This series? THE NEVERS + BRIDGERTON mashup!“A spirited and compulsively readable paranormal romance.” —Kirkus Reviews~Oklahoma Romance Writers Guild Heart Award Finalist~A gorgeous psychic. An unwanted betrothal. A tantalizing compromise.Lady Victoria Hamilton has a supernatural gift, a fiancé, and a guardian angel. She just never expected her protector to be the most dazzling man in England, a … expected her protector to be the most dazzling man in England, a devilish scoundrel they call the Blue Bastard. Victoria has agreed to marry for duty, not love, but her unforeseen desire for her mystical angel threatens to destroy not only her plans for the future but the armor surrounding her susceptible heart.
A confirmed scoundrel, a mind reader, and the only man she desires…
Illegitimate son of a viscount and reigning king of London’s gossip sheets, Finn Alexander has spent a lifetime hiding his ability to read minds behind charming smiles and wicked behavior. No one knows the real man, and he likes it that way. Until he meets the lone woman who sees the man beneath the disguise—a blue-blooded temptress with the power to bring him to his knees.
As they embark on a journey of passion and friendship, Victoria and Finn must decide if they’re willing to risk everything for the promise of true, magical love.
League of Lords Series:
#1 The Lady is Trouble (Julian & Piper)
#2 The Rake is Taken (Finn & Victoria)
#3 The Duke is Wicked (Sebastian & Delaney)
#4 The Hellion is Tamed (Simon & Emma)
more
I enjoyed reading this book. Victoria Hamilton is moving through life with no joy or happiness. Her father has promised her to a man she can’t stand. Her gift has helped in the past and has the potential to change her life. Finn Alexander is a rake who owns his own gaming hall. His gift is a big help in controlling the tenor in the hall. Since they have met, Finn has been having trouble with his gift. Little did they know that Victoria is the key. Only they have promised to be friends. It has allowed them to know each other and to see what is truly possible. Will family obligations hold or will true love lead the way?
With its touch of the paranormal, this steamy romance enchanted me from the first page. While this story is a stand alone (Finn and Victoria get their HFN), there is an overarching thread of intrigue and danger that appears to continue with the rest of the series. Great dialogue, lots of angst, a touch of intrigue, an element of danger. I would have liked a little more on the mystical aspect so I’m looking forward to seeing how this plays out with the next book in this series.
I received a free copy from Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.
After reading ‘The Lady js Trouble’ I was hesitant to read this story because I doubted I’d enjoy it as much. As it turned out, my concern was totally unnecessary because I loved this book!
Lady Victoria Hamilton has supernatural gifts, among them the ability to block others’ psychic gifts, and to erase memories or ‘steal time’. Her gift puts her in danger because people could want to use it for criminal reasons. She also has been betrothed to an awful man, to get her parents out of debt. Finn Alexander was abandoned as a child in the slums of London. He was rescued by a benefactor who created a backstory for him, and they consider themselves brothers. Finn hears people’s thoughts and has powerful dreams. He is described as one of the most handsome men in England, living the hedonistic lifestyle of a rake.
Victoria and Finn are both struggling. They are both likable characters, faced with the challenges of their unusual gifts, differences in social status, and pressures on them from society and/or family. You can enjoy this as a standalone, but I suggest experiencing ‘The Lady js Trouble’ first if possible, just because it makes this great story even better. Finn was a secondary character in that first book. There are sightings of characters from the first book in this one, all adding to the richness of this tale. There are moments in this story to laugh and to cry, to say ‘awwww’ and say ’wow.’ I’m looking forward to the next in the series and hoping it’s about Fireball. Who’s he, you ask? Read the book!
I purchased this on Amazon after getting the review copy, to show support.
‘The Rake is Taken‘ is the second title in the ‘League of Lords‘ series, and while some might say since it is a story completely about one couple this could be read as a stand-alone. While I don’t disagree with that, I do wish I’d had the time to read the first story in the series before Victoria and Finn’s story for I would have had a better background and the couple from the first story do make an appearance. So really, it becomes a matter of personal preference or funds whether you read this series in order or simply dive into a good story with not only a Historical Victorian Romance timeframe but most definitely Paranormal Romance involvement.
I really enjoyed ‘The Rake is Taken‘ for it not only has a very good story with intriguing but interesting characters it also enters into the paranormal world within a timeframe where anything like this would have been seen as witchcraft or the dark arts – and the people involved punished at the least, ostracized or killed at the most. (Yes, I know, we always have been a civilized world, right?)
To be frank, I don’t feel I can go into any details beyond what you’ll find in the Cover Description for saying more could in fact spoil this story (and the series) for some readers. Yet, it is a fascinating story of unique abilities, and finding just the one right person to accept, even begin to understand the uniqueness of the gift each has as a natural ability. I adored Finn, he’s a devil-may-care type of man with a depth that few ever truly encounter. Victoria held my heart captive for she’s been through a lot, her expectations of love aren’t the greatest which is why finding Finn, as exasperating as he can be, was pure magic for her. I believe that anyone who loves a good Paranormal Romance will enjoy ‘The Rake is Taken‘ for at the heart, although set in Victorian England, this is mainly a Paranormal story, IMO. Of course, Historical Romance readers will enjoy this one as a genre, but it’s not often I see a story with this depth tied to the paranormal and historical world so effortlessly. And on that note, I’m not going to divulge any more. I had a great time in this world and if these are your Romance genres then I’m betting you’d enjoy yourself as well… if they aren’t, then take a risk and indulge yourself – I think you’ll be glad you did.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
‘A gorgeous psychic. An unwanted betrothal. A tantalizing compromise.
An independent hellion, a thief of time, and the only woman who can capture his heart…
Lady Victoria Hamilton has a supernatural gift, a fiancé, and a guardian angel. She just never expected her protector to be the most dazzling man in England, a devilish scoundrel they call the Blue Bastard. Victoria has agreed to marry for duty, not love, but her unforeseen desire for her mystical angel threatens to destroy not only her plans for the future but the armor surrounding her susceptible heart.
A confirmed scoundrel, a mind reader, and the only man she desires…
Illegitimate son of a viscount and reigning king of London’s gossip sheets, Finn Alexander has spent a lifetime hiding his ability to read minds behind charming smiles and wicked behavior. No one knows the real man, and he likes it that way. Until he meets the lone woman who sees the man beneath the disguise—a blue-blooded temptress with the power to bring him to his knees.
As they embark on a journey of passion and friendship, Victoria and Finn must decide if they’re willing to risk everything for the promise of true, magical love.’
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3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars.
The Rake is Taken is the second book in Tracy Sumner’s League of Lords series. This book is a historical romance with a paranormal spin; it is not a clean romance.
I do love a book with a paranormal/magical plot and I am very happy to find one within a historical fiction/historical romance, especially since they are few and far between. I read the first in the series and really enjoyed the paranormal element and so I was quite excited to read The Rake is Taken, but unfortunately I found that the paranormal aspect really took a backseat to the romance this time.
In the first book, The Lady is Trouble, there is a lot of groundwork laid for the varied abilities and gifts that the characters have and how they affect their lives and environments. Also there is an element of danger that throughout that really vlidates Julian’s reasoning behind building a safe heaven. In this book however, there is mention of possibly encrouching danger, but it never comes into play in the plot.
Victoria’s powerful gift a bit similar to the female lead from the first book, Piper. Piper’s gift was to help people control and channel thier gifts so that they are less oppressive in their lives. Victoria’s gift is to temporarily block other’s gift so that they have a brief respite from their gift and it. Both gifts those around them temporary relief and calm from the impact of their own gifts.
Despite being disappointed by the lack of danger and the limited scope of the paranormal plot here, I still enjoyed the book and would read the next in the series(with the hope that the paranormal will be more prevelant in the storyline). If you enjoy paranormal historcial romances as well, you should give this series, League of Lords, a try.
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I would like to thank BookSirens and Tracy Sumner for sharing a copy of The Rake is Taken with me. This is my honest review.
This is the second book in Ms. Sumner’s wonderful new Regency series, League of Lords. What makes these books special and unique is not only the captivating stories, but they also touch a bit on the paranormal, which makes things a bit more exciting. I’ve been looking forward to Finn’s story and definitely was not disappointed! He is connected to Victoria through dreams of his past. There is definitely a passionate connection between them. She is the daughter of an earl and he is the illegitimate son of a viscount and a known rake. Finn and Victoria grow closer as he helps her learn more about her powers and this special other world that they both belong to. As their journey to love begins, of course they must face many challenges along the way. Ms. Sumner does a great job of bringing this story to life with the excellent portrayal of characters and captivating storyline. This is definitely a book, and a series, you don’t want to miss out on. I, for one, am looking forward to the upcoming books in this series!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I don’t really like these kind of paranormal books, but I really liked this one. Loved the idea of a group of people with a different kind of gifts living together so they are not persecuted and are helped to control their gift. Victoria has the ability to steal time from someone for a short period of time and Finn has dreams that usually come true. He dreamt of Victoria that she was in danger and he hoped to protect her.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The Rake Is Taken continues Sumner’s strong Regency paranormal series by focusing on two people who’ve struggled with their talents. Finn suffers because he can read any mind around his—except for Victoria. She struggles because her ability to wipe anyone’s recent memories offers perilous possibilities that she knows she needs to avoid. For Finn, Victoria offers a respite, as she negates his talent and gives him rare moments of silence in a cacophonous world. For Victoria, she needs to know that she isn’t alone in her talents, and that Finn can introduce her to others who have to deal with extraordinary abilities every day.
