ARC Review: Dearest Rogue by Elizabeth Hoyt

“DEAREST ROGUE is wonderfully written, blending together charm, action, suspense and the most romantic love story I’ve read in a long while.” ~ Under the Covers

It’s been such a long time since I read a Historical Romance novel that I nearly forgot just how much I adore them. DEAREST ROGUE rekindled that love in a big way.

As the eighth book in the Maiden Lane series, I was wondering what else Elizabeth Hoyt could do that she hadn’t done already. But I found that I absolutely loved what she did here – she took a blind heroine in Lady Phoebe and paired her with her bodyguard, Captain James Trevillion.

As sister to Maximus, Lady Phoebe is an important woman but her physical disability causes a lot of distress to her. Not born blind but is nearly completely blind now at the age of twenty one, Lady Phoebe needs the help and protection of Captain Trevillion especially when someone tries to kidnap her.

I heard that some readers were disappointed that the next book was Phoebe and James’ but I wasn’t at all. In fact I absolutely loved that Hoyt gave the heroine a disability that she couldn’t do anything about but also didn’t let her give up in the face of it either. Phoebe easily became one of my favorite things about this book. Her charisma and charm really shone through and paired with the Captain’s sternness, it really is a wonderful match.

Of course now I have to touch on James as well because he turned out to be such a wonderful hero for Phoebe. I loved his presence and loyalty to her and her brother. Nothing makes me swoon more than a man who is willing to lay his life on the line for another person like James does in this book. As his pasts gets revealed in small increments, Hoyt really does give readers a hero to die for.

I have to share this one particular scene because I think it aptly communicates the heart of this novel:

“Thank you, Captain.”

“For what, my lady?”

“For letting me soak your shirt with salt water.” She smiled, though it was harder than usual. “For not giving me platitudes. You’re quite right. I don’t need lies from you.”

“Then I shall endeavor to give you nothing but honesty,” he replied.

Those words were exchanged when Phoebe mistakenly commented that the sky was overcast when the sun was shining down on them. It signals that her eyes are getting worse and when Phoebe cries about her deteriorating eyesight, James simply holds her, offering better comfort than any warmth the sun could give her. It’s so subtle but creates big leaps in the romance. I absolutely love this book.

DEAREST ROGUE is wonderfully written, blending together charm, action, suspense and the most romantic love story I’ve read in a long while.

[about-author author=”Elizabeth Hoyt”]

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