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The Virgin and the Rogue

(The Rogue Files #6)

Sophie Jordan (Goodreads Author)

3.68 · Rating details · 1,900 ratings · 358 reviews

Continuing her bestselling Rogue Files series, Sophie Jordan brews up a scintillating romance about a timid wallflower who discovers a love potion and ends up falling for a dashing rogue.

A love potion…

Charlotte Langley has always been the prudent middle sister, so her family is not surprised when she makes the safe choice and agrees to wed her childhood sweetheart. But whe ...more

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Mass Market Paperback, 351 pages

Published April 28th 2020 by Avon

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· 1,900 ratings · 358 reviews

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Jan 25, 2020 JenReadsRomance rated it it was amazing

So before we begin, please know I am a Sophie Jordan fangirl and the whole premise of this --- LOVE POTION, really harkens back to the kind of old school romance plots that I really love. That being said, I am sure people will worry about consent issues, and I will only say that it really worked for me because (view spoiler) ...more

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Nov 11, 2019 WhiskeyintheJar marked it as to-read

Shelves: new-releases

How do I feel about the title, can't really answer that. But broke a nail clicking on the cover to enlarge.

To be polite about it, I'm a cover looky-lou and this is on my to-read list for that alone. ...more

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May 18, 2020 Lacey (laceybooklovers) rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-romance, adult, tbr-2020

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 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! ...more

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Apr 11, 2020 Kayla Brunson rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, historical, read-in-2020, romance

I must say, this is one of the steamiest historical romances I’ve read! I knew our main character was going to be under a tonic but goodness! The results were very hot! I haven’t read this series before but this book reads easily as a standalone.

While I did think this was pretty steamy, I did have some issues with our main character Charlotte. She hid her feelings and wants behind the concoction that Nora gave her. I wanted her to own up to her feelings for Kingston and her doubts about her bet ...more

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Jan 20, 2021 Lisa (Remarkablylisa) rated it it was ok

Shelves: historical-romance-i-own, january-2021

This book started off kind of silly because she took a love tonic and got into heat and basically jumped on our hero right from the beginning. After that, it was fluff and no substance that I cared too much about.

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Feb 17, 2020 Esther rated it liked it

Shelves: arc, arc-edelweiss, family, virgin, virgin-heroine, epilogue

ARC provided by Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Rating 2.75

Review to come.

This was borderline Erotic. Not much character development and storyline.

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Mar 21, 2020 Becky rated it really liked it

Shelves: virgin-heroines, net-galley, eggplant-in-a-pie-aubergine

The Virgin and the Rogue by Sophie Jordan
The Rogue Riles #6

I know the cover has been mentioned many times but I just love it! It's so damn sexy. I feel like the hero's pose and those back muscles, just wow. I saw this originally on John Paul's facebook page and was like I NEED IT!!!! When I saw it was Sophie Jordan's book, I was a little hesitant because she's been so hit or miss for me. I have read the first 3 books from this series and I strongly disliked books 1 and 3. But I overall liked boo The Virgin and the Rogue by Sophie Jordan
The Rogue Riles #6

I know the cover has been mentioned many times but I just love it! It's so damn sexy. I feel like the hero's pose and those back muscles, just wow. I saw this originally on John Paul's facebook page and was like I NEED IT!!!! When I saw it was Sophie Jordan's book, I was a little hesitant because she's been so hit or miss for me. I have read the first 3 books from this series and I strongly disliked books 1 and 3. But I overall liked book 2. This is book 6 but reads fine as a standalone. The heroine, Charlotte, lives with her sister and her husband, who are the hero and heroine from book 5, so it might be pleasant to read that story at least beforehand but not necessary. (At least that's how I feel with not having read book 5 :)

Now, I'm not going to lie, this book is a little ridiculous. It begins with Charlotte suffering from horrible menstrual cramps and her sister making her a tonic. It sounds like this is a frequent occurrence, but this time her sister experiments a bit with her herbs and makes her an aphrodisiac that turns Charlotte into a sex monster.

What follows is VERY SEXY. Two very hot, explicit scenes (no penetration) all before 40%. I was quite surprised. And while I usually don't love too much of that right away in the story, it worked here. This was a book I wanted to see what happened and I was eager to pick it back up again.

Kingston is a bastard, but is well known by the ladies and even the matchmaking mamas. He's had his fun but something has totally stolen the joy of women from him. He has a long celibate period before the heroine, I always love when that happens with a hero. Kingston is so damn sexy. And I really did like him. But, something happened with the character development in the book for me that I was left with only slightly knowing and caring about both characters. He has pain and we get to witness some of it but something just didn't quite grab my heart about him that it should have.

