The Rogue You Know by Shana Galen
Thanks for stopping by
today. Shana Galen is visiting and is sharing her inspiration
for her bad boy heroes. You will find her insights below, along
with a chance to win a copy of the Covent Garden Cubs series, Book 1, Earls Just Want
to Have Fun. Fantastic book by the way. Make sure you
enter for a chance to win!
Publisher & Release Date: Sourcebooks Casablanca, September 1, 2015
Time
and setting: Early 19th century, London, England
Genre:
Historical Regency Romance
Length: 352 pages
Heat
Level: 1 Scorching Hot Flames
Rating: 4.5 Gold Crowns
Book Description:
She's beyond his reach...
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.
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.
...and out of her depth.
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. As excitement turns to danger, Susanna must decide what price she's willing to pay...for the love of a reformed thief.
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. As excitement turns to danger, Susanna must decide what price she's willing to pay...for the love of a reformed thief.
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Vikki’s Musings
I am a huge
fan of Shana Galen’s wonderful, adventurous tales of love and mayhem. When I
received an invitation from the publisher to read and review The
Rogue You Know in exchange for an honest review, I eagerly accepted.
Out of all of Ms. Galen’s books that I have read, I have yet to read one that
did not fulfill my historical romance fetish. This book is another great romp
through the streets of regency England.
Lady Susanna
feels so suffocated by her mother’s domineering attitude that she finds it hard
to breathe. Her overprotective ways are so bad, she cannot even go to the
retiring room on her own. When she finally escapes her mother’s watchful eye, a
chance encounter with Lady Litton, gives her a clue to why her mother is so
determined to shelter her.
Gideon Harrow
is a thief and on the run from Beezle, the new arch rogue of the Covent Garden
Cubs, a band of thieves and pickpockets, a group he is a member of. He takes
shelter at his friend, Marlowe’s new residence and is discovered by Susanna.
Susanna is
determined to visit Vauxhall Gardens, that is where Lady Litton tells her, her
mother’s secret is. She grabs the precious gem necklace from Gideon and hides
it, then tells him she will not give it back until he takes her to the famous
garden.
This starts
Susanna’s fantastic journey through the underbelly of London. Will Susanna and
Gideon band together to outrun their pursuers and along the way find a love to
last a lifetime?
When Lady
Susanna is first introduced, I was not sure I would like her because she seemed
so timid, but let me tell you, SHE IS NOT TIMID! Once she starts on her grand
adventure, she becomes fearless, a woman who knows what she wants and goes
after it. I fell in love with her character and really wanted her to gain what
she desired, truly a delightful heroine. Ms. Galen writes strong female
characters and Lady Susanna is certainly that.
Gideon Harrow
seems like the most unlikely hero for Susanna, but he is the perfect man for
her. His character’s loyalty, determination and honor comes through loud and
clear. In this case, a rogue truly can be true to his own code of conduct, and
a gentleman, although his birth is far below genteel. I loved how he tried to
protect Susanna from her madcap ways.
While the
romance happens between Gideon and Susanna incredibly fast--theirs is a true
case of love at first sight--I still found it very believable. The chemistry
between this great couple sizzles from their first meeting and throughout the
rest of the book. Their wild adventure is so intense, it allows for the romance
to develop very fast. They are a wonderful hero and heroine and fantastic
together as a couple.
I highly
recommend this exciting, action-packed tale of love between two amazing
characters. If you like stories very fast-paced that keep you on your toes,
then you will delight in this great read. If you have never read any of Shana
Galen’s books, you are missing out. The Rogue You Know is a stellar
example of all that I love about her writing. Happy reading!
Guest Post: Bad Boy Inspiration by Shana
Galen
When we think about
Regency England, we tend to think of the balls, the carriages, the gowns. We
forget that for every duke or marquess, there were hundreds of thieves and
pickpockets living in the slums of the city. Covent Garden was an area of
London with plenty of rookeries, and the thieves who lived there often banded
together because there’s protection in numbers. My fictional gang called the
Covent Garden Cubs is made up of the leader Satin, his second-in-command
Beezle, and an assortment of pickpockets and house-breakers with names like
Gap, Racer, and Stub. The gang also has one girl, Marlowe, and I wrote about
her in Earls Just Want to Have Fun. Her best friend in the
gang in Gideon, and he’s the hero in The Rogue You Know. Gideon is
the ultimate bad boy who can cheat, lie, and steal with the best of them. He
was orphaned at a young age and had no choice but to steal to survive. Now
Gideon wants a different life for himself, and if he can just complete one last
job, he’ll have it…or die trying.
When writing about my
bad boy hero, I had plenty of inspiration.
1) Flynn
Rider from Tangled
Yes, I know Flynn is
animated, but he is the main inspiration for Gideon. Like the Disney bad boy,
Gideon is charming, funny, and self-deprecating. Flynn makes no apologies for
his lifestyle, and while he may try to hide his sensitive side, his love for
Rapunzel brings it out.
2) George
Gordon Byron, Baron Byron
Byron was a poet,
nobleman, and ultimate bad boy. Described as “mad, bad, and dangerous to know,”
Byron titillated the Regency world. He generated enormous debts, had numerous
affairs and liaisons, and ultimately died young and tragically abroad. A bad
boy with the heart of a romantic is always an inspiration.
3) Danny
in Grease
We’ve all seen Grease so
many times we forget that Travolta’s character was really a bad boy. He’s
dangerous for Sandy’s reputation and just plain dangerous, period. But like any
bad boy we love, love wins Danny over and he’s willing to change to be with the
woman who means everything.
4) Patrick
in 10 Things I Hate About You
I love a bad boy who
sets out to corrupt the good girl and then is corrupted by her instead. Heath
Ledger is fabulous as the new kid in school who agrees to date the heroine…for
a fee. “How do I loathe thee? Let me count the ways.” The banter between Patrick
and Kat makes this bad boy movie memorable.
5) Nick
Gentry in Worth Any Price by Lisa Kleypas
While Gideon may be on
the wrong side of the law and Nick Gentry a Bow Street Runner, Nick definitely
serves as an inspiration. He’s a man with a dark past and much to hide, but
Charlotte is able to peel away the layers one by one. Her love for him, and his
for her, redeems this bad boy and makes us love him all the more.
I enjoyed taking
inspiration from each of these bad boys and creating the character of Gideon.
He may be a thief and a rogue, but he is also capable of deep love. And that’s
what my books are about—characters for whom love changes everything.
Who are your favorite redeemed rogues?
Author
Bio:
