The Villain

Gentlemen Rogues #5

by Nana Malone

The next stand-alone installment in the Gentlemen Rogues Series. This enemies to lovers dark romance will light your e-reader on fire!

Genres: Enemies To Lovers, Forced Proximity, Romance, Suspense, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary

Unknown Binding

First published May 23, 2023

About the author

Wall Street Journal & USA Today Bestselling author, Nana Malone writes Sexy Feel-Good Romance and loves of all things romance and adventure.

That love started with a tattered romantic suspense she "borrowed" from her cousin. It was a sultry summer afternoon in Ghana, and Nana was a precocious thirteen. She's been in love with kick butt heroines ever since. With her overactive imagination, and channeling her inner Buffy, it was only a matter a time before she started creating her own characters.

Reviews

[Nana Malone]

Now available!

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[Gladys · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was simply intoxicating. I loved the combination of drama, emotion, action, heat, danger, humor, twists and heart that flows like silk and is as addictive as chocolate. The chemistry burns and the banter is razor-sharp. Daphne and Drake are incredible characters that simply walk right in and proudly proclaim that they own your heart and then proceed to give it a high intensity workout that will leave you a bit battered, a little in awe, a whole lot in love and feeling super swoony.

[Mags · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Gentleman Rogues are back and this time it's the villains turn to take centre stage. Yes, I'm talking about Drake... who has just been burned as an agent and is now out for revenge.

But to do that he needs to find out who burnt him and why terrorist and syndicate member Massimo Igno is interested in civilian Daphne. So he decides to stalk her.

Just as she's having the worst week of her life.

But what Drake sees makes no sense. As Daphne just seems like an ordinary girl. Who wants to be a dare devil but always falls short. Whose just been dumped by her boyfriend, who has been cheating on her, and she's estranged from her mum. Although her sister is trying to push them together.

So what could Massimo want with her?

That's what Drake is determined to find out and decides the best way to do that is to kidnap her. And draw Massimo out. 

What he doesn't count on apart from his attraction to Daphne is how determined Daphne is to escape. Even though Drake has told her he has no intention of hurting her.

Yet, Daphne doesn't believe him and goes to any length to escape. Which has Drake confessing why he needs her help.

But as the pair grow closer, so does the danger. Which has Drake questioning everything and although he'd like to go it alone the rogues and Daphne are on hand to help.

And with plenty of heat, character growth, suspense, emotion and drama. This was a fantastic read. That I genuinely couldn't put down. So much so I ended up reading The Villain in one sitting and it's definitely my favourite of all the Gentleman Rogues stories I've read. And I'd happily recommend it to all.

My thanks to Valentine PR and Nana Malone for the opportunity to read an early copy of The Villain. 😊

[Ashley Herndon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Drake. Mannnnn. I fell in love.

This book hit me unexpected.

What Daphne has been through is heartbreaking. The opening scene actually made me cry. I felt it so much. Nana writes so well I was right there with Daphne’s angst and embarrassment.

I loved how protective Drake become and I cannot state enough I love what a flipping force Daphne is to reckon with.

I. Loved. It.

Highly recommend.

[Cindy Fong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes villains do get it right. Drake is an enigma character throughout the previous Rogues stories but now we see him as less villain more hero. He is determined to avenge his family and he never expected Daphne. Their attraction is instantaneous. Drake's wooing measures (cough, kidnapping) aren't the usual method but, in his case it seems to have worked. I always enjoy flashbacks to other beloved characters. I loved Daphne's determination and sass. I enjoyed watching her character pull out the human side of Drake. I thoroughly enjoyed this story.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

It did take me a bit to get into their story, but once that first kiss happens, it's on! Nana's books are never short on action or spice and this one does NOT disappoint. Drake is determined to use Daphne to get to Massimo no matter the cost & Daphne just wants him to leave her alone. Her sister Willow is just clueless or doesn't appear to care about her even when Massimo is making her obviously uncomfortable. That was crazy! I loved seeing Gabe, Tabitha and the rest of the crew involved. Gave a little comic relief during the break in.

[Zaji-Kali (ZajiKaliReads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review
The Villain was my first spy romance but it will definitely won’t be the last! Drake and Daphne we so cute together! I admired Daphne’s fire and how she never gave up even when faced with danger! She was resourceful and stood her ground. This lady can make anything a weapon! I was continually impressed by how badass Daphne was. She was so funny and I cackled at her narrative out loud often! Her backstory was as shocking as it was horrific and I just love Daphne even more for how she survived. Drake never stood a chance!

