutely loved their relationship and the banter between them. They had the perfect balance of enemies-to-lovers with some romantic pining between both of them.
The ending of this book was great. It was a little predictable just by the hints throughout the book, but overall is was still pretty good.

This was such a wonderful book! Lighthearted with wonderful banter and characters, and a good amount of tension! Some really fun enemies to lovers vibes, and a little bit of a mystery to uncover.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

3.5 ⭐️
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC of this delightful book! I love a good regency romance and this definitely fits the bill.

What I loved:
💗 the slow burn - I love how everyone knows they’re meant to be except them
💗 the dual POV - I love getting into the heads of multiple characters especially when it’s a romance!
💗 the mystery solving/intrigue - the fact that a gossip column writer is trying to solve how to save a rogue is just so fun
💗 the fact that characters aren’t who they appear to be in public and are so lovable even though they hide it from the world, I love that trope so much!!

What I wished for:
💗 more closed door romance feel (this is a personal preference for me, I’m not a fan of spice in regency romance because it doesn’t fit the vibe in my opinion)

Overall this really was a fun read and definitely recommend it especially for fans of Bridgerton!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It began a bit slowly, but the beginning also helped humanize the characters and add depth. This was a lovely spin on the 'love/hate' relationship. Rather than build toward an 'Emma-esque' revelation that the leads care for each other, they are aware of their feelings throughout the book, but this in no way diminishes the tension. They are all the more relatable and their interaction more enjoyable for it. This book does not have the running humor of its predecessor, but the supporting cast brings lightheardedness. I look forward to the next in the series.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the chance to review the ARC!

Full Disclosure: I received this advance reading copy of the book from the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, in exchange for my honest review.

3.75/5 stars

Never Rescue a Rogue by Virginia Heath proved very well-written, particularly compared to other period romances. A mixture of romance and mystery, Heath’s novel explores how two individuals with similar dispositions—Diana and Giles—come to finally realize that they love each other. However, events from Giles’s past come to light that could threaten his livelihood and his future with Diana. Fans of the Bridgerton and the Wallflowers series will enjoy this read.

Another disclosure: I requested this book without realizing that it was the second in The Merriwell Sisters series; therefore, I sometimes felt confused about some of the mentioned relations. I also became confused during scenes of dialogue between the two protagonists. Their voices were very similar, which made it sometimes difficult to identify who was talking. That being said, I would very much like to read the first book in the series so that I may discover more about the other sisters and their past.

Genre: historical romance, late Georgian era (post-regency)

1826. Diana Merriwell excels at digging up information. In fact, she’s so good at it that despite her insistence that her only job at the newspaper where she works is proofreading, she’s actually the strongest contributing member to the gossip column and secretly the investigative reporter known as The Sentinel. Giles Sinclair loves nothing more than displeasing his miserly father, the Duke of Harpenden. The duke was a man of many secrets, and Giles’s potential illegitimacy is one of them. But just before the duke dies unexpectedly, a flurry of activity has Giles worried that several of those secret could be uncovered by the wrong sorts of people (and relatives), so he enlists the help of the journalist who has wheedled her way under his skin and stuck there.

First of all, I did not read the first book (Never Fall for Your Fiance, featuring older sister Minerva Merriwell and Hugh, Giles’s best friend), which I rarely do. On the one hand, it’s clear that I’m reading a book with well-established characters and I potentially missed out on some backstory. On the other hand, Virginia Heath does an excellent job with callbacks and introducing the right level of detail for this story to flow smoothly. I was never lost, I just felt like I may have been missing out.

Diana and Giles have a classic enemies to lovers relationship, only it’s encouraged along by Diana’s family. Her younger sister Vee and sister Minvera’s mother-in-law Olivia in particular recognize the antagonism for attraction. But Diana wants none of it because she’s worked so hard for her independence at age 23….only she *is* intrigued at the feelings Giles stirs in her. But truly one of my favorite things in romance is watching a hero fall head over heels first and spend half the book pining. Watching Giles's true character and pining nature unfold through the book was a joy. This is a slow burn, but I found that more than acceptable as I was caught up in the late Duke’s secrets and watching Diana and Giles argue and then kiss and pretend it didn’t happen.

I am going to recommend you read book one first, but that’s just because I now want to go back and read it because Minerva and Hugh sound like excellent characters, too, and now I’ll excitedly wait for Vee [and Galahad’s???] book next.

I loved Never Fall for Your Fiancée and this was one of my most anticipated books this year. It was a little slow for me, but I’m not sure that wasn’t me and not the book. Once I really got into it, I enjoyed it! I loved Diana and Giles’ banter in the first book and I’m glad we got their story! Diana is my favorite kind of heroine; strong, smart, strong-willed. She protests her family and her heart at all costs. I can’t blame her for being nervous around men with a father like hers. I enjoyed the mystery element of this as well. I really hope Vee is getting her own book as well!

After reading Never Marry Your Fiancé, in Heath’s second book, we follow the middle Merriwell sister, Diana. Headstrong, fierce, and independent, Diana has no intention of tying herself to anyone, including the handsome Duke Giles Sinclair, whom she clearly has no feelings for.

A whirlwind of truths and lies, Diana willingly digs into the young Duke’s past to help secure his future. But it comes at a cost, which will either force Giles and Diana a life apart or possibly bring them together. Stay for the banter and see if these two strong-willed characters will finally give in to their deepest desires.

I had a few concerns with Heath’s novel that I think needs to be addressed. My first concern is the aggressive and mean spirited reaction Diana has towards one female character in the beginning of the novel.

