What A Rogue Desires (Zebra Historical Romance) [Paperback]

Caroline Linden (Author)

Book Description

Series: Zebra Historical Romance | Publication Date: September 1, 2007

After a wayward youth, David Reece, the youngest scion in a noble family, has been called one of the most scandalous rogues of the ton. What he wants to be called is trustworthy and a true gentleman. To prove he has reformed he's agreed to watch over his absent brother's estate and signet ring. All is going swimmingly until highwaymen waylay his coach and steal that precious ring...Street orphan Vivian Beecham has grown up a pickpocket, and a very pretty one indeed. Now she and her brother have reluctantly graduated to highway robbery. And handsome David Reece has become their victim - until he tracks her down and makes her his prisoner. Locked in a spare bedroom, Vivian vows to hate her captor. Instead she becomes a former rogue's greatest challenge: the object of a passionate seduction. But David and Vivian are playing a dangerous game in which forbidden love is a wild card...

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

David Reece is robbed while traveling by coach to London. Vowing to reclaim a family signet ring, he sets a trap in London, and much to his surprise, the person caught trying to pawn the ring is one of his fellow travelers, the widowed Mrs. Gray. After locking the lovely thief up in his townhouse, David gradually learns her real identity. The last thing he would ever have predicted was falling in love with a beautiful pickpocket. A roguish hero trying to redeem his rakish ways meets his romantic match in a beautiful woman whose social class and past threaten any chance of a future together in Linden's latest elegantly written, lushly sensual Regency historical romance. Charles, John

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Zebra (September 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0821780506
• ISBN-13: 978-0821780503
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #769,438 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Caroline Linden knew from an early age she was a reader, but not a writer. Despite an addiction to Trixie Belden and Nancy Drew, she studied physics and dreamed of being an astronaut. She earned a math degree from Harvard College and then wrote software for a financial services firm, all the while reading everything in sight, but especially romance. Only after she had children, and found herself with only picture books to read, did she begin to make up a story of her own. To her immense surprise, it turned out to be an entire novel--and it was much more fun than writing computer code. Nine years, ten books, two Red Sox championships, and one dog later, she has never been happier with her decision. She lives with her family in New England.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thief steals the most elusive & valuable prize -a rogue's heart, September 11, 2007

By 

Misuzmama (New York, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What A Rogue Desires (Zebra Historical Romance) (Paperback)

Stand and deliver!.....Those are not the words one wants to hear while traveling on the road. Apparently the day has just gotten even worse for David Reece. First his brother, the duke, decides to leave the care of his entire finances to David while on his honeymoon trip abroad for three months. The pressure enough of that responsibility is suffocating. Next he becomes stranded while his horse goes lame on the way to London. And finally he's forced to take a smelly, dusty and dingy coach the rest of the way. Now he has to deal with highwayman! Bloody hell! Life was so much easier when he had no responsibilities; gambling away his fortune, dallying with any willing woman and drinking till he couldn't remember where he was or where he'd been.

Life has never been easy for pickpocket and thief Vivian Beecham, but that hasn't stopped her from getting what she can for her and her brother. It may be illegal but it keeps food in her belly. But when she tries to pawn some stolen goods, its her that gets captured by none other than one of her victims. Only this time its not the constable she has to worry about. The danger lies in the rogue who just might steal her heart.

So good! Not precisely a reformed rake story but similar. David has already decided to change his scandalous behavior on his own. Vivian just adds fuel to the fire. Their relationship begins rather oddly (he keeps her prisoner in his house!) and then changes several times through out the the book. Great characterizations by Linden (author). I was particularly impressed by the way she showed the consequences of Davids lifestyle. I don't think I've ever really read that before. It always seems that the rogue hero's life is secretly envied and even admired by everyone. Obviously thats not true. Seeing the ramifications was eye opening. I also love how Vivian is a real commoner and not someone who is, for example, the long lost daughter of an earl. Just makes the whole book more credible. David needs someone like Vivian who understands the lows and highs of his life and his shame.

Definitely a stand alone book, but I strongly recommend the prequel 'What a Gentleman Wants' (great Lizzy/Darcy thing going on in that one). I normally don't say this but you'll miss out if you don't read it first. David's scandalous behavior is highlighted there. You'll get a better general picture of who he was and why he determined that he must change. So if you haven't read it, go and read it first.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Heroine But Disappointing Book Overall (C Grade), November 7, 2007

By 

K. Garrabrant "Katiebabs" (Bloomfield, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: What A Rogue Desires (Zebra Historical Romance) (Paperback)

What a Rogue Desires has only one good thing about it and that was how I was impressed by Vivian, the heroine and the way she was written. She is a thief and ends up stealing from the hero, David Reece. Vivian is also smart and speaks her mind. But when David finds out that Vivian was one of the people responsible for being the victim of highway men and having his precious family ring stolen, that's were this story went to a place of no return.
David eventually finds Vivian and locks her in a room in his mansion. See David is a rake and spends money and has no meaning in his life until his brother gave him some responsibility. He apparently has had a life changing epiphany where he will now be responsible and do something worth while with his life.
So, he keeps Vivian locked in a room until she will tell him where his precious ring is. She sits day in and day out with no change of clothes or even a place where she can bathe till he gets to know her better. But he makes sure she has books to read. But all too soon, they become friends because they talk and he cooks her great food because she has always gone hungry because of the life she leads. Soon after they fall in love and all is forgotten about her stealing from him and being kept locked in a room.
David and Vivian have sex by the middle of the book and Vivian no longer wants to escape. But her crew wants to find her and get some money for this ring of David. Plus there is Vivian's poor brother that she needs to take care of also.
A bit inane and at points boring, but I guess if you want some fluffy reading and enjoy historical romance, take your chance on What a Rogue Desires. I am still wondering after weeks of being locked in a room how David could find Vivian attractive because there was no mention of soap and water.

Katiebabs

What A Woman Needs (Zebra Debut)
What A Gentleman Wants (Zebra Historical Romance)

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fast Paced - Fun - Full of romance, September 21, 2007

By 

cb (Minot, ND) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: What A Rogue Desires (Zebra Historical Romance) (Paperback)

This is the story of David Reece twin of the Duke who gets caught doing stupid things all the time. Vivian Beecham is a thief who was with the gang that robes David. David decides to get back his stolen items and kidnaps Vivian and holds her in his home.... A great historical far-fetch happy every after story (my favorites)- enjoy!

Looking forward to her next novel, A Rakes Guide to Seduction (Celia's story) due out June 2008