I loved how Drake cared for her even when he was kidnapping her lol They have their struggles at the beginning but I loved the redemption arc for Drake! He shows with actions more than just words how he loved Daphne even before he realized that he loved her. I love me a lil stalker romance and Drake took surveillance seriously when it came to Daphne. He was always trying to learn how to be better for her and I just love seeing an MMC who puts in the time to understand their partner’s needs.

Nana pulled all the spice out for this book! The tension and chemistry between these two characters was so high! I was sweating over some of these scenes! There was just enough sweetness to balance how hot this book was.

I’d recommend this story to those who love romantic comedy books with touch of dark! Thank you to the author for this advanced copy for review!

Favorite Quotes
“All the blood in my head rushed south, leaving me with no functioning thought processes. All that was left were primal, desperate impulses to claim her. Mine. Mine. Mine.”

“I could taste her on my tongue. All I wanted to do was sink into her, take a bite.”

“She was just a pawn. One that I knew exactly how to play.”

“I don’t think it’s illegal to kiss women you might know. I did consent to the kiss. But I’ll tell you, it’s not fair. That’s for damn sure.”

“Kidnapping is such an ugly word. Think of it as momentarily restraining.”

“there was something about him that drew me in, something that made me feel safe when everything else about this situation screamed danger.”

“And as for Daphne Winslow, she was just going to have to get used to the fact that until I was ready to let her go, she was my property.”

“I couldn’t tell him that the more she fought me, the more I was inclined to keep her. The stronger she was, the more a little part of me admired her strength.”

“Fucking hell, you’ve drenched my hand, kitten. Be a bad girl and leave me a wet spot I’ll need to sleep in tonight. Come for me again.”

“Demons are true arseholes… They love to make us relive our worst memories, our deepest fears. And honestly, I’ve met a few in my line of work. It’s not my place to ask you to face yours, Daphne.”

“baby, every time you whimper like that, all I want to do is bury myself to the hilt.”

“Because not only are you mine to protect, you’re mine now.”

“I’ll always give you want you need, Kitten. All you have to do is ask,”

"There she was, my heartbreak, my regret. The one thing I never saw coming."

Spice Rating
3/5 🌶🌶🌶

There are multiple open door scenes in this book with sexual language throughout.

Sensitive Content
Here is the potentially sensitive content I observed while reading:

Alcohol
Blood
Childhood Trauma
Gun Violence
Injury
Kidnapping
Murder
Profanity
Sexually Explicit Scenes
Stalking
Violence

Genre
Romantic Suspense

Tropes
He falls first
Billionaire Romance
Mistaken Identity
Opposites Attract
Enemies to Lovers

Full Review 💜:
https://wp.me/p9NXSv-Wm

[Sissy's Romance Book Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Villain by Nana Malone is book 5 in the Gentlemen Rogues Series. This is the story of Drake Webster and Daphne Winslow. Drake is out to get Massimo Igno and the Syndicate . So when he finds out that Massimo is interested in Daphne he takes her. This was another exciting read from Ms. Malone. Enjoyed.

[Cookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Villain is the fifth book in the Gentlemen Rogues standalone series.

After getting dumped by her boyfriend, Daphne wants to let off some steam at a bar with her friend. She runs into Massimo Igno, a friend of her soon-to-be brother-in-law, and is creeped out by his flirtation. To escape his attention, she makes out with Drake, a willing stranger, only to find out soon after that he is her new client. But things are not as coincidental as they seem - because when Drake saves her from another run-in with Massimo, he ends up kidnapping her and holding her captive in a secluded country estate. Daphne knows she must try to escape, but her body can't help reacting to her enigmatic captor.

Nana Malone knows how to write amazing spy romance stories. This Gentlemen Rogue series is so much fun! I love all the suspense and all the smart spy planning and action these stories bring.

This one is a little different from the others because the hero was known as "The Villain" in the Rogue world. Drake had a complicated past that painted him as the bad guy. To Daphne, he is her captor and of course she was going to see him as a villain. As the story progressed, she was able to see that he had good intentions behind his plot to kidnap and keep her.

I loved the mystery and suspense of this book. It kept me on my toes and I couldn't put it book down. I nearly finished this book in a day because it was so good!

I can't write this review without mentioning the steam. YOWZA!!! Nana Malone turned up the steam in this one and there were some elements that made my jaw drop. Let's just say I'm not mad about it.

