Let the debauchery begin…Don’t Tell a Duke You Love HimHe was too dangerous to be denied… certainly not grow an affection for. He was too much man and beyond redemption. Except once they are tossed together after a winter storm, she is dangerously close to declaring her love because in the dark of night, he was all Lily could see.
Meddle in a Marquess’s Affairs
Rakes make the worst husbands…
Not that Rex Baluster, the Marquess of Highwater would want her anyway. But when he arrived at Lady Camille Ducat’s door shot and near death, she didn’t hesitate to help him. She had no reputation to preserve after all. She’d given that up when she ended her engagement to another rake. And though her heart beat wildly every time she looked at Rex, she knew that to involve herself with such a man would only lead to heartache.
Never Trust an Errant Earl
A surly rake and a desperate lady…
Lady Cristina Ducat might not be as clever as her sisters, but she knows when action is required. Her mother seems set on arranging an unwanted marriage for Cristina, but Cristina has plans of her own. She’s got the perfect man all picked out. The problem? The Earl of Clearwood, Sirius Renwall, keeps getting in her way. Not only is Si annoying beyond measure with his dark and brooding demeanor, but he makes her heart beat in the most curious and exhilarating way.
Never Kiss an Earl at Midnight
A bluestocking and a rake…
Lady Victoria Ducat has an orderly life filled with academic pursuits and the care of her ailing father. She has no use for a drunken rake like the Earl of Kissinger. Just because he is handsome, charming, and he makes her knees weak doesn’t mean she’s going to give up her principles. So what if Lord Kissinger looks at her the way no man has before? She’ll just ignore the heat in his gaze and the breathless want it brings. She had a plan and she’ll stick to it, which is a far sight better than getting her heart broken…isn’t it?
Make a Viscount Beg
An unrepentant rogue and a desperate lady…
Lady Adelaide Ducat hated the Viscount of Averstone with a passion that sang in her blood. The man was a wretch, a rake, a rogue, and so annoying that she’d like to… well, she desperately wanted to… she ought to….kiss him until he begged for mercy. Wait. That wasn’t right. She’s got bigger problems to worry about, like what her scheming mother was planning or how she’s going to care for her dying father. She needs a husband to help her not a rogue who would only distract. So why can’t she stop thinking about how good his lips would taste?
Can a single kiss change their minds forever?
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5 Notorious Rakes vs 5 Fiercely Loyal and Courageous Sisters
The five love stories in the How to Reform a Rake collection by Tammy Andresen have their beginning with a snow storm and a gypsy. Each couple will face obstacles, danger and difficult decisions. In the end, each couple will find their happily ever after.
#1 – 4 stars – Don’t Tell a Duke You Love Him – Is a cute story. Maximillian (Max) Abelman, Duke of Longley is gruffness personified and Lady Lily Ducat is a sweet and quiet young woman. They are both drawn to each other from first sight.
#2 – 5 stars – Meddle in a Marquess’s Affairs – Is a tender story. Lord Reginald (Rex) Baluster, Marquess of Highwater is a rough and tough street fighter and Lady Camille Ducat is ruined in the eyes of society. Their story tugged at my heart strings.
#3 – 4 stars – Never Trust an Errant Earl – An angst laced story. Lord Sirius (Si) Renwall, Earl of Clearwood and Lady Cristina Ducat are two frightened souls who loathed each other at first sight
#4 – 4 stars – Never Kiss an Earl at Midnight – Kenneth (Key) Marksburg, Earl of Kissinger and Lady Victoria Ducat embody guilt and booze vs. love and loyal support.
#5 – 3 stars – Make a Viscount Beg – Charles (Chase) Black, Viscount of Averstone and Lady Adelaide seemed to hate each other at first sight, but they each will discover that hate is as passionate as love.
Content 411: In addition to swearing and a few vulgarities, each story also contains moderately descriptive sexually intimate scenes.
Great series! I couldn’t stop till I read all five. Laughing, crying and on the edge of your seat the whole way. Wonderful characters, both good and bad. Highly recommended. Looking forward to Lords of Scandal.
very boring, could not wait to finish sorry
Loved the books! I especially like being able to continue reading linked books on families!
It was a good book to escape from reality for a while. However, the characters from the first book changed and became immature without the amount of depth they were written as originally.
The books were short, easy to read and entertaining.
Really enjoyed this book. So glad all of the sister’s stories in one book. Was great to be able to read them all at once. Loved all the stories !!!
