The Princess and the Rogue (The Bow Street Bachelors, #3) by Kate Bateman
ABOUT THE BOOK
Bow Street agent Sebastien Wolff, Earl of Mowbray, doesn’t believe in love—until a passionate kiss with a beautiful stranger in a brothel forces him to reconsider. When the mysterious woman is linked to an intrigue involving a missing Russian princess, however, Seb realizes her air of innocence was too good to be true.
Princess Anastasia Denisova has been hiding in London as plain ‘Anna Brown’. With a dangerous traitor hot on her trail, her best option is to accept Wolff’s offer of protection—and accommodation—at his gambling hell. But living in such close quarters, and aiding Wolff in his Bow Street cases, fans the flames of their mutual attraction. If Anya’s true identity is revealed, does their romance stand a chance? Could a princess ever marry a rogue?
MY REVIEW
I chose this book because of the reference to a Russian princess and of course I love watching a confirmed bachelor lose his heart to a strong woman.
Princess Anastasia (Anya) Denisova aka Anna Brown is a cunning and take-charge heroine who will do anything to survive including living a life way below her means to avoid a traitor determined to marry her for her fortune. Her ease of making friends no matter their class is admirable and a testament to her wonderful character.
The tall, dark, and brooding Lord Sebastien Wolff, is a force to be reckoned with. He is a veteran of the Battle of Waterloo, a Bow Street Runner, co-owner of the Tricorn gambling hall, and the last of the “Unholy Trinity” rogues considering his two best friends are married.
Anya and Seb are a challenging pair with instant chemistry between them. I love Anya’s quick wit and sharp intellect which are a great complement to Seb’s sarcastic jibes and demanding demeanor. Their first meeting in the brothel is memorable, but it’s their first intimate assignation in his bedroom with Seb in the chair and Anya in control that is extraordinarily sexy and unforgettable.
In addition to the wonderful characters, I was intrigued by the references to Russian cuisine, superstitions, and traditions. I don’t think I’ve read anything involving a historical Russian heroine in a very long time. In fact, I rarely, find a romance set in the aftermath of the Battle of Waterloo.
Overall, I enjoyed this captivating historical romance filled with charming characters, intrigue, and documented events. Recommend highly!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kate Bateman, (also writing as K. C. Bateman), is the #1 bestselling author of Regency, Victorian, and Renaissance historical romance. Her Renaissance romp, The Devil To Pay, is a Romance Writer’s of America 2019 RITA® Finalist, and her Regency-set A Counterfeit Heart (Secrets & Spies series) won the 2018 Book Buyer’s Best contest for Best Historical Romance.
Kate wrote her first historical romance in response to a $1 bet with her husband who rashly claimed she’d ‘never finish the thing.’ She gleefully proved him wrong. Her books feature her favorite intelligent heroines, (badasses in bodices!) wickedly inappropriate banter, and heroes you want to both strangle and kiss.
When not traveling to exotic locations ‘for research’, Kate leads a not-so-secret double life as a fine art appraiser and on-screen antiques expert for several TV shows in the UK, each of which has up to 2.5 million viewers. Before writing romance, Kate was director and valuer at her own UK Auction House, Batemans in Stamford, Lincolnshire. She currently splits her time between Illinois and her native England and writes despite three inexhaustible children and that husband . . .who still owes her that dollar.