The Virgin and the Rogue The Rogue Files

This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance The Virgin and the Rogue is a book that I have been meaning to get to ALL the year long and I finally got the courage to pick this one up. This newer series by this author has been a bit of a hit or miss for me and I can tell you I am beyond grateful I chose to read this one in audio format, because it did start out a bit slower than I would have liked if I had started it out in physical form. And oh boy, the crazy stuff that happens in this book was just laugh out loud fun at times and other times it provoked such swoony feels and even though the flow of the story wasn't quite as smooth as I would have wanted, it was still a solid romance to enjoy. Our story begins with our heroine, Charlotte Langley. She is betrothed to be married to a man she grew up with. She is comfortable with him but he doesn't stir emotions like what she sees with her sister and her new husband. While having a dinner with her in laws and the family, she meets the brother of her brother in law...Kingston. Kingston has been known to many as a rogue, although Kingston is tired of the city life and the demands and misconceptions about his character. But when her sister gives her a potion to aid in her monthly' pains but only to have something worse given to her ...a aphrodisiac, one that provoked her into practically attacking Kingston in the library without realizing what was happening to her. Even though Charlotte believes she has been drugged by her sister, she knows that Kingston has awakened something inside her she doesn't want to give up but will she choose her own happiness over duty and obligation? The Virgin and the Rogue was such a interesting take and I don't think I have read a book where the heroine is overcome by a aphrodisiac before, and it was pretty entertaining and HOT to see that scene unfold. Because I think that might be one the steamiest scenes that this author has ever written, although I could be wrong, she does do many well written sensual scenes within her books. And I will say as we are talking about this scene, side not....the SISTER I am NOT a fan of and she is the heroine in the next book *sigh* it might be a while before I read her book to be honest. Because I so didn't like her lack of remorse or care for her sister and the way she manipulated her in this one. She, dull and proper Charlotte Langley, had a liaison with a renowned rogue, and he was still hanging about, complicating her life with public proposals. The romance that builds within this story is so beautiful and I really liked seeing these two together. The sensuality is what kicks off their romance with a bang, but we go from the library to the mermaid in the lake scene to seeing them discover what is between them while all at the same time Charlotte is debating her engagement. You see how she wrestles with the expectations of her getting married, to actually realizing she has no fierce love for her fiancee and she wants more out of her life. Seeing these two journey towards each other in their own realization and expectations of what they desire in life was actually very heartwarming in many respects. Sophie Jordan is so talented in writing the balance of smexy and heart within her books and I found myself charmed within every chapter seeing their love blossoms so beautifully. “You,” he answered thickly, his voice hoarse as he collapsed against a tree. “I was thinking of you. Only you. I only ever think of you. Your peace. Your happiness. You . . . you are everything to me, Charlie.” Overall I found The Virgin and the Rogue to be a romance that offers a unique take that readers will find refreshing in most unexpected ways.

The whole forbidden romance aspect of “The Virgin and the Rogue” really did it for me with this one. I was expecting something overly cheesy, overused, and played out yet I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked Charlie and Samuel’s relationship and intense connection they shared alongside the oh so hot steamy moments they had throughout the entire series. Like typical romances, of course drama ensues when Charlotte tries to fight off her attraction with the rake when it’s revealed she betrothed to a childhood friend but that all changes in an instant when she takes a elixir created by her sister that will forever change the course of their relationship forever. This is the perfect combination for any reader looking for romance, steamy moments, opposites attract forbidden historical romance.

**4.5⭐️

One of the best historical romance covers so far of 2020 hides an equally steamy tale featuring a love potion, a virgin engaged to another man, and the rogue who claims he'll never fall in love. What an entirely madcap adventure, one confined within the stuffy walls of a mansion that can barely contain the simmering heat between Charlotte and Kingston. I don't want to give away much more of the plot as it is best consumed in one sitting while you feverishly read through it with an icy beverage on hand to rub on your cheeks. For readers concerned with the love potion and consent, I recommended reading the spoiler on Jenreadsromance's excellent review here. Charlotte's journey into her own power was a great way to spend an evening. Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.

It’s been a hot minute since I last read a Sophie Jordan historical romance. I’m more familiar with her contemporaries, but I have enjoyed her historicals in the past. The Virgin and the Rogue was my very first read in The Rogue Files series but it holds perfect well as a standalone, which I appreciated. I ended up enjoying it so much! It was a lovely, light-hearted, and easy read that already has me itching to go back and catch myself up on the rest of the series. The book starts off with a love potion. Well, the heroine getting cramps from her period AND a love potion. Quite the start to a story, if I do say so myself. Charlotte drinks a “healing” potion given by her herbalist younger sister and all of a sudden, it’s made her very lusty. So when she runs into Samuel Kingston, she pounces on him. This is honestly such a fun premise. Yes, you might have to suspend your beliefs to get into it, but I still enjoyed it all the same. When Charlotte and Kingston meet, they know they are the most unlikely of pairs. She’s a quiet, respectable, demure lady who is betrothed, while he is a former rogue and rakehell. He’s been celibate and clean for over a year and the last person he expects to break him of this is the proper Charlotte. But she shows him just how improper she is after she drinks her potion, and now he can’t get her out of his mind. I adored Charlotte and Kingston! I loved how he called her Charlie and she called him Samuel, his first name. I always love when main characters get to call each other names no one else can. Theirs isn’t the easiest of romances, with Charlotte being engaged to another man and believing her wanting him is due to the potion, but I truly enjoyed the way the story played out. Charlotte is as endearing as she is frustrating, and I liked her character, faults and all. Kingston is the perfect match for her, the only one capable of bringing out her true character. He was so sweet but also knew when and how to push her. They made a fantastic couple! The Virgin and the Rogue was a total hit, and now I’m kicking myself for not having read this series sooner. Charlotte’s older sister already has her book, and the next one is about the youngest sister, who I am SO excited for!