A ROGUE’S GAME – Renee Bernard
Pocket Books
ISBN 10:1-4165-2422-3
ISBN 13: 978-1-4165-2422-9
April 2008
Historical Romance

London, England – Victorian Era

Julian Clay, the Earl of Westleigh, is in dire straights living off the largesse of his friend, Lord Shelbrooke. His former friend, the Duke of Sussex, Drake Sotherton, forgave Julian’s debts after Julian took a bullet meant for Drake’s wife, but he cannot forgive Julian for his past indiscretions with Lily, Drake’s first wife. Julian is popular with the ton after his heroism, but he is broke with only a title and some land. Although he loves the ladies, he enjoys variety, particularly with the ton wives, and has no interest in marriage.

Eve Reynolds and her Uncle Warren are attending a small card party. Eve plays the role of a naïve young woman who knows little about cards and gambling while her uncle boisterously plays cards with the men, but she gains her goal when she is invited to participate in their weekly card sessions. Eve is Warren’s best bet for living a life in comfort, and he is considering finding a wealthy man for her, so that he can live in luxury. Although Eve is not happy with her life, she loves her uncle and knows little else to do but play cards, but she has a plan. Although she gives whatever money she makes at gambling to her uncle, she keeps any jewels that she gets from the tables and hopes to buy a small cottage and live a decent life. Julian joins their party and is instantly captivated by Eve, but he realizes that she is not the innocent she pretends to be.

Julian and Eve are very attracted to each other. They both see their own weaknesses in each other, but where Eve tries to stay away from Julian, he is determined to seduce her. Eve finds Julian’s kisses devastating as he taunts and tempts her. Will she succumb to temptation? Will she find a way out of her dilemma and get away from her uncle?

A ROGUE’S GAME is a well written, fascinating story about a woman who has been hurt in the past and is manipulated by her uncle to give him a luxurious life. Eve knows that if she doesn’t leave her uncle, she will be caught in supporting his life style indefinitely. Although she loves him, he is a selfish man looking to his own comfort. Eve is very smart and has a definite knack for playing cards and reading the people she plays with. Julian is a handsome rogue, a rake, who has manipulated women for his own pleasure, little thinking of the husbands, his friends, whom he cuckolds without remorse. He is not always a likeable character, but the attraction between Eve and Julian cannot be denied.

A well paced story that will keep readers turning the pages, A ROGUE’S GAME is a very hot romance. Will Julian get caught in his own net? Will he get his comeuppance? And will Eve find her heart’s desire? Readers who enjoy an excellent, sizzling Victorian story are going to thoroughly enjoy this one.

Marilyn Heyman