To Resist a Scandalous Rogue by Liana De La Rosa – a Review

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Description:
For Finlay Swinton, Viscount Firthwell and only son of a powerful earl, life has been a lark…until he discovers a terrible family secret that could ruin him. Determined to make a name for himself free of scandal’s shadow, he runs for Parliament. However, he encounters Charlotte, the mysterious woman who disappeared after their one night together, and he finds it impossible to stay away, despite her working class status and Jewish faith that threaten to destroy his chance for success.

Review:

How to Resist a Scandalous Rogue by Liana De La Rosa is a historical period romance. This story begins in London 1828.

Charlotte is recently widowed and penniless. Her husband died in India of cholera. His parents showed up in India and told her he had left her nothing. They took all his money and his possessions, and she was forced to gather what she could and managed to sell her wedding ring to book passage back to London.

Finlay is the Viscount of Firthwell and heir to the Earl of Rockhaven. His father is traveling the continent to avoid a scandal of his own making. While Finlay isn’t fond of his father, he has other problems. Rebuilding his father’s earldom and trying to build a better name for himself. He also has learned recently his mother had an affair and he’s not actually the Earl’s son, but no one else knows this. He found it in his mother’s diary after she died. His twin sister Alethea just married their childhood friend, Declan, Duke of Darington. He has also decided on a political career, if he can keep the scandal secret.

They meet one night by accident. She was offered a job by her cousin Eliza. Charlotte thought it was to be a maid, but the women were to be entertainment for the Earl of Belling’s party. She declined the job and was going to leave the house in the morning, but she wanted to just sit in the gardens for a little while. While she was there Finley, who was invited to the party, was escaping the activities and came into the garden. They struck up a conversation and talked for a long while, sharing a bit of whiskey from Finley’s flask. Enjoying herself and a bit in her cups, she stayed the night with Finley. However, happy and fulfilled as she was, she knew she couldn’t be a mistress, so she left without saying goodbye.

A year later, Finley learns Charlotte is working as a teacher at The Little Windmill House, a foundling home Lady Campbell and her brother founded. His sister had taught there until her marriage. Neither of them had managed to forget the other over the year. The attraction was strong.

That’s the basic setup. There is, of course, much more and interesting threads to the plot. But I will leave those for you to read for yourself. In all, this is a very interesting and romantic story. It’s cleverly plotted so things come together slowly with a lot of anticipation. If you are a fan of historical romances, this one has some interesting side threads about religious acceptance, the awakening of independent women, and the times. I enjoyed reading it, hope you do too.

Reviewed by Georgianna

Copy provided by Publisher