The rake has a proposition… Will she accept? Part of The Sinful Sinclairs: When globe-trotting Charles Sinclair arrives at Huxley Manor to sort out his late cousin’s affairs, he meets practical Eleanor Walsh. He can’t shake the feeling that behind her responsibility to clear her family’s debt, Eleanor longs to escape her staid life. Chