In an act of revenge, Lord Rayne kissed Lady Julia and was sent packing to America. But now he’s back to settle his affairs and give away his sister in marriage, until he meets up with the alluring yet innocent Lady Julia again. He doesn’t regret their first kiss, but he was never good enough for her. Lady Julia had two years to forget the moody and mercurial Earl of Rayne. But one look, and she … look, and she knows they’re meant to be together. Be damned with his and her brother’s objections, she’ll just jump on the back of Rayne’s departing carriage and compromise them both thoroughly.
Only, Julia never expected her forbidding Lord to be so good at resisting temptation…
Each book in the Lords of Chance series is STANDALONE:
* Scandal in Spades
* Heart’s Desire
* Diamond in the Rogue
more
A second chance after the first kiss
The Earl of Rayne thought he was kissing Lady Julia in revenge, but to his surprise it was more than he expected. Thinking himself not good enough for her or his family/friends, he stays away working in New York for two years. Back for his sister’s wedding, Julia has an opportunity to go after what she wants and what she wants is Rayne. To kidnap him on his way North, Julia has her work cut out for her. Now she has a chance to prove to Rayne that she loves him and maybe he loves her, too. Highly sensual with steamy sex and humor.
Diamond in the Rogue was an enthralling page-turner. Obviously I did not want to put it down until I finished reading.
My only negative is probably due to auto-correct. In three (3) instances “formerly” was used rather than “formally.” (Chapter 4, page 46; Chapter 13, page 150 and; Chapter 14, page 160. These types of errors annoy me but not enough to lower my rating of 5 stars.
Loved the book.
In a bid to get revenge on his friend for breaking off his betrothal to his sister, Graham Laithe, the Earl of Rayne, kissed Lady Julia Stanley and then promptly took himself off to America. After two years, he’s temporarily returned for his sister’s wedding to Julia’s brother. He regrets nothing when it comes to Julia, but believes he could never be good enough for her. For her part, Julia has known Rayne was the one for her since they first met. But her brother objects, so in order to get her way, Julia sneaks onto Rayne’s carriage with the intent of guiding him toward a Gretna elopement, though she might’ve underestimated the strength of Rayne’s willpower and the depth of his pain.
I read and enjoyed the previous book in this series and was eager to finally learn what the deal really was with Rayne, but this one left me rather confused and I still feel like I’m missing something. I’m thinking that must be because I haven’t yet read the first book so I felt like I was a step behind trying to figure out exactly what was so bad that it necessitated Rayne leaving. I also wasn’t ever really clear on the issues Julia and Rayne both had from their childhoods and the reasons they gave here left me once again feeling like I’d missed something. I also wish Julia had referred to Rayne by his first name some, just to be cohesive with how the other ladies referred to their husbands, though this is also just because I love the name Graham.
Nonetheless, I really enjoyed this story and I loved the one-on-one road travel and one room, one bed scenes. These two were lovely together and both showed a great deal of growth in a short time. It was great to see them both choose each other despite any uncomfortable situations that meant facing and in the face of nay-saying family and friends. I really need to go back and read that first book but I’m looking forward to Farring’s book now.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Diamond in the Rogue is the third book in author Wendy LaCapra’s Lords of Chance series. For those of us following this series, Rayne’s story was heavily anticipated and it most definitely did not disappoint! A fabulous read and an excellent addition to this series!
Graham Laithe the Earl of Rayne is back! After two years of exile in America, he’s back to see his sister married and to settle his estate. He has no plans to stay and is itching to leave permanently.
Lady Julia’s childhood made her lose faith in love. Then Rayne entered her life. Thinking herself in love and one forbidden kiss between them, she’s devastated when Rayne walks out of her life.
Oh my, what an absolutely fabulous story and couple! For those of us who have been with this series from the beginning, we’ve already met Julia and Rayne. Both characters have made appearances in the previous stories. Although I believe you could read this story as a stand-alone, I highly recommend you read the previous books to understand the history between all the characters.
I loved Rayne! He’s definitely a tortured hero. He wants Julia but feels he’s not good enough for her and has nothing to give her. His feelings for her are real and you sense the struggle within him wanting her but yet continually trying to resist her. You also see how the loss of his friends truly affected him and how he feels like an outsider. He was definitely a hero I wanted to see finally get his HEA and I loved him with Julia. The chemistry and dialogue between these two was fabulous! Julia was absolutely perfect for him and the more I got to know her the more I liked her. Julia is a kind, clever and insightful young woman. She was hurt by Rayne’s departure two years ago and is scared to be hurt again. When Lord Farring a mutual friend suggests she take steps to prevent Rayne from leaving again, she decides to take one more chance!
