Book Review: Going Rogue (Ribbons and Rogues Book 1) by Jessica Jefferson

Book: Going Rogue (Ribbons and Rogues Book 1)

Author: Jessica Jefferson

Meredith Castle and Derek Weston grew up together as best friends.  When Meredith’s great aunt Catherine offers Meredith the opportunity to leave behind her small farming community for the glitz of London society, she’s reluctant to go. But Derek realizes how important this is for Meredith’s future, so he encourages her to leave.  Not long after Meredith’s departure for London, Derek realizes his mistake in letting her go. He goes to London and seeks her out at her aunt’s to ask her to marry him. But the Meredith he discovers is not the same Meredith who left him several months earlier. This Meredith is a spoiled, shallow debutante. A broken hearted Derek leaves London seeking a new life at sea.

For five years Aunt Catherine grooms Meredith to head “The Ribbons”, an exclusive club for girls that Catherine started many years before.  Meredith attends all the right parties and balls, but her reputation has suffered due to her partying lifestyle.  Meredith must repair her reputation and attract a husband before she reaches the age of twenty-four, when she’ll no longer be eligible to be a Ribbon.  In a calculated move, Meredith attaches herself to Ophelia Marshall.  This friendship will help repair Meredith’s reputation and put her in the company of Ophelia’s very handsome brother.

Ophelia has attracted the attention of the very rich, very handsome Lord Sutherland.  When Meredith is introduced to Lord Sutherland, she realizes he is actually her old friend Derek Weston.  But her sweet, thoughtful Derek has turned into an arrogant rogue.  The animosity and tension between the two is instantaneous.  But, the more the two are thrown together, the harder it is for them to maintain their hostility toward one another.  It’s obvious that Meredith and Derek love one another.  Will they be able to get over past hurts or will they be victims of their circumstances?

I enjoyed reading this book.  The author’s rich and thorough character developments provided insight into the personalities and motivations of the people in the novel. I look forward to future books from this author on other Ribbons, including Alex and Ophelia.