Although I liked the premise of this book, I found the story to be a bit dry. There seemed to be very little passion, whether it was of a romantic nature or having to do with the political aspect. I felt like I was just listening to a recital of events read in a monotone voice.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

A Bit of Rough is the first in a new series by Jackie Barbosa, and I was excited at the way it explores the reformist and revolutionary movements of the late Regency period, especially when the majority of the mainstream popular books are superficially progressive at most.

I found Lucas endearing as a hero. While neither I nor the author is from Mexico, I liked that Barbosa showed care in developing his character and the cultural nuances.

I liked Honora as well, and the fact that she too has a vested interest in similar causes, committed to writing rebel-rousing treatises. I did feel that she did a 180 from being anti-marriage to being prepared to marry super quickly, but I wasn’t overly bothered due to how well the two worked together as a couple.

This was a nice start to a new series, with connections to Barbosa’s prior Lords of Lancashire series, with this one following the next generation. If you’re looking for a short historical romance that doesn’t ignore some of the real issues of the time period, I recommend picking this up.

This is my fair and honest review, voluntarily given and in my own words, for this ARC. Interesting and unusual tale of two people who choose to risk everything to prod changes in the government, by writing treatises that could land them in jail or worse.

3.5 stars
Lady Honora Pearce writes news articles that frequently point out the injustices against women, children, other classes and races under a pen name, she actually has 3 pen names but her reformist and revolutionary one is the one that is focused on in this story.
Lucas Delgado Guerrero(of Mexican descent) used to be a lawyer but the level of injustice he saw in his time at the bench only made him angry and depressed so he turned to a life of what was technically considered a crime, writing articles like Honora but he also publishes them.
When circumstances force her to deliver her weekly column herself, she dresses as a boy, something her mother encourages, and goes to deliver her column where she's caught up in a police raid and forced to hide with Lucas.
When Lucas realizes he's hiding with a woman and who she must be he kisses her. This is definitely an insta-love story, but in the sense that they have been reading each others writing for quite a while before meeting in person, making it seem like they've known each other forever already.
Honora's parents are incredibly open minded people which was a fun change, most of the time the parents are rigid or passive so this was refreshingly different. Apparently their story is part of a different series so I will have to go back and read about them as well.

I love the diversity that the author brought in this book. It was a fun, easy read with some steamy scenes. A few details let it down though, the kiss in the cupboard without seeing each other properly fell rushed to establish the quick connection between them. The fact that after 3 days they are already in love, was just not very believable. This is my first book from this Author and I'll wait for book 2 to see what it brings.

I voluntarily reviewed this ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley. The opinions here are my own.

This book was a fun read, it just wasn't a five-star read for me.

The good:
* Interesting characters with dynamic interests and a past that makes their love/lust at first sight believable.
* Solid basis in historical events, the weaving in of period-specific political movements gave the setting a lot of interesting dimension.
* Diversity that well reflects the actual make-up of the time period.
* The romance is sweet and hot with the expected HEA.

The not-as-good:
* Resolution is slightly too neat, several characters make an about-face that gets the book wrapped up, but don’t necessarily keep in character/theme.
*While I love the love at first sight trope so much, the whole book felt rushed.

I would still recommend this book, and look forward to more in the series, this one just didnt knock it out of the park for me.

I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Lady Honoria Pearce devotes her time to publishing articles about reformist and revolutionary ideas. They are published in an illegal paper run by Lucas Delgado Guerrero. During a delivery of one of her articles she overhears that their printer is about to be raided. She hides in a hidden compartment with Lucas, and the two share a kiss. This kiss shows them that they both their ideas on love and marriage may be wrong.

First, I really enjoyed this having a hero who was from Mexico. Lucas was so intelligent, and fought for many important causes. I loved his and Honoria's interactions where they discuss their goals and their thoughts and ideas. They did have great chemistry.

One of my biggest issues was the insta-love connection with this being so short. I think it suffered from not having more time for their emotional relationship to build, and you had to suspend reality quite a bit to believe they were truly in love. I just never fully believed it. In the author's note, she said that the next book was supposed to the first in the series, but she felt that it needed a back story. It sort of felt like maybe it was an afterthought, and I think I could tell that. It felt rushed.

Secondly, it took no time at all for Honoria to move from I'll never marry to throwing out all her principles to marry Lucas. It was too fast, and I felt like her complete 180 that just didn't sit with me as a reader.

I do think this writer is talented, but it just suffered from the length being too short. I'd absolutely give this author another try, and am interested in reading both the story of the Honoria's parents and the next in this series.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Lucas and Honora’s love story resonated with me on many levels. Their story was epic and electric. The strength and background of the characters are not something read every day. Finally, the intertwining of political issues of the day within the story was smart and savvy.

Lucas and Honora could not be any different. Luca’s family fled Mexico to England due to political strife. Although a brilliant writer, he was suppressed unjustly due to his heritage and radical views. He has no connections and no means to earn a decent living. Honora is a spinster whose passion is also writing about society’s deficiency. Both encourage sweeping reforms of laws and champion the plight of the working class and women. Lucas and Honora are both intelligent and fearless. The couple are misfits and are regarded as insignificant in the eyes of the law.

