Sunday Brunch: The Rogue You Know by Shana Galen

Title: The Rogue You Know

Author: Shana Galen

Series: Covent Garden Cubs #2

Genre: Historical Romance

Publisher: Sourcebooks

Pub Date: September 1, 2015

Pages: 384

My Copy: Courtesy of NetGalley and Sourcebooks

Book Summary:

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.

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.

Book Review:

A delightful book about two opposites finding that they have an attraction to one another. Gideon and Susanna both have desires to be free for very different reasons. I like that these two individuals grow up in a lot of ways through the book.

Susanna feels like her mother suffocates her so very much. She tells her and accompanies almost to everything. Susanna feels like she doesn’t have a voice at all. Every moment of her day is planned out, plus her mother tells her what to say and what not to say. Also to stand up straight. Everything is so rigid. She feels like she is drowning and there is no one to help her.  During a party on a trip to the bathroom, Susanna meets a woman who gives her some disturbing information about her mother’s past and Vauxhall Gardens. She wants to learn what happened in the past after hearing this information.

Gideon is trying to pawn a necklace. He is a thief and a con artist and finds himself one day in a place he never expected. Gideon finds himself at the last place and Susanna knocks him out, when she thinks he is a robber. Of course, she is surprised to see a good looking man in her library. She also takes the necklace he has on him and hides it. Gideon tries to get it back but gets roped into or blackmailed into taking her to Vauxhall Gardens. What happens is that he learns that she is nothing like what he thought she would be.

Susanna and Gideon learn a lot about each other. They also have a dog with them that somehow manages to attach to both of them. Susanna and Gideon go on quite an adventure and both of them start to fall for one another hard. Of course they get into arguments, trouble, a lot of it courtesy of Gideon’s old buddies, now enemies of his. Things happen that no one can expect. Gideon really does want Susanna, but is afraid that he will never be good enough because of his past. 

Things happen and of course, we learn a lot more towards the end of this book about Susanna’s mother and why she has been so overprotective of her daughter. It makes a lot of sense and we learn that sometimes parents do what they think is our own best interest. I really love the dynamic between Susanna and her mother at the very end. It also has been a journey of self-discovery for Susanna as she finally gains a voice for herself.

I also like how she fights for what she wants. Gideon tells her about something that happened in his past that was very traumatic. Susanna comforts him and doesn’t care about that. She wants Gideon, all of him, the good and bad. I really did like their scenes together, passionate, wonderful and full of intensity. This book did have a happily ever after, which is what you want and expect of a romance. I like the happily ever after, but sometimes it is with the person you least expect or ever thought about. Her mother also learns to let go of the past and be honest with her daughter.

Overall a great historical romance for me.

Rating:

4 Hearts