I liked both Finn and Victoria. Finn was a strong secondary character in The Lady is Trouble, where his talents made him mischievous and a bit chaotic. In The Rake is Taken, Finn is older and more jaded, struggling with the challenges reading minds brings. I liked the way Victoria was his counterbalance, the yin to his yang in more ways than one. They also have to address their class differences and social status, and Victoria has to learn to challenge the status quo she is being forced into.
There are welcome sightings of characters from the first book, but they in no way overshadow the growth of Finn and Victoria’s relationship. The League of Lords series has been excellent so far, and how wonderful that The Rake Is Taken avoids the dreaded sophomore slump!
I absolutely loved this book and the characters keep turning the pages till the last page! You won’t put this book down!
The Rake Is Taken
League of Lords – Book 2
Tracy Sumner
The Rake Is Taken by Tracy Sumner is the first book I have read by the author. I found it to be a refreshingly unique historical romance as it has paranormal elements. While it is book #2 from the series, it can easily be read as a stand-alone.
Finn Alexander can read peoples thoughts. Left at an orphanage with nothing but his first name as a youth, he is now known as the Blue Bastard. The nick name is a result of his extraordinary eye color and the circumstances of his birth.
Lady Victoria Hamilton erases thoughts by stealing bits of time from people, which is convenient when she does not want them to remember something. She also happens to have an additional talent that is a blessing to those who are unable to get any peace from their abilities.
These two are drawn together by dreams they are each having involving the other. Of course there is also that intense attraction that they both try to fight along the way. I felt more emphasis could have been put on the dreams Victoria was having, since they play such an important part in Finn’s life. Once her dreams came to fruition for Finn, I felt a little cheated and that this part of the story could have been expanded on.
Parts of the book did not flow well for me, especially between some of the chapters that had an abrupt stop/start kind of feel. This seemed to take place more in the beginning of the book. Other parts were overly wordy for me. One example, “Her gaze was glazed, a cavernous color of a forest at midnight, her bottom lip swollen as if she’d bitten it”. I got the point about her gaze without the whole cavernous forest bit. The line means more to my mind without it. When things start getting wordy, I tend to lose interest and start skimming the page.
Those who enjoy stories about the strong bonds of family regardless of missing blood ties should enjoy this book. As a lover of romance, paranormal and mysticism, I look forward to reading future stories about other characters mentioned in these pages. 3.5 of 4 stars.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
They both have gifts. He reads minds and she can block thoughts and mess with time. He developed his and she didn’t. He helps her with her gift and in the meantime they find other connections between them. Just when their attraction really grows trouble comes along. It is exciting, intriguing, suspenseful, emotional and much more. I received a review copy from book sirens and voluntarily review it.
ONE TANTALIZING EXTRAVAGANZA!!!
Perfect! Tracy bestows her unique talents, spinning this exceptionally thrilling piece of perfection, laying out one refreshing delight to grace the space and expand the genre, swirling through this sensational storyline and enchanting plot, blasting this little treasure to life spectacularly. Talk about blazing a new trail, riding rails and flying to the rescue. It doesn’t get any better than this out-of-box whirlwind, pushing through the unsettling trials and passionate tribulations, stumbling around the sleek twists and wicked turns, drawing our characters deeper than they could have ever envisioned. Tracy has this bad boy banging like a cheap screen door, throwing caution to the wind, no turning back and take no prisoners attitude, wrapping this jewel up seamlessly. One action packed, hard hitting, pulse racing, heart pounding, adrenaline pumping, page flipping bombshell, twirling hotter than a flaming inferno and more explosive than dynamite. Anarchy runs rampant and havoc is rife, rousting the drama, intrigue, spiraling suspense and intense situations, along with a double dose of danger while dodging evil intents, you have one intoxicating masterpiece. The attraction and chemistry sizzles from the pages and suck you in so deeply until you feel the heat and electricity thrumming through your veins. The characters, banter, dialogue, interactions and charged atmosphere along with relatable qualities and individual traits, blend and flow, transforming into genuine charismatic personalities. The scenes are strikingly sharp with abundant details and depictions creating a colorful backdrop that makes the storyline pop. Remarkable job Tracy, thanks for sharing this little treasure with us.
Lady Victoria Hamilton has supernatural gifts, among them the ability to block others’ psychic gifts, that can put her in danger. She also has a fiancé who is not the right man for her. She meets Finn Alexander, a scoundrel, a mind reader, and a man she can easily fall in love with. Finn is the illegitimate son of a viscount, so he knows he is not the right one for her. But he is worried about her gift and suggests she seek out Julian, his brother, who helps other supernaturals.
