Lottie might technically belong on my BBW shelf, as there are a couple of references to her generous figure, but it was not a feature of the story so I’m leaving her off. And she’s technically a spinster, but that aspect is fairly irrelevant plot-wise, so I’m only putting her on the trope shelf for being independent and managing. This premise had me really excited, and I did enjoy the story, but the third act nearly smothered it. The story could have had a hundred pages trimmed from it. Even the epilogue dragged for me. I was hoping this would be a good trope read, but it’s not really angsty. I really like the characters though, and plan to read the second book in the series. ( )

Lady Charlotte ‘Lottie’ Wentworth is determined to be in charge of her own future, so when an unwanted suitor, James Montague, tries to manipulate her into an engagement, she has a plan. He can't claim to be her fiancé if she's engaged to someone else even if it means asking for help from the last man she would ever marry―Lord Amesbury, Ethan Ridley. Better off known as MacBrute, he regrets ruining Lady Charlotte's reputation years prior during a previous courtship, so he goes along with her charade is the least he can do to clean the slate and perhaps earn her forgiveness, and if he's lucky, her love too.

‘Any Rogue Will Do’ was a positive start to a series I am sure to love. A strong-willed heroine and a hero looking for redemption, the enemies turned lovers (brief) historical romance didn’t exactly have a strong plot and was a tad bit slow on the second half but the steaminess and the chemistry between the characters was engaging enough to peak my interest.

All in all, it was good and I look forward to Calvin and hopefully Conner's story in the near future.

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I found the hero a lot more likable than the heroine, but she wasn't too bad. It just felt like it took her ages to reassess her prior notions. And while the hero was steadfast and affectionate, she sat on the fence for a good portion of the book and then still felt a little wishy-washy even then. But, overall I was entertained and I would be interested in another by this author. ( )

I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Any Rogue Will Do by Bethany Bennett is the first book in what looks to be a delightful new series, Misfits of Mayfair. Several years ago, Lady Charlotte Wentworth had an unsuccessful season when Viscount Amesbury called her the Paper Doll Princess, and the name spread throughout the ton, making her a laughingstock. She had intended to return to the marriage mart, but first, her brother died, then her mother died, and her father retreated in his grief, leaving Charlotte to manage the estate on her own. Her father’s announcement that he’s made a match for her has Charlotte up in arms as she has no intention of marrying a stranger and she has till the end of the season to find her own match. A chance encounter with her nemesis Ethan Ridley, Viscount Amesbury, in which he offers her a sincere apology leads to further encounters, and he offers to help her when it appears that the gentleman her father has chosen doesn’t seem to understand that she’s not interested in him. I love a good enemies to lovers, and fake relationship story, and this one delivers on both fronts with a delightfully feisty heroine, a hero who’s both kind and dashing and a nasty villain. I enjoyed reading this book do recommend it. Steam Level: Medium. Publishing Date: October 13, 2020. #AnyRogueWillDo #BethanyBennett #HistoricalRomance #NetGalley #EnemiesToLovers #FakeRelationship #ForeverGrandCentral #GrandCentralPublishing #bookstagram #bookstagrammer ( )

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Even seven years later, Lord Amesbury, the one who had saved her, then callously ruined her, evoked a visceral response.

Lady Charlotte (Lottie) Wentworth left London after having her reputation smeared by the very man she thought was courting her. In the seven years since, she never got the opportunity to go back and repair the damage as her mother and brother both passed and she had to take over running the estate as her father fell into mourning. Now, her father is finally demanding she marry, even picked out a groom, a James Montague and son of an Earl. Lottie doesn't want to give up her freedom though and makes a deal with her father that she can go to London and pick her own husband but with a deadline. On the way there, she meets the one man she never wanted to see again.

The fact that within moments of her reentering his orbit she'd rekindled his interest made Ethan wonder if there might be something between them worth pursuing---assuming she ever stopped hating him.

Ethan Ridley was a Scotsman who never thought he would inherit a title and when he suddenly became Lord Amesbury, he tried to fit in by drinking and carousing with London's elite. He makes the mistake of calling Lady Charlotte “Paper Doll Princess”, alluding that she's witless and only worth her dowry on a night drunk but when he tries to offer for her hand in marriage to fix his mistake, her father refuses him and claims he's not worthy of her. That and causing a friend to lose his leg due to a drunken race, Ethan decides to give up drinking and focus on his estate. When he unexpectedly clashes with Lady Charlotte again, he finds that she's come into herself and he is even more drawn to her.

Exhibitionism wasn't something he'd ever indulged in, but knowing she watched, remembering the heat of their encounter earlier this evening---he'd wanted just a few more minutes of her attention.

Any Rogue Will Do is a second chance romance with a fake engagement that was enjoyable. I liked how the author showed how Lottie and Ethan grew into themselves as they got older. We don't see a lot of them together when they're younger but I liked how the story focused more on Ethan redeeming himself. His friendship with Calvin, Earl of Carlyle highlighted and brought out his personality so that the reader could get a good look at his thoughts and feelings toward Lottie. I also really enjoyed Lottie's relationship with her godmother Agatha, they were so fun to read about together. Sure, it was a tad too coincidental that Agatha and Calvin were neighbors, giving our leads a chance to meet-up, but the interactions that developed from this made the story better.

