The Rogue You Know by Shana Galen

The Basics:
The Rogue You Know by Shana Galen
Sourcebooks Casablanca
Historical Romance
Book Two in the Covent Garden Cubs series
Published September 1, 2015
Source: Received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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Why I picked up this book:

I was curious to see how Galen would handle the second story in this series.

Blurb:

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.

My Thoughts:

I read the first book in the Covent Garden Cubs series, Earls Just Want to Have Fun, back in February, writing a pretty positive review. At the time, I wondered how Gideon's happily ever after would work out. It's one thing to have a lady raised as a thief to be elevated up into her husband's social class, but it's 
another to have a lady attracted to a thief, with that implied loss of stature and finances. I was, let's say, concerned about how this would play out.

Well, having read the book, I'm happy to report that The Rogue You Know tackled the romance in a way that I found entertaining and reasonably believable. I'd love to see more of Gideon and Susanna down the road, as they handle their new circumstances together, but overall? This book was pretty good!

There was a point in The Rogue You Know when I thought, wow, this is practically a scene out of the movie Tangled! I was not surprised when I read the Author's Note at the end of the book and Galen references that movie as inspiration. Flynn, the hero in Tangled, is easily one of my favourite Disney heroes, so I was thrilled to note the similarities between him and Gideon. 

Susanna, for her part, is adorable as the overly-sheltered young miss finally out
on an adventure. I liked that there was a certain awareness (from Gideon) about how her innocence and naivete allowed her to act more freely than she might have if she realized how dangerous her circumstances were. While it did feel slightly patronizing at times (and was the downside to Gideon, the patronizing streak), I think that overall it made Susanna venturing out of her comfort zone, as it were, work for me.

Bottom line:

The Rogue You Know is a solid follow-up to Earls Just Want to Have Fun. The cross-class romance isn't a perfect match-up and might require some suspension of disbelief, but I think it was pretty entertaining overall.

4 stars
For fans of historical romance, criminal underworlds, cross-class romance

Please link up your reviews of The Rogue You Know in the comments below! I love to see what other people think of the books I've read/am reading!