carscats's review
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sabregirl's review against another edition
3.0
Very disappointed in When a Rogue Meets His Match. The story itself was okay, Messalina is forced to marry her Uncles wicked lackey because he's agreed to do one last task for him and his reward is her. Okay, fine. Messalina and Gideon were idiots however. I didn't like either one of them, or actually anyone in the Greycourt family. The only one who was mildly interesting was Julian, and for some reason we got parts of the story from his POV instead of the two protagonist. Fine no problem, but it didn't solve anything. Just a bunch of allusions and shit that I'm assuming we'll find out what the hell is going on when Julian has his own book. (Which I presume will be the next one)
Now the thing that REALLY bothered me, the sex scenes. Or lack there of. Oh sure it's a romance there was some but they were awfully flat, boring and dull. Missionary anyone and that's it. Elizabeth Hoyt's writing is usually a lot hotter than that doesn't make sense why this was so dull. (The novella that followed had hotter sex scenes!)
Not to mention too the climax of the novel takes place is less than a chapter. It's like parts are missing, and we're just supposed to fill that stuff in. Meh no thanks, write a bit more and don't include a random novella at the end.
The novella wasn't terrible, I had never heard of the author before. It seemed like though that you needed to know what the hell was going on. The first couple of chapters don't make sense. Plus this climax also happened way too quick. I don't get it.
Now the thing that REALLY bothered me, the sex scenes. Or lack there of. Oh sure it's a romance there was some but they were awfully flat, boring and dull. Missionary anyone and that's it. Elizabeth Hoyt's writing is usually a lot hotter than that doesn't make sense why this was so dull. (The novella that followed had hotter sex scenes!)
Not to mention too the climax of the novel takes place is less than a chapter. It's like parts are missing, and we're just supposed to fill that stuff in. Meh no thanks, write a bit more and don't include a random novella at the end.
The novella wasn't terrible, I had never heard of the author before. It seemed like though that you needed to know what the hell was going on. The first couple of chapters don't make sense. Plus this climax also happened way too quick. I don't get it.
bookwife's review
5.0
I love Elizabeth Hoyt. She writes some of my favorite historical romances and this is one of them! I loved this book.
This is the second book in the Greycourt series although it can be read as a stand alone. This book is about Messalina Greycout(a truly awful name btw) and Gideon Hawthorne. Gideon has been working for Messalina's uncle, the Duke of Windemere, since he was 17. And he isn't doing honest work.. he is doing all of the Duke's dirty work. Gideon longs to be accepted by society so they can help fund his side business. He makes a deal with the duke.. Gideon can marry Messalina as long as he does one more dirty tase for the duke.
Messalina is appalled. She doesn't want to marry her uncle's henchman. But she goes along with it to save her sister. Messalina agrees to help Gideon fit in to society in exchange for part of her dowery. I liked Messaline for the most part. I think she made the best of a terrifying situation. She was very positive and I think that was good for Gideon's darker personality. I think it's no surprise that I loved Gideon. I love a dark hero. I loved that we got Gideon's thoughts. He was so conflicted about Messalina and I liked that we got to hear his inner battle.
I also want to point out that this book was steeeeeamy! And I am all for that. Seriously I don't remember the first book being as steamy. It made me love Gideon even more.
There was only one thing I didn't like about the book. All Messalina wants from Gideon is the truth. She begs the whole books for it.. and when he finally gives it to her she runs away. She doesn't hear him out. I didn't like that Gideon was punished for giving her what she wanted.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is the second book in the Greycourt series although it can be read as a stand alone. This book is about Messalina Greycout(a truly awful name btw) and Gideon Hawthorne. Gideon has been working for Messalina's uncle, the Duke of Windemere, since he was 17. And he isn't doing honest work.. he is doing all of the Duke's dirty work. Gideon longs to be accepted by society so they can help fund his side business. He makes a deal with the duke.. Gideon can marry Messalina as long as he does one more dirty tase for the duke.