Charlotte I was left feeling similarly. I enjoyed her overall, but nothing extreme. I was still left feeling I only knew the basics about her, which made me sad because she was discussed so much as being this dowdy, boring lump and I didn't want to leave the book still feeling like she was a dowdy, boring lump. Lol. And she came out a little bit (I mean she came out A LOT sexually, but I wanted more than that.) I loved the sexual side of her finding her confidence but I wanted to see more of this fiery personality underneath.

So the sex was great. The story was overall good. The characters were okay. The emotional side was okay. Overall I really liked it but could have really loved it with a few tweaks. This has turned my opinion of Sophie Jordan to the better though. I have been liking the books from her less and less and this one is probably my second favorite by her.

Thank you net galley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own regarding the story. ...more

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Apr 25, 2020 Stacee rated it liked it

Shelves: read-in-2020, edelweiss

3.5 stars

I’ve read the other books in this series and had no plans on skipping this one, but was even more intrigued when the title and cover came out.

I liked Charlotte and Kingston. They’re both really good people who are looking for something of their own. The chemistry was instant and it was fun reading their interactions. Of course I loved seeing Marian and I’m already beside myself at Nora getting a book.

Plot wise, it was just okay. The “love potion” is the catalyst for Charlotte figurin ...more

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Mar 16, 2020 Lubnaa (Romance Library) rated it liked it

Shelves: arc, beautiful-cover-stepback, chemistry, 2020, historical-romance, house-party

I received an ARC from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

3.25 stars

And the best romance cover of 2020 goes to The Virgin and The Rogue. I'm not even kidding when I say that I downloaded the ARC solely because of the cover. I might even need to get myself a physical copy lol. The book is not perfect, but I think overall, I did like it. I've read a lot of Sophie Jordan's books, but this was my first book from The Rogue Files series and luckily, it worked well as a standalone.

Charlotte La I received an ARC from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

3.25 stars

And the best romance cover of 2020 goes to The Virgin and The Rogue. I'm not even kidding when I say that I downloaded the ARC solely because of the cover. I might even need to get myself a physical copy lol. The book is not perfect, but I think overall, I did like it. I've read a lot of Sophie Jordan's books, but this was my first book from The Rogue Files series and luckily, it worked well as a standalone.

Charlotte Langley prefers to lead a quiet life and she's betrothed to her childhood sweetheart who matches her in temperament. But when Charlotte takes a herbal concoction to ease her menstrual cramps, the tonic actually ends up being an aphrodisiac. It brings out her passionate nature, leading her to hook up with Samuel Kingston, her brother-in-law's stepbrother.

You must suspend disbelief before starting this book. Certain parts of The Virgin and The Rogue were ADDICTING, to the point where I couldn't bring myself to put the book down. The whole aphrodisiac portion of the book was a lot of fun to read. And it was sexy. It was basically the equivalent of a fevered sex dream. Mind you, the heroine is betrothed to another man when that happens, so it is a bit frustrating. But her superb chemistry with Kingston makes up for it. There are also other factors at play, like her betrothed's atrocious parents. And not to mention, the actual tonic itself. I would say that the tonic acts as a trigger that pushes Charlotte out of her comfort zone and forces her to realize important things about herself.

The blistering chemistry worked really well for me and I liked the hero and heroine for the most part. There is some emotional development, but there is not a lot of room for it to really grow as much as it could have, mostly because the emotional intimacy only comes into play in the last 30%ish of the book. As engaging as the tonic storyline was, I wish that the book was longer, or at least, had a less tight timeline for deeper emotional development.

Another thing that didn't quite work well for me is the repetitiveness — the same background information being repeated over and over again. The hero also keeps telling us multiple times that he's not a cad or a rapist, as if he's expecting the reader to applaud him for his basic human decency. The author was trying way too hard here. We are shown that yes, he's not a horrible human being, despite his history of rakish behaviour. But there is no need for the constant telling and re-telling. Showing is a lot more effective than telling. And the author has already shown us that the hero isn't an ass. You don't need to tell me over and over again, especially if you've already done a good job of showing me. There were also a few continuity errors related to the story and the characters, but I'm sure that will be resolved in the final copy.

Overall, The Virgin and The Rogue is a fun and engaging read, but the execution is not the strongest. Regardless, I liked the fun aphrodisiac portion of the story and how it pushed the heroine to learn important things about herself. I also liked the hero's own journey, especially in relation to his father. I just think that the execution of the emotional intimacy could have been stronger. ...more

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Nov 26, 2020 Melanie rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-romance, netgalley, own-print

The Virgin and the Rogue was a fantastic read featuring a romance that uses the love potion trope wonderfully.

