Alicia Thomas’s review of What a Rogue Desires by Caroline Linden
Historical romance published 1 Sep 07 by Zebra
Blurb:
Notorious rogue David Reece is determined to mend his wicked ways. Vivian Beecham is the very last sort of woman to help him do that, as an admitted thief and a thief who robbed him, no less. But the last sort of woman David needs in his life might just be the only one he can’t live without…
Read an excerpt.
After reading What A Gentleman Wants (read my review here), I had to read What a Rogue Desires.
David is a lovable scoundrel, like many of my favorite male characters, but he’s guilty of a bit more than just sneaking away with a lady here and there. He can’t hold his head up in most circles by the beginning of this book. He is willing to take his medicine and straighten his life out, though. His honest repentance is what redeems him in my eyes.
Vivian is his perfect heroine. He has to deal with her crime but, at the same time, he can hardly cast any stones. While he wants her to tell him how to get his stolen property back, she’s smart and tough and he has to admire her.
The characters were wonderfully well drawn and the dialogue was enjoyable. There was a bit of a lag while he was waiting for her to break down and talk to him but it picked up again before long. There are fun situations. Their relationship grows believably. The tension was excellent with breath-taking effect. All of these things I expected and was not disappointed.
I did have a couple of problems. First, it nagged at me that Vivian let go of her concern for her brother so often and so easily. I don’t think I could have stayed and enjoyed anything at all in her shoes. She had made major life decisions and taken beatings for his sake, so it didn’t feel in-character for her to stay with David while he didn’t know where she was.
Then, I didn’t have a clear idea of how she and David were going to play out their HEA. I bought that they were in love and that they would live “happily ever after” but does he stay in town with her and just disregard society? Do they stay in the country? Does he pretend she’s someone acceptable? The end was sigh-worthy (in a good way) but for this particular couple I wanted more specifics on how they were going to make it work.
Grade C+
