A Race With a Rogue (The Truxtons Historical Romances #2)
Rebekah Johnson
Rated: 5.00 of 5 stars
5.00
· Steam/Spice level: 3 of 5
Open door [?]
· 2 ratings · 344 pages · Published: 01 Aug 2025
Bored with society and daydreaming of escape out west, Cooper Truxton isn’t exactly the right man for the job. He has a reputation as a rogue and a quitter, but he’s also got a prominent family, a web of connections, and enough charisma and energy to captivate any crowd. When Maudie—his sister’s best friend—attacks him for wasting his privileges when women have no rights, he says he’ll run for office only if she’ll run his campaign.
After a string of failed romances, Maudie’s focus is on her causes. Cooper, a declared bachelor with a history of vice he’s hiding from the voters, thinks he’ll have no problem keeping his deepening feelings for her to himself. But when a careless slip sets off a rumor that could destroy the campaign only a few weeks before Election Day, he’s forced to show his hand a little earlier than he intended.
He tells her it’s all part of the campaign strategy—but it might take winning the race to win her heart.
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I am enjoying this so much. Cooper Truxton really is the finest sort of good-natured man, rogue that he is, and he is impossible not to like. With a voice as caramel in tone as his eyes are in color, a little banter is more pleasant with him than with any other man. My dearest friend’s brother, safe and familiar and oh-so-funny, is exactly who I needed to see tonight.
“While my devotion to you is unquestionable, dear Cooper, I can hardly go alone.”
“I meant you should come to school. To the women’s college in Raleigh. And join me at all the games, naturally, where I will whine to you that I would have been the best quarterback the school has ever seen, were it not for me breaking my wrist twice last year.”
I flutter my lashes at him. “You believe I should sign myself up for a college education just to cheer with you and listen to your grumbles at football matches.”
“Yes, that’s what it boils down to, I suppose.” He winks again. “I told you, we are often of like mind, Miss Maudie, and now that I have plopped that idea into your pretty head, you won’t be able to escape it.”
“I cannot decide what looks more desperate. Chasing you to Raleigh to be your personal cheerleader, or demanding payment in full tonight for all the dances you owe me.”
“Plundering all my dances would be most unladylike.” He gently turns me back toward the house where the orchestra is beginning a song. “And I do love an unladylike lady.”
“My reputation will be in tatters if I dance seven times in a row with such a rogue.”
His hand slips to my waist as I lift mine to his shoulder, and even though we are still on the terrace, we fall into the steps without thinking. “You will do wonders for my reputation, though,” he says. “That the impeccable Maudie Hamilton, so choosy she has declined not one but three proposals of marriage, should grant me her attention immediately elevates me from rogue status to a mere cad.”
His wicked smile sets me giggling. “I suppose you’ll have to remain a rogue or a cad, then. Have you a scale for such things?”
We spin in the steps of the dance among the trees and the starlight.
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Tagged as:
- historical 3
- 20th century 3
- m-f romance 2
- friends with benefits 2
- friends to lovers 2
- political/court intrigue 2
- competent heroine 2
- take-charge heroine 2
- independent heroine 2
- himbo 2
- sunny/happy hero 2
- rich hero 2
- politician hero 2
- georgian 2
- sibling's best friend 2
- secret relationship 2
- virgin heroine 2
- funny 2
- Add topics
- content warnings
- misogyny 2
- geography
- north america 2
- north carolina 2
- Format
- dual pov 2
romance tags
The 'The Truxtons Historical Romances' series
5.00 · 6 ratings
open-door · m-f · competent heroine · 20th century · historical · north-carolina · friends to lovers · angst · north-america · dual-pov · sweet-hero · strong heroine · siblings-bff · humor · independent heroine · virgin heroine · himbo · length-medium
The Truxtons Historical Romances reading order and complete book list ❯
