Book Review #bookreview #sophiebarnes #theroguishbaron #netgalley
Sophie Barnes is definitely one of my favorite historical romance writers. I also find myself swiftly drawn into her stories, her writing is compelling and well paced and her characters are sympathetic and understandable on a base human level. The Roguish Baron is a novella in The Diamonds in the Rough series and it is a charming and delightful installment in a series that I truly love.
This second chance romance is between Sophia and Jack who have been friends since they were children. Four years ago Jack's father sent him away because he knew the Jack and Sophia were starting to develop feelings for each other that he did not agree with. Sophia is an orphan who was taken in by the local Vicar and befriended Jack, who is in line for a Vicountsy, and his sisters. With his return, Sophia enters into an engagement with the small hopes of making Jack jealous and realize his true feelings.
This quick and delightful story is woven together with some of my favorite tropes, we have a fake engagement, we have a bit of unrequited love, there is a charming snowed in scene, a secret identity and we also find that our couple must weather some time apart. I love that in this novel Sophia really discovers how to stand up for herself and what she wants and she does not let Jack take the easy road in winning her heart. I also love that once Jack is all in, he decides to do everything in his power to win Sophia, no matter his father's wishes. This is a very quick read, and it is low on the steam, but it is a really lovely introduction to Sophie Barnes' writing, this installment in the series does not really need to be read in order.
I would recommend this if you love Sophie Barnes, if you love a quick and sweet romance and you want a read that will put a smile on your face.
Thank you to Sophie Barnes and NetGalley for an eARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.