The more time they spend together, the deeper their passion and friendship becomes. Finn must find a way to stop Victoria’s marriage to the disgusting baron and to protect her. But what can he do?
This was very different than what I expected to find, and I loved it! The story line was really intriguing and the characters were great! Grab your copy and take a look for yourself!
A beautiful story of sacrificial love!
Finn and Victoria are so sweet together. Despite their intense connection, neither can see a path forward where they can be together. I fell in love with these two right away (though I was halfway there already with Finn from the previous book).
The writing style is fluid and vibrant, making the scenes come alive and giving the reader the kind of insight into their hearts that forever connects us to the characters. The paranormal touch hits a perfect balance that makes it almost realistic. The overall story is complex and heartwarming, giving us a triumphant HEA. I highly recommend this delightful historical romance. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
Paranormal and Regency! An interesting and intriguing mix. First story I read by this author and it piqued my curiosity immediately. Most of the characters possess supernatural powers and belong to a league that protects supernatural outcast. Finn, mind reader, was plagued by feelings of guilt, doubts and dreams that he has not been able to decipher its meaning but knew they were crucial for him. Victoria Hamilton, time stealer, might have answers, but she also has a threat on her shoulders, one she doesn’t know about and could end everything the League has fought for. Two characters with complex personalities, struggling with their feelings, their emotions, the reality of their time and with a difficult road difficult to travel. The story has suspense, romance, passion, many supporting characters with their own dramas and conflictive emotions. An interesting and intriguing story that I enjoyed.
Lady Victoria Hamilton has a supernatural gift, a fiancé, and a guardian angel. She just never expected her protector to be the most dazzling man in England, a devilish scoundrel they call the Blue Bastard. Victoria has agreed to marry for duty, not love, but her unforeseen desire for her mystical angel threatens to destroy not only her plans for the future but the armour surrounding her susceptible heart. Illegitimate son of a viscount and reigning king of London’s gossip sheets, Finn Alexander has spent a lifetime hiding his ability to read minds behind charming smiles and wicked behaviour.
This is the second book in the series, it could easily be read on its own. I love that this series is different, you don’t often find historical romance & paranormal mixing, I found it to be refreshing. I loved both Victoria & Finn, whom we’d met in the first book. Oh their attraction sizzled but as their relationship grew so did their dilemma. A very well written page turning read which kept me captivated all the way through
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Take the Rake
After reading The Lady is Trouble I was ready to read Finn’s story. Much like Julian the hero in The Lady is Trouble, Finn had a bit of a chip on his shoulder. My heart went out to him and Julian also. After what Finn suffered growing up I felt he doubted his self worth in many ways. Victoria was the perfect woman for him. So excepting of her own faults she accepted and loved Finn for who he was. My only “ick” of the story is Finn’s nickname of Tori for Victoria. Even with his explanation of why, it still didn’t work for me. I was a bit letdown that all the suspense and danger around Victoria’s ability never really got off the ground. I really enjoyed Finn and Victoria’s story. And the supernatural abilities element makes for an interesting read. I’m anxious to see just how Wicked the Duke is in the next book of the League of Lords series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Lady Victoria has always heard it described it as a parlor trick by her maid Agnes when she has taken away people’s memories. She’s been successful in keeping out of trouble though she doesn’t really fit into society. Finn and Victoria saw each other in dreams before they ever met. Since Finn’s dreams often mean potential danger, he has been following Victoria around. Even though Victoria’s family has her betrothed to a repulsive duke, Finn persuades her to visit his family home to explore her gift. I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher through Netgallery. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. This is an interesting read, which has a few steamy scenes. There were a couple of phrases that I thought were a tiny bit crude within the book. I really liked that Victoria was able to look behind Finn’s facade and really care for him. There are good secondary characters in Agnes, Piper, Julian, and Humphrey that add to the story. I wish there was more suspense around Victoria’s gift, but overall I liked the book.
The second book in the League of Lords series a well written supernatural regency story that kept me turning pages. Finley Michel Laurent Alexander/Finn and Lady Victoria Hamilton’s story of a man who believes he is not good enough for the woman he loves, because of his being a bastard, he is called the Blue Bastard. I enjoyed seeing this story come together. I want to read the next book.
“An impish charmer” and his lady.
A lovely regency paranormal awaits you In this book by Tracy Sumner. Victoria has the gift of sight and an unwanted marriage to look forward too. The one bright spot is her guardian angel. An unlikely angel to a rake, scoundrel, plus a mind reader with the nickname Blue Bastard. Come on just from that you know that these two just need to be together. This was a fun read and I enjoyed every minute reading it. The characters were great Finn, Belle, and Tori perhaps there a happy ending for them? I highly recommend this gem. I also do not expect this to be the end of our character’s tale. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.