The Rogue's Runaway Bride

A Rogue of Her Own #3

by Tara Kingston

An heiress on the run . . .

Stranded in London with only the rain-soaked wedding dress on her back, American dollar princess ARABELLE FROST is on the run from a dangerous man. Drenched and desperate, she’s sure her dismal night can’t get worse . . . until a rogue from her past charges to the rescue. As handsome as he is arrogant, Jon Mason nearly stole her heart. She’d hoped to never again lay eyes on the tempting yet vexing rake, but she needs a place to hide. And fast. But falling for him is out of the question. Especially when an angry would-be groom with a dark secret is hot on her trail.

The rogue who never got over her . . .

Tycoon JONATHAN MASON has everything a sensible man could want. Blasted shame he had to complicate matters by playing the hero. Now, the beautiful heiress he’d left behind after a whirlwind romance is under his roof. Arabelle Frost is exasperating. Challenging. And utterly enchanting. But she can’t hide her fear of the fortune-hunting scoundrel who pursued her through the city on a bleak and rainy night. Determined to protect her, Jon knows the risks. After all, he’s no stranger to taking chances. But with each day that passes, it's harder not to fall for her.

And loving Arabelle would be the biggest risk of all.

Tropes/Themes you'll

✅ Runaway Bride
✅ Protector / Woman in Jeopardy
✅ Grumpy / Sunshine
✅ Second Chance Romance
✅ Forced Proximity
✅ Opposites Attract
✅ Bad Boy Reformed
✅ Domesticity

Read in Kindle Unlimited!

332 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 26, 2025

About the author

Award-winning author Tara Kingston writes historical romance laced with intrigue, danger, and adventures of the heart. A Southern-belle-out-of-water in a quaint Pennsylvania town, she lives her own love story with her real-life hero and a pair of deceptively innocent-looking kitties in a cozy Victorian. The mother of two sons, Tara’s a former librarian whose love of books is evident in her popping-at-the-seams bookcases. It goes without saying that Tara’s husband is thankful for the invention of digital books, thereby eliminating the need for yet another set of shelves. When she’s not writing, reading, or burning dinner, Tara enjoys movie nights, cycling, hiking, DIY projects, collecting dolls, and cheering on her favorite football team.

Please stop by Tara’s website at www.tarakingston.com for information on her upcoming releases and periodic updates on her life as a belle out of water in the Pennsylvania Wilds.

Reviews

[Sam Lue · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 Stars


Arabelle Frost is running from a fraud who wishes to marry her for her family fortune. During her escape she runs into Jonathan Mason, a man she fell for months ago in New York. Belle with nowhere else to go places her trust in a man who has left her once before.

The Rogue’s Runaway Bride is the third book in a series, but can be read as a standalone in my opinion. The pacing of this story is slow building. This book focuses on several relationships. The ones between Belle, Jon, Carrie, and Mrs. Gilroy. The overarching theme I took away was domesticity. Belle found a family outside her own. There is some spice, but not much. The romance in this book is sweet. I’d recommend it to anyone who likes books where the grumpy mmc is a total white knight for the woman he loves.

A warm thanks to Tara Kingston, Dragonblade Publishing, and NetGalley for this ARC!

[Nia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is sort of, but not quite, a second chance romance. Arabella and Jon have a past and that allows for their serendipitous reconnection to be full of pining and caution. Both heavily guarded, this is a quiet low steam, slow burn. You can feel how they pine for each other, it gives you that little nervous hollow feeling in your chest like when you have a crush on someone and are quite unsure how to approach the situation.

I really loved Arabella. This is what I imagine a strong heroine is like, protective but not unreasonable. She’s not feisty for no reason, and she tries to think rationally through her actions.

Jon, he’s a little cold but he truly cares for Arabella. He’s a magnate that is all about business and has foreclosed himself on love. I LOVE these duty bound MMCs that then end up absolutely falling violently in love.

I also loved the housekeeper and Carrie, the ward. The interpersonal relationships were really lovely and it developed this theme of found family with the other individuals in the house and also with the Jons friends that slowly become Arabella’s. The domesticity was also so lovely, as I love little slices of life, like just watching Arabella interact with Carrie, Heathy-the dog, and Cleo, the cat. It sometimes felt like a bit of fish out water story to read about this Dollar Princess try her hand at being a governess and helping maintain the house, which includes a really funny scene with the house covered in flour!

I will say, what did not work as much for me is that the book was repetitive at some points so I felt like I kept rereading the same general information over and over. Also, I feel like not everything was fully revealed or resolved with the villains, for example do we know what ends up happening with the forged certificate? Or whether the aunt has her comeuppance? I felt this could have been fleshed out better.

