A Rogue’s Autumn Bride by Lana Williams

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Rogue Chronicles, #8

Release Date: November 30, 2021

After a horrid experience when she first arrived in London, Miss Sarah Ramsey was the victim of ignorance and found herself locked in a brothel, luckily for her, she was rescued before she could be sold and was given a second chance. She soon became a companion to the Marchioness of Whirlenhall and has tried very hard to put her past behind her. But while meeting a friend from the country at the coaching inn, Sarah spies a man scamming newly arrived women with promises of training and employment, as well as lodgings, but in reality, they are enslaving women in brothels. Sarah confronts the man and things turn ugly. After spying the altercation, Captian Harry Clarke intervenes and the man finally backs down. Sarah thanks him and they part ways, never expecting to see each other again.

But fate is not done with them, and mutual friends end up bringing them together again to organize a charity ball. Something that requires them to spend more time together, Harry is enchanted but doesn’t think he is worthy of Sarah, having lost a leg in the war. Likewise, Sarah is attracted to Harry but believes she is ruined thanks to the incident with the brothel. They fight their attraction and work together for the ball and in addition to this, Harry begins tracking down the men running the “maid-training” scam and finds one of his former soldiers involved. Harry tries unsuccessfully to convince the man to stop working with the scammers but is met with stiff opposition. And when things take a violent turn, any hope Harry has for a HEA dies a swift death when self-doubt and miscommunication cause them to part ways. Can they find their HEA or will they let their pasts rule their future?

This was a very well-written, nicely-paced story with very likable characters. The book deals with some sensitive issues, but isn’t as dark I thought it would be. Instead, it is a story filled with wonderful characters, a lot of emotion, truly evil villains, a hero with wounds inside and out but who is decidedly not a rogue, a heroine who will fight for what is right, warmish love scenes, and a HEA complete with an epilogue. I enjoyed this installment of the series and would be happy to recommend this title. This is the eighth book in the series, but it can easily be read as a standalone without any problems.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*