Review - - Any Rogue Will Do

Any Rogue Will Do

by Bethany Bennett

Misfits of Mayfair - Book 1

Publisher: Forever

Release Date: October 13, 2020

Reviewed by PJ

 

For exactly one season, Lady Charlotte Wentworth played the biddable female the ton expected -- and all it got her was society's mockery and derision. Now she's determined to be in charge of her own future. So when an unwanted suitor tries to manipulate her into an engagement, she has a plan. He can't claim to be her fiancé if she's engaged to someone else. Even if it means asking for help from the last man she would ever marry.

Ethan, Viscount Amesbury, made a lot of mistakes, but the one he regrets the most is ruining Lady Charlotte's reputation. Going along with her charade is the least he can do to clean the slate and perhaps earn her forgiveness. Pretending to be in love with the woman he's never forgotten is easy. What isn't easy is convincing her to give him a second chance.

PJ's Thoughts:

Filled with sparkling banter, heart-tugging emotion, sizzling passion, action-packed danger, and swoony romance, this book is an absolute delight. Bethany Bennett hooked me from the first page and kept me glued to the story until the very end. I liked these characters. I cheered for them, laughed with them, feared for them, and wept over them. Bennett brought them to life on the pages, imbuing them with realistic flaws...and feelings. I loved how Ethan and Lottie evolved from enemies to friends to a fake engagement to, finally, a happily ever after. And Bennett does not make that journey easy!

I really enjoyed the people Lottie and Ethan had become during the years between their "scandal" and their unexpected reunion, at the start of the book. They had each matured, discovered their strengths,  who they wanted to be and what was important in their lives. They were at a place in their lives where they could meet as equals. Their chemistry flared bright (balcony scene - just saying) but I also appreciated the friendship that developed between them. And I loved their genuine kindness to others. They were each a person I'd love to call my friend. 

I enjoyed the friendship between Ethan and Cal, a character who leaped from the page. I can't wait to find out more about him in his book, West End Earl, scheduled for release in June 2021. I also enjoyed Lottie's relationship with both her maid and her godmother, two characters who played significant roles in this story.

The villain of the book is one nasty piece of work and I have to admit, I derived a great deal of enjoyment and satisfaction from the conclusion of his storyline. In fact, I may have cackled with glee.

Any Rogue Will Do may be Bethany Bennett's debut but it shines with the glittering polish of a seasoned author. I predict Ms. Bennett will be dazzling readers for many years to come.