I'm a big fan of post-break up angst and groveling and Malone did it well in this book. I kept thinking, "put him out of his misery already!".

If you like mystery and suspense in your romance books, you need to read this one!

Steam level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
⚠️: child abuse

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite Nana Malone book to date! I have been loving this series and Daphne and Drake’s story was the perfect addition. From the first page to the last, I was captivated. Daphne & Drake’s journey was not easy, but worth it in the end.

I can’t wait to see what Nana Malone comes up with next!

I voluntarily reviewed this book.

[Maryger Chacon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Villain by Nana Malone, is the fifth book in the Gentlemen Rogues Series, in this book we will get to know Drake Webster better, this dark character has always shown to be loyal and he doesn't care, he always remains the villain as long as it serves to protect others of the truth, undercover within the Syndicate ends up being betrayed not only as an agent but also because he was blamed for the death of the adoptive parents of Gabe and Saffron, this motivates him to seek revenge and to do so he must discover who is behind everything that was done to him, putting Massimo Igno in his sights, and when he discovers that he is interested in Daphne Winslow, he sets out to stalk her, only that the answer to why Massimo is interested in her is not clear, so he decides that the best course of action is to kidnap her in order to get Massimo out of hiding. Daphne is an apparently normal girl who is going through some difficult situations in her life, she doesn't talk to her mother and she broke up with her boyfriend because the guy cheated on her, all these changes have her off center and all this becomes more difficult when without understanding why she is kidnapped. The guy who kidnapped her tells her that he won't hurt her, but as a basic survival instinct she doesn't believe him and will do everything to escape making the situation even more dangerous for both of them. Drake didn't think he was going to ended up attracted to the girl, but that coupled with her strength enchanted him, but as they spend more time together, the danger increases, so he must seek the help of the Rogues and Daphne herself.
This story is one that will captivate you, with the mysterious villain who is the protagonist and whose secrets we are eager to reveal together with a heroine who is not at all the docile damsel in distress, with moments of humor and freshness, even when the seriousness of the general situation, another wonderfully written story from this author, with action, suspense, romance and love. A story you won't want to stop reading. Highly recommended!
*Thanks to Nana Malone and Valentine PR & Literary Management for my ARC. I voluntarily leave my honest review*

The Villain de Nana Malone, es el quinto libro en la Serie Gentlemen Rogues, en este libro conoceremos mejor a Drake Webster, este personaje oscuro siempre ha demostrado ser leal y no le importa queda siempre como el villano mientras le sirva para proteger a los demás de la verdad, encubierto dentro del Sindicato termina siendo traicionado no solo como agente sino que fue culpado de la muerte de los padres adoptivos de Gabe y Saffron, esto lo motiva a buscar venganza y para hacerlo debe descubrir quién está detrás de todo lo que ha pasado, poniendo en su mira a Massimo Igno, y cuando descubre que este esta interesado en Daphne Winslow, se dispone a acecharla, solo que la respuesta a el porque Massimo esta interesada en ella no es clara, por lo que decide que el mejor curso de acción es secuestrarla para así conseguir que Massimo salga de su escondite. Daphne es una chica aparentemente normal que esta pasando por unas situaciones difíciles en su vida, no se habla con su madre y termino la relación con su novio porque el tipo la engaño, todos estos cambios la tienen descentrada y todo esto se vuelve más difícil cuando sin entender porque es secuestrada. El tipo que la secuestro le dice que no le hará daño, pero como instinto básico de supervivencia ella no le cree y hará todo lo posible para escapar haciendo la situación para ambos aún más peligrosa. Drake no pensó sentirse atraído por la chica, pero eso aunado a su fuerza interior lo tienen encantado, pero a medida que pasan más tiempo juntos el peligro aumenta por lo que deberá buscar la ayuda de los Rogue y de la misma Daphne.
Esta historia es una que te atrapará, con el misterioso villano quien es el protagonista y del cual estamos ansiosos de desvelar todos sus secretos junto a una heroína que para nada es la dócil damisela en peligro, con momentos de humor, y frescura, aún cuando lo serio de la situación general, otra historia maravillosamente escrita de esta autora, con acción, suspenso, romance y amor. Una historia que no querrás dejar de leer. Altamente Recomendada!
*Gracias a Nana Malone y a Valentine PR & Literary Management por mi ARC. Dejo voluntariamente mi reseña honesta*

[Marnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

5-High-Action-Stars.

