Wild, Wild Rake, the next sweeping, emotional, witty, and sharp romance in the Cavensham Heiresses series from beloved author Janna MacGregor. Her first marriage was an epic fail. Lady Avalon Warwyk never did love her husband. Arrogant, selfish, and cruel, it’s a blessing when she’s widowed and left to raise her son all by herself. Finally, Avalon can live freely and do the work she loves: … can live freely and do the work she loves: helping fallen women become businesswomen. She’s lived these past ten years with no desire to remarry–that is, until Mr. Devan Farris comes to town.
Can he convince her to take another chance at happily ever after?
Devan Farris–charming vicar, reputed rake, and the brother of Avalon’s son’s guardian–is reluctantly sent to town to keep tabs on Avalon and her son. Devan wishes he didn’t have to meddle in her affairs; he’s not one to trod on a woman’s independent nature and keen sense of convictions. But she’ll have nothing to do with a vicar with a wild reputation–even though he’s never given his heart and body to another. If only he could find a way to show Avalon who he really is on the inside–a good, true soul looking for its other half. But how can prove that he wants to love and care for her. . .until death do they part?
Praise for the Cavensham Heiresses series
“Full-bodied romance…with intelligence and heart.”–New York Times bestselling author Cathy Maxwell
“Sparkling…MacGregor brings England’s Regency era to life.” —Publishers Weekly
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Avalon Pearce, Marchioness of Warwyck, was forced to marry Richard Pearce, the Marquess of Larkton, He was
cruel, belittle, and verbally abused her and it didn’t matter where they were or who was there. She was pregnant
was tired of staying at Warwyck hall and come to London. He came in sporting his baby by a mistress, his mistress and a couple of other ladies of the night. Then a couple of men came in Gavin and Devon Farris, her husband told her he was moving his mistress in and that Avalon his wife could be ladies maid to his mistress. he said some other things but as you can see, he was cruel. She named her son, Thane he was the apple of her eye’
Devon Farris had become a vicar but he wanted to be a soldier, His brother sent him to Thistledown to spy on Avalon.’ He felt he had the right because he was the boy’s guardian. When he got in town Avalon told him why he had come and made no bones about it.
I really enjoyed this story. The talk between the Vicar and Avalon could be funny at times. The twists and turns in this tale were interesting. The characters for the most part were warm and inviting. It is well written, easy to read
and kept it more entertaining. A lot happens.
I received this ARC from Net Galley and voluntarily reviewed it.
This book is slow paced. Part of the story is captivating, but part of it is stretched out a little too much. The concept is good, but some of the content takes away the focus from the main story.
Avalon has been through some depressing and hurtful times in her first marriage. After being widowed, she vows that nobody else would take away her independence. She dedicates her time to her son, her sister and helping women who have been through a hard time. This is an admirable trait, but some of her behaviour and reasoning are contradictory.
Devan relectuntly accepts a post in her parish, where he is also to tutor her son. He has always believed in the disparing comments made by Avalon’s husband. This has lead to them disliking each other. Now that he has a chance to get to know her, he quickly changes his mind and becomes enamoured. The thing is that Avalon finds it hard to trust and getting through to her proves to be difficult. To make matters worse, a lie could destroy his life, reputation and a chance at happiness.
It’s a good concept, but outstretched in places, where it becomes tedious. It does have the desired outcome.
I was kindly issued with an eARC from Netgalley and the views expressed are my personal opinion.
*** 3.5 Stars Rounded Up
I am so delighted to have finally gotten to know Devan Farris better. We’ve met him before, and frankly, I was confused by him. Was he a good guy or a – well – not bad guy but … Anyway, now we know. This is a well written, well-plotted story with very likable characters – some of whom we’ve met in other books. I even loved that the villain was duly punished!
Avalon and Devlin are prime examples of why you shouldn’t believe what you hear. Each has a reputation that doesn’t match the real person at all. In one case it was a carefully crafted reputation and in the other case, it was a reputation created by others to be hurtful. In the end, both are equally hurtful.
