Lady Beware: A Novel of the Company of Rogues (Signet Historical Romance) [Mass Market Paperback]

For years, the Cave (pronounced cah-vey) family has been persona non grata with the elite of the ton society. Scandals surrounded the previous family members of violence, insanity, and even murder. With the Napoleonic war at end, the new Viscount Darien, Horatio Cave - war hero - has come home, but Viscount or not, the doors are firmly shut against any Cave. He needs entrance and acceptance into the ton and is not above using intimidation to get what he wants.

Lady Thea Debenham is loyal to her brother Dare, miraculously returned to the family after having been missing and purposely addicted to drugs by an enemy during his year-long imprisonment. Fighting his addiction a new threat is being held over his head of being a `coward' at the battle of Waterloo. Thea would do anything to help clear him. Approached by a stranger (whom she finds compellingly attractive), he convinces her he can clear her brother of the ugly rumors. His price, her betrothal to him - for six weeks - and then she could jilt him. He sealed the deal with a mind-blowing kiss and only, after Thea asked his name did she discover he was a Cave - the "Vile" Viscount.

*** Wow, Ms. Beverley has come back with the perfect wrap-up to her previously published TO RESCUE A ROGUE, highlighting the rogue Dare's return from the dead and his struggle to overcome addiction. With LADY BEWARE, she not only wraps up Dare's addiction battle from that splendid story, but gives the reader another dynamic and sensual piece featuring Dare's sister Lady Thea and Dare's one time school-boy nemesis, Canem Cave (dog Cave)!

Thea is a very strong loving sister, who would have done anything to save her brother and the author shows this as Thea, is coerced into giving her word to a complete stranger who could offer proof of Dare's innocence -- if Thea would agree to a `sham' 6-week betrothal - before she even knew the strangers name. Her obvious attraction to him, especially after `his kiss' left her breathless, and when he finally told her his name, Viscount Darien, her first reaction was `nobility' but a second later, horror when she realized he was a Cave! Before she could run him down to refuse his proposition, Cave had gone ahead into the packed ballroom and loudly announced how he had witnessed Dare's horse shot out from under him during the battle of Waterloo. With that one announcement, Cave had effectively put the rumors of Dare's cowardness to rest and Thea was trapped and honor-bound to keep to her end of the bargain. Though honor bound, Thea was not convinced that Darien wouldn't turn the tables and ruin the family name and the author did an amazing job of Thea doing all she could to discover the truth.

In a tremendous character study for both Darien and Thea, the author shows how Thea though attracted to the man felt like the rest of the ton when it came to the Cave dynasty. The horrid reputation of the Cave family, as vicious and vile reprobates, was certainly not something she could just ignore. It didn't happen easily but after a time Thea did come to see him as honorable and worthy. Underneath it all, Darien did have an agenda of his own only he never thought that Thea would arouse such passion or caring but by then, Darien was in love and the thought of Thea being brought down by association with him was agonizing. To create more angst the author uses an opponent from Darien's past who is just aching to tear down all the respectability Darien had so carefully started to build up. The author inserts the right amount of danger and suspense that keeps the action flowing and gives credence to the two lovers who are now ready to save each other regardless of what society thought.

As usual, the author doesn't pull punches in any of her romantic historicals writing a believable and dynamic story showing both sides of humanity, from the noble to the scum who prey on the innocent. Her characters, from the leads to secondary, are all meticulously fleshed out and integrally involved in the storyline. Bottom line is that Jo Beverley continues to enthrall and engross the reader with well-thought out, vibrant, and sensually romantic adventures that thrill and captivate her readers from start to finish! Bravo - this is another worthy and thrilling addition to her captivating series of `The Company of Rogues' and one I highly recommend!

Marilyn Rondeau, for www.ck2skwipsandkritiques.com

Book was in very good condition, as described and was received promptly. Would buy from this bookseller again.

Firstly this is not the kind of book I would usually read, I tend to lean more toward classic romances actually written during the era in question. I have found many historical romances to be frivolous and silly so it was with trepidation that picked up this book on the recommendation of a friend.
However, I have to say I was shocked at how enthralled I became in this book. One critisism I will give is it did take a while to get going after the initial tryst between Darien and Thea. But with perserverance it built into an extremely tense and very sensual rollercoster ride. From chapter 27 onwards I couldn't put it down.
The story structure and characterisation was fantastic. The beginning of the novel created in me the feeling of contempt and disgust towards Darien but by the end I was positively in love with him myself.
Overall, the story, while not entirely predictable, to a regular reader of romantic suspense will be somewhat text book, but still good nonetheless. I also feel that certain sections could have been elaborated on more, in particular the end could have had a little bit more to it. It did feel that it was just quickly rounded off, a little more dialogue and description would have made the difference.
Many people communicate that this novel is nothing like the best that Jo Beverley's Rogues Series has to offer. If this is a poor example of her work then I am positively gaging to read the rest.