The Rogue Not Taken
The Rogue Not Taken by Shana Galen
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.…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.
Review: This was the first book I read by Shana Galen but certainly not the last! I’d been in a bit of a reading funk. Most of the books I read lately have been contemporary romances and the few historical books I read hadn’t been the best. So when it came time to read this book for a review, I was sort of dreading it. However, upon starting the book, I was pleasantly surprised. I hadn’t read the first book in the series but this one was truly stand-alone. And now I want to go back and read the first one! Shana Galen has breathed new life and energy into historical romance. This story harkens back to old favorites like Lorraine Heath’s Lords of St. James series.
I really enjoyed the Earl’s daughter and the thief plot! While I’m not sure of the historical realism of the situation, Galen’s plot made the pairing between Gideon and Susanna plausible. I was a fan of Susanna’s character. The suffocation she felt within her life is relatable, especially for anyone who worked a job they didn’t like. The trope of the rich girl looking for adventure is a bit overdone but Galen twisted it into an enjoyable adventure through Regency London. Susanna did not let fear of a new environment stop her from being true to herself. Gideon was an interesting hero, the thief trying to reform and wanting a new life. However, I would have like to see his character developed a bit more. As a couple, I thought Gideon and Susanna clicked, her spirit of adventure meshed well with his care for her.
My biggest complaint about the book is it was too much liked the movie, Tangled. I liked the idea of using the plot of a Disney movie and adding a sexy twist- come on, we all know we want a sexy version of Mulan, but there were too many similarities. However, that did not take away from my enjoyment of the book.
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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