Kait ✨
Written on Mar 1, 2017
'Fabulous' Eloisa James
'Smart, sexy, and always romantic' Julia Quinn
'For a smart, witty and passionate historical romance, I recommend anything by Sarah MacLean' Lisa Kleypas
The first in Sarah MacLean's sensational new Scandal & Scoundrels series . . . all the fun and guilty pleasure of celebrity gossip, with a Regency twist!Lady Sophie's Society Splash!
When Sophie, the least interesting of the Talbot sisters, lands her philandering brother-in-law backside-first in a goldfish pond, she shocks society and finds herself the target of very public aristocratic scorn, leaving her no choice but to flee, vowing to start a new life far from London . Unfortunately, the carriage in which she stows away isn't saving her from ruin . . . it's filled with it.
Rogue's Reign of Ravishment!Kingscote, "King," the Marquess of Eversley, has never met a woman he couldn't charm, which results in a reputation far worse than the truth, a general sense that he's more pretty face than proper gentleman, and an irate summons home to the Scottish border. When King discovers stowaway Sophie, however, the journey becomes anything but boring!
War? Or More?
He thinks she's trying to trick him into marriage. She wouldn't have him if he were the last man on earth. But carriages bring close quarters, dark secrets, and unbearable temptation, making opposites altogether too attractive . . .This is the first novel in the Regency romance Scandal & Scoundrels series by New York Time bestselling author Sarah MacLean - perfect for fans of Lisa Kleypas and Eloisa James
Scandal & Scoundrel series:
The Rogue Not Taken
A Scot in the Dark
The Day of the DuchessPraise for Sarah MacLean:
'Sarah MacLean has reignited the romance genre with a bolder edge' The New Yorker
'Funny, smart, feminist and roastingly hot' BookRiot.com
'Do yourself a favor and discover the compelling magic of Sarah MacLean' Amanda Quick
'MacLean writes with an entirely unique blend of elegance and ferocity that bursts from every page' Entertainment Weekly
'Great chemistry, intelligence and sparkling humor' RT Book Reviews
- ISBN10 0062379410
- ISBN13 9780062379412
- Publish Date 29 December 2015
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country US
- Publisher HarperCollins Publishers
- Imprint Collins
- Format Paperback (US Mass Market)
- Pages 432
- Language English
Reviews
nitzan_schwarz
Written on Aug 17, 2016
I really liked it, but I was kind of annoyed with all the back and forth between the two of them. Like, make up your mind... you're leaving, you're staying, you hate him, you love him (and same for him)...
Berls
Written on Mar 9, 2016
Amanda
Written on Jan 9, 2016
A Sarah MacLean book kicked off the Great Historical Romance Bender, so it should come as no surprise that I loved The Rogue Not Taken as much as I did. Or that I'm now waiting for the next in the series to be published. (Goodreads says end of August!) Or that The Rogue Not Taken will likely be a book I reread.
Maybe even more than once.
Sophie, youngest of five, isn't like the rest of her scandalous sisters... until she is, and on a bigger and grander scale than any one of the had previously managed. Sophie did something no one else had dared to do: stand up to the ton and defended her sister. But the ton isn't forgiving, especially when a woman's father "bought" his title, and so... Sophie is forced to run to escape.
It doesn't take any longer than Sophie standing up for her sister that we totally identify with her. She cares, and she's not afraid to stand up for what's right. It took me longer to warm up to King -- we meet him as he's climbing down a rose trellis after a supposed tryst with an engaged woman -- and holds his secrets far closer to his chest than Sophie does. Which isn't to say King didn't win me over (he totally did). He simply took longer, fighting his feelings and past.
I do love a good road trip romance, especially in the historical romance world, and The Rogue Not Taken didn't disappoint. It was a constant push and pull of King trying to rid himself of Sophie, Sophie taking off, and King going after her, despite what he thought he wanted. As their plans change and get more intertwined, the more complicated their feelings get, too.
And complicated feelings can make or break a romance book. Sarah MacLean always finds the right complicated feelings to make her books. There are misunderstandings, yes. But it's also believable enough that they both react the way they do based on previous experiences, both with each other and others. And this is a large part of why I couldn't stop reading (also, future note to self: never start a book at 9 p.m.) -- I had to see King and Sophie's story to the end.
