The Ruthless Charmer: The Rogues of Regent Street (Mass Market Paperback)

Julian Dane is the roguish hero who is tiring of that lifestyle. The suicide/death of one of his closest friends, Phillip, has left him shaken, even two years later, and he blames himself for his friend's death. He believes he could have prevented it had he just paid more attention. We don't really see Julian in full rogue mode. He has become increasingly interested in a long time friend, Claudia Whitney, and wants to pursue a relationship with her. However, she doesn't seem the least bit interested.

Claudia is a nineteenth century feminist. She is quite happy with her life as a single woman who spends her time and efforts on helping women. She is constantly attempting to raise funds for both a woman's shelter and a future girl's school for the less fortunate. She had been involved with Phillip prior to his death and blames their mutual friend, Julian Dane, for his death. If only Julian hadn't always encouraged Phillip's rakish ways, he probably would still be living. There is a lot of history between Claudia and Julian. She had grown up as a close friends to his many sisters and had a crush on him as a teenager. Although she is still attracted to him, she would never be foolish enough to hope for his love because she believes him to be too corrupt to ever be faithful. It seems Claudia is one very judgmental heroine. And she is one of the more belligerent and hateful ones I have read as well.

Julian proves to be a very likable character with much more patience than the average hero. The leads argue most of the book and don't even seem to like each other all that much. They each hold affection for the other but neither seems able to comprehend this glaring fact. Their continued conflicts become old quickly and it becomes tiresome, as we are privy to their insecure thoughts again and again and again. This is one story that is based largely on The Big Misunderstanding but in this case it should be referred to as The Big Misunderstandings. This couple has so many of these misunderstandings between them as one determines to show their love to the other only to give up just as the other has determined to show their love in return. There is so much angst between the two and they both appear a little stupid to not recognize or believe actions or actual words of love from one to the other.

Despite these conflicts, I still managed to be entertained and there are certainly some tender moments between the two. The sensual scenes are infrequent and rate about a 3.75 out of 5.0 (see More About Me for rating guidelines). This is a story that is primarily about the romance. There is a villain but thankfully, he only occupies a little of the story.

As I mentioned earlier, this is the second in a series of three. Although I was aggravated with the leads' interactions, I still recommend this series for some enjoyable reading. I am currently reading the third, The Beautiful Stranger, and it looks like it will be a five star rating. Julia London is an author I will continue to follow as her new books are released and I look forward to reading the remaining books on her backlist.

Julian is wracked with guilt over Phillip's death, because through the downward spiral, Julian was at Phillip's side, drinking and partying with him and just not realising the desperation that Phillip was feeling. Add to that a large portion of jealousy that Phillip received the attention of the lovely Claudia, just as Julian himself realised what a jewel had been hiding in plain sight.

Claudia, for her part, had always had a huge crush on Julian, but knew that nothing would ever come of it. Julian, knowing Phillip's dire financial striates, had warned Claudia from Phillip, which she misinterpreted. Following Phillip's death, Claudia holds Julian at least partly responsible for exactly the same reason Julian blames himself - because he was there, right next to Phillip.

There are several things that these two must overcome. Their own grief, the misconceptions that they have for each other, the scandal they are part of that forces their marriage to save Claudia's reputation, and then the situation that Claudia involves herself in which causes Julian's sister to be placed in harms way. Each have rather violent feelings towards each other for most of the book and for the most part they are negative ones - hurt, anger and jealousy. This means that the love they also feel for each other is equally as compelling and deep, but the hurt and anger especially do seem to collect on top of each other until the reader wonders how they will ever pull out of it.

London has written another good story, full of powerful emotion and a book that builds on a former story and sets up the next, while being able to fully explore the relationship of the central characters in it's own right.