Wickedly sinful, the Earl of Sussex, is an unrepentant rake. And the Wicked Earls’ Club is the perfect place for a man of his station to indulge in life. That is until his parents make a match for him. Travelling to meet his intended bride, he is convinced he must end this farce. Until he meets Lady Tabitha. A fiery wallflower equally bent on ending their engagement. Lady Tabitha, daughter or the … daughter or the duke, will not be betrothed to a rake no matter what her father thinks of his social connections. As long as she doesn’t stare into the depths of his green eyes, or linger on the strong lines of jaw, she should be able to scheme her way out of this engagement. That is, if her intended groom would just cooperate in her plans.
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What a delightful novella! I can’t wait to read the rest of the novellas in this series if they are all as good as this one! This series is also a great way to try out new (to me) authors. I have a feeling that I’ll be adding several to my ‘favorite authors’ list – Tammy Andersen included!
We met Luke Bentley, Earl of Sussex in the introductory novella – The Wicked Earl’s Club. I liked him right away and he was tiring of the debauched lifestyle, but wouldn’t admit it to himself. We also learned that The Earl of Coventry (the founder? of the club) was a bit of a matchmaker and that he’d decided on the perfect match for Luke – Lady Tabitha (Tabbie) Riley – the Duke of Waverly’s daughter.
Tabbie is a happy wallflower since she chose to be one. She’s smart, sassy and full of schemes – they just come naturally to her. She also doesn’t suffer fools and rakes lightly. She has been introduced to Luke twice and both times he just looked through her as his eyes followed one buxom lady or another about the ballroom. Shock is a mild word to describe what Tabbie felt on the morning she was told that Luke would be arriving in three hours and they would be discussing an engagement. Oh! No! That couldn’t be happening – what was she going to do?
Luke isn’t any happier about the arranged meeting than she is and he plans to let her down gently – HA! His jaw drops when she announces to him that she has no desire to marry him and that since she’s sure he doesn’t want to marry her either, they must find a way to get out of any arrangement their parents try to foist on them. A woman – refusing him! Unbelievable.
A pretty little wallflower was the undoing of a rake. As they became better acquainted, Luke came to think marriage to Tabbie might not be such a bad thing. Tabbie has some lustful thoughts herself but doesn’t trust Luke to be a faithful and true marriage partner. Luke has to work really hard to convince her.
These two are really well matched – both intelligent and witty, but I was beginning to be fearful about Tabbie’s trust issues. Could she learn to trust Luke? Tough decision
This novella was so well fleshed out that you almost feel that you’ve read a full-length novel. The characters are fully fleshed out, the story is well written and well plotted. You’ll like Tabbie’s sister and can look forward to her having her own story.
The only ‘flub’ that I caught was slight and didn’t affect the storyline much. The author mentioned, in a number of places, that Luke would be doing this or that in Parliament. Well, Luke wouldn’t have had a seat in Parliament. His title was an honorific – his father would hold the seat in Parliament until he passed away and Luke rose to the title. The only other way Luke would have been in Parliament would be if he ran and was elected to the House of Commons and given the description given of his lifestyle, I’m pretty sure that isn’t the case.
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4.5 stars
Luke Bentley, Earl of Sussex is an unrepentant rake, but his days of living wild and free are about to come to an end, his parents have decided that is time for him to settle down and start a family and they have the perfect woman in mind for him -Lady Tabitha Riley, the Duke of Waverly’s daughter.
Luke is convinced that Tabitha aka Tabbie (if my sister Tabitha is reading this – I am so sorry – that is how the author spelled it!) is a boring wallflower and has no desire to marry her. His friends disagree and tell him to meet her before he makes any decisions.
Tabbie is a wallflower – by choice! She is incredibly bright and is a natural born schemer, so when her father tells her about the possible match, she immediately begins to think of ways to avoid being married to Luke. Oh, Luke is handsome and charming, but he is a rake and her previous interactions with him have convinced her that he is not husband material.
When they meet, Tabbie cuts to the heart of the matter immediately, they don’t want to marry, so they must find a way to end this farce without causing a scandal. Luke is taken aback – this shy wallflower is not what he expected – she is lovely, smart and witty. He is even more shocked when he realizes that he desires her. When Tabbie suggests they meet later to discuss their plan, Luke knows it is a bad idea, but he also knows he will being going anyway!
When they meet later, Tabbie tells him her plan, he will be caught with another woman and Tabbie will be free. Luke points out the flaws in her plan and then he kisses her. Luke is shaken down to his toes by the kiss and quickly tells Tabbie he will find a woman and set their plan in motion.
After leaving the estate to return to London, Luke begins to change, he hasn’t had a drink in days and with his mind clear, he sees the man he is and doesn’t really like it. He follows through with his promise and returns to the house party with a woman in tow. But the more he thinks about it, the less he wants to go through with the plan.
Tabbie meets with him and the woman and finds herself a little jealous, but it is for the best, Luke would only break her heart. She leaves to find her father, so they can “catch” Luke in the act with another woman, thus releasing her from having to marry him. But when they enter the room, Luke is alone. When Tabbie manages to get Luke alone, she asks why he blew the plan and he is honest. He says he wants her and would like a chance to get to know her. He asks for time to prove that he can be the man she needs and surprises her by sharing his views on marriage and commitment.
Tabbie agrees to give him time, but she is still sure that there is no such thing as a reformed rake and he will eventually tire of her and move onto the next woman.
These two really are well matched and Luke is much kinder and more understanding with Tabbie than I would have expected. Tabbie will struggle with her feelings and trust issues, but will she be willing to risk all to gain the love of a lifetime?
The story is very well written, flows nicely and is very fleshed out for a novella. There is witty banter, somewhat steamy love scenes, wonderful characters and enough twists and turns to keep the story interesting.
