Isabel Luna has always been the shy, overlooked Luna sister, with her nose stuck in a book. After two years in England, her search for information to send home grows more important with every passing day that the French occupy her home of Mexico. But Sirius Dawson, the charming, gorgeous roguish friend of her brother-in-law has been keeping an eye on Isabel’s comings and goings at social events. Curious as to what she’s looking for in Lords’ studies while others are distracted, he finds that they may have similar objectives and offers to help her in her search.
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First and foremost, I love a rake x wallflower historical romance. The excitement, the banter, the way the rake never cares until he meets ~her~ gets me every time. Sirius Dawson, my man. The way they bonded over books and he /saw/ her exactly as she was and made sure she knew it. My heart aches for these two. This also included one of the most thoughtful, meaningful grand gestures I’ve ever read in a romance novel and it brought tears to my eyes. I also loved the incorporation of Spanish phrases in every conversation (as a former Spanish minor in college), and the fierceness of Gabby’s love for Isabel. Isabel and Dawson both had well-executed character arcs that felt natural and fully developed. An all-around delightful read!

If your are obsessed with this season of Bridgerton, this book will satiate your despair at the ending.

It's the second installment in the Luna sisters and despite her being a quiet and observant wallflower, the story is so vibrant. The dialogues all through out were so vivid and many of it felt like I was a fly on the wall.
The two MC's attraction is so palatable, I was rooting for them at every obstacle.
I know its only book 2 but I think its my fav in this series. Although I am very anxious for the youngest sister love story!

Isabel, a Mexicana living in England, is the definition of a wallflower. Bookish, quiet, a little socially awkward - and doesn't stand out for her beauty, political prowess, or exuberance like her two sisters. However - her ability to blend in allows her to sneak information from private studies to pass to Mexico amidst the French invasion. Striving to be of use and return to Mexico, Isabel does not realize she's being watched by the handsome rogue, Captain Sirius Dawson. He's intrigued and finds her to be exceptional. His rakish reputation doesn't do him any favors with her, but eventually their chemistry turns into feelings. Sirius has his own reasons for helping her, but what happens when Isabel decides to leave? This book was an absolute joy - like Mexican hot chocolate, it's a cozy hug with a bit of spice! It has all the things you love about a historical romance set in England, with the added benefit of a new culture joining the ton. As you can imagine, not everyone loves having three beautiful, Mexican sisters attending the balls, but I really enjoyed the insight to the Mexican history it provided! If you like: wallflower x rogue, historical romance, open door love scenes, sisterly bonds, grand gestures - this is for you!

This series is new to me and I thoroughly enjoyed this novel as i like wallflowers who win the hero's heart and the I had a lot of fun.
Well plotted, good chemistry between the characters.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Isabel and The Rogue by Liana De la Rosa is a captivating tale that skillfully weaves together suspense and intricate character development. The novel features a sizzling scene where the two protagonists find themselves trapped underneath a desk, adding an element of passion to the story. However, what truly resonates with readers is the dramatic and poignant ending that leaves a lasting impact.

De la Rosa's writing is well-crafted and sheds light on a lesser-known aspect of the Victorian era. The author's note at the end of the book provides valuable context, enhancing the reader's understanding of the historical background. Isabel and The Rogue is a compelling read that brings a fascinating story from the past to life.

THE NEXT INSTALLMENT OF THE LUNA SISTERS!!!!! Liana definitely delivered with Isabel’s story through and through. I absolutely loved the representation, the intrigue with Isabel’s secret doings, and the SPICE between her and Sirius. Historical romances fare well when there’s a subplot driving the MCs together, and the way in which it was done here had me excited to read and scared to finish. Can’t wait to see what’s in store with Gabby’s story 🤍

Read if you like:
🇲🇽 Mexican FMC
📚 Historical Romances
🌹 Wallflower FMCs
📖 Bookish FMCs
🔀 Opposites Attract
🔥 Slow Burn

If you read and enjoyed Ana Maria and the Fox, please make sure to read this one! This one felt very fun and similar in vibes, but also its own story and vibes in the series!

I really loved getting to see Isabel shine as a wallflower myself, I loved seeing her come into her own and find her place and to start to make the decisions for herself that will shape her future the way she wants it to look.

