Review: While the Duke Was Sleeping (The Rogue Files #1) by Sophie Jordan

Shop girl Poppy Fairchurch knows it's pointless fantasizing about the Duke of Autenberry. Still, dreams can't hurt anyone . . . unlike the carriage Poppy spies bearing down upon the unsuspecting duke. After she pulls him to safety, the duke lapses into a coma and Poppy is mistaken for his fiancée. But one person isn't fooled: his arrogant and much too handsome half-brother, Struan Mackenzie. Soon Poppy isn't sure what she wants more . . . the fantasy of her duke or the reality of one smoldering Scot who challenges her at every turn. . . . is not who you think. An illegitimate second son, Struan may have built an empire and established himself as one of the wealthiest men in Britain, but he knows he will always be an outsider among the ton. Just like he knows the infuriating Poppy is a liar. There's no way the haughty Duke of Autenberry would deign to wed a working class girl. It doesn't matter how charming she is. Or tempting. Or how much Struan wants her for himself.

While the Duke Was Sleeping is the first book in 'The Rogue Files' series by Sophie Jordan. It is a historical retelling of the film 'While You Were Sleeping'.

Struan was fun and just what you expect from a Highlander. He can be rough and sexy at the same time without being a brute or an ogre. The heroine was very naive and having read what she went through, it would make more sense for Poppy to be less immature. The secondary characters were interesting but didn't reach their full potential, they weren't given a chance to shine.

I love Sophie Jordan's voice but I had some issues with this book, mainly because I didn't feel invested in the story. I wanted more romance, but most of the book was about bickering, lusting, kissing and regretting it (repeatedly). Which can be quite frustrating because it felt like the story was going nowhere!

I didn't feel like couple reached the point where there was love between them and the ending felt rushed. The pacing and the sexual tension were good and I had fun reading the banter, but I wanted to like this book a lot more.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.