Charlotte Langley has always been one to make the safe choice, so no one is surprised when she agrees to marry her childhood sweetheart. But when her herbalist sister accidentally gives her an aphrodisiac instead of her usual pain relieving tonic, Charlotte finds herself desiring a man who is not her fiancé. Kingston has grown tired of his roguish lifestyle and decides that his stepbroth The Virgin and the Rogue was a fantastic read featuring a romance that uses the love potion trope wonderfully.

Charlotte Langley has always been one to make the safe choice, so no one is surprised when she agrees to marry her childhood sweetheart. But when her herbalist sister accidentally gives her an aphrodisiac instead of her usual pain relieving tonic, Charlotte finds herself desiring a man who is not her fiancé. Kingston has grown tired of his roguish lifestyle and decides that his stepbrother's country estate is the perfect place to hide out. The last thing he expected to find at the remote location was a passionate encounter with a wallflower.

Charlotte has never been one with grand plans and has always desired a simple life where she will start a family and live in her childhood home. In accepting her childhood sweetheart's proposal, Charlotte believes she is now on the path to having the life she wants. As the least outspoken of the Langley sisters, Charlotte is often overlooked and her desire to be first in someone's life is not an outlandish wish. Charlotte's sisters had a tendency to discount Charlotte's thoughts and feelings, albeit unintentionally, which I didn't love.

Kingston is the bastard son of an earl and has spent his life drifting from place to place, never having a real home. In the last year, Kingston has grown tired of his lifestyle and finds he wants more out of life. And despite being someone who's company is sought after, he's actually very lonely. Kingston is very much at a crossroads when we meet him in this book and I enjoyed watching him try and figure out what he wants out of life.

Charlotte and Kingston's first meeting doesn't go well and the two form a lot of assumptions about each other. Late that night is when Charlotte feels the effects of the aphrodisiac she was given and encounters Kingston in the hallway leading to a very steamy scene between the pair. The chemistry between the two is instantaneous and the scene was fantastically done. From there Charlotte tries to avoid what happened whereas Kingston won't let her as he feels she clearly wants more from life than a passionless marriage. I really enjoyed the push-pull between these two although I will say I wish Charlotte had come around sooner regarding her engagement. There are a few more steamy scenes which were just as fantastic as the first one.

Overall I really enjoyed The Virgin and the Rogue and I will definitely be checking out the other books I haven't read yet in the series.

**I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.** ...more

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Oct 16, 2020 Stephanie rated it did not like it

Shelves: 2020, forced-proximity, marriage-out-of-class, illegitimate-hero-heroine, virgin-or-celibate-hero, working-hero-or-heroine, literal-cheating, author-sophie-jordan

I'm so confused by this book. First of all, the description: "But when she finds herself under the weather and drinks a "healing" tonic, the potion provokes the most maddening desire..." By 'under the weather' they mean she's getting her period. This is a book by a woman, for women (predominantly for women, I should say) - can we not call it her period, or menses? (Also, plot hole? Because she talks about how she's about to get her period but then she and the hero keep hooking up and she... neve I'm so confused by this book. First of all, the description: "But when she finds herself under the weather and drinks a "healing" tonic, the potion provokes the most maddening desire..." By 'under the weather' they mean she's getting her period. This is a book by a woman, for women (predominantly for women, I should say) - can we not call it her period, or menses? (Also, plot hole? Because she talks about how she's about to get her period but then she and the hero keep hooking up and she... never gets it?) And the "healing tonic" is her sister drugging her with what amounts to 1800s female viagra.

I'm not shelving this on "don't recommend" because I'm clearly the minority on this one - all my Goodreads friends liked this book and I got a bunch of messages saying it was awesome. I don't know if it was any one thing that made me dislike it, because I was definitely having fun in the beginning of the book, but once I got to the 75% mark I was kind of like... is this it?

- The questionable scene of Charlotte riding Kingston in the hallway. I don't know if this is a consent issue because it's from his POV after and he talks about enjoying it / being enthralled by her, but later he does call it an attack (jokingly).
- The ridiculous nature of the tonic. It's never described and I think it's meant to be cute/funny but I just don't get it.
- The insta-love. The first half of the book takes place over I think 24-48 hours... the rest is a few days, a week tops? I'm like... are you in love, or are you just horny? It's fine if you're just horny but lets call a spade a spade.
- The plot was weak for me. It was just her being horny from the potion, her being horny without the potion, her literally cheating on her childhood sweetheart, and questioning getting married.
- See above - literal cheating.
- There were so many points where we as the reader know her engagement to her childhood sweetheart is a bad idea. They barely talk, his parents are terrible, he has no spine, she's never kissed him, she doesn't want to kiss him, she isn't planning her wedding (her dragon mother in law is), - oh and she has a full on Carrie Bradshaw panic attack in a wedding dress and needs to be ripped out of it because she can't breath. Like, did any of those ring a bell? Or, when she finally comes to the realization, does she think through any of these things or her complex emotions towards her childhood sweetheart - who she does remember fondly as being exactly what she needed after her mother passed? No, she just is like, "boom, done." No thinking through it... no fall out... no discussion.