However, if you’re looking for a sweet, slow burn with a runaway bride who stumbles into a life she falls in with, and is given a second chance with the man she has loved, this is the book for you?

Thanks Tara Kingston, Dragonblade and NetGalley for the ARC!

[Margaret Watkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed previous books by this author, but found this one driven by dialogue and mental musings. When Arabelle Frost overhears a conversation between her aunt and her intended bridegroom, she knows she has to make her escape, and with no time to prepare, she flees in her wedding dress. She is robbed of what little she had to pay her way, but lands in the arms of the one man she never thought to see again. Jon is suspicious of Belle's sudden appearance, but when he sees the fear in her eyes, he recognizes the danger she is in, especially when one of Gideon's henchmen starts asking questions in Jon's establishment. With unresolved hurt between them, Jon nevertheless takes her to the safest place he knows, namely his home, where they walk in what has become daily chaos. It seems impossible that one small girl, a cat, and a dog can cause so much trouble. Belle's instant connection with Carrie results in her filling in for the missing governess until such time as other arrangements can be made. However, the longer Jon entertains Belle in his home, the more she burrows into the fabric of their lives. When danger finally catches up with Bella, Jon realizes that he will fight tooth and nail to keep her safe. The novel, a copy of which I received through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley, closes on a sweet conclusion, and this is my honest and voluntary conclusion, and this is my honest and voluntary review.

[Ashley EmDash · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review based on NetGalley advanced reader copy.

The Rogue's Runaway Bride is a period adventure with just enough romantic bounce to keep you going.

I never like to spend too much time on a plot description, because one is already available, but the basic overview is Arabelle fled a bad situation very quickly one day and needs shelter. By happenstance, she ends up reconnecting with a man who left her behind in America years ago, Jonathan Mason, and seeking shelter with him.

I really loved that this book spent a lot of time developing characters besides the female and male leads. In particular, the female lead spends a lot of time building relationships within the household and with her limited visitors. This is actually a really fun aspect of the book, but this space takes away from pages building up the main relationship. The book relies heavily on these characters having a backstory largely out of the book to establish their connection, and there isn't a great deal of tension between Arabelle and Jonathan. Spice is limited.

The culmination of the "suspense" of the book is resolved fairly quickly, and there is a bit of a pop-up issue for final drama. I feel the book fumbled here, and this is largely the reason for me moving down to a four-star versus five.

Still a recommended read if you enjoy this genre, as I think the increased focus on social and household connections was a really nice twist. It made the book more homey and wholesome feeling. I can't say that I enjoyed the book enough to seek out the others in this series though.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Rogue's Runaway Bride is the third book in the A Rogue of Her Own series. This book can be a stand-alone read.

We meet Arabelle Frost also known as 'Belle' and the Frost Princess. Her reputation as the Frost Princess, stems from the clever uses of her last name, her ability to keep herself from being tricked in to believe a man cares for her more than her money, and reputation of the Dollar Princesses for their ability to save many a desperate titled gentleman to save their family estates. Whew! Quite the background story.

Belle is running for her life to avoid a man she agreed to marry, only to discover, he is not the man he portrayed himself to be. When she learns the truth, she runs away in the wedding dress she was to have worn at night in the pouring rain. Bedraggled, she runs into the man who left her in New York to return to do his duty for the family. She hasn't quite gotten over Jonathan Mason, but she has no choice but to trust him to keep her safe until she can return to her family.

The story itself is a slow burn until the last few chapters. There are many characters which are entertaining and unique. Jon and Belle are quick witted and trade barbs with relish. It is a tender and sweet story worth reading.

I received an ARC from NetGalley for an unbiased review.

[Anonymous 5 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I became engaged in the story from the very first page. Arabelle Frost is an American heiress literally running for her life (and in her wedding dress, no less), and who does she stumble across but that guy from her past — Jon Mason, the maddeningly handsome rogue she once fell for and swore she’d never see again. All the unresolved tension comes flooding back making way for all the witty banter and smoldering glances you could want.

Jon is one of those heroes who acts like he’s in control of everything but clearly isn’t when it comes to the woman he can’t forget. Their chemistry just leaps off the page. And the setup is deliciously dramatic. A runaway bride, a protective (and slightly exasperated) hero, and danger lurking just behind the next corner. It hits all the best romantic tropes without feeling overdone.

What I especially liked is that both characters have actual stakes. Arabelle isn’t just a damsel in distress — she’s determined, scared, but still sharp and brave. And Jon, for all his swagger, has his own vulnerabilities that make him feel more real.

