Dearest Rogue

By: Elizabeth Hoyt

Narrated by: Ashford McNab

He can guard her

Lady Phoebe Batten is pretty, vivacious, and yearning for a social life befitting the sister of a powerful duke. But because she is almost completely blind, her overprotective brother insists that she have an armed bodyguard by her side at all times—the very irritating Captain Trevillion.

From every danger

Captain James Trevillion is proud, brooding, and cursed with a leg injury from his service in the king's dragoons. Yet he can still shoot and ride like the devil, so watching over the distracting Lady Phoebe should be no problem at all—until she's targeted by kidnappers.

But passion itself

Caught in a deadly web of deceit, James must risk life and limb to save his charge from the lowest of cads—one who would force Lady Phoebe into a loveless marriage. But while they're confined to close quarters for her safekeeping, Phoebe begins to see the tender man beneath the soldier's hard exterior...and the possibility of a life—and love—she never imagined possible.

©2015 Elizabeth Hoyt (P)2015 Hachette Audio

My Favourite of the Series

This has very quickly become my favourite of the whole Maiden Lane series. The chemistry between Phoebe and Trevillion is fantastic and their romance is simply beautiful.

Phoebe's eyesight has been worsening since she was twelve and she's now completely blind, hence her need for someone to escort her everywhere.

Captain Trevillion is a man of honour, whose devotion to his duty has led him into conflict with some of the heroes of the previous books, but he's never been a villain. In "Duke of Midnight", he suffered a serious accident when he was crushed by his horse, and was lamed as a result. Having left the army, he is now Lady Phoebe's bodyguard, something against which she chafes continually, not at all liking the restrictions imposed upon her by her powerful and imperious brother, the Duke of Wakefield. But the threats against her - of kidnap, forced marriage or worse - are very real, hence the need for a permanent guard.

The action starts right from the first page - the first chapter is exhilarating and sets up the entire story quite brilliantly, showing how Phoebe longs to live a normal life, and revealing the the dour, emotionless ex-cavalry officer is harbouring feelings for his young charge that he knows can never amount to anything.

When Trevillion is forced to take drastic action to secure Phoebe's safety, the pair is forced into even closer proximity with one another, and he has to come to terms with events in his past he'd sooner forget.

Ashford MacNab returns as narrator once again and does a good job all round - although there is a chunk in the middle of the book where she sounds as though she has a cold! She has - fortunately - dropped the simpering lisp she adopted for Phoebe in the previous book (Darling Beast) and does a good job in showing Trevillion's very gradual opening up over the course of the story. At the beginning, almost everything he says is monotonous and impassive, but as things progress, she infuses him with more emotion and inflection, eventually showing us the man beneath the controlled exterior. The various regional accents she employs are good and consistent, and she differentiates well between the characters. I had a couple of reservations about her interpretations of Montgomery and Trevillion's father, but there was nothing to spoil my overall enjoyment.

All in all, this is a terrific addition to the Maiden Lane series, and one I'd recommend highly to lovers of historical romance in audio.

A Rare Read

This was a gentle, balanced listening experience. I loved the reader's inflection and how she was able to make the characters identifiable. The pacing of the story was perfect as well as its length, which paired perfectly with the reader. The characters themselves were well-rounded and the main characters were well-matched. I always gage a romance story on how well it holds up if the intimate scenes were removed. Honestly, I think the story stands on it's own and that is rare to come across. This was quality entertainment, well-worth my time.

Struggle to finish

The story dragged on, it was a little to long with few exciting part but mostly just okay areas in the book

Another Entertaining Couple

This series never ceases to entertain. Each couple is authentic and the storylines even more. Have listened to several books in this series more than once - which is unusual for me. Elizabeth Hoyt has become a favorite for me in this genre and Ashford McNab has a stunning ability to compliment her writing with her performances. The steamy scenes are tasteful with delicious details for a mature audience - which I appreciate and prefer to think adds much to a well-written romance (when done well). Highly recommend. Enjoy!

I LOVED IT!

I absolutely loved this book. Elizabeth Hoyt kept Phoebe to the character she had developed in all previous books - sweet, accepting of her blindness and just wanting to live an independent life and be treated like everyone else. I see Phoebe as the person that EVERYONE likes and in turn she likes everyone.

Captain Trevillian is a perfect hero and the fact that he fell so hopelessly in love with Phoebe was fantastic. He's so charming and he deeply cares for his family although he hasn't seen them in some time and I like the fact that he stands up to Maximus.

The love scene are always fabulous in Elizabeth's books.

Ashford McNab is the voice of the Maiden Lane Series. She is fabulous, but (you knew the "but" was coming) I only wish she wouldn't give all of the children lisps. In all of the books I've listened to by her, she always gives the children a lisp.

(SMALL SPOILER: I really enjoyed the story and I think Elizabeth Hoyt puts into words what everyone is surely thinking when Phoebe is kidnapped the second time by having Phoebe's thoughts concentrate on the word "again". I liked it!)

I liked the development of the Eva Dunwoody and I can't wait to listen to her Asa's and her story in the next book.

Very good as usual

Very good as usual The explanation of a Phoebe being blind and her experiences are very good

Wonderful, one of the better ones in the series!

Very enjoyable. Phoebe has NO lisp! Yea! Super writing and super narration. Dont miss it.

Wonderful New Maiden Lane Book

Ashford McNab was a wonderful narrator with the character voices making each distinct, and thank you for not making Lady Phoebe have a lisp. It was easy to follow along because of her wonderful narration. Mrs. Hoyt had well developed characters with flaws and great strength of character. The two individuals Captain James Trevillion & Lady Phoebe Batten seem to be made for each other.(Spoiler Alert) As Phoebe was being kiddnapped it was Captain Trevillion to the rescue. And Phoebe just knew he would save her. Her brother Maximus Batten (we met him in Duke of Midnight) loved Phoebe very much and did not think James was good enough for her after all he was only a retired dragoon. I had an entirely different view of the Captain in: Notorious Pleasures, after all he tried to capture Griffin Remmington who ended up marrying Lady Hero Batten. Didn't like him at all then, Now I just adore him, he was a wonderful hero willing to lay down his life for his lady. All in all great read, well worth a credit.

Definitely the best in the Series

I enjoyed this new story very much. A very good pace with a realistic but still dashing hero. The narrator is good, although she is a bit too slow at times.

Hurrah,,, not the same old, same old!!

I'd been giving up on historical genre....too many copy cat plots and not many differences. Seems I was reading same book over and over with just some name. Changes ....all very predictable.

Dearest Rogue does have likenesses to most historical romances, but it offers some unexpected differences which kept me wondering on what was going to happen during twists and turns.

Also a story of a blind young woman and her protection guard did not sound that appealing, sister of a Duke and a commoner. No fancy balls or the Ton. No hidden pedigrees, nor riches to be found or reclaimed. The treasure was in the relationships and dialogue. Yes, there are three kidnappings but the ways resolved were heart warming and slightly different than the norm.

This is an unexpectedly good story keeping to many common themes though taking some interesting resolutions. It is an enjoyable, fun, well written story,worth time and credit

I did have some trouble with hero's voice, rushed ending which often occurs, along with too frequent stress of 12 year age difference, I could nit pick other things but bottom line ,,,,just relax, don't try to guess and just go for a happy listen