Falling for a Rake

The main characters are anti-heroes but the story ends with them the becoming much better versions of themselves. This is the first in a series and the ones to follow sound very interesting.

Lady Emily Ravensthrorpe is hunting for a fern for her collection and trying to politely send Lord Markshall on his way, but he isn’t taking the hint. Lord Markshall is a danger to her reputation and her peace of mind – he is handsome and charming, a combination she has a hard time remaining impassive to. When they accidently end up falling into a mine shaft, she worries about her sister’s debut being ruined. Rescue efforts are unsuccessful and they end up staying the night in the pit. They talk and share one amazing kiss. Later he shares his greatest shame – he courted one sister and had an affair with the other, fathered a child and refused to marry her. Emily is appalled, Markshall wants to know her secret, she tells him she was engaged, but he died in a hunting accident. He knows there is more, but doesn’t press.

The next morning they are rescued, but there is a reporter there as well as her parents, so Markshall announces they are engaged. To save her reputation and by extension her sister’s, she plays along. But later she tell him they will have a fake engagement, just until her sister Connie’s come-out. He agrees because he doesn’t feel like he deserves her. But it appears that they have an enemy who is bent on destroying Emily’s reputation and soon a fake engagement isn’t enough to protect her.

Markshall is not all he appears to be, he wants Emily, but believes that his past behavior has made any chance for a happy future impossible, but when the gossip turns nasty and suggestive, Oscar will marry her to save her, but vows to keep her at arm length.

This was an interesting story, but at times I felt confused, not sure what was real and what was imagined. The story is filled with secrets, lies, surprises, entertain banter and steamish love scenes. Both Oscar and Emily are flawed characters, each have things from the past that haunt them and that have made them the people they are today, love comes slowly and certainly isn’t readily embraced by either of them, but when they finally admit their love and put the past behind them, it is amazing and completely heartfelt.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review of an eARC that was provided to me.*

Pasts Collide

I found this book somewhat odd. I couldn’t quite get for most of the book why the heroine kept admonishing herself over the seemingly accidental death of her first betrothed. The author doesn’t divulge the true reason why until near the end of the book. I honestly kept shaking my head through most of the book, wondering why she had to try so hard to be such a perfect lady and was strongly driven to avoid a hint of scandal… all because of what happened to her first love. The author could have even given some true-but-not-the-whole story reason to justify her extreme thoughts and actions. This book was more complex than I realized when I started reading it, and I actually like when that happens in what I originally think to be simple romances. The hero and heroine are complex characters, with darker pasts than we realize at first. They chose different paths to redemption, one choosing purposefully to act better than she really is and one choosing it to cultivate a more dastardly reputation than he really should have based on his actions. The book has quite a few rambunctious intimate scenes. The hero is an utterly swoon-worthy, considerate lover. I felt sorry for him when she pulled away, believing herself to be wanton because she liked what they did in their marriage bed. I don’t mind a steamy read, but I thought the author used more profanity than she should in a historical romance. A few of the first F-bombs seemed appropriate to character and circumstance but then became too frequent. Part of the reason I enjoy historical romances is that I don’t have to be subjected to profanity. So, I don’t like it when historical authors do. By the way, you’ll learn quite a bit about the study of ferns, especially how it was done by genteel Victorian females, which I found surprisingly fascinating. Parts of this book disappointed me, especially the beginning, but as it came together at the end, I found the book ultimately satisfying.

3.5 rounded up to 4

I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.

After the death of her fiancé James, Emily had decided never to marry but that changed after she and the notorious rake, Lord Markshall, spent a night together at the bottom of an abandoned mine pit. Still, they might not have married were it not for the vicious gossip published anonymously by Lady X in the London press. Neither Emily nor Oscar felt they deserved love because of past mistakes. This romance is unusual in that Emily and Oscar marry fairly in the book, and the rest of the book features them conquering their demons and falling in love with one another.

Not my style of writing.

I enjoyed this book very much. Will be reading more from the author.

This is an entertaining read though there were a few typos that kind of took me out of the story. The characters and plot were strong enough to keep me reading even. Recommended for fans of the genre.

I found it funny and entertaining for a dull evening. Quite predictable. I learned nothing new.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was entertaining.

Falling for a Rake is the first book I have had the pleasure of reading by author Eve Pendle and I must say it was a fantastic read! I enjoyed Ms. Pendle’s style of writing and look forward to reading more from her in the future.

Lady Emily Ravensthorpe is a Duke’s daughter and has a perfect reputation. She is the leader and founder of The Ladies’ Association of Fern Enthusiasts and Hunters. While out on a fern hunting expedition searching for an elusive fern, she falls into a forty-foot hole with Lord Markshall…

Lord Owen Markshall is said to be the most notorious rake in the country. A ruiner of reputations. A wastrel and a scoundrel. He attends the House of Lords only to sleep and jeer. But all may not be exactly as seems…

I actually liked this couple from the beginning. You get the feeling that both aren’t quite what they seem. It’s obvious from the beginning both are struggling with things from their past. There is definitely an attraction between them and I loved the banter between them. When they get trapped in the hole overnight the scandal forces them to get engaged and eventually marry.

Emily was an interesting character. I’ve never read a heroine who was interested in ferns and it was a fun change from the typical historical romance. She’s so obsessed with being perfect and proper, not wanting to do anything to harm her sister’s upcoming debut. But under her prim and proper shield is a woman full of fire and passion that she continues to suppress out of guilt of her past. Owen has perfected the person who he portrays to the world. He was an interesting character also like Emily. Trying so hard to make amends for his past and feeling completely unworthy of love. I loved his relationship with Jones his valet and the banter between them was fun and enjoyable.

I enjoyed Watching Owen and Emily discover the truth about each other and gradually growing to love each other and overcome their pasts. A wonderfully charming story of two people who finally find love and acceptance, after believing themselves unworthy. Fantastic read and a new author to follow!