“A master storyteller.”–Affaire de Coeur Nearing thirty, the Duke of Rathburne is finally ready to make amends for the wager that caused him and his best friends such scandal–but taking on a ward who needs a husband is a feat he’s not sure he can manage. The last he saw of Miss Marlena Fast, she was a spirited little ruffian, not the sort of bride most bachelors on the marriage mart sought. … marriage mart sought. But one glance at the lovely lady she has become is enough to convince him otherwise…
Orphaned young and shuffled from family to family, Marlena counts on her fierce independence and quick wits to keep herself content. Being the responsibility of a notoriously wicked duke who upended so many lives is an unexpected challenge when she realizes he arouses her decidedly feminine desires. Marlena must be careful. She has her own scandalous secret to protect. If he finds out, will it shatter her chances of a happily-ever-after with the notorious rake?
It’s All About the Duke is the next Regency romance in The Rakes of St. James series from Amelia Grey.
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The Duke of Rathburne is in a pickle. Rath has agreed to become the guardian to Miss Marlena Fast. His only memory of Miss Fast is a 12 year old hoyden running wild. With this memory in mind Rath is stunned to discover that his new ward has become a beautiful young woman. Marlena Fast has a secret, one that has the ability to destroy lives, hers included. With stolen kisses in the garden and looks of longing and desire there is no denying the attraction between these two. Can they overcome the obstacles in their road to happiness? Amelia Grey has written a compelling story that takes the reader through an emotional tale of possibilities. I would recommend this book as part of your summer reading list.
This is the final book in the Rakes of St. James series. The series is based on three friends (all Dukes) who play a stupid prank and later regret their actions. Personally, I thought the whole “prank” was lame – they each write a letter to several young ladies telling them that they have a secret admirer and ask them to meet them in secret – all the ladies get the same letter and the all go to meet their admirer – the dukes placed a wager to see who would get the most ladies to show up – so the ladies all show up and they are all ruined but the dukes remain unscathed. But years later, they are now trying to clean up their acts and in the previous books had female relations that they worry will be targeted because of the “prank” – it doesn’t help that a gossip sheet is dredging up the “scandal” that ruined so many girls.
The Duke of Rathburn “Rath” has decided to turn over a new leaf and become the man his father had hoped he would be, he starts by agreeing to be guardian to Marlena Fast. How being a guardian will make him a better man is beyond me – but that’s the story. He will find Marlena a husband and that will atone for his previous behavior – Alrighty.
Marlena is an orphan and has been shuffled around most of her life, but to those she loves, she is loyal and steadfast, so when a dear friend is “ruined” by the Rakes of St. James, Marlena takes up her quill and fights back. But now she is the ward of one of the Rakes – this is going to be a problem…
This story was OK, it is a bit on the wordy side and I found myself skimming. I thought the characters were likable, Rath is not what I would consider a Rake – more like a typical young man of the era with too much time, money and affluence – not mean, but perhaps thoughtless and shortsighted. the story moves a bit on the slow side (thus the skimming), the love scenes are warm, the secondary characters are entertaining and the ending is sweet.
This is the third book in the series, but it could be read as a standalone title with no problems.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an Uncorrected eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher*
If you haven’t read the other books in this series yet, don’t be afraid of jumping right in. I haven’t read them, and this one totally stood on its own. It started out a bit slowly for me, though I adored Rath right from the start. It was Marlena I had a bit of trouble warming up to. Though her heart was in the right place, it seemed cruel to me that she kept being the author of a scandal sheet secret when it was obvious that Rath’s heart was becoming engaged. But she did it for her friend’s sake, so I eventually forgave her.
The chemistry between Rath and Marlene was apparent at the start, and I enjoyed their interactions. Tut the dog was adorable….you have to love a duke who is kind to critters. I enjoyed her friends, but wanted to slap her cousin Justine upside the head! Reading about Rath’s friends Griffin and Hawk made me want to go back and read their stories.