The Rogue Not Taken is a highly satisfying historical road trip romance... and as usual after I read the latest Sarah MacLean book, I'm in desperate need of the next one.
thebookdisciple
Written on Jan 6, 2016
Pardon me while I go get every book Sarah MacLean has written.
Full review will be on The Book Disciple
stacey_is_sassy
Written on Jan 3, 2016
In The Rogue Not Taken we see how awful the aristocrats acted. With their belief that they are better than others and the lazy way they live their lives, they do not sound nice. I do love reading historical romance, but get very frustrated with them too. In this case, my eye was twitching when a Duke had the power to ruin a whole family because his pride was hurt. Obviously, these things happen in modern times too...maybe not with a Duke, but in this particular case the Duke was an ass and I wish more than his pride was hurt.
Sophie is the youngest daughter of a very scandalous family. Her father, a newly made Earl, was a coal miner by trade. The gossip is that he acquired his position in a game of cards. Not even his five daughters know the truth. Besides the questionable inheritance, the daughters also seem to attract gossip. One of the daughters supposedly trapped a Duke into marriage, and three are betrothed to unsuitable men. Sophie is the plain, boring and unfun one who doesn't want anything to do with London and the aristocracy. At a party, Sophie defends her sister...but upsets the town and the spoilt Duke. She decides to escape the party and on her retreat, a man falls practically in her lap.
King has a reputation. He's quite happy with it and it serves his purposes well. While escaping from a Lady's bed-chamber...through a window, he lands with boots in his hands at Sophie's feet. After introductions are made and insults have been flung, King declines Sophie's requests for help and thinks that's the end of it. It's only the beginning.
For quite a lot of the story, both Sophie and King butt heads. They don't particularly like each other and King has a very bad habit of insulting Sophie and then regretting it. The first half of the story dragged for me a little. I wasn't sucked in like I normally am with a Sarah MacLean novel. There were funny parts and interesting parts, but I started to get impatient with the couple. I wanted to get to the bottom of their issues and understand their history.
The second half was much better. My emotions were all over the shop. One moment there was a tear in my eye because Sophie's feelings were hurt, then I kept crying because King does something extra sweet and then two pages later (give or take), I wanted to punch his head in. These were all great though because my heart was pumping and my feelings were engaged. The second half also had some steamy scenes too.
I really enjoyed The Rogue Not Taken especially the characters and the scenes depicted. The love story ended up being sweet and I smiled at the twist that came when King is at home visiting his father. I can't wait to see what's next in the series.
kimbacaffeinate
Written on Dec 11, 2015
Sophie was a pure joy. She is smart, and mischievous. I found myself giggling aloud and wondered what she would do next. She is also brave, a little naïve and has a knack for getting herself into trouble. She is not without flaws and MacLean did a wonderful job of allowing her to grow.
At first glance Kingscote, the Marquess of Eversley is a dirty scoundrel, racing about the countryside in his carriage and deflowering engaged woman. We soon discover his flaws and the past that has affected him. He seems carefree and selfish but as MacLean peeled back, his layers I slowly fell for this sensitive man. The rode was a rough one, as I sometimes wanted to give him a sound smack on the back of the head but alas, he wooed me with his charms.
Sophie began her journey seeking to reach her home in Mayfair, and ends up instead traveling to the town she and her family left some ten years ago. She plans to build a life far from the ton and open a bookstore. She wants to open a bookstore!! How could I not connect and adore her?
The romance was slow building and began with each being annoyed by the other. The banter and witty dialogue was delicious and I soon became caught up in the adventure. Danger, tender moments and conflict soon led to passion and painful moments as these two had to overcome their own issues. Once we reached the midway point of the book, it was painful to set it down despite wanting to savoir it.
The families, servants, and folks we met along the way all added to the story while helping us both understand and connect to our characters.
We do experience some angst as we enter the final stages of The Rogue Not Taken, but it was well done and made the road to our HEA all the sweeter. The story wrapped up wonderfully and MacLean even provided a lovely epilogue.
Copy provided by publisher. This review was originally posted on Caffeinated Book Reviewer