I received this book for free from Avon in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
All the Ways to Ruin a Rogue by Sophie Jordan Also in this series: A Good Debutante's Guide to Ruin, An Heiress for All Seasons
Series: The Debutante Files #2
Published by Avon on July 28th 2015
Genres: Historical Romance, Regency Era
Pages: 384
Format: eARC
Source: Avon
ISBN: 006222252X
There was once a lady who loathed a lord...
Lady Aurelia hasn't always hated Max, Viscount Camden, her brother's best friend. In fact, as a besotted girl, she thrived under his kind attention – sure that he was the most noble and handsome man in the land. Until her young heart discovered what manner of rogue he really was. Now, though she enjoys nothing more than getting on his last nerve, she can’t deny Max drives her to distraction—even if she tries to pretend otherwise.
...and a lord who was confounded by a lady.
Max cannot recall a time when Aurelia did not vex him. If she was not his friend’s sister, he would stay far away from the infuriating vixen. Unfortunately, they are always thrown together. At parties and family gatherings…she is always there. Infuriating him, tossing punch in his face, driving him mad...until one night, she goes too far and he retaliates in the only way he can: with a kiss that changes everything.
Summary
Aurelia once loved Max, and admired him but when she caught him in a certain act, her love turned slowly into anger, and that anger has fueled a conflict between them for years. Aurelia is very talented at drawing, but Max takes acception to it, since out of her anger she drew one of him that mocked him and still is whispered about. Max and Aurelia run in the same circles, since Max is best friends with Aurelia’s brother. Max has never known why Aurelia began hating him or when their conflict became so severe, but when Aurelia crosses a line, battle lines are drawn and soon Max and Aurelia will be tested in the worst ways. What comes to a surprise to both Max and Aurelia is the way that desire sparks between them despite how much they despite one another. But both soon learn that the line between love and hate is very thin at times, and that love can heal old wounds and form a closeness and intimacy they couldn’t ever imagine with each other.
Plot and Story Line
I quite enjoyed this story for the most part, very entertaining, and the writing as always was very engaging and Sophie Jordan can always draw me in like a moth to a flame into her stories. The reason my rating is a bit lower, is because I had issues with both of the main characters. Quite frankly both of them were quite perfect for each other, and both of them tended to get on my nerves quite a bit. I just couldn’t quite like them as much as I wanted to, or maybe I was trying too hard, but honestly these two would try the patience of a saint if need be. What we have over years of fighting, is a misunderstanding, and if Aurelia had just confronted Max about what she had seen the circumstances would be far different from what we see here. Max and Aurelia are both selfish quite a bit in this story, especially in the beginning, and it seems that they are so focused on hating each other they don’t see the big picture, just their inner world and don’t seem to care how much they are hurting each other. This was more than a simple angsty romance, but having said all this…I did like it quite a bit. And I just couldn’t put it down, despite my issues with the characters, but no worries eventually they come to terms and once they are fully honest with each other I began to soften towards them. I honestly never blamed Max in most of the interactions even if he could be pig headed, because Aurelia started it all and it all comes down to pride (greatest human downfall right folks?) but we also see the human mistakes and how despite how much they despise each other, this tension builds into something more that neither expects to find. That is the moment that the story really gets interesting. I really liked seeing the bantering and boy could they both go at it, they were just meant to be together just for their fighting alone. There was quite a great cast of supporting characters…and a sexy scot…I am curious if he will get a story because I liked him, really liked him.
The Cover
I love the dress, I just love pink and always have adored this color, and I love the pose, and what lovely wallpaper in the background.
Overall View
All The Ways To Ruin A Rogue is a tension filled romance, with sparky character, engaging writing talent, and a love story that blossoms beneath a bond of hatred….a bond that forms into a tender love. STIMULATING TILL THE END!!
About Sophie Jordan
Pseudonym:
Sharie Kohler
Sophie Jordan took her adolescent daydreaming one step further and penned her first historical romance in the back of her high school Spanish class. This passion led her to pursue a degree in English and History.
A brief stint in law school taught her that case law was not nearly as interesting as literature - teaching English seemed the natural recourse. After several years teaching high school students to love Antigone, Sophie resigned with the birth of her first child and decided it was time to pursue the long-held dream of writing.
In less than three years, her first book, Once Upon A Wedding Night, a 2006 Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Nominee for Best First Historical, hit book shelves. Her second novel, Too Wicked To Tame, released in March 2007 with a bang, landing on the USA Today Bestseller's List
It’s hard to REALLY enjoy a book when you don’t love the characters. Happy it was okay though.
I really really love this cover too. I don’t think it’s a book I would particularly enjoy though. But what a gorgeous cover.
Sounds like this book really suffering from a Big Misunderstanding. I have to like at one of the main characters in a romance so I may not check this one out. I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy it as much.