What do you think?
Rate this book
Company of Rogues #12
To Rescue A Rogue
Lady Mara St. Bride has never backed down from a good adventure, which was how she wound up roaming the streets of London in the middle of the night, wearing nothing but a shift and corset beneath an old blanket. Luckily, her brother's oldest friend, the devilishly sexy Lord Darius Debenham, answered her plea for help. Now she intends to repay the favor... Before he was wounded at Waterloo, Dare had embraced everything life had to offer. Forever changed by the war, he now believes nothing, not even the interference of a lovely young minx like Mara--can rescue him from his demons. But Mara is determined to reignite his warm smile, and enlists the help of all the Rogues to offer Dare a temptation he cannot resist...
432 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 1, 2006
153 people are currently reading
967 people want to read
About the author
Jo Beverley
140 books1,129 followersMary Josephine Dunn was born 22 September 1947 in Lancashire, England, UK. At the age of eleven she went to an all-girls boarding school, Layton Hill Convent, Blackpool. At sixteen, she wrote her first romance, with a medieval setting, completed in installments in an exercise book. From 1966 to 1970, she obtained a degree in English history from Keele University in Staffordshire, where she met her future husband, Ken Beverley. After graduation, they married on June 24, 1971. She quickly attained a position as a youth employment officer until 1976, working first in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, and then in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire.
In 1976, her scientist husband was invited to do post-doctoral research at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. When her professional qualifications proved not to be usable in the Canadian labour market, she raised their two sons and started to write her first romances.
Moved to Ottawa, in 1985 she became a founding member of the Ottawa Romance Writers’ Association, that her “nurturing community” for the next twelve years. The same year, she completed a regency romance, but it was promptly rejected by a number of publishers, and she settled more earnestly to learning the craft. In 1988, it sold to Walker, and was published as "Lord Wraybourne's Betrothed". She regularly appears on bestseller lists including the USA Today overall bestseller list, the New York Times, and and the Publishers Weekly list. She has been the recipient of numerous awards including the Golden Leaf, the Award of Excellence, the National Readers Choice, and a two Career Achievement awards from Romantic Times. She is also a five time winner of the RITA, the top award of the Romance Writers Of America, and a member of their Hall of Fame and Honor Roll.
Jo Beverley passed away on May 23, 2016 after a long battle with cancer.
In 1976, her scientist husband was invited to do post-doctoral research at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. When her professional qualifications proved not to be usable in the Canadian labour market, she raised their two sons and started to write her first romances.
Moved to Ottawa, in 1985 she became a founding member of the Ottawa Romance Writers’ Association, that her “nurturing community” for the next twelve years. The same year, she completed a regency romance, but it was promptly rejected by a number of publishers, and she settled more earnestly to learning the craft. In 1988, it sold to Walker, and was published as "Lord Wraybourne's Betrothed". She regularly appears on bestseller lists including the USA Today overall bestseller list, the New York Times, and and the Publishers Weekly list. She has been the recipient of numerous awards including the Golden Leaf, the Award of Excellence, the National Readers Choice, and a two Career Achievement awards from Romantic Times. She is also a five time winner of the RITA, the top award of the Romance Writers Of America, and a member of their Hall of Fame and Honor Roll.
Jo Beverley passed away on May 23, 2016 after a long battle with cancer.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
April 21, 2021
4 Estrellitas. Éste libro me ha sonado a despedida. Es el 12° de los Pícaros, y aunque a Jo Beverley le dio tiempo a escribir cuatro libros más de la serie antes de morir, con éste he sentido que los Pícaros terminaban.
Los libros que escribía ésta autora quizás nos parezcan que no son lo mejor del género, pues siempre falta algo; si no son sus tramas algo arriesgadas o truculentas, o la situación de que faltase algo en el romance. Pero a pesar de ello, es una autora que siempre he admirado, ya sea por su investigación o ambientaciones, tanto en el periodo Georgiano como en Regencia.
Hace ya bastantes años que comencé a leer la serie de los Pícaros, y la he ido siguiendo muy lentamente. Es verdad que después de haber sabido lo que pasó con Darius Debenham, me entraban muchas ansias de conocer su historia, y en éste aspecto, Jo Beverley no me ha decepcionado.
La historia de Mara Saint Bride y Darius Debenham no ha sido fácil. Él es el hijo menor de un duque, por tanto fue a la guerra y tras la batalla de Waterloo se lo dio por muerto. Darius estuvo un tiempo desaparecido, hasta que en libros anteriores volvió a Inglaterra en extrañas circunstancias, de la mano de una malvada y conocida espía de ésta serie.
Pero el Darius que volvió no es el mismo de antes, sufrió heridas y estuvo convaleciente, y su enfermera aprovechó la situación para darle grandes cantidades de opio, por lo que le convirtió en un adicto. Meses después de su vuelta a Inglaterra, Darius lucha por controlar su adicción y poder superarla, pero el paso final estará dispuesto a darlo cuando Mara Saint Bride entre de nuevo en su vida.
Ademara Saint Bride es la hermana menor de Simon, protagonista del anterior libro. Simon y Darius siempre fueron íntimos amigos desde su estancia en Harrow con los Pícaros. Por otro lado, la pequeña Mara siempre estuvo enamoradiscada del amigo de su hermano.
En éste libro, Mara tiene dieciocho años y acaba de meterse en un lío. Mara es impulsiva, alocada, y necesita ayuda desesperadamente si no quiere perder su reputación. Andorreando semidesnuda por las calles de Londres, en seguida recuerda que Darius Debenham se halla en su residencia londinense, así que decide pedirle ayuda al amigo de su hermano.
Así es que como Mara y Dare vuelven a encontrarse, con ella convertida en una mujer, ya no la tan fastidiosa hermana menor de Simon. Y con Darius, casi recuperado físicamente, pero con una gran dependencia del opio, que necesita para su paz mental.
El romance de ambos personajes no será fácil. Es verdad que casi desde el principio que vuelven a encontrarse, caen rendidos el uno del otro; pero Dare tiene el problema de que no se cree digno de Mara, debido a su adicción, pero por ella, hará lo posible por dejarlo y volver a ser el hombre que era.
Durante el transcurso del libro, nuestros protagonistas deberán luchar contra otras dificultades. El inicio del libro meterá a Mara y Darius, sobre todo a él, en más de un problema, y además la trama de los niños que vinieron de Bélgica con Dare, y a los cuales adoptó, tampoco se cerró. Así que, ¿conseguirán los protagonistas salir airosos de éstas dificultades y conseguir su felices para siempre?
Admito que el libro se me ha hecho algo denso en algunas partes, y otras es posible que le hubiese metido tijeretazo en otro momento, pero no hay duda de que a medida que avanza la trama, el libro se pone más interesante y el romance es más bonito. También ha habido algunos momentos de shock que la autora ha sabido resolver y el resultado ha sido el acertado.
Por tanto ésta novela ha funcionado, y soy consciente de que escribir sobre un personaje drogadicto en ésta época no es nada fácil; pero creo que Jo Beverley ha sabido hacerlo. Llegados a éste punto, me da pena despedirme de los Pícaros, y me consolaré leyendo próximamente el 13° libro, que fue el último que publicó Titania de ésta serie.
Los libros que escribía ésta autora quizás nos parezcan que no son lo mejor del género, pues siempre falta algo; si no son sus tramas algo arriesgadas o truculentas, o la situación de que faltase algo en el romance. Pero a pesar de ello, es una autora que siempre he admirado, ya sea por su investigación o ambientaciones, tanto en el periodo Georgiano como en Regencia.
Hace ya bastantes años que comencé a leer la serie de los Pícaros, y la he ido siguiendo muy lentamente. Es verdad que después de haber sabido lo que pasó con Darius Debenham, me entraban muchas ansias de conocer su historia, y en éste aspecto, Jo Beverley no me ha decepcionado.
La historia de Mara Saint Bride y Darius Debenham no ha sido fácil. Él es el hijo menor de un duque, por tanto fue a la guerra y tras la batalla de Waterloo se lo dio por muerto. Darius estuvo un tiempo desaparecido, hasta que en libros anteriores volvió a Inglaterra en extrañas circunstancias, de la mano de una malvada y conocida espía de ésta serie.