This one just didn't work for me. I think there were parts that were cute and fun and I liked the idea of a girl who's horny and can't control it because it was kind of hilarious in the beginning where she was swimming nude and he was like "wanna go again?" and she's like "NO!!! but ok yes" - but it didn't really play out for me. ...more

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Jan 02, 2021 Lover of Romance rated it really liked it · review of another edition

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 ha ...more

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Feb 08, 2020 Sheena ☆ Oh, the Sheenanigans! rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arcs-ebook, death, historical, marriage-or-marriage-arrangement, standalone, historical-romance, pleasantly-surprised, romance, netgalley, series

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 r ...more

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May 09, 2020 Sarah rated it it was amazing

What a surprise this book was! My least favorite trope is the virgin and the rake so I didn’t have high hopes going into this, but this book totally surprised me! It was completely different from the usual. The hero is a good guy and the heroine is a bit of a bad girl in the beginning. The hero was especially likable and sweet. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and stayed up till 3 am to finish it. I’m looking forward to the last book in the series.

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Feb 26, 2021 Tammy rated it really liked it

Shelves: release-2020

This had me laughing out loud. I’m not sure how to review it so here goes. Sophie Jordan’s book #6 in The Rogue Files, has to do with a love potion storyline. Our heroine Charlotte is having monthly cramps, so her quirky sister Nora, who’s a semi-doctor/healer, uses herbs to make a healing tonic for Charlotte’s cramps that’s ends up being an aphrodisiac. While under the herbal tonic she appears to be in heat. Yes, you heard that right. She comes across Kingston in the middle of the night, who’s ...more

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Apr 23, 2020 Maida rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: series, arc, edelweiss, historical, ebooks, virgin, giveaways

Firstly, how gorgeous is that cover?

Secondly, how hot are those sexytimes?🔥 Naughty Sophie. 😉

This bananas book had me smiling throughout and admiring Sophie for making this crazy-sauce plot work.

An accidental love potion was the device that brought milksop Charlotte and reformed rake Kingston together. It was also the means by which Charlotte found herself and lent her the push to make life-changing decisions. Consequently, the aphrodisiac also helped Kingston realize what he wanted in life af ...more

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Apr 28, 2020 eyes.2c rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, regency-romance

Well! This is an unusual Regency romance!

A young engaged woman, Charlotte Langley, takes a concoction to treat the onset of her menses, made up by her herbalist / pharmacutical inclined sister, Nora. After feeling strangely like her skins on fire, she then 'jumps the bones' of her brother-in-law's visiting illegitimate step brother, the rakish, handsome Kingston.
My head was reeling and this was just the opening salvo! After deciding she had obviously been under the influence of an aphrodisiac mi Well! This is an unusual Regency romance!

A young engaged woman, Charlotte Langley, takes a concoction to treat the onset of her menses, made up by her herbalist / pharmacutical inclined sister, Nora. After feeling strangely like her skins on fire, she then 'jumps the bones' of her brother-in-law's visiting illegitimate step brother, the rakish, handsome Kingston.
My head was reeling and this was just the opening salvo! After deciding she had obviously been under the influence of an aphrodisiac mixture, Charlotte does it again...and again. Like a cat on heat really when she's around the gorgeous Kingston. And this is the quiet, boring, middle sister.
It was so ludicrous, verging on the comic, that I found I had to keep reading even as I mentally winced...continually!
All this whilst Charlotte is betrothed to a childhood friend, Billy, whose mother is a social climbing tyrant.
I'm in two minds about this novel. It's either a five star brilliant parody playing with the rake and innocent young miss genre, or it's a one star trite historical romance relieved by heaps of panting sexuality.
I've decided to settle for somewhere in between. The plot calls for suspension of belief of any preconceived notions of how a Regency miss should or would behave. I felt like I'd wandered into an Alice in Wonderland plot, where the innocent Alice (Charlotte) goes down a rabbit hole and comes out at the Fanny Hill end. I kept reading to see what was going to happen! Charlotte overcome by the force of attraction for Kingston keeps succumbing to her feelings, even when the excuse of having unknowingly drunk an elixir that stimulates her hormones runs out.
The story is littered with surprisingly insightful cameos, even as the storyline made my head spin. Like Charlotte catching a glimpse of Billy's grandmother peering out from a window, seemingly trapped within the walls of the house, looking out at the world, and never being able to partake. In that moment Charlotte makes the connection of how her future with Billy and his pernickety, bossy mother would be. Hauntingly realistic.
I was annoyed when Charlotte kept failing to find her voice. The moments never seemed right for her to exert herself. Someone else's need is always paramount. When Charlotte did find her voice it came as a complete shock to all. Now that was a wonderful show stopper!
Kingston the misunderstood rogue is at heart a man who we just know can grow into a better person when given the chance, and of course I kept hoping that Charlotte will be that catalyst.
So for this regency reader, this is a winner if somewhat astonishing.
I'm now contemplating what the series has in store for Nora, our pharmacy whizz. When she comes into her own I except her story to be equally as strange and complicated.

