Book Description 

Ambitious, sly, and lethally intelligent, Gideon Hawthorne has spent his life clawing his way up from the gutter. For the last ten years, he’s acted as the Duke of Windemere’s fixer, performing the duke’s dirty work without question. Now Gideon’s ready to quit the duke’s service and work solely for himself. But Windermere tempts Gideon with an irresistible offer: one last task for Messalina Greycourt’s hand in marriage.

Witty, vivacious Messalina Greycourt has her pick of suitors, so when her uncle demands Messalina marry Mr. Hawthorne, she is appalled. But Gideon offers her a devil’s bargain of his own: protection and freedom in exchange for a true marriage. Messalina feigns agreement and plots to escape their deal. Only the more time she spends with Gideon, the more her fierce, loyal husband arouses her affections. However, Gideon’s final deed for Windermere may be more than Messalina can forgive.

My Review 

The premise is the epitome of conflict of interest– Gideon is going to get everything he has ever wanted in exchange for killing Messalina’s brother. I’m no relationship expert, but murder is not an ideal way to endear yourself to your already reluctant bride. 

This book has a lot of positives. First of all, Gideon doesn’t pressure Messalina to consummate their relationship, even though he has admired her from afar for years. He’s a class act. Second, Gideon is kind to small children and dogs, both of whom stole the show at every possible opportunity. Finally, Gideon is frugal—almost to a fault—because he grew up in the slums of St. Giles.  He has a nice home, but it is virtually unfurnished because he has never needed furniture and this proves to be a source of consternation for Messalina. Speaking of which, she is determined to hate him and is not happy about being forced into marriage, but she grows to love Gideon because of his patience and understanding. Oh, and because he doesn’t actually murder her brother. The only negative is that the resolution comes a bit too quickly and everything gets wrapped up very neatly.  

I would absolutely recommend When a Rogue Meets His Match. I haven’t read a lot of Hoyt, but her books are full of historical details, which help create an immersive reading experience. Also, I appreciate that  this book is Georgian rather than Regency, so it’s a new era to discover. 

I received a digital ARC of this book from Forever/NetGalley.