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joanav's review against another edition
5.0
Review originally published at Romancing Romances.
I received an eARC at no cost from the publisher, and I am leaving a voluntary and honest review. Thank you.
I absolutely loved this book. A hero that’s a carpenter and a heroine who is an etymologist – perfect combination!
One of the things that always makes my heart flutter is acts of service. Because acts of service mean that you’ve been paying attention to your partner (or your friend, or whoever the other person is in this situation) and it just makes me so happy that the characters listen to each other’s needs *swoon*.
This book is a bit of a Beauty and The Beast retelling, since our heroine “was born with palsy of the facial nerve caused by damage from the instruments the doctors used” (in Love is a Rogue, by Lenora Bell) during her birth, which means one side of her face does not move “normaly”, and her smile is lopsided.
Lady Beatrice Bentley, this beautiful, rich lady, who prefers a comfortable blue dress than the somewhat growing and starting to be exaggerated creations of the 1830’s, can’t help but feel the attraction to Stamford Wright, the roguish carpenter working on her brother’s estate.
I loved falling in love with Ford and Beatrice, and seeing their love develop and overcome what would be thought of as a barrier for the time, or if not a barrier, at least a strong detriment for their union.
Beatrice loves words, and she is fascinated with the words that disappear from our language, and the ones that are almost “chosen” to remain, and for Ford this is not an interest, but he becomes fascinated with how happy Beatrice is when she’s talking about writing her dictionary, and how caring he is for her and her love of books. I mean… he built her BOOKSHELVES!
Also, this book is full of feminism, sisterhood, all the things we want to see in this world. As I was reading this book, I found myself mirrored in the women of The Mayfair Ladies Knitting League, with the same wishes and desires: “Why should being female preclude me from being an entrepreneur? I say, smash down the barriers” (Love is A Rogue, by Lenora Bell). One of my favourite quotes from this book is exactly related to women (women as in anyone that identifies as female), and how we see ourselves in the world and society: “We women are all so critical of ourselves. We’re too plump, or too thin. Too tall, or too short. Our hair is too curly, or too straight. We live in a society that rewards conformity to a strict set of physical standards and an even more rigid set of rules for proper behaviour. We have these unpleasant thoughts running round and round in our minds. Wouldn’t it be revolutionary if we decided to love ourselves exactly the way we are?” (in Love is a Rogue, by Lenora Bell). Apologies for the long quote, but I loved it so much, that I remember shedding a tear when I read this. Self-love, and supporting ourselves and others, shouldn’t that be the ultimate goal?
Anyway, this book was also a love dedication to all of us readers, as I’m sure you can understand from the above mentioned love of books and words. As I was reading this book, I found myself highlighting these sentences that put into words a feeling that I’m sure most readers relate to: “But I can’t possibly read all of them [books]. It keeps me up at night sometimes, knowing that I can’t read every book I own. You should see how many books are stacked beside by bed just waiting to be read. And I don’t have the time to read them all” (in Love is A Rogue, by Lenora Bell).
Of course, this book is a romance, and the love story is the main element. But in this case, for me, it felt like there was more than ONE love story – there was the love between Beatrice and Ford, but also the love between these women supporting each other’s endeavours, and the love for words, and for your own passions!
All in all, I loved this book. It is romantic, sexy, powerful, all you want in a good book.
P.S. Make sure you read the acknowledgements at the end!
I received an eARC at no cost from the publisher, and I am leaving a voluntary and honest review. Thank you.
I absolutely loved this book. A hero that’s a carpenter and a heroine who is an etymologist – perfect combination!
One of the things that always makes my heart flutter is acts of service. Because acts of service mean that you’ve been paying attention to your partner (or your friend, or whoever the other person is in this situation) and it just makes me so happy that the characters listen to each other’s needs *swoon*.
This book is a bit of a Beauty and The Beast retelling, since our heroine “was born with palsy of the facial nerve caused by damage from the instruments the doctors used” (in Love is a Rogue, by Lenora Bell) during her birth, which means one side of her face does not move “normaly”, and her smile is lopsided.