Ms. LaCapra wrote a fabulous story for this couple and I absolutely loved the journey she took us on to get to this couple’s well deserved HEA! I enjoyed seeing characters from the past books and look forward to the next book in this series. I can’t wait to get Lord Farring’s story and catch up with the rest of the Lords of Chance! This has been a fabulous series so far and one I highly recommend!
“He wanted to kiss her again, more than a starving man wanted food. He wanted to stoke all his latent cravings, be consumed by them, and then be remade into something new that was hers and hers alone. For the first time since he’d returned, he sensed a home.” But Lord Rayne knew he was not good enought for Lady Julia, a true diamond and it could not control himself around her for long
What he did not expect was the determination of a woman in love and that was Julia in spades (well in a diamond, which was his moniker of his four friends). She knew they were meant to be and she will almost stop at nothing… dressing as a lad, stowing away or whatever it took.
Wonderful, that is the word for this exciting journey for these two, who cannot deny the spark that ignites between them. The banter back and forth and the situation they find themselves in is priceless. Wendy LaCapra at her best with her amazing storytelling and creation of characters you cannot help but love as they melt your heart…
Diamond in the Rogue by Wendy LaCapra is book Three in the Lords of Chance Series. This is the story of Graham Laithe, Earl of Rayne and Julia Stanley. I have read the previous books which added to my enjoyment of this book so I do think it helps if you read the previous books. The incident between Graham and Julia did happen in book 2 the ‘Heart’s Desire’ but with that said you could make do with this as a standalone.
Graham kissed Julia about 2 years ago and then left for America. Now he is back for his sister’s wedding who happens to be the brother of Julia. In addition, to that Julia and his sister Clarissa are good friends. So he is set to meet Julia again but he knows he has feelings for her but doesn’t feel he is what she needs. But Julia knows differently and works to change that.
I always enjoy Ms. LaCapra’s writing so this book was a pleasure to read.
Graham Laithe, Earl of Rayne is back from New York to give his sister Clarissa away in marriage to Lord Markham. He has been gone for a year and a half, but has no intentions of staying, he just wants to take care of estate details and return to America. He left suddenly and under a cloud, his long friendships with Markham and Bromton seemly over and his relationship with Farring strained. But the thing that truly haunts him and has kept him away is Markham’s sister, Lady Julia Stanley. The woman who declared she loved him and whose kiss changed him – the woman he can never have.
Julia had worked hard to put her broken heart back together and to forget Rayne, but now he is back and all those feelings come rushing back. But it is clear he doesn’t want her – or does he? With a little meddling by Farring and a bit of daring by Julia, she will find out one way or the other if there is a future for them.
Farring wheedles Rayne into delivering the carriage to his step-grandmother, the dowager duchess, at her estate – Periwinkle Gate and while he would rather not, Farring is the only one of his friends who hasn’t turned on him and besides, he really likes the dowager duchess. He agrees and sets off. But Farring isn’t done – he convinces Julia to tag along – disguised as a footman. He tells her that Rayne has feelings for her, but doesn’t feel worthy, if Julia loves him, as Farring believes she does, she needs to go with him and convince him that their love is worth fighting for.
All goes well at first, but when weather turns bad and Julia is discovered sooner than she hoped, Rayne has to decide – keep her with him or send her home. She tells him that she is going to Scotland to elope and gives him the first name that pops in her head – Viscount Belhaven, her former governess’s lost love. Rayne is gentle with Julia that first night, caring for her and making sure she is warmed. He agrees to take her with him to Periwinkle Gate and hopes that he can keep his feelings for her in check. For her part, Julia wants Rayne, she has always wanted Rayne, but as an innocent, she is not prepared for his raw sexuality and is a little frighten by the feelings he invokes in her. But, as they travel, she becomes convinced that they are meant to be, but is having a hard time convincing Rayne.
Finally, they reach Periwinkle Gate and finally they give into the sexual tension that has been simmering between them and Rayne asks her to marry him – YES! They set out for Gretna Green, but before they even wed, her lies are revealed and Rayne begins to close himself off from her. And when her family finally catches up with them, it seems like their HEA will be over before it even begins.