I really loved the slow burn and OMG, the way the love story came together and the story ended made me swoon soooooo much!

I am not a huge historical romance reader but I truly can’t wait for Gabby’s story!

Thank you so much to Berkley Romance and PRHA for my gifted ARC and Audiobook copies!

No one writes swoony intelligent multicultural histroms better than this author! Isabel, a Mexican spy in Britain, and Sirius, a secret agent for the Brits, attract each other like magnets while jousting for their respective countries. A gem!

Genre: historical romance
England, 1865

Middle sister Isabel Luna prefers the periphery to the spotlight, but that doesn’t change the ferocity of her loyalty to Mexico. Working behind the scenes as a well-disguised spy gathering intelligence while seeking refuge in England, she meets Captain Sirius Dawson, former officer who now works for the Home Office also collecting secrets from diplomats and ambassadors and members of the ton. As their paths continue to cross in clandestine places it’s clear to Sirius that Isabel’s spirit outshines her wallflower tendencies…and that perhaps Sirius’s reputation as a rogue is a cultivated front for his role, rather than true to his heart.

This was such a good follow-up to Ana Maria and the Fox! The Luna sisters have such well-captured sibling dynamics, and even while Isabel is the quiet one, Liana de la Rosa makes it clear to the reader that a quiet wallflower doesn’t mean a withering wallflower. Isabel and the Rogue has a slow burn setup for the romance, but while the romance is ramping up, the political intrigue and history take the forefront.

Where I felt Ana Maria and the Fox did a lot of worldbuilding via “this is how historical romance works” for those newer to the genre, Isabel and the Rogue is for those of us already in love with the genre who want historical details and maximum swoon. Set against the backdrop of Second Franco-Mexican War, we see facets of mid-19th century world politics that we don’t often see in the genre. Even while the ballroom politics of England were the forefront of aristocratic lives, women like Isabel Luna have always been there to remind the ton that non-anglo-centric viewpoints and cultural achievements are not only valid but celebrated. For anyone who has concerns that this is “too modern” I urge you to read de la Rosa’s author’s note at the end of the book.

Liana De la Rosa has solidly become one of my favorite historical romance writers with this book. I really enjoyed the first book with Ana Marie and Gideon, but this book I loved even more. As with the first one the romance is so well written and the characters and plot well thought out, but what really gets me is all the added historical context. It pulls me in, paints in the world the characters are in, adds depth and facets to an already multifaceted book. I appreciated the conversations and points made about British colonialism and problems with imperialism viewpoints and policies (especially about museums - a personal rant/talking point of mine too Isabel!) which is woven in to naturally into the story with one of the sweetest romances I've read in a while.

Isabel and Sirius are both so perfectly written, I am obsessed with both of them although I think Sirius might pull ahead a bit if only because how can you not love a sweetheart cinnamon roll like Sirius. Their romance and chemistry developed so naturally and was plotted to perfectly you couldn't help but fall for both of them too. I loved their banter, and side adventures so much. I also appreciated still getting more of the sister relationship, seeing that grow over the course of the two books makes the books even sweeter.

And after seeing the the Duke and Gabby (both separately shine, and banter together) I am impatiently waiting for the next book - and I hope many more books by a new auto-buy author.

I loved Ana Maria's story and I loved coming back to the Luna sisters to get to know Isabel better! I really enjoyed how different Isabel was from her sisters and watching her and Sirius work together was a delight!

Isabel might appear to just be a wallflower but in reality, she is looking for information to help the Mexican government in their war against France. Sirius is an agent for the crown so they decide to work together. I love watching them realize their attraction and explore it (sometimes when they should really be hiding quietly). Also if you loved the Bridgeton balloon scene I have to say this one has a better balloon scene.

I loved how Liana De la Rosa wove together history, intrigue, and romance to make a beautiful story! If you enjoy historical romance you'll love this one! I think it's hard for readers to not relate to a wallflower who is more than she seems.

I liked Isabel and the Rogue even more than the previous book. Isabel and Sirius were great characters and I was swooning over their romance. This book felt like it flowed better as well, definitely an overall improvement! Can’t wait to read Gabbys book next!