Lady Beatrice Bentley, this beautiful, rich lady, who prefers a comfortable blue dress than the somewhat growing and starting to be exaggerated creations of the 1830’s, can’t help but feel the attraction to Stamford Wright, the roguish carpenter working on her brother’s estate.
I loved falling in love with Ford and Beatrice, and seeing their love develop and overcome what would be thought of as a barrier for the time, or if not a barrier, at least a strong detriment for their union.
Beatrice loves words, and she is fascinated with the words that disappear from our language, and the ones that are almost “chosen” to remain, and for Ford this is not an interest, but he becomes fascinated with how happy Beatrice is when she’s talking about writing her dictionary, and how caring he is for her and her love of books. I mean… he built her BOOKSHELVES!
Also, this book is full of feminism, sisterhood, all the things we want to see in this world. As I was reading this book, I found myself mirrored in the women of The Mayfair Ladies Knitting League, with the same wishes and desires: “Why should being female preclude me from being an entrepreneur? I say, smash down the barriers” (Love is A Rogue, by Lenora Bell). One of my favourite quotes from this book is exactly related to women (women as in anyone that identifies as female), and how we see ourselves in the world and society: “We women are all so critical of ourselves. We’re too plump, or too thin. Too tall, or too short. Our hair is too curly, or too straight. We live in a society that rewards conformity to a strict set of physical standards and an even more rigid set of rules for proper behaviour. We have these unpleasant thoughts running round and round in our minds. Wouldn’t it be revolutionary if we decided to love ourselves exactly the way we are?” (in Love is a Rogue, by Lenora Bell). Apologies for the long quote, but I loved it so much, that I remember shedding a tear when I read this. Self-love, and supporting ourselves and others, shouldn’t that be the ultimate goal?
Anyway, this book was also a love dedication to all of us readers, as I’m sure you can understand from the above mentioned love of books and words. As I was reading this book, I found myself highlighting these sentences that put into words a feeling that I’m sure most readers relate to: “But I can’t possibly read all of them [books]. It keeps me up at night sometimes, knowing that I can’t read every book I own. You should see how many books are stacked beside by bed just waiting to be read. And I don’t have the time to read them all” (in Love is A Rogue, by Lenora Bell).
Of course, this book is a romance, and the love story is the main element. But in this case, for me, it felt like there was more than ONE love story – there was the love between Beatrice and Ford, but also the love between these women supporting each other’s endeavours, and the love for words, and for your own passions!
All in all, I loved this book. It is romantic, sexy, powerful, all you want in a good book.
P.S. Make sure you read the acknowledgements at the end!
caitlin_bookchats's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
Look, I did this to myself. I should have DNF'd this book in the first 11 pages like I initially planned but the two leads seemed so far from each other in interest and attitude that I was curious how the author would get them together!
Of course, therein comes my disappointment. Although Bell laid the breadcrumbs of a plan for why the FMC and MMC would fall for each other, everything was terribly underdeveloped. Additionally, one of my least favorite things occurred which was the FMC and MMC telling each other they'd been interested in the true version of their partner all along but look, I was in y'alls heads in those first two chapters and you did not know each other beyond a handsome man/your employer's bookish sister.
ANYWAY, add to that the fact that I know I've read other books with I think the brother? Or maybe Ravenswood? Or maybe both? and I can remember ALMOST NOTHING about those and I'm personally going to have to take Lenora Bell off my to-read lists. Her work is just not for me.
I will say that the initial reason I was going to hard DNF, the FMC's defining character trait being that she uses big $5 words because she's just so into language and meaning and old, dead words! did get better after those first 11 pages so that was a relief at least. Look I am a nerd who likes some interesting words but it was the most pretentious way to have linguistics as a hobby! She showed absolutely ZERO interest in documenting new words from slang or working classes I mean can you imagine if instead she recruited the MMC to help her document Sailing slang!?!?! AND ALSO, to love words is, in some ways to love communication but it doesn't matter if the dictionary definition of a word is perfect if no one you're talking to knows that word! Good communication is about knowing how to speak or write to your specific audience!
Ok, ok sorry for the rant I just wanted so much better.
Of course, therein comes my disappointment. Although Bell laid the breadcrumbs of a plan for why the FMC and MMC would fall for each other, everything was terribly underdeveloped. Additionally, one of my least favorite things occurred which was the FMC and MMC telling each other they'd been interested in the true version of their partner all along but look, I was in y'alls heads in those first two chapters and you did not know each other beyond a handsome man/your employer's bookish sister.
ANYWAY, add to that the fact that I know I've read other books with I think the brother? Or maybe Ravenswood? Or maybe both? and I can remember ALMOST NOTHING about those and I'm personally going to have to take Lenora Bell off my to-read lists. Her work is just not for me.
I will say that the initial reason I was going to hard DNF, the FMC's defining character trait being that she uses big $5 words because she's just so into language and meaning and old, dead words! did get better after those first 11 pages so that was a relief at least. Look I am a nerd who likes some interesting words but it was the most pretentious way to have linguistics as a hobby! She showed absolutely ZERO interest in documenting new words from slang or working classes I mean can you imagine if instead she recruited the MMC to help her document Sailing slang!?!?! AND ALSO, to love words is, in some ways to love communication but it doesn't matter if the dictionary definition of a word is perfect if no one you're talking to knows that word! Good communication is about knowing how to speak or write to your specific audience!
Ok, ok sorry for the rant I just wanted so much better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Body shaming and War
The FMC has/had(?) a palsy and the corner of her mouth is frozen as a result. She doesn't mind, the hero likes her smile, but her mother is constantly trying to hide it and says that. The MMC is a Navy carpenter and briefly alludes to being in a battle and losing friends. He is also the son of a woman who was disowned for marrying outside of her father's wishes and that trauma comes up as a central conflict for him to work through. The disowning grandfather also appears in the book.fdarlene491's review against another edition
4.0
I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an advance reader copy of this story.
Love Is A Rogue, by Lenora Bell, is available at booksellers 10-27-2020. Rogue is book 1 in Ms Bell's new series Wallflowers vs. Rogues. We're off to a good start. Our smart, independent as possible leading lady is likeable to a certain extent. She spends a lot of time doing he loves me he loves me not. A twist on the usual trope is our gal is the daughter of a duke and her man is a builder. No title at all & his father works for the duke. There are all kinds of obstacles in their way but none bigger than themselves. Can't wait to see what's in store for her wallflower friends. Hope they get men as nice as Ford.
#LoveIsARogue #WallflowersvsRogues #Netgalley #LenoraBell #Avon #Romance #HistoricalRomance
Love Is A Rogue, by Lenora Bell, is available at booksellers 10-27-2020. Rogue is book 1 in Ms Bell's new series Wallflowers vs. Rogues. We're off to a good start. Our smart, independent as possible leading lady is likeable to a certain extent. She spends a lot of time doing he loves me he loves me not. A twist on the usual trope is our gal is the daughter of a duke and her man is a builder. No title at all & his father works for the duke. There are all kinds of obstacles in their way but none bigger than themselves. Can't wait to see what's in store for her wallflower friends. Hope they get men as nice as Ford.
#LoveIsARogue #WallflowersvsRogues #Netgalley #LenoraBell #Avon #Romance #HistoricalRomance
somasunshine's review against another edition
3.25
Beatrice is Duke Drew's little sister from the third School for Dukes book. She just happens to fall in love with carpenter Ford even though she vowed she would become a spinster. She's also inherited a bookstore which she wants to renovate and turn into the clubhouse for her professional minded lady's club.
I liked this one but I was also bored. I've read so many Lenora Bell books one after the other and unfortunately she always follows the same formular for making her characters. They all more or less read the same😅
I liked this one but I was also bored. I've read so many Lenora Bell books one after the other and unfortunately she always follows the same formular for making her characters. They all more or less read the same😅
alysses's review against another edition
4.0
Lady H has CP. I think it was done respectfully well. Her friend group is made up of all professionals (lawyer, archeologist, writer, trademark specialist).
This was a really sweet romance. A little slow to start but great nonetheless.
