In the fifth novel of the captivating Rhymes With Love series from New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Boyle, a young woman’s hopes of a match encounter a wickedly handsome complication . . .
Lavinia Tempest has been eagerly anticipating a spectacular season. But one disastrous pile-up on the Almack’s dance floor derails all her plans. Add to that, the very stunning revelations about her … about her mother’s scandalous past have become the ton’s latest on dits. Lavinia’s future has gone from shining bright to blackest night in one misstep.
Alaster “Tuck” Rowland admits he’s partly to blame for Lavinia’s disastrous debut. But it’s not guilt that compels him to restore her reputation. Rather, he’s placed a wager that he can make Lavinia into one of the most sought-after ladies in London. Who better than an unrepentant rake to set society astir?
Tuck’s motives are hardly noble. But in teaching the lovely Lavinia how to win any man she wants, he suddenly finds himself tangled in the last place he ever imagined: in love.
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Elizabeth Boyle is one of my few auto-buy authors. Over the last couple years I’ve gobbled up her stories as soon as they drop in my e-reader. And The Knave of Hearts was no exception. The story had me turning the pages, anticipating what was going to come next.
As this is the fifth book in the series, we’d met Lavinia in the past. In fact, her twin sister’s book was the prior story and Lavinia obviously had a part in that tale. This book runs almost concurrently with The Viscount Who Lived Down the Lane and it would help if you’ve read that story already. But, Ms Boyle does enough background recapping to get the reader up to date or, in my case, refreshed my memory.
Lavinia was a hoot. She was so straight-laced with her list of rules on how to properly behave in society in order to match the ideal match. Her mother’s reputation coupled with Lavinia’s two left feet do not bode well for her season. I loved watching her growth through the story, coming to realize that while rules are important, there has to be some give and take. Of course, the fact that she kept finding herself in laugh-worthy situations, well, I spent my reading time going from laughing out loud to wiping away tears.
Enter Tuck. I have to admit, I don’t have a clue where the nickname came from, as his name is Alaster Rowland, and it wasn’t ever explained in the story. It confused the heck out of me and I kept waiting for that explanation. But I digress. Tuck was an interesting and multifaceted character. On the surface, he’s a knave. Dig a little deeper, and you find a deeply loyal man. But he doesn’t generally let people see that man… except Lavinia breaks through.
Together, these two were so fun to watch. The circling around each other. Lavinia not thinking that Tuck is proper enough. Tuck just not wanting to find love and thinking that Lavinia is more a means to an end. They’re both thrown for a loop when sparks fly and watching them struggle and eventually give in was pure fun.
Throw in a crazy variety of secondary characters (Tuck’s mom and great uncle in particular) and I was just enjoying the ride. Ms Boyle’s characterizations, plots and ability to play with my emotions are a reason why she’s on my keeper shelf and The Knave of Hearts is right there among the best of them.
My review originally posted at Romancing the Book.
A bit disjointed, but the story and characters were entertaining.
I do not know if it was because it was a busy weekend but I had a more difficult time to immerse at first in this story but by the end I did enjoyed this read as much as the previous book.
Plus I hoped to see the romance about Lord Charleston and Lady Avenue find its conclusion.
Whatever, it was an entertaining and funny read with a prim and proper young miss letting things go loose to find her true self while the hero has to reconcile his past with the present and accept he can’t change what was done but still go on.
Lavinia is the twin of Louisa, the heroine of The Viscount Who Lived Down The Lane. While one is meddling and want to have nothing to do with society, the other wants to fit even if it means silencing her inner self.
Lavinia lives by lists, compilation of what is proper to do and above all to avoid scandal and gossip but all the lists will never be able to prevent the walking-scandal they are by simply being their mother’s daughters.
It was painful to watch them being shunned and all those by link associated to them.
Alaster Rowland or Tuck, Lord Charleton presumptive’s heir lives with his wits and a small allowance to make ends meet, and most of the time it is not enough. And things get worse when he wagers everything on a drunken night. Now is he to transform a rejected lady in a diamond of the first water.
I loved Tuck, he is loyal to the heart to those he cares and accepts to be seen as someone he is not if it means protecting them. He makes mistakes, lot of them but he never gives up.
Lavinia at first was not my favorited of the twins but she grows up during the story, going from the rigid miss to a young woman who will throw everything she thought right to the window to get her man even when he deceived her.
In all, a full of actions romance with some very funny moments.
I love ms Boyles books, they are always well written and enjoyable. This one was the same.
Lavinia is a treat! She’s oh so proper with a list of acceptable behaviors needed to make a respectable match. Then she meets Tuck. They are perfectly matched and this book was just plain fun.
Loved this book and array of Characters. This will be one I will read again, at a later time, it was that good.
It was okay and I finished it. But not one of my favorite by ms boyle.
I’m having a hard time sticking with this book. I find it boring. The characters lack dimension, and the story drags. I read a page, then close it. A few days later I try another. Unfortunately it hasn’t gotten any better. Sadly, I’m only 41% through the book. I love a good romance, but frankly, I don’t even like these characters. he’s got nothing going for him, yet he’s going to”save her reputation”, and thus her? How absurd does that sound? I’m pretty glad I’ve written this review, because it’s made me realize I don’t need to punish myself any longer. It’s time to delete this one from my library!