Sophie Reads YA: January 2022

January Summary

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2022 Beat the Backlist challenge

ARC Review: The Rebel and the Rake (League of Scoundrels #2) by Emily Sullivan

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The Rebel and the Rake
Series: League of Scoundrels #2
Author: Emily Sullivan
Published December 28th 2021 by Forever

Goodreads Synopsis
He holds her fate in his hands—she holds his heart in hers.

Rafe Davies might seem like just another charismatic rake, but in reality, he is one of the crown’s most valuable agents. As relentless as he is reckless, Rafe has never come upon a mission he couldn’t complete. But when he encounters the intriguing-yet-prickly lady’s companion Miss Sylvia Sparrow while on assignment at a Scottish house party, he finds himself thoroughly distracted by the secretive beauty.

Though most women would be thrilled to catch the eye of a tall, dark, and dangerously handsome man, Sylvia is through with that sort of adventure. She trusted the wrong man once and paid for it dearly. The fiery bluestocking is resolved to avoid Rafe, until a chance encounter between them reveals the normally irreverent man’s unexpected depths—and an attraction that’s impossible to ignore. But when Sylvia begins to suspect she isn’t the only one harboring a few secrets, she realizes that Rafe may pose a risk to far more than her heart . . .
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

Miss Sylvia Sparrow may be a respectable companion, but she's hiding a secret which could ruin her, and the beginnings of a blackmail plot is more than enough to scare any woman. But not Sylvia - she will do everything she can to stop the blackmail, and help protect her best friend - and only other person who knows the truth - Georgiana. However, when spy Rafe Davies turns up at the very house party she's at in the highlands, and is looking for someone who just happens to be her, she needs to do everything she can to keep him at arm's length, even if her heart is telling her not to let go. Rafe is slowly learning that his position at the agency, under the shadow of his half brother, may not be enough for him anymore, and he wants more - especially with a beautiful woman who's turned his head. As he learns that his mission is one which makes him test his morals, will be finish it, or stick to his guns?

This was a book I wasn't too sure of what to expect. I liked book 1, but didn't love it, so was a little apprehensive that this would be the same. But, thankfully, I really enjoyed this one. The characters in this book were ones you couldn't help but love, and especially Sylvia. Her secret past was that she had been involved in the suffragette movement, and had been arrested at one point trying to recruit prostitutes to the cause. No one would employ her now, so she changes her name, and relies on her best friend for a reference. And it all goes well, until she starts to receive blackmailing letters, and if Georgiana's awful husband found out the truth, Sylvia would be all by herself. She thinks she can manage to keep it at bay, but with Rafe's arrival it soon turns difficult, when she wants to be able to trust and rely on him, but she's risking everything. The plot line in this story was much better than what was in book 1, and with how Georgiana's story turned out towards the end, I'm desperate for book 3!

Dates Read:
January 4-5, 2022

Rating
4 Stars

January

Stacking the Shelves: January 29th 2022

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2021 New Release challenge