Pero el Darius que volvió no es el mismo de antes, sufrió heridas y estuvo convaleciente, y su enfermera aprovechó la situación para darle grandes cantidades de opio, por lo que le convirtió en un adicto. Meses después de su vuelta a Inglaterra, Darius lucha por controlar su adicción y poder superarla, pero el paso final estará dispuesto a darlo cuando Mara Saint Bride entre de nuevo en su vida.
Ademara Saint Bride es la hermana menor de Simon, protagonista del anterior libro. Simon y Darius siempre fueron íntimos amigos desde su estancia en Harrow con los Pícaros. Por otro lado, la pequeña Mara siempre estuvo enamoradiscada del amigo de su hermano.
En éste libro, Mara tiene dieciocho años y acaba de meterse en un lío. Mara es impulsiva, alocada, y necesita ayuda desesperadamente si no quiere perder su reputación. Andorreando semidesnuda por las calles de Londres, en seguida recuerda que Darius Debenham se halla en su residencia londinense, así que decide pedirle ayuda al amigo de su hermano.
Así es que como Mara y Dare vuelven a encontrarse, con ella convertida en una mujer, ya no la tan fastidiosa hermana menor de Simon. Y con Darius, casi recuperado físicamente, pero con una gran dependencia del opio, que necesita para su paz mental.
El romance de ambos personajes no será fácil. Es verdad que casi desde el principio que vuelven a encontrarse, caen rendidos el uno del otro; pero Dare tiene el problema de que no se cree digno de Mara, debido a su adicción, pero por ella, hará lo posible por dejarlo y volver a ser el hombre que era.
Durante el transcurso del libro, nuestros protagonistas deberán luchar contra otras dificultades. El inicio del libro meterá a Mara y Darius, sobre todo a él, en más de un problema, y además la trama de los niños que vinieron de Bélgica con Dare, y a los cuales adoptó, tampoco se cerró. Así que, ¿conseguirán los protagonistas salir airosos de éstas dificultades y conseguir su felices para siempre?
Admito que el libro se me ha hecho algo denso en algunas partes, y otras es posible que le hubiese metido tijeretazo en otro momento, pero no hay duda de que a medida que avanza la trama, el libro se pone más interesante y el romance es más bonito. También ha habido algunos momentos de shock que la autora ha sabido resolver y el resultado ha sido el acertado.
Por tanto ésta novela ha funcionado, y soy consciente de que escribir sobre un personaje drogadicto en ésta época no es nada fácil; pero creo que Jo Beverley ha sabido hacerlo. Llegados a éste punto, me da pena despedirme de los Pícaros, y me consolaré leyendo próximamente el 13° libro, que fue el último que publicó Titania de ésta serie.
August 5, 2016
I put off reading this for nearly a week because I dreaded the story. Addiction isn't pretty or nice and I know that opium addiction ruins lives. I don't normally seek out "issue" books and this seemed likely to have all the hallmarks. Add a young and idealistic woman and the prospect for naïve narrative and the "healing power of love" and I smelled trainwreck.
Falsely, as it happens.
Beverley makes this work by making Dare's addiction an integral part of the story but doesn't revolve around it. In other words, life continues to happen and Dare's addiction is a huge complication but set in a broader story. Okay, that sounds like it isn't taken seriously enough, but I assure you it is. This is mostly possible because Dare is at the tail end of a year-long recovery program that is sensible and realistic. He has been building up his physical and mental reserves with a unique program that fits modern understanding of the problem but isn't outside the realm of the possible for the time.
And Mara was a delight and not at all frivolous or naïve. I loved that her enthusiasm was bent in Dare's service and built on true caring for his well-being. I loved that she set out to understand first, and did her best to support and strengthen rather than control or manipulate. She has the courage to put her heart on the line and in a way that provided support, not burden, and her true caring was powerful. And the culmination of their efforts, those last chapters, slew me. Yes, Dare wins over the addiction in the end. That's not a spoiler so much as necessary for the happily ever after needed for a romance. But Beverley makes sure it has the weight such a win needs to feel lasting and she pulls it off with power and conviction.
I stayed up way too late, unable to put this book down. I spent the last chapters in tears going through the pain with Dare and Mara. This was powerful and I loved every minute.
A note about Steamy: There are two explicit mostly-sex scenes. They were exactly right for the tone and emotional arc of the characters. There are a few additional scenes of intimacy and non-sexual nudity as well that were tightly integrated into the story. So middle of my steam tolerance, but so very well done and powerful.
Falsely, as it happens.
Beverley makes this work by making Dare's addiction an integral part of the story but doesn't revolve around it. In other words, life continues to happen and Dare's addiction is a huge complication but set in a broader story. Okay, that sounds like it isn't taken seriously enough, but I assure you it is. This is mostly possible because Dare is at the tail end of a year-long recovery program that is sensible and realistic. He has been building up his physical and mental reserves with a unique program that fits modern understanding of the problem but isn't outside the realm of the possible for the time.
And Mara was a delight and not at all frivolous or naïve. I loved that her enthusiasm was bent in Dare's service and built on true caring for his well-being. I loved that she set out to understand first, and did her best to support and strengthen rather than control or manipulate. She has the courage to put her heart on the line and in a way that provided support, not burden, and her true caring was powerful. And the culmination of their efforts, those last chapters, slew me. Yes, Dare wins over the addiction in the end. That's not a spoiler so much as necessary for the happily ever after needed for a romance. But Beverley makes sure it has the weight such a win needs to feel lasting and she pulls it off with power and conviction.
I stayed up way too late, unable to put this book down. I spent the last chapters in tears going through the pain with Dare and Mara. This was powerful and I loved every minute.
A note about Steamy: There are two explicit mostly-sex scenes. They were exactly right for the tone and emotional arc of the characters. There are a few additional scenes of intimacy and non-sexual nudity as well that were tightly integrated into the story. So middle of my steam tolerance, but so very well done and powerful.
December 19, 2014
I was somewhat disappointed with this book, mainly because I expected something else. I hoped there would be more angst and emphasis on the hero's opium addiction and his fight to get free, but the writer chose not to emphasize on that.
It was also strange for me because the hero and heroine realize their love for each other early on and from that point on, it was only external problems having to do with the hero's war past and capture that got in their way and created any tension. The rogues from almost every previous book were present in many scenes trying to help the hero and the focus was more on these problems than in the romance. All in all, it felt like a book in the middle of the series (which it is after all) and not a stand alone romance. Not bad, but far from great as well, though fans of the series will probably appreciate it more than I did.
PS: Also to note, that the love scenes in this one are almost non-existent: there are only two, only one of which is completed:( It made me feel that their relationship was more friendly than passionate.
It was also strange for me because the hero and heroine realize their love for each other early on and from that point on, it was only external problems having to do with the hero's war past and capture that got in their way and created any tension. The rogues from almost every previous book were present in many scenes trying to help the hero and the focus was more on these problems than in the romance. All in all, it felt like a book in the middle of the series (which it is after all) and not a stand alone romance. Not bad, but far from great as well, though fans of the series will probably appreciate it more than I did.
PS: Also to note, that the love scenes in this one are almost non-existent: there are only two, only one of which is completed:( It made me feel that their relationship was more friendly than passionate.
January 10, 2009
The story begins with Lady Mara wandering the streets of London trying to reach her sister's London home without getting caught. Did I mention that she is also only in her corset and wrapped in a blanket? Somehow, she manages to find her brother's best friend's home, but alas, he is not home. After a few moments of Terror, Dare arrives home and saves her. Lady Mara has known Dare for some time, but now she is grown and not the adventurous child she used to be. Even though he is recovering from wounds suffered in Waterloo (and opium addiction), Dare cannot resist helping Lady Mara. In return she tries to help Dare. By planning little outings, she learns more about the man Dare has become and falls in love with him. Dare can't help himself and has also fallen for Lady Mara, but he doesn't feel worthy of her due to his addiction. However, he can't let her fall into some other man's hands so he proposes to her with a condition... he has to be free of the Opium. Other outside forces collide with this couple and they fight for their love to survive.
This is one of the last books in Beverley's Rogue series. The great thing about them is that you can read them apart and still figure out what is going on. I really liked the characters of Lady Mara and Dare and cheered them on throughout the book. The book did start to lag in the middle and there did seem to be a lot of extra drama thrown in that really didn't need to be there. It almost felt like Beverley was trying to make the book at least 400 pages so she had to throw in some extra drama to fill it up. Overall, it was a good story and I did enjoy reading it.