This is the first book in the Wicked Earls Club collaboration series and Ms. Anderson has set the bar high for her fellow authors. While the story was not technically perfect, I enjoyed it and would be happy to recommend it.
Tabitha & Luke’s
Tabitha “Tabbie” & This Book was cheeky & fun.
Tabbie’s Character was so Dang Adorable.
Luke a Rake & Scoundrel loves his life with the Wicked Earl’s Club & doesn’t wish to marry, but his parents tell him they have arranged a marriage for him & he must go through with it.
Tabbie doesn’t want to marry the Rake who she’s been introduced to a couple of times & he doesn’t even look at her, he looks through her.
Tabbie comes up with a scheme to end their Betrothal, yet Luke upon meeting Tabbie is so intrigued by her Impertinence he decided he didn’t want the Betrothel to be cancelled.
Although it was a short Novella it would have been a good Novel.
A well-known rake finds himself betrothed to a young lady he doesn’t remember meeting. Tabbie definitely remembers Luke and his behavior around women during a ball. A true wallflower is always observing rakes. When they finally meet, Luke realizes he’s a changed man. I love the interaction between them, especially Luke’s determination to earn Tabbie’s trust. The epilogue is so sweet.
Will The Earl of Sussex:Luke and Tabbie ever get together. It takes drastic measures but…the two have to trust one another. Its an eighteen and over book. Slight violence at the end.
I loved reading Tabitha and Luke’s story and the fact that a good woman can tame a rake. The “Earl of Sussex” is a new series of Ms. Andresen’s and it is going to be a great series based on the first book. Tabitha is considered a wildflower by all and Luke is considered a rake. When Coventry decides that Luke is the best candidate for Tabitha, plans go into action and Luke is taken to meet Tabitha. Tabitha is devious and always has a plan and at first it is to get rid of Luke. But like all well-laid plans, things change. A quick and easy read that will keep you wanting until the end.
Luke Bentley, Earl of Sussex, likes nothing better than to indulge himself in pleasures at the Wicked Earls Club. Imagine his dismay when his parents arrange a marriage for him in hopes of settling him down. To make matters worse, it’s to a chit he has no memory of ever meeting and wants nothing to do with him (something he has a hard time comprehending).
Lady Tabitha has no desire to marry ever, much less to a man that has looked through her every time they’ve been introduced.
Their first meeting, at least in Luke’s memory, surprises him with how much he likes this girl and admires her spirit. For Tabitha it confirms her opinion of him yet surprises her by how her body reacts to him.
Playing on Luke’s reputation, Tabitha comes up with a plan for them both to avoid this marriage but will Luke play along? Will Tabitha realize what her heart is telling her before it’s too late?
Tammy Andresen has done a fantastic job starting this series and if her book, the first in the Wicked Earls Club series, represents the ones to come then we better hold onto our hats (and our hearts) because this series promises to be an entertaining ride.
Wickedly sinful Luke Bentley the Earl of Sussex, is an unrepentant rake. The Wicked Earls’ Club is the perfect place for a man of his station to indulge. That is until his parents force a match that threatens to rob him of his freedom. Unwilling to be tamed, he travels to meet his bride and demand she put a stop to this farce. Lady Tabitha, daughter of the Duke of Waverly, will not be betrothed to a rake no matter what her father thinks of his social connections. Tabbie is a wallflower more out of choice but is hurt that she’s been introduced to Luke twice but each time his roving eye was elsewhere.
The pair agree that they need a plan to end the engagement but even as they form the plan they both are having second thoughts. Luke & Tabbie are delightful their characters are very well developed for a novella, there are trust issues that Tabbie needs to resolve, the pace is very good & I read it in one sitting. The Earl of Coventry is quite the matchmaker & I’m sure more about him will be revealed. My only quibble was that Luke as the heir to the Marquisette would not have had a seat in Parliament unless he was a elected MP. I thoroughly enjoyed the book & if all the other novellas in the series are this good then there’s something to look forward to every Tuesdays for the next couple of months
Wow! So romantic and heartwarming! Can a known rake change his spots? Luke Bentley, Earl of Sussex was living his life just as he pleased. A member of The exclusive Wicked Earls Club, he enjoyed being with his fellow members just like him, who enjoyed relaxing, playing cards and of course women. Unfortunately, his life was about to change. His father has made arrangements for him to marry Lady Tabitha Riley, daughter or a Duke and Wallflower extraordinaire!!! Determined to convince her their marriage would just not do, Luke goes to meet her and finds a hugh surprise. Tabbie is not the plain, nondescript miss he remembered, but a spitfire who is determined not to marry a rake. Sparks fly and you know what that means!! In the usual Tammy Andresen fashion, I absolutely loved this story and she makes the characters come alive so you fall in love with them yourself!! A Must Read is you like historical romance!!!
“A pretty little wallflower was the undoing of a rake.”
My new favorite read by Tammy Andresen. Loved the characters and the dialogue. This couple is perfect for each other. Tabitha won me over by being this little feisty wallflower, knowing her own mind, saying her peace and didn’t really care if it displeased the Earl or not. She was not simply going to fall at his feet.
“The little chit was judging him. What was more, she had found him lacking.”
Their first meeting was full of fun banter and Tabitha soon had the sworn off marriage Earl intrigued by her. Neither wants to marry the other and are soon scheming together to get out of this union.
“A rake was as unappealing to her as a wallflower likely was to him.”
By working together, they grow closer and he soon makes her feel alive, attractive, and understood. She has him rethinking about marriage, but first he has to prove to her that his rake days are over.
Quick read but a full story. Has humor, lust, and drama, A fabulous read!