At the risk of repeating myself, I can only exclaim that once again Author Nana Malone has put together another amazing book that could not be put down. THE VILLIAN is 5th in Ms Malone’s Gentlemen Rogues series and while each stands alone as a couple’s romance, the underlying plot thread ties them together beautifully and linearly, meaning that they really should be read in order so that the full story is garnered and understood.

Drake has been a shadowy character deep undercover within the Syndicate that has been that plot thread and was not only betrayed and burned in his life as an MI5 agent, he’d been blamed for the death of Saffron’s and Gabe’s adoptive parents. In the previous book, THE SPY we got to see more of him and that Gabe trusted and liked him. This only served to ramp the intrigue and anticipation I had in needing to get his story. He was loyal, dark, and willing to take the part of THE VILLIAN in the eyes of others in order to shield them from the awful truth, as misguided as his view on that might’ve been.

While Drake was setting his trap and using Daphne for bait, I was also by now well and truly caught up in the story, hook line and damn sinker! This is the addictiveness of Ms Malone’s writing. Only four chapters in and I was ready to give real life the boot and indulge in my love of reading her books. I also have to add here that Drake has an Uncle Reginald, and holy crap on a cracker, that older guy dished some pretty heavy home truths out to him for sure. I loved it, and I loved the humanising effect that it had on Drake’s character.

Add to this the hard time and refusal to be the docile person she’d always been, Daphne with the help of Uncle Reginald really added a humorous element to the plot that Ms Malone is known for. Considering that I’m emphasising my expectations from this author serves to prove that her writing is of a consistently high standard while still being fresh. In fact this time round, Drake’s desperation to come in from the cold had him crossing lines previously not done by past heroes. And it was done well.

Hell’s teeth this whole series has like the rest of allllllll her other books been nothing short of amazing. Each and every book stands on it’s own merits as 5-Star worthy, but together it’s book after book of roller-coaster high-heat 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶action. THE VILLIAN is a perfect addition to this series ✨♟️*´¨

#mumsalwaysreading #bookblogger #bookreviewer #marnsreads #marnsj

[Cat Nunez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Drake had been a captivating character in this series so I was really excited to read his story and see more of his background and his past. He and Daphne had amazing chemistry and as always I loved the drama and the suspense Nana adds to her stories. Their story was very intriguing from the start so I was really invested in what was going to happen between them and how their relationship would evolve, at first their attraction was undeniable but Drake had to show Daphne who he really was so he could get revenge for his family.

Drake wanted to take his enemy down and he wanted Daphne, so to lure him out, he had to take her away and see why she was so important to him. At first, she always tried to get away from him so when Drake told her the truth, she finally started trusting him and opening up about her past. I loved how despite their first interactions they got to know each other and understand why they acted a certain way. Drake used to work alone so it was nice reading how Gabe and his team tried to help him and made sure he understood they were on his side.

Daphne had a rough childhood thanks to his mother so she always tried to act tough, she was always there for her sister so all she wanted was to help her plan her wedding and do her job, but it all changed when Drake's enemy took a keen on her and he decided to take her away. She knew Drake wasn't a good guy but she couldn't deny the chemistry between them was still there and that she wanted him even after the things he did to her. They eventually talked about Drake's plan and why he had her so I loved reading about their moments together and how their relationship started changing, their steamy scenes were really passionate so little by little they realized their feelings for each other.

I always enjoy reading about the previous characters so it was nice how they all tried to help Derek and be there when he needed them, The Rogues have been amazing from the start and I loved how they finally got to take down their enemy. Derek and Daphne had a fascinating story so I really want to read more about their future and see if there's more about the Rogues and their team and family.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

[DarknessLighttt · Rating 5 out of 5]

🐚 𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖 🐚

4.5 ⭐

𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀: alpha hero, billionaire, bodyguard, enemies to lovers, fake dating, forced proximity, he falls first, heroine in danger

𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀: kidnapping

Well, this book was really interesting.

The Villain is a combination of romance, drama, twists, hot spicy scenes but also character growth.

Daphne was left alone after her ex broke up with her as they prepared for a bungee jump. From that moment, her life takes an unexpected turn. The next week happens a lot of things: learns that her sister invited their mother to the wedding, which traumatized Daphne when she was a child; after she discovered that her brother-in-law's friend - Massimo is a creep, and after that she finds out that her new client is the man she kissed in an attempt to get rid of Massimo.

Drake is ready for revenge. He lost loved ones because of the Syndicate, and now he is after Massimo. In his search to learn more about him, he discovers that he is interested in one woman, which is Daphne. Then he decides to stalk her, but he begins to have feelings for her.

