Such a delightful read! Bridgerton fans will rejoice with this one.

Gabriel & Carolyn were a great pairing. He was swoony and she was witty & independent. I really enjoyed their interactions and thought they were entertaining. Their chemistry was well written too. The slow burn really worked here.

The plot was fun and fast-paced. I flew through this book! The writing is engaging and sucks the reader into the story.

Highly recommend! Can be read as a standalone.

The Writer and the Rogue by Lydia Drake
Releases 4/14!

Thank you, Entangled Publishing and NetGalley, for this early copy!

Historical romance
Dual POV, writer FMC, feminine rage, banter, he falls first, he reads her books

Caroline has been trying to keep her family above water with her writing after her father's poor decisions and inability to care for the family. Her last, desperate idea was to blackmail an Earl into marriage. Gabriel cannot believe this feisty woman is trying to force him into marriage. But the more time he spends with her, the more he is finding himself wanting the arrangement.

I don't read a ton of historical romances, but this was a fun change of pace. Caroline blackmailing Gabriel was too funny and she was delightful and intelligent. Her raging against the ways of society was so real and I appreciated it not being glossed over. I'm always a fan of fake marriages/marriages of convenience and watching the couple fall for each other. I will probably be reading more by Lydia Drake!

Desperate times call for drastic measures and Miss Caroline Devereux is most certainly desperate. Her spendthrift father’s been gambling away every spare shilling, racking up debts, selling off their family’s coveted objets d’art, and bringing them to the edge of ruin. Up until now, she’s been able to stave off the creditors by penning sensational Gothic tales. But they’re out of time, and Caroline must play the one card she has left. The Earl of Rockford cannot believe that any young lady would dare to blackmail him. Not only has she threatened to expose the darkest secrets of his family and destroy their name, but she’s done it all in an attempt to marry him?
A well written entertaining & witty romance. I really liked both Gabriel & Caroline they locked horns from their first meeting but neither could deny their attraction nor the chemistry between them. I also loved that Gabriel saw the real Caroline & was proud of her achievements. I thoroughly enjoyed their journey to a HEA until a huge bump in the road nearly derailed them & the person who caused it should have known better.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

received and read this book today, just days before publication, so I didn't notice it was part of 2 different series.
We have met many of the characters before, including our hero, Gabriel, now an Earl.
Meanwhile, Carolyn Devereax, a writer of Gothic fiction, is becoming desperate as her father is bankrupting the family.
Her solution has Gabriel at her door, and a game ensues. These are clever adversaries, indulging in witty, intelligent, and at times very humorous banter.
There are a lot of misunderstandings, and one of my least favorite tropes, self-sacrifice for love. However, there is also some very good discussions of the role of woman that are just sad, yet real.
I noticed when I read my reviews of the previous books, I assumed the next book would be about Felicity, it takes place soon after the previous book, so the hero is Gabriel, which I was not expecting.

I recently finished reading "The Writer and The Rogue" by Lydia Drake, and I am absolutely captivated! From the very first page, the witty and hilarious dialogue hooked me, making it a joy to read from start to finish. Lydia Drake crafts her characters with such depth and charm that you feel like you're part of their world.

The story unfolds with a fast-paced plot that keeps you turning the pages, eager to see what happens next. The twists and turns are cleverly woven, ensuring that there's never a dull moment. It’s a perfect blend of humor, romance, and a dash of intrigue that keeps the reader thoroughly entertained.

Drake’s ability to create such vivid scenes and relatable characters is truly commendable. If you're looking for a book that's both entertaining and intelligently written, "The Writer and The Rogue" is a must-read. This novel is a testament to Lydia Drake's talent. Highly recommend to anyone in need of a good laugh and an engaging story!

Caroline Devereux is a secret gothic writer with money woes running throughout her family. Though she’s trying to help by secretly writing books under a man’s name, she realizes she must take drastic measures. She decides to blackmail Lord Gabriel Rockford into marrying her when she learns a secret about him that would destroy his reputation. But he in turn, plans to court her in front of the ton, buying himself some time before he retrieves the blackmail back.

This was my first novel by Lydia Drake, and it definitely won’t be my last. What a breath of fresh air in the historical romance world. Humor mixed in with romance? Pinch me!

Read if you love:
***Enemies to lovers
***A feisty, strong FMC
***Laugh out loud moments
*** He falls first!
*** Dual POV

Thank you to Entangled Publishing LLC and Netgalley for the ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.