Don’t be hesitant to share this book with your mother. Though there’s heat and attraction here, the heat falls more into the PG-13 realm. The emphasis is on romance, not sex.
I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
We finally get to the bottom of who is Miss Truth. I have read the other books in this series and really liked them but this book was off for me. I did not hate it but did not love it either. I did love Rath. He is kind and loving and helpful, especially to those he loves and respects. I had a hard time liking Marlena. Even though she was doing what she thought was justice, it really hurt a lot of innocent people. That is where I had a huge problem with her. I think Rath deserved someone better than her. With that being said, the overall series is good. I am not sure if there is a spin off of this series planned but would like to see Lady Vera as a heroine in a book.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
Nearing thirty, the Duke of Rathburne is finally ready to make amends for the wager that caused him and his best friends, Griffin & Hawk such scandal—but taking on a ward who needs a husband is a feat he’s not sure he can manage. The last he saw of Miss Marlena Fast almost a decade ago, she was a spirited little ruffian, not the sort of bride most bachelors on the marriage mart sought. But one glance at the lovely lady she has become is enough to convince him otherwise. Orphaned young and shuffled from family to family, Marlena counts on her fierce independence and quick wits to keep herself content.
I absolutely adored the chemistry between Rath & Marlena, little things like Rath knowing almost to the minute how long it had been since he had seen her were so touching & had me totally hooked. Rath is tall, broad shouldered, handsome with a smile that makes your knees go weak. He’s also got a wicked sense of humour, which I loved. Marlena is hiding a secret & gradually learns there’s two sides to every story. A delightful page turning read. I really liked the previous two books in the series but for me this was the best of the three, it could be read on it’s own but to fully appreciate Rath & Marlena I’d recommend reading the first two books
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
It’s All About the Duke by Amelia Grey
Rakes of St. James #3
Three young men made a wager…
A scandalous wager – at least society said it was.
Three young dukes gained the dubious “honor” of being named…
…The Rakes of Saint James.
In the final book of the series the Duke of Rathburn “Rath” has agreed to become the guardian of Miss Marlena Fast who will be coming out in her first season with the ton. She lives with a widowed cousin, has dear friends living next door and has a secret she really doesn’t want Rath to find out about. Of course, eventually the secret does come out and there is a happily ever after for the couple and a few other couples in the book. The reader gets to see how the other two rakes and their wives are doing, too. Each chapter of the book begins with an epigraph taken from “Miss Honora Truth’s Words of Wisdom and Warning About Rakes, Scoundrels, Rogues and Libertines” – who the author of this tome and weekly scandal sheet is unknown throughout the series but revealed at the end of this book.
I had trouble with this book because I found difficulty relating to the characters and the story. I did not really engage with hero or heroine and didn’t seem to care about them as much as I would have liked to. I had this feeling that the story could have been told in about half the words. Anyway, I am sure that some will love this book and others will find it rather slow and tame.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.
2-3 Stars
They were three young noblemen; drinking, gambling and mistresses were what their lives were all about. One night a wager was placed; how many of the twelve young ladies about to be presented for their first Season in London would agree to meet with a secret admirer? Whoever got the most positive responses would win the wager! No one would ever know what they did, or so they thought. That was before what they did was blasted all over London in all the scandal sheets so popular during that time. All three future Dukes would end up paying the piper and became known as the Rakes of St. James.
In It’s All About the Duke, the third book in author Amelia Grey’s The Rakes of St. James series it is Rath, the Duke of Rathburne who meets his match and faces the consequences of his earlier deeds. The Duke of Rathburne becomes the guardian of Miss Marlena Fast when her former guardian becomes too ill to present her to Society for her first Season. Miss Fast has a secret, a very worrisome secret when she finds out who her new guardian is.
