According to Eve, all she desires is a garden and a quiet life. Instead, due to the influence of her selfish uncle after her father died and the expected normative behaviours for young women of the Victorian Ton, the lovely Eve Reynolds is expected to have her first season as a debutante and find a husband, but with a small twist. Her uncle, Warren Reynolds, is a con man passing as a wealthy industrialist and Eve is expected to win money from the rich older ladies of the Ton who didn't mind losing at cards as long as they had a good time.
Uncle Warren's little scheme was actually working for a bit, when the handsome, but newly impoverished Earl of Westleigh, decides to respond to a free invitation for an evening's fun, rather than face his friends at his old haunts.
His entry causes a stir of gossip amongst the aristocratic ladies and even Eve feels his powerful energy, but is determined not to notice. Normally, an ace at gambling himself, Julian notices both the lovely Eve in her sapphire gown and her hot winning streak. He is determined to find out more about her. Moreover, he decides she is fair game to be his mistress, especially as he is getting bored with his current one, the wife of his good friend. Will Eve be able to stop the intentions of this unrepentant gambling snake in the grass?
THE ROGUE'S GAME is the final book in Renee Bernard's Mistress Trilogy and she has served up one hot and sizzling romance that will have you lusting for more. While still enjoyable both as a series and a stand-alone read with its fast moving storyline, the novel's minor flaw comes from a wee tendency for the author to slip into modern and North American expressions (win-win in Victorian England?) that jarred a bit with the settings.
Eve and Julian are a well-matched pair that will charm you with their intriguing mix of human quirks, both good and bad, and you will laugh as they repartee with each other and the other characters. Find out for yourself if Eve can outplay this wicked King of Spades both in cards and in the heart! Enjoy!
Lovely Eve Reynolds plays the role of a
naive young debutante, but her demure appearance hides an
experienced cardplayer who, at her uncle's instigation, is
engaged in fleecing London aristocrats in the high-stakes
card games favored by society. Only London's most notorious
rake, Julian Clay, the Earl of Westleigh, sees through her
wiles, for he recognizes a fellow gambler when he sees one.
Lured by the passion in Eve's stormy eyes, so at odds with
her reserved elegance, Julian lays impassioned siege to her.
And Eve responds with a rising fire of desire that leaves
behind all sensible caution, until both Julian and Eve can
think of nothing but the searing hours they spend in each
other's arms.
But Eve's uncle wants her to play for the
highest stakes by making a respectable match with a wealthy
lord...and Eve has her own secret reason for following his
plan. Although Julian began to play recklessly to seduce a
clever young lady, now he wants much more from Eve, and no
one will stop him from risking everything on one final game
that might win him Eve's heart and soul forever.
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