Messalina is appalled. She doesn't want to marry her uncle's henchman. But she goes along with it to save her sister. Messalina agrees to help Gideon fit in to society in exchange for part of her dowery. I liked Messaline for the most part. I think she made the best of a terrifying situation. She was very positive and I think that was good for Gideon's darker personality. I think it's no surprise that I loved Gideon. I love a dark hero. I loved that we got Gideon's thoughts. He was so conflicted about Messalina and I liked that we got to hear his inner battle.
I also want to point out that this book was steeeeeamy! And I am all for that. Seriously I don't remember the first book being as steamy. It made me love Gideon even more.
There was only one thing I didn't like about the book. All Messalina wants from Gideon is the truth. She begs the whole books for it.. and when he finally gives it to her she runs away. She doesn't hear him out. I didn't like that Gideon was punished for giving her what she wanted.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
kyriannaj's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I loved everything about this book. The characters and their relationships. Between siblings. Between lovers. Between employees. The characters learned about each other and their perspectives, changing their behavior. Gideon and Messalina learning to trust each other, be vulnerable, and rely on each other was so well done. The conflicts throughout and the inner turmoil was so well done and intertwined. And then I realized I had 35 pages left and there was still so much left to wrap up. Those last 35 pages felt like a sprint to the finish with just enough shown to wrap up each plot line but not enough to feel satisfied with the conclusions of each. If the ending had been given the same time, attention, and pages as the rest of this book, it would've been without fault in my eyes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Classism, Child death, and Sexual content
Moderate: Violence, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Minor: Cursing, Gore, Grief, Medical content, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Bullying, Confinement, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders
katleap's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars
I received an e-ARC copy of When a Rogue Meets His Match from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Messalina Greycourt has been trapped by her uncle, the Duke of Windemere. Forced to marry Gideon Hawthorne, her uncle's henchman, Messalina will do anything to save her sister from the same fate, even bargain with the devil. Gideon wants out from under the Duke of Windemere's thumb and has almost succeeded, until the Duke dangles the one thing he never thought he could have, Messalina. Together, Gideon and Messalina decided to try and make the marriage work, but both have secrets and someone is trying to kill Gideon.
I wasn't sure that I believed that Gideon and Messalina could work together, but I was very much proven wrong. The romance was steamy and a tiny bit sweet. Gideon has fallen head over heels for Messalina but doesn't know how to express it or what to do with it. Messalina is slower but her fall is sweet.
I actually really liked spending more time with Lucretia. I do want to know more about what happened with Aurelia, that seems to be the turning point and it's one big mystery.
I received an e-ARC copy of When a Rogue Meets His Match from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Messalina Greycourt has been trapped by her uncle, the Duke of Windemere. Forced to marry Gideon Hawthorne, her uncle's henchman, Messalina will do anything to save her sister from the same fate, even bargain with the devil. Gideon wants out from under the Duke of Windemere's thumb and has almost succeeded, until the Duke dangles the one thing he never thought he could have, Messalina. Together, Gideon and Messalina decided to try and make the marriage work, but both have secrets and someone is trying to kill Gideon.
I wasn't sure that I believed that Gideon and Messalina could work together, but I was very much proven wrong. The romance was steamy and a tiny bit sweet. Gideon has fallen head over heels for Messalina but doesn't know how to express it or what to do with it. Messalina is slower but her fall is sweet.
I actually really liked spending more time with Lucretia. I do want to know more about what happened with Aurelia, that seems to be the turning point and it's one big mystery.
bookshelf1792's review
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This book wasn’t bad but it wasn’t great. It just kinda was? It took me a long time to get through because I was easily distracted and not drawn into the story or world. I think this time period isn’t my favourite. I liked the characters - it just didn’t go as deep as I would’ve liked.