I have immensely enjoyed the previous two books in the series as well as this one. I find it extremely likeable when an author includes the characters in the previous books in the series throughout. Amelia Grey has treated her readers to some very charming characters who for me seem to have lept off the pages of the book to become familiar friends. I am very pleased that all three Rakes of St. James found true love and their “Happily Ever After.”
I liked the idea of the story line, but the story seemed to drag a bit for me. Marlena’s cousin was annoying with her constantly demanding everything from the duke. Asking to take over Rath’s chambers….wouldn’t be allowed at all! Eugenia constantly fainting was a bit tiring to read also. Why would you think you’ve been found out for your misdeeds every time you see someone? And yes, Rath being Constantly called a Rake throughout the book got tedious. Yes, he’s a rake, we get it. I did like Rath’s friends and Lady Vera. Hopefully she gets her own story soon. Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy!
I absolutely love this book. Rafe, the Duke of Rathburne and his new ward, Miss Marlena Fast, feel an instant attraction. His teasing manner and her honesty play off each other and balances their relationship. But a scandalous gossip sheet that reflects on a bet gone wrong between the Duke and his two friends and a book about all three rakes, may have consequences down the road. Humorous partners in gossip and a crazy Aunt will keep you entertained throughout the book. Now I absolutely have to go back and read the first two books in the series. I was given a free ARC in return for an honest review.
It’s All About The Duke by Amelia Grey is a fantastic historical romance. Ms. Grey has again proved her writing and storytelling abilities. The characters are outstanding and entertaining. Rath is a rake that ends up becoming guardian to Marlena. Marlena doesn’t want Rath as her guardian because she has secrets. Their story is full of drama, humor, sizzle and action. I was captured at page one and couldn’t put this book down. I loved It’s All About The Duke and look forward to my next book by Amelia Grey. It’s All About The Duke is book 3 of The Rakes of St. James Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete story, not a cliff-hanger.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Sweet, saucy and full of secrets. Rath is surprised he agreed to become Marlena’s guardian, just as Marlena is surprised to find one of the Rakes of St. James in charge of her future.
Marlena is living under daily fear that Rath will find out she’s the author behind Ms. Honora’s scandal sheet and book, while struggling with the fact she’s quickly falling in love with him. Rath is worried that is he is falling in love with his ward, whom he has sworn to protect. Can this be their happily ever after?
Full review posted at Reader’s Edyn on 020820
Marlena Fast is in a pickle – living with freedoms afforded by a bedridden guardian, she has become accustomed to the independence given while she waits for a season within the ton which should have occurred a few years back. Thrusting her deeper into said pickle is the shocking revelation that her guardianship has been transferred to the Duke of Rathburne – notorious Rake of St. James and current hot topic in the weekly scandal sheets. The more time she spends with Rath, the more she grasps how rakish he can be, but that he truly is an attentive, thoughtful man; not to mention stimulating to the point of distraction. When she falls for him, her gut wrenches knowing she can never have him. Marlena has a secret she can never allow Rath to know because there is no telling what type of retribution he will seek against the one who revived the folly of his youth, breathing life into the scandal sheets each week, possibly exposing innocents to compromising situations in her zeal. Marlena is Miss Honora Truth.
The Duke of Rathburne – Rath – cannot believe what kind of situation he’s gotten himself into following a long night with a bottle of brandy. Now stuck with a ward of his own, he sets out to do his father proud, trying to behave responsibly for once in his life. That description may be a bit harsh, but he is seeking penance for the bet he put his friends up to many years ago and what better way than to suffer the gossips right along with his two best friends as they did when their sisters debuted in Society. What he didn’t count on was the ragamuffin he remembers from several years ago captivating his so thoroughly. He absolutely cannot seduce his ward, but damn if she doesn’t consume his every thought. That settled, he will have her. But the truth she has been protecting and the reason for all of the oddities that seem to surround her might be more than their delicate relationship can rally back from. But like the other Rakes of St, James, Rath isn’t accustomed to losing and despite his startling discovery, he isn’t about the begin now – not with so much on the line. He’s just got to figure out how to tie up all of the loose ends of the tangled web he’s caught up in.
I am beyond pleased to announce that I consider this book the best of the series. If you read my previous reviews for the preceding books in the series, I was a bit worried because they were so much alike that the books came across as a retelling of nearly the same story. While I still enjoyed them quite a lot, I was less than ecstatic at their similarities. The Rakes of St. James still captivated me and while I was a bit let down with the 2nd book, I was still hoping that Rath’s book was quite the thing. He was, after all, the rake I was most looking forward to finding his own HEA. Thankfully, this final book in the trilogy met my expectations. I would have been heartbroken to have said otherwise. However, I am once again mystified as to what Rath’s name is. Who was he prior to inheriting his title?
What a clever spin to give Rath a ward to be responsible for since he was the only of the Rakes who did not have a sister that could have been adversely affected by the gossip rags. And not just any ward – the very woman who started the scandal sheet to begin with. Talk about overcoming obstacles – however, I would have argued (and was surprised it wasn’t mentioned) that had Marlena not begun such a potentially ruinous tale, not one of the Dukes would have met their HEAs. While the personalities of Marlena and Rath follow suit to the other MCs in the earlier books, there was the added strife of Marlena carefully guarding her secret identity; Marlena coming to grips with the fact that not one of the Dukes was the cad she had written them to be; and Rath with his keen senses, knowing it was just a scant amount of time before he caught on to the ruse – his well-developed ability to discern having been eluded to in the previous installments. I would go so far as to say that he, if it ever came to it, would easily win as the most rakish of the three Dukes – quite clever was he in obtaining what he was after in several instances. And we find that Marlena – or Miss Truth – has just published a book of how to avoid such outrageous gentlemen as a companion of sorts to her weekly scandal sheet. Of course, as per the theme of this series, we are treated to several of Miss Truth’s tips for avoiding said rogues at the beginning of each chapter.
The introduction of several new characters also helped garner my attention; Ms. Grey going all out and throwing in several irons in the fire with the numerous subplots occurring. For those of you who have read the first two portions of the trilogy and may have been somewhat concerned as I was at their glaring likenesses, no need to worry over this final segment. I am beyond pleased that I did not give in and abandon the series. Despite the slight let down with the middle book, I feel my time with this series was well spent. Having ended the series on such a high note, I plan to seek out further work by Ms. Grey to check for compatibility. I am hopeful. Overall, these books are enjoyable HR stories, each with a beautiful HEA. They should be read in order, but I did not find it absolutely necessary to do so. And at the heart of each book is a dashing rake that needs to be challenged in order to find love – which is what I truly crave within my reads. That said, this trilogy, and most especially this book itself, delivers fully.
Kindle ARC version provided by publisher/St. Martin’s in exchange for an honest review.
The story of the Rakes of St. James wraps up nicely in this book. Secrets are divulged that tie up loose ends concerning the scandal sheet that is woven through all the books in the series. The possible exposure and the actual exposing the truth of the scandal sheet and the person behind it cause many problems with the hero and heroine of the story.
Rath is the last of the rakes to be single. Looking to undo the effects of the scandalous events of his past, he agrees to take on the ward of a friend of his father’s. Their attraction is almost instantaneous and the chemistry they have sizzles. One weird thing to me about the book is that the author paired a ward and her keeper. I would have preferred they not be in that type of situation. Marlena is a strong character and doesn’t automatically yield to Rath, though. She’s independent and has a loving heart. Anxiety abounds with Marlena, however, when she learns that she has become the ward of one of the Rakes of St. James. As the story moves along, secrets become harder to keep and threaten to destroy relationships if they are revealed.
