Imperdonabile inganno: I Grandi Romanzi Storici Special (Scandali a St. James's Vol. 2)

Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James #2

by Lorraine Heath

Londra, 1874 - Drake Darling è un orfano che viene dalla strada, figlio di un delinquente giustiziato sulla forca. Benché dalla morte dei genitori sia stato cresciuto con affetto dai Duchi di Greystone, anche ora che è divenuto un uomo e ha dimostrato il suo valore dirigendo egregiamente una casa da gioco, sa di non appartenere alla buona società e non dimentica le sue umili origini. Soprattutto perché persone altezzose come Lady Ophelia Lyttleton, cara amica della sorella adottiva, non perdono occasione per rinfacciargliele. Quando però Drake salva la giovane dal Tamigi e approfitta della sua temporanea amnesia per farle credere di essere la propria domestica, scopre che al di là della maschera di arroganza c'è una donna vulnerabile e meravigliosa, di cui è facile innamorarsi. Ma cosa accadrà quando lei recupererà la memoria e scoprirà il suo imperdonabile inganno?

UN UOMO DELLA STRADA, UNA NOBILDONNA ALTEZZOSA... UN FUTURO D'AMORE!

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Enemies To Lovers, Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Regency

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 15, 2014

About the author

Also writes Young Adult under Rachel Hawthorne, Jade Parker, and with her son as J.A. London.

Lorraine Heath has always had a soft spot for emotional love stories. No doubt because growing up, watching movies with her mom, she was taught that the best movies "won't half make you cry."​​​​​​​

She is the daughter of a British beauty (her mom won second place in a beauty contest sponsored by Max Factor® during which she received a kiss from Caesar Romero, (the Joker on the original Batman TV series) and a Texan who was stationed at Bovingdon while serving in the air force. Lorraine was born in Watford, Hertfordshire, England, but soon after moved to Texas. Her "dual" nationality has given her a love for all things British and Texan, and she enjoys weaving both heritages through her stories.

When she received her BA degree in psychology from the University of Texas, she had no idea she had gained a foundation that would help her to create believable characters—characters that are often described as “real people.” She began her career writing training manuals and computer code for the IRS, but something was always missing. When she read a romance novel, she became not only hooked on the genre, but quickly realized what her writing lacked: rebels, scoundrels, and rogues. She's been writing about them ever since.

Her work has been recognized with numerous industry awards including RWA's RITA®. Her novels have appeared on bestseller lists, including ​​​​​​​USA TODAY and the New York Times.

The author of more than 60 novels, she writes historical and contemporary romance for adults and historical romance for teen readers.

Under the names Rachel Hawthorne and Jade Parker, she writes popular contemporary, historical, and paranormal r​​omance for teens readers. She also writes young adult novels with her son under the name J. A. London.

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

TW for sexual assault, child abuse/child sexual assault, death of a parent, and suicide.

THIS WAS SO GOOD! So basically this premise is a historical version of the 80s movie Overboard and I loved every second of it. Drake and Ophelia hate each other, so when Drake finds Ophelia almost dead in the Thames, he rescues her and tells her she's his maid. Ophelia has amnesia, so she believes him and stays with him, acting as his maid. I loved how Drake slowly fell in love with her and second guessed what he was doing and why. Then, there as a mystery behind why she was in the Thames and if she was in danger, so he couldn't let her just go back to her old life. What started out as a harmless prank turned much more complicated and I loved Drake's inner turmoil over it, especially as he grew to actually like Ophelia. It was fun how Ophelia had instincts that didn't match a servant, but she definitely grew as a person as she lived as a servant and getting to know other servants. And the tension between Drake and Ophelia was through the roof!

The ending of this did take a very dark and serious turn. The characters went through a lot of growth and trusting each other, and I really enjoyed watching that development between them. Also, as the second book in the series, we did get to see some of the first book's couple in this book and I loved seeing them again!

Overall, this was such a good book and I can definitely say that I am now a HUGE fan of amnesia historical romances!

[Hannah B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Upon several rereads:

CRYING I CRY EVERY TIME

________

Upon a reread:

✨*Over*board and *under* a large, hot man✨

Bumping this up to five stars upon my reread idk maybe I’m more jaded now or what but I don’t care about anything morally ambiguous this was just really fucking good and I cried again so there!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶🌶/5

________

Original review:

1. Why did they get a man to narrate two measly letters?
2. Why does Lorraine Heath always make me CRY. It’s getting OLD.
3. I appreciate the ode to Overboard but I do think, with this being Lorraine, it could have been a bit more bonkers or cooky. She really tugged on ye olde heartstrings and it was a very heartfelt book but I think some rebellious children would have been fun too.
4. The first 1-2 sex scenes are relatively vague because they happen when the heroine is still suffering from amnesia. The last one is in detail.
5. The relationship was just a smidge hard for me because the reader knew something bad happened to Phee and that sex was a very personal decision. However, I did like how she was able to be with him without her past being part of the intimacy during the first few scenes. She said the amnesia helped her understand what she deserved in the bedroom and such.
6. I also am always a sucker for a reformed wench of a character to a truly good hearted person (more so it’s just getting to their ooey gooey insides not becoming a whole new person).

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25/5 🌶🌶🌶.25/5

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once More, My Darling Rogue is the 2nd book in the Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James series, and it's an intriguing story with compelling, relatable characters and a beautiful happily ever after! Lorraine Heath writes historical romance like nobody's business! Her stories are fun, sexy, poignant, romantic, and always... always guaranteed to leave me with a smile on my face and a *sigh* in my heart...and Drake and Ophelia did precisely that! Their witty banter and sexual chemistry made this a hard one to put down, and I can't wait to read more in this amazing series!

An ARC was provided by Avon Books. In appreciation I'm giving them an honest review.

[WhiskeyintheJar · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.7 stars

Late to the party on this one again and with the wonderful reviews already out there, I'm just going to put up the quotes I liked from the book with a few thoughts.

“We just don’t know each other very well I suppose.”

And so begins the story of Drake Darling and Lady Ophelia Lyttleton, two individuals who circle and attack each other because something of the other calls out to them. Ironically, it takes lies and deceit (Drake lies to Ophelia while she has amnesia telling her she is a servant) to start the crumbling of the high thick walls their personal demons have erected.

“You think what he did is a reflection on you?” Drake asked quietly.

What drives Ophelia's ice queen persona also takes away her perceived self worth. In the beginning, Ophelia's snooty elitist attitude puts the reader’s sympathies strongly with Drake but as this isn't my first rodeo in romanceland I couldn't help thinking there was something behind her rude actions. There is and it will break all your hearts and along with Drake as we get to know Ophelia more, we begin to understand her more. Drake's handling of the situation and words are so raw and beautiful, he refuses to let Ophelia hide and in doing so helps to wash away the shame she has covered herself in.

“If you’re going to grace me with a touch, I don’t want you wearing gloves.”
“I’m not going to touch you, I’m not—” He peeled off her glove, tossed it aside, and returned her palm to his jaw.
“Much better,” he said, raising his eyes to hers. The desire smoldering in his gaze arrowed straight through her, down to her toes, causing them to curl. And he was right. It was so much better to touch, skin to skin.

The restrain, repressing, or what have you that had to be observed during this time period is probably why I enjoy reading it so much. The spark of when skin to skin of a simple touch of the hands occurs never fails to disappoint.

He stroked his thumb over her lower lip. “You can say no at any time and I’ll stop.” He freed the button at her collar. “Anytime you become uncomfortable. Whether it be the releasing of a button, the untying of a ribbon, you need only say no or wait or stop. Your command is mine to obey.” Another button loosened. Another. Another. She didn’t.