This book. This FREAKING book! I have been excited to read this ever since I read (and adored) Ana Maria and the Fox last year, and let me tell you Isabel and Sirius's story did not disappoint!

I utterly adored being able to read more of Isabel's perspective. She is one that any bookworm can relate to in so many ways, and I enjoyed being able to explore her insecurities, but I also loved how she came to recognize her strengths. I loved how determined she was to find something to help her country, and how she wanted to have a greater purpose outside of something like marriage. She was just such a compelling character to read, and she went on a wonderful journey of development over the course of this story.

Now I simply must talk about the one and only Sirius Dawson.

I. Am. Obsessed.

I enjoyed each and every moment of reading his perspective. He is continuously VEXED by his growing feelings for Isabel, and it was so dang fun to experience. I loved how he was one of the few people that truly saw and understood Isabel, her strengths, her amazing qualities, how wonderful she is, but I was also obsessed with how irrationally jealous he became when other people started to recognize it as well. He was simply a wonderful love interest for Isabel, and I loved watching hime come to terms with his past so he can pursue a future with her.

The relationship between Isabel and Sirius unfolded so naturally. They had such wonderful chemistry, and I loved every interaction between them, to the point that I wanted to speed through every other scene just so I could get the two together again. I also love where they ended up by the end of the story (but of course I won't be elaborating because that would be a spoiler). In short, they were everything I wanted and more, and a definite contender for favorite couple of the year so far.

As for supporting characters, Gabby was absolutely the MVP of this book for me. I loved how steadfastly supportive she was of Isabel, and how determined she was in trying to get Isabel to recognize her value. Every scene of hers in this book made me all the more excited to get to her story, from the glimmers of her dynamic with Whitfield to her fierceness as a character.

Overall, this one is for the introverted wallflowers, and I loved every moment of it. If you are looking for something to read while you wait for the rest of Bridgerton season three, then look no further than this book!

I like how in notes the author describes first thinking of the heroine as Jan Brady, the middle child who wants to be noticed. Isabel Luna Valdes' character grows from that beginning. This is the second in the Luna Sisters series and she is the middle sister. She is a Mexican heiress and as a wallflower in London society she can sneak away into libraries and studies hoping to find information that will help her beloved Mexico against its war with France. This is not an action packed spy adventure. But there is a lot of time searching for useful things. She meets Captain Sirius Dawson who works for the British Home Office. He is posing as a rake using his skill set to seduce ladies and make friends in the right places for information. Their paths of course cross with drawing attraction.

Spy tropes are a small percentage of historical romances and I like the unusualness of having a Latina heroine. But the spy plotting seems slow and the romance is typical. I did like how it all wraps up and also Isabel’s interactions with her sisters. I read easily as a stand alone and only read the blurb for the first book to get some background. (3.5 Stars)

Rating: 4/5 stars

In the second book in the Luna Sisters series, Isabel Luna is a wallflower tasked with spying on behalf of the Mexican government when her efforts bring her into collision with Captain Sirius Dawson—a spy in his own right and a man determined to be Isabel’s protector.

I enjoyed the first Luna Sisters book, ANA MARÍA AND THE FOX, and was excited for Isabel and Sirius’s story! The tropes in this one (wallflower coming out of her shell, some mild enemies/antagonists to lovers vibes) are some of my faves, and I thought Sirius was a super swoony leading man. This one was also much spicier than the first book, which I appreciated!

I also love the social and political commentary in these books, which is a welcome addition to any historical romance read (or really any romance read in general). Isabel and her sisters dealt with complicated issues of colonialism, colorism, and the theft of cultural antiquities, and I really appreciated that these topics were handled with care and nuance.

If you want a historical romance but with a non-Eurocentric focus, this series is for you! I would recommend reading in order, as this heavily references some of the key events from the first book.

CW: War/PTSD; colonialism; some sexism/racism/colorism

I really loved a lot about this book! I thought the politics were interesting, love reading about a time period/place that isn't represented much in romance (or history in general), and I really liked the romance!

The ending started off just a bit slow for me - once the romance really started going, the rest of the book flew by - the only other thing I struggled with was wishing Isabel just had a little bit more confidence as Sirius continued to tell her everything he loved about her and how impressive she is.