“Pamela was crying again because apparently she did that a great deal and at the slightest provocation. Diana was seriously tempted to go shake the girl by the shoulders and tell her not to be such a pathetic victim all the time” -Advance Readers Copy Never Recue A Rogue, Virginia Heath

Authors are able to create independent, feministic thinking characters without having to resort to being physically violent and verbally abusive. I was really taken aback my this reaction and made me dislike Diana as a character.

There was also some transphobic dialogue about a character (Lord Stifford) that I wondered why Heath decided to use in her novel.

“Stifford’s an odious little oik who I am convinced wears a corset under his coat as I am sure I have heard it creak a time or too when we’ve played bollards.” - Advance Readers Copy Never Recue A Rogue, Virginia Heath

Why did the author choose to have Giles make these comments several times in the novel? What is it that Heath is trying to convey by having her main character say that a character wears a corset in a negative way? It feels like a microaggression toward the LGBTQ+ community and should be addressed by the author and publisher.

Happy Reading ~ Cece

Just like the first in this series, very charming. Loved watching the two dummies figure out what everyone else already knew. The banter was delightful, the mystery angle was just enough to be interesting but not overpower the love story. Could have used more heat and intensity in their connection.

Giles Sinclair, the newly elevated Duke of Harpenden, has a serious problem. He's working against time trying to undo and compensate tenants and staff for the wrongs perpetrated by his late father, but his time may be up. A long-lost evil uncle shows up on his doorstep, claiming to have evidence that will upend and destroy the Sinclair family. Diana Merriwell is not one to let sleeping dogs lie so when Giles confides in her "the Dirty Secret" he's recently found out, she's determined to help him out of his current predicament. These two claim to be barely tolerable of each other, but circumstances throw them together and they are finding it hard to resist temptation. Can Giles unravel the mystery and finally be able to declare his feelings before time runs out?

This is the first book I've read in the series, and even though I hadn't read the previous Merriwell's sister story, I could follow along easily enough. Both Giles and Diana are engaging characters, and I loved their caustic banter with each other. I got a little tired of the constant use of "skeleton's rattling" and "hornet's nest kicked" sayings and felt some different wording would have sufficed. The story moved along well, but my favorite character was the butler, Dalton. He was hilarious and added so much depth to the story. After so many twists and turns, Giles and Diana finally got their HEA. I can't wait to read Vee's story.

I became interested in the Merriwell sisters after Never Fall For Your Fiancé and was excited to read this next installment in the series. That being said, as a reader there is some trepidation when it comes to expectations for a new series. To my delight I needn’t have worried! I felt very connected to Diana and her determination to make her own way without asking for help. I also connected to Giles and his mental health struggles due to familial matters throughout the book. The characters stood out on their own and when put together sparks fly! The chemistry between them is fun to read and you can’t help rooting for them as a potential couple. In my opinion the author’s writing has progressed immensely between the first and second book, and I think this second one is better than the first! Thank you so much St. Martin’s Press for this ARC!

“If you are brave enough to wield it, the truth is always the most powerful weapon against evil.” - Diana Merriwell, Goddess of the Hunt and Hunter of the Truth

This review is brought to you by NetGalley! I am honored to have been sent an early copy of this novel in exchange for my honest thoughts and feelings.

Virginia Heath has done it again! Never Rescue a Rogue was a delightful part two of the Merriwell Sisters series. With Hugh and Minerva happily married with a baby on the way, they step aside to let a prickly Diana and jovial Giles take the center stage in this “frenemies” to lovers novel. Though clearly everyone sees their undeniable attachment, these two stubborn characters like to torture readers with their constant denial and bickering. This superficial friendship takes a sudden depth when Giles enlists Diana to help him solve a case that could either save him or leave him penniless and in total ruin. The two must embark on this quest while also fighting the urge to give in to their buried burning for one another.

I loved the alliteration in this book, among the many other literary strategies to engage a reader and make the whole experience pleasant. A story is only as good as the presentation, and I feel that Mrs. Heath does this very well. I also appreciate that while there are challenges that the characters inevitably face, the plot is fairly simple and to the point. Readers are not taken on a journey that leaves them feeling motion sick and ready to jump ship. This book is also full of humor, and while our main lovers have a few spicy words for one another, Giles’s BUTLER is the real master at work. It was so fun to get more insight on the side characters, such as our butler Dalton, Vee, and Olivia, as it added a little more depth to the romantic comedy.

While I overall enjoyed the book immensely, what I did struggle with was the repetitive use of idioms, two in particular. While investigating the Sinclaire family drama, there were too many references to “skeletons rattling.” And as Diana hunted for the truth, “hornets’ nests were kicked.” These two phrases are fine, but they were overused. The repetitive nature felt like an inside joke that grew less and less funny. If other idioms took their place, or if they were simply scratched, I believe this would have been much more fun to read. Instead, I was left rolling my eyes a few times!

I cannot wait to read part three of the Merriwell Sisters, and I know Heath is going to lift the characters off the page so wonderfully, as I have seen her do twice now! “And if you want my opinion”, you should read this book as soon as it hits the shelves!

4 / 5 Stars

I liked the first book in this series but absolutely LOVED LOVED LOVED this one. It was probably my favorite new release of the year. The banter was fantastic. The heroine was smart, strong, and knew her own mind. The hero was totally charming and endearing and not just the typical rake. Best of all, I loved that he didn’t unnecessarily fight his feelings for her even as he did the typical hero move of trying to push her away to protect her. The familial relationships were both heartbreaking and touching. Five star read.

Heath's witty storytelling continues in Never Rescue a Rogue, with wonderful banter between Diana and Giles. It's very similar in style to the first book, though the pacing of the story better matches the "mystery element" that drives most of this plot. This is a perfect romance for the reader who prefers to focus on chemistry and the journey to falling in love, rather than on what happens behind closed doors.