Rating: Summary: Simple - I loved it Review: Missed work the next day cuz I couldn't put it down at night! Highly recommended. If you haven't read, please read now. I just purchased Wicked Angel. But before I indulge in that one, I'm reading The Dangerous Gentleman for a second time, and I am thoroughly enjoying it as much as the first time. Thank you, Julia London.
Rating: Summary: Wow! Review: The Dangerous Gentleman is a masterpiece of circular storytelling that hits all the right emotional buttons for a highly-charged journey through Regency England. Ms. London's characterizations and vivid imagery bring the period to life. Her depiction of Adrian's point of view is right on target, and makes for a revealing view of the male perspective. The real adventure, however, is Lilliana's sense of humor and her strength of character that inevitably lead Adrian to discover his own sense of worth and the true power of love. I'm looking forward to reading Ms. London's next release!
Rating: Summary: A Romantic Times Top Pick! Review: The Dangerous Gentleman is the first in the Rogues of Regent Street, a trilogy in which the recklessness of youth is explored as three men come to realize how easily life and love may be squandered in 1830's England. These men of privilege, who have earned their reputations through reckless living and a scandalous disregard for society, are rocked by a horrible tragedy that forces them to face what they have become -- as well as their mortality. In The Dangerous Gentleman, the tragedy throws Adrian Spence into a downward spiral of guilt, revenge, and a desperate search for mercy. He lashes out at everything and everyone around him as he struggles to cope, and it is only through the dogged persistence of innocent Lilliana Dashell that he slowly begins to understand what he has truly sought all his life. But does it come too late? The forces of despair he has set into motion have already begun to sweep them under... I hope you enjoy reading The Dangerous Gentleman as much as I enjoyed torturing poor Adrian! And if you think I did a number on him, just wait for Julian's story in the fall!
Rating: Summary: A good romance Review: The four Rogues of Regent Street (Adrian Spence, Phillip Rothembow, Arthur Christian, and Julian Dare) enjoy their long time friendships and their reputations as reprobates. However, in 1834, their mortality hits home when Adrian kills Phillip in a duel over cheating at cards. Though totally in the right, Adrian feels remorse and guilt, trying to replay the events to see what he could have done differently. He escapes to his father's estate, but the abusive old man arrives also. This time his father disinherits him and gives beloved Kealing Park to his younger brother Benedict. Angry and grieving, Adrian overhears his father's plan to have Ben marry Lilliana Dashill, whose father desperately needs cash. Adrian decides to gain a bit of vengeance on his family by offering a better deal to Lilliana's father. Lilliana has loved Adrian since she met him as a little girl. They marry, but her love remains unrequited unless she can find out what trauma has frozen his heart. His family plans to destroy their relationship before it can form. The first installment of the "Rogues of Regent Street" is an entertaining late Regency romance that will excite fans of the sub-genre with its character-driven story line. The tale moves forward quickly as Adrian struggles with his heritage, his guilt, and his growing fondness and love for his spouse. Lilliana is more like the typical heroine in British nineteenth century aristocratic romances, but will find readers adoring her courage. Benedict adds to the tale as he represents Adrian's failure to nurture anyone until Lilliana enters his life. Julia London has served up a wonderful opening act that will leave the audience desiring more tales starring the remaining rogues. Harriet Klausner
Rating: Summary: A dark hero finds love (and his woman gets some backbone) Review: The Rogues of Regent Street are four titled, handsome, and wealthy men who spend much of their time seeking whatever pleasures the world can offer them. Their sybaritic existence is shattered when their leader, Adrian Spence, Earl of Albright, is drawn into a dispute with his cousin and fellow Rogue, Phillip Rothembow. The argument ends with a duel and Adrian's fatal shooting of Phillip. All involved agree that Adrian acted in self-defense, but the Earl himself is horrified at his responsibility for his cousin's death. Adrian flees to his father's estate, Kealing Park, a place that he loves and will someday inherit. But at The Park, tragedy strikes at Adrian again when he is informed by his father, the awful Lord Kealing, that he has been disinherited, and that the estate has been left to Adrian's younger brother Benedict, who has always been Lord Kealing's favored son. Thus, Adrian is in a dangerous frame of mind when he learns that Benedict is enamored of a local girl, a daughter of Baron Dashell, and that Lord Kealing has maneuvered the Baron into giving Benedict his daughter's hand in marriage. Adrian irrationally decides to revenge himself on his father and brother by marrying the girl, Lilliana, himself. Lilliana Dashell is a simple country lass. She does not love Benedict Spence, but will marry him because she thinks she cannot do better in a suitor. It is actually Adrian that Lilliana cares for - she has harbored a secret affection for him since childhood. When the dashing and handsome Earl of Albright shows up out of the blue to