All the Ways to Ruin A Rogue by Sophie Jordan Series: The Debutante Files #2
Published by Avon on July 28, 2015
Pages: 384
Format: Paperback
Source: Advance Reader Copy
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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.
This was fast on its way to being a 5 star read, but sadly I had to dock it a couple stars. This book is lucky I didn’t give it a 2.
I love LOVE a good enemies to lovers story, but this one borderline missed the mark. Max and Aurelia practically grew up together. Aurelia loved him from the first, and one day, when she was old enough to go to a garden party, she accidentally walked in on something awful-Max with one of the maids. She was so angry she took to her sketchpad and drew an unflattering caricature of Max and drew his manhood with a lot to be desired. And accidentally left her sketchbook by a tree where Max’s peers found it. She had no clue, but he saw it, recognized her sketchbook, and doesn’t know what would cause her to do this, but to him it’s the ultimate betrayal. He’s now nicknamed “Cockless Camden” and spends the next few years proving everyone how wrong they are.
Aurelia tried once to explain to him, but he didn’t give her the chance. So several years later, the two of them can barely be in the same room together. Being that he’s her brother’s best friend, and her mother adores him like a son, they’re together a lot.
I was riveted for the first half. But by the 60% point all the bickering was wearing on me. That’s what I meant initially by saying this book started out as a 5 star book. I mean I couldn’t put it down. But then I kept waiting for them to start to like each other. They don’t for a long time. It’s still good, I’d recommend it, but it’s really hard to like a book when the hero and heroine spend so much time being so awful to each other.
As compelling as Sophie Jordan’s writing is, I feel that the majority of this book was the hero and heroine sniping at each other. This author is very talented, I love this world she’s created, and I liked the characters, or at least I liked them in the previous books, but for such a talented author, I’m shocked how little page time was devoted to the two of them falling in love.
There’s banter, and there’s these two being mean to each other at every opportunity. It wasn’t fun banter with a seductive undercurrent. It was just plain mean. It’s really hard to enjoy a book when at the 80% mark, they’re still taking shots at each other!
It’s like the author spent so much time having the H/h at each others’ throats, that the ending wasn’t enough.
Max was horrible at the end. I expected more from him. I wanted so much more from him.
So, I give this a 3, although I really wish I could have given it a 5.
***ARC courtesy of Avon Books
Highland Hussy
