Isabel and The Rogue

Last year, I adored Liana De La Rosa‘s historical romance, Ana María and The Fox, the first in her Luna Sisters trilogy. Today, the series continues with the shy middle sister in Isabel and The Rogue. Combining Mexican culture, international politics, and a steamy romance between two spies, this novel is just as stunning as its predecessor.

Special thanks to the publicists at Penguin, Berkley, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!

Summary

It’s been two years since Isabel and her two sisters were forced to flee Mexico and make a (temporary) home in England. But though Isabel is overlooked as the shy, bookish middle sister, there’s more to her than meets the eye. She’s been surreptitiously engaging in some espionage to help Mexico overcome French occupation, hoping to save her parents and the Mexican president, and eventually make it safe for her own return to Mexico. But Isabel has met her match in Captain Sirius Dawson, who’s a bit of a spy himself. Though he’s a rogue and she’s a wallflower, the two have more in common than they may have realized, and it’s not long before a steamy affair begins. But how can they have a life together when their respective homes are worlds (and an ocean) apart?

Review

Ever since I finished reading Ana María and The Fox last year, I’ve been eager to continue the Luna Sisters series. I already identified with middle sister Isabel in many ways: Like me, she’s introverted, shy, and loves books. However, in Isabel and The Rogue, we get to see other sides of her that she keeps hidden from all but those closest to her. I loved seeing these other attributes in her, like her bravery and determination to accomplish her (secret) missions.

Beyond being an overlooked wallflower, Isabel is also doing what she can to help Mexico overcome France’s occupation, and especially to save her parents and the Mexican president. This has her engaging in some light espionage in rich peoples’ studies instead of dancing with eligible young men. But Captain Sirius Dawson is as observant as Isabel herself, and it’s not long before he catches on to her clandestine activities. But will he stop Isabel… or join forces with her? And with the two of them spending so much unchaperoned time together, things are bound to get interesting!

One of my favorite features in historical romances is when the author infuses them with the social and political issues of the time. Both Luna Sisters novels are very political, and specifically about an international conflict I was not previously familiar with: the Second Franco-Mexican War. The Luna sisters are the daughters of a political figure who works closely with Mexico’s President Juárez, and they’re well-versed not only in Mexican politics and the conflict with France, but in social and political issues as a whole. Especially given how involved Isabel is with the war (not to mention the safety of her parents and the president), I really enjoyed learning more about this major piece of 1860s history. I also enjoyed other discussions around culture and politics, from Isabel’s conversation with Lady Needham about where so many goods come from to her later assertions about museums stealing artifacts from other nations. (Shoutout to The Gentleman’s Gambit by Evie Dunmore, which explores that latter issue in great detail!)

Isabel and The Rogue isn’t all about the middle Luna sister, though! The rogue in question, Captain Sirius Dawson, is a wonderful character in his own right. He comes across as a rake, but it’s a necessary byproduct of his work as a spy. In truth, he’s a man haunted by his past but filled with generosity and kindness. On top of that, he’s a big reader himself—major green flag! He’s cultured and open-minded, and he’s often on the same wavelength as Isabel. As opposite as they may seem on the surface, they’re well-matched in all the ways that matter, and they have excellent chemistry. No library, study, or bookstore is safe from their amorous pursuits! Despite the barriers to their relationship, including a divide in what side of the Atlantic they call home, they make an incredible couple. I love how they make things work by the end.

Final Thoughts

Isabel and The Rogue is a masterful work of historical fiction highlighting Mexican politics, strong Latina characters, and a happily ever after between two book-loving spies. I adore this series and can hardly wait to read the youngest sister Gabby’s love story with the Duke of Whitfield. That’s expected out next year, so stay tuned for my review!

Get the Book

You can buy Isabel and The Rogue here – it’s available as a paperback, ebook, and audiobook.

Isabel and The Rogue by Liana De La Rosa
Series	The Luna Sisters (#2)
Audience	Adult
Genre	Historical Romance
Setting	England
Number of Pages	352
Format I Read	Ebook (NetGalley ARC)
Original Publication Date	June 4, 2024
Publisher	Berkley

Official Summary

When a Mexican heiress defies Victorian society to protect her country a British war hero makes it his new mission to protect her…

Isabel Luna Valdés has long since resigned herself to being the “forgotten” Luna sister. But thanks to familial connections to the Mexican ambassador in London, wallflower Isabel is poised to unearth any British intelligence hidden by the ton that might aid Mexico during the French Occupation. Though she slips easily from crowded ballrooms into libraries and private studies, Isabel’s search is hampered by trysting couples and prowling rogues—including the rakish Captain Sirius Dawson.

As a covert agent for the British Home Office, Sirius makes a game of earning the aristocracy’s confidence. He spends his days befriending foolish politicians and seducing well-born ladies in order to learn their secrets. But after he spies a certain sharp-tongued Luna sister lurking in the shadows where no proper debutante should venture, it’s clear Sirius is outmatched, outwitted, and soon to be outmaneuvered by the one woman he can’t resist.