Of course, after they meet again at Daphne's workplace, their relationship is not going well. Drake decides that the best way to protect her from Massimo is to kidnap her. Daphne tries to escape more times and succeeds for a moment despite the countless moments when Drake told her he wouldn't hurt her.

When Daphne gives up fighting, she agrees to help eliminate Massimom. From that moment, they begin to form a team and the more time they spend together with each other, the more their relationship develops, gaining strong feelings for each other. The spicy scenes are super hot, so get ready for many incendiary moments.

What I liked most about was how Daphne grows from the woman who was afraid of new things to the one who is ready to venture.

Thank you Nana Malone and Valentine PR for the opportunity to read this amazing book in exchange for an honest review.

[Nicole Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drake Webster has to redeem himself. He has a lot to atone for. His goal is to take down the Sydicate and Massimo Igno. Massimo has taken an interest in Daphne Winslow. Daphne works at Baines Data with encrypted data and big money. Massimo’s interest can’t just be about wanting her, right? He wants something from her. Something she doesn’t even know she has.

Drake decides to draw Massimo out using Daphne as bait. Problem is Drake doesn’t clue Daphne in on the plan. Drake kidnaps Daphne and takes her to the one place no one knows about to the one person that he can trust to protect her. Something is going on between these two that will make it hard for Drake to walk away.

Daphne is closed off. She wants adventure in her life but tends to back down when it is staring her in her face. Drake Foster, Drake’s alias, is all the things she wants but knows she shouldn’t, couldn’t. With Massimo on her tail, she finds herself being led away by Drake to a beautiful country home of a older gentleman, Reginald. Reginald is like a father figure to Drake. He is his family.

Daphne turns into a feisty hellcat when cornered. This easy capture and release has turned into something Drake never anticipated. Readers will be connected with our favorite group of Rogues. They are really the only other people that Drake can trust. They push themselves into Drake’s plan to help him to succeed. Will their help be what takes down Massimo and the Syndicate?

I do not want this series to end. I love this group off-the-books badasses. I want more. Readers will love this book as a standalone or the series as a whole. Seeing how Drake comes into this series will make you love him even more. He is the villain with a heart and I am here for it.

[Divyanshi Chauhan · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC Review
The Villain

GENRE:
Contemporary Romance

TROPES:
Enemies To Lovers
Secret Society
Kidnapping

Age Rating:
18+

My rating: ⭐⭐.75
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️

Book review:
Let me start by saying I love ger writings. I'm always looking forward to reading her books. It's so easy, it engages you right from the beginning. Her characters are always lovable.

Main characters
Daphne is adventurous at heart. But I guess she never felt so secure, or alive to perform the scariest things that she wanted to do. She would always chicken out at the end moment.

Drake is focused on getting his life back. His place in the secret society that someone trapped him into something and he lost it. Now he's on his way to get it back. And Daphne is the anchor to it. He didn't mean to fall for her. Falling for her means him having a weakness, and inviting her into their dangerous world. And he cannot afford to put her life into danger. He loves her too much to do that.

The characters were likable, their evolution was nice. They've both grown individually very nicely. And they've grown for each other too.

Side Characters were I think strong?Idk Some were very good, some were really bad. Reginald is the gentleman🤌🏻 I love his character.
Travis is a big red flag. I hate him. And I'm glad there wasn't much about him in the book or I would've been pissed off at him really bad. But her sister is a red flag too. Very selfish. And so is her mother.

The story was good, medium to fast paced. It doesn't bore you but it doesn't keep you on edge either. The plot is well built-up. But a few moments in between and towards the end were beautiful 🥹🤌🏻it got me.
I liked it overall.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book five in The Gentlemen Rogues series and it is Drake and Daphne’s story. When Drake who is a agent and villain gets burnt it sets him on a path of revenge to not only find out who did this and why but when he finds out that Massimo who is a syndicate member and well known terrorist shows interest in Daphne who is a civilian he sees this as a opportunity to follow her and hopefully find the information that he needs at the same time. Daphne is having a really bad week first she finds out that her boyfriend has been cheating on her and then dumps her and then to top it all off her sister is trying to push her to reconcile with there mother but Daphne is not interested and then just when she thinks that things can’t get any worse she ends up getting kidnapped by Drake so that he can use her to draw Massimo out and deal with him. The more time that Drake and Daphne spend together even though there are a lot of ups and downs and push and pulls the attraction and chemistry that they feel just gets stronger and it can’t be denied but danger is all around them watching and waiting for the right time to strike but will they be able to eliminate the threat and get the justice that they want so that they can concentrate on how they feel and see where it takes them in the long run. Wow I read this book in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down and had to keep turning the pages to see what would happen next and what the outcome would be in the end. I have read every single book in this series and I have enjoyed them all because they are so addictive and I can’t wait to read more. I definitely recommend you read this book and series and you will not be disappointed.

