ONCE MORE, MY DARLING ROGUE is Book two in Lorraine Heath's Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James series. Drake Darling, the hero of this story, was last seen as a young boy going by the name Peter Sykes in the story Surrender to the Devil. I don't think reading that previous story is absolutely necessary to enjoying ONCE MORE, MY DARLING ROGUE, but reading it would give the reader a better understanding of Drake Darling.

At the start of ONCE MORE, MY DARLING ROGUE, it is extremely apparent that Drake Darling and Lady Ophelia Lyttleton have a very antagonistic relationship. Ophelia seems to be the aggressor, constantly needling Drake and delivering put- downs. It seems a little odd, since one of her best friends is a woman who was raised like his sister. Drake has a tragic and violent past. His father murdered his mother and that legacy of violence has haunted Drake all his life. In spite of being raised thereafter in a home with lots of love and affection from the Duke and Duchess of Greystone and their children, this part of Drake's past is something he can't mentally shake. It seems somewhat cruel that Ophelia taunts him. It seems, to the reader and friends and family of the two, that she treats him with such disdain because she fears being attracted to him. That is one of the great things about a Lorraine Heath book -- there are no one- dimensional characters. Everybody has layers.

The story really takes off toward the beginning when Drake discovers what he later discovers to be a battered and wet Ophelia down by the river. After taking her back to his place and discovering who she is, he also realizes that she has no memory of who she is. The temptation proves to be too much and Drake tells her that she is his housekeeper. His plan is some light revenge before sending her home after a day or so. The bulk of the story is the friendship and attraction that develops between him and "Phee" that makes him put off enlightening her.

ONCE MORE, MY DARLING ROGUE is very character-driven, and I like the two main characters. In spite of his ruse, Drake is a very sympathetic character and is not at all sleazy and is very conscious of trying to not compromise Phee. He becomes so taken with Phee and they develop such a great chemistry and friendship that he sees her as two people -- the sweet and sassy Phee that he's recently come to know, and the cold and haughty Ophelia who forever treats him like dirt. He knows the longer he lets the charade go on, the worse it will be for him, but he falls in love and can't bear to let her go.

There are lots of things I love about ONCE MORE, MY DARLING ROGUE. First and foremost I love the delicious romance. If Drake and Ophelia became sexually intimate right away, I don't think the romance would have the strong impact that it does. There is a great sensuality and sexual tension that arises as they develop a friendship. He sees what his sister Grace, as well as her other friends, do. Underneath the wall she puts up to keep others at a distance, Ophelia is a woman who is very caring -- especially to animals. I also loved seeing favorite characters from Lorraine Heath's Scoundrels of St. James series, like Jack Dodger and William Graves. These characters made great cameos without cluttering up the story. I also loved the mystery of what happened to Ophelia to make her lose her memory. This mystery element adds a great extra dimension to the story and provides excitement.

ONCE MORE, MY DARLING ROGUE is another gem by Lorraine Heath that pulls at the heart-strings. This a great story for anyone who likes a romance with some heat, an exciting mystery, and great characters. This is a romance that is sure to delight and make you want to go back and read, or re-read, the Scoundrels of St. Jamesseries. I eagerly await the next installment in this Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James series!

Book Summary

They are England's most eligible bachelors, with the most scandalous reputations. But for the right woman, even an unrepentant rogue may mend his ways . . .

Born to the street but raised within the aristocracy, Drake Darling can't escape his sordid beginnings. Not when Lady Ophelia Lyttleton snubs him at every turn, a constant reminder he's not truly one of them. But after rescuing her from a mysterious drowning, he realizes she doesn't remember who she is. With plans to bring her to heel, he insists she's his housekeeper—never expecting to fall for the charming beauty.

While Ophelia might not recall her life before Drake, she has little doubt she belongs with him. The desire she feels for her dark, brooding employer can't be denied, regardless of consequences. So when Ophelia's memory returns, she is devastated by the depth of his betrayal. Now Drake must risk everything to prove she can trust this rogue with her heart once more.