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wanderlust_romance's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
Gosh I love Cat Sebastian. Two Rogues Make a Right was just the soft, tender, slightly angsty, queer historical romance I needed. This is the third book in the Seducing the Sedgwicks series, and for the most part it can standalone. I found myself a little confused in the beginning but the story focus quickly shifted to the relationship between Martin and Will. This book looks at queer visibility and safety networks, chronic illness, disability caretaking, and class difference. And as per Cat Sebastian's norm, looks at these themes without centering the story around LGBTQIA+ trauma.
Two Rogues had much the same tenderness and friendship as We Could Be So Good. The audiobook also had the same narrator for both books, and I liked this book's narrator performance only slightly more. There was very little distinction between MMC character voices, which occasionally made it difficult to determine who was speaking. That's my only hang up.
Two Rogues had much the same tenderness and friendship as We Could Be So Good. The audiobook also had the same narrator for both books, and I liked this book's narrator performance only slightly more. There was very little distinction between MMC character voices, which occasionally made it difficult to determine who was speaking. That's my only hang up.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Confinement, Drug abuse, Sexual content, and Medical content
Minor: Drug use, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
mallorypen's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
You know what? This was goddamn sweet hurt/comfort and pretty much nothing else, and it was damn delightful.
I'll be honest - I picked this audiobook while in transit and didn't have much time to read the description. So it's totally on me that this is one of a series, and much of the helpful backstory I would have appreciated appeared in previous books. Even though there were some holes in my understanding, this novel was much more of a character study than something plotty and I found myself figuring out the gaps quickly.
Having read a number of Cat Sebastian novels at this point, I do think her strength is in character studies vs. an involved plot. Case in point, Martin's character was delightfully complex: from dealing with his chronic illness (his feeling like a burden on the people he loves/it being better that he dies alone; his chafing at being cosseted and deprived of choice; his acceptance of his limitations while also understanding his own strength and power within those physical limits) to his familial shame (trying not to follow his father's horrible example by denying himself his own needs and being uncomfortable asking for what he wants; trying to reconcile what he'd do to keep Will safe and healthy; his discomfort with his title and his perceptions of uselessness). I also got the sense that Martin was demisexual insofar that the only person he'd ever wanted to have sex with was also the only person he'd ever loved.
Will was also complex, though perhaps not quite as much so as Martin, but the relationship that deepened between them was so stinkin' cute and sweet and lovely. Their desire to take care of one another was so lovely and soft. Their happiness at a simple country life together was so sweet. And then, the transition from good friends who happen to kiss one another on the forehead and call one another sweetheart and love to actual lovers in love with each other was also toothache-inducingly sweet. This was also the best banter writing I think I've seen from this author, and the fond exasperation definitely lent credence to the backstory that they were childhood friends who were and continue to be obsessed with each other.
AND THE TATTOO REVEAL. Absolutely giggle and kick-your-feet worthy.
That said, one of the main issues/sources of conflict in their relationship was a lack of communication. Yes, it made sense based off of Martin's baggage and Will's desire to give Martin all the comforts he thinks he needs based on his birthright, but it did boil down to the fact that had they had a slightly more frank conversation, the last quarter of the book wouldn't have happened.
Was this a Book of Substance? Not particularly. Did it drag a little in parts? Sure. Was it sweet and enjoyable? Absolutely! Do I need to read the other books in the series? ... Time, and available Audible credits, will tell.
I'll be honest - I picked this audiobook while in transit and didn't have much time to read the description. So it's totally on me that this is one of a series, and much of the helpful backstory I would have appreciated appeared in previous books. Even though there were some holes in my understanding, this novel was much more of a character study than something plotty and I found myself figuring out the gaps quickly.
