Any Rogue Will Do
Series: Misfits of Mayfair #1
Author: Bethany Bennett
Published October 13th 2020 by Forever

Goodreads Synopsis
He ruined her reputation―now he's the only one who can save it.

For exactly one season, Lady Charlotte Wentworth played the biddable female the ton expected―and all it got her was society's mockery and derision. Now she's determined to be in charge of her own future. So when an unwanted suitor tries to manipulate her into an engagement, she has a plan. He can't claim to be her fiancé if she's engaged to someone else. Even if it means asking for help from the last man she would ever marry.

Ethan, Lord Amesbury, made a lot of mistakes, but the one he regrets the most is ruining Lady Charlotte's reputation. He's older and wiser now, but his attraction to Lottie never wavered. Going along with her charade is the least he can do to clean the slate and perhaps earn her forgiveness. And, if he's lucky, her love.
Goodreads

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

During her first season, many years ago, Lady Charlotte Wentworth was embarrassed and ruined by who she thought was her suitor, Ethan, Lord Amesbury, and left with the Paper Doll Princess moniker. Now, after losing her brother and mother, and her father ignoring her in his grief, she has been running her family's estate, and wants only to be allowed her dowry and to have her own estate. Her father has other ideas, though, and has arranged for her to marry Lord James Montague, the youngest son of one of his friends, and Lottie only has until the end of November to find someone else to marry. After a carriage accident that leaves her with a head wound, and her carriage driver with a broken leg, she is to recuperate at a nearby inn, and the person to come to her aid is none other than Ethan. She's determined to ignore him, but once she gets to London to start her husband hunting, he's everywhere, and wants her forgiveness. When Ethan first met Lottie, he had just inherited his estate, and being transformed for a Scottish shepherd to an English lord is a big shift. He knows he'll need to marry well, to keep the estate afloat, and sets his eyes on Lady Charlotte. When her father refuses him, though, he runs his mouth, which leads to Lottie being ridiculed, and hates him. He's never forgot her, not really, and living near her in town allows him to form a friendship, and later a fake engagement to put off Lord Montague who is hiding something. Will Lottie and Ethan be able to cope with their attraction, and call off the fake engagement by the end, or will their chemistry ruin them for all others.

This book is one I had one my radar for a while, and when I was initially rejected for the review copy, I was gutted. Luckily, I was sent a widget to read, and as soon as it downloaded onto my phone, I couldn't stop myself for starting it. Lottie was such a lovable character, who sort of reminded me a little bit of Elizabeth Bennet, in her ability to take charge, and run the estate when needed. She's never really wanted to marry, not after seeing how her parents basically ignored their children, or when her mother died, but being forced to marry Montague, who was a wrong-un, through and through, makes her take heed, and try and find someone. With her trusty maid, Darling, and godmother, Aunt Agatha, in tow, she starts going to society events again, where Ethan is at every corner. All of the ton is expecting there to be a scandal when Lottie and Ethan meet, but they won't fall for it, until it comes for them to start their fake engagement, and Montague is lambasting them to all who would listen. When Ethan and Lottie are together, the chemistry sizzles, and it's impossible to not ship them. There's definitely ups and downs in this book, where we are at the edge of our seat, hoping the heroes will be together, and being unsure how they can be when events occur. I'm overjoyed with how the book ended, though, and can't wait to read West End Earl, which is Cal's story, because he was a perfect friend to the pair!

Dates Read:
July 10-11, 2020

Rating
4 Stars