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG Did I love The Villain! The Villain was the perfect mix of chemistry between Drake and Daphne, oh boya, did those two have chemistry, witty dialogue, and take no prisoners action. I was so sad when this one ended. The Villain kept me on the edge of my seat from the beginning to the end.

We have met Drake in the prior Gentlemen Rogues books, and we have always thought of him as the bad guy until recently, but even then, try as you might, there is no way to dislike or hate Drake. He is just that type of guy. In The Villain we find Drake out for revenge against The Syndicate and Massimo, and that is where Daphne comes into the picture. Drake knows that Daphne has information that he needs to help him get Massimo and bring The Syndicate down. What better way to implement his plan that to kidnaps Daphne in a supposed attempt to save her from Massimo. And it is with Drake's kidnapping of Daphne that The Villain takes off and does not let you go. What an action packed story The Villain is.

If you are looking for a story with a feisty, independent heroine, an alpha male, and a plot with so many twists and turns that you won't see coming then The Villain is your book. I absolutely loved The Villain and I loved the fact that we were able to see some of our most beloved characters from prior Gentlemen Rogues books. I truly hope to get books on all of the new characters that were introduced to. The Gentlemen Rogues is an fantastic series.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The latest book in the Gentleman Rogues series finds Drake determined to bring the Syndicate to its knees once and for all. When he finds out his enemy Massimo Igno is interested in Daphne Winslow he sees his chance and grabs it… or rather kidnaps it with little thought for Daphne herself.

With a fabulous fast paced plot, full of twists, turns and excitement The Villain is a great addition to the Rogues series. There was lots of banter and sizzling chemistry between the hero and heroine and I also enjoyed both Drake and Daphne’s relationship with Reginald. I wasn’t sure about the character of Daphne to begin with. She just seemed like one of life’s victims. She let everyone walk all over her, from her boyfriend to her selfish sister but given her family history which brought some angst to the story, her behaviour should’ve been expected but then she surprised me just as much as she did Drake with just how much she fought and opposed Drake at every turn and I ended up loving her character development across the book as she grew in confidence determined to help Drake complete his mission. Drake also changed as the solitary undercover agent realised that if he was to end the Syndicate and keep Daphne safe, he couldn’t do it all alone and that he’d have to place his trust in the Rogues.

[Jean Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. We meet Daphne trying to do a bungee jump with her boss/boyfriend. Unfortunately, Daphne is scared and won't jump and her boyfriend dumps her on the spot saying he met someone else. Now she's out with her friend, Talia when Massimo (a sleazy killer) tries to hit on her. She wants nothing to do with him and heads to the bathroom only run into Drake. Drake is from British Intelligence but got into some trouble and is trying to get back in. Drake "helps" Daphne shake Massimo by kissing her. Drake shows up next at her office and has requested her to help him with his business. He wants her to go to Barcelona with him. Before this can even happen, Massimo appears again, but then so does Drake and he kidnaps her.

Now Daphne is scared and keeps trying to escape from Drake. She finally shows her determination and goes through crazy things to escape. The chemistry between the two of them is sizzling and Daphne is torn between jumping him and trying to get away from him. She finally realizes that Drake is trying to protect her from Massimo.

Before you know it, they're relationship is starting to grow as he's working to help her. Will he be able to keep her from Massimo and figure out why Massimo wants her? What happens to Drake and Daphne? This book will have you turning the pages to find out!

[Holly Rife · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Villian is such a fun, seductive, and suspenseful book. It satisfies so many of my cravings and is so just so freaking yummy.

Daphne is one of the feistiest FMCs I've read in awhile. So when Drake takes her away from her life, she is going to do anything to get away from him. She is not going to stop without a fight and I just *love* that. Drake has motives for his actions that Daphne doesn't know about. So much is in play and the game is getting messy. Ooh, my guy Drake. He is my new book boyfriend. Wow, is he hot!!! (Sorry, hubby – you're good looking too ❤️). They are smokin!! Oh my stars!!! Sensational!!!

They both have their struggles and are in so much pain. They lean on each other and work to heal. I really like seeing individual storylines as well as the couple's trajectory in the books that I read. Daphne just blossoms in this story through all of her pain and it is just glorious. Drake heals in his own way and starts to form bonds and they both see a found family start to grow… (I love found families!!!!)

This is book 5 of the 'Gentlemen Rogues' series, but it is a standalone. If you enjoy dirty talking males with a saucy female and oodles of suspense, this may be a good pick for you!

[Janielle Kerridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this edge of your seat story and I most especially loved Drake and Daphne in this book. As a couple there was a lot of chemistry, their back and forth interactions were great and we were truly left with a feel good feeling by the end of this book. Was so sad to see the story ends.
In this book were are introduced to the Syndicate and Massimo, Drake is attempting to bring down Massimo and destroy the Syndicate. Is during this time we are introduced to Daphne when Drake kidnaps her from Massimo. This story has so many twist and turns and just absolutely leaves you wanting more. In our previous meeting of Drake he was a loner but during this book he realizes that he must rely on the Rogues and Daphne in order for the two of them to survive.
It was great seeing previously characters and even the banter between them remains the same. This book really caused me to loose some sleep as every twist that happened left me saying "oh just let me see how this ends" before you know it the book was done. I highly recommend this book, this series and just about anything that Nana Malone writes because her stories are just that great.
Definitely worth your time and truly and enjoyable read.

[Sharon in SF · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the previous books in the series, Drake Webster was seen as another player with The Syndicate, ie. the bad guys. In this book, his backstory is revealed as well as his connection to the former head of the Rogues Division, ie the secret good guys, Gabe Webb. This book concludes the overarching storyline of all the good guys trying to capture Massimo Igno, the true villain. He seems to have taken a shine to our female lead, Daphne Winslow, but neither she nor the good guys knows why Massimo needs her so badly. To protect her from Massimo, Drake kidnaps her to his country estate where his pseudo-uncle Reginald lives.
Daphne showed some real spunk in her attempts to escape Drake's house, overcoming ghosts of her abusive past. Although drawn to Daphne, Drake is on a path to bring down the Syndicate who was responsible for both his father's and uncle's deaths. He hits an emotional crossroads in his attempts to keep Daphne safe.
There were a lot of details the author needed to wrap up in this final book in the series. As a result, we didn't get as much character development as I would have liked, but this did not take away from my enjoyment of reading the book. I hope we get a future novella with an update on how all the couples are doing!

[Tamarah Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew based on his antics alone in The Spy that Drake was far from being done. Drake “The Villian” Webster is a burned M15 agent looking for his revenge and finally taking down the Syndicate. However, there is another person to factor in while on his road to revenge and that is our leading lady, Daphne Winslow. Fresh off a breakup with her shabby ex, to say Daphne has a full plate would be an understatement. Our couple are pushed together to solve this case. Drake not only finds out more about himself but also Daphne than her description in her case file. Then we have Daphne who is not only navigating through her childhood trauma but finding her voice in the process. I won’t spoil the story, but their action, steamy scenes, and humor were on another level. Of course, the story wouldn’t complete appearance from our favorite Rogues. Drake and Daphne had some major barriers to tackle while building their relationship at the same time. I feel like some major things I have been wondering about concluded. The ending left room to revisit the characters in the future. Overall, I enjoyed this story.

[Jolene St Germain Triggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another favorite from a reliable G.O.A.T author! The Villain is not only a great wrap up for the Gentlemen Rogues, but also a wonderful name for Drake. Drake was really such a tool and I thought his redemption arc was one of the best I'd ever seen. I REALLY didn't like him for a good 1/4 of the book, and then I SLOWLY warmed up to the fact that Daphne truly deserved someone who wasn't 100% good. They are a perfect fit. I loved Daphne's spunk but also being smart enough to know when something was worth fighting for and learning how to roll with the changes that life inevitably throws our way. These two hating each other was probably the most entertaining interlude lol, their back and forth made me smile and the steam factor was about an 11 (as hate to love stories usually end up being, one of the reasons its one of my favorite tropes and this author does it SO well!) I'm sad the Gentlemen Rogues story line is wrapped up, the suspense and intrigue made me engaged from cover to cover and always excited for the next one but I know this author has something spectacular coming and maybe we will see these couples down the road!

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author to review for Stephanie's Book Reports.