I loved the tension of this couple in the beginning, their weariness of each other. The middle part did get long as "Phee" was a housekeeper trying to housekeep and Drake self flagellated over his lying. If the middle had been edited down about 10% I think it would have kept the pace up in the story. At about the 80% mark I couldn't put the book down as things really started to heat up with the past being revealed and Ophelia regaining her memory. I was on the verge of tears for most of the ending because of the quality of writing and how Ms. Heath brought realism to her characters and their relationship.

Not a question, but a command. It was his way. As it was hers. One didn’t ask when one thought the answer might be no, although why in the world he would think she wouldn’t marry him was beyond her. “How can you want me knowing all you know about me?” she asked.
“How can I not?”
They were no longer dancing, but standing in the midst of dancers with his large gloved hands, his wonderful large, scarred, powerful hands cradling her face as though it were made of the most delicate spun glass.
“How can you love me knowing what you know of me?” he asked.
Tears stung her eyes as she smiled. “How can I not?”

At the start I couldn't wait for Ophelia to get her comeuppance, I anticipated a snarky sassy throw down with Ophelia being humbled at the end. Instead what emerged were two extremely guarded individuals who through a touch of fate and revenge were stripped of their outer shells, creating an ending that was emotionally heartbreaking as it was beautiful.

[Jen Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me tell you a little bit about my reading experience with this book.

Chapter 1: I hate this heroine.

Chapter 2: I really, really hate this heroine.

Chapter 3: Should I keep reading this book?

Chapter 4: Oh crap, am I going to hate the hero too?

Chapter 5: How will this romance have any chance of succeeding? Will this be like Overboard? That movie had a happy ending, didn’t it?

I kept reading, though. Because it’s Lorraine Heath and I loved the last book of hers that I read and I had to see how she could possibly redeem it all, especially Ophelia, because I loathed her. I have to say that while the storyline followed the obvious progression in some ways, Heath did manage to surprise me at times. And she actually helped me understand what made the heroine tick… so much so that by the time the book reached its HEA, I actually wanted this couple to work it out. Color me impressed.

The basic premise is like this: Drake is a wealthy man, raised by an upper-crust family, but he is no blue blood. Ophelia is incensed that such a commoner is allowed to travel in her social circles and she is an absolute beast to him. Then she ends up in the Thames River (where I would have gladly thrown her myself) –and Drake rescues her. When she wakes, Ophelia doesn’t know who she is, so Drake decides to teach her a lesson. He tells her that she is his servant, thinking she’ll learn a little humility before her memory comes back. He plans to lie to her only for a day, but for one reason or another, the ruse goes on and on.

The bulk of the book plays out like you would expect. Drake falls for the new version of Ophelia –and she for him. OK, at this point, I didn’t dislike either character, but I still wasn’t crazy about it. But then there were some big revelations about Ophelia that changed the way I saw her. Not that her prior behavior was acceptable, but I understood. I sympathized. And despite his hair-brained scheme to deceive Ophelia, I liked Drake. He was a good guy and he deserved a happy ending.

I didn’t love this one like The Last Wicked Scoundrel, but I ended up ok with it. Far more than I expected to be at the beginning.

Rating: C+/B-

*ARC Provided by Avon

[Beatriz · Rating 5 out of 5]

¡Maravilloso! ¡Me encantó! Definitivamente en este género mis gustos van contra la corriente porque, a pesar que es un libro con una valoración relativamente baja entre todos los de esta autora, para mí ha sido uno de los mejores que he leído de ella. Creo que también tengo debilidad por los dueños del Dodgers, ya que el libro de Jack Dodger fue el que más me gustó de la serie anterior.

Me acuerdo perfectamente del Drake Darling de 8 años, que se metió por la chimenea a robar en la casa de los duques de Graystone en Enamorarse del diablo, para después, por circunstancias del destino, ser adoptado por esta familia. Su lealtad hacia ellos y la humildad y agradecimiento respecto de su suerte realmente me emocionó. Por otra parte está Lady Ofelia, que desde el principio de la novela se adivina que su actitud mezquina oculta algún secreto. Pero de verdad, nunca me imaginé lo terrible que era, realmente no lo vi venir hasta casi el momento en que se descubre.

El avance de la relación es exquisito, sobre todo porque el perder la memoria le permite a Ofelia ser y actuar como habría sido de no tener que cargar con ese espantoso pasado. Para Drake es todo un descubrimiento esta nueva Ofelia que lo descoloca, lo seduce y pone su mundo al revés. Hay escenas para atesorar por la camaradería que generan como pareja, en particular cuando ella lo está esperando ansiosa por saber cómo le fue en la reunión donde se discutiría el destino del Dodgers (que fue otra parte que me arrancó lagrimones, al igual que cuando el duque de Graystone le regala un reloj a Drake).

Bueno, no quiero destripar nada más, solo recomendarlo. Se puede leer de forma independiente, pero sin duda se disfruta mucho más habiendo leído la serie anterior: Scoundrels of St. James.

Reto #11 PopSugar 2021: Un libro sobre el olvido

[Caz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Drake Darling - born Peter Sykes and son of a convicted murderer - is now a successful businessman and, as the adopted son of the Duke and Duchess of Greystone, has been fully accepted into London society. Being both attractive and wealthy, Drake is never short of female admirers, although there is one woman who refuses to see him as anything other than a lowly street-rat and who treats him at every opportunity as though he’s worse than anything she could want scraped off the bottom of her shoe.

Lady Ophelia Lyttleton is beautiful and much sought after, but she’s cold, standoffish and, to Drake, downright unpleasant and rude. She has been brought up to be very mindful of her standing in society and to look down on those who are of lesser station, although right from the start, it’s clear that there is something else fuelling her intense dislike for him.

On a late night walk, Drake pulls an unconscious woman from the Thames, not realising until he gets her home that it is Lady Ophelia. When she eventually comes round, she has no idea who she is or why she was in the river – and doesn’t recognise Drake either. He knows it’s not kind, but he decides to exact a small revenge on her for her horrible treatment of him, and tells her that she’s his housekeeper. He only intends the deception to last for a day, after which he will return her home. But when he realises that Ophelia – Phee - may be in danger from someone in her family, he decides to delay her return while he investigates. In the time they spend together, he finds himself becoming fascinated by the young woman who is emerging from behind the previously iron-clad exterior.

And Phee, while she is initially dismissive of Drake’s assertion that she is his servant, soon finds enjoyment in her new role, discovering a joy and freedom she’s never experienced before in doing things for others. She is also more than a little attracted to her employer – a complicated man who insists he is not kind or good, but whose actions towards her and others continually prove otherwise.

I confess I’m wary of stories which use amnesia as a plot device, but having very much enjoyed the previous book in this series (When the Duke Was Wicked) and others by this author, I trusted that Ms Heath would be able to make it work – and that trust was not misplaced.

Right from the first moment we meet the snobbish, shrewish Ophelia, the author drops hints that perhaps there is something more to her than meets the eye;

No man would ever love her enough to forgive her for what she'd once done, and it was a secret she could not forever keep from a husband.

The reader is obviously meant to dislike her intensely because of the way she treats Drake, but I found her intriguing and almost deserving of sympathy because in spite of her beauty and social advantages, she is clearly a very unhappy young woman.

And Drake, who has made something of himself in spite of his humble origins, is also struggling with his own inner demons, never feeling that he is good enough for the position he occupies, persisting in believing himself tainted by his father’s heinous crimes and thus not worthy of the deep affection shown him by his family - and most definitely not deserving of affection of a more romantic nature.