Lucas and Honora’s political passions are only surpassed by the instantaneous connection they feel for each other. Their deep emotions for each other are almost immediate, even if they do not realize it. Their passion and raw attraction feel elemental. Lucas fears Honora is out of his reach. Honora is restricted by the confines of her gender and class. However, only when they are together do they feel whole. The couple’s journey is turbulent and dangerous, yet they know they are destined for each other.

The plot focuses on the inequities of the common man, women, and all those deemed insignificant and immoral to the aristocratic ruling class. These people are at the mercy of the titled male’s whimsy and narrow-minded rules. It was a travesty how the citizens were treated and abused. The plot educates the reader as much as it entertains. This book moved fast, and I couldn’t put it down. The couple’s star-crossed journey is heartbreaking at times. However, the power of the depth of their love perseveres. This couple had a difficult journey to their happy ending, yet it was worth every moment reading to get there. The novel was a quick read; I finished it in one sitting. The plot was engaging and the characters vivid. All in all, the book was excellent. I was delighted to read it.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book through Netgalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I wasn't really able to get into this book, but I'm pretty sure that other historical romance lovers will like this book.

Lady Honora Pearce anonymously writes articles devoted to reformist and revolutionary causes that are anonymously published by Lucas Delgado Guerrero. When circumstances force her to deliver her weekly column herself, she is caught up in a police raid and forced to hide with Lucas. The two share a kiss and can't seem to stay away from each other, despite their completely different worlds.

This is the first book in The House of Uncommons series. Honora is the daughter of characters from Barbosa's Lords of Lancashire series. The book can be read alone.

This story focuses on two characters who don't really "fit." Although she wears the title of Lady, Honora doesn't want to marry and give up the small amount of freedom women are afforded. Lucas is the son of Mexican immigrants who used to practice law and has seen how power only benefits the wealthy and well connected. I liked the inclusion of a Latino hero...I just wish there had been more time in the story to meet his family and explore that relationship.

This is a love at first kiss story. The reader has to put stock in Honora and Lucas "meeting" through their writing and shared beliefs before meeting in person, and that is how the jump to such intense feelings makes sense. I still would have liked a little more build up. Overall, it was an enjoyable read and I would definitely be interested in the next story about Honora's cousin. 3.5 stars rounded to 4.

Tropes: Insta-Love, Class Difference, Working Heroine

"A Bit of Rough", a historical romance that brings together two dissenters of the Crown and England's status quo, Honora and Lucas. Honora, in the name of not being arrested and discovered as the infamous Polly Dicax, stumbles across Lucas in a closet as policemen attempt to raid a printing house. Their short lived meeting heightens their senses, and while both recognize it would be better if they part ways immediately, they choose the riskier option.

The story navigates each of their social standings, Honora as the daughter of an earl, and Lucas, the son of Mexican immigrants, have a lost to lose in their relationship is discovered. Not to mention, Honora had previously sworn off marriage and has nothing to gain should she bind herself to Lucas. As they continue to connect politically and emotionally, they eventually have to decide what choices are worth the risks to bring about the society they want to see.

This was a fine enough story, with attempts at describing the status quo of England's ton and its imperialistic society that stood to squash dissenters and those in lower ranks. It balances the true risk Honora takes as she writes under a non-de-plume to critique English society, as well as the decisions she makes as she considers what a relationship with Lucas can look like. For a story titled "A Bit of Rough", the reader would probably expect more explicit content than was presented; for readers familiar with romance, the scenes were relatively predictable.

A fun read that will satisfy most romance readers, I would recommend this historical romance for its attempts to understand the social and political landscapes of the times.

A Bit of Rough, by Jackie Barbosa, is a decent story with great characters, but—like the name—is a bit rough around the edges. There’s so much potential in this story, but much of it goes unrealized.

Honora Pearce is the daughter of a powerful earl and the only daughter in a family of rather unconventional and progressive views. Honora herself has taken these views a step further and has become a well-known writer (with three different pseudonyms) of everything from morality tales and feminist-leaning serial novels to scathing political rebukes in illegally published newspapers and leaflets. It’s the latter that brings her into contact with Lucas Delgado. Lucas is the publisher of one of those illegal newspapers and a writer as well. The two meet when Honora, in the guise of a messenger boy, is delivering one of her pieces to the printer.

The two are immediately infatuated and attracted to each other, but in spite of their shared political views, there is a social chasm between them. Lucas was born in the United States of Mexico and only moved to England when his father’s life was in danger and the family had to flee. Honora and Lucas share their various concerns with each other, while silently acknowledging the hypocrisy in their own behaviors.

That part alone—the part where they each have to face their own prejudices—should be the basis of this story. Unfortunately, much more time is spent on them having pretty raunchy sexy times and then being sad that they probably can’t ever be together.

Eventually, they do get their HEA, but it comes rather abruptly and without them actually solving any of these issues, at least not to my satisfaction. There’s an epilogue that could have helped, but instead it is used primarily to set up the next book in the series.

