The Reluctant Rogue

Nice story of a handsome rogue who compromises a plain Jane. Actually, I thought it was wonderful. Ms. Powell, in my opinion, successfully made each character's loneliness felt. At one point, I thought I would cry. Both of these characters were incredibly lonely due to unfeeling parents and losses they were unsure how to handle. It was a poignant story.

A follow-up to "A Reckless Bargain" (where Viscount Langley turns up about three-quarter way through the book), "The Reluctant Rogue" deals with the viscount's search for a beautiful and rich wife, and of the unexpected turn that his search takes. Sebastian Carr, the Viscount Langley, needs to marry soon, and she must be an heiress! Tired of his son's reckless and dissolute ways, Sebastian's father, the Earl of Stanhope, has decreed that unless Sebastian marries before his 25th birthday (in 2 months time), he will be cut off without a penny. Tired of always being tied to his father's pocketbook, Sebastian has decided to use the current London Season to find himself a rich wife. And when Sebastian spies the Season's Incomparable, Penelope Rutledge, he's sure that his quest for a rich wife is over, for Penelope is both beautiful and rich -- and rumour has it that she's hunting for a title! Could Fortune finally be smiling on him?While the Rutledge sisters (Penelope and Jane) may be in London so that Penelope can find a husband, their agenda is not quite what Sebastian thinks it is. The sisters are keeping an eye out for a gentleman that meets Penelope's criteria for a good husband: kind, witty, warn hearted and honourable. The sister's mother on the other hand, the cold and beautiful Lady Portia Rutledge, is definitely on the lookout for any suitable title for her ravishing elder daughter. And when Sebastian begins his courtship of Penelope, Lady Portia is over the moon. The only hiccup to both Sebastian and Lady Portia's plans is that it is not gentle Penelope who falls for Sebastian, but her slightly plainer and younger sister, Jane! How will things pan out? Will Sebastian win the fair Penelope's hand or will serious Jane, who arouses his protective instincts, win the day?I rather liked "The Reluctant Rogue." (In fact I liked it a lot better than I did "A Reckless Bargain"). With this novel, Elizabeth Powell has taken a much used motif and made it uniquely hers by sheer virtue of the complex primary characters that she has created. Sebastian, for example, is very much the spoilt, reckless hero-type (quick to anger and to fling insults), and yet the authour has also given him a more thoughtful and empathic side as well as an agst-filled past, so that redemption, when it comes feels, right and is welcomed. Jane, on the other hand, is very much the sensible and intelligent heroine, and yet the authour has also made her plucky and vulnerable, so that one's sympathies are quickly aroused on Jane's behalf and that is really easy to root for her to have her romantic and happily-ever-after ending. Also nicely done was how Ms Powell contrived for the couple to move past the obstacles (almost completely of Sebastian's making) and achieve happiness, unity and contentment. All in all, "The Reluctant Rogue" proved to be a truly worthwhile read.