The thing about this particular amnesia plotline is that it doesn’t work in quite the way one would expect it to. Of course, it gives Phee a chance to look at Drake with a fresh pair of eyes, free from prejudice and prior knowledge of him, and allows her to own her attraction to him and come to know the kind and honourable man he truly is. More importantly, however, it enables Phee to come to him with a clean slate. Freed from the awful memories which have cheated her of happiness and the ability to enjoy her life; freed from the memories of her authoritarian father’s strictures, she can finally let her true self have free rein, and we see her transformation from the emotionally crippled woman we first met into a funny, kind-hearted and compassionate woman who is able to love without shame or fear.

Drake’s manipulation of Ophelia into believing herself his servant may have been unkind, but it seems to me to be a very human reaction. Who wouldn’t want to get their own back after receiving such treatment as Ophelia meted out to him? The fact that he allows the deception to continue beyond his original intentions is perhaps not the most honourable thing he has done – but then Drake doesn’t consider himself an honourable man, and deep down, knows he will deserve every horrible epithet Ophelia can throw at his head when all is revealed.

And he has an emotional journey to make, as well. I don’t mind admitting that the part near the end when he finally comes to understand the truth about his fathers brought tears to my eyes.

Once More My Darling Rogue is an emotionally satisfying read which features two flawed characters who have to confront dark events in their pasts if they are to move forward both individually and together. Drake and Phee are strongly drawn characters, the romance develops at a steady and believable pace, and Ms Heath writes with a lot of tenderness and gentle humour. I enjoyed reading it and am eagerly looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Mo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable read from this author. I see some friends didn't rate it very highly ... well, 3.5 or thereabouts. I loved both characters, especially Drake. I do love a "commoner"! Story might have been a bit implausible but, hey, it's fiction.

The ladies were dancing with the devil as he led them merrily into temptation. It was time someone put an end to the charade, that someone reminded them - and him- of his place within their ranks.

She was a bit of a bitch in the beginning.

And those eyes, those damned green eyes that hinted at secrets.

It was nice to catch up with the character from the other series.

"It seems we always want what we can't have."

Yes, my review is vague ...

Great Epilogue too.

[Marilena ⚓ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Έχω διαβάσει καλύτερα..

[Lady Gabriella of Awesomeness (SLOW) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn't enjoy the read at all..Found myself unable to relate to the lead characters.Especially the female read.Found her character to be very hardheaded and hard to love. :/

[Jo ★The Book Sloth★ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 It's Good To Be Naughty Stars

Drake Darling knows exactly how lucky he was when the Duke and Duchess of Greystone decided to raise him as their son and is determined to not let them down, not let his horrific lineage pick through the layers of proper behaviour. This is kind of hard when he has Lady Ophelia reminded him of his origins all the time.

Lady Ophelia has perfected the art of appearing cold and distant, even obnoxious most of the time. Since she was a child it has been driven into her mind that those of lower origins than hers are beneath her notice and Drake Darling gets to her more than most. She can't accept how such a lowlife can move in the same circles as her.

So when Drake finds Ophelia at the bank of Thames with no recollection of who she is or how she came to be in the river, he decides to get his revenge on her and persuades her that she is his housekeeper, determined to deceive her for just a day, just to teach her some humility. But the day turns into days and the days into a week and soon Drake comes to care for the new Ophelia he sees. But is this her true self or is she really the obnoxious girl he knew all those years?

In the beginning of the book Ophelia was the most annoying heroine I've ever met. For the life of me I didn't know how LH would redeem such a snobbish and rude person. She belittled everyone she didn't consider her equal, she was rude to servants and she acted so entitled I just wanted to congratulate whomever pushed her into the river.

But then slowly Phee changes. She learns to enjoy doing simple chores and caring after animals. She is overjoyed with simple gifts and gestures. She finds pleasure in just sitting in front of a fire and sketching. And while some of them are insticts left over from her previous life(the animals and the reading) she also learns that the lowliest of servants is just as important as the master of the house.

This combined with the bits and pieces we learn about her past help in forgiving her for her awful behaviour. And the fact that when she gets her memory back, she doesn't lose her newfound appreciation for other people's work.

Drake was fun. He was a nice person, proper and hard-working. Everything to make the Greystone's proud and never have them regret taking him in. There are demons there but he gets over them with the help of a certain feisty lady.

Overall the book was much fun. My only black spot was when Drake had sex with Phee before she remembered. I thought he took advantage of her. But so did they so I won't hold it against him much.

[Ginger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the tension of this couple from the beginning of the book. It was a lust/hate thing for sure!

I did not like Ophelia in the beginning of this book. I thought, "How can Lorraine Heath write a character like this and make her redeemable to me"?! But she did!

After Phee gets amnesia, she slowly changes, comes out from behind her walls and has freedom for the first time in her life. We find out later in the book that the walls were there for protection.

Drake was great! He is a hardworking and wonderful man. He’s a successful businessman and adopted son of the Duke and Duchess of Greystone. He becomes deceitful after Phee’s amnesia and tells her lots of lies because of the way she’s always treated him. It wasn't right but I can kind of understand. I'm not a fan of snobs either Drake! hahaha

I really enjoyed the relationship between the two of them and the demons both had to finally face. Especially Phee’s secret. It was bad and kudos for LH for writing about this terrible subject!

What speaks of the quality of LH’s writing is even when both characters are not at their best, I eventually like them and cheered for their success in a love relationship.

Once More, My Darling Rogue was an enjoyable read!

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

After narrowing her eyes at the season’s debutantes flocking around Drake Darling, who is nothing more than a lowborn commoner, Lady Olivia decides she needs to intervene, to take him down a notch or two, to “save” the witless debutantes from his offensive presence among the nobility. She saunters over to deliver her set down.

“Boy.”

“Boy,” she repeated with a touch more arrogance, “do fetch me some champagne, and be quick about it.” As though he were a servant, as though he lived to serve her.

Because they are at his adopted sister’s wedding ball and he doesn’t wish to embarrass his sister’s best friend, he graciously accedes to her demand. When he returns with her champagne, he finds she has moved away to join a new group.

Ophelia’s laughter reached him again, only this time when the sound went silent, her gaze landed on him like a huge stone, then dipped to the champagne, and her lips tipped upward in triumph, just before she wrinkled her nose as though she smelled something quite unpleasant.

I smell something quite unpleasant, and it is the FMC. Could an FMC be less sympathetic than this? Answer: not for a long, long time. Specifically, not until the book reaches 83%, when the author gives us a reason to feel some sympathy for her. So I felt sympathy. I still didn’t actually root for her until she quits thinking of herself as some kind of superior being at the 97% mark and acknowledged:

”To strive to make others feel small because I felt small is hardly commendable.”

So I had zero problems when Drake, after fishing her out of the Thames and discovering she has amnesia, convinces her (without actually convincing her, because she still senses she is superior) that she is his housekeeper, hired a fortnight earlier. She deserves it. In fact, she deserves much worse than being his housekeeper, because he actually does most of the work himself. He cooks for her, he picks up his own clothing, he treats her to gifts and picnics. He falls for her, knowing he’s a fool. He is proven right to feel so much dread at the prospect of her memory returning. Oh, the betrayal! Oh, the humiliation! She’s so incensed she reverts to calling him “boy.”

As much as I enjoyed this—and I did—I can’t give it all the stars. The biggest problem was Olivia’s motivation for acting cold, haughty, withdrawn and superior. There was a reason and it was a good one and explained her coldness sufficiently. However, she was also cruel and scornful, to Drake, to servants, even her own brother. I had trouble connecting her cruelty to the reason for her other behavior, so it seemed part of her basic character, which made her unlikeable at first and made her transformation into helpful and kind at the end seem phony. Add a few too many interior dialogues and Drake becoming such a huge fan of Olivia’s resilience and courage based on little evidence, and I had a tough time buying into the story completely.

3.5 stars, rounded up because of a very touching family moment at the end that caused my eyes to leak and had me reaching for tissues

[Jenn (The Book Refuge) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing that I was expecting. But Lorraine Heath managed to pull me through again. I really enjoyed this story. Even if it wasn't what I really wanted.

I just can't over the scenario that the hero would sleep with the heroine when he knew she would NEVER have slept with him if she remembered him. And he KNEW that. Then when we find out the trauma of the heroines past.... I was just very offended for her.

The very end almost won me back over but it just left a sour taste in my stomach afterwards.

3 Stars
1.5 on the spice scale.

TW: Childhood SA, and Previous rape.

[Addie · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF 25%

Lady Ophelia Lyttleton is simply the worst heroine I have read in a long time. Her treatment of Drake Darling in public is terrible (but there is a "reason" for that), but how she treats staff when no one else is around sums up her horrible character quite nicely.

At 25% I still can't stand her, and see no improvement.

[Carol Cork *Young at Heart Oldie* · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Lorraine Heath is a consummate storyteller and weaves a captivating and deeply emotional love story laced with delightful touches of humour.

Drake owes a debt of gratitude to the Duke and Duchess of Greystone who took him in off the streets, gave him a home and raised him as if he were their own son. He has always tried to make them proud of him but he has never felt that he really belongs in their world. Raised on the streets and the son of a convicted murderer hanged for his crime, Drake is constantly haunted by his sordid past. He believes his father’s tainted blood runs through his veins…that one day he won’t be able to control his temper and he will strike out with his fists just as his father had.

But no matter how far I journeyed, I could not escape my sordid beginnings. I could not be anything other than what I was born to be.

This belief is only reinforced by the haughty, spoiled Lady Ophelia Lyttleton who never misses an opportunity to rebuff him and remind him publically of his common origins. So when he rescues her from drowning in the Thames and discovers that she has lost her memory, he sees it as the perfect opportunity to exact revenge for all her slights…let her have a taste of what’s it is like to be a servant. So he leads her to believe that she is his housekeeper, a ruse he only intends to continue until he can find out why she was in the Thames and why no-one is looking for her. As the time passes, Drake sees a very different woman emerging…a woman who is “ far too layered, far too intriguing, far too distracting ”. He is reluctant to let her go but afraid of what might happen should she regain her memory.

Ms Heath does a wonderful job of transforming the dislikeable Ophelia into “Phee” whom I adored. Stripped of her memories, she is no longer constrained by the rigid rules instilled into her by her father or haunted by her dark, shameful secrets. She is free to be the woman she truly wants to be. Just as Drake sees a lady he has never seen before, so I saw a young woman who is warm, kind and compassionate; who has no hesitation in confronting a brute of a man who is abusing his horse or taking in stray animals; who finds contentment in her work and happiness in her life.

Even if she had all her memories, she doubted she’d recall a moment when she’d been happier.

Phee is able to see Drake for the first time with unprejudiced eyes…

A remarkable man with so much good in him, good he failed to recognize.

…a man who makes her feel safe and cherished.

Ms Heath develops the romance between Drake and Phee so beautifully and I loved every tender, poignant, sensual, passionate, funny, heart-warming and heart-breaking moment of it. There is one particularly memorable scene involving a bath tub, a bar of soap and a dragon tattoo which I guarantee will make you hotter than the steaming water in that tub!!

The scene where the Duke of Greystone gives Drake the specially engraved watch is so moving and when Drake calls him “father”, the tears were streaming down my face.

There is a wonderful Epilogue and Drake’s entry in his journal just tugs at the heart strings.

How I imagine Drake –


How I Imagine Phee –


MY VERDICT: An enchanting love story with characters that will capture your heart. Highly recommended.

REVIEW RATING: 5/5 Stars

The Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James (click on covers for more details):




This review is also posted on my Rakes and Rascals Blog:

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[Pepa · Rating 2 out of 5]

El argumento pintaba muy bien pero se me ha hecho una lectura muy monótona y previsible.. y lo peor es que no me la he creído en ningún momento
Había un buen argumento pero la autora, creo que no lo ha sabido aprovechar.
Drake me ha gustado, mucho y, al final, a ella la consigues apreciar y le coges cariño, incluso puedes entender muy bien ese frío pedestal al que ella misma se ha subido... pero la trama es lenta, avanza poco, está muy forzada y le falta esa chispa que he podido encontrar en una autora que me gusta mucho
Una pena

[Colette · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

“Don’t tell me that when my memories return I won’t like you. Because I don’t believe it. I won’t believe it. I know what I feel for you now at this very moment, and I know deep within my heart, to the depths of my soul that I will never care for anyone as I care for you.” Drake Darling may be raised by aristocrats but he is not one. He cannot escape who he truly is, especially when Lady Ophelia Lyttleton goes out of her way to insult and belittle him at every opportunity she has. Which is why when Drake found Lady Ophelia confused and with no knowledge of who she is, he decided to tell her that she is his servant as a petty revenge. Although doubtful at first, Phee eventually found pleasure in doing household chores for her employer. However, she is later heartbroken when she regained her memory and discovered that everything that has transpired between her and Drake was nothing more than a revenge act on his part. 

Once more, My Darling Rogue is the second book from Lorraine Heath’s historical romance series, Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James. I know, I am reading this series out of order again but this looked like the most interesting out of all books. I like the amnesia trope in historical romance so this one was fun! I have not read any book from the series this is connected to but I do not think it diminished the enjoyment I had with it. 

Meet Lady Ophelia Lyttleton: She is the daughter of an earl. In Drake’s words, “She is opinionated, irritating, haughty,” and I can assure you, she is exactly that during the beginning of the book. She never dances and entertains spares, let alone commoners. Her line could be traced back to William the Conqueror so naturally, she believes she’s all that. She was a literal bitch. She had always been angered by Drake Darling’s existence, if she could kill him she probably would. That’s how much she hated him. Phee, however, is another story. She was a girl who was nice and had a care for the people and the animals that surrounded her. And eventually, it was revealed that there was more to this haughty aristocrat than what she portrays herself to be. 

Meet Drake Darling: He was born as Peter Sykes. He was the son of a murderer. It was something that has always haunted him. He does not have any blue blood at all but he was raised within the aristocracy. His mother entrusted him to Frannie Darling who married the Duke of Greystone. His new family loved and treated him as their own. But no matter how refined he is by now, it will not erase the fact that he’s a commoner. He does not like Lady Ophelia either for she slights him with every chance she has. He can’t seem to understand why she was so bothered by him but eventually realized it’s because she believes him to be beneath her. 

