Dancing with a Rogue

by Patricia Potter

New from the national bestselling author of The Diamond King...A story of two desperate people who find themselves enmeshed in a deadly dance and dangerous passion as they—unbeknownst to each other— seek revenge on the same three men who destroyed their families.

Gabriel Manning has sworn to avenge his father's death if it's the last thing he does. He holds three scoundrels responsible—and has hatched an ingeniously devious scheme that will surely destroy them. Armed with a newly acquired title, he sets sail for London—and ingratiates himself with the very men he so despises.

The lovely Merry Anders also wants to ruin "The Group"—just as one of its members ruined her mother years ago. But her feelings for handsome Gabriel Manning prove most distracting—and distressing. She could never trust her heart to someone foolish enough to court The Group! It would mean compromising the vengeful plot she's concocted so carefully. But she can't help wondering if it's worth risking it all—for love.

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction

421 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 1, 2003

Reviews

[Megan B · Rating 3 out of 5]

The fact that I finished this book is the best thing I can say about it. I really wanted to like it. It had a subtle underline of love at first sight, a good story line, and well developed characters. But it just fell short. For all the buildup, the ending was a bit flat and against what the characters expressed thoughts were; seemingly mind-changing for sake of plot. There was also a lot of repetitive thoughts expressed by the lead characters. Several times I thought 'Ok, I get it your motivation. Move on to the next part of the story already!' In the end, I would have rather left this book unfinished and devoted my time to another story. Oh well, I tried.

[Dpic]

nice fluff

[Virginia Tican · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gabriel was only 10 years old when his father killed himself after extracting a promise from the boy to seek retribution from the 3 men who betrayed him and branded him a traitor to the Crown. The family of traitors were always pariah so Gabriel and his mother sailed to America. Monique was the illegitimate daughter of the Earl of Stanhope, the leader of the 3 who betrayed Gabriel Manning's father. Stanhope's power come from blackmail and an unscrupulous character but Gabriel was now the holder of an impoverished title as the Marquis of Manchester and with the money earned from being a privateer during the war fighting for America against England... the time for retribution is at hand. The same is true with Monique who had acquired enough experience on the Paris stage to go to England and put into place her plan to extract revenge on her father for the life of fear and flight that always dogged their footsteps and for the her mother's degradation as well. I always admire authors who do not follow the usual pathos and drama that have become annoyingly trite even in a formulaic plot like this one. Ms. Potter added her own special brand and refreshing style to a common plot and it worked (at least for me).

P.S. ~ I do not think the word "crush" in Chapter 3 (referring to normal nascent adolescent attraction to the opposite sex) applies in this timeline and genre though... a bit contemporary for me... not Regency for according to Google maybe 1884? thus Victorian?

[Icarus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good if you like characters to be intensely but inexplicably extremely sexually attracted to each other at intervals. Pretty fun, and fresh to have an actress as the romantic lead instead of whatever aristocratic debutante

[Amanda]

Ha! Alot of ironies in this story two character who have lived very similar lives but still under very different circumstance who both want the same thing: Justice. But as everyone knows its really: Revenge. The usual they fall in love in not the best circumstances, and are intrigued by each other. I lovd the whole plot very thought out, the schemes, betrayals. The bad guy was actually very bad. The end was all tied up in a pretty bow but ehh it was as expected. Though there wasa few facts that nver came into light that were really intriguing.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot repetitively swerved back and forth in a push pull of dishonesty between the hero and heroine to a point that became frustrating and tedious. I loved the characters.