If you love historical romance with a bit of suspense, emotional depth, and a heroine who refuses to be tamed, this one’s a total treat.

I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing and am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Pat Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

True to form, this author brings another heart wrenching story of a runaway bride and her protector. Arabelle and Jon have a past and the end was not pretty. Now, running from a man she refuses to marry, she literally runs into Jon and a new chapter begins for them. I adored the characters of this tale. They all felt very real. Jon’s sense of duty is so engrained by his father, I wanted to shake some sense into him. Arabelle’s sense of preservation and feistiness makes this a wonderful story of strong women and their men. Mrs. Gilroy is a force in and of herself and Carrie is adorably cute, with a style all her own. Would have loved to have seen the incident between her and her governess. That was hilarious! I will never look at kitchen utensils the same ever again, either! I did think this story dragged a bit in the middle, but nothing that would put you off. Arabelle and Jon’s chemistry is so palpable and the pain they both feel towards the end broke my heart. Another enjoyable story with a tiny bit of spice and no crass language!

I received this story for free and these are my own opinions.

[Tiffany P · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a second chance romance for a couple that had not seen each other after a heart breaking good-bye two years earlier. Fate brought them back together when she literally ran into him after running away from the man she planned to marry. The story contained good well developed characters that formed their own family. The story included a villain that the heroine was hiding from throughout that they had to confront and thwart to get their happy ending. There were funny stories and mishaps involving a child, a dog, and a snooty cat. The witty banter was throughout between the main couple and with the friends as well. There was a little steam toward the end but nothing too explicit. It was pretty mild. There was a lot of time wasted with the main couple wondering about the other’s feelings instead of just saying hoe they felt. It made the book feel a bit long at times. It made it a little hard for me to read as fast as I normally do which is why I gave 3 stars.

I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and am voluntarily leaving this review.

[Chia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is such a mood! Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC!

Picture a drenched American heiress crashing into the arms of a brooding former flame in rainy London... talk about cinematic (and such a swoony move!). Arabelle, desperate and dressed only in her soggy wedding gown, runs into Jonathan, the rakish tycoon she once abandoned. Now he’s tasked with hiding her from a dangerous fiancé—and sparks reignite fast.

This was a suspenseful, swoony, beautifully written book, with irresistible chemistry and plenty of tension. The mix of mystery, longing, and historical charm was fantastically done.
Goodreads

This is a historical romance that wraps you in dramatic stakes, quiet banter, and that magical second-chance tension. Perfect for readers craving both heart and heat.

[Cindy C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an enjoyable read! Third book in the series, A Rogue of Her Own is a second chance romance between Arabelle and Jon. Tera Kingstone has written a suspenseful story, filled it with characters that come off the pages and pull you into their tale, steamy passion, a story that is well-written and a plott full of suspense. It's a suspenseful rollercoaster ride with tension-building twist and turns as Jon try to protect Arabelle from the villain who is after her.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving a review

[Petula · Rating 5 out of 5]

This historical romance is so much fun. Our heroine is a "Dollar Princess" . That is what the wealthy American ladies who come to London looking for a husband are called. This one however is sensible enough to run from the groom. She is in for quite the adventure.
Our hero is a rogue who concentrates mainly on his business empire. One female is already bringing him chaos, it will only get worse.
Wonderful characters that are linked to the previous books in the series, but not enough to spoil,this or them. I was hooked from the first page.
Great fun.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

American heiress Arabelle Frost is on the run from her groom. In fear of her life, she literally runs into the man who left her two years ago. Since a lad, Jon Mason has focused on success in business. With Belle once again in his arms and under his protection, they are drawn together once again. It's a second chance, if he will only take it. A madcap romance with a little girl, a dog and an independent cat. Mild descriptive sex and some violence.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arabella is feisty and runs from being married. Jonathan is a wealthy tycoon who ends up spending more time with Arabella than he was planning on. More than that, this is a story of second chances, well written and with detailed backstories on both characters. The depth this author goes to helps the reader fully immerse themselves with the characters. Sweet romance and can be read as a standalone.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

A true historical romance with a little mystery added in will keep you turning the pages. A “bride” on the run in London is quite a sight. Not used to being without funds and protection, Belle doesn’t know which way to turn. This story definitely kept my interest. I was given a complementary copy of this book and the opinions are my own.

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved it! Arabella, a runaway New York dollar princess, collides with Jon, her past flame, in dangerous London nights. With a house full of chaos a dog, cat, orphan, and blunt housekeeper their reunion sparks danger, banter, and nonstop fun.

[Aj · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful read, second chance romance between an heiress and her rogue. Arabelle and Jon are captivating, great chemistry and make their way on the run to a worthy happy ending.