Title:  Beauty and the Rake
Series:  The Rockery Rogues #3
Author:  Erica Monroe
Genre:  Regency Romance
Published:  April 21, 2015
Publisher:  Quillfire Publishing
My Rating:  4 stars
Source:  NetGalley
Synopsis:

ONCE SHE WAS BEAUTIFUL...

Abigail Vautille grew up in the heart of the London rookeries, toiling as a factory worker until one tragic night leaves her disfigured and unable to weave. Faced with starvation or prostitution, she strikes a deal with the rogue who owns her father’s gambling debts—if he excuses the debt, for two weeks, she’ll give him her body, but not her heart.

ONCE HE WAS CHARMING…

Inspector Michael Strickland of the Metropolitan Police has always had a way with women. Success comes easily to him, and he glides through life on his good looks and family name. But Abigail lights a passion within him he never knew existed. As he gets to know her, he realizes two weeks with her won’t be enough. He sees the beauty within her, not the beast she believes herself to be.

TOGETHER, THEIR LOVE IS BEYOND A FAIRY TALE.

Yet Abigail’s scars run more than skin deep. With the end of their agreement so close, can Michael convince Abigail she’s exactly who he wants?

Read on for my thoughts on Beauty and the Rake.  No true spoilers, promise.

There are many areas of Regency London we are accustomed to reading about.  As well as many differing classes within that time and place.  Beauty and the Rake will bring many of those other places to life for us, and the people who live there as well have interesting, compelling stories to be told.

I’m choosing this time not to give a teaser of the story, but to give you my reaction to this particular novel.

Michael and Abigail are both wounded souls.  Abigail on the outside, Michael’s are within his soul.  As this is the final novel in the series, there are of course, the wrapping up of ongoing conflict.  Since, at this time, I have not read the first two novels in the series, I came into this one to read as a stand alone.  And it is possible to be able to do that.  Any carryover from the previous novels is mentioned in the last.

This novel really does bring to mind Beauty and the Beast – a woman who has been badly scarred… a bit of reversal perhaps, but still a compelling read.  Michael and Abigail are so good together.  An obvious attraction exists, but is fought until well into the story.  No nsta-love here.  But Michael does come to love and understand  Abigail.  And Abigail will come to completely trust and love Michael.  The ending is tense, and resolutions are finally in sight.  Abigail has a lot to get past and not one bit of it will be easy.

I was fully involved in this novel emotionally.  It is so rare that we are given a window into another part of the Victorian-Regency-Georgian London that does not involve Dukes and Duchesses, ballrooms and money enough to feed a village being spent on silly things.  This novel was gritty, realistic and and paints a picture that was engaging and a joy to read.

*I received an e-ARC of Beauty and the Rake from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*

Beauty and the Beast will be available for the Kindle at it’s release on April 21, 2015.