“Lady Charlotte Wentworth, will you do me the honor of being my faux fiancee?”

There were times I felt Lottie's loneliness, how any friends she had made while younger had moved away and had families of their own, leaving her out and her father ignoring her in favor of wallowing in his mourning. Wanting to maintain her freedom and be in charge of her dowry made sense for why she didn't want to marry but I thought adding in that she never wanted to love because her parents ignored her because they were so in love and her father mourned so hard made the latter half of the story stagnate a bit as she wanted to keep pushing Ethan away.

The fake engagement comes about because the fiancee Lottie's father picked out, is trying to blackmail her into an engagement, so Ethan steps in they decide to get the villain to back off, they'll get engaged but eventually call it off. At this point, around 40%, Ethan has more than one foot in with thinking he more than likes Lottie. Around 60% they both are thinking their fake engagement could be more and things start to get physical. There's some danger, Ethan all in, and Lottie dragging her feet, the dragging of the feet really caused the story to slow for me as I thought some of Lottie's reluctance could have been edited out.

“I don't understand how you could love me through all that or why you're even here helping me out of this mess again, but I'm begging you to keep showing up. Just show up. Love me, and I'll love you, and we will make this thing between us real. Please. You won't regret it. I promise.”

Overall I found this to be an agreeable debut, Ethan was a pleasing hero with some layers and their relationship had downs and ups that added some emotional moments. The second half could have been stronger with some of Lottie's denying Ethan whittled down and the pace picked up more but I still enjoyed their journey. Ethan's friend Calvin definitely intrigued and I'm looking forward to seeing how this author grows in giving him his happily ever after. ( )

*** 4.5 Stars rounded up ***

This book is a GREAT start for debut author Bethany Bennett. Her writing is smooth, the story is well-plotted and well-delivered, and the characters (for the most part) are delightful and robust. I am so happy to have found Bethany Bennett and am looking forward to more books by her.

Seven-or-so years ago, Ethan Ridley was a Scottish sheep farmer. Then, the unthinkable happened to the twenty-one-year-old, he inherited a title, Viscount Amesbury. He didn’t even know that branch of the family existed. To say he was totally overwhelmed by the new responsibilities – especially a debt-ridden estate with ill cared for tenants and lands. Then, he went to London where he was even more of a fish-out-of-water and went wild as he was trying to fit in. Of course, being a huge Scot with no refinement whatsoever, he was never going to be accepted. Then, he made two huge, life-changing mistakes – he drove in a race that ended up costing his friend a leg and almost his life and he ruined Lady Charlotte Wentworth, daughter of the Earl of Brinkley. Ethan has spent the last seven years trying to make amends for his mistakes. He’s not that scared, irresponsible young man he once was.

Lady Charlotte Wentworth, Lottie, has spent the last seven years at her father’s estate because there have been several tragedies in her life. First, she was completely and totally ruined during her first (and only) season, then her brother died, then her mother died, and her father went into such deep mourning that he never left his library. Once Lottie realized that the estate was going to ruin and the tenants were suffering, she began to take the reins and turned things around. Turns out, she has a real knack for and interest in managing an estate – and people. After all of those years, her father is finally coming out of mourning and wants to take over the estate again. One of the things he demands is that Lottie marry – and he has decided who she’ll marry – James Montague, youngest son of the Marquess of Danby. NO! If Lottie has to marry, she’ll do it on her own terms. What are those terms? Well, she’ll never, ever, have love enter into the marriage. She wants a man who will be happy to live in London and leave her alone to manage the estate. Totally separate lives. It is off to London for her – to find a man who will meet her needs.

When Ethan and Lottie cross paths again, it is under stressful circumstances – Lottie’s carriage has had a terrible accident. At least he has the opportunity to apologize to Lottie before they go their separate ways -- until they discover they are neighbors in London. With trouble-makers galore in the ton, a very troublesome potential suitor, abuse, a kidnapping – well – you name it – finding their HEA seems almost impossible.

What did I like? Well, the characters were absolutely wonderful. It seems that both Ethan and Lottie were collectors of misfits. I adored Mrs. Darling, Lottie’s lady’s maid. She is a very plain-spoken former fallen woman who is both a friend and maid. Then, there is Aunt Agatha – goodness – everybody needs an Aunt Agatha, who is sassy and totally devoted to your happiness. For Ethan, I loved Cal, Earl of Carlyle, who is a true friend in all ways. His is the next book in the series and I’m totally looking forward to it – West End Earl, scheduled for release in June of 2021. Then, there is Ethan himself – I absolutely adored Ethan. He’s a wonderful hero – loving, giving, caring – you name it, he is all of the things a hero should be.

Dislikes – well – I’m not sure dislikes is the appropriate word, but – I had a harder time warming up to Lottie. She is an intriguing heroine in that she found her spine of steel after her season and the other tragedies. The trouble is, that spine of steel is unyielding and unbending. She annoyed me so often that I was torn about her for most of the book. She’s a fully capable, smart lady, but she is just so hell-bent on her goal that she can’t see the forest for the trees. I definitely appreciated her growth as a character and was glad to see her final epiphany – but – it was after she had caused a great deal of hurt and pain to others - especially Ethan.

Overall, I LOVED the book and I’m so happy to have found a new ‘favorite’ author.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ( )