How a Lady Weds A Rogue
Katharine Ashe


ISBN-10:
0062031899
ISBN-13: 978-0062031891
Publisher: HarperCollins
Line: Avon
Release Date: Sep 25, 2012
Pages: 384
Retail Price: 7.99




Genre:
Historical
Heat Level: Hot
Rating:

Gentleman’s Rule #1: If a lady is virtuous, he should deny her nothing.

Beautiful Diantha Lucas understands society’s rules: a young lady must find a man to marry. But Diantha has a bigger goal, and she’s not afraid of plunging into adventure to achieve it. When daring, dashing Wyn Yale rescues her, she’s certain he’s just the man she needs.

As an agent for the secret Falcon Club, Wyn knows his duty, but he’s not about to admit he’s a hero of any sort. He has a plan, too: steal a prized horse, murder an evil duke, avenge an innocent girl, and probably get hanged for it—in that order. Wyn can’t afford to be distracted by a pretty face, even one with delectable dimples and kissable lips. But how can a country miss and a hardened spy solve their problems when they can’t keep their hands off each other?

Review

This is the book I’ve been waiting for since Ashe’s earlier 2012 release. Wyn Yale is the elusive, and honor plagued spy. He’s killed people, and he drowns his sorrows in the bottle. In fact most would call him an alcoholic, but at the end of the day he always helps those in need; especially young ladies.

That’s exactly what Diantha Lucas is, a young lady in need of assistance. Except attraction and desire were never part of her plan, and though she’s happy Wyn is there to help her she can’t afford the distraction or unwanted cravings he illicit from her. Before long her plans come crashing to a halt and without additional assistance from the spy they call the Raven, she’ll end up in a far worse position then she could have predicted.

My favorite Ashe novel yet! I’ve been waiting for this story for months and it doesn’t disappoint. Plot, dialogue, and situations weave and wind within one another creating a delectable story that I couldn’t put down. I will say this is a definite first for me, since previous books in this series didn’t capture my attention as much as this one did. I was riveted from the start, and couldn’t wait to see how the story would play out. Wyn is in this only to assist, like he always does when a woman needs rescuing, and his intentions are pure, at least until he realizes his attraction to Diantha isn’t just because he’s consumed a few spirits or hasn’t had a woman in a while.

Diantha is fun and adventurous. I enjoyed her never give up attitude, and her ability to adapt to every situation. She makes friends easily and during the course of the book gets supporters from everywhere, even Wyn’s enemies. Plus, she always has a plan. This fact immediately endeared Diantha to me as I, too, like to make plans for everything.

Meanwhile, Wyn is the tortured hero who has to face his demons. Diantha supplies an escape, and eventually inspires a desire within him to be a better man… for her. Wyn also falls in love with her, and once he decides to have her he refuses to give up even if her family doesn’t like him and people want him dead. My favorite scene is when Wyn finally agrees to help Diantha, even with her flair for the dramatic:

“I will not allow you to go alone.” He released her arm, for to touch her, he realized now, was a great mistake. “I will assist you.”

The transformation that came over her face hollowed out a space in his lungs. Her hand darted to his and clasped it…

“You are a hero. And a gentleman.”

At present Wyn knew he was neither. The old anger of vengeance fueled an impatience to be about his own mission that was all but heroic. And the heat of her touch through damp kidskin worked beneath his skin so that it required little imagination to strip the glove from those slender fingers and imagine feeling her. Once the glove went in his imagination, other feminine garments did as well. Quite swiftly…no, his thoughts were not in the least gentlemanly now.

As I said this book is probably my favorite from Ashe. I absolutely loved the story, the adventure and the hero is fantastic with all his twisted up feelings and thoughts. My only caveat is that at some moments I felt Diantha was dumbed down a bit. I knew she was naïve. She’s so intelligent and her plans are very well thought out I had a hard time believing she would not be more aware of certain things.

Overall, a great read for the fall season, and if you love a tortured hero who has a long road to travel until he’s worthy of the heroine then you have to learn how a lady weds a rogue.

Reviewed by Landra


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