This is the story of Drake and Daphne. Drake is the villain and I loved him so much. I really did. He is on a mission to find out who exposed him being a agent. He wants revenge and when Drake wants something he gets it. His mission of revenge leads him to Daphne. The best way for him to find out things he wants to, or needs to know is to turn into her stalker. However, he finds things he never in a million years expected to find about her. She is an ordinary girl with a desire to be a dare devil and failing. She just got dumped by her boyfriend who was cheating on her. She and her mom don't talk and are estranged. To say she is having the most horrible week of her life is an understatement. Now Drake is really confused and can't figure out why Massimo is interested in her. You have to read to find all this out and there is a lot going on in this book. This book has all the drama, danger, twists and turns. The chemistry in this book is great and at times you will be laughing or your heart will be breaking. This is a book that you do not want to miss.

[Paulette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nana hits a grand slam home run out of the park with this one. All the other books in this series have been hits and put them on base but this one brings them all home.

The villain, Drake, is exciting, enticing, intoxicating and swoon worthy. You know you’re going to be captured and captivated by him. He has his own story. Try as you might you can’t dislike this guy. This time he’s on a mission to take back his life. He’s going fishing and Daphne is his bait to help capture the ‘Big Fish, Massimo.
We meet Daphne and she has her own struggles in life. Her mother is the mommy dearest of all mothers.
That’s all you’re get. I don’t do spoilers.
One of my favorite parts is watching the evolution of Daphne and Drake. Did I mention the heat level is off the charts?
Fortunately we are treated to becoming reacquainted with some of the Rogues. We’re also introduced to some new characters as well. If I had one thing more I wished for in this story it would be to see more retribution to mommy dearest, but that’s just me.

I’m certainly hoping for more from the Rogues. I can’t wait!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

We finally get Drake’s story. And it’s good one. What starts out as Drake watching Daphne because she was a step closer to Mossimo for him turned out to be more. Daphne has just broken up with her boyfriend, is helping plan her sisters wedding along with silently dealing with scars from her past. Her sister and her fiancé keep trying to step Daphne up with Mossimo a friend of her future brother in law. He has given her nothing but bad vibes. When he shows up to dinner she thinks is just going to be her sister and her fiancée. She excuses herself to get away but when she notices Mossimo is following her the first guy she runs into she ask for help. Drake is more than willing to help. Thinking that’s the last time Daphne will see the good looking stranger that helped her she’s surprised when he shows up as her new client the next day. Drake now has his in with Daphne, and now it’s his job to make sure she’s safe until he can get Mossimo. But Daphne isn’t going to like the way he goes about it. I really liked Drake And Daphne. And was glade to see the villain get his hea. This is a good series.

[Toni L · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the latest book in the Gentlemen Rogues series and while it could be read as a standalone with it's own HEA, I would recommend being familiar with at least some of the previous books since there is an ongoing story arc.
I loved this couple! Daphne is an absolute joy to read and she makes the book fun from start to finish. Although she's too scared to bungy jump at the beginning, she quickly finds her bad*** side. Drake is sweet in a completely self-blind way as to how much Daphne means to him. I loved reading about them and I could almost give 5* just for them.
However, the book just lacked a bit of flow and ease to the storyline. It felt clunky and unrelated in parts. Without giving spoilers away, there were times when I felt that there was going to be 'more' - in regards to other characters, explanations for events, interactions with other characters - that just weren't there. I think this is what led to a lot of the clunkiness for me. Things happened that in life would have led to conversations or introspection that just led to nowhere.
After all of that, I loved this couple enough to still give 4*.

[Catlou · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE VILLAIN is a wrap-up of sorts, at least for now. I enjoyed Drake and Daphne’s story, although it took me a bit to begin to feel their chemistry. Of course, it is probably the whole stalking-then-kidnapping-for-her-own-good-but-mostly-for-his-own-revenge part that put off any good I-can-see-the-potential-in-their-relationship vibes. But once that kicked in for me, I was hooked and couldn’t put it down until the end. Or is it really an end? Again, I felt the ending was a little off for this couple. IMO, we’re left up in the air on a few matters. I would have liked a bit more wrap-up on their future, possibly an epilogue … Regardless of my personal preferences, Daphne’s got a lot of sass and inner strength, that Drake certainly draws out of her. Drake shows his outer a-whole early on, but before too long we begin to see the inner heart he tries to deny he has. As their relationship grows, and the action and excitement begin to build, you soon will find this a book you won’t want to put down. It has enough drama, intrigue, and passion to engage you from beginning to end.