The Rogue: The Liar's Club

In this romance, the hero really is the main character and focus of the story. And we watch him try to court the heroine. (I'd say the book is 80% his and 20% the heroine's.) He likes to gamble esp. w/ cards - and that's how he's earned his living - he cheats too - he'll take money from the rich and spoiled and ungrateful without feeling guilty at all. And he's damn good at it. Ethan truly is a commoner, the son of a fabric merchant and a seamstress - he was sent to a rich school (where he met his only friend, Collis from book 4) where he didn't fit in and didn't excel and only disappointed his father. And learned to cheat really well. This is the best "commoner" hero I've read about so far - and in my opinion even better than Lisa Kleypas' "commoner heroes" - b/c he's not dangerous or violent - he's not bitter - he's not raging or out to prove anything - he just wants to live a happy cozy life gambling through card games taking money from the rich and drinking fine brandy and if there's a woman involved - great. that's fine too. He'd rather not take sides in anything. But he would like to "belong". Ethan Damont is only invited into the high-society b/c others want to play cards w/ him - he knows he doesn't belong and the ton would never DREAM of actually inviting him for dinner or a special formal occasion and they especially wouldn't introduce him to their daughters. At night he goes home (his posh yet cozy bachelor house in London) to ONE butler and ONE cook. He wants nothing to do with spies or England or the crown or danger - he just wants to be the desperado - and enjoy finer things in life like fashionable clothes and his favorite label of brandy and smoking cher-roots and of course - playing cards. Imagine a REALLY HOT Johnny Depp - but alas - the Liar's club needs him. He was much too involved in investigation against Lord Maywell (book 5 picks up right where he helps out in book 4). He doesn't WANT to help the Liars but they're not exactly "blackmailing" him - but he's not exactly a "tax-paying" man and he's sort of "obliged" to help them esp. now that he "knows" too much already....so he ends up frequenting Lord Maywell's house for cards and meeting the lovely Lady Jane of course . . . Lady Jane really is a mystery and I remember thinking around the first quarter of the book, "What is UP with this heroine?!" We know so little about her except she flirts w/ Ethan and they kind of have a thing developing - she's a little sheltered but she's REALLY gutsy and you can tell she's smart . . . but we haven't really been told her past yet... Fabulous Celeste Bradley plot. layers and turns. This book especially blends well with the previous book The Charmer. I've never been irritated w/ Bradley introducing and involving previous characters from the other books - (Whereas with other series authors, I find this gets VERY annoying after a while.) WARNING - SPOILER: I read a review that criticized the plot saying that Ethan should've known better

Although I have read historical novels for years, I never felt moved to rate any book. But I felt I had to this time. The Rogue was the fifth book in a series by Celeste Bradley. I didn't start the Liar's Club series until I had all five. Once I started, I'm glad I waited. I couldn't stop reading. I read all five books in ten days. They were absolutely the best read I have ever had. The way Ms. Bradley worked all the Liars in the book allowed you to follow them throughout the series. But if you only read one, you would still be able to enjoy it. BUT, I can guarantee if you read one, you will go searching for the rest. I gave this book as well as the rest of the series five stars because that is the highest rating possible. I can't wait to start the Royal Four series.

Ethan Damont - what in interesting rouge he was - just going through life without any purpose, no real cares, no thoughts of the future - but not really that happy either. As so many of these rouges he was beginning to become bored and restless. Just by chance he meets Lady Jane - and this is one of the most interesting matches - the dialog between this couple is so witty, so sharp so well done - I just loved them. And Ethan and the thoughts and conversations he has with himself over patriotism, honor and what he believes and feels - this is such a unique story. Although the steamy scenes are at a minimum the ones included are so hot -the one in the carriage is a classic! I mean this really was an incredible couple. Sometimes the plots in this series kind of take over the romance but not in this story - and oh my the secrets - they really are so well done. I cannot give this book a high enough rating - it really was one of Bradley's very best.

Three cheers for Celeste Bradley! I was not particularly eager to buy this book because although I've loved all the other Liars books, I was never fond of Ethan Damont - his life is so precarious that it made me nervous and I didn't know how he'd properly transform into a romantic hero. Bradley, bless her heart, knew exactly how to weave his character into the role of a double agent, and she made all of the uncertainties about his life and personality into strengths. In the end, Damont was an incredibly compelling and really appealing hero because his weaknesses were sympathetic, and his admirable qualities came to the fore. Jane was similarly wonderful. Bradley, here as ever, has created a heroine who has a mind of her own, a will of her own, and goals of her own. I will admit that I think in order to keep Jane's secret under the covers, Bradley had to fudge a little too much on the early sections of the book. There's only one sex scene of note in the book, but it really is rather remarkable. All in all: two thumbs up.

Ethan Damont is an ornamental gambler, making his living by fleecing aristocrats of their money. A group of Crown spies, called the Liars, try to recruit Ethan to spy on Lord Maywell, a suspected French spy. Lord Maywell, in turn, wants Ethan to spy for the French. To make things worse, each side wants Ethan to be a double spy for each other. In the middle of it all is Lady Jane, Lord Maywell's niece and a famous heiress. Lady Jane is the only person who trusts Ethan, and she has some very interesting surprises up her sleeve, even as Ethan tries to save her from himself. I have enjoyed every book in this "Liars" series, and this story was excellent. With the Liars books, the plots are always fresh and unexpected, the characters real and believable, and the stories are top-notch. Ethan was a realistic alienated, gambling hanger-on of society, never fitting in, yet always welcome to aristocratic homes. Lady Jane appeared a regular society debutante, but as the story progresses, you see how strong and funny she really is. Lady Jane's mother was particularly entertaining. The supporting cast were all intersting and humorous. If you like regency romances, I highly recommend this book.