There’s nothing fundamentally wrong about this book. Barbosa writes quite well, and the descriptive passages are interesting, especially for readers who are interested in political history. I just wish there was more of a bridge between that history and the aforementioned sexy times.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Thanks!

I loved this book. , I was not sure I could ever like either of the two characters or see them together. Then I got sucked in. The character development was fantastic and the between the two main characters was amazing. I could not put this book down.. I cannot wait for the next book!

I really liked Lucas and Honoria’s story and could feel their attraction and common likes from the beginning. The fact that Lucas was Mexican added something interesting to the story. I’m looking forward to the next in the series. This was a good, quick read.

I loved this book. The instant-love between Honora and Lucas was quite adorable. This book is different in that the hero is not a high-born man and he is not British. The heroine is smart and beautiful and despises her title. Instant-love books can sometimes fall flat since there is no lead-up to the hero and heroine discovering their feelings for each other. But all the tension happens after these two fall in love.
Some chapters were a bit dreary for me and I thought the conflicts were resolved rather quickly and smoothly at the end of the book. I do recommend this book and I would like to read more of this series.

As with the other reviews, the characters are diverse and it's refreshing. Honora and Lucas spend time writing to one another so a budding love builds and soon as they meet, it's love at first sight. Both are revolutionaries and fight for justice and Honora is no fresh out of the schoolroom girl. Bold and independent, I like how her love for Lucas builds and how good they are together ( especially in small spaces hehe ) .

Good characters and different from what one usually gets in historical romance. The insta-love is what brings down the rating, it didn't fit with who the characters were.

It's extremely rare to find a romance novel that features any real diversity but "A Bit of Rough" does. Lucas is of Mexican descent, living in England and is too dark skinned for England's taste too English to return to Mexico
InLondon he publishes an illegal political newspaper and eventually crosses paths - rather dramatically - with a woman who has been secretly writing for his paper. It's definitely an unlikely instant love story but still a very entertaining one.

I adore historical romances that have a diverse character list. This book has a Latinx hero with a best friend of Indian descent. The heroine is about as white and classically British on the outside - but her family is much more forward thinking than most of her time. Including accepting fully cousin who is a lesbian. Both Lucas and Honora are committed to political reform. Lucas publishes a weekly newspaper (that he doesn't pay the stamp taxes for) that includes subversive commentary on topics of reform related to the poor and disenfranchised. Honora writes articles in the publication under a pseudonym - one of several - and is passionate about reform. So when Honora protects Lucas from discovery by the magistrate seeking to arrest him for not paying stamp taxes, their connection is electric.

This book is definitely an insta-love situation - but it does make sense in the context that both Lucas and Honora have gotten to know each other through their writing for a long time before they ever meet in person. For these two, the power of the written word is everything. I loved their interactions with each other and how they ended up teaming up to write together - even when they were trying to stay away from each other.

Overall - this book was a refreshing take on a historical romance. I loved the diversity of characters and the overall storyline really worked for me.

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, but these opinions are all my own.

So there I was, innocently making some food for my troupe of kids, and I thought, “Since I suck at cooking and I’m bored watching food cook, where’s my Kindle? I have a Jackie Barbosa novella to read.”

Holy. Sh**. People.

Can I just say how much I LOVED “The Lesson Plan”?

Now, I do love my historicals, but I must admit, I don’t actually keep track of all historical errors and such, so any classification errors in this particular review are mine, not Jackie’s. As you can tell from my excitement, Jackie is awesome.

So, where was I, oh yes, telling you why you should go and get this novella.

“The Lesson Plan” is an erotic Regency romance about Winifred “Freddie” Langston, indulged tomboy daughter of a Viscount, who at the nigh on ancient age of 21 is about to face her first season in London. Now, don’t think she’s been mistreated or anything. Freddie has managed to worm her way out of going to London for years, but now that her father has passed, her oldest brother, Nash, has come to the conclusion that the girl needs to grow up and get on with her life like a lady should. Which means not walking around in boy’s clothes with her twin brother and best friend from the neighbor’s house. She shouldn’t be scheming or improper and she sure as hell shouldn’t be heading out to a brothel to find out what all the fuss is about.

Now, onto the hero, Conrad Pearce, whom—by the way, I may fantasize about for quite a long time because I LOVES me some uptight, secretly highly sexed heroes, if you know what I mean. (And I KNOW you know what I mean). Con has an unholy desire for Freddie, which he hides as far down as possible because a) you don’t think about proper ladies like that and b) there was no way her brother, who was one of his best friends, would ever let him live if he knew that Con was thinking of thinking of her that way. Nevertheless, when Con discovers and relays to Nash what Freddie’s plans are, he can’t believe that instead of locking her in her room, Nash comes up with a completely other idea for stopping Freddie from ruining herself and her family by possibly getting caught in a brothel. Nash wants Con to portray a highwayman and hold Freddie “hostage” for a few hours to teach her that it’s not a safe world out there.

Well, Freddie learns something all right…

I’d tell you more, but I’m not ruining a second of it for you. Get the book. Thank me later. AFTER your cigarette.