Their mutual attraction is undeniable, but when Isabel discovers private correspondence that could turn the tide of political turmoil in Mexico, she’s willing to do whatever it takes to protect her country—even if this means ignoring her heart and courting danger…

Excerpt from Isabel and The Rogue

A quick peek into the hall revealed her escape route was clear, so Isabel rearranged her expression to one she hoped reflected eagerness to rejoin the festivities. Not that anyone would notice her absence. Isabel was as invisible as the wallpaper-

A hand shot out and grabbed her wrist the moment she set foot inside the ballroom. Panic clawed up her spine, and out of instinct, Isabel brought her hand up to ram it into the perpetrator’s nose, when a familiar scent wove about her. A stupidly alluring scent she’d know anywhere, for the man it belonged to was also stupidly alluring.

“Snooping again, I suppose.” Captain Sirius Dawson slid his arm around Isabel’s waist while his left hand grasped her right. “After everything, it seems you’ve yet to learn your lesson.”

Isabel bristled . . . because of his accusation or his proximity she didn’t know, for Captain Dawson had an annoying talent of leaving her decidedly off-kilter.

She almost despised him for it.

As he effortlessly spun her into the swirl of dancers, part of Isabel realized that the captain had never danced with her before, thus she’d never been this close to him. Her skin tingled with awareness at every spot he touched. Isabel hated that she was apathetic to most men but that every part of her body seemed to stand at attention whenever this man-with his golden beauty and perceptive azul eyes-appeared.

Willing her muscles to relax, Isabel allowed him to move them to the strains of a Chopin waltz. Feeling gazes pressing upon her-whether Lady Yardley’s or Gabby’s, or possibly one of the scores of Captain Dawson’s admirers-Isabel raised her chin. She’d danced a waltz with any number of gentlemen in the time she’d been in England, but never with him. For all that he was her brother-in-law’s friend, or that Isabel had spent more than a fortnight at Captain Dawson’s country estate, he had seemed to go out of his way to ignore her presence. Being shunned by such a man should not bother her half as much as it did, but her chest went tight whenever she saw him.

The amused look on Captain Dawson’s face now reminded Isabel that he had said . . . something. She was sure it was a scold, because when he did speak to her, he liked to point out her bad behavior. Isabel replayed his words in her mind.

“I don’t know what you mean. I was merely returning from the retiring room when you waylaid me into this waltz.” She arched a brow. “If you wanted to dance with me, you could have asked politely, like everyone else.”

Isabel managed not to cringe through her bluff. Everyone else? Hardly. While her dance card was never empty, for rumors of her fortune had encouraged many a cash-strapped second son to seek out her hand, her reserved nature was not particularly inviting. She’d learned quickly that if she spoke of a novel she’d read or a new scientific discovery she’d heard about, eyes would glaze over and attentions would wander. More often than not, Isabel held her silence during such dances, answering the gentlemen’s questions politely but volunteering nothing else, for truly, what was the point?

But something about the captain always made her speak without thinking. It was a very vexing thing. The captain was very vexing.

His blue eyes bored into her now, his lips a confusing slash between displeasure and amusement. Surely Isabel was reading him wrong and she fought not to squirm. She had always believed her father possessed the most intimidating stare, but she’d been wrong, for nothing made her want to share all her secrets-or confess all her sins-like Captain Dawson’s steely gaze. It was a fortuitous thing, then, that Isabel’s stubbornness was more than up for the challenge.

“I don’t see why you should care about me or what I do when you and I are not friends,” she said archly.

“We aren’t?” The captain’s brows rose. “Whatever gave you that impression?”

Her own brows dipped low over her narrowed eyes. “You did, sir. In all the months since we departed Dancourt Abbey, you’ve not spoken with me once. Nor my sister or Lady Yardley, that I am aware of.”

“Well, that’s not true,” he murmured. “I chatted with Lady Yardley in the park just the other day.”

“How nice for you.” Isabel pinned her gaze on a perfect blond curl near the nape of his neck. “Yet the fact remains that we have never been friendly, Captain Dawson, even while my sisters and I were at Dancourt Abbey that summer. You have never taken any interest in me-” Isabel clamped down on her tongue so hard she tasted copper. She had no intention of hinting at her hurt feelings over his disregard. She never wanted any man to think he could maim her pride. Especially this man.

His chest rose and fell with a sigh, and Captain Dawson shifted his gaze from her face to a spot over her shoulder. “That’s not true. I assured Fox I would keep an eye on you and Miss Gabriela-“

“And I assure you, Capitán, that my sister and I do not need anything from you.”

Isabel did not raise her voice, nor did her tone hint at the anger his indifference had sparked within her. But Captain Dawson seemed to know anyway, for the angular planes of his face softened. Just a tad.

She refused to soften in return. The captain may be her brother-in-law’s close friend, and he may have sheltered her and her sisters from Mexico’s enemies after Ana María and Gideon were wed. But Captain Dawson had shown her time and time again that she was not worth his notice.

Being a wallflower had its benefits, but Isabel was so very tired of being overlooked.

Excerpted from Isabel and The Rogue by Liana De la Rosa Copyright © 2024 by Liana De la Rosa. Excerpted by permission of Berkley. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

About the Author

Credit: Berkley Jove (TR) 2022

Liana De la Rosa is a historical romance author who writes diverse characters in the Regency and Victorian periods. Liana has an English degree from the University of Arizona, and in her past life she owned a mystery shopping company and sold pecans for a large farm. When she’s not writing, Liana is listening to true crime podcasts and pretending she’s a domestic goddess while she wrangles her spirited brood of children with her patient husband in Arizona.