Scoundrels, thieves, and rebels inhabit the rookeries–where dangerous men fall in love with fierce women.ONCE SHE WAS BEAUTIFUL…Abigail Vautille dreamed of escaping the Whitechapel rookery and starting a new life until one tragic night left her scarred and penniless. To save her family from debtor’s prison, she strikes a deal with the rogue who owns her father’s gambling vowels-if he excuses … her father’s gambling vowels-if he excuses the debt, for two weeks, she’ll give him her body, but not her heart.
ONCE HE WAS CHARMING…
Inspector Michael Strickland of the Metropolitan Police has always had a way with women. Success comes easily to him, and he glides through life on his good looks and family name. But Abigail lights a passion within him he never knew existed. He sees the beauty within her, not the beast she believes herself to be.
TOGETHER, THEIR LOVE IS BEYOND A FAIRY TALE.
After a dangerous figure from Abigail’s past resurfaces vowing vengeance, things take a sinister turn. But Michael will stop at nothing to keep the woman he loves safe. When the stakes are high and the scars are more than skin deep, passion may be the key to a happily ever after.
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Note: Beauty and the Rake is a dark, gritty, and steamy (heat level 4 out of 5, on page sex scenes) full-length romantic suspense set in pre-Victorian working class London. While it is book three in the Rookery Rogues series, it can be read as a stand-alone historical romance.
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This is a very good slow burn romance. You really expect the book to jump hot and heavy into a sexual relationship between Michael and Abigail. Honestly, the book is better for the build up. There are several detailed sex scenes but the don’t come until the half point of the book. If you are looking for a historical that’s completely sweet than this isn’t your book. If you’re looking for a story were the main characters become friends and then lovers look no further. I didn’t realize this was the third book in the series until I read about 25% of the book. It kept referring to past events and I realized there must be other books. Overall, though you don’t need to read books one and two to enjoy this story. I did really love that there was a real relationship between Abigail and Michael and not insanta love. Sometimes that works but given the past each character brings to the table it would have felt wrong here. I’m definitely going to check out the other books in this series.
A very real look into the pain and suffering of the poor in early 1800’s London.
Abigail lives in the poorest section of London working in a factory. When she tried to help a friend find the killer of their other friend she was caught and tortured, and spends six months in the hospital recovering, but her hand will never be the same and she has to wear gloves to cover it. Now she can’t work and bring in money to feed herself, her sister, and her father. And her father has gambling debts they can’t pay. She bargains away her virginity for two weeks. But she doesn’t realize the person who has accepted saw her in the hospital and was enamored of her. Michael is an Inspector and has been intrigued by Abigail ever since seeing her in the hospital. While she was unconscious he secretly sat by her bedside and talked to her. And now he gets to have her in his bed for two weeks. But Abigail’s torturer has escaped and wants both Michael and Abigail. Can Michael keep her safe, and what about the secret he is keeping about her torture and pain. He hasn’t told her that if he and another detective had believed the complaints sooner, Abigail would never have been hurt. Can Abigail ever forgive the people responsible for her pain and suffering a live a full and happy life? I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I absolutely loved the story of Abigail and Michael. Abigail is disfigured due to the corrupt owners of a cloth factory. Michael is an inspector with the Metropolitan Police who not only is secretly taken with Abigail but also is charged with protecting her from the fiend who tortured her and escaped from custody. Their unfolding love story is touching. Author took the time to develop the characters as well as the storyline. A must read! I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily post this review. This is my honest review.
This is a difficult book to read if one is somewhat squeamish, as I am. The acts of cruelty towards Abigail are appalling but Michael Strickland’s part in her past doesn’t win him any favours either. Whilst not a prude, I did find the sexual content of this book overwhelming and found myself skipping large blocks of text to get to the actual plot, which is actually good and fairly suspenseful. Although I purchased this book some years ago, I also received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily post this review. This is my honest review.