Diana Merriwell and Giles Sinclair only tolerate one another for the sake of their nearest and dearest. Everyone believes that the two of them are meant to be together, but Diana and Giles know that their constant pithy barbs come from a shared disdain—not a hidden attraction. Diana loves the freedom of working at the newspaper too much to give it up for marriage, and Giles is happily married to his bachelor lifestyle. But they do have one thing in common—the secrets they can’t risk escaping.
When Giles’ father, the curmudgeonly Duke of Harpenden unexpectedly turns up his toes, it’s only a matter of time before someone comes crawling out of the woodwork who knows the true circumstances of his only son’s birth. As the threat of blackmail becomes real, Giles must uncover the truth of his parentage first, or else he and all those who depend upon him will be ruined—and dogged bloodhound Diana is his best hope at sniffing out the truth. As Giles and Diana dive into his family’s past, the attraction that the two of them insisted wasn’t there proves impossible to ignore. Soon, the future of the Sinclair estate isn’t the only thing on the line…
| Title: | Never Rescue a Rogue |
| Author: | Virginia Heath |
| Series: | The Merriwell Sisters (Book 2) |
| Pages: | 368 |
| Category / Genre(s): | Historical |
| Trope(s): | Opposites Attract |
| Point of View: | Third Person, Past Tense, Dual Viewpoint (H & h) |
| Location: | London, England |
| Setting: | Regency |
| HEA: | ✔️ |
| Release Date: | 8th November, 2022 |
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What a delight
Other than a quick freebie from Mills & Boon, I’ve never read anything from Virginia Heath before this book. That’s also worth knowing as this happens to be the second in the Merriwell Sisters series. While Hugh and Minerva from the first book, Never Fall For Your Fiancee, are ever present in this story, along with other relations, at no point was I confused so can confirm that this book stands completely alone with an HEA. That doesn’t mean I’m not now determined to go back and read the first book, having enjoyed this one as much as I did.
Giles and Diana are enemies of a sort when we first meet them. They banter and snip at each other but even at the beginning there is definitely a familiarity and bond between them. It makes their interactions even more entertaining as they trade barbs and pretend to be utterly infuriated by the other.
It’s always difficult for an author to sell me a heroine who is dismissive of high society, marriage, love and men in general. I mean, that’s what I’m here for when I pick up a historical romance so too realistic and I would never relate to such a heroine. While Diana is dismissive of all those things, she’s sharp, witty, sensible and knows herself. She’s not stuck in her mindset and I felt a kinship with her from the first. She truly is irritated by Giles but you can see the fondness there. She’s also loyal and kind – and has a tongue as sharp as a traitor’s spike. She was pretty much perfectly written as she was.
“…so many twists, turns, subterfuge and shenanigans contained within…”
She was definitely the perfect heroine and foil for our hero, Giles. Giles is portrayed as a bit of a jokester and smooth charmer – at times silly in his character. But all that hides a lonely man with deep, dark secrets that doesn’t believe himself worthy of love and happiness. That, in my book, is the perfect candidate for a hero that falls hard and fast for the last person he would ever expect. Who just happens to be his perfect match in every way.
I loved the writing in the book and felt fully immersed in the historical world that Ms Heath created. I love a book that I don’t actually remember reading. I just lived in a story for a short while and felt fully satisfied at the other end. There’s so many twists, turns, subterfuge and shenanigans contained within our story that I at times worried I would lose track. I didn’t – and that’s despite every bloody member of the Harpenden family from time immemorial having a name that began with ‘G’. Why would someone do that to me, I ask you?!
In terms of heat – I would say that this book is more on the mild side. There is one short sex scene towards the end of the book which was intimate but still tasteful. While I always prefer a bit of naughtiness in my stories – if a book is well written, I don’t usually need it. This book had the perfect amount for the feel of it although, if I’m honest, I could have done with some more kissing between Giles and Diana. But they got there in the end without my constant screams to kiss already, dammit!
As I mentioned, this book was a sheer delight. Intrigue and love woven into a tale rich in banter and detail. I’m away to find myself a copy of the first book in the series, Never Fall For Your Fiancee, and will await with bated breath Vee’s story which I hope will have Galahad (no, really) as her hero! All in all a great pick and a book I’m very happy to recommend. 5 stars.
When Virginia Heath was a little girl it took her ages to fall asleep, so she made up stories in her head to help pass the time while she was staring at the ceiling. As she got older, the stories became more complicated, sometimes taking weeks to get to the happy ending. Then one day, she decided to embrace the insomnia and start writing them down. Twenty books and two Romantic Novel of the Year Award nominations later, and it still takes her forever to fall asleep.
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The Merriwell Sisters Series:
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