Chasing a Rogue seems to me to be a clone of a previous book by this author, A Merry Chase. Now, I didn’t read A Merry Chase, but there is enough exposition in Chasing a Rogue to fill me in on all the details of that previous fun couple, Royce and Laurel, and their fox hunting approach to romance. It seems that the best way to catch your mate is to, “Know your quarry, scent her, give chase until she wearies, and you catch your bride.”

Okay, so that’s bad enough. But even though that plot device supposedly frames the story, it doesn’t really because the book primarily consists of a mishmash of muddled goings on and inexplicable behavior. For added fun, the author seems to be under the impression that the phrase “from your lips to God’s ears” was in common use in London in 1817, as was the use of “market” as a verb to describe promoting a product to the public.

Harriet Nash wants to get married and have beautiful children like her close friend Laurel. Like so many of these Regency era heroines, she comes equipped with two dotty aunts and loving parents who, even though they all want her happiness, seem have different ideas about the best way to secure it. Harriet wants to stay in London and attempt to find a husband. Her parents and one of her aunts think it’s time to return to the country and try her luck among the local gentlemen. Harriet is not amused.

As soon as she sets eyes on the newly returned to town Steven, Lord Heath, a man she’s always found attractive, Harriet knows he’s the man she wants to marry. Unfortunately, Steven has only very recently discovered that during her travels through Europe, his mother has submitted bills to Steven’s solicitor that have put him deeply in debt. (More about that later.) Clearly, the only way to repair his fortunes is to marry an heiress.

Mistakenly thinking that Harriet can be both the heiress he needs and the woman of his dreams, Steven enjoys a romantic and flirtatious evening with Harriet. But when Steven’s good friend Royce clues him in to the fact that Harriet doesn’t have the big bucks he needs, Steven decides to look elsewhere and use those fox hunting skills Royce has taught him in the quest for bigger game.

Of course, his heart isn’t in it. And Harriet, determined not to let the prize get away so easily, decides to turn the tables on Steven and employ those same hunting skills to bring down the man she loves.

Fellow reviewer Rachel Potter and I have had a few lively discussions about 19th century heroines who suddenly engage in inexplicable sex and, honestly, I’m often inclined to look the other way. But, in this case, the very idea is ridiculous. This very well brought up young woman suddenly turns into Mae West. From expert flirting that it takes most women (okay, me) years to Master, to orgasmic and experimental sex virtually the first time out, this woman is one erotic powerhouse. (Note to Rachel: My advice to you is to stay miles away from this book.)

And Steven’s mother? We are supposed to buy the fact that this woman was so protected by her deceased husband that she goes around Europe breaking things (yes, that’s literally what happens) and offering to pay for everything. Break a cup? Offer to buy new china. The sinister explanation that the author offers for this is as infuriating as both the character herself and the insult to the reader in asking her to believe that this kind of thing could bring down the fortune of a supposedly wealthy man. I mean, there were no alarm bells here on the part of Steven’s supposedly dedicated solicitor? Sheesh.

The good thing is that the sex scenes (improbable though they may be) were pretty hot. And I chuckled once or twice at Malvey’s dialogue.

Victoria Malvey has written several books since her 1998 debut, and the only one to receive a good grade at AAR was last year’s Wedding of the Year. She may well be capable of writing a good book, but I won’t be sticking around to give her another try.