A good read with entertaining characters. Caroline and Gabriel are well matched. This starts with a blackmail that soon turns everything into a war of love.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4

This is a fun historical romance! I haven't read one in a little while and this book made me remember just why I love them so much - the societal expectations, glances across ballrooms, pretty dresses, the tension and the longing glances - what's not to love?

Caroline and Gabriel are such a fun couple - the plan and events that bring them together are definitely a little contrived, but Caroline is just trying to do what she can to help her family survive, and Gabriel wants to protect his family's good name. Their stubbornness and determinination to see this plan through draw them together and they slowly begin to realize that maybe there's more to life than money and a good name.

I had a great time reading this. The banter, the buildup of the relationship, learning more and more about each other (and themselves) - all made the story just fly by!

The Writer and the Rogue by Lydia Drake is an absolute delight of a historical romance! With a witty, independent heroine and a swoon-worthy hero who matches her banter beat for beat, this story had me smiling the whole way through. I especially loved how he truly sees her and values her exactly as she is—flaws, fire, and all.

If you’re a fan of Bridgerton, this one will definitely charm you. It was the perfect light and lovely escape from my usual heavy fantasy reads, and I enjoyed every minute of it.

Highly recommend if you’re in the mood for something fun, flirty, and full of heart!

I really hate giving low reviews especially since I loved two of the three previous books Lydia has written. I mean absolutely loved them. I thought the synopsis was going to be a fun read but I did not get a fun read. I got a manipulative ball-busting woman who got absolutely no sympathy from me whatsoever. What I did like about the story was all of the banter and the push-pull of the relationship. Did it make up for my thoughts on the blackmail? Absolutely not. I know lots of people will love it for the banter and the angst and I usually would have also. Does this put me off on Lydia’s works? No.

‘The Writer and the Rogue’ is book 2 in the Debutantes of London series. I’ve read book 1, ‘The Duchess and the Wolf’, and I utterly enjoyed it, so I was happy to get the chance to read the next installment.
Although this book wasn’t as good as the first book, it definitely is a very nice read. It starts out immediately with a bang and keeps you entertained throughout the book. Halfway around the book the pace slows a bit but it picks up a bit further in the book with some unexpected twists.
The book is about Caroline and Gabriel. Caroline is an impoverished writer who is trying to earn money to pay for everything, since her father just spends it on gambling and luxury. When it seems that a creditor is looking for her, she sees no other option than to blackmail Gabriel, the earl of Rockford, in order to force him to marry her and provide security for het family. Of course he is livid but he agrees to court her in hopes of acquiring the letter in which his father voiced some scandalous thoughts. Caroline and Gabriel start to get to know each other and both soften up towards each other. But just as both of them are re-evaluating their positions, the l story takes an unexpected turn and you are left wondering what will happen next. You just need to read on and wait a little bit longer for their happily ever after!
Content 411: There are a few descriptive sexually intimate scenes.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for providing an advanced copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a great enemies to lover's romance!
Caroline, who is an author, is trying to keep her family's finances afloat. So, when she finds an incriminating letter from Gabriel's deceased father to hers, she decides to blackmail Gabriel into marrying her.
Both Caroline and Gabriel are strong characters, and the chemistry is fun and interesting between them.
There are some steamy scenes, lots of humor, interesting secondary characters, and a plot that will keep you entertained throughout the story.
I can't wait for more in this series!

The Writer and the Rogue is the second book in the Debutantes of London series. This can be a stand-alone read.

Carloine Devereux is the most level-headed one in the family. She has been trying to save her family from financial ruin, no thanks to her father. They have sold off many items in the house to keep the creditors at bay. Now she has no choice but to use a damning letter written by the former Earl of Rockford for blackmail. She hates to do it, but feels she has no choice but to force the new earl to marry her to save her family.

The Earl of Rockford storms over to the Devereux home to face his blackmailer. Having been focus of gossip about his parentage, he needs to get the letter but at what cost. When he confronts her, he is shocked that she does not want any money but will settle for nothing less than a marriage for the two of them. He reluctantly agrees but is determined to get the letter without marrying Caroline.

Meanwhile Caroline continues to write stories for the money it brings. But the publisher has bad news for her. He does not want to publish her next story unless she changes it to a man's perception of women. Not the feisty portrayal she has written. This only makes Caroline feel more frustrated and determined to marry the Earl.

