*I received a free copy of The Rogue's Proposal from Forever via Netgalley. This has in no way influenced my voluntary review, which is honest and unbiased *
Warning: This book includes mature content such as: sexual content, and/or drug and/or alcohol use, and/or violence.
Lukas Hawkins, the second son of the troubled House of Trent, is on a mission: find his missing mother and her alleged kidnapper, a brute named Roger Morton. If bringing the villain to justice means breaking a few laws, then so be it. But when he encounters a mysterious stranger with the face of an angel and a body made for sin, Luke suddenly finds his task - and his heart - in peril.
Emma Curtis knows of Lord Lukas's rakish reputation-and hopes to use it to her advantage. While most men of honor would never travel alone with an unmarried woman, Luke is quite willing to take Emma on the road... and into his bed. As their journey carries them to unexpected places, Luke and Emma indulge their every passion and share their most private fantasies. But just when their deepest desires are finally within reach, a secret is revealed that threatens to end their love forever...
The Rogue’s Proposal is a very hot, sensual and mysterious tale! I have no idea why I’ve let this stay hidden on my kindle for so long!
Luke and Em were quite different from the characters I usually follow in a historical romance, and that made The Rogue’s Proposal a unique read. Em, a young widow, was willing to do whatever it took to find the man who had murdered her husband and run away with her family’s fortune. Luke was after the same man, but for different reasons, and when Em showed up to tell him she would go on this manhunt with him, all he could think about was how delicate and sweet-looking she was. His thoughts went dirty fast, but Em laid down some ground-rules that made me smile. She knew what she wanted, but there was no way she was going to let Luke walk all over her anyway.
On what seemed to be a wild goose chase at first, Em and Luke leave England for Scotland, then have to go back to London in order to find the man they want to bring to justice. Only, at one point, they are forced to stay inside their room at the inn for several days, and the attraction between them becomes impossible to resist. The Rogue’s Proposal is different because Em isn’t a virgin – she is fairly innocent, but she also has some pretty hot fantasies. Luke has always thought his own debauched fantasies were way too much for one woman to keep in check, and he can’t believe Em might be the one woman who could maybe, one day, become his.
Between the romance and the mystery, The Rogue’s Proposal is fairly fast-paced, and there are many situations in which Luke and Em are in danger from more than their strong feelings towards each other. They both have a past that has partly shaped who they are today, and especially Luke has been through hell since he was a little boy. Em’s strong convictions when it comes to his honour is what finally helps him see that he might not be as bad as he was told when he was a boy.
Written in third person point of view, the narration shares enough with the readers that I got a very good knowledge of Luke and Em, both their good and their bad sides, and it was refreshing to read about characters who were flawed, but not doomed because of those flaws.
Still, it seemed Lord Lukas was more concerned about her reputation than he cared to admit. That thought gave her a tiny, pleasant flicker inside. A warm, strange glow she’d never felt before.
He was a complicated man. He confused her. Unsettled her. He was nothing like she’d expected him to be. But now she realized her expectations hadn’t been fair.
Luke urged the horses into a trot, pretending to take it slow for the gray’s sake. He’d lied. The gray hadn’t been limping. But he’d needed to get off the curricle for a moment. Put some distance between himself and Emma.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
About Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms
Linda is an English as foreign language teacher and has a Master's degree in English Language and Literature. She's an avid reader, blogger, compulsive one-clicker and a genre omnivore. Ever since she learnt how to read she has been seen with a book or two in her hands everywhere she goes.
I love historical romance novels, but I have to admit that I haven’t explored more beyond my holy trinity of HR that is Lisa Kleypas, Sarah MacLean and Tessa Dare. I love that this one isn’t just a romance and that it also has a mystery. And I know it was typical in those days to have virgin heroines, but I’m excited that Em isn’t one. The romance sounds really hot!
Thanks for introducing this one, Lexxie! I’m excited to read this now. 🙂
I love Tessa Dare, Nick! Of course, there are several others I enjoy, too. I think having a non-virginal heroine in an HR makes it even more interesting! Not that she had lots of experience, but it made their relationship quite hot 😉
It’s always a treat to uncover a fabulous read that’s been ‘hiding’ on our kindle, isn’t it? Of course, then we kick ourselves for ‘losing’ it in the first place. *haha* I’m glad you enjoyed The Rogue’s Proposal so well, Lexxie. It sounds exciting with the mystery and Luke and Em traveling, trying to find the bad guy. I’m also curious as to their pasts, particularly Luke’s. The sparks between Luke and Em are also something I’d like to see, since Luke first saw Em as ‘fragile’ and then she turns out to be the one woman who could ‘handle’ him?!? As you can see, you have me rather excited over this book, my friend. 😉
I hope you’re enjoying your Thursday!! **BIG HUGS**
What’s up with us ‘losing’ great books on our kindles, Brandee? I don’t know why that happens (actually that’s a lie, I totally know why – it’s that darned one-clicking!!).
Both the mystery and their pasts, as well as their relationship were well done. Yup, Luke thought she was fragile, then realized that there was much more to her. I’m pleased that I managed to get you excited bout this one, I’m sure you’ll love it 😉 *BIG HUGS*
This sounds fabulous. Luke seems like an amazing character and I want to find out more about this couple.
It is fabulous, Majanka. I had a great time reading about Luke and Em!
Twitter: kbaby81
It’s always the ones that are buried deep in our ereaders that make us kick ourselves. I’ve not tried this series, but I’m adding it to my HR list. Great review!
I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did, Lekeisha. I think I’m going to go on another treasure hunt on my kindle very soon 😉
I love Jennifer but haven’t read this one yet. I have it on hold (though I am 20th in line) at the library so I will get to it soon (ish) LOL 🙂
I hope those 20 people in front of you are fast readers, Felicia!
I love historical romances with an interesting underlying mystery. They are just so much fun. I love that Em isn’t a virgin like almost every other main character in HR. I am always amazed by the great books that have sat on my kindle unread for years. Better late than never! Great review!
I know! Em not being a virgin gave this story extra points, Carole 😀 (yeah, I’m weird like that!). And the mystery along with the historical setting worked really well.
Better late than never, indeed 🙂
I wouldn’t have pegged this for a historical romance based on the cover. I like that it has mystery and that you enjoyed the characters, flaws and all.
I think she’s supposed to be in her stays, Heidi… it’s a little on the naughty side, but so delicious 😀
I love a good mix of romance and mystery like that! And what a fun thing to find a book we have that we really enjoy!
I’m sure I have many other books hidden on my shelves and on my kindle that I’m going to love once I actually read them, Melliane 🙂
Twitter: kimbacaffeinate
Historical romances always make me smile. Luck and Em sound delightful as does the mystery aspect!
I love historical romances, too, Kim, even more so when they are a little unconventional 😉
This sounds like a good one, with how it’s different from most historical romances and it sounds like a hot and mysterious book as well. Em sounds like a feisty character with how she lays down some ground rules. And I like the sound of some mystery added to this historical romance as well. Great review!
Yes, there is a good mystery, and there is definitely some hotness here, Lola. Em is fantastic, and I really enjoyed reading about both her and Luke.
*clapping hands* whohoo!!! Can I say how thrilled I am to see that you read Haymore and Liked her. I love her books, and this series is so entertaining.
It is awesome, and I’m really happy I have one of her other books to read, Renee!
Oh dancing around! I totally LOVE her books and this series. Totally had a squee seeing it and that you enjoyed them 😀
I love this series, too, and I think the characters are just ‘different’ enough to make the stories even better 😀