ARC Review: The Roguish Baron (Diamonds in the Rough #9) by Sophie Barnes
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Series: Diamonds in the Rough #9
Author: Sophie Barnes
Published May 24th 2022 by Sophie Barnes
Goodreads Synopsis
When a rakish scoundrel decides to pursue the woman he loves in this friends to lovers Regency romance, he risks his father's disapproval... and the consequence this will have on his future.
He had to risk losing her so he would realize how much he loved her…
Jack Lancaster, Baron Hawthorne, hasn’t been home in four years. He’s been too busy running from his emotions. So when he finally does return and discovers his childhood friend, Sophia Fenmore, has gotten engaged, he’s not only shocked, but determined to change her mind and make her his.
Sophia has always known Jack was out of her league. But she valued his friendship, until he broke her heart. Now he's back, as eager to charm her as she is to thwart him. For as much as she’d like to believe Jack has changed, she cannot risk taking a chance on a rogue. Unless of course, he proves himself worthy.
A daring forbidden love romance from a USA Today bestselling author
Goodreads
Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.
After being away from home for four years, Jack Lancaster, Baron Hawthorne, has returned ready to see his sisters make their debut. He's missed them, and his friends, but especially his best friend Sophia Fenmore. So discovering that she is engaged, when all he's ever wanted is her, he's determined to make her change her mind. But will their differing stations in life force them apart?
I had completely forgotten that I had this book still to read until I was scheduling some blog posts, and remembered about the series. Though The Roguish Baron is classed as book 9 in the series, it's more of a novella, and I believe it was once part of an anthology too. Anyway, this was a really quick and enjoyable read, though not one that will make you think, nor particularly stay with you long afterward. I love the trope of childhood friends to lovers, which was done very well in this case. Sophia was the adoptive daughter of the local vicar and his wife, whereas Jack was the son of an Earl and Countess. They'd been friends so years, and their families were close, though when Jack realised that Sophia was growing up, and his father told him they would never be able to be together, he fled his, so angry at his father for his ultimatum to be disinherited. Sophia had always loved Jack, and was gutted when he left without a word, but she went along with the faux/real engagement to her 'brother' - the vicar's biological son - as a way to sort of get Jack to see her. I didn't really like that aspect, nor the fact that Jack went stupid when he became jealous, but I liked that he fought to be with her. The 'twist' was predictable, and I'd have been surprised, honestly, if it wasn't there. Even so, this was an enjoyable story to read in less than an hour.
Dates Read:
January 1, 2023
Rating
3 Stars
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