I enjoy Amelia Grey’s writing style and her historical romances are some of my favorites. Her characters in It’s All About the Duke are well written and her world building is realistic. The book is descriptive, and I was able to visualize the characters, scenery, and events as they played out. The dialogue between all characters was smooth, interesting, and enjoyable. The banter between Rath and Marlena is entertaining, and I loved every scene.
I love the way Ms. Grey can write the emotions of the characters in such a way that the reader feels them. I want to be able to feel the anguish as if I’m the person upset; I want to cry if that’s what the scene calls for; I want to laugh at the silliness of the antics that are written on the page. All the books I’ve read by Amelia Grey fulfill the emotional content. This novel has a fantastic plot, excellent characters, a great story, and is full of superbly written scenes with emotional content, and believability.
It’s All About the Duke: The Rakes of St. James by Amelia Grey
Series: Rakes of St. James #3
5 Stars – This book had everything I love in a historical romance; lots of flirting and stolen glances, perfect chemistry, a dashing rake, and scenes in a ballroom (which I find surprisingly doesn’t happen as often in recently published historicals, well not the ones I have been reading anyway) and of course a happily ever after. I loved how straightforward both Marlena and Rath were. There were no misleads or misunderstandings. Both characters were witty and I couldn’t wait to see them on the page together. Also, I love Lady Vera and hope she gets her own story.
I think this was a great addition to the series and I would happily recommend.
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
~Paragraphs and Petticoats~
So Marlena is an independent miss who finds herself the ward of the Duke of Rathburne. Good tale as these two find some common ground for the future.
Ebook from Netgalley and publishers with thanks. Opinions are entirely my own.
“Reformed rakes often make the best husbands.” –Judith McNaught, Something Wonderful
There are three books in The Rakes of St. James series:
Last Night with the Duke: pub Mar 7, 2017 [The Duke of Griffin & Miss Esmeralda Swift]
To the Duke, With Love: pub Dec 5, 2017 [The Duke of Hawksthorn & Miss Loretta Quick]
It’s All About the Duke: estimated pub May 29, 2018 [The Duke of Rathburn & Miss Marlena Fast]
RATING: MA: mature audience, sex scene between consenting adults [anticipating vows].
OK am I the only one to see the pattern in the last names of the ladies… Swift, Quick, and Fast? Seriously?? And the guys… [Griff, Hawk, & Rath]… what do they represent? Griffin is a mythical creature with the head and winds of an eagle and the body of a lion… both creatures of prey. Hawk… a bird of prey. Rath… not sure about him. All three are reformed rakes trying to clean up their act and redeem their reputations.
Several years prior, they created a scandal so serious that it has haunted them and their victims ever sense… although the ladies have suffered more than they. Society, of course, blamed the females in the scheme before they blamed the Dukes… or as the ton would say… ‘rakes will be rakes.’ By the third or fourth chapter… I was becoming pretty tired of hearing about the scandal and Marlena’s anger toward the Duke for ruining her friend’s life. She was pretty zealous in regard to her friend and neighbor… to the point of being obsessed with her situation and well-being. It quickly became tiresome… all-the-way to the final chapter. If I heard the word scandal one more time… I might call myself out… to end my misery.
“If a wicked rake doesn’t kiss a young lady when they’re alone in a moonlit rose garden, might it mean he doesn’t intend to? There were rules about such things. Weren’t they written down somewhere? If not, then they should be. A Treatise on Rakes, written for Susceptible Young Ladies, by a lady of distinction.” –Anna Bradley, A Wicked Way to Win an Earl
Our heroine, Miss Marlena Fast, had a secret. She wrote for the scandal sheets under the name Miss Honora Truth. Her target… the Rakes of St. James… our hero His Grace, the Duke of Rathburn and his friends… the Duke of Griffin and the Duke of Hawksthorn. Her writing had become so popular that the publisher convinced her to write a book with her reflections. The title… ‘Miss Honora Truth’s Words of Wisdom and Warning About Rakes, Scoundrels, Rogues, and Libertines.’