This was a well written, complex story of second chances. Rayne is a tortured soul with a tendency to brood, while Julia is a happy soul with a knack for seeing the bright side. They are proof that opposites attract and have the potential to have soulmate type love story – that is if Rayne can get out of his own way and Julia doesn’t give up. I really enjoyed this story, it was a bit heavier than I expected, but not depressing or dark and I did feel like Rayne’s poor self-worth issues dragged a little too long, but in the end, I was happy with the outcome, liked the characters, delighted in the steamy love scenes and I am now even more anxious to read Farring’s story than I was before!! This is the third book in the series and while it could be read as a stand-alone, this is an interconnected series and for maximum enjoyment and character understanding, I would recommend reading the books in order.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*
Diamond in the Rogue
The Lords if Chance Series #3
Wendy LaCapra
https://www.facebook.com/WendyLaCapraAuthor/
Release date 11/11/2019
Publisher Entangled Scandalous
Blurb :
In an act of revenge, Lord Rayne kissed Lady Julia and was sent packing to America. But now he’s back to settle his affairs and give away his sister in marriage, until he meets up with the alluring yet innocent Lady Julia again. He doesn’t regret their first kiss, but he was never good enough for her.
Lady Julia had two years to forget the moody and mercurial Earl of Rayne. But one look, and she knows they’re meant to be together. Be damned with his and her brother’s objections, she’ll just jump on the back of Rayne’s departing carriage and compromise them both thoroughly.
Only, Julia never expected her forbidding Lord to be so good at resisting temptation…
My review :
Will they be able to mend the rift left after their years apart or will pride cost them all …
Mrs Wendy LaCapra has a wide palette with which she paints complex characters with many layers.
From Rayne to Julia, none is easy to comprehend fully at first glance. Themselves are ambivalent about their own desires. One moment they doom the other to hell, and the following minute they want to hold tight the second.
Julia was very young when she first was attracted to Rayne, then he left. But since, never a man was able to rise her interest like he.
But when they meet again, she herself is unable to decide if she wants him in the lions’ den or to embrace her.
Rayne knows he has reacted under anger, why he left with no wish to return.
But for his sister’s weeding he is back, and ready to apologize before his definitive departure.
It was without counting on the meddling influence of his only remaining friend.
Their relationship is like oil and water, when in closed space, all their discussions turn to a battle field and up to them to mend fences.
There is no doubts, except for them about their feelings but they keep so many things unsaid or under strict contrôle, their trust is not easily won.
Rayne seing himself as unworthy of Julia is their biggest challenge, while he lusts after her, he thinks of little else, therefore when the passion quiets a little, he is unable to see the end of the tunnel.
My only complain is I would have liked a bit more details about their past issues as they are what shaped them. All along the story, I grabbed the main for Julia, still I did not really captured Rayne’s so intense dislike of his childhood home.
Why I felt I missed something about Rayne’s anger and Julia’s nightmares.
I do not know if it is because I haven’t read the first book in this series.
Yet, Mrs LaCapra delivered a touching tale of the damages miscommunications and distrust can bring, and sometime you must overstep society’s bounds to go after what you hold dear in your heart.
« “Anything worth having is worth some inconvenience.” »
As it may prove, only a little boost might help reveal what was hidden deep in one’s heart.
« You aren’t a battle I’m going to win. “What am I, then?” “You’re the life I choose to live.” »
4.5 stars for this se and chance tale.
I was granted an advance copy by the publisher Entangled through Netgalley, and purchased my own.
