The Rogue Not Taken

MacLean’s spellbinding first Scandal and Scoundrel Regency romance (linked to her popular Rules of Scoundrels series) revitalizes the usual pairing of defiant wallflower and misunderstood rogue, spicing up the story with characters who make provocative propositions and brave assorted dangers. Sophie Talbot loathes everything about the aristocracy. Her father’s now an earl, thanks to his financial success with coal mines, but she preferred her previous life as a commoner, and after an embarrassing public scene, she decides to flee London forever. To her chagrin, the carriage she stows away in also contains Kingscote, Marquess of Eversley, who’s making a hasty getaway after what she assumes is one of his infamous trysts. Eversley knows he should steer clear of the Soiled S’s, as Sophie and her sisters are known, but that doesn’t stop him from helping Sophie time and again. He’s made it clear to the brash young woman that he’ll never fall for her. Now, if he can just convince himself of that, his world can remain upright on its axis. Readers will be intoxicated by the emotional connection between the lovers, which makes their banter that much more amusing and their eventual physical passion that much more satisfying. Sophie’s delightful family will leave readers eager for future installments in the series. Comedy, action, secrets, and love: this book has it all. Agent: Steve Axelrod, Axelrod Agency. (Dec.)