Each chapter of this book had a heading with Miss Honora Truth’s reflections regarding rakes. They read like a Jeff Foxworthy… “You might be a redneck…” only our author stated “He could be a rake…” and then listed a reflection on what might constitute someone being a rake. Of course, that was exactly what our hero did in that very chapter. His every action reinforcing her opinion that he was a rake.
The chemistry between them was HOT… thus the MA rating. I’m sorry, but our couple jumped into lust and steamy… way to quickly. I didn’t ‘feel the love’ between them, but rather felt the lust factor instead. He wanted her and she wanted him. Just saying. Then they had a colossal fight, had to suck up their courage, resolve the misunderstanding and forgive each other and head off to their happy ever after. Pretty predictable.
This story did not make me want to run and read books 1&2. Characters from those books were present and made an appearance in this story. I liked his buddies, the other rakes or Dukes; however, their wives were just OK… nothing that piqued my interest. There was comedic relief from Miss Marlena’s cousin and widow… Mrs. Justine Abernathy. She was a pistol; however, after a while even her antics became tedious. Everyone got on my nerves. I am sorry, I simply could not connect with these guys. [3-stars]
I volunteered to read an ‘Uncorrected Digital Galley’ from the publisher via NetGalley. The views expressed are my own. Estimated publication date May 29, 2018.
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Erica –
I was highly anticipating this installment, after handing out a 5-star rating to To the Duke, with Love. While this is a continuation, and it will benefit the reader to start at the beginning of the series and read in order, there would be little to no confusion if read as a standalone.
I will admit, I struggled throughout the course of the novel with keeping my interests. I was able to read a chapter here or there until completion, and this may have affected my overall enjoyment. However, I did read the first 40% in one sitting.
The pacing was a big issue for me. It starts off molasses slow. While I enjoyed Marlena and Rath’s narration, my pet peeves were popping out everywhere. Their initial meeting took almost 20% of the book, filled with conversation, inner musing/monologues breaking up dialogue, excessive description which also interrupted the flow of conversation, and eye-humping each other while thinking about how amazingly beautiful/handsome the other was.
Attraction is definitely what I expect from an initial meeting, but this was too close to self-admitting being in love. While this took a great portion of the novel, it was literal minutes of their lives.
Rath was a naughty boy in the past, he and the heroes of the previous installments. Wagering on ladies and treating them less than human. They’ve all learned the error of their ways, character growth. He is now picking up the duty of introducing his new ward to the ton for a season. Rath, the insulter of ladies, will be protecting one – I loved the juicy irony of that.
Marlena is an orphan, but also a grown woman. After witnessing how naughty men treated the fairer sex, she penned Miss Honoria Truth. In the previous installments, I loved the witty, feminist bent to the little ditties scattered throughout the series, and I just couldn’t wait for the author to narrate a book of her own.
Marlena fell short of my expectations. I felt she was too focused on the vapid, outside package of Rath’s, when I expected more from her. She was always mooning (inside her head) over how handsome he was, reminding the reader every few paragraphs, as if we could somehow forget Rath’s impressive attributes. It felt shallow, as if Marlena was not the Miss Honoria Truth I’d come to love – entertainer and avenger of ladies everywhere.
In a nutshell, I’m a sucker for a guardian and his ward entanglement. Added to the fact he was a reformed reprobate and she was the one who took him to task in the media, sparks should have been flying everywhere. But it all felt forced, due to the pacing, repetition of inner monologue via both narrators, and description breaking up every conversation to be had and any and all action scenes.
I do believe it was a solid installment of the series. These are my pet peeves that made it difficult to enjoy the novel. If we don’t share these same issue, no doubt you will highly enjoy it. I do recommend to fans of the author and the series.
Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of It’s All About the Duke (The Rakes of St. James #3) by Amelia Grey to read and review.
