ARC Review: A Rogue Like You (Ashton Park #2) by Abigail Bridges
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Series: Ashton Park #2
Author: Abigail Bridges
Published February 28th 2022 by Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
Goodreads Synopsis
He wants to save his betrothal. She wants to save her brother. But the bargain they strike to help each other could destroy them both.
Lord Robert Ashton knew he was about to make a deal with the devil. And Lady Eloise Surrey knew she was about to descend into hell.
After years of living the life of a rogue, Lord Robert fought his way back into the good graces of Society and an elaborate wedding awaits. It’s not the love match, but a duke’s daughter is the perfect solution to his profane past. The only obstacle remaining to the marriage contracts is his long association with Campion’s Gentlemen’s Emporium, a notorious gaming hell.
Lady Eloise Surrey, on the other hand, is at the end of her time in Society. A lace-capped spinster, Eloise acts as a chaperone to Lady Lydia Rowbotham, the soon-to-be betrothed of Robert, and she plans to exit to the country after the wedding.
Then her younger brother Timothy is kidnapped, and Eloise, determined to track her brother’s last movements, is drawn into London’s dark underworld—starting with Campion’s, the last place Timothy was seen.
Disguised as a man, Eloise heads to the emporium, bringing her face-to-face with Robert. He is immediately drawn to the tenacious woman, even though Robert realizes her quest is futile. He tries to discourage her, but the spark that flies between them is irresistible. So Robert and Eloise strike a bargain to help each other out—a bargain that could tumble both into ruin.
But they will not stop. With Timothy’s life as stake, Robert and Eloise target one of the most notorious and dangerous organizations in London. As their passion for each other deepens, their determination to find Timothy could cost them everything—even their lives.
Goodreads
Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.
As she approaches thirty, Lady Eloise Surrey finds herself acting as chaperone to her spoilt cousin, witnessing her courtship with Lord Robert Ashton, the rakish son of the Duke of Kennet. Eloise has perfected the art of appearing as a spinster on the shelf, but she has a secret, and when Robert discovers the true Eloise, sparks begin to fly. Then Eloise's brother, Timothy, is abducted, apparently from the gentleman's club where Robert works and co-owns, and they need to work together, uncovering a cruel and twisted underground, to find Timothy and come out the other side unharmed.
I wanted to know more about Robert/Robbie when we met him in To Stop a Scoundrel and started to see how multi-faceted he was. And, I wanted him to get a happy ending, especially as Rose's marriage to his brother Thomas broke his heart. What we found in A Rogue Like You just blew me away. I knew that there was something motivating Robert, but never expected what he had faced in his life, nor just how strong both he and Eloise were. I loved their camaraderie, initially, which quickly turned to love and affection - to the extent they were willing to do just about anything to save the other person. Again, just like in book 1, some very difficult topics are discussed (tw for rape/sexual abuse) but in a way which explained a lot, and was dealt with in a delicate way. Now that we know this family more, I can't wait for the remaining Ashton siblings to find their own love and happiness.
Dates Read:
March 20-22, 2022
Rating
3 Stars
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