This was a fun and entertaining story. The characters were fun and interesting. The writing was perfect and moved the story along at a good pace.

"The Writer and the Rogue" is a delightful installment in the series of Debutantes of London, written by Lydia Drake. This charming historical romance follows the clever and adventurous Caroline Devereux, an aspiring writer who unexpectedly lands in a precarious situation after discovering a scandalous letter concerning Gabriel, the Earl of Rockford. The Second Daughter Caroline's audacious blackmail demands him to marry her, not make her rich, and his subsequent and often comedic courtship takes hold of the reader's imagination.

Caroline and Gabriel are well paralleled, given the gaps they both have, and Drake navigates that chemistry for both humor and heart. The push and pull of the characters, complicated by their needy families, creates depth in the story that will keep readers invested. Caroline comes off as a determined heroine willing to take matters into her own hands, and Gabriel, enraged at first over the blackmail, is captivated by her acerbic wit and bravery. Their bickering is sprinkled with witticisms, and ways that Caroline reminds Julia of a well-dressed orangutan provide comic relief in the story.

Readers will particularly enjoy the well-developed characters, as Caroline and Gabriel work their way through their rocky romance. The transition from hate to love is gradual and plausible, with a final chapter that makes sense of their arc.

I also enjoyed the detail and world building in this book, and I think it was set up really well for sequels, even if I have no idea what those sequels would look like. Readers new to the series will find “The Writer and the Rogue” holds up nicely on its own, though the bookwill undoubtedly leave them itching for more.

Overall, "The Writer and the Rogue" was a fun little romp full of romance, a little humor, and some intrigue. A delightful story that will treat fans of historical romance and have them waiting breathless for this author's next book. Highly recommended!

This was a delightful historical romance! Caroline and Gabriel were so perfectly matched, and every one of their interactions had me grinning from ear to ear! I thoroughly enjoyed the tension built up between them and their families throughout the book. There was one point in the book when I was a little worried that I would be disappointed by the end. But the way their story wrapped up was actually so fitting!

Thank you so much to Entagled Publishing for sending me an eARC of this book for review. My review is voluntary and my honest opinion

Caroline comes across a damning letter and blackmails an Earl, asking not for money but for her hand in marriage. The Earl of course is enraged but finds himself engaged by the lady’s looks and temperament. What follows is a pseudo courtship with Gabriel looking for ways to either change Caroline’s mind or remove the threat and Caroline, as she gets to know him better, feeling guilty. As they gradually fall in love with each other, a spanner in the works forces them apart.
Loved some of the comedic paragraphs, such as: ‘she was not so much her father’s daughter as the custodian of a particularly well-dressed and irrepressible orangutan’.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Writer and the Rogue, written by Lydia Drake, is the second installment in the captivating Debutantes of London series. This steamy historical romance immediately drew me in and left me eagerly anticipating more. I am eagerly looking forward to delving into the rest of this enthralling series. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for a review.

The Writer and the Rogue by Lydia Drake is a historical romance between two hard headed characters. Just when they seem to have their ducks in the row, their families interfere. Caroline Devereux has had enough of her family’s “help”. Her father has managed to gamble away most of their money and a number of their possessions without helping his family in any way. Caroline has been writing Gothic short stories to help maintain the home with food and supplies.

Gabriel is the Earl of Rockford is a rogue, who follows his own rules. He is amazed when Caroline Devereux tries to blackmail him over a letter she found. The letter questions Gabriel’s parentage and suggests that he is illegitimate. Caroline demands he marries her or she will go public with the letter.

While the premise is interesting, it is how the characters handle the information and their steps afterward that make the story interesting. Caroline and Gabriel are in a constant battle. It is only when their family’s get involved that way too much goes down.

This book is the second book in the series called Debutantes of London. I didn’t read the first novel and strongly suspect the books can be standalone. The Writer and the Rogue by Lydia Drake is an interesting read.

Caroline is a writer keeping her family afloat with her earnings.
She is tired and concerned so she plans to resort to blackmail against Gabriel the Earl.
He is totally frustrated by it but finds Caroline to be fascinating and unique among the ton.
They spar and try to resolve the issue of blackmail while falling for each other.
Good character development with dialogue.
Fun romp.

The writer and the rogue was the first book I read from this author. I must say I was so surprised with the writing and story. I absolutely loved it.