Last week I was wandering around my local library wondering what it was that I should pick up. None of my requests had come in and nothing in my usual haunt (the YA… yes, I’m aware that I’m 26) was catching my eye. I picked up this and put back that until I stumbled upon Lady Beware, a novel set back in the day (1800 and something) with this blurb:

For generations, the Cave family has been marked by scandal, madness, and violence. But after earning a reputation for bravery in the army, Horatio Cave, the new Viscount Darien, has come home to charm London society and restore the family name. He means to start with the lovely Lady Thea Debenham.

The magnetism between them is immediate, but can Thea trust the dark, sexy “Vile Viscount”? And will Thea’s brother Dare-the most dashing member of the Company of Rogues-believe that Horatio does not deserve the cursed Cave reputation?

I think it was mainly that one of the main character names was Darien and that he was vile that I picked it up and into my library bag it went. Only once I got back home and indulged in a little Lady Beware did it click that it was a romance novel! – The fact that it says “Historical Romance” on the back cover didn’t ring any bells apparently – Usually I stay right away from trashy romance novels but now I’m wondering why… well, other than that Thea is a stuck up princess of course, because Darien is wonderful and I imagine he looks like Tuxedo Mask. Can’t you hear that Rose flying through the air?

So yes, I’m somewhat hooked. As I write this all I want to do is dash back to the couch and snuggle up with Darien and, a little more reluctantly, Thea (she totally doesn’t deserve him!) and hope they live happily ever after…

… ok I hope for more scandal but do these types of books ever end that way? Is a happy ending inevitable? Were all my bad wishes towards Thea a waste of time?

And the answer to all three is most likely a big yes! *sigh* but I don’t care.