Lady Ophelia Lyttleton is Lady Grace’s (Drake’s sister) best friend, so the two cross paths all the time. During an evening ball, Lady O sees Drake again and she can’t help but put him in his place and remind him that he is beneath them. She’s disgusted by the Ladies showing interest in Drake Darling, ladies did not consort with commoners! Ophelia, being high and mighty, approached Drake, - “Boy,” she repeated with a touch more arrogance, “do fetch me some champagne, and be quick about it.” Of course, Drake obliged because he knows she’s just provoking him. This is not the only time she gave him the cut direct. She was a horrible person to him. And how the tables have turned when Drake found Ophelia unconscious in Thames. When she woke up, she had no idea of who she was at all. His initial plan was to return her to her family but she was being so bossy even when she seemed not to remember that she was a lady. Drake decided to tell her that she’s his servant to teach her a lesson and as a little revenge too. He planned to keep it going only for a day…until it had been more days than that. As days passed by, he discovered a woman who was not at all like Lady O who was always so arrogant to him. And he can’t help but fall for her. Revelations, explanations, Traumas, internal conflicts and finally a well deserved HEA!

Lady O was a complex character. In the beginning, I did not immediately like her for the way she treated those who she deemed beneath her. She was so annoyingly haughty. But, I must admit that her disdain for Drake entertained me. It was so obvious that she was attracted to him but she has her reasons why she cannot and she must not, so, she resorts to hating him. Her trauma does not excuse her actions. What she did to Drake was not very nice. However, it does explain why she is the way she is. Why she’s so guarded and why she doesn't like Drake, who looks like the kind of guy who can lure anyone without thinking of the consequences. Who she was as Phee, I believe, is the real Ophelia. One who’s protective of who she cares for, one who wants to shelter animals (Drake said something beautiful about this in the epilogue which explains why she does that), one who’s not judgemental of where Drake came from. A person who’s strong and intelligent. Lady Ophelia was her defense mechanism. A facade of who she should be. Phee is who she is, buried by Lady O deep within her. I came to understand her character and eventually cared for her. I loved her by the end of the book. I can see why Drake loved her! 

Drake’s life was actually so sad. I loved him immediately. Perhaps because he was on the receiving end of Ophelia’s contempt. I loved how the book started and ended with his journal entry. I love his relationship with the Duke and Duchess, it’s very touching how they loved him as their own. I feel sorry for him because he feels the need to prove himself worthy of being taken in although unnecessary. And this part, “But no matter how far I journeyed, I could not escape my sordid beginnings. I could not be anything other than what I was born to be.” It was so good! He was a commoner, and yet he was raised by aristocrats. He made something of himself. He’s now a wealthy man and yet it cannot erase his past. It cannot erase the fact that his father is a murderer, and he is afraid that he might be just like him. Drake was very human. He was not perfect. He had flaws, he had conflicting emotions and contradicted himself because he was a man who had more to him. Although his initial decision was to teach Ophelia a lesson, he could not help himself but be intrigued by her and eventually care for her well-being. He dislikes her at first, but only because of her disdain for him. Both Drake and Ophelia were flawed people who brought out the best in each other. 

I love the amnesia trope so this one was really enjoyable for me. I was hooked right from the prologue and I stayed up way past my bedtime just so I could finish reading this one. I loved both the hero and heroine. I dislike shrewish characters but I guess I have a thing for heroines who believe themselves way too good for the hero at first (e.g. Annabelle from Secrets of a Summer night and Cynthia from Like no other Lover) so when they fall for the hero and finally admit it to themselves, it’s all very sweet and rewarding. 

What Drake did to Ophelia was wrong. He should’ve returned her to her family but I understand his motivations. If someone was constantly reminding me that I was beneath them, I would take the chance to exact a petty revenge to get back at them. What Drake did was wrong but that does not make Lady O’s disdain for him any more right. I think she got what she deserved. Later on in the book, she admits that she deserved what she got and that she would probably do what Drake did. For he had been the subject of her anger for so long that one would understand why he did something so immature. The synopsis might seem wild, but Drake was actually so kind to Ophelia. He had not mistreated her or anything, he was even the one doing the chores because she did not know how to. Although he decided to be rude to her at times to attempt to humiliate her, he did not mean it. Eventually, Phee learned and was actually doing the chores not because she believes it her duty but because she wanted to please Drake. She was quite fond of him. 

Drake was the type of man to crumble completely when Ophelia cries. He was willing to do anything for her. Even when he was not aware he loved her, he showed her that cared for her. He wanted to teach her a lesson and yet it had not felt like a success at all when she regained her memories for he knew that he had hurt her. He was honestly so in love with her! I do think Phee loved him very much too. Although she fought it when she knew the truth. And the parallels okay! Lady O snubbed Drake when he asked to dance with her years ago, and now it is she who demanded him to dance with her. I found it so sweet, I screamed! For someone who had the rule not to dance with spares and commoners, she was willing to let go of that because she was a better person than she initially was. Phee, who was so buried deep inside Lady O had come out and was ready to try her chance at happiness and love. They changed each other for the better, they saw each other for who they truly were, knew their deepest hurt and shame and were ready to love each other anyway. 

This was so long! I got carried away. I just loved Ophelia and Drake. They are so complex.  Flawed and yet completely redeemable and loveable. I think that the ending was a bit rushed, I think she should’ve regained her memory at the 70% mark but it was not really a big deal. It worked out just as well but if she regained her memories earlier, the angst would’ve been better! Overall, I enjoyed this so much! Heath once again proved herself capable of writing characters that had depth and a romance that’s so tender it’ll tug at your heartstrings. 


Some quotes: 

“Without my memories, with no tarnished past”—with no memories of Wigmore to intrude—“I was free to fall in love with you. I do love you, Drake. At first I was hurt and so angry but when I take in the entire tapestry of my life, my happiest, most joyful moments have been with you.”

“I won’t be Lady Ophelia after we marry.”“You’ll be marrying a commoner, but the title of Lady comes from your father. You can keep it.”“I don’t want to. I want to be Phee Darling or Mrs. Darling. No more, m’lady. Just Mrs.”“You don’t have to do this for me, Phee.”“I’m not. I’m doing it for me, and because I want the world to know that I’m incredibly proud to be your wife. We’ll be equal, Drake. You and I. That’s how it should be. How I want it.”“Then that’s how it shall be.” (IM SOFT!!)

“She didn’t do her chores around the house because they were her duties. She did them because she wanted to please him. She wanted him happy. She wanted him to want to come home to her. She wanted to greet him with a smile and a kiss. She wanted him to take her into his arms. She wanted him to return at midnight, slip into bed beside her, and cradle her. She wanted him to sleep beside her, his breaths matching hers.”

She turned her attention back to Drake. “Kiss me once more, my darling rogue.”Taking her in his arms, he did just that.

“The love of a wife for a husband she chose. The love of a woman for a man who appreciated her strengths and her weaknesses. The love of Phee, the center of my most precious memories, the heart of my life.”

[Arini · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

yes yes yesss the amnesia trope totally SLAPS in this one!

its a wonder what starting over or a clean slate could do to a person. the h was a nasty lady when she had all of her wits about her, but i loved the character development she had through her amnesia. there were some revelations that made me understood her sour disposition and sympathized with her. she grew from someone i wanted to slap to one i wanna be friends with. although, i did want to slap her again when the reveal or the moment she got her memories back happened. i mean, how dare she blamed the H and be angry with him!!! he kinda reminded me of Simon Basset from Bridgerton, but a much better version.

overall, this was such a lovely read. would totally recommend!

[Ana María · Rating 5 out of 5]

Relectura.. Me sigue gustando.

