Lord Seth Templeton has no desire for life to change. He enjoyed every minute of his bachelor existence. Anyway, his older brother, the Marquis of Eastbrook, partakes in enough seriousness for one family. His reputation as a rake has never caused him any problems…until now.Now, he must find a wife. And quickly. According to the terms of the inheritance, he must be engaged within two months or … within two months or forfeit his grandfather’s money—money that would save his family. Finding a wife would be easy enough for a man like Seth but he’s certainly not ready to settle down. Surely there must be a way out of this situation…?
In search of a solution, Seth finds himself in the depths of a place in which he never thought he’d set foot…
A library.
He also finds himself spending time with the clever Miss Prudence Hartley. The woman is a whizz with books and the law, and is thus, extremely useful to Seth. He needs her—for her strangely vast brain only of course.
After all, what does it matter if he likes the way she pouts as she reads a book or furrows her brow in concentration? He’s a rake. And nothing will change that.
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This is sweet, amusing and romantic. Seth is a likable, charming, determined and cheeky rake. Pru is quiet, introverted, intellectual and stubborn. They meet in a library where Pru is doing medieval research and Seth is looking for a way out of his grandfather’s inheritance condition. Pru offers to help him and they spend every day together pouring over books. The more time they spend in each other’s company, the more they realize that there is far more to the other than they first thought. They are complete opposites, and yet they complement each other so sweetly. I am loving this series and can’t wait to read about the rest of this family’s tasks.
I received a copy of this book from Booksprout and am voluntarily reviewing it.
A RAKE NEVER CHANGES HIS SPOTS is the second book in the Inheritance Clause series. This book could stand on its own but is even better when enjoyed as part of the series and in the order of release.
This was a fun, reluctant friends to lovers to HEA, historical romance. I enjoyed my time reading this novella and could not put it down. The characters are very likeable and, though the progression was predictable, it was just what I want in a feel-good romance.
I loved Seth more than any rake I’ve read about before. He’s intelligent, sweet, and gentlemanly.
I believe the next story will be the bookish sister, Minerva. So far, she seems like she will be similar to Seth’s Prudence. I look forward to discovering the author’s creativity in presenting her story.
Note: While I received this book as a gifted ARC via BookSprout, my opinions are my own and are given freely.
Title: A RAKE NEVER CHANGES HIS SPOTS
Series: Inheritance Clause #2
Category /Genre: Historical Romance
Recommended for: 18+ due to sexual content
Grammar/editing: book received as an unedited ARC / errors excused
Received from: Samantha Holt (as an ARC gifted copy)
Seth is at the library looking for a legal way to get out of the marriage his grandfather imposed in his will. Prue spends her days at the library doing research to be published. She offers to help him with this matter.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Prudence Hastings was minding her own business, working on her medieval research when Lord Seth Templeton noisily entered her space at Wilson’s Library. Seth is researching a way out of being forced to become engaged within two months in order to receive his grandfather’s inheritance and he asks for Prudence’s assistance. Prudence was married before, lost her husband to consumption, and has no desire to risk her heart to anyone else but she is intrigued by Seth’s request. During their research they become friends and Seth finds the solution to his dilemma right in front of him. I love a bluestocking romance. I think it’s cool how some people have the ability to add large sums in their head like Prudence. The rescue dogs were adorable. I can’t wait to read what tasks the other Templeton siblings were given.
Whats a Lord to do when he suddenly finds himself in position to take over the estate when his elder brother suddenly passes? Are his days as a confirmed bachelor at an end? Unfortunately there is the matter of the terms of the inheritance, that he must be engaged within two months or forfeit the money. Yes, a lot of money that will preserve his family and estates. Cannot he find a way out?
Going to the library (love it)to do some research, he unexpectedly seems to find a solution in the form of a widow, Miss Prudence Hartley. Talk about totally opposite? Well they do say they attract don’t they and such is the case. They work together and begin to form a friendship, but can Prudence really believe this rake?
A delightful story that will have you smiling as you turn the last page. Samantha Holt does it again and I may even like this one better than the first book in this series!
