The Dove and the Rogue

Happy book birthday to Harper St. George‘s The Dove and the Rogue! This is the final novel in her Doves of New York trilogy, set up so brilliantly in the previous book, Eliza and the Duke. I was sad when Berkley didn’t pick up the third story in the trilogy. (Traditional publishing’s general move away from historical romance is a shame, but I digress.) Thankfully, the author chose to self-publish this last installment, making fans like me oh so happy.

Middle sister Jenny propositions a marriage of convenience out of notorious rake Lord David Felding. If it will help her sister Eliza marry the man she loves, then Jenny is willing to make the risky move. David is next in line for a dukedom; Jenny is a rising opera singer, hardly fit for the role of a duchess. Will their marriage be as short-lived as she intends, or will true feelings unexpectedly emerge?

What I Liked:

• Perfect continuation from prior setup. Eliza and the Duke had a few scenes featuring Jenny and David, and they had me so excited to read their full story. Their chemistry was sizzling, and then the whole marriage deal? They couldn’t not have their own happily ever after. In The Dove and the Rogue, that setup is fully served, and it is a treat. Yes, they get married and take part in their one special night together. The chemistry is still palpable and only growing stronger.
• A true bad boy. A lot of historical romances have a roguish lead, but David takes that label to a new level. It’s not just a reputation; as he himself admits, the rumors are true. He has been with a lot of women and has an intimate piercing (how scandalous!). Even during the scenes of this book, we get a pretty good sense of his roguish ways… but then he starts to rapidly fall in love with his off-limits wife.
• She’s an opera singer. I love historical romances with a woman who not only works, but works in performance. Jenny is an incredible singer and actor, and it was fun getting to see her come alive on the stage. I enjoyed getting to learn about opera in the 1870s, as well as women who performed as men, as Jenny must in her starring role.
• Belle Époque Paris. While this novel starts in England, partway through Jenny departs for Paris. I enjoyed getting a glimpse of France early in the Belle Époque, with its subtly different societal rules and fashions. And in both Jenny and David’s case, perhaps distance truly does make the heart grow fonder.
• Importance of family. Both David and Jenny come from somewhat broken families. The three Dove sisters are (not so) secretly the illegitimate daughters of a wealthy American businessman. Did Jenny learn the right lessons from her mother, Fanny, or does she have it all wrong? David’s parents died when he was young, leaving his much older brother, Alfred, both duke and parental figure. Since Alfred will never marry, having found a lifelong partner in Kit (I love that they’re wholly accepted here!), David will eventually be expected to inherit the title and produce an heir. David and Jenny each have a lot of family matters to untangle as they embark on this marriage together.

Final Thoughts

The Dove and the Rogue is a beautiful end to another series. While I’m sad to say goodbye to the Dove sisters and their husbands, I’m always excited for whatever Harper St. George cooks up next. Word on the street is that Fanny (the Dove sisters’ mother) might get her own HEA? Yes, please. In the meantime, I still have plenty of books in her back catalogue to catch up on!

Special thanks to Harper St. George and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!

Get the Book

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

The Dove and the Rogue by Harper St. George
Series	The Doves of New York (#3)
Audience	Adult
Genre	Historical Romance
Setting	England; France
Number of Pages	312
Format I Read	Ebook (NetGalley ARC)
Original Publication Date	May 26, 2026
Publisher	Self-published

Official Summary

American heiress Jenny Dove thought a marriage of convenience would solve all her problems, until her heart decided to rewrite the terms…

Jenny Dove has spent her life training to become an opera singer, determined not to repeat her mother’s mistake of sacrificing her career for love. But when her younger sister needs her help, Jenny strikes a daring bargain. To save her sister’s future, she’ll marry a titled gentleman long enough to unlock both their inheritances, then return to Paris to live out her dream.

Lord David Felding, heir to a dukedom and unapologetic rake, has no interest in finding a wife, until Jenny walks into his life with an audacious marriage proposal. She’ll give him one night in her bed in exchange for the protection of his name. It’s supposed to be a simple transaction—no emotions, no complications. But when their wedding night reveals unexpected passion and a startling connection, walking away is anything but easy.

Instead of continuing his roguish life in London, David follows Jenny to Paris—and begins to court his own wife. As their sham marriage deepens into something real, Jenny glimpses the wounded man behind his charm and feels her carefully guarded heart begin to yield. But falling in love means a slow, irresistible unraveling of everything they thought they wanted…and trusting in something neither dared to hope for.