I loved the collection. It was so great to read one book after the other in sequence.
It was fast-paced, all inclusive short stories without dragging the storylines out. I enjoyed reading the 5-sisters stories at one sitting.
Such a cute series. Love all the characters. Easy reading.
Enjoyed reading stories about strong women from that time period .
Enjoyed the characters and stories.
Very enjoyable
When five friends are caught in a snowstorm and do what rakes do when bored, play cards and place bets. When a gypsy enters the fray and challenges each of them, they really do not know what they are letting themselves in for. I have read all but one of these novels and found each entertaining and enjoyable.
Don’t Tell a Duke You Love Him: Besides himself in frustration and anger, Max, The Duke of Longley, abandons his friends and sets off for London, with one thought in his mind: avoid the Ducat sisters at any cost. He did not take into account a severe snowstorm, a broken carriage wheel and the one woman he cannot forget opening the manor house door to him. The plot of this romantic Regency novel is entertaining and witty but has undercurrents of pain as Lily struggles to maneuver her way out from under her mother’s thumb. One by one, Max finds himself inveigled into meetings with the Ducat sisters at midnight but to his surprise, he discovers a self-sacrificing love between the girls that makes him long for what they have. Just when Max thinks he has lost the one good thing he has ever encountered, love comes to find him, just as the gypsy told him. I enjoyed this romance, the humour, and the banter and in particular the thawing of the Duke of Longley’s heart.
Meddle in a Marquess’s Affairs: Some people just cannot help themselves and Camille Ducat is one of them. When Rex Baluster is carried bleeding into her brother-in-law’s house, she takes it upon herself to tend to his wounds until such time as the doctor can get there. Camille doesn’t know about the bet taken with the gypsy woman and walks straight into a fateful encounter with Rex. The plot, whilst somewhat suspenseful has all the makings of a good Regency romance, including a rogue who finds himself well on the way to reforming after meeting his Angel.
Never Trust an Errant Earl:A surly rake and a desperate lady…..makes for light-hearted and humourous reading. Storming her sister’s wedding in a bid to escape her mother’s malicious plans, Cristina finds herself being weighed and found wanting by Sirius, Earl of Clearwood. However, that is no concern of hers as all Cristina Ducat wants is a husband that loves her and a way out of having to deal with her mother. However, Cristina’s new brother-in-law ropes Si in to assist with keeping Cristina safe, knowing that Lady Rosemond will not let up until she has achieved her own objectives. In protecting Cristina, Si discovers that he is not as immune to her charms as he would have liked to think. The story is romantic, entertaining and made me laugh as the group of friends go down one at a time like nine pins at the feet of the Ducat sisters.
Never Kiss an Earl at Midnight:Lady Victoria knows all about the gypsy’s bet and prediction regarding the Rakes and the Ducat girls. However, she has more intelligence than to believe that the outcome of a kiss from the Earl, Kenneth Kissinger, will have the same effect as on her older sisters. After all, she is a bluestocking and he is a desolate drunk. One small interaction puts Key in a new light, one where his caring and concern for others, regardless of the scorn being heaped on him, comes to the fore. When Key takes charge of what has become an unmanageable set of circumstances, Victoria realises that she hasn’t only met her match, but there is more to Key than she could have anticipated.
Make a Viscount Beg: The last rake to fall under the prediction of the gypsy, Chase is determined to avoid kissing Lady Adelaide. He has absolutely no intention of being leg-shackled to the self-opinionated minx, or anyone else for that matter. The problem is the more she avoids him, the more his interest is piqued. Lady Adelaide has watched her sisters fall to the charms of the other four rakes’ kisses, and although they are all happy, Adelaide doesn’t see any future with the dissolute Chase. She, in fact, has much bigger problems to deal with. With her father falling deeper into dementia each day and her mother pursuing her own brand of madness, Adelaide knows that she has to keep her wits about her. Chase is a charming hero and when the situation turns dangerous, he knows that he has to do whatever is necessary to keep Adelaide and her sisters safe, also resulting in him inadvertently revealing more about his true self than he wants to. Adelaide finds herself looking at Chase with fresh eyes and when he faces the ultimate danger on her behalf, she knows that it won’t be possible for her to be truly happy with anyone else.
Each novelette is a standalone and comes to a happy conclusion. I received a copy of this book as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.