A HarperCollins ARC via NetGalley ...more

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Jun 10, 2020 Aila rated it did not like it

Shelves: 2020-release, historical-romance, adult

I think this is the book that made me realize: Sophie Jordan's historical romances are not for me.
I never had much luck in the past (I can't pinpoint why, but just no??), and this one solidified it. :(
(It's technically a 1.5 star - the extra 0.5 star is because the writing is fine, but the story? Well...)

There were a couple of things that were a turn-off for me, even before reading.

1. The blurb sounded so nonsensical... a healing "tonic" that made Charlotte horny for this man? Um....... el oh ...more

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May 06, 2020 Laura rated it really liked it

Review posted on Got Fiction? book blog

4.5

That cover! Heart eyes. All the heart eyes!

Charlotte Langley is the boring daughter in her family. Or so she says. And she’s been engaged since forever to her neighbor, an also boring person. She feels they’ll be perfect for each other in their boringness. The only problem is his mother. She’s awful. She’s pushy and demanding, and her son doesn’t seem to care. Charlotte just assumes that when they get married, there will be some distance between them, bu ...more

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May 06, 2020 Holly rated it it was ok

Shelves: 2020-reads, sex-recs-blowjobs, 2020-goal, _no-villain, forced-proximity, illegitimate

Overall: ⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖 📖
Feels: 🦋🦋
Romance: 💞💞
Emotional Depth: 💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡️ ⚡️
Sensuality: 🔥🔥
Sex Scene Length: 🍆🍆

This book started off really sexy. I enjoyed the aphrodisiac plot and Charlotte wantonly grinding against Kingstons crotch to get herself off. I was charmed by an early blowjob. I had some high hopes.

But unfortunately the following 140 pages was everything except developing the romance. There were sisters and tonics and wrong fiancés and in-laws and cows and ungrateful Overall: ⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖 📖
Feels: 🦋🦋
Romance: 💞💞
Emotional Depth: 💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡️ ⚡️
Sensuality: 🔥🔥
Sex Scene Length: 🍆🍆

This book started off really sexy. I enjoyed the aphrodisiac plot and Charlotte wantonly grinding against Kingstons crotch to get herself off. I was charmed by an early blowjob. I had some high hopes.

But unfortunately the following 140 pages was everything except developing the romance. There were sisters and tonics and wrong fiancés and in-laws and cows and ungrateful glances across the room. But in all this time, they had but one conversation. And even that was bogged down with talk of another man instead of them. They shared a kiss and even there they talked about her fiancé and the tonic. There’s an argument with Kingston’s parents and he defends her, but again they barely talk.

And all of the sudden she’s in love and I can’t fathom why or how. Nothing has happened between them. They never got to know each other.

The thoughts of the characters lacked continuity and their descriptions varied. Charlotte keeps calling Kingston a sophisticated gentleman but he’s a bastard and made out to be one without discerning morals. She doesn’t believe he will take advantage of her but forgets that he already had. He calls her passionate and claims she has mettle but every action she takes with him and anyone else is based on fear and propriety. She complains the entire book and blames everything on the tonic. It just didn’t ring true.

This is something I’ve noticed about Sophie Jordan’s books that don’t work for me. They feel like it’s just a series of scenes strung together with little purpose other than filling the space between the beginning of the book and the end of the book. It feels more like she focuses on the logistics of the events happening around them and giving them a reason to be in the same room as opposed to focusing on how these two characters feel and emote around each other and building the book around the progression of their relationship.

I know authors do need things to happen. But I personally want to know how the characters romance is growing as a result of those things. It’s not enough for me to just have stuff happen.

