I Kissed A Rogue By Shana Galen

Sir Brook Derring is England’s best investigator. By asking questions and using his observation skills, he has been able to apprehend many criminals. But will he be able to locate his former love Lady Lila, in time?

"The teacup rattled and liquid sloshed over the rim as Lennox set it roughly on the table. 'This isn't about me." He stood, rising to his full height, which was nearly equal to Brook's. 'I came because I thought you might be able to put aside the past, and because I hear you are the best."

'The best?"
'You found the missing Flynn boy and the daughter of the Marquess of Lyndon. if you won't do it for me, do it for Lila."
'What has she got to do with any of this?"
'She was abducted earlier this evening, just after midnight. My coachman and one outrider are dead. Another is hanging on by a thread."
Everything in Brook went very still then. The crackle of the fire behind him, the clip-clop of the horses pulling carts to market, the chime of the tall case clock in the corridor faded into the distance.
'Tell me the details."

Shana Galen begins her fast- paced novel with Lady Lila sitting on a basement floor trying to undo the rope which is tied around her hands. She’s been kidnapped and knows she needs to escape before she is killed. Lila frees herself and before she is able to escape she witnesses a murder. Sir Brook and his partner rescue Lila and their adventure begins. I loved the relationship between Brook and Lila. Brook Derring is a hero. He’s been knighted by the King and is sought after by all of the hostesses in London. Brook is not just the second son Lila heartlessly flirted with seven years ago, he’s a well-respected member of Society. In contrast, Lady Lillian-Anne Lennox has been away from society for several years visiting one relative and then other. Lila was not kind to her suitors when she made her debut. She collected men and made enemies with her peers. Lila has grown up as she spent several years nursing her mother who died. Lila is back in London to make a match.

I liked that the author presented an extremely agreeable hero and presented a heroine that was unlikeable at first glance. Shana Galen is known for her fabulous dialogue and the conversations between Brook and Lila showcase her ability to engage the reader in the story by having the characters banter back and forth. Brook doesn’t like Lila and wants nothing to do with her and it shows from the get go!

 Another hallmark of the author’s writing style is adventure and romance between the main characters. This novel begins with a kidnapping, several people are murdered and the sinister Beezle has vowed to recapture Lila. Even if he is not a part of the scenes, Beezle’s sinister presence is felt during the novel. The romance between the two main characters sizzles. I believe it’s the most sensuous novel that the author has written…and it works for these two characters who argue like cats and dogs but are very attracted to each other. The ending of the book was extremely suspenseful and had several unexpected surprises.

I enjoyed each one of Shana Galen’s Covent Garden Cubs books. In each book, the author’s writing style keeps getting better. Ms. Galen has created memorable characters and effortlessly mixes romance, suspense and snappy dialogue in each book. Lila and Brook’s story was my favorite. I feel that the author took some chances with a story with an unlikable heroine and I loved how she depicted how Brook cared for Lila. I am glad that this couple got their second chance at romance!

Reviewed by Susan Gorman 

ARC from Sourcebooks.

Click here to read Susan's review of Earl's Just Want to Have Fun, which was just nominated for a RITA award.  Congratulations, Shana Galen!

Shana Galen Spotlight Post + Giveaway

Guest Post: Bad Boy Inspiration by Shana Galen


When we think about Regency England, we tend to think of the balls, the carriages, the gowns. We forget that for every duke or marquess, there were hundreds of thieves and pickpockets living in the slums of the city. Covent Garden was an area of London with plenty of rookeries, and the thieves who lived there often banded together because there’s protection in numbers. My fictional gang called the Covent Garden Cubs is made up of the leader Satin, his second-in-command Beezle, and an assortment of pickpockets and house-breakers with names like Gap, Racer, and Stub. The gang also has one girl, Marlowe, and I wrote about her in Earls Just Want to Have Fun. Her best friend in the gang in Gideon, and he’s the hero in The Rogue You Know. Gideon is the ultimate bad boy who can cheat, lie, and steal with the best of them. He was orphaned at a young age and had no choice but to steal to survive. Now Gideon wants a different life for himself, and if he can just complete one last job, he’ll have it…or die trying.

When writing about my bad boy hero, I had plenty of inspiration.

