Tessa Dare, Twice Tempted By A Rogue

Twice Tempted By A Rogue

Tessa Dare

Ballantine, Jun 22 2010, $7.99

ISBN: 9780345518873

After years at war with a death wish never granted, battered combat vet Lord Rhys St. Maur comes home to Devonshire. He enters the Three Hounds Inn in Buckleigh-in-the-Moor where a fight has broken out. Before he can intercede a beautiful woman ends the dispute. He learns she is no barmaid but Mrs. Meredith Maddox, the widowed wife of the old owner.

Meredith loved Rhys before he left for the service. She fears she still does. He is attracted to her but believes he does not deserve love. As she encourages him to work hard at overcoming his demons, they investigate the murder of his friend and nasty treacherous smugglers while the locals distrust Rhys.

This is a terrific Stud Club Regency romance (see One Dance with a Duke) starring a feisty kick butt female and a PTSD veteran who had memorial issues before he ran off to die at war. Readers will enjoy their escapades as the townsfolk trust the double-dealing smugglers more than the returning lord; which speaks volumes of the class warfare. Starting with Meredith stopping a fight in the inn by ripping skin off the combatants, Twice Tempted By A Rogue is a strong Stud Club entry.

Harriet Klausner