She writes sex so well. I wish she spent as much time on the emotions. ...more

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Jun 17, 2020 Cait rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2020

To be totally honest, 2 stars feels too high, but I don't think I would go as far as to say I didn't like it? It just felt so bland! And this has been my issue with this series overall, but I really felt it this time around. The aphrodisiac plot could have been SO GOOD but instead it (along with everything else) was so insipid. Even the ending, when trying to be Dramatic And Daring! was just like oh yeah okay cool. ...more

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Apr 28, 2020 Pj Ausdenmore rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 5-star-read-2020, read-2020, romance-historical

THE VIRGIN AND THE ROGUE is the book I needed in these uncertain times. It's fast-paced, burn-the-sheets sexy, heart-tugging, and, yep, a whole lot of bananas crazy. The perfect escape from reality. And, you know what? I LOVED EVERY SINGLE BIT OF IT! Read the entire thing in one sitting. Couldn't put it down. Grinned from beginning to end. (Okay, there may have been a few tears near the end but they were HAPPY tears!) And, as soon as I turned the final page? All I wanted to do was go back to the ...more

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May 08, 2020 Jess rated it liked it

Shelves: 2020-all, 2020-new, library-ebook, romance-historical, romance

This was fine! I read it for the aphrodisiac part (I imprinted on Secret Fire young okay) and that part was good, minus the fake second drugging that turned me off the sequel bait sister, but I never felt passionately connected to the hero and heroine as an actual couple? I read an entire book about them and still don't think I know anything about them really or have reason to think that they'll make a good marriage besides being horny for each other. Like, really, at the end of the book, what d ...more

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Feb 01, 2020 b.andherbooks rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc, romance, avon, historical, aphrodisiac

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 ...more

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Apr 14, 2020 Barbara Rogers rated it liked it

Shelves: xx-2020-read, edelweiss, iblog

Series: The Rogue Files #6
Publication Date: 4/28/20
Number of Pages: 368

** Maybe 3.5 Stars **

My thoughts about this book were all over the place – from total disbelief to wondering what was going to happen next. I have read three of the six books in this series and each of the books can easily be read as a standalone. While the female lead in this story is the sister of the female lead in the previous story – the male lead is also related to the previous male lead – you don’t need to have read th Series: The Rogue Files #6
Publication Date: 4/28/20
Number of Pages: 368

** Maybe 3.5 Stars **

My thoughts about this book were all over the place – from total disbelief to wondering what was going to happen next. I have read three of the six books in this series and each of the books can easily be read as a standalone. While the female lead in this story is the sister of the female lead in the previous story – the male lead is also related to the previous male lead – you don’t need to have read that story to enjoy this one.

Charlotte Langley is the middle sister, the dull one, the uninteresting one, the one who just wants an uneventful, unexciting life. She wants to marry the man she has been friends with since they were children – he is steady, honorable, and … dull. She has convinced herself she is in love with him, but she’s never even kissed him, nor has she had any desire to do so. It never even occurred to her until – THE EVENT.

Samuel Kingston is the natural son of The Earl of Norfolk and a famed courtesan. His life has been a hedonistic one – much like his father’s – until he learns his mother is ill and he visits her. What he sees and learns of her illness turns his stomach and he immediately loses interest in his former lifestyle. He’s searching for something, but he doesn’t know exactly what it is. He’s been wandering from place to place for a while now and he finally decides to visit his step-brother. Now, his step-brother has no use for him – nor he for his step-brother – but he’ll stay there for a few days until he decides where to go from there. Except – when he arrives – he finds there is a new wife and her sisters who live there with Nicholas. Kingston is totally unimpressed with the lot of them – especially the middle one who seems like a milksop – and decides to leave the following day.

Nora, Charlotte’s younger sister, is an herbalist (she identifies herself as a scientist), and she mixes up a tonic to alleviate Charlotte’s menstrual cramps. However, she adds in a few new ingredients to see if they will be more effective. Well, it was certainly effective – as an aphrodisiac. Charlotte thought she was dying and headed out of her room in the middle of the night to go to Nora’s room for help. Except she encountered Kingston in the hallway and attacked him – seeking her pleasure on him. Luckily, he was gentleman enough to let her achieve her pleasure without him doing more.

I liked both Charlotte and Kingston, but I would have liked to get to know them a bit better. I failed to see how they could come to a deep and abiding love for each other when they spent almost no time in each other’s company and the time they did spend was of a more carnal nature.

I had to wonder how the Langley family home came to be in the possession and control of Marian who was then giving it to Charlotte. Yes, it meant the most to Charlotte, but – there was a brother. Given the times, why was the family home not under the control of the brother? Yes, he was younger, but still as the only male, and females unable to own property, I have to wonder how that came to be.