This was a really sweet romance. A little slow to start but great nonetheless.
justinkhchen's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
Delightful, Love Is a Rogue is a nice, breezy historical romance with a classic class differences trope. The writing is charming without being corny (definitely reads more modern than historical), and on a more personal note it contains elements I enjoy being explored/featured in stories: bookish character, and anything to do with design (in this case the hero being a carpenter).
By no means is it a memorable historical romance; with its country estate vs. London setting, social class / sexist woes, and masked ball, Love Is a Rogue lands squarely in the familiar Regency historical romance territory, without injecting anything fresh or new. While I won't be rushing to seek out the next book in the series, whenever I need a low-angst, low-tension stories to reset my reading palate, I'll make sure to look into Lenora Bell's backlist.
Delightful, Love Is a Rogue is a nice, breezy historical romance with a classic class differences trope. The writing is charming without being corny (definitely reads more modern than historical), and on a more personal note it contains elements I enjoy being explored/featured in stories: bookish character, and anything to do with design (in this case the hero being a carpenter).
By no means is it a memorable historical romance; with its country estate vs. London setting, social class / sexist woes, and masked ball, Love Is a Rogue lands squarely in the familiar Regency historical romance territory, without injecting anything fresh or new. While I won't be rushing to seek out the next book in the series, whenever I need a low-angst, low-tension stories to reset my reading palate, I'll make sure to look into Lenora Bell's backlist.
llamalluv's review against another edition
5.0
Popsugar 2022: 32) A book with a quote from your favorite author on the cover or Amazon page
Such a cute love story and it was nice to have the love match be between a high born lady and a tradesman.
Beatrice is a duke's daughter, and all her life she's been told that the only thing she's suitable for is to be a nobleman's wife. She struggles to make friends among the other young women of the ton because although she has a slight facial deformity (it's described as a palsy -- I'm imagining Bell's palsy like what Nancy Zieman had) she is viewed as real competition on the marriage mart because of her large dowry.
Although Ford was a descendant from a wealthy family, his grandfather had cut off his mother when she ran away with a tradesman (his father, who raised him to also be a carpenter) and he grew up without any of the advantages that otherwise would have allowed him to be an architect, the work for which he has a natural talent and love.
Beatrice inherits a bookshop from an aunt she'd never known existed, due to her being cut off by the family under circumstances similar to Ford's mother's disownment, and despite her mother's objections, decides to keep the property and have it repaired to be used as a club house for all her "non-traditionally inclined" female friends. She hires Ford to do the repairs, despite her own better judgement and kissing and shenanigans ensue.
Such a cute love story and it was nice to have the love match be between a high born lady and a tradesman.
Beatrice is a duke's daughter, and all her life she's been told that the only thing she's suitable for is to be a nobleman's wife. She struggles to make friends among the other young women of the ton because although she has a slight facial deformity (it's described as a palsy -- I'm imagining Bell's palsy like what Nancy Zieman had) she is viewed as real competition on the marriage mart because of her large dowry.
Although Ford was a descendant from a wealthy family, his grandfather had cut off his mother when she ran away with a tradesman (his father, who raised him to also be a carpenter) and he grew up without any of the advantages that otherwise would have allowed him to be an architect, the work for which he has a natural talent and love.
Beatrice inherits a bookshop from an aunt she'd never known existed, due to her being cut off by the family under circumstances similar to Ford's mother's disownment, and despite her mother's objections, decides to keep the property and have it repaired to be used as a club house for all her "non-traditionally inclined" female friends. She hires Ford to do the repairs, despite her own better judgement and kissing and shenanigans ensue.
brianne_k's review against another edition
3.0
*3.5/5*
This was cute. Will be be getting stories with our other lovely wallflowers?
Favourite line - She'd only managed to pry up one small wedge of timber. "Come loose, damn you despicable board!"
This was cute. Will be be getting stories with our other lovely wallflowers?
Favourite line - She'd only managed to pry up one small wedge of timber. "Come loose, damn you despicable board!"
boundbyemily's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Sexual content, and Classism
Moderate: Chronic illness and Misogyny
Minor: Bullying, Medical trauma, and War