Devan is the gentlest, sweetest man you could meet and you would never know that from his terrible reputation – the Wicked Vicar. You know that there are alpha heroes and beta heroes – well – I’m thinking that Devan might come in as a gamma or delta hero. No, he isn’t a doormat, he isn’t a coward, he is just a very, very sweet and giving man who puts others before himself. He is the Bishop’s favorite vicar to move around to troubled parishes because he is so good at straightening them out. Everybody is charmed by him and he quickly becomes a cornerstone of whatever parish he is sent to. Except, when he is sent to Thistledown, the patroness doesn’t want him and blatantly asks him what it would take to make him go away.
Lady Avalon Pearce, Marchioness of Warwyck was forced into a marriage she didn’t want. Her husband was cruel, dismissive, and cold, but he gave her the greatest gift she’d ever gotten – her son, Thane. Then he had the good grace to die and leave her a widow. Though he still managed to mistreat her even from the grave, she was free of him and managed to build a good life for herself and Thane. Thistledown was hers. They were her people and she’d see to their welfare. They’d welcomed her when she had been abandoned by all who should have loved and protected her – and now she was doing all she could to assure their welfare. She doesn’t want the new vicar in her parish – he is too handsome, too charming, and she just knows he was sent by her son’s guardian to spy on her because he wants an excuse to take her son away. She’ll pay the vicar off, offer whatever she has to in order to get him to leave.
Since Devan has no intention of leaving – and he was sent by her son’s guardian – Lady Avalon is fighting a losing battle. Devan isn’t really spying, he refused to do that, but he is assessing Thane’s academic readiness, as well as acting as a tutor to Thane. All of that throws Devan and Avalon together more and more often. They have known each other for years and have bickered for years – now, that bickering turns to teasing and endearments. When push comes to shove, Avalon is the one to stand up and defend Devan when he needs it.
I loved how their relationship developed slowly over time – actually over all of the years they’ve known each other. Neither is what the other thought they were and it was a delight to see them come to realize that. I thought the book was a bit slow at times and it was easy to allow my attention to wander. I also got a little tired of Avalon’s back-and-forth and I thought Devan was a bit too soft and submissive, but I still thought it was an enjoyable read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own
Wild, Wild Rake is the 6th book in The Cavensham Heiresses Series, but can be read as stand-alone, by Janna MacGregor. This is the first time I’ve read her and I’m so pleased to discover a new historical author with a pleasant and enjoyable writing style. I’d say this book emphasizes on the feminist side, focusing on the journey of an independent widow who dedicated her life to serving and caring for her community and her family. Our hero is quite an unexpected character in a good way, and a swoon-worthy supportive beta hero .
Lady Avalon, Marchioness of Warwyk, was forced into matrimony at a young age and suffered from the loveless marriage at the hands of her cruel husband. After his death, she devoted herself to raising her son and her younger sister and taking great care of the ancestral estate. She worked tirelessly for her charities to provide shelter and support for fallen women and their children. A new vicar taking post at her local parish was the last man she wanted in the haven that she’s spent her life building and nurturing.
Devan Farris is the youngest brother of the Earl of Larkton, who was Avalon’s son’s legal guardian. At his brother’s request that he spy on Avalon’s funding situation, Devan had a chance to know more about Avalon’s true character. Knowing her painful past, Devan was always patient and supportive to Avalon, slowly thawing the ice around her heart. With much time spent together, they realized they both were not who people think they were. She was compassionate and independent, yet misunderstood as a ruthless money-sucker; he was a reputed rake, yet that was only a name he was making up to ward off marriage traps…
I quite enjoy Ms MacGregor’s writing style, it has a nice flow and good character development. I did feel frustrated at Avalon at some point for her distrust in Devan, but I understand it stemmed from her past experience, and his rakish reputation did not help as well . Though the beginning was a bit slow to me (you could say slow-burn ), it picked up the pace in the second half as unexpected events unfolded . Overall, it was quite an enjoyable read with medium , swoony and touching moments. 4.5- read for me.
*Special thanks to St. Martin’s Press for sending me the ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
3.5 stars rounded up.
Mr. Devan Farris is a vicar with a very rakish reputation, but what most don’t know is that his wild ways are a carefully fabricated ruse to keep his meddling brother, the Earl of Larkton, at bay. Devan knows his brother means well with his constant attempts to set him up with lovely heiresses, but Devan longs for a loving match like their parents had and won’t settle for less. Despite his frustrations with him, when the Earl asks Devan to transfer to a new parish to check up on his ward, the young Marquess of Warwyck and his mother, Lady Avalon, to ensure she is not spending her son’s inheritance, Devan reluctantly agrees; Devan doesn’t want to interfere, but he’s always found himself unwittingly intrigued by Avalon and takes the opportunity to spend some time with her.
Lady Avalon Warwyck has thoroughly enjoyed independence in her widowhood after a terrible marriage forced on her by her parents. She may be lonely, but she’s got her ten year old son and her charity work helping women who’ve fallen into unsavory professions establish themselves in business. She’s never wanted a man’s company, but that all begins to change with the arrival of the new vicar. At first, Avalon tries her best to get rid of the loathsome Devan, but soon enough he becomes an integral part of the community. Now it’s up to Devan to show Avalon the good-hearted man he truly is beneath his reputation, and help her regain her own confidence.
Devan was adorable in his utter cluelessness about women. Avalon would take several steps forward, only to take great leaps back and while this did grow rather tiresome, especially with her consistent regression to doubting Devan, it was also understandable given her past experiences and how shattered her confidence was. This element also gave sweet Devan more opportunities to shine as he reassured her. However, Avalon was very eager to take on everyone else’s problems as her own and at times it was almost like she looked for things to come between her and Devan, even after she supposedly loved him. I kept forgiving her and understanding her motivations, but she just kept on and on. Even with Devan doing everything perfectly and treating her so well, she kept finding reasons to doubt him anyway and seemed not to care if that would hurt him. She’d say hurtful things and fling accusations at him and then retract it and say she didn’t mean it, which I can understand to an extent, but the number of times this happened got to be rather tedious. Devan carried this book and though I liked it, it didn’t hold up to how much I loved its predecessor.
Nonetheless, I enjoyed this book and will look forward to more in this series and from this author.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I have loved this series from the first book I read, “The Luck of the Bride” (3rd in the series) and this one did not disappoint either. Ms. MacGregor has such a wonderfully flowing writing style. Her characters come to life from the pages of the book. In this story, we learn all about Avalon Cavensham Warwyck or Lady Warlock as our hero, Vicar Devan Farris, likes to call her. Avalon has made brief appearances periodically throughout this series; with a little more attention given in the last book, “Rogue Most Wanted”. We get to learn about Avalon and Devan’s back-stories as this tale unfolds. Avalon has made the best out of a terrible situation and is such a lovely, giving, sympathetic character.
This is a well written, enjoyable, historical romance with well thought out characters.
I have been keeping up with the series so I was glad to have this one. As I think I have mentioned before some of the books in the series I liked and some I couldn’t really care for, and this one was partly in that category. I wondered about Avalon and wasn’t crazy about her at first but as I continued reading which at times was hard for me because I hate abusers and cheaters I continued and I hated Avalon’s first husband as much if not more than she did and I couldn’t understand why know one punched him in the face he so deserves it. Avalon was a saint compared to how I would be with the mistress I get this happened back then but she not only accepted her but was there for her, yeah even if she hated her husband the mistress was a little too much for me. Now that Avalon is a widow I could definitely understand if she never wanted another man again, but that changes fairly quickly.
Rcvd and ARC at no cost to author..(netgalley) Voluntarily reviewed with my own thoughts and opinions.