To Rescue A Rogue

The last of the wonderful Rogues series and delivered to the same high standard. Wonderful intrigue and sensual romance that captures the reader in the first pages and holds you entralled until the very last. The book comes to life in the readers mind with images of the characters and the setting, the scenes are so vivid it is like watching a movie.This book brings together the final story that links earlier books with the bonus of a delightful view of favourite character's lives in later years.

disagree with most recent reviews. if you want a 'bodice burner' - this book is not for you. it is a very compelling story about overcoming addiction. OK - so the title should indicate that dare rescued himself, and mara should be older than 18, but the rest wil chime a cord with anyone who has tried to overcome addiction (in my case - cigaretts). KUDOS to jo beverley - this is a great book.

Lady Mara St. Bride with the telling hair of the more adventuresome St. Bride's was ripe for an adventure. Sneaking out of the house to experience a gaming hell with an older family acquaintance she never thought to later find herself barefoot, wearing nothing but a chemise, and wrapped in a blanket while running through the streets after escaping unwanted amorous attentions. It was providence that the person who came to her rescue was none other than Lord Darius "Dare" Debenham - bosom friend of her brother Simon and a fellow `rogue'. After the battle of Waterloo, Dare had been presumed dead. Instead he'd been rescued and kept prisoner of sorts by a bitter enemy of the founder of the `Rogues'. Mortally wounded he was initially given laudanum for the pain but was then given larger amounts than needed for a longer period of time to purposely turn him into an addict. Now two years later Dare, once one of the more carefree and boisterous of fellows, fought a tortuous battle to free himself from the `monster within'. The battle would be laden with many pitfalls, least of all rumors that Dare had cowardly fled the battlefield. As Dare fights his addiction, Mara appoints herself to be the one who brings the `old Dare' back into the light, redemption, and land of the living and loving. *** Jo Beverley has always written edgy historicals and has concluded her "Company of Rogues" with one of the more powerful and compelling reads in a tremendous finale of this exceptional series. The last unmarried rogue, Dare Debenham's battle to overcome his addiction was extremely well done giving the reader an unforgettable experience of the ravages of addiction and the tortuous journey one needed to free oneself from the beast. Additionally, Mara was developed as an inspiring and outstanding heroine whose strength of purpose and determination in supporting Dare through his addiction and battling for his love made for an unforgettable heroine. In a masterful stroke Beverley scores a big hit in bringing all the rogues back to rally around one of their own. Additionally, she shores up this impressive story by filling the pages with wonderful secondary characters and some poignantly emotional moments. Suffice it to say, Jo Beverley remains at the top of her game as one of the true Queens of Regency romance with this fabulous Rogue finale. Marilyn Rondeau, RIO - Reviewers International Organization

In 1815 during the pivotal Battle of Waterloo, Lord Darius "Dare" Debenham is critically injured and rushed from the front. To dull his severe pain and help him heal, he receives medication, but finds out over time way he had way too much laudanum as he become addicted to the opiate. Now two years later, he fights his craving for the drug every moment he is awake. As he struggles to control his addiction and accusation that he cowardly fled the battlefield, family friend Lady Mara St. Bride wants the return of the old Dare that she secretly loved. She will do what it takes to persuade him that he can contain the demons and still live a fruitful fulfilling life in the light instead of humiliatingly hiding in the shadows. As Mara does anything and everything including touring London with a blanket and her undies and enlisting the other eleven Rogues, the last of them dares to think he can return to life with the love of Mara as his impetus. This is a fantastic finale to the superior Regency romantic suspense series, the Rogues. Mara is a courageous heroine risking her reputation and much more for the man she loves while the return of the other eleven of the Dirty Dozen provides a homecoming feel to the plot. However this story belongs to Dare as he struggles with everyday life having no dreams or aspirations for even tomorrow until Mara kicks his butt and heart into first gear. As has been the case throughout this exemplary saga, Jo Beverly writes an outstanding historical romance. Harriet Klausner

I've read all Beverley's Rogue books and thoroughly enjoyed most of them. (Nicholas's story has always creeped me out a bit, but the rest were great.) Dare's story has to be one of the most complex of them all. There are so many problems to be solved and strings to tie together to finish the series. Beverley does a wonderful job in accomplishing this. The primary challenge and plotline of Dare overcoming his opium addiction is well done. The physical and mental battle of breaking free from the drug's lure is portrayed convincingly. We root for Dare in his struggle. Beverley's heroine, Mara, is never annoying, even though she is young and falls in love with Dare early in the book. Her optimism and zest for life are endearing. She is really the glue that holds this novel together. While the story is ostensibly about Dare, the final Rogue, Mara comes along to create mayhem in the first few chapters and then to uplift and support him as he deals with the various dilemmas in his life. They are a truly unique pair of characters, ones I plan to revisit in the future. This is definitely a keeper, a fitting finale to a great series.