Then the third act.I do not like that she punished her husband for an answer she didn’t like. She asked. He was honest and then she gets mad. Ugh. And then the whole fix of the duke was so quick and obvious it just made me annoyed they didn’t do it at the beginning. THEN the betrayal was rude - I think it made more sense for the duke! Anyways. Just my feelings. Oh and then the language in the spicy scenes was both so explicit and then weirdly euphemistic. it made it weird.
Then the third act.
dhilderbrand's review against another edition
2.0
It was fine. I enjoyed it. I am not excited to read the rest in the series which says something. The male lead was just off for me. I don't know if he was too dark, too predictable, too .. . I just can't put my finger on it but not a big fan
slovenianbookworm's review against another edition
5.0
Another win by Elizabeth Hoyt!
I loved her Maiden Lane series and I cannot tell you how much I loved this book!
Gideon and Messalina have a rocky start. She doesn’t exactly like him and marrying him doesn’t really help. But they soon start to navigate their new life together.
Gideon knows he’s different from other members of the ton. He doesn’t really belong to them and that’s what is bothering him. He wants to belong. Gideon soon realizes that he needs the help of someone who knows the rules of Society – his wife.
I think what I loved in this book is that Gideon isn’t really the kind of man he shows to the world. He can be kind even though he was surrounded with violence. He will do anything to protect Messalina even if it means lying to her what Windermere (Messalina’s uncle) wants of him.
He is so sweet and I love these small acts of kindness he did for her. It just makes him more swoony as a book boyfriend.
I think the best part is seeing Messalina grow with him. She realizes that her world is not perfect and she acts on it and decides to change it. Well, help, really. But I liked her for that.
5 stars.
Rating: 5 out of 5.
ARC provided by the author* in exchange for an honest review. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Full post: https://slovenianbookworm.wordpress.com/2020/12/04/when-a-rogue-meets-his-match-by-elizabeth-hoyt/
*Not so funny story: The author sent it to me but I didn’t immedialtely read it because I was reading something else. Then I completely forgot and I didn’t remember until the release date. I looked on my Kindle app and ”POOF”, the book wasn’t there. It got deleted! So I bought it immediately. I am very angry at Amazon and I have no idea why the book deleted (no matter how many times I refreshed the page!!). Gaaah.
I loved her Maiden Lane series and I cannot tell you how much I loved this book!
Gideon and Messalina have a rocky start. She doesn’t exactly like him and marrying him doesn’t really help. But they soon start to navigate their new life together.
Gideon knows he’s different from other members of the ton. He doesn’t really belong to them and that’s what is bothering him. He wants to belong. Gideon soon realizes that he needs the help of someone who knows the rules of Society – his wife.
I think what I loved in this book is that Gideon isn’t really the kind of man he shows to the world. He can be kind even though he was surrounded with violence. He will do anything to protect Messalina even if it means lying to her what Windermere (Messalina’s uncle) wants of him.
He is so sweet and I love these small acts of kindness he did for her. It just makes him more swoony as a book boyfriend.
“What do you like?” He cleared his throat. “For entertainment?” “Books.”
I think the best part is seeing Messalina grow with him. She realizes that her world is not perfect and she acts on it and decides to change it. Well, help, really. But I liked her for that.
Late that afternoon Messalina stood in Whispers’ cavernous library and tried not to look as appalled as she felt. Along the walls lovely oak shelves reached nearly to the ceiling—entirely empty. “How can a library be a library without books?”
5 stars.
Rating: 5 out of 5.
ARC provided by the author* in exchange for an honest review. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Full post: https://slovenianbookworm.wordpress.com/2020/12/04/when-a-rogue-meets-his-match-by-elizabeth-hoyt/
*Not so funny story: The author sent it to me but I didn’t immedialtely read it because I was reading something else. Then I completely forgot and I didn’t remember until the release date. I looked on my Kindle app and ”POOF”, the book wasn’t there. It got deleted! So I bought it immediately. I am very angry at Amazon and I have no idea why the book deleted (no matter how many times I refreshed the page!!). Gaaah.
stefi_books's review
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
mayvisin's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0