4.5 stars! Woooo, who needs a cold shower after that?! The chemistry in this book was off the charts good from the first page.

Read if you’re a puddle of mess for:
***Historical romance
***Brothers’ best friend
***Fierce longing
***Only one bed
***Steam, steam, steam!

Daisy and Lucien’s story had me from page 1. I love the backstory of this, and loved how everything played out. This is the 3rd in a series, but absolutely can be read as a standalone.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.

* 3.5 stars

This was a good conclusion to the trilogy. Daisy is a feisty woman who likes to carry knives. I loved the beginning of the story with a run in with highwayman. Lucian is a dark brooding man who has loved Daisy for years, but has held himself back from being with her. Of course, Daisy has wanted him since they shared a passionate kiss from years before. Exciting times happened with n this road trip, which I enjoyed. I just don’t like some of the language that Bateman uses in her writing. It just seems jarring to the times. I loved the proposal also.

Daisy's mission is to stop heiress Violetta from eloping. But she ends up in the carriage of the Duke of Cranford who wants to help his nephew married to Violetta. The duke of cranford has never forgotten Daisy from years ago....

Love the romance. The fun and the joy in this book. Terrific chemistry. The banter has me laughing... Swooning romance.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

”It was me who succumbed to your wicked charms. You’ve compromised me shamelessly.”


✨The Vibe:
Enemies-to-lovers road trip + historical romance + a dash of criminal mischief = a wickedly fun escape.

📖The Plot:
Daisy Hamilton (don’t call her Dorothea) is on a mission to stop a scandalous elopement. Lucien, the twelfth Duke of Cranford, is determined to make sure it happens. Naturally, they end up on the road together. Cue the banter, the tension, the sizzling slow-burn. They clash, they connect, and they end up somewhere neither of them expected: in love.

✔️What I Loved:
Kate Bateman’s writing pulls you in from page one—no dragging intros, no wasted words.
Vivid but not flowery descriptions. The balance is just right.
This book moves. I finished it in under 24h—that’s always a sign.
Romance + a hint of crime.
Daisy is fiery and determined. Lucien is sarcastic, indulgent, and a little too charming. Together? Magic.
Characters feel human—flawed, relatable, and lowkey obsessed with crème brûlée (same, Daisy).
Loved the subtle nods to real-life struggles—like migraines—woven into the story.
Feminist undertones in a historical romance? Yes, please! Strong women, strong voices, strong story.

➖Minor Gripes:
The ending dragged a tiny bit—her inner debate went on longer than needed.
Three books in this series? Not enough.

❓Should You Read It?
Absolutely—especially if you’re into:
-witty banter,
-historical spice,
-rebellious women,
-brooding dukes,
-and just the right amount of drama.

📚It reads fine as a standalone, but trust me—reading the first two will make this even juicier.

📍Final Thoughts:
Kate Bateman nailed it again. Road Trip with a Rogue is fun, fast-paced, and full of heart. A perfect mix of romance, humor, and action. Fans of Her Majesty’s Rebels or Ruthless Rivals will feel right at home.

📗Thanks to St. Martin’s Press & NetGalley for the ARC!
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be over here craving crème brûlée and re-reading their best arguments.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Would travel with this rogue again.

This book felt like it had been written with every aching, longing part of me in mind. The slow burn between Daisy and Lucien isn’t just delicious, it’s devastating in the best way. Every page pulses with tension, and the emotional undercurrent runs so deep it’s impossible not to drown in it. I loved Daisy’s sharp edges and I adored Lucien. The writing is rich and evocative, filled with yearning and bite, and it never rushes what needs to breathe. It lets the silences speak, lets the glances linger. The romance is messy and tender, tangled in regret and hope and old wounds that never really healed. It was about rediscovery and relearning how to trust someone with the parts of yourself you’ve kept hidden. And I felt every bit of it. I loved this with my whole heart..

Lady Dorothea “Daisy” Hamilton is the third co-founder of an investigation firm called King & Co. She agrees to take on the case of thwarting an heiress from eloping. However, Daisy’s mission goes horribly awry when she encounters the wrong carriage. Instead of the runaway pair, she finds the rogue who broke her heart five years ago. Daisy has no other choice but to tolerate the man as she continues with her mission. Will Lucien distract Daisy from her mission? Or will she gain another success for King & Co?

Lucien Vaughan, The Duke of Cranford, decides to help his nephew elope with his beloved. He never imagined he would encounter Daisy Hamilton, a woman who is off limits to him, along the way. Lucien is not about to let the hoyden thwart his nephew’s upcoming nuptials. He uses every tactic in his arsenal, including seduction, to delay her from finding the lovestruck pair. When Daisy’s reputation is compromised, Lucien steps forward to do what is right. Can he convince the headstrong miss to marry him?

Daisy did annoy me near the end of the book. Yeah, I understand her requisites for marriage, especially after seeing what her mother endured. However, Daisy knows how cruel the ton can be towards women whose reputations are tarnished. Yet, she is still willing to face their wrath. A wise person knows when to concede and when to fight or make the best of their situation.

Lucien is positively swoon-worthy! I simply adore the man’s sardonic, hedonistic personality! It made his interactions (and dialogue) with Daisy entertaining and fun. What I like the most about Lucien is how he is not put off by Daisy’s blades. It impressed him, especially since she knows how to wield them. Other men of his station would have been either repulsed or intimidated by them.

SERIES: Yes, this book is the third and final book in Kate Bateman’s historical romance series, HER MAJESTY’S REBELS. It is more enjoyable to read this delightful series in proper order, starting with SECOND DUKE’S THE CHARM. The first book reveals the reason why the three ladies decide to set up an investigation firm. The couples from the prior two books (Tess and Justin and Harry and Ellie) do make frequent appearances throughout the story.

I really enjoyed this book! It is the third in a series - I do not think it was the strongest book in the series but nevertheless I enjoyed it. Lucien and Daisy are an excellent match and I enjoyed their banter quite a bit.

title: Road Trip with a Rogue

author: Kate Bateman

publisher: St. Martin's Paperback

publication date: July 29, 2025

pages: 336

peppers: 3 (on this scale)

warnings: shootings, stabbings

summary: Daisy has been hired to stop a couple from eloping in Gretna Green; unfortunately, they have a head start and she gets delayed by Lucien Vaughan, Duke of Cranford, the one man who has been driving her batty for the past five years since their one kiss.

tropes:

road trip
enemies to lovers
one bed
one horse
eloping
she's been ruined

what I liked: 

sense of humor
witty banter
backstories

what I didn’t like: none of it

overall rating: 5 (of 5 stars)