Having read a number of Cat Sebastian novels at this point, I do think her strength is in character studies vs. an involved plot. Case in point, Martin's character was delightfully complex: from dealing with his chronic illness (his feeling like a burden on the people he loves/it being better that he dies alone; his chafing at being cosseted and deprived of choice; his acceptance of his limitations while also understanding his own strength and power within those physical limits) to his familial shame (trying not to follow his father's horrible example by denying himself his own needs and being uncomfortable asking for what he wants; trying to reconcile what he'd do to keep Will safe and healthy; his discomfort with his title and his perceptions of uselessness). I also got the sense that Martin was demisexual insofar that the only person he'd ever wanted to have sex with was also the only person he'd ever loved.
Will was also complex, though perhaps not quite as much so as Martin, but the relationship that deepened between them was so stinkin' cute and sweet and lovely. Their desire to take care of one another was so lovely and soft. Their happiness at a simple country life together was so sweet. And then, the transition from good friends who happen to kiss one another on the forehead and call one another sweetheart and love to actual lovers in love with each other was also toothache-inducingly sweet. This was also the best banter writing I think I've seen from this author, and the fond exasperation definitely lent credence to the backstory that they were childhood friends who were and continue to be obsessed with each other.
AND THE TATTOO REVEAL. Absolutely giggle and kick-your-feet worthy.
That said, one of the main issues/sources of conflict in their relationship was a lack of communication. Yes, it made sense based off of Martin's baggage and Will's desire to give Martin all the comforts he thinks he needs based on his birthright, but it did boil down to the fact that had they had a slightly more frank conversation, the last quarter of the book wouldn't have happened.
Was this a Book of Substance? Not particularly. Did it drag a little in parts? Sure. Was it sweet and enjoyable? Absolutely! Do I need to read the other books in the series? ... Time, and available Audible credits, will tell.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness
Minor: Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Violence
clarabooksit's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Sexual content, Terminal illness, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Abandonment
Minor: Pedophilia, Torture, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
analenegrace's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Cat Sebastian does sappy sweet historical like no other! It was a quick and easy read that left me smiling but also had the historical depth that made the characters feel real. It didn't feel like Martin and Will's story was ending in the moment but really just beginning.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Sexual content
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, Homophobia, and Classism
Minor: Torture and Violence
wardenred's review
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
They were pressed together, safe and alone in the moonlight, neither of them particularly well but both were something like happy and it felt like a miracle.
The Seducing the Sedgwicks series has been on my radar for a while now, and I was honestly planning to read it in order. But then a friend sang praises to this particular book and assured me it could be read as a standalone, and words such as "friends to lovers," "demisexual protagonist," "chronic illness" and "only one bed in a remote countryside cottage" were slung around, and—well. I simply couldn't resist.
Looking back, I think "can be read as a standalone" is a bit of an overstatement. I can't say I felt particularly lost at any stage of the novel, but I do think I would have benefited from being better acquainted with the entire cast. Nevertheless, I enjoyed this gentle story a lot. I mean, I wanted to shake both characters quite often because I needed them to get out of their heads and start actually tackling their problems instead of constantly blowing them out of proportion (as if those problems weren't serious enough to start with). But I could also see each guy's reasoning for acting this way. This is a story ripe with dramatic misunderstandings that look totally reasonable when you're locked in a character's viewpoint, and I'm very much here for that.
I do feel like the subject of Martin's tuberculosis deserved a bit more discussion between him and WIll (isn't it contagious?). On the other hand, this two have known each other for ages and it's mentioned that Will is familiar with the disease from taking care of his mother. So perhaps it makes sense for some things to be left unspoken between them. All in all, it was awesome to see a chronically ill character get his HEA, as well as not to have him be reduced to his sickness. Consumption is just one of the things Martin deals with, and his personality isn't shaped by it. The same can be said about Will and his PTSD. That gets a yay from me.
I also need to add that I loved so many of the supporting characters. I definitely need to check out the first two books of the series sooner rather than later; perhaps I'll get to know them better! I especially loved Martin's aunt with her matter-of-fact attitude and off-handish kindness.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Medical content
Moderate: Violence
samanatha's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
So sweet and wonderful.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Pedophilia
Minor: Addiction, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, and Medical content
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