Como he comentado, he llorado de felicidad cuando terminó.
Advierto que soy muy particular en mis gustos.
Después de todo, es una de las novelas de Lorraine Heath que menos puntos tiene en GR (sólo dos tienen menos que esta).
Pero a mí me encantó.
Tenemos aquí la historia de Drake, hijo adoptivo de los Duques de Greystone. Hijo de un padre delincuente, lo tomaron bajo su protección cuando tenía ocho años y entró en la casa para robar. Ahora es el administrador del Dodgers, la casa de juego más famosa de Londres de la que la duquesa (Frannie) es socia. Aunque ha sido criado como caballero, para la alta sociedad sigue siendo un plebeyo.
Así lo considera Lady Ofelia Lyttleton, amiga de su hermana postiza Grace, que no pierde oportunidad para rebajarlo por su origen. Lady Ofelia es una verdadera arpía, orgullosa, soberbia, sin dignarse jamás a bajar la vista hacia sus inferiores sociales. Fría y despiadada, no puede comprender porqué las mujeres de la sociedad se dignan a socializar con ese plebeyo de cabellos morenos y sonrisa seductora.
Drake la odia por sus desplantes, así que cuando en un paseo nocturno la encuentra en la costa del Támesis mojada, golpeada e inconsciente no sabe si rescatarla o tirarla al rio de nuevo.
La rescata y la lleva a su casa (la de él) y descubre, cuando Ofelia despierta, que ha perdido la memoria y no recuerda quién es.
Drake no tiene mejor idea, a modo de chanza vengativa, de decirle que es su sirvienta y que cuando mejore tendrá que reanudar sus deberes limpiando, cocinando, etc. Su idea es darle una lección, hacerla trabajar un día y luego contarle la verdad y llevarla a la casa del hermano de Ofelia, el conde. Pero la cosa no es tan fácil, porque a Drake le surgen dudas: ¿quién es el culpable de que ella estuviera en el rio? ¿su hermano? ¿algún pretendiente despechado? ¿será seguro devolverla a su hogar? Es un misterio.
Una cosa lleva a la otra y a lo largo de la historia Drake va conociendo el verdadero yo de Ofelia, sin traumas ni prejuicios, y Ofelia va conociendo los oscuros secretos de Drake del mismo modo.
Una primera parte divertida y otra mucho más oscura, donde conoceremos el porqué de la forma de ser de cada uno. ¿Será la postura de Ofelia una coraza para protegerse ?
Fantasmas del pasado que es mejor olvidar.
No digo que sea perfecta, creo que la parte del suspenso es demasiado corta y daba para mayor desarrollo. Pero hay mucha tensión sexual, ternura (a pesar de los odios), no hay demasiado sexo y un bello epílogo.
Pero bueno, para mí. Entre los comentarios hay hasta lectores que le dieron 1 estrella y DNF.
Para gustos hay colores ¿no?

[Lisa (Remarkablylisa) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH ITS A NEW FAVE OF MINE IT'S ABOUT A SNOBBY GIRL WHO BASICALLY IS SHARPAY FROM HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL WHO GETS KNOCKED ON THE HEAD AND THE MAN SHE KEPT SNUBBING GETTING REVENGE BY TELLING HER SHE'S HIS MAID WHEN SHE LOSES HER MEMORY

AND SHE BUYS IT.

AND HE FEELS BAD.

BUT THEYRE SO SWEET AND FIESTY WITH EACH OTHER.

[Χρύσα Βασιλείου · Rating 4 out of 5]

Η «Γλυκιά προδοσία» αποτελεί το δεύτερο βιβλίο της σειράς Οι Διεφθαρμένοι Αριστοκράτες της Lorraine Heath και υπόσχεται στους αναγνώστες συναρπαστικές ώρες ανάγνωσης

Το ζευγάρι της συγκεκριμένης ιστορίας είναι ο Ντρέικ Ντάρλινγκ και η λαίδη Οφέλια Λάιτλτον. Εκείνος γεννήθηκε στους δρόμους και, παρόλο που μεγάλωσε σε μια αξιοσέβαστη οικογένεια, δεν έχει ξεχάσει ποτέ από πού προέρχεται. Εκείνη είναι μεγαλωμένη μέσα στην αριστοκρατία και αντιπαθεί σφόδρα τον Ντρέικ, μιας και τον θεωρεί κοινωνικά κατώτερό της κι αδυνατεί να καταλάβει πώς είναι δυνατόν να γίνεται αποδεκτός στον κύκλο της. Μάλιστα, δεν χάνει ευκαιρία να τον μειώνει κάθε φορά που οι δρόμοι τους συναντιούνται.
Ο Ντρέικ θα έχει την ευκαιρία να πάρει την εκδίκησή του από την Οφέλια, όταν εκείνη θα πάθει ένα ατύχημα κι εκείνος θα βρεθεί στο κατάλληλο μέρος την κατάλληλη στιγμή, σώζοντάς της τη ζωή. Όταν αποδειχτεί πως η κοπέλα δεν θυμάται ποια είναι, αυτός θα βρει την ευκαιρία να την πάρει στο σπίτι του και να ισχυριστεί πως είναι υπηρέτριά του. Το σχέδιό του είναι να την ταπεινώσει, βάζοντάς την να κάνει τις δουλειές του σπιτιού και υπακούοντας στις διαταγές του. Αυτό που δεν έχει υπολογίσει όμως είναι τα συναισθήματα που θα ξυπνήσει μέσα του αυτή η γυναίκα που έχει μπροστά του – μια γυναίκα αξιαγάπητη, θερμή, τρυφερή, αλλά ταυτόχρονα πεισματάρα, και οπωσδήποτε πολύ διαφορετική από το υπεροπτικό και ρηχό πλάσμα που είχε γνωρίσει στα σαλόνια της υψηλής κοινωνίας. Και όσο οι μέρες περνούν, τόσο ο Ντρέικ νιώθει να παγιδεύεται στον ιστό των ψεμάτων που ο ίδιος έχει υφάνει. Τι θα γίνει άραγε όταν η Οφέλια ξαναβρεί τη μνήμη της και διαπιστώσει όχι μόνο το παιχνίδι που της έπαιξε ο Ντρέικ, αλλά και ότι εκείνη είναι πλέον τρελά ερωτευμένη μαζί του;

