TO RESCUE A ROGUE

Author: Jo Beverley ISBN: 0451220110 9/2006 HISTORICAL Publisher: SIGNET
Time Period: Regency England

Lady Mara St. Bride has never backed down from a good adventure, which was how she wound up roaming the streets of London in the middle of the night, wearing nothing but a shift and corset beneath an old blanket. Luckily, her brother's oldest friend, the devilishly sexy Lord Darius Debenham, answered her plea for help. Now she intends to repay the favor.... Before Dare was wounded at Waterloo, he had embraced everything life had to offer. Forever changed by the war, he believes nothing—not even the interference of a lovely young minx like Mara—can rescue him from his demons. But Mara is determined to reignite his warm smile, and enlists the help of all the Rogues to offer Dare a temptation he cannot resist....

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

TO RESCUE A ROGUE brings the final Rogue into holy matrimony. All of the living Rogues are present for the events of May 1817, which reunite Lady Mara McBride with her childhood crush, her brother Simon's friend, Lord Dare Debenham.

Beverly's excellent characterizations and interesting plots are again in evidence in the last true Rogue novel. While Dare's unfortunate opium addiction forms a lot of the framework of the plot and conflict, Mara's Ademar de Braque black-and-red hair winds her into trouble of her own, which continues to plague them both.

In contrast to the last Rogue book, there was more suspense in the relationship. There were moments where it seemed everything would be fine in the relationship, then something else would happen to tear the lovers apart. Both are strong, passionate and noble, but they have experienced misadventures that make it difficult to achieve happiness. Luckily, since Mara is sister of a Rogue, and his new wife is her age, it is easy for Mara to get help for Dare from his friends just as he's helping her through her problems. There is a nice balance of action and concern from each of them, despite their handicaps of youth and addiction.

Beverley promises there are more stories in the universe of the Rogues, even with the original cast married off, so fear not, they will be back!

Heather Hiestand