This is one of the last books in Beverley's Rogue series. The great thing about them is that you can read them apart and still figure out what is going on. I really liked the characters of Lady Mara and Dare and cheered them on throughout the book. The book did start to lag in the middle and there did seem to be a lot of extra drama thrown in that really didn't need to be there. It almost felt like Beverley was trying to make the book at least 400 pages so she had to throw in some extra drama to fill it up. Overall, it was a good story and I did enjoy reading it.
February 4, 2017
Una vez más Jo Beverly ha logrado un libro inolvidable. Si bien es cierto que hacia el final todos los problemas por los que pasan los protagonistas se solucionan demasiado rápido y sin ningún contratiempo, la historia entre Mara y Daré es de las más bonitas y difíciles al mismo tiempo que he leído de esta serie.
El es un adicto al opio desde hace años por culpa de una herida de guerra y ella es una joven que ha estado enamorada de el desde hace años. Al principio ella piensa que hacer que se fije en ella y deje el opio es lo más fácil del mundo, pero a lo largo de la historia vemos como su carácter y su amor va cambiando y haciéndose más maduro.
otra punto a favor es ver a todos los granujas reunidos de nuevo junto con sus hijos.
No es la historia perfecta, pero es de los mejores de la serie.
El es un adicto al opio desde hace años por culpa de una herida de guerra y ella es una joven que ha estado enamorada de el desde hace años. Al principio ella piensa que hacer que se fije en ella y deje el opio es lo más fácil del mundo, pero a lo largo de la historia vemos como su carácter y su amor va cambiando y haciéndose más maduro.
otra punto a favor es ver a todos los granujas reunidos de nuevo junto con sus hijos.
No es la historia perfecta, pero es de los mejores de la serie.
November 9, 2012
As the story opens, Lady Mara St. Bride (sister of Simon from The Rogue's Return) is on the run down the worst streets of London, dressed in nothing but her skivvies.
Lady Mara has a condition called Black Ademar's Hair. It evidently means that for every inch of hair growth, the sufferer loses an IQ point. And Mara's hair is really, really long. She was visiting a pregnant relative, got bored, so she snuck out to meet this middle-aged guy she thinks of as a "cool uncle," but he thinks of himself as
This guy thinks the only reason Mara says stuff like "Go away, ass-breath"
is cuz her parents are too uppity to allow their "love." He figures if she's compromised, that'll force her parents to accept him. So… he strips her to her knickers and, keeping in mind her virtue (because he's a really BORING deranged stalker), locks her in a hotel room while he gets tap-hackled in the next room.
Mara, tho, is not your usual wilting heroine. She'd rather make a run for it in her skivvies than marry this plonker, so out the window she goes, and then she's dashing from shadow to shadow, hoping to find a familiar landmark before her reputation is ruined.
Et voila! She arrives at the street where Darius Debenham lives. She's known him all her life, and he's always made her heart go kerthunkity. She's heard he's in town, and that he's got a monkey on his back, whatever that means…
But surely he'll help her out.
Dare was given up for dead at Waterloo; turns out he was badly wounded, andabductedrescued abducted by an amazingly psychic villainess from previous stories who somehow, in the sewers of warfare, knows that he's one of the Rogues, and she can use him as her
TOOL OF VENGEANCE
against Nicholas (hero of book 1 in series). The witch "treated" Dare's injuries with a liberal dose of laudanum, which kept him semi-comatose for way too long. She's dead now, and all the other wounds the bitch inflicted are healing well. But Dare's still beating back an addiction that, if he tries to break it outright, might kill him. He's found a mentor who is helping him to wean off, bit by bit. And one of his final steps before
… is a sojourn in the Devil's Arsehairs, London. It's all a test.
And the testiest test he could possibly encounter is the suddenly bewitching Mara St. Bride.
The rest is basically a sort of romancey 12-step program, complicated by things the creepy stalker does in his quest for "twue wuv." The ending is not easy—addictions rarely are—and the love story is just what you'd like it to be under the circumstances.
Maybe it's me. I like stories built on danger/adventure/mystery, with a little romantic tension as seasoning. In this series, the danger/adventure is the seasoning and the romantic angst is the main course, and this time it did bug me. So I'm gonna give this a solid
Three stars.
Lady Mara has a condition called Black Ademar's Hair. It evidently means that for every inch of hair growth, the sufferer loses an IQ point. And Mara's hair is really, really long. She was visiting a pregnant relative, got bored, so she snuck out to meet this middle-aged guy she thinks of as a "cool uncle," but he thinks of himself as
This guy thinks the only reason Mara says stuff like "Go away, ass-breath"
is cuz her parents are too uppity to allow their "love." He figures if she's compromised, that'll force her parents to accept him. So… he strips her to her knickers and, keeping in mind her virtue (because he's a really BORING deranged stalker), locks her in a hotel room while he gets tap-hackled in the next room.
Mara, tho, is not your usual wilting heroine. She'd rather make a run for it in her skivvies than marry this plonker, so out the window she goes, and then she's dashing from shadow to shadow, hoping to find a familiar landmark before her reputation is ruined.
Et voila! She arrives at the street where Darius Debenham lives. She's known him all her life, and he's always made her heart go kerthunkity. She's heard he's in town, and that he's got a monkey on his back, whatever that means…
But surely he'll help her out.
Dare was given up for dead at Waterloo; turns out he was badly wounded, and
… is a sojourn in the Devil's Arsehairs, London. It's all a test.
And the testiest test he could possibly encounter is the suddenly bewitching Mara St. Bride.
The rest is basically a sort of romancey 12-step program, complicated by things the creepy stalker does in his quest for "twue wuv." The ending is not easy—addictions rarely are—and the love story is just what you'd like it to be under the circumstances.
Maybe it's me. I like stories built on danger/adventure/mystery, with a little romantic tension as seasoning. In this series, the danger/adventure is the seasoning and the romantic angst is the main course, and this time it did bug me. So I'm gonna give this a solid
Three stars.
April 8, 2013
Beverley is a hugely hit-or-miss author for me (My Lady Notorious is one of my all-time favorites but some of her novels, not so much). Luckily, TRaR falls into the ‘awesome’ pile. Not only is it pretty much hurt/comfort fantasy come true, I don’t remember the last time I’ve seen such an amazingly common-sense, sane heroine (the hero is awesome too, but the heroine’s sheer wonderfulness knows no bounds).
Mara, our heroine, has known Darius (Dare to his friends) all her life as Dare and her brother Simon were close friends. So when she gets into a scrape in London, it is second nature to ask for his assistance. However many things have happened since she last saw him when she was a gawky adolescent and he a charming and happy young man. For one thing, Mara grew up into a beautiful and strong young woman. For another, Dare was horribly wounded and left for dead at Waterloo. And after that he was ‘rescued’ by some bad guys who got him addicted to opium as part of some sort of revenge plan (I am not exactly clear on the details of said revenge plan (though it’s immaterial) as this book is part of a really long series, and I haven’t really read the rest - it’s fine as a stand-alone). Ever since he’s been rescued and came back, Dare has been a broken shadow of his former self - trying to recover and also to kick his opium addiction. And Mara decides to help.
Why is the book so wonderful? It’s romantic to bits, and Mara and Darius are just such good people, who are not just hormonal together but actually are genuinely friends and have fun together. You could actually see them spending years together. There is also h/c, of course (mmm) and all sorts of other wonderful things, but to me it ultimately comes down to Mara. She is pretty much the most sensible heroine I have ever come across in a romance novel. She realizes she is in love with Dare by about page 10 of the book, and then decides to both try to get him to fall in love with her, and also to help him get better/happier. She also tells him she loves him, without being pushy, but so he’d know. And there is also the fact that while she wants him off opium, she is aware he may never be able to get off it and her attitude is that as long he takes only a little so he can be functional but not incapacitated, she can deal with it.
Dare is wonderful enough to deserve Mara though - he is obviously tormented and holding on to his sanity by the skin of his teeth (and at one point suicidal), but he is still such a good kind person with an incredibly strong will and conscience. I basically ship them so much and want him to get fixed and for them to be happy forever and ever.