There are a few anachronisms in the ARC, but I will assume they will be corrected prior to publication. While the story itself felt a bit more modern in its concept, it had very little modern terminology or ways of speaking, etc.

Overall, I enjoyed the read and the characters. I would have liked to see at least one scene between Nicholas and Kingston where they come to realize that neither is actually who the other thought he was and maybe form a friendship of sorts. That could have just been mentioned in the epilogue and it would have made for a happier ending because Kingston really needed a friend.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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Apr 17, 2021 D.G. rated it it was ok

Shelves: historical-romance, audiobook

This was SO BAD!!!

As a reader of historical romance, I don't expect accuracy. At the same time, I don't expect women to behave like they're in the 21st century!!
❌ The heroine - who's engaged to another dude - jumps on the hero after ingesting a supposed aphrodisiac. She then goes to swim in the nude and later indulges in a bout of mutual oral sex with the hero. She barely feels any guilt about the situation and doesn't even consider that she has cheated on her boyfriend and that she should eith ...more

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Apr 27, 2020 Niki (mustreadalltheromance) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: hero-is-illegitimate, great-covers, reformed-rake, frustrating-heroine, steamy, arc

Starched and proper Charlotte Langley is the safe and rather boring sister and her siblings aren't surprised to see her engaged to her safe and boring childhood sweetheart. But when her sister makes her a tonic to help with cramps, it instead provokes her to a state of desire she doesn't know what to do with, especially since her feelings are not directed toward her betrothed.

Kingston has always been a rake, much like his father, but now he's determined to change his ways. He's not sure where to Starched and proper Charlotte Langley is the safe and rather boring sister and her siblings aren't surprised to see her engaged to her safe and boring childhood sweetheart. But when her sister makes her a tonic to help with cramps, it instead provokes her to a state of desire she doesn't know what to do with, especially since her feelings are not directed toward her betrothed.

Kingston has always been a rake, much like his father, but now he's determined to change his ways. He's not sure where to take himself to escape society and the best place he can think of is his stepbrother's remote country estate. He's rather surprised to find his stepbrother now has a family and is even more shocked to find himself alone and seduced by an engaged female whom he thought to be meek and insipid.

Kingston soon realizes Charlotte has a more passionate nature than even she realizes. He wants more of her, but Charlotte is determined that anything between them was only down to her sister's tonic, not her actual feelings and Kingston isn't having it. He just has to determine exactly what he wants and how far he's willing to get it, along with showing Charlotte what she really wants.

Firstly, this is possibly my favorite cover ever. I've rounded my rating up because I liked the hero, but the premise of this book was completely bananas with the weird aphrodisiac and straight-laced, prickly heroine. I did love the fact that Kingston had been celibate for so long before Charlotte and his description of her waking him up so to speak was great. He was really very likable and his story wound up being heartrending and emotional. Charlotte, however, just struck me as being a bit one dimensional, which I suppose matched her description for most of the book. She did grow quite a lot, but I wanted to see her owning her feelings more honestly and for more of the book than she actually did; when she started standing up for herself it just made her seem more unemotional somehow and at a time when she should've been growing more and more comfortable with her feelings. It was like her development seized a bit. I would've liked to see her open herself up more to Kingston as I felt their relationship was a bit one-sided on his part and similarly, I would've liked to see some sort of friendship forming between Kingston and Nathaniel. Overall, I quite liked the illegitimate, reformed rake hero and I liked these two together. I'll continue with the series and look forward to Nora's story.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Blog link: https://mustreadalltheromance.blogspo... ...more

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Apr 29, 2020 Sophie rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-2020, own-read, 4-stars, 2020-releases, 2020-new-releases-challenge, arcs-read

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via Edelweiss. This in no way impacted on my view.

I have heard so much about this author since I started blogging, but only recently fell in love with reading Regency romances, and when I had the chance to review Sophie's latest book, I couldn't stop myself from requesting it. The Virgin and the Rogue follows middle sister Charlotte, as she's planning her wedding to family friend, William. His parents are quite overbearing, and she's not reall I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via Edelweiss. This in no way impacted on my view.