Η Heath έχει δημιουργήσει μια ακόμα συναρπαστική ιστορία αγάπης, με φόντο την Αγγλία του 19ου αιώνα, που ξεχωρίζει από την πληθώρα ανάλογων βιβλίων που διαβάζουμε κατά καιρούς. Πρόκειται για ένα τολμηρό, ‘μοντέρνο’ μυθιστόρημα με ιδιαίτερη πλοκή και εξίσου ιδιαίτερους χαρακτήρες. Ο συνδυασμός του ιδιοκτήτη μιας χαρτοπαικτικής λέσχης και μιας υπερήφανης λαίδης ως πρωταγωνιστικό ζευγάρι υπόσχεται πολλές συγκινήσεις. Μεγαλωμένοι εντελώς διαφορετικά, αλλά μέσα σε κοινωνικά πλαίσια που έχουν διαμορφώσει τους χαρακτήρες και τον τρόπο σκέψης και συμπεριφορά τους, καλούνται να διαχειριστούν απρόσμενες καταστάσεις, αλλά και τα συναισθήματα που ξυπνά μέσα τους η αναγκαστική συμβίωσή τους.
Εκτός από τους δύο αυτούς ήρωες, που προσδίδουν από μόνοι τους στο στόρι την απαραίτητη σπιρτάδα και ζωντάνια, προκειμένου να διατηρείται το αναγνωστικό ενδιαφέρον, η συγγραφέας έχει ‘χτίσει’ έναν ολόκληρο γοητευτικό κόσμο γύρω τους, που χρησιμεύει ως σκηνικό και στα υπόλοιπα βιβλία της συγκεκριμένης σειράς. Οι δευτερεύοντες χαρακτήρες προσθέτουν ο καθένας το δικό του λιθαράκι, διατηρώντας πάντα την προσωπική τους ταυτότητα και παραμένοντας πιστοί στα πλαίσια των ρόλων που καλούνται να παίξουν στην πλοκή. Όσο για το φόντο όλων αυτών, τα δύο πρόσωπα του Λονδίνου –εκείνο της αριστοκρατίας και εκείνο του υποκόσμου– συναντώνται εδώ σε ένα πραγματικά εκρηκτικό κοκτέιλ. Η συγγραφέας πράγματι έχει αποδώσει ρεαλιστικά όλες τις πλευρές και των δύο, διατηρώντας συνεχώς λεπτές ισορροπίες και διανθίζοντας τα συμβάντα με δόσεις χιούμορ, ρομάντζου, συγκίνησης, αγωνίας και, φυσικά, έρωτα.
Η ιστορία αγάπης, η οποία αποτελεί τον κεντρικό κορμό του βιβλίου, δεν είναι απλά αυτή δύο ανθρώπων που συναντιούνται και προσπαθούν να διαχειριστούν τα συναισθήματά τους. Βασίζεται επάνω σε ένα ψέμα, που αναγκάζει την ηρωίδα να απαρνηθεί τον τρόπο ζωής της, τις συνήθειές της, την ταυτότητά της ουσιαστικά, και να προσαρμοστεί σε μια εντελώς νέα, ξένη κι απωθητική σ’ εκείνη, καθημερινότητα. Ο ήρωας συμπεριφέρεται σκληρά ίσως, ωθούμενος όμως από την πικρία του επειδή ανέκαθεν ένιωθε επάνω του τα επικριτικά βλέμματα των αριστοκρατών – και το δικό της. Είναι λοιπόν πολύ ενδιαφέρον το πώς κατορθώνουν να γεννηθούν ερωτικά αισθήματα επάνω σ’ αυτά τα επίφοβα θεμέλια, αλλά και το πώς αυτά αναπτύσσονται και δυναμώνουν, καταφέρνοντας τελικά όχι απλά να ξεπεράσουν τα όποια εμπόδια, αλλά και να θριαμβεύσουν. Και έτσι όχι απλά γεννιέται ένας έρωτας ανάμεσα σε δύο ανθρώπους που προέρχονται από διαφορετικούς κόσμους, αλλά καταρρίπτονται και οι σκληρές κοινωνικές προκαταλήψεις που χαρακτήριζαν τη συγκεκριμένη εποχή και αποδεικνύεται πόσο αδύναμες είναι τελικά αυτές μπροστά στα αληθινά αισθήματα.
Η «Γλυκιά προδοσία» είναι ένα εξαιρετικό μυθιστόρημα, που υπόσχεται να κερδίσει ολοκληρωτικά τους αναγνώστες. Καλογραμμένο, ταξιδιάρικο, ρομαντικό, απόλυτα σύγχρονο και εντελώς αγαπησιάρικο, δεν θα είναι δύσκολο να τα καταφέρε

[Lover of Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drake Darling comes with a past, a past that haunts him but has shaped who he is. Drake can't deny his parentage, and was then adopted by a aristocratic family, and knows the ins and outs of the Ton. There is one lady, that haunts him and makes him burn...Lady Ophelia Lyttleton. A woman that spites him and rejects him at every opportunity, but when he rescues her from a drowning, he takes her home, and discovers that she has no idea who she is. So he settles her in his home as his housekeeper, thinking a bit of revenge will be good for her. Ophelia may not have her memory, but as she starts to begin a new life, she is confused and disoriented at times, but she feels drawn to Drake. She knows that he is keeping some secrets from her, and even though she has her doubts, she sees a man that is good and true, a man she is beginning to love and one she never wants to lose, even if that means never regaining her memory.

Once More My Darling Rogue is the second book in the Scandalous Gentleman series. This series is connected to one of her previous series " Scoundrels Of St. James". I loved seeing the connection between these two series. I fell in love with the first series a while ago, and is one of the comfort reads that makes you laugh and engages you, and this series has definitely done the same. In this latest installment we definitely see many positive attributes of this story that will just break your heart. There were times I was laughing, and many times the moments between the characters were so tender and poignant I needed a few tissues. I loved the raw emotion that is displayed in the story and I just couldn't get enough. Lorraine Heath has done it again!! She has written a story to warm you heart and thrill you to the core.

One of my favorite aspects of this story is the "Amnesia" theme, I always love guessing when that memory is going to come rolling back, and in this tale, it comes back when you least expect it. At the beginning of the story there is quite a bit of tension between Drake and Ophelia. Ophelia at first, I didn't like her much, seems a bit stuck up but you sense that there is more to her character than meets the eye. Drake is a scoundrel, and just like his adopted father, he part owns a gentleman's club "Dodgers" but knows both sides of the "tracks" and he definitely adds a element to the story that is thrilling and unique. The idea of making the woman he likes but hates too, to become his servant, adds a fun flair to the story line....and he definitely stirs things up.

I enjoyed seeing how this story played out in the end. Once More, My Darling Rogue is a romantic tale of redemption, love and forgiveness. There is such a emotional feel to it, and definitely is a ride of ups and downs, twists and turns, surprises and shocks, laughter and passion....and a beautiful love story that will worm its way into your heart~~fun filled and a sweet story that had me from the beginning!!WELL DONE HEATH....YOU HAVE WON ME OVER ONCE AGAIN!!!

[Beanbag Love · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably more of a 3.50 - 3.75. Rounding up.

I avoided this book because I didn't like the excerpt (the heroine was horrible) and reviews were tepid. It always makes me sad to skip a Heath book, though, so I finally bit the bullet.

It ended up being much more enjoyable than I had expected. The main reason was Drake Darling. He was such a likable character. He did do a very douchey thing, but his motivations and his inner struggles were compelling.

Ophelia was a tougher nut to crack. She was literally a dreadful human being. Absolutely horrendous in her treatment of Drake. That's what the excerpt was and why I didn't want to read this one. Once you understand the reason why she's that way, it's a little more forgivable. The biggest problem I had was her treatment of servants. She was in incredible bitch. And that includes in private where there was no one else to "perform" for. So it's her. She does evolve over the course of the book and she ends up being a very likable character, but some of those things ... they're who/what she is. It's hard to trust that she's going to be Phee for the rest of her life.

So here's the premise. Bitchy society girl (who is Drake's "sister" Grace's good friend) has treated Drake horribly for a very long time. Constantly putting him in his place (which is much lower than hers) even when she has to go out of her way to do it. He's the son of a murdering scoundrel who was taken in and raised as family by the Duke and Duchess of Greystone. He's as much a gentleman in comportment and financial station as she is a lady, and his best friends are titled so most everyone accepts him. Just not Ophelia who seems to have something to prove.

He -- in a convenient contrivance -- rescues her from the Thames and she wakes up without her memories. So, what's a guy to do? Tell her she's his housekeeper and sole servant. Let her live the life of a worker and see if she learns anything. He only meant it to last one day, but then other things put off the reveal. This is where Drake was douchey, but since Ophelia had been so horrid to her own servants, I kind of didn't care. It's later that he needed a ruler across the knuckles, IMO. Or a kick in the nuts. Either one. But I won't go into that.

Ultimately there was some decent groveling on both their parts -- especially Drake's, Phee could have done a bit more -- and some very nice, romantic scenes where both characters learn about each other and themselves.

So it's not as bad as I feared. It's actually pretty good. I will probably even add it to the reread pile.

