Georgina Anderson made her way to America with her family friend, Mac, in search of her long lost fianc้. He had been impressed by the English during the war, and no one had seen him since. She was stunned to discover him married with children, but was even more shocked when she realized her pride was more injured than her heart. Though from a rich family who own their own fleet of ships, Georgina and Mac now find themselves having to work their way home, since all the money they had taken with them had been stolen. By a chance of rotten luck, Georgina ends up as cabin boy on the Maiden Anne. The captain of the ship is the man she and Mac had a run-in with not long before. Can she keep her true identity – her very gender – a secret from his all-seeing eyes? Will she finally come to understand the nauseous feeling she gets when in his presence?

Captain James Malory is the black sheep from an English titled family. For many years, he pirated, more for fun due to boredom than any inherent evil. He knows from the first that his cabin 'boy' is not a boy at all, and determines to seduce her over the course of the voyage. Yet, her innocent reactions to his touch send him nearly over the edge. He has never been drawn to anyone the way he is to her, but he is refuses to recognize the true depth of his feelings for her. After all, he has been with many women, some married, some not. None ever captured his heart, not even his son's mother. How long will it take him to recognize the truth of his feelings for her? What course of action will this man – famous for his intention never to marry – take?

Johanna Lindsey is one of my favorite authors, and her Malory series is simply superb! Gentle Rogue is an exciting historical romance, complete with a gentleman pirate. James and Georgina are fabulous characters, and their journey – both aboard the ship and on their path to love – are a wonder to behold and a joy to read. All of the characters have been developed to their fullest, and you can picture them in your head. Their quirks are amusing; their antics keep your gaze glued to the page. The plot is paced excellently, and several scenes have importance in other books within this excellent series. There are love scenes, and they do get described, though the actual actions are not depicted. I have read Gentle Rogue cover to cover multiple times, and believe that if you have not already done so, you will. You cannot help doing otherwise.

Reviewed by: Elizabeth