I have heard so much about this author since I started blogging, but only recently fell in love with reading Regency romances, and when I had the chance to review Sophie's latest book, I couldn't stop myself from requesting it. The Virgin and the Rogue follows middle sister Charlotte, as she's planning her wedding to family friend, William. His parents are quite overbearing, and she's not really doing much planning, per se, but after her family nearly lost everything when her father died, and only recovered with her sister, Marian's, marriage to the Duke of Warrington, she needs to find some security, and Billy seems the best option. Younger sister Nora, who had always had an interest in medicine, makes up Charlotte's monthly cordial to combat her PMS and cramps. However, something was a bit different this time, and she finds herself overcome with desire and the only person who can relieve it happens to be Warrington's step brother, Kingston, who has just arrived at Haverton Hall. Kingston, after having quite the reputation himself, has sworn off his previous life, and was not expecting anything to happen with the seemingly straitlaced Miss Langley. But, after their encounter, he can't stop himself from wanting to bring Charlotte out of her timid shell, and show her that a marriage to Billy, and being near his parents, would suffocate her.

The whole love potion aspect of this book was a new one for me, and one I definitely enjoyed. It was a little ridiculous at first, but definitely was a device to break the ice between Charlotte and Kingston. Their chemistry was steamy, and after they had gotten over the initial anxiety - well, at least Charlotte needed to get over it - it was inevitable that they would give in to their feelings and desires. Charlotte kept using the excuse of the cordial being the only reason she had any feelings for Kingston, but it was clear to everyone that that was a lie, and that her and Billy just weren't suited to each other. Once she realised that she was only going through with the marriage because of her need for security, we really saw the true Charlotte. Kingston's character grew too, and it was definitely poignant the reason he was trying to reform his rogue-ish ways. Initially, he was trying to get under Charlotte's skin, but we saw that change to him wanting to get to know Charlotte, and really caring about her, and wanting whatever was best for her, even if that wasn't him. Though this was my first of Sophie's books, it definitely won't be my last! ...more

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May 03, 2020 Bree Hill rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2020-favorites, romance

"Even if she loved him. She would not have him unless he Loved her.
She had ended one betrothal because it had not been right. It had lacked love. She would not agree to another one without the all-important ingredient of love. Affection. Passion."

My 5th five star read of 2020 Ladies and Gents! Starred on May 3rd! The Virgin and the Rogue was a well crafted, well paced story between Charlotte and Kingston. (INSERT LOVE POTION) Charlotte suffers HORRIBLE periods. Her sister, Nora, who was basicall "Even if she loved him. She would not have him unless he Loved her.
She had ended one betrothal because it had not been right. It had lacked love. She would not agree to another one without the all-important ingredient of love. Affection. Passion."

My 5th five star read of 2020 Ladies and Gents! Starred on May 3rd! The Virgin and the Rogue was a well crafted, well paced story between Charlotte and Kingston. (INSERT LOVE POTION) Charlotte suffers HORRIBLE periods. Her sister, Nora, who was basically bred to be a physician by their late father, mixes her up a tonic which actually happens to be a love potion or as they call it in the book, an aphrodisiac. Charlotte takes it. Finds Kingston in the hall that night and basically dry humps him in the library to ride out the heat wave. AND IT WAS HOTTTTT! But....Charlotte is betrothed to this other guy, William.

This book got five stars from me for many different reasons, but I really loved how the love potion-while yes it caused the first encounter between Kingston and Charlotte, unbeknownst to her-all the interactions and emotions afterwards are her own. The potion for both characters is a mirror reflecting for both of them what they want. I especially liked on Charlotte's behalf how it causes this awakening with William. She realizes the man she is marrying doesn't even really know her. Why marry someone she realizes that she doesn't love, and whom she realizes also doesn't love her? She realizes that if it's not for love, she doesn't want it. So much of this book focuses on the Choices we have. Reminding us that we have Choices and to not settle for anything less than what we want. Even with Kingston who we know Charlotte is crazy about, she has this moment where she stands firm in THIS IS WHAT I WANT AND IF IT'S NOT WHAT YOU'RE OFFERING YOU CAN KICK ROCKS, and I loved that. He too is crazy about her though and it's all magical and beautiful.

People sleep on romance as a genre, and I have been one of those readers who didn't think historical romance would be my thing, but this is the 2nd historical I have read this year and both reads really impacted me emotionally and with the message they conveyed. Yes, this is the 6th book in a series and I have not read the prior five but if you're looking to give the subgenre a try, I really think this one would be a really good starting point. ...more

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Jun 29, 2020 Brandy rated it it was ok

I’ve been excited to read this book for a long time but in the end, it fell completely flat. Our intrepid heroine, Charlotte, is dull and mousy and boring until she ingests a new concoction from her sister that makes her jump Kingston’s bones. And then proceeds to spend the majority of the rest of the book acting as if she would never never, never never do such a thing (cue limp wrist to her forehead) before hurling herself at him again. She frustrated me. Kingston was an interesting character, ...more

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About Sophie Jordan

Sophie Jordan

7,568 followers

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 ...more