[Lu · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 stars rounded to 4

The premise in this book is very similar to a book I have recently read by Lisa Kleypas ("Someone to Watch Over Me"). The MC's are enemies, the heroine is a terrible person and the hero rescues her from a dive into the Thames that makes her lose her memory and become a better person.
The stories follow a different path after that. In this book, the rescuer is an urchin transformed into a Duke's ward (Drake Darling) and the rescued is Lady Ophelia, a person that never misses an opportunity to give him the cut direct and abhors his pauper origins. In revenge, he plans to keep her as his housekeeper for a day (as she no longer remembers who she is), and then give her back to her family.
The first half of the book was a 3 stars read for me. The heroine goes on and on about her doubts of who she is and if she should be a servant, and the hero, a nice guy, fights his guilty for pranking her to be his servant.
The plot is a little too fantastic, but the second half is quite sweet, with them both seeing beyond the walls of their external personas.

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to confess I hesitated to read this book because of the plot. I am not a fan of the "lost memory" theme and always wonder how two people can trust each other after such a plot.

But after re-reading the first book I thought I should give it a try ... and in the end, this book had me convinced (although why I was unsure of a Lorraine Heath book, I don't know).

Nevertheless, even afer reading it I am still not very fond of the plot. I wanted it to be over much sooner, so that we had more time to see the two of them work through the troubles together.

What speaks of the quality of this book is that even when both characters are not at their best I really liked them

all in all it was a nice read and I loved the characters, but I would have enjoyed their journey more if there had been another plot.

[sraxe · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you've seen Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn's Overboard, you've got the basics of the book. There's Goldie Hawn's character, Ophelia, the haughty female protagonist who suffers memory loss, and then she ends up in the hands of Kurt Russell's character, Drake, the male protagonist she mistreated. In Overboard, Dean convinces Joanna that she's his wife and the mother of his children. In this book, however, I liked that Drake tells her she's his servant and not his mistress or his wife. I liked that there was that divide between them because it set up more of a boundary than there was in Overboard.

Honestly, I couldn't fault Drake in messing with Ophelia because she was horrible. I'm glad the author showed us how terrible she was before the amnesia. It also helped to know that she'd done this for years rather than it being a one-off occasion. I also appreciated that he tried to tell himself that what he was doing was right (and, truthfully, I did agree with his reasoning), but he also knew how morally wrong it was and that, really, they were just excuses he used as justification. He knows it's wrong even though he tries to convince himself otherwise. He knows, and I'm glad that the author put that admittance in there.

Really, though, after how she's treated him and considers everyone not of the peerage as subhuman, she deserved it.

I also liked that it was reversed compared to both books. The usual fare has the male protagonist treating the female like shit and they somehow fall in love. I liked that, for once, it was the female being the unpleasant one. I also liked that Drake genuinely doesn't like her. There have been far too many stories with female protagonists Stockholm Syndrome'ing it up and falling in love with their abusers.

After all is revealed, I was glad that Ophelia did react in the way that she did. I was disappointed we didn't see as much of them apart as I would've liked (the ruse lasts for a good three-fourths of the novel). Grace, however, I was pretty ticked off with. Grace tells Drake that the only reason Ophelia treated Drake badly over the years was because she has feelings for her. He, understandably, is flabbergasted and says she never had a kind word for him. Grace's response?

"I don't recall you having very many for her either."

Wait, what? Excuse me?

Why in the hell would he have a kind word for her? She, who took every opportunity to slight him, cut him and put him in his place. She, who went out of her way to seek him out in order to tell him off -- something the reader sees happen right at the beginning. She wasn't playing at thinking him below her because he's a commoner, that's how she genuinely felt. He put up with her treatment for years (even though he's her senior by 12 years)...and he's expected to have kind words for her? Bull-fucking-shit. This is exactly like asking someone being bullied why they don't have nice things to say about their bully. Makes absolutely no sense.

It also really pissed me off that Grace knew exactly how Ophelia treated Drake, and she said not a word or did anything to help him. She claims to love him more than her blood brothers? Bullshit. Sorry, but you're a shit sibling if you let someone mistreat your brother or sister for years (both in public and private settings) and also say not a thing, do not a thing to help.

I was also getting annoyed with Drake's procrastination of telling her the truth. He claims he'll tell her the day after, tomorrow, today, later, after this, that and the other thing. I got irritated because I expected it to happen and then it wasn't happening. At first, I looked at the proclamations with anticipation, but after a while I just started rolling my eyes because I knew it wasn't going to happen. What started as anticipation quickly devolved into annoyance for me.

[Wollstonecrafthomegirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

As ever with Lorraine Heath, I have my niggles with this and I can't quite articulate what I really liked about it, but it was a solid, enjoyable read overall and I'm rounding up from 3.5 stars to 4.

The central premise is no one's favourite: amnesia. The heroine and the hero do not get on. She's a stuck up aristocratic heiress (with a tragic, serious history to explain that behavior) and he's saved from a life on the streets when he's adopted and raised by a Duke. Thus he's 'lowborn' and will never be good enough for her. The hero saves the heroine from drowning in the Thames. She's got amnesia and he lies to her saying she's his housekeeper and then they fall in lurve. Until, that is, his lie is revealed and it all unravels along with the mystery of why she was in the Thames to begin with.

What can I say? The story captured me. I liked the hero. I liked the heroine. And I really liked the resolution. If it had been less well handled this probably wouldn't have made four stars but I enjoyed the way it finished up.

Heath's writing is good and period appropriate. The sex is still a bit too euphemism, metaphor heavy for my taste.

The big niggles: the book is woefully skewed towards the aristocracy. You'd think being a maid was the Worst Job In The World compared to being an heiress and trying to snag a husband. I think there might have been more mileage in having the heroine embrace the role or take something from it. The hero's behavior post-amnesia did stretch credibility for me. If he was trying to teach the heroine a lesson he failed, she was a terrible servant and he let her get away with it time and time again. She went on a shopping spree, for goodness sake. What kind of maid needs kid gloves, I ask you? What kind of maid buys a pair for her mate on her employer's credit? A fired maid, that's who.

The title is daft. And shoehorned into the text at the end. Stupid Avon.

But, as I say, I was entertained. I'll never read this again, but I was entertained.

[steph · Rating 1 out of 5]

1 to 2 stars. Basically my problem with this entire book is that the main heroine, who I admit can be bitchy and bossy at times especially to those of a lower class, loses her memory. And the hero uses that opportunity to one up her and put her in her place by making her believe she's his maid. I didn't mind that part because he only intended it to be for a day and they do have a past history together (she's the bff of his adopted sister) but when he continued with the charade and then made her FALL IN LOVE WITH HIM, well that is when I just wanted to vomit. HE LIED TO HER. AND CONTINUED TO LIED TO HER. Just no. No. No. No. I see that the author wanted to get the heroine at a place where she and the hero were equals so they could have "relationship" but I didn't like the way she did it. NOT AT ALL. A relationship built on lies is not a open and honest relationship.

After reading this book and the rest in this series (including the parents generation), I can honestly say I am done with this author. Her books do not work for me.

[Lady Wesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy Loraine Heath's books, but they never quite make it five-stars for me. This one was good, though, and I'm glad that I listened to it.

I thoroughly enjoyed Heath's Scoundrels of St. James series with its clever premise of Fagan's kids grown up into respectable adults. Now, the Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James series features the children of the earlier generation. I haven't quite finished the series, but I will. Looking back at my ratings, I see that Heath's books are almost always a dependable four-star read for me, and you can't ask for much more than that.

Helen Lloyd, a new-to-me narrator, does a fine job.