Here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272830/posts/489535084969001?sfns=mo
Diamond In The Rogue is a fantastic and fast-paced historical romance by Wendy LaCapra. Ms. LaCapra has provided readers with a book that is well-written. My favorite part of this book is the characters, they are outstanding and just plain lovable. Rayne is the Earl of Rayne and has returned to England just in time for his sister’s wedding. Julia was smitten with Rayne before he tried to ruin her. She still wants him, but Rayne feels undeserving of anything good in his life. Rayne and Julia’s story is packed with drama, humor, sexy bits and action. I enjoyed every page of this book and look forward to my next book by Wendy LaCapra. Diamond In The Rogue is part of the Lords of Chance Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Diamond in the Rogue is book 3 in the Lords of Chance series by Wendy LaCapra. I have truly enjoyed each book in this series. They are not stand alones. You must read each one in order, because they are all connected. Each story is based on a different member of the rakish quartet of friends – Spades, Clubs, Diamonds and Hearts. This book is about The Earl of Rayne – Diamonds. He and Julia’s story actually begin in book 2. After a misstep, Rayne flees for two years to America. This story picks up just as he returns to England for the wedding of his sister. “Rayne had been gone for almost two years – two years that hadn’t been easy on him, if she were to guess by his weathered skin and bearded cheek However, his gain – the alluring, unintentional swagger all his own – had enhanced. And those bright, singularly captivating blue eyes hadn’t altered one bit. They still weakened her knees and heightened her senses, leaving her watchful. Expectant.” LaCapra writes such a depth into each character. No one is simple. No one can be overlooked. There are a number of steamy sex scenes in this book and even one that is “erotic”. I am glad I stumbled across her work. I am looking forward to more.
This book was ok but really hard for me to rate because I haven’t read the the first two books in the “Lords of chance” series. You kind of have to have read them in order to follow the premise of this story and understand the redemption of Lord Raine and his feelings for Lady Julia.
Lord Raine kissed Lady Julia and thereafter humiliated her and her family. After this he fled to America. After two years in America he returns to see his sister get married to one of his former best friends who is also Lady Julia’s brother. Lord Raine and Lady Julia both have feelings for eachother but he doesn’t want to admit it to her because she deserves better than a destroyed man.
Somehow they both end up on a journey through England together and throughout this journey they get to really know eachother. Lady Julia figures out why Lord Raine is this closed off person and how she can help him through his heart-ships and become the the person he is really supposed to be.
I really liked their journey together and they are very sweet as a couple. But I think that Lady Julia was really gullible and naive in the beginning and suddenly she turns a 180 and become the most mature and knowing woman. It was a bit confusing.
I also really liked the estate of Periwinkle Gate and the many different people and animals that live there. It is a very special and secret place that is closed off to the “ton” and other judgemental people. It would be really great to get the story of this place and I hope we do in Lord Farrings book.
I can recommend this book if you have read the other books in this series and if you like drama, great plot lines and a very sweet lovestory with a sweet HEA.
I got this book from Entangled Publishing and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Wonderful story of love and redemption!
Rayne has been gone for two years, and Julia refuses to pine for him. But when he returns for the wedding of his sister to her brother, one look proves that the spark is still there, despite everyone’s better judgment. Rayne knows he’s not good enough for her, but Julia doesn’t let that get in her way.
I loved Julia’s determination and inner strength that allowed her to stand up to Rayne despite his mountain of regrets and insecurities. There’s a slight hint of BDSM in their relationship, just enough to prove to Rayne that Julia is his match. Rayne isn’t a sympathetic character in the least, until he’s seen through Julia’s eyes. From her viewpoint, he’s transformed into the hero she deserves.
Their history that played out in the first two books was touched upon enough in this book to make it a true standalone, though those who have read the other books will have a better understanding of all the players in this tightly-connected circle of friends. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
In an act of revenge, Graham Laithe, Earl of Rayne kissed Lady Julia Stanley and was sent packing to America. Now nearly two years later he’s back to settle his affairs and to see his sister married, until he meets up with the alluring yet innocent Lady Julia again. He doesn’t regret their first kiss, but he was never good enough for her. Lady Julia has had two years to forget the moody and mercurial Earl of Rayne. But one look, and she knows they’re meant to be together. Be damned with his and her brother’s objections, she’ll just jump on the back of Rayne’s departing carriage and compromise them both thoroughly.
This is the third book in this delightful series, it could easily be read on its own but to fully appreciate it I’d recommend reading the series in order. The book was well written & flowed really well. I really liked both Graham & Julia although they both did annoy me at times. I loved the verbal banter between the pair & their attraction sizzled. The road to their HEA was strewn with obstacles but it made for a very satisfying, enjoyable read & I look forward to Farring’s story
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Rayne has returned home to try and right the wrong things he has done. Waiting for him is his biggest regret Julia. Julia is a firebrand and a tempest determined to get her way. Rayne is tormented by his past and yet drawn to the light that is Julia. These two fierce opposites struggle with their desires and hurts throughout the entire story. They fight for their love and their family. They have to learn to accept each other as well as the things that are important to them. It is a wonderful story filled with ferocious fights and ultimately getting it right.