Mara, our heroine, has known Darius (Dare to his friends) all her life as Dare and her brother Simon were close friends. So when she gets into a scrape in London, it is second nature to ask for his assistance. However many things have happened since she last saw him when she was a gawky adolescent and he a charming and happy young man. For one thing, Mara grew up into a beautiful and strong young woman. For another, Dare was horribly wounded and left for dead at Waterloo. And after that he was ‘rescued’ by some bad guys who got him addicted to opium as part of some sort of revenge plan (I am not exactly clear on the details of said revenge plan (though it’s immaterial) as this book is part of a really long series, and I haven’t really read the rest - it’s fine as a stand-alone). Ever since he’s been rescued and came back, Dare has been a broken shadow of his former self - trying to recover and also to kick his opium addiction. And Mara decides to help.
Why is the book so wonderful? It’s romantic to bits, and Mara and Darius are just such good people, who are not just hormonal together but actually are genuinely friends and have fun together. You could actually see them spending years together. There is also h/c, of course (mmm) and all sorts of other wonderful things, but to me it ultimately comes down to Mara. She is pretty much the most sensible heroine I have ever come across in a romance novel. She realizes she is in love with Dare by about page 10 of the book, and then decides to both try to get him to fall in love with her, and also to help him get better/happier. She also tells him she loves him, without being pushy, but so he’d know. And there is also the fact that while she wants him off opium, she is aware he may never be able to get off it and her attitude is that as long he takes only a little so he can be functional but not incapacitated, she can deal with it.
Dare is wonderful enough to deserve Mara though - he is obviously tormented and holding on to his sanity by the skin of his teeth (and at one point suicidal), but he is still such a good kind person with an incredibly strong will and conscience. I basically ship them so much and want him to get fixed and for them to be happy forever and ever.
February 9, 2017
I lost interest in this series a while back but thought I would give this one a go when I found it on my kindle.
Much of this story is based on events which happened in previous books. Darius (Dare) was injured at the battle of Waterloo, rescued by a woman who nursed him back to health but deliberately got him hooked on opium as payback for being rejected by one of Dare's fellow 'Rogues'. Back in London, Dare has tried to cut back but cannot break his addiction.
Mara is the sister of one of the Rogues, she goes out to a gaming hell (in disguise) with a man who declares his undying love and wants to compromise her so that they can get married. She fights him off and runs away, half-dressed and barefoot when she runs into Dare.
Mara knows Dare has been unwell and has also had a bit of a crush on him so she attempts to cheer him up by getting him to take her sightseeing around London. Soon they are in love but Dare feels he cannot marry Mara, or even offer for her, until he has mastered his addiction.
I enjoyed the first part of this book where Mara and Dare dream up a ridiculous novel they could write parodying all the worst of the Gothic novels. However, the novel descended into eastern mysticism and (in my opinion) lost touch with historical accuracy. The idea of an unmarried woman sneaking around a house in the middle of the night, learning tai-chi and giving massages to half-naked men just felt preposterous. Also, as the 13th novel in the series it felt like an ensemble piece featuring each and every previous Rogue.
Not recommended for those who are sticklers for historical authenticity in their fictional characters (if that isn't an oxymoron) but overall a good read.
Much of this story is based on events which happened in previous books. Darius (Dare) was injured at the battle of Waterloo, rescued by a woman who nursed him back to health but deliberately got him hooked on opium as payback for being rejected by one of Dare's fellow 'Rogues'. Back in London, Dare has tried to cut back but cannot break his addiction.
Mara is the sister of one of the Rogues, she goes out to a gaming hell (in disguise) with a man who declares his undying love and wants to compromise her so that they can get married. She fights him off and runs away, half-dressed and barefoot when she runs into Dare.
Mara knows Dare has been unwell and has also had a bit of a crush on him so she attempts to cheer him up by getting him to take her sightseeing around London. Soon they are in love but Dare feels he cannot marry Mara, or even offer for her, until he has mastered his addiction.
I enjoyed the first part of this book where Mara and Dare dream up a ridiculous novel they could write parodying all the worst of the Gothic novels. However, the novel descended into eastern mysticism and (in my opinion) lost touch with historical accuracy. The idea of an unmarried woman sneaking around a house in the middle of the night, learning tai-chi and giving massages to half-naked men just felt preposterous. Also, as the 13th novel in the series it felt like an ensemble piece featuring each and every previous Rogue.
Not recommended for those who are sticklers for historical authenticity in their fictional characters (if that isn't an oxymoron) but overall a good read.
Read
August 9, 2008I actually cried afterwards, not moved, just depressed. It was better than the last one, because Dare is an opium addict, but Beverley is proud of her choice to show him many months after his rescue, so unless there is more about him in other novels we never get his pov of the imprisonment and torment.
Mara would be unbearable in her shiny bubbliness if she weren't also smart and self-aware. It still stuck in my throat when after meeting Dare again she already says (ie. truly knows) that she loves him. He of course needs only the fact that she has a body to love her, because Beverley always always plays it safe: her heroines are proclaimed to be speshul, but only ever sport breasts and long hair to make sure any woman could be them, and despite starting out as dowdy they are all godesses.
All that I could forgive if just once Beverley managed to show love, but she can't. Whether she has them fuck at first sight or just once at the end, whether she makes the whole book a horrible uncomfortable mix of hostility or just invents a meaningless obstacle - there is never the feeling of belonging, support and rightness that later is ascribed to any of her couples.
And when I like them, like I do Darius, to not even know what he looks like and worse, to never have the issue of him not being what he used to brought to a head, to never have the couple face that - damnation. Instead the author mixes tai chi with Christian religion and heaps miracles upon miracles to have a quadruple happy end. That made me sad.
Mara would be unbearable in her shiny bubbliness if she weren't also smart and self-aware. It still stuck in my throat when after meeting Dare again she already says (ie. truly knows) that she loves him. He of course needs only the fact that she has a body to love her, because Beverley always always plays it safe: her heroines are proclaimed to be speshul, but only ever sport breasts and long hair to make sure any woman could be them, and despite starting out as dowdy they are all godesses.
All that I could forgive if just once Beverley managed to show love, but she can't. Whether she has them fuck at first sight or just once at the end, whether she makes the whole book a horrible uncomfortable mix of hostility or just invents a meaningless obstacle - there is never the feeling of belonging, support and rightness that later is ascribed to any of her couples.
And when I like them, like I do Darius, to not even know what he looks like and worse, to never have the issue of him not being what he used to brought to a head, to never have the couple face that - damnation. Instead the author mixes tai chi with Christian religion and heaps miracles upon miracles to have a quadruple happy end. That made me sad.
April 12, 2010
While I appreciate the unique twist of having a drug-addicted hero, the actual characters were rather boring and the romance tepid. There were so many cameos of the other characters in the Rogue series it was overwhelming and impossible to remember who was who. They all started sounding the same. I was excited at first to see more of Hal and Blanche's story but they were merely two names bandied about by the other characters. They were made out to sound much weaker and pathetic than they'd seemed in the book where I first met them. There was a decided lack of charm in this book, alas!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 5, 2017
This was the first Jo Beverley book I ever read, and it was my favorite. It's not my favorite now, I think, but still definitely top 3.
The romance is always fabulous, but when the author adds in a real-world problem that's dealt with believably (addiction, in this case), it just turns the volume up on the story that much more.
The romance is always fabulous, but when the author adds in a real-world problem that's dealt with believably (addiction, in this case), it just turns the volume up on the story that much more.
January 7, 2009
As far as romances go, it's not my favorite. It wasn't bad, but was generally mild. One thing that really got old was how many times the author made reference to the girl's hair.
May 26, 2017
I can't believe I hate myself enough to read this kind of nonsense.
I thought I'd enjoy it because I never have high expectations when reading romance novels, and the 'lady somehow rescues tortured lord' plot is, for some fucked up reason, one of my favourites.
Except this is literally the most boring, most terribly written book I've read in months. Perhaps years. It's just so... excruciatingly embarrassing. The secondhand embarrassment is actually made worse by the fact that no character in this book ever seems to be embarrassed. There isn't a single topic they won't discuss, not one. Things that, in a better book, would remain thoughts and inner turmoil are here put into the open without any shame.
I especially disliked the parts that were obviously meant to be heartwarming, but only came across as cheesy and ridiculous - like Mara picking beads for the Rogues, or the whole rings business. It was so damn bad.
