C2’s review of Always a Scoundrel (The Notorious Gentlemen, Book 3) by Suzanne Enoch
Historical romance released by Avon 28 April 09

Lord Bramwell Lowry Johns is a thief.  As the notorious Black Cat, he prowls through the dark streets of Mayfair stealing the ton’s baubles right from under their noble noses.  He doesn’t steal because he needs the money (although his father, the Duke of Levonzy, has cut him off again)…he steals for the thrill, the adrenalin rush he gets from stealing and the satisfaction of knowing that his father is aware of exactly who the thief is.  Double win!

During one of his forays as the Black Cat, Bram overhears that Lady Rosamund Davies is going to be married to the Marquis of Cosgrove to settle a 10,000 pound debt incurred by her brother James.  Since Bram is very well acquainted with Cosgrove, he knows no innocent chit should ever be forced to marry him.  Bram decides he needs to take a closer look at the situation.

Lady Rosamund has lived a quiet life, managing her flighty family members without them realizing it.  Since they didn’t realize how Rose made their lives easier, her relatives have no appreciation for her or any sympathy for the predicament they have placed her in.  They expect her to, as they see it, do her duty to her family and to be grateful that she is getting married at all.

Bram finds himself intrigued and baffled by Rosamund – intrigued because by her straightforward personality and baffled by her dedication to her family.  His curiosity aroused, Bram sets out to learn more about Rosamund.  As he gets to know her, Bram realizes just how disastrous a match between Rosamund and the deceptively angelic Cosgrove would be.

He offers to help her run away from London to avoid the marriage but she refuses…at first.  After a few encounters with Cosgrove alone, she begins to see what marriage to him will be.  Finally, she agrees that if no other solution can be found by the day the engagement is to be announced, she will let Bram help her run away and start a new life.  A wrench is thrown into the works when the announcement date is unexpectedly moved up.  Bram has to ask for help from people he neither wanted or expected help from.

The attitude of Rose’s family toward her was horrifying, from a modern standpoint especially.  To be told that the only thing she was good for was to bail out her thoughtless younger brother, rather than make him responsible for his own actions, is beyond insulting and belittling.  However, it is probably quite accurate, historically speaking.  Daughters seemed to be regarded as an odd sort of currency in the days of arranged marriages and political pairings.  Grrrr.  *glances at soapbox and steps down*

Watching Bram become more and more attracted to Rosamund, even though he considers himself beyond such attachments, and deal with his growing feelings for her is the best part of the book.  At the beginning Bram has already started down a very slippery slope – he is becoming a bitter wastrel with little regard for anyone.  Over the course of the story, he first realizes there are good people that deserve good things (although he doesn’t consider himself one of them) and later sees he can have a different life than the one he envisioned for himself.  I love Bram – he’s my new fave of Suzie E’s heroes (it used to be Bit)!  Also, she gets bonus points for best disposal of a villain EVER.  Heh.

Grade: A

Summary:
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Never a gentleman . . . until now.
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Lord Bramwell Johns, the second son of a duke, is an unrepentant scoundrel. Now that his two closest friends are disgustingly ensconced in domestic bliss, Bram is feeling strangely restless. And not even relieving London’s least deserving artistocrats of their ill-gotten jewels is enough—until the night he overhears an argument. It seems that Lady Rosamund Davies is about to be forced into marriage with a rogue even worse than himself.
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Rose is well aware of Bram’s scandalous reputation, so any reason for his sudden interest in her is suspect; more so since he’s close friends with the man about to ruin her family! She has her own plan though, and Bram may be just what she requires—as long as she remembers that he is only looking out for himself. As long as she remembers that his kisses and caresses don’t mean anything. As long as she can keep from wondering whether she can trust a scoundrel . . . with her heart.
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Read an excerpt here.

Other books in the series:

LauraD’s review of After the Kiss: The Notorious Gentlemen by Suzanne Enoch
Historical Romance published by Avon 24 Jun 08

I have a conflicted relationship with Suzanne Enoch; I have been unable to get into her contemporary series starring cat burglar-cum-sleuth Samantha Jellicoe, but I love me some historical Enoch. I actually read the first chapter of After the Kiss while sitting in the parking lot of the Big Box store, and since it’s several thousand degrees right now in Texas that says a lot. Sullivan Waring is the bastard son of a nobleman. He has distinguished himself as a soldier and is revered as a horse breeder and trainer by all of Britain. He is, however, full of rage at the rich and titled because of the way his mother was used and cast off by his father-and because his father sold off the inheritance his mother, an artist, left him. He has been robbing the homes of London’s rich, taking back his mother’s paintings. Late one night, making his way out of a townhouse, he encounters Lady Isabel Chalsey. As a way of distracting her, Sullivan “steals” a kiss-not a problem until Isabel recognizes him at a horse auction the next day.

Headstrong and independent, Isabel is determined to find out why Sullivan is robbing houses. She manipulates him into selling her a most inappropriate horse, and into teaching her to ride. What follows is a battle of wills, as two strong individuals attempt to control each other.

At first Isabel seems to be the Paris Hilton of her time, and the author even has several characters acknowledge that Isabel is a darling of the ton. However, Sullivan comes to learn that Isabel is quite capable of thinking for herself, and is a great deal braver than he gives her credit for-she’s actually terrified of horses(with good reason), so being close to one is a big step for her.

Sullivan has good reason for his bitterness; and when he begins to fall for Isabel his illegitimacy falls unusually close to home. His own legitimate half-brother is paying court to Isabel, and planning to marry her. Almost everyone in the book tries to separate the two of them, but Sully and Isabel are fascinated with one another, and so the lies and consequences begin.

I really, really enjoyed this book. Sullivan is a lovely hero; he might not be noble by birth, but he is a gentleman. He doesn’t want to implicate anyone else in his thievery, even though he has friends willing to help him. Isabel has his regard and respect, and taking care of her is his concern; even more so than the noblemen surrounding her.

Isabel took a bit longer to warm up to, because she does start off as a spoiled brat. However, she redeems herself nicely once she opens her eyes and realizes that she’s not going to be happy simply because she is titled and rich. She finds herself to be much braver than she thought she was, and she is transformed.

A good deal of the story’s conflict is the class difference between Sullivan and the rest of the characters. There is an especially painful bit where he confesses his love for Isabel to his best friend, an aristocrat, only to see the disapproval in his friend’s eyes. It’s a topic that doesn’t come up often in historical romance, and I believed in the way the characters dealt with it. One interaction towards the end of the book was a bit too Hollywood HEA for me, but it didn’t detract from my overall buy-in of the ending. I’m looking forward to the next two Notorious Gentlemen stories!

Grade: A

Summary:

A Notorious Gentleman . . . Sullivan Waring wants only two things: his rightful inheritance, and revenge against the man who stole it from him. By day, Sullivan is the most respected horse breeder in England; by night, he plunders the ton‘s most opulent homes to reclaim his late mother’s beautiful paintings. His quest is going swimmingly . . . until the night he’s discovered by Lady Isabel Chalsey. Clad only in a revealing nightdress, she’s an entrancingly different kind of plunder, and how can a thief resist stealing a kiss?

A Curious Lady . . . Surprised by a masked man in her own home, Isabel should be quaking with fear. Instead the sight of the sinfully handsome Sullivan makes her tremble with excitement. Who is this man, and why is he so set on this reckless pursuit? Lady Isabel loves a challenge, and she’ll dare anything to uncover Sullivan’s secret-but she may instead convince him that she is the greatest prize of all.

Read an excerpt.