Seth Templeton kept his attention on Mr. Barton, the lawyer, as his younger sister tried to sneak into the study and their older brother, Theo, gave her a raised eyebrow for her late entry. Seth wasn’t sure why he needed to be here at all for the reading of his grandfather’s Will since it was assumed his mother and possibly Theo would inherit the wealth. But when Mr. Barton got to the grandchildren, he explained they would inherit large sums of money only if they fulfilled certain terms within a period of two months! Otherwise, their share would be forfeit and given to Mr. Hastings, a beast of a man who dishonored their cousin and ran off with a nursemaid! He deserved nothing at all!! Seth had no problem with Theo inheriting all of it to run the estate, but to lose it to that dishonorable man would be intolerable! He wasn’t even family!
Mr. Barton gave each of them letters describing the tasks their grandfather wanted them to complete. Angel was to get a job as a lady’s companion! She immediately said no! Seth revealed that his task was to become engaged to be married within the next two months! Seth stepped into a library his sister, Minerva, had recommended to research his legal options for avoiding his despised task. The rake in him admired the dark corners where he would bring a lady for a little rendezvous. He heard rustling pages and saw a woman sitting in the back of the dark, gloomy library. The librarian, Mr. Stuart, told him it was Miss Prudence Hastings, the only female given permission to use the books. Even Minerva didn’t have access here! When Mr. Stuart told him of the woman’s amazing legal mind, Seth decided he would charm her to get her assistance in his goal. He did not want to marry – there had to be a legal loophole somewhere! He sat near Miss Hastings, and when he sighed and put the book down too heavily, she actually shushed him! He decided to turn on his legendary charm and win her cooperation. He bowed and introduced himself as Lord Seth Templeton, at your service. “I do not need you at my service, my lord,” she replied succinctly. “I need you to be quiet.” He was stunned – his charm and powers of seduction had always worked on all women! She went back to her work, the quill scratching notes hurriedly on her paper, and Seth smirked as he said, “Shhhhh.” The battle was on! When he finally offered her a quill given to him by Theo when he entered Oxford, she was amazed at its quality and he saw a tiny smile briefly light up her face.
At breakfast, Pru’s parents tried to gently suggest she take the dog for a walk and maybe she would meet a young man. But Pru was approaching her spinsterhood and was not at all distressed. Her academic pursuits kept her happy. Even when she did go out to walk in the gardens, she preferred her solitude. She walked to the library and saw that HE was there again. Books were spread everywhere, and he had shoved his fingers through his hair, messing it. She saw his look of desperation and tension, but she would not pry. But she was unable to concentrate today! She kept glancing over at him. Finally, she had enough and asked what he was searching for, but he said he really didn’t know. His problem now became a challenge to her, and she knew she could find whatever it was he needed.
Pru listened to his dilemma and suggested he simply marry and go on with his life. But he explained that he had seen firsthand the pain caused by lies. He would not lie to a woman, and to marry, he would have to respect her and would never be unfaithful. But he didn’t want to marry! If he failed his task, his siblings would also lose and the money would go to someone very undeserving. Also his brother’s late wife had put him in debt and his siblings would value not having to need money from him. He could not fail the task – but if he could get around the forced marriage stipulation legally, it would solve his problem. Knowing what they were looking for, Pru said she would help. Besides, it would get him out of her library so she could do her own research in solitude! Would she be able to find the case law to free him from this obligation? Or would the two of them begin to respect each other and perhaps find an attraction they didn’t realize was growing?
This is such a wonderful series! Each has started out full of pre-conceived notions that would be completely turned around as each person grew and matured within the experiences provided to them. It was such a joy seeing how each character handled their challenge. Join in the fun of this wonderful story and see the wisdom of Seth’s grandfather in the tasks he set before his grandchildren which will put them on the right course in life.
I received a complimentary ARC via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Due to a clause in his grandfather’s will, Lord Seth Templeton, brother of a marquis, must be engaged to be married within two months’ time or forfeit his inheritance to a scoundrel. In his search for a legal loophole around this inheritance clause, Seth meets the widowed Mrs. Prudence Hastings. Though his charms don’t seem to work on her as they have on so many other women, she can’t resist the challenge of this legal research, so she offers to help him and the two begin to develop a friendship. Academically inclined Pru has just as little desire for marriage as Seth, despite the sparks that soon fly between them. Pru just wants to have her research taken seriously and is content to continue on the road to becoming a spinster. Seth certainly isn’t ready to settle down, but soon he can’t imagine his life without Pru in it.
This was a quick, enjoyable little novella. Sure it was predictable, but the characters were very likable and this was an overall good read.
I thought this short historical romance was very fun and enjoyable. Everything is pretty typical but that doesn’t make this read any less enjoyable. I liked both of the characters. I felt that they were very different but also had more in common than they ever expected. Seth was charming and quite sweet. I felt Prudence was a perfect match for him and I really liked how smart and independent she was. The plot moves along at a good pace an the storyline holds your interest well. In total, I thought this was a very good read and another wonderful book in this series.
Four and a half stars.
I enjoyed this second in the series and am looking forward to the others. Seth is a sweetie even if he is a rake. Will he and Prudence find a solution for his problem obtaining his inheritance? The characters are well crafted and surprisingly likeable given their introductions at the beginning of the story. Definitely worth reading.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
Lord Seth Templeton has no desire for life to change. He enjoyed every minute of his bachelor existence. Anyway, his older brother, the Marquis of Eastbrook, partakes in enough seriousness for one family. His reputation as a rake has never caused him any problems…until now.
Now, he must find a wife. And quickly. According to the terms of the inheritance, he must be engaged within two months or forfeit his grandfather’s money—money that would save his family. Finding a wife would be easy enough for a man like Seth but he’s certainly not ready to settle down. Surely there must be a way out of this situation…?
He also finds himself spending time with the clever Miss Prudence Hartley. He likes the way she pouts as she reads a book or furrows her brow in concentration.
The facts of his inheritance are to be kept secret but Seth finds he must tell Prudence in order to secure her help.
These two are a mismatched pair that no one would expect to be attracted to each other.
What’s a respectable widow to do when she finds herself overwhelmed by a rake?
I thought book one was good but found this one to be even better.
It is amazing how well matched this rake is to this scholarly lady.
I gave this second in the series novella 4.8 of 5.0 stars for storyline and characterization. The intimacy in this one is a necessary element and makes the story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
If you want a quick lighthearted novella to read, this is the one for you. Lord Seth Templeton has two months to become engaged in order to get his inheritance from his deceased grandfather and he decides to go to the library to search for a loophole. There he meets Prudence Hastings who has quite the genius mind and she ends up helping him. Seth is a typical rake and Pru is a plain looking widow who would rather spend time with her books….what follows is a sweet story of how these two “illogically” fall in love.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Another sibling fulfills their task. Seth is determined to get out of marrying and seeks the help of the legal scholar Prudence. They spend copious amounts of time together doing research and getting to know each other. Prudence is afraid to love again because she believes it will interfere with her academic goals. The conversations are light hearted and fun. Both are able to laugh at themselves. They grow closer together and cross the line to lovers which leads to a happily ever after.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
4 1/2 Stars! Book two of the Inheritance Clause series. Can be read and enjoyed as stand-alone. Novella told in dual POV with HEA. In order to inherit their grandfather’s fortune four siblings must complete a task in two months time. Each book follows a different sibling and their assigned task. Seth the youngest son and a known rake’s task is to be engaged to be married. Instead of setting out to find a bride he instead sets out looking for a loophole in the law that will allow him and his siblings to inherit without completing their tasks. Prudence puts her own research on hold and accepts the challenge of helping Seth. They form a friendship and more…. I liked this sweet and a little steamy novella!!
Due to a stipulation in his grandfather’s will, Seth meets Prudence while in his quest to find a way out of having to meet his grandfather’s requirement. The longer they spend time together the more Seth comes to realize his love for Pru. This is a well written romance story that I loved and I would highly recommend this book as a great read.