As for the plot, it's completely pointless. Is there even a plot? There's something about a stalkerish jilted gentleman, and Dare's addiction to opium, and Mara's determination to learn the truth and get married to Dare, but the creep only shows up at random times, Dare's addiction is practically a non-issue that everyone feels comfortable discussing for some mysterious reason, and Mara's determination to have her way might have been enjoyable if she had a reason to want Dare. But it's never explained how she goes from "he's like a brother to me" to "I'm gonna marry that guy" in literally a few hours. When she's known him her entire life. At one point she tells someone it has always been Dare, and that puzzled me because whenever she remembers the time they spent together as children, it doesn't look like she felt anything other than affection and some kind of weird hero worship for him.
As a result, every part of this book seems poorly stitched together, and the shallow characters certainly don't help give it a sense of unity. It feels a lot like the author just couldn't pick one thing she wanted to write about, so she threw everything in and hoped it would be tasty but it's actually gross and sticky and bland.
I don't even hate it, because there's nothing coherent to hate. It's just 400+ pages of... nothing. Truly a waste of time.
I thought I'd enjoy it because I never have high expectations when reading romance novels, and the 'lady somehow rescues tortured lord' plot is, for some fucked up reason, one of my favourites.
Except this is literally the most boring, most terribly written book I've read in months. Perhaps years. It's just so... excruciatingly embarrassing. The secondhand embarrassment is actually made worse by the fact that no character in this book ever seems to be embarrassed. There isn't a single topic they won't discuss, not one. Things that, in a better book, would remain thoughts and inner turmoil are here put into the open without any shame.
I especially disliked the parts that were obviously meant to be heartwarming, but only came across as cheesy and ridiculous - like Mara picking beads for the Rogues, or the whole rings business. It was so damn bad.
As for the plot, it's completely pointless. Is there even a plot? There's something about a stalkerish jilted gentleman, and Dare's addiction to opium, and Mara's determination to learn the truth and get married to Dare, but the creep only shows up at random times, Dare's addiction is practically a non-issue that everyone feels comfortable discussing for some mysterious reason, and Mara's determination to have her way might have been enjoyable if she had a reason to want Dare. But it's never explained how she goes from "he's like a brother to me" to "I'm gonna marry that guy" in literally a few hours. When she's known him her entire life. At one point she tells someone it has always been Dare, and that puzzled me because whenever she remembers the time they spent together as children, it doesn't look like she felt anything other than affection and some kind of weird hero worship for him.
As a result, every part of this book seems poorly stitched together, and the shallow characters certainly don't help give it a sense of unity. It feels a lot like the author just couldn't pick one thing she wanted to write about, so she threw everything in and hoped it would be tasty but it's actually gross and sticky and bland.
I don't even hate it, because there's nothing coherent to hate. It's just 400+ pages of... nothing. Truly a waste of time.
January 23, 2009
I listened to the audiobook version of this, rather than reading it.
I generally love regency romance, and I have listened to one or two other Jo Beverly books. I did enjoy most of the hero and heroine interactions in this one, and there were a few parts that made me laugh out loud. The reason I didn't give this a higher rating was because Mara, the heroine, was sort of irritating.
She starts off by making the huge mistake of going to a gaming hell with some random guy and then going to his rooms with him, where she then has to escape. She runs to Darius for protection and from there they fall in love, etc. But, even though she knows that Berkstead has an unnatural obsession with her she doesn't put 2 and 2 together and realize that he's the one sending her mysterious gifts. And then, when she finds out that he's been watching her, and when she gets disturbing notes from him, she doesn't tell anybody!
It got fairly annoying because she's touted as a smart woman who can take care of herself, yet she acts so stupidly when it comes to Berkstead (the man whose room she must escape in the beginning).
But, as a typical regency romance it was okay. I'd more likely recommend getting it used somewhere, though I'd still say it's an okay read.
I generally love regency romance, and I have listened to one or two other Jo Beverly books. I did enjoy most of the hero and heroine interactions in this one, and there were a few parts that made me laugh out loud. The reason I didn't give this a higher rating was because Mara, the heroine, was sort of irritating.
She starts off by making the huge mistake of going to a gaming hell with some random guy and then going to his rooms with him, where she then has to escape. She runs to Darius for protection and from there they fall in love, etc. But, even though she knows that Berkstead has an unnatural obsession with her she doesn't put 2 and 2 together and realize that he's the one sending her mysterious gifts. And then, when she finds out that he's been watching her, and when she gets disturbing notes from him, she doesn't tell anybody!
It got fairly annoying because she's touted as a smart woman who can take care of herself, yet she acts so stupidly when it comes to Berkstead (the man whose room she must escape in the beginning).
But, as a typical regency romance it was okay. I'd more likely recommend getting it used somewhere, though I'd still say it's an okay read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 8, 2015
After reading a couple other reviews, here's what I think: with Jo Beverley's novel series, it is important to read them in order. Each character appears in other books of the series, and some of what they do in their book may well be governed by events in the others.
So, I can say, while this does not rank as high as some of the other books in this series (Devilish can not be topped, I fear), it is still an excellent book.
Dare, it must be remembered, is a very strong person. And he has had help from none other than King Rogue, Nicholas. From his story, we know that Therese Bellaire is worse than evil. Glimpses of this woman in other stories also help understand what Dare has been through, and why we must regard him as very strong.
I loved this story because Dare gets to rescue Mara - who gets to rescue Dare. Who then gets to rescue Mara. Mara is also very strong, but of a type who needs adventure like others need air.
That reciprocal rescue plot is lovingly entertwined with a number of other rescues and loves. I found that the addition of Delphie and Pierre gave the story a new depth and poignancy, as it acknowledges the collateral damages of war.
All in all, a great book.
So, I can say, while this does not rank as high as some of the other books in this series (Devilish can not be topped, I fear), it is still an excellent book.
Dare, it must be remembered, is a very strong person. And he has had help from none other than King Rogue, Nicholas. From his story, we know that Therese Bellaire is worse than evil. Glimpses of this woman in other stories also help understand what Dare has been through, and why we must regard him as very strong.
I loved this story because Dare gets to rescue Mara - who gets to rescue Dare. Who then gets to rescue Mara. Mara is also very strong, but of a type who needs adventure like others need air.
That reciprocal rescue plot is lovingly entertwined with a number of other rescues and loves. I found that the addition of Delphie and Pierre gave the story a new depth and poignancy, as it acknowledges the collateral damages of war.
All in all, a great book.
December 31, 2015
Dare Debenham is addicted to laudanum after being wounded at Waterloo. He's determined to break free, but it's a long, slow process. Mara St Bride is a cheerful, gregarious family friend, who wants to bring brightness into Dare's life. Together they fight Mara's stalker, visit the Tower of London, save an actress from social ostracism, throw a ball, and much more. They are a seriously efficient couple.
Everything about addiction and its treatment is immensely historically inaccurate, but then, who reads Regency romances for historical accuracy? (If they did, the name "Regency" - which technically only lasted for nine years – wouldn't be used to label everything after the Middle Ages and before WWI.) Not to mention the random Chinese sidekick who appears to teach Dare tai-chi; at first I assumed he had a logical introduction in one of the books I skipped, but based on the author's note, nope, he's a new character. But by far the craziest element was This was really enjoyable, funny and sweet and with lots of h/c.
Everything about addiction and its treatment is immensely historically inaccurate, but then, who reads Regency romances for historical accuracy? (If they did, the name "Regency" - which technically only lasted for nine years – wouldn't be used to label everything after the Middle Ages and before WWI.) Not to mention the random Chinese sidekick who appears to teach Dare tai-chi; at first I assumed he had a logical introduction in one of the books I skipped, but based on the author's note, nope, he's a new character. But by far the craziest element was This was really enjoyable, funny and sweet and with lots of h/c.
August 10, 2018
La historia de Mara y Dare me ha encantado. Es preciosa y tierna. He disfrutado mucho de la ambientación. La autora ha conseguido que la magia de Brideswell traspasara las páginas. Es el primer libro que leo de esta autora y el primero por el que conozco a los pícaros. Continuaré con sus historias porque me han parecido unos personajes muy especiales y únicos que añaden mucho condimento a la relación de Mara y Dare.
