Sandy M’s review of Once More, My Darling Rogue (Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James, Book 2) by Lorraine Heath
Historical Romance published by Avon 26 Aug 14
I had a bit of a scare when I first started reading this book. I was a couple of chapters in, and I had that feeling I’ve gotten a few times lately when books by my favorite authors weren’t quite up to snuff. The heroine in this story, well, let’s just say she’s a piece of work. At least that was my early thought in how she treats the hero. In the end, however, I should never have doubted Lorraine Heath.
Drake Darling is the adopted son of the Duke and Duchess of Greystone. Thus, he’s not born of nobility. Lady Ophelia Lyttleton knows this and makes sure he knows that at their every meeting. Drake continues to be the gentlemen his parents raised him to be and lets her insults slide right off his back. And Lady O is quite insulting. So much so I don’t like her very much at the opening of the story. That’s what had me questioning if I was going to like this book all that much or not.
After a round with her at a ball one night, Drake lays a sensual and sordid kiss on her after she’s flung more contempt his way and then walks out. Fate has strange but fortuitous ways with our lives, as Drake discovers when he’s out late walking along the Thames and finds someone washed ashore. Taking her to his home to clean her up and assess for injuries, he’s completely taken aback when he finds Lady O beneath the mud and the muck. Amazed that she remembers nothing about her accident or even her life before, Drake then comes up with a devious bit of revenge. I really, really like this man!
Hoping to plop a little humility into her attitude, Drake tells Phee – his sister’s nickname for Ophelia – she’s in service to him as his housekeeper, which, of course, she’s sure can’t be true. Aristocracy is pretty ingrained in Ophelia. But because she doesn’t remember, she does try to do her duty taking care of Drake and his home. Both he and the reader begin to see Lady O in a new light. And you just know she’s going to steal Drake’s heart and there’s going to be a broken heart – or two – in the end when her memory returns.
In the meantime, however, I have to say I enjoyed watching this Ophelia learn the trade she made so difficult for those in her father’s employ. Drake does too, for a very short time. When her hands become blistered when she lugs buckets of water upstairs for his bath, he orders her to cease at once. He doesn’t want her hurt, even knowing he’ll hurt her more when he finally decides to return her to her home. But that day keeps getting pushed back, because he wants just one more day with Phee. One more meal. One more everything. Then he discovers no one is searching for Ophelia, no one has reported her missing. Something’s wrong with that picture and he needs to find out what it is, in case she’s in some kind of danger.
We do know before Phee has her accident that something awful happened in her life for her to act the way she does. So to see her laugh and play with Drake, learn to cook, save an old horse from certain death, and other things she’d never done while decked out in beautiful gowns is what made me do a complete turnaround where her character is concerned. When we do find out what happened to her, you feel for her immensely, and I’m so glad Drake is with her and takes care of her the best he can, which turns out to be one terrific scene.
Of course, when Phee’s memory returns – and I’m so glad it happens the way it does, not the usual we always read about – all hell breaks loose. She’s mortified at what Drake has done, as she should be. He does go too far, but we know, of course, it’s because his heart is now involved. He doesn’t even know that yet. His contriteness and remorsefulness breaks my heart. Drake tries to go on with his life, opening a new gaming hell. I love the scene near the end with his father. Left me quite misty-eyed. In the end, we know all will be well, and that scene between Drake and Ophelia is wonderfully done.
This has ended up being one of my longer reviews, but so much happens in this book and I’m so very happy it makes such a turnaround. I love it all. I’ve learned my lesson to never doubt Lorraine Heath again.
Grade: A
Summary:
They are England’s most eligible bachelors, with the most scandalous reputations. But for the right woman, even an unrepentant rogue may mend his ways . . .
Born to the street but raised within the aristocracy, Drake Darling can’t escape his sordid beginnings. Not when Lady Ophelia Lyttleton snubs him at every turn, a constant reminder he’s not truly one of them. But after rescuing her from a mysterious drowning, he realizes she doesn’t remember who she is. With plans to bring her to heel, he insists she’s his housekeeper—never expecting to fall for the charming beauty.
While Ophelia might not recall her life before Drake, she has little doubt she belongs with him. The desire she feels for her dark, brooding employer can’t be denied, regardless of consequences. So when Ophelia’s memory returns, she is devastated by the depth of his betrayal. Now Drake must risk everything to prove she can trust this rogue with her heart once more.
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