In the first half we get some great pining from Sirius which made me really excited for the romance to get going - and got going it did! The scenes were hot (under the desk in the library? say less)! I love how Sirius recognized early on that Isabel was so much more than she seemed. She used people's assumptions of her (namely that she was a wallflower) totally to her advantage even though she also was very much internalizing people's opinions and assumptions of her.

I also adored the ending and Sirius following Isabel to Mexico - I'm so glad the ending wasn't about her giving up her dream, even if it seemed like that dream didn't feel how she had always expected it to.

On another note, I think these books are just so inherently important so I will keep recommending them time and time again. I always strive to find books (particularly historicals) that are not euro-centric. And though these take place in Europe, they are really about Mexico and the sisters journeys in missing their homeland and furthering and fighting for it's interests while in England.

I was looking forward to reading this book after reading An Maria and the Fox and I am looking forward to reading the next book too. The story seemed to move slow and fast at the same time. I felt that there was not as much of a romance between the two and that it was rushed. But the story seemed to move at a much slower pace. It was interesting to learn the bits about the French and Mexico conflict/war.

✨𝑻𝒘𝒐 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑻𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒅𝒂𝒚 + 𝔸ℝℂ ℝ𝔼𝕍𝕀𝔼𝕎✨

ɪꜱᴀʙᴇʟ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴏɢᴜᴇ ʙʏ ʟɪᴀɴᴀ ᴅᴇ ʟᴀ ʀᴏꜱᴀ (ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴜɴᴀ ꜱɪꜱᴛᴇʀꜱ, #2)

Let’s go back in time to my favorite Mexican heiress taking London society by storm! I really enjoy these books. They’re quick witted with banter, spice, and all the glitz & glam of Victorian England with a twist.

This book picks up exactly where we left off with the first one in the series only we get a closer look into the second Luna sister, Isabel. Initially, I totally wrote her off in Book One but here she was shining all the way thru. She did it for us wallflower bookworms! I loved our MMC Sirius too, he was a golden retriever but willing to do spicy stuff in libraries (IYKYK) 🤣. I finished this book with a smile on my face anticipating the next release!

I really am looking forward to the third installment, Gabby’s story.

Thank you to @netgalley @berkleyromance @berkleypub & @lianainbloom for an eARC in exchange for an honest review! 🤍

Pub Date 6•4•2024

#ArcReview #isabelandtherogue #lianadelarosa #berkleyromance #berkleypublishing #bookreview #netgalley #historicalromance #twofortuesday

I read this book in one sitting because I just could not put it down! If you love watching Bridgertton but would love to see any Latina representation, this is the book for you! Seriously, the way that Liana De la Rosa writes about Mexico and the love that the Luna sisters have for their home country fills my Mexican-American heart. I know what it is like to be away from Mexico and to want so much more for the country where I was born and where my ancestors' bones rest. In that way and many others, I just connect so deeply with the Luna sisters.

In the first book, I very much connected with Ana Maria's oldest daughter complex. Isabel does not have that, but she is the wallflower, the often-overlooked sister. That I very much identified with! Unbeknownst to her sisters, Isabel is on a secret mission while in England, one that Captain Sirius Dawson starts noticing. Once he notices Isabel, his eyes and mind cannot forget her. Sirius is a broken man, a war hero who struggles every day with the memory of war and has built a public persona to hide behind. It is exactly that persona that will initially repel Isabel, but as she spends more time with the handsome captain, it is clear that they both want and need so much more from each other.

Everything about this story was perfection and I can't wait to keep reading about the Luna sisters!

Thanks to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing, Berkley Romance, and Penguin Random House for this copy of "Isabel and the Rogue."

This continues the story of the Luna sisters that started with "Ana Maria and the Fox" which I didn't read first but wish I had. I think I would have connected more with Isabel and Sirius if I had met them in the first book and followed their adventures with the Luna family from Mexico.

Isabel is the middle sister and she often thinks of herself as invisible since people tend to prefer her other sisters. So she feels more than capable of spying on the British to see if she can find any secrets to help with the French occupation of Mexico.

Little does she know that Sirius is also working for the British Home Office.

I liked the (new for me) historical perspective of British and Mexican foreign relations. It brought a different flair to Isabel and Sirius' romance.