I admired what a strong and confident Marlena Fast, the heroine Ms. Grey created in her lasted book. The love, care and independence provided for Marlena by her previous guardians helped shape the woman she became while living a somewhat carefree life. Having a well known Rake, the Duke of Rathburne, as her latest guardian was bound to affect her and restrict some of her independence as she readied for her debut season. The shenanigans created a few years prior by the Rakes with their secret admirer letters had lasting consequences that none of the three Rakes of St. James realized or knew about. Writing the scandal sheet under an alias name, Marlena’s secret could cost her the love of a good man. I felt badly how guilty she was feeling as she met many of the people she had written about over the years. I was quite glad that she realized how hurtful her words were and how they could have affected those people. In fact, the Rakes of St. James were also made aware of how much those recipients of their letters were affected. Yes, it is wise to think before we act as Marlena and Rath learned in this wonderful love at first sight story.
Ms. Grey wrote a wonderful story with relatable characters, humorous as well as a few uncomfortable situations. I really enjoy reading this book and had trouble putting it down, turning page after page, wanting more once I turn that last page. I highly recommend this book to other readers.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
This is the third book in a series with an interesting premise. In this standalone, the Duke of Rathburne, “Rath”, while in a state of being indisposed (ok, so he was rather drunk when he thought it would be a good idea),has taken on the ward of an older friend of his deceased father who is in failing health.
He has agreed to fund for Miss Marlena Fast a season and to find her a proper match. Rath remembers meeting the girl when she was about twelve, unruly, and rather tomboyish. He has his reasons for the agreement, as he has a past for which he seeks to atone. Unfortunately, when he’s sober, and regretting his agreement, he cannot renig on it.
Marlena, not exactly thrilled about pursuing a season, is horrified that the Duke of Rathburne has been made her guardian. Miss Fast firmly believes he is NOT the kind of man anyone in their right mind would assign to such a task for a genteel young lady. She also fears that the duke will learn what she and her friends have been up to for the past three years, and that’s not so ladylike.
Neither of the two counted on the attraction they would have for each other or their inability to deny it.
With a cast of colorful characters, especially a dramatic cousin, a few prehistoric eggs, and a little dog who thinks he’s a king, the story is thoroughly entertaining. I highly recommend this book and the series to those who enjoy historical romance or romance at all.
I read this as an arc on Netgalley which affected my review in no way at all.
And we came to the end of The Rakes of St. James series, and finally we discovered who was to blame for spreading the news that the Duke of Griffin’stwins sisters were in danger of being dishonored…
First of all, the covers of Jon Paul Ferrara are amazing. All three. They make the perfect match with each character’s story.
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About the main character of this book, the Duke of Rathburne, aka Rath, was the main responsible for the wager, years ago, that made 12 young ladies in trouble, each believing that they would meet their secret admirer.
A joke that caused serious trouble to the ladies, but not to the three gentlemen responsible for it.
Now, years later, they find themselves in the midst of the danger of seeing Griffin’s twin sisters and Hawk’s sister dishonored.
Rath was the only one free from any karma, since he was an only child.
However, fate has a special way of making people pay for their crimes.
An old friend of Rath’s father, Mr. Olingworth, had a ward that needed to be presented in the Season, but he was getting worse every day from his illness. So he asks Rath to be the new guardian of Miss Marlena Fast.
Without being able to refuse, Rath goes to St James, to the house of his new ward, to introduce himself, and to impose some rules.
But he did not expect to find a young woman with a strong personality who, though she could not stop him from being her guardian, she had her own ideas of how she would behave thereafter.
And from that begins the war of desires, and one of Rath’s greatest desires was to kiss Miss Marlena, and then to make her his.
But Marlena had a great secret, and this one directly affected Rath and his two rake friends.
Rath becomes aware of how his play in the past has affected innocent people, and he tries to make up for some of them.
But more important now, after a life being one of the Rakes of St. James, would Rath finally be content to have only one woman in his bed, his life and in his heart?
4,5 stars