court Lilliana, he has little trouble in persuading her to marry him. The newlyweds' nights are bliss as Adrian proves to be an exceptional lover to his bride (did we expect anything less?). But, by day, Adrian does his best to have as little to do with Lilliana as possible. The Earl is having second thoughts about his revenge, and deeply regrets his marriage, although he IS intrigued by the passion that he inspires in his new bride. Lilliana herself soon realizes that she loves Adrian (it must be the sex, as there is no other reason because he treats her DREADFULLY), and she begins a desperate campaign to get Adrian to notice her. But it is to no avail, and the marriage is strained to the breaking point, until a horrible accident leaves Adrian severely injured and dependent on Lilliana. As Adrian spends more time with his wife, he begins to care for her, and the marriage becomes a haven for both of them. But there are still forces - Adrian's brother Benedict, and Adrian's dark nature - that threaten to break the lovers apart. This story is a typical Regency romance - there are no surprises here. It is very well written, but I didn't get hooked into the story until halfway through the book. I did like the character of Adrian from the start - he is wonderfully dark and emotionally tortured. It is Lilliana that I had a hard time with. She starts out the book as quite a, well, a dimwit, and I could NOT understand her motivation for falling in love with Adrian. Thankfully, she does eventually develop some backbone, and in fact, turns into quite a strong and likeable heroine. The supporting characters are pretty sterotypical - Adrian's father is a classic cold and calculating nobleman and his brother Benedict is the usual sneaky and cowardly type. I would still recommend this book, though, because the second half is so good, with so much emotional conflict, and I do like Miss London's writing style very much. I'm looking forward to her next book - with perhaps some stronger characters.
Rating: Summary: Wounded hero seeks revenge........................ Review: The Setting is England 1834. Adrian finally gave his father the means to disinherit him, he kills his cousin in a duel. Adrian can't believe his father has given his beloved Kealing estates to his weak whinny younger brother Benedict, but Adrian will have his revenge. He has stolen Benedicts bethrothed before the papers can be signed. Lilliana has also worshipped Adrian from a far, he is wild, wonderful, and so dangerous. When he shows up at her father's door asking for her hand in marriage she said yes. After the marriage the revenge isn't as sweet as Adrian believed, he still is haunted by dreams of his dead cousin, now he has a country bumpkin for a wife and he is still miserable. Lilliana tries to be the perfect wife but she can't seem to reach her husband, he is a stranger to her during the day but at night for a few hours he is the passion lover that burns her bedsheet. This story is wonderful, there is the back stabbing revengeful brother Benedict causing trouble, Adrian's less than loving father, and then the other to rogues of Regent Street, Arthur (brother to Alex from WICKED ANGEL)and Julian trying to give help and advise. I can't wait for the other two rogues stories! n Julia London is an autobuy for me!
Rating: Summary: Romantic, funny, and unpredictable all in one! Review: The way Julia combines romance, humor, and all those twists and turns makes for a delicious read. It captured my attention and my heart from the very first page. I went from laughter to real tears in this emotional rollercoaster. It was throughly satisfying. I'm sure I am not alone in eagerly awaiting her newest book available in October 2000. Thanks, Julia!
Rating: Summary: An outrageous read Review: This book had it all...laugh, tears, sighs. Julia London is a wonderful addition to the romance genre. I could not put this book down, the characters tugged at your heart, enraged you and made you laugh your head off. The plot twisted and turned, making you read on. You think you have it worked out in your mind but you don't. She will surprise you at every turn. Thank you Julia London for one of the best reads of this year.
Rating: Summary: Excellent Review: This book is an excellent example of its genre. Sometimes romance novels do not "click"--their plot is unbelievable, the characters are not well-drawn, the language is silly, and the reader has not been drawn into the novel. This book, however, "clicks"--The characters were well-crafted and the plot believable. London does an wonderful job of drawing the reader into her plot and making the reader care for the characters. Lilliana is a wonderfully humorous and real character while Adrian is nicely brooding and filled with emotional baggage. My complaints about this novel are few: London is occasionally overly verbose in her writing; there is sometimes too much language and description. Also, I didn't really care about the other Rogues, and I know that the intent is to explain them in later books, but there was nothing in this book to make me want to read their stories. I also felt that with the way London started her novel, I came in to the middle of the action, but I would have liked more exposition.
Rating: Summary: Another Great Book Review: This is another great book buy Julia London with a lot of emotional depth. If you like light romances, this isn't for you, but if you like some meat in them, then I would highly recommend this book.
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