La forma en que se enamoran y cómo luchan por superar la adicción de Dare y todos los problemas es lo que más me ha gustado del libro. Se habla de superación, de querer ser mejores por los seres a los que amamos.
Me parecieron muy divertidos los momentos en que se ponían a construir la historia de Canuto y Anne.
Lo que no me ha gustado ha sido que, en algunos momentos, me parecía que Mara perseguía a Dare con demasiada insistencia, lo que no me extraña nada al ser tan joven, aunque también podemos echarle la culpa al pelo de Ademar jajaja
Lo recomiendo por ser una historia preciosa, fresca y porque toca muchos temas que me parecen muy interesantes como la adicción y el sindrome de abstinencia, el taichi, etc.
La forma en que se enamoran y cómo luchan por superar la adicción de Dare y todos los problemas es lo que más me ha gustado del libro. Se habla de superación, de querer ser mejores por los seres a los que amamos.
Me parecieron muy divertidos los momentos en que se ponían a construir la historia de Canuto y Anne.
Lo que no me ha gustado ha sido que, en algunos momentos, me parecía que Mara perseguía a Dare con demasiada insistencia, lo que no me extraña nada al ser tan joven, aunque también podemos echarle la culpa al pelo de Ademar jajaja
Lo recomiendo por ser una historia preciosa, fresca y porque toca muchos temas que me parecen muy interesantes como la adicción y el sindrome de abstinencia, el taichi, etc.
September 16, 2010
Eh...I can't say that this book was all that great. It was the first book by Beverly I've read and I wasn't impressed. I really disliked that Mara decided she loved Dare after only seeing him and talking to him twice since his return from war/captivity. If Dare was the same guy she'd known as a kid it might be more believable...instead it seems she's fallen in love with her own idea of who Dare is. That was the only real problem I had with the story itself. All my other complaints are just that this story didn't satisfy my preferences: Mara acted too knowledgeable about sex for being a Victorian maiden; despite their being in love for over half the book, there were hardly any "good" parts; also, despite really liking Dare, I wasn't convinced that he loved Mara for an other reason than that she loved him. This will probably be my first and last Jo Beverly book.
Oh, and someone else commented that you actually don't ever really know what Dare looks like...it's true. I vaguely recall some reference to the fact that he was blonde, but nothing more detailed. What's up with that?
Oh, and someone else commented that you actually don't ever really know what Dare looks like...it's true. I vaguely recall some reference to the fact that he was blonde, but nothing more detailed. What's up with that?
November 19, 2009
I like Jo Beverly and like her lack of hot, steamy sex. I learned a lot about opium withdrawal in this novel. I didn't care for the silliness of somene's hair causing a certain behavior; it was more than irritating. Because I did not have the ability of reading all the books in order, the characters sometimes became confusing to me.
September 11, 2015
I think this is my favorite one of the Company of Rogues series. Dare is such a strong, fearless hero. I fell in love with him all over again. The narrator is excellent and really brings the characters to life. Happy reading!
May 16, 2012
The hero's struggle with opium addiction was very well described, in my opinion, but the heroine was too young for the hero and too full of herself to be appealing.
June 14, 2023
This gets more than 1 star solely because of the addiction theme which is handled pretty well, and that's saying something for a Regency romance, most of which don't seriously touch on non-fluffy subjects.
But I am still deeply unsatisfied because, well, I read these things for the romance, despite usually striking out since my notion of romance doesn't fit with the more contemporary treatment in Regencies (Georgette Heyer is unsurpassed for me, and nobody else gets even close).
And here I am not buying the romance. Sure, Mara is insta-infatuated, but that's all. I'm getting the feeling that Beverley either can't tell infatuated lust from deeper romantic/sexual love, or just can't write the latter. In retrospect there are always hints that the couples she's already written about in their own books have developed something deeper, but if one reads their books, nope, there's no sign of it; almost all of them do this infatuated lust thing. This is in general a problem I have with modern Regency authors; because they feel modern audiences want sex in their romances, they push it in there and that sex has to happen before marriage (since that's the end of the book), which isn't at all de rigueur for the times, and so they must be DRIVEN to it, losing all control, and then they call it "love" to legitimize it. Rarely do modern Regency authors make at least equal time for the stuff I like in romance and consider important for long-term happiness -- gradual growth of fondness, deep conversation, delight in discovery of what makes each other unique, overcoming of obstacles by thoughtfulness and caring. I don't mind sexual attraction, it's a normal thing, but these days it drives out too much of what matters at least as much.
Here my caring about the relationship is seriously hampered by the fact that I dislike the heroine, Mara. She's supposed to be such a cheerful ray of sunshine who lights up the room, but she gets on my every last nerve because she is impetuous, selfish, intrusive, possessive, and thoughtlessly stupid when she's allegedly smart. She isn't helping Dare, even though Beverley shoehorns her into that role in between displaying that she actually is harming his recovery -- it's not even failing to show, it's outright telling us the opposite of what is shown. Mara claims at one point that it's always, always, always been Dare (Beverley wants to to distract us from the superficial insta-infatuation, I guess), but all she has to show for it is some mild, childish affection for a person he no longer is.
And the book never deals with that fact, which is maybe the most essential part of his struggle beyond the physical addiction -- the old Dare is indeed dead, and can't possibly return. Now, the new Dare might well be somebody worthwhile, and maybe even more so, because suffering, while not ennobling, can cause a person to grow (if it doesn't destroy them) in ways they might otherwise have never grown. But Beverley pays no attention to that; it's all about Mara's selfish wishes for him to be the old Dare, and her being entirely full of herself for bringing that about. Dare himself is just a prop. Which is very much too bad because HE is interesting, and I care about his recovery and remaking of himself way more than I care about this inane, superficial romance.
But I am still deeply unsatisfied because, well, I read these things for the romance, despite usually striking out since my notion of romance doesn't fit with the more contemporary treatment in Regencies (Georgette Heyer is unsurpassed for me, and nobody else gets even close).
And here I am not buying the romance. Sure, Mara is insta-infatuated, but that's all. I'm getting the feeling that Beverley either can't tell infatuated lust from deeper romantic/sexual love, or just can't write the latter. In retrospect there are always hints that the couples she's already written about in their own books have developed something deeper, but if one reads their books, nope, there's no sign of it; almost all of them do this infatuated lust thing. This is in general a problem I have with modern Regency authors; because they feel modern audiences want sex in their romances, they push it in there and that sex has to happen before marriage (since that's the end of the book), which isn't at all de rigueur for the times, and so they must be DRIVEN to it, losing all control, and then they call it "love" to legitimize it. Rarely do modern Regency authors make at least equal time for the stuff I like in romance and consider important for long-term happiness -- gradual growth of fondness, deep conversation, delight in discovery of what makes each other unique, overcoming of obstacles by thoughtfulness and caring. I don't mind sexual attraction, it's a normal thing, but these days it drives out too much of what matters at least as much.
Here my caring about the relationship is seriously hampered by the fact that I dislike the heroine, Mara. She's supposed to be such a cheerful ray of sunshine who lights up the room, but she gets on my every last nerve because she is impetuous, selfish, intrusive, possessive, and thoughtlessly stupid when she's allegedly smart. She isn't helping Dare, even though Beverley shoehorns her into that role in between displaying that she actually is harming his recovery -- it's not even failing to show, it's outright telling us the opposite of what is shown. Mara claims at one point that it's always, always, always been Dare (Beverley wants to to distract us from the superficial insta-infatuation, I guess), but all she has to show for it is some mild, childish affection for a person he no longer is.
And the book never deals with that fact, which is maybe the most essential part of his struggle beyond the physical addiction -- the old Dare is indeed dead, and can't possibly return. Now, the new Dare might well be somebody worthwhile, and maybe even more so, because suffering, while not ennobling, can cause a person to grow (if it doesn't destroy them) in ways they might otherwise have never grown. But Beverley pays no attention to that; it's all about Mara's selfish wishes for him to be the old Dare, and her being entirely full of herself for bringing that about. Dare himself is just a prop. Which is very much too bad because HE is interesting, and I care about his recovery and remaking of himself way more than I care about this inane, superficial romance.
October 26, 2016
Mi primera novela de la autora y no ha estado nada mal...
Pero ahora no se ni que sensación tengo. Acabo de terminar esta novela y me ha quedado una sensación de lo más rara. Entre gratificante y decepción.
Unas veces estoy un poco loca y soy demasiado exigente a la hora de poner estrellitas así que si me leen no deben darme demasiado crédito porque también suelo ponerme cero objetiva jajaja.
Pongamos en ejemplos lo que me pasó con este libro y saquen sus conclusiones:
- Me mantuvo en vilo hasta la madrugada.
- NO PODÍA soltarlo, literal necesitaba saber que más iba a pasar
- Me ha gustado mucho la forma de ser de Dare y como sobrellevó su adicción
- La narración por momentos ha sido lenta pero muy interesante... ya les digo que me enganchó totalmente.
- NUNCA me ha gustado leer sobre adicciones
- Admito que la forma de narrar todo el rollo del opio fue mega interesante.
- Una protagonista como Mara es de esas que muy pocas veces se ven, si ella desde el principio se veía que era de armas tomar y todo por el pelo...
- Lo del pelo no me lo creí.
- Algunas veces Mara era demasiado caprichosa y mimada para mi gusto.
- Al final las cosas se resuelven muy rápido.
-La historia es buena pero me sigue faltando algo.
- No me gustó que ella se encaprichara tanto con el, y el fuera tan sedito... Me gustan más los machos alfas jajajaj
Y es que no se que es, porque puedo decir con certeza que me gustó y me hubiera encantado leer las historias de los demás Picaros pero siento que no me llenó por completo, no como lo haría una historia 5 estrellas. Y es que yo en histórica soy muuuuuuy quisquillosa pero ¿que le vamos a hacer? ahahah... No sé, supongo que le faltó chispa.
Pero ahora no se ni que sensación tengo. Acabo de terminar esta novela y me ha quedado una sensación de lo más rara. Entre gratificante y decepción.
Unas veces estoy un poco loca y soy demasiado exigente a la hora de poner estrellitas así que si me leen no deben darme demasiado crédito porque también suelo ponerme cero objetiva jajaja.
Pongamos en ejemplos lo que me pasó con este libro y saquen sus conclusiones:
- Me mantuvo en vilo hasta la madrugada.
- NO PODÍA soltarlo, literal necesitaba saber que más iba a pasar
- Me ha gustado mucho la forma de ser de Dare y como sobrellevó su adicción
- La narración por momentos ha sido lenta pero muy interesante... ya les digo que me enganchó totalmente.
- NUNCA me ha gustado leer sobre adicciones
- Admito que la forma de narrar todo el rollo del opio fue mega interesante.
- Una protagonista como Mara es de esas que muy pocas veces se ven, si ella desde el principio se veía que era de armas tomar y todo por el pelo...
- Lo del pelo no me lo creí.
- Algunas veces Mara era demasiado caprichosa y mimada para mi gusto.
- Al final las cosas se resuelven muy rápido.
-La historia es buena pero me sigue faltando algo.
- No me gustó que ella se encaprichara tanto con el, y el fuera tan sedito... Me gustan más los machos alfas jajajaj
Y es que no se que es, porque puedo decir con certeza que me gustó y me hubiera encantado leer las historias de los demás Picaros pero siento que no me llenó por completo, no como lo haría una historia 5 estrellas. Y es que yo en histórica soy muuuuuuy quisquillosa pero ¿que le vamos a hacer? ahahah... No sé, supongo que le faltó chispa.
July 23, 2025
Copyright 2006 - that's the last time I read this book! #12 in the Company Of Rogues series. You could probably get by reading this as a stand alone. but a lot of the Rogues make appearances in this one.
Looking back on my reviews of JB's previous books in this series I've noticed I haven't given a whole lot of 4 stars. No 5 stars at all. I've always considered JB one of my favorite authors, but maybe she hasn't withstood the test of time with me.
This story is definitely a 3 star for me. I didn't really care for Mara - she's too flighty & the opening scene with her walking around Regency London at night in her shift & a blanket didn't do it for me.
She's done something very stupid & now is paying the price. She's rescued by Dare - the lost Rogue who is trying to break free from a drug addiction.
There's a lot of contrivance with Mara, her brother & sister in law staying at Dare's mansion while a gas line's removed from their house. That give's Mara time & opportunity to spend with Dare & persuade him that they should be together.
Whenever Mara crosses the line (often) she blames "the hair". Apparently a distant ancestor who was wild had distinctive hair. Whenever a member of the family has this hair there's trouble.
Many of the Rogues appear in this story, including Nick. There's also a push to bring Blanche into the ton & be accepted. Something I can't see happening in real life.
Oh well...
Looking back on my reviews of JB's previous books in this series I've noticed I haven't given a whole lot of 4 stars. No 5 stars at all. I've always considered JB one of my favorite authors, but maybe she hasn't withstood the test of time with me.
This story is definitely a 3 star for me. I didn't really care for Mara - she's too flighty & the opening scene with her walking around Regency London at night in her shift & a blanket didn't do it for me.
She's done something very stupid & now is paying the price. She's rescued by Dare - the lost Rogue who is trying to break free from a drug addiction.
There's a lot of contrivance with Mara, her brother & sister in law staying at Dare's mansion while a gas line's removed from their house. That give's Mara time & opportunity to spend with Dare & persuade him that they should be together.
Whenever Mara crosses the line (often) she blames "the hair". Apparently a distant ancestor who was wild had distinctive hair. Whenever a member of the family has this hair there's trouble.
Many of the Rogues appear in this story, including Nick. There's also a push to bring Blanche into the ton & be accepted. Something I can't see happening in real life.
Oh well...
November 5, 2018
Desde que leí sobre Dare en el segundo o cuarto libro (uff son tantos que ni me acuerdo jaja), algo me decía que estaba vivo (y no fue tener la sinopsis de su historia jaja). Cuando descubrí que había sobrevivido a la guerra me empezaron a entrar las ganas de leerlo, y amiga, no me decepcionó ni un poco.
Pero la verdadera protagonista de esta novela es Mara. Ella es una mujer fuerte, valiente, decidida y medio loca. Una vez que decide que ama a Dare, no hay nada ni nadie que la haga decaer en su conquista: ni su hermano, ni el opio, ni los picaros, ni siquiera el propio Dare. Él toma decisiones un poco estúpidas cuando se ve rodeado de problemas (algunas con soluciones mu evidentes, la verdad), pero ella no flaquea ni un momento, y durante toda la historia es el muro que sostiene al vulnerable Dare. Entonces, si es una prota con tantas virtudes ¿Por qué la llamo loca? Ah, fácil, jaja por cosas que piensa, como esta: “No le extrañaba que algunos hombres hubieran raptado a mujeres a lo largo de los siglos. Si ella pudiera, montaría a Dare a la grupa y se lo llevaría consigo.”
Ella es muy cómica, y la verdadera prota de la historia. No es común (y menos en la historia de los picaros) que la dama sea la que tenga el corcel blanco y la brillante armadura, pero en este caso Mara interpretó de forma excelente este papel, y me encantó.
Pero la verdadera protagonista de esta novela es Mara. Ella es una mujer fuerte, valiente, decidida y medio loca. Una vez que decide que ama a Dare, no hay nada ni nadie que la haga decaer en su conquista: ni su hermano, ni el opio, ni los picaros, ni siquiera el propio Dare. Él toma decisiones un poco estúpidas cuando se ve rodeado de problemas (algunas con soluciones mu evidentes, la verdad), pero ella no flaquea ni un momento, y durante toda la historia es el muro que sostiene al vulnerable Dare. Entonces, si es una prota con tantas virtudes ¿Por qué la llamo loca? Ah, fácil, jaja por cosas que piensa, como esta: “No le extrañaba que algunos hombres hubieran raptado a mujeres a lo largo de los siglos. Si ella pudiera, montaría a Dare a la grupa y se lo llevaría consigo.”
Ella es muy cómica, y la verdadera prota de la historia. No es común (y menos en la historia de los picaros) que la dama sea la que tenga el corcel blanco y la brillante armadura, pero en este caso Mara interpretó de forma excelente este papel, y me encantó.
May 28, 2019
Empezó interesante, con un giro peligroso: una chica alocada se mete en problemas y corre a la desesperada, huyendo primero por sus propios medios hasta que encuentra un conocido que le pueda ayudar. Tiene un toque divertido, la poca cabeza de la protagonista. Él viene con su propia historia y problemas. Tenía toda la pinta de irse a ganar unas 4,5 estrellas.
Luego se enreda todo, mezclándose con historias y personajes de libros anteriores, añadiendo veinte mil personajes que, si no leíste los anteriores libros, pueden liar (yo había leído el primero, juraría). Esto les encanta a las escritoras de grandes sagas.
Hacia algo más de mitad del libro se me fueron cayendo las estrellas, quedando en unas 3.5 o incluso 3, a causa de esas situaciones repetitivas de "uy va a haber problemas y van a cortar pero al final no" "uy va a haber problemas en general, pero tampoco". Todo se resuelve volando, todas las piedras del camino que les ponen sin sentido, para alargar el libro.
Una situación en concreto me indignó enormemente: Cosas que desestabilizaban el caracter de lady St.Bride que, sí evoluciona y madura, por otra parte. Aunque no manteniendo su esencia...
Luego se enreda todo, mezclándose con historias y personajes de libros anteriores, añadiendo veinte mil personajes que, si no leíste los anteriores libros, pueden liar (yo había leído el primero, juraría). Esto les encanta a las escritoras de grandes sagas.
Hacia algo más de mitad del libro se me fueron cayendo las estrellas, quedando en unas 3.5 o incluso 3, a causa de esas situaciones repetitivas de "uy va a haber problemas y van a cortar pero al final no" "uy va a haber problemas en general, pero tampoco". Todo se resuelve volando, todas las piedras del camino que les ponen sin sentido, para alargar el libro.
Una situación en concreto me indignó enormemente: Cosas que desestabilizaban el caracter de lady St.Bride que, sí evoluciona y madura, por otra parte. Aunque no manteniendo su esencia...
July 23, 2019
Frequently, novelists who have written many books in a series and are running out of "traditional" plots and characters fall into blandness. Faced with this same situation, Beverley turned it into an exciting challenge for herself: the hero who is addicted to opium, and a heroine who is the rescuer.
In other hands, the hero would be weak or stupidly Byronic, and the heroine would be inane or a ball-buster (excuse the term). Granted, the hero is not as strong as most, but that's only partly because his addiction -- and the Taoist treatment -- prevent him from entering into action. Mostly, it's because we don't spend too much time in the hero's head. That's the only thing I would change with the book. I would have liked to have known him as a person more, apart from the opium, and get a sense of his independent inner strength and individuality.
The delightful heroine, however, more than makes up for it. She's a very difficult heroine to write: in love, with no internal confusion or external challenges. She's happy. How difficult to write a happy heroine! But how lovely to read.
The plot, too, is a challenge -- again because the hero's path is one of non-action. So, the denouement is a bit of a fizzle, because the true enemy isn't another person, but the drug. And so when that fight takes center stage at the end, the preceding pages shuffle into place nicely.
In other hands, the hero would be weak or stupidly Byronic, and the heroine would be inane or a ball-buster (excuse the term). Granted, the hero is not as strong as most, but that's only partly because his addiction -- and the Taoist treatment -- prevent him from entering into action. Mostly, it's because we don't spend too much time in the hero's head. That's the only thing I would change with the book. I would have liked to have known him as a person more, apart from the opium, and get a sense of his independent inner strength and individuality.
The delightful heroine, however, more than makes up for it. She's a very difficult heroine to write: in love, with no internal confusion or external challenges. She's happy. How difficult to write a happy heroine! But how lovely to read.
The plot, too, is a challenge -- again because the hero's path is one of non-action. So, the denouement is a bit of a fizzle, because the true enemy isn't another person, but the drug. And so when that fight takes center stage at the end, the preceding pages shuffle into place nicely.
August 14, 2020
2.25 Stars The description of this book sounded interesting enough. A damaged war hero fighting an opium addiction? Sign me up! Or, y'know, drag me through the book kicking and screaming. That's fine too. Urgh.
I really want to like Jo Beverly but her plots always leave me wanting. Her writing style is enjoyable but her execution is just devastatingly dull for me with the exception of her very early Malloren series, which I think from here on out are the only books I'm even going to consider reading from her collection.
Mara was hard to swallow. Like this took me over a week to read hard to swallow (and I can read a good romance novel in a day/evening.)
She was written in this naive yet willfully oblivious/stubborn way that I made me want to shake her into leaving Dare alone for a bleeping moment so he could continue his hard work at recovery. The only good bits in this book were his fight to overcome the opium addiction and how that was handled. Otherwise, Dare seemed like an interesting enough character but his relationship with Mara just felt forced (instalove to me that isn't fleshed out or evolves to me, is like equivalent of a romance novel including a drive by shooting. It's lazy. It makes no sense. It's a shite excuse to write a book... and I just can't deal with that nonsense anymore.)
I really want to like Jo Beverly but her plots always leave me wanting. Her writing style is enjoyable but her execution is just devastatingly dull for me with the exception of her very early Malloren series, which I think from here on out are the only books I'm even going to consider reading from her collection.
Mara was hard to swallow. Like this took me over a week to read hard to swallow (and I can read a good romance novel in a day/evening.)
She was written in this naive yet willfully oblivious/stubborn way that I made me want to shake her into leaving Dare alone for a bleeping moment so he could continue his hard work at recovery. The only good bits in this book were his fight to overcome the opium addiction and how that was handled. Otherwise, Dare seemed like an interesting enough character but his relationship with Mara just felt forced (instalove to me that isn't fleshed out or evolves to me, is like equivalent of a romance novel including a drive by shooting. It's lazy. It makes no sense. It's a shite excuse to write a book... and I just can't deal with that nonsense anymore.)
February 10, 2020
Newly arrived and excited to be shown the sights of the nation's capital, eighteen~year~old Lady Ademara St. Bride or Mara had the abysmal misfortune of being bored instead... simply for want of anything to do because her married sister and supposedly guide to the delights of the town suddenly found herself with the very uncomfortable situation of being with child thus unable to do her duty to Mara. Taking matter into her own hands, daring Mara went to a gaming hell escorted by a seemingly innocuous 40 year~old Major (a friend of her brother~in~law and frequent visitor to their townhouse) who suddenly turned amorous suitor and wanted to compromise her into marriage; when she refused him, he locked her in his room, took~off her dress, shoes and various ladies accoutrements so she would not dare escape... she still escaped and found her way to Yeovil House, the Duke of Yeovil's residence in the capital and thus, to Lord Darius Debenham or Dare the duke's youngest son, her brother's best friend and a Rogue who was presumed by his loving family to be dead or lost in action at Waterloo... then he unexpectedly came back after a year to a bittersweet homecoming, 'cured' and scarred from his war wounds and addicted to opium.
November 10, 2024
La storia è ambientata in Inghilterra, più precisamente a Londra, nel 1817 in periodo regency. Mara St Bride è annoiata dalla vita tranquilla imposta dalla sorella di cui è ospite, la troppo giovane accetta il corteggiamento del maggiore Berkstead, che si rivela poco raccomandabile. Così Mara, fugge dalla sua casa per ritrovarsi a notte fonda tra le insidie di Londra. E' sola, scalza, con una coperta sulle spalle. A salvarla è lord Dare Debenham, amico d'infanzia del fratello che sta vivendo un periodo difficile, poiché è vittima di dipendenza da oppio da cui cerca di liberarsi. Mara decide di aiutarlo a qualunque costo perché ne è innamorata.
Questo libro fa parte della serie dedicata alla “Compagnia dei Furfanti”, che racconta le vicende di un gruppo di amici conosciutisi ai tempi della scuola e che hanno promesso di aiutarsi reciprocamente nelle difficoltà.
Non mi è piaciuto. A tratti l'ho trovato un po' troppo semplicistico. Soprattutto nella parte che descrive il processo di liberazione dalla dipendenza. E' difficile oggigiorno figuriamoci all'epoca.
Questo libro fa parte della serie dedicata alla “Compagnia dei Furfanti”, che racconta le vicende di un gruppo di amici conosciutisi ai tempi della scuola e che hanno promesso di aiutarsi reciprocamente nelle difficoltà.
Non mi è piaciuto. A tratti l'ho trovato un po' troppo semplicistico. Soprattutto nella parte che descrive il processo di liberazione dalla dipendenza. E' difficile oggigiorno figuriamoci all'epoca.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews