Veena’s review of Gone with the Rogue (First Comes Love, Book 2) by Amelia Grey
Historical Romance published by St. Martin’s Paperbacks 28 Apr 20 

English society in the regency period is full of double standards and very restrictive towards women in general and noble women in particular.  Julia Fairbright would love to buck the system, but she’s held back by her father-in-law, a duke holding her son hostage to her good behavior.  All bets are off, though, when she’s discovered in Hyde Park in a tree by the most notorious rake of all.

Garret is never in town for long. He loves his life sailing the high seas, making port in London for the briefest of intervals. When he rescues Julia Fairbright from being strangled by her bonnet ribbons as she hangs from a tree branch, she strikes a chord and he suddenly finds his plans changing. He is looking at staying in town and potentially acquiring his childhood home that was sold.

Julia is on a quest to expose her father-in-law for the double life he leads and to gain control of her son and her life.  She solicits Garret’s help in finding the records of the Duke’s hidden dealings.  Soon their trysts turn to more than mere looking for the records and then ultimately working to decode them.  In the meantime, Julia’s friend is determined to make a difference helping the poor and downtrodden.  The two friends’ attempts at making soup will leave readers rolling. Thank God for Garret who comes to their rescue and prevents catastrophic damage.

Will Julia and Garret prevail and enjoy a sustainable relationship? You’ll need to read the book to discover how it all comes together in the end.

Grade: B

Summary:

She had an acceptable marriage of convenience. Now widowed, can this determined and beautiful mother find true and forever love?

The sinking of the Salty Dove took her husband’s life—but it didn’t drown Julia Fairbright’s courage to endure. She creates a proper life for herself and her young son. But now, the ton’s most notorious rogue is back, and how he makes Julia feel is anything but proper. She can’t deny the desires he awakens in her, even though she knows that the handsome devil will surely break her heart.

Garrett Stockton owns a successful shipping company and is rumored to have a woman on every continent and half-a-dozen in England. The truth, however, is that Garrett has but one mistress: the wide open sea. That is, until he meets Julia, whose spirit of independence matches his own. What begins as a flirtatious battle of wits turns far more passionate than either of them could have imagined. Suddenly, Garrett’s only desire is to sail into the sunset with Julia as his wife and young Chatwyn his son. But she won’t take his hand—how can he convince her that his love is real and his heart is hers?

No excerpt available.

Other books in this series: