Dangerous to Know

When Lady Elizabeth Stockwell finds a badly wounded gentleman in her stables, is to conceal his presence so as to prevent a scandal. But as the days pass, and she helps him, Elizabeth finds herself unexpectedly drawn to her handsome and mysterious patient. He is a gentleman, that is obvious, as is the fact that he was wounded during a duel. And the very fact that he is wary of revealing his identity leads her to believe that he was the wrongdoer. When Elizabeth finally discovers who her patient is, and the wrong he is guilty of, she knows she should forget all her tender feelings for him. Except that she finds she cannot do this. Or reconcile the fact that the evil rake, Lord Langdon and her charming patient are the same man. Soon Elizabeth must decide where her allegiances lie: with her friends who hate Langdon, or with the charming one time rake who claims to have changed his ways and who wants to spend the rest of his life with her... "Dangerous To Know" started out strong and had all the hallmarks of being a really good read, however, one third through the story, the book takes on some gothic tones, as Lady Elizabeth's brother and her friends attempt to restrict her movements, forbidding her to have anything to do with Langdon, and trying to force her to accept another's hand in marriage. Lady Elizabeth's frequent bouts of temper had me loosing interest quickly. Leanne Shawler cleverly depicted Lady Elizabeth's confusion as to whether or not she should trust Langdon and allow her feelings for him full reign. Really well done, and the doubt, confusion and wistful yearning that Lady Elizabeth felt was skillfully drawn for the reader to appreciate. Other problems I had with the book: 1) how it was that Lady Elizabeth was allowed to go riding every morning without an escort or groom while she was staying with her friends in London. 2) the confusion I felt about events that took place prior to the opening scene of the book involving Langdon's past and the reason why her friends hate him so - though most of this is explained over the course of the novel, it didn't prevent that feeling of confusion one gets when wandering into a play after the first act and valiantly trying to figure out what is going on. Is Langdon a licentious rake with a scandalous past that he is trying to live down? Or has he been painted slightly blacker than he really is? I found myself putting the book down in confusion many times. There is a really good story here, and the book really does start off strong. I just wasn't as enamored toward the middle as I was at the beginning third of the book.B

Even bloodied and covered in dirt, a gentleman's good breeding will always tell. The pistol-toting stranger in Stockwell House's stable is definitely a gentleman of quality, Miss Elisabeth Stockwell deduces. Strange, how he'd rather perish from his wounds, angry and infected as they are, than see them properly tended to! But no matter, his fever has made him too weak to put up much of a fight. Whether the injured gentleman wills it or nay -- and he can hardly put up a protest when he has slipped into unconsciousness -- he will be nursed back to health. Prudence, be damned! Her brother James may not approve of her decision, but he need never find out she gave shelter to a handsome stranger without benefit of a chaperone, Elisabeth rationalizes. Or more scandalous yet, that she saw the gentleman's bare torso, bathed his feverish skin, and wanted to dally about said task. No, not very prudent at all... James's unexpected return to the country with company in tow should therefore be a relief, a much-needed incentive to distance herself from Henry -- alas, he has yet to divulge his surname, which is fair enough because Elisabeth has assumed the fictitious identity of a paid companion -- during his secret convalescence in an unused wing. Goodness, what kind of dangerous game is she playing with her reputation? What does Henry have to do with the ugly scandal that nearly ruined her former guardian's wife? Will she have to end her self-imposed exile in the country to get to the bottom of this disturbing mystery? Which is he, really: rogue or philanthropist? Saint or sinner? Conscience-less seducer or much maligned peer? And damn her for caring, anyway! Losing her heart to an unworthy gentleman during her come-out season -- years ago -- was pain enough to bear. In this traditional Regency romance from Leanne Shawler, a former, DANGEROUS TO KNOW, licentious rake is forced to prove he is a changed man. Not perfect, mind you; just more enlightened about his faults and flaws. To accomplish this task, he will have to contend with his past misbehavior's lurid legacy and ignore the dangerous temptation to revert to old habits. As you can imagine, Ms. Shawler's hero is powerfully, deliciously conflicted. Change isn't without cost or consequence, after all. But can such a drastic transformation be believed or trusted? Details of the scandal in Henry's past are revealed in dribs and drabs, so readers will be anxious to learn the full truth. What did he do that was so very awful Elisabeth's friends and family are so scandalized she would champion such a gentleman? Truly, one's mind begins to conjure up all sorts of scintillating possibilities. The author's decision to leave readers as much in the dark about Henry's rakish transgressions as Elisabeth -- dropping a hint or two here and there -- is an inspired one. It helps maintain the plot's tension, and increases one's compulsion to figure out what kind of gentleman Henry really is. While he can be ruthless, h