The Viscount of Averstone & his four friends were stranded in Canterbury & the only place they were able to find shelter was in a brothel. Whilst they were there a gypsy, Vadoma foretold that each of the five friends would kiss one of the five Ducat sisters.
Don’t Tell a Duke you Love him 4.5 Stars
Maximillian Ableman, The Duke of Longley is a rake and should be left well enough alone. He first saw Lady Lily Ducat in a shop several months ago & hasn’t been able to forget her. He & four of his friends place a ridiculous bet & then he storms off only to find himself stranded & who should be staying at the manor where he seeks help?
This novella was enchanting, the author is so very very good at writing short stories that deliver on story & characters that are well fleshed. Max & Lily are victims of their parents’ disdain but in each other find their soul mate. I read this story in an afternoon & whilst I was left feeling happy & satisfied with the ending.
Meddle in a Marquess’s Affairs 4 Stars
Rex Baluster, the Marquess of Highwater spent three years on the streets on London after escaping the orphanage he was sent to when his parents died. He finds himself elevated to the aristocracy when his uncles die. When Max the Duke of Longley asks him to help right a wrong, Rex agreed without question. He talks best with his fists but whilst chasing their quarry Rex is shot. Somehow, Rex had always assumed his end would be as violent as his beginning. He’s taken to Max’s home & who should be there but Lady Camille Ducat, the chameleon of his tarot card. What he didn’t expect was for a beautiful angel with the gentlest touch he’s ever known to nurse him back to health.
Another easy reading, captivating charming read. Both Rex & Camille feel they are not worthy, he because of his upbringing & her as she’s ruined after breaking off her engagement. However they are both immediately attracted to each other & grow close as she nurses him back to health. The pace is good & I read it in a sitting. The chance meeting between other friends & sisters had me smiling.
Never Trust an Errant Earl 4 Stars
Lady Cristina Ducat might not be as clever as her sisters, but she knows when action is required. Her mother seems set on arranging an unwanted marriage for Cristina, but Cristina has plans of her own. She’s got the perfect man all picked out. However The Earl of Clearwood, Sirius Renwall, keeps getting in her way. Si annoying beyond measure with his dark and brooding demeanour, but he makes her heart beat in the most curious and exhilarating way.
Si wants nothing to do with Cristina, or with the bet he made weeks ago However the more he gets to know her, the more he realizes that her brash façade hides a heart that loves fiercely.
The characters are well portrayed & very likeable. Si & Cristina are delightful, they are attracted to each other but she aims to marry someone else & he’s a confirmed bachelor, when they are thrown together they come to like & respect each other whilst falling in love & of course there is that bet & Vadoma
Never kiss an Earl at Midnight 5 Stars
Lady Victoria Ducat has an orderly life filled with academic pursuits and the care of her ailing father. She has no use for a drunken rake like the Earl of Kissinger. Kenneth Kissinger, know to his friends as Key, is happy living his life outside of polite society, drinking and gaming to his heart’s content. He has no use for debutantes and even less for a bluestocking and a wallflower like Lady Victoria.
But as fate, a bet, and family drama toss them together temptation becomes more difficult to deny. Can they resist temptation or will they share the kiss that has been foretold?
The bluestocking who wants to be listened to & the rake who has no self esteem, a really lovely romance, I think this is my favourite of the series so far, great characters & a well paced story. Both Victoria & Key are going to remain single for various reasons however the best laid plans! I read this book in a sitting as once I’d started I’d no intention of putting it down.
Make a Viscount beg 5 Stars
All the sisters are at the estate near the Kent coast so that their husbands & Chase can protect them from their mother’s schemes.
Lady Adelaide Ducat hates Chase, Viscount of Averstone with a passion, the man was a wretch, a rake, a rogue, and so annoying. But with her four sisters now married to one of his four friends do the pair really stand a chance?
A lovely conclusion to the series with this hugely entertaining novella. The verbal sparring between Chase & Adelaide is brilliant & at times had me laughing out loud. Their attraction sizzles but who is going to beg for a kiss? As Chase & Adelaide grow closer he reveals his inadequacies & insecurities to her & I loved him becoming the man he’d always wanted to be. She’s feisty & outspoken but also caring & understanding. I’ve loved the whole series, I read the book in a sitting as I didn’t want to put it down
Five delightful stories that are well written, they’ll make you laugh & they’ll make you sigh, ideal for whiling away a few hours