1) Flynn Rider from Tangled
Yes, I know Flynn is animated, but he is the main inspiration for Gideon. Like the Disney bad boy, Gideon is charming, funny, and self-deprecating. Flynn makes no apologies for his lifestyle, and while he may try to hide his sensitive side, his love for Rapunzel brings it out.

2) George Gordon Byron, Baron Byron
Byron was a poet, nobleman, and ultimate bad boy. Described as “mad, bad, and dangerous to know,” Byron titillated the Regency world. He generated enormous debts, had numerous affairs and liaisons, and ultimately died young and tragically abroad. A bad boy with the heart of a romantic is always an inspiration.

3) Danny in Grease
We’ve all seen Grease so many times we forget that Travolta’s character was really a bad boy. He’s dangerous for Sandy’s reputation and just plain dangerous, period. But like any bad boy we love, love wins Danny over and he’s willing to change to be with the woman who means everything.

4) Patrick in 10 Things I Hate About You
I love a bad boy who sets out to corrupt the good girl and then is corrupted by her instead. Heath Ledger is fabulous as the new kid in school who agrees to date the heroine…for a fee. “How do I loathe thee? Let me count the ways.” The banter between Patrick and Kat makes this bad boy movie memorable.

5) Nick Gentry in Worth Any Price by Lisa Kleypas
While Gideon may be on the wrong side of the law and Nick Gentry a Bow Street Runner, Nick definitely serves as an inspiration. He’s a man with a dark past and much to hide, but Charlotte is able to peel away the layers one by one. Her love for him, and his for her, redeems this bad boy and makes us love him all the more.

I enjoyed taking inspiration from each of these bad boys and creating the character of Gideon. He may be a thief and a rogue, but he is also capable of deep love. And that’s what my books are about—characters for whom love changes everything.

Who are your favorite redeemed rogues?

Book Information

Title: The Rogue You Know
Author: Shana Galen
Release Date: September 1, 2015
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Historical Romance

Summary

She's beyond his reach...

Gideon Harrow has spent his life in London's dark underworld-and he wants out. A thief and a con, he plans one last heist to finally win his freedom. But when everything goes wrong, he finds himself at the tender mercies of one of Society's most untouchable women-Lady Susanna Derring.

...and out of her depth.

Susanna has spent her life in London's glittering ton, under the thumb of a domineering mother-and she wants out. When a wickedly charming rogue lands at her feet, she jumps at the chance to experience life before it's too late. But as she descends into London's underworld, she finds that nothing- not even Gideon-is as it seems. As excitement turns to danger, Susanna must decide what price she's willing to pay...for the love of a reformed thief.

Buy Links

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Author Biography

Shana Galen is the bestselling author of passionate Regency romps, including the RT Reviewers' Choice The Making of a Gentleman. Kirkus says of her books, "The road to happily-ever-after is intense, conflicted, suspenseful and fun," and RT Book Reviews calls her books "lighthearted yet poignant, humorous yet touching." She taught English at the middle and high school level off and on for eleven years. Most of those years were spent working in Houston's inner city. Now she writes full time. She's happily married and has a daughter who is most definitely a romance heroine in the making. Shana loves to hear from readers, so send her an email or see what she's up to daily on Facebook and Twitter. Stop by her website at shanagalen.com.

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Earls Just Want To Have Fun (Covent Garden Cubs Book 1) by Shana Galen.

I loved Earls Just Want To Have Fun, the first book in Shana Galen's new Covent Garden Cub series! The novel has all of the elements of a regency romance that are important to me; memorable characters, great dialogue and a believable storyline.  Ms. Galen is well known for writing fast paced adventure novels with glamorous heroines, dashing heroes and nasty villains. Earl's Just Want to Have Fun includes the author's trademark writing style plus a new element. The book touches upon society's view of the poor and provides a preview of England's rising social awareness. 

Sir Brook Derring has asked his brother, Maxwell Derring, the Earl of Dane to borrow his coach.  Dane was sitting in the carriage thinking about a speech he'd given at Parliment about the poor when his brother hurried into the carriage with a woman. Brook explains that he believes that the woman is Lady Elizabeth Grafton who was kidnapped when she was five years old.

Dane glanced at the woman again. He didn't know who she was, but she was not the daughter of the Marquess of Lyndon. She was some sort of street rat. The smell of her alone was enough to prove bathing was not a luxury she frequently, if ever, enjoyed. And her language. no lady knew words like those she spewed at Brook. Dane didn't even know some of the curses. And the dirt. He'd have his valet clean these breeches immediately.

Sir Brook and Dane decide that they can't bring the young woman to the Lyndons and decide to bring her to their family home.  Brook is called away on business and he instructs Dane to clean, feed and keep Lady Elizabeth safe. I enjoyed the next few chapters of the book as the girl , known as Marlowe , and Dane form an uneasy alliance. 

These chapters had a My Fair Lady theme and it was interesting to see how both Dane and Marlowe changed their behavior and mannerisms to blend into the social situation at hand. I loved the banter between Dane and Marlowe and enjoyed reading when Marlowe spoke in "flash ken". By having Marlowe use a different dialect throughout the story, Ms. Galen provides her readers with subtle examples of the  many differences between the poor living in the Seven Dials sections of London and the Mayfair aristocracy. 

My favorite scene in the novel is when Dane and Marlowe waltz at the Duchess of Abingdon's ball. Dane is mesmerized at the change in Marlowe. She is stunning in her violet ball gown.  As the couple dances and then kisses, Dane realizes that his upper class sensibilities are meaningless and that he is starting to care for Marlowe.  

While in the terrace, Marlowe is surprised by Satin, the leader of her gang. Satin threatened Marlowe and wants her to help him rob Dane's townhouse. Satin threatens Marlowe and disappears before Dane returns. Dane knows that something has frightened Marlowe and asks her to trust him. Marlowe needs to decide if she can trust Dane with the truth before Satin puts his plan in action. The last few chapters of the book are fast -paced and both intrigue and emotions run high. There are several plot twists that held my interest .

Will Dane and Marlowe trust each other enough to work together and outsmart Satin and his crafty crew? Is Marlowe the daughter of Lord and Lady Grafton?

Congratulations to Shana Galen for an excellent start to a new series! Am looking forward to The Rogue You Know which will be available in September, 2015! 

Reviewed by Susan Gorman 

Lady Celeste gives  Earls Just Want To Have Fun a sixpack!

Do you want more of Shana Galen's Covent Garden Cubs?

Read Susan Gorman's review of Viscount of Vice .

Viscount of Vice by Shana Galen

Viscount of Vice  is the first novella in Shana Galen's new Covent Garden Cubs series,  and will be released January 6, 2015. The novella is a fast-paced regency romp filled with adventure and passion! 

Moisture gathered on his fingers, and his hand slipped. He could not hold on much longer. Perhaps his death was for the best. It wasn't as though anyone would mourn him. It wasn't as though he had anything to live for. 

Still, it seemed harsh even for one such as Beelzebub to claim him when he was hanging naked from a window of one of the most prestigious addresses in Mayfair.

Who could resist a story which opens with the hero dangling naked off a balcony ?? Can you imagine? I absolutely loved the first chapter of this novella as it was well-written and laugh -out -loud funny. I couldn't help falling for the novella's hero ; the charming scoundrel Flynn.

Ms. Galen's hero, heroine and their adventures are well -written and the storyline conflict is credible. Flynn meets with Sir Brooks Derring. Derring has some important information for Flynn and the two men head towards the town of Bath. Flynn meets and dances with Lady Emma Talbot, at an assembly in Bath. The character of Emma resonated with me. She's not the average society miss looking to marry a wealthy nobleman. She's independent and enjoys volunteering at the hospital. Emma has been love with Flynn for years. Flynn might be in lust with Emma but he's afraid of Emma's brother, the powerful Duke of Ravenscroft-- the hero from the author's book Sapphires Are An Earl's Best friend.

Viscount of Vice provides a great transition to Ms. Galen's new Covent Garden Cubs series. The novella explores several social issues and introduces the new series villain. I read the novella in one sitting. It held my interest and I am looking forward to the first book in the series Earls Just Want to Have Fun.

Reviewed by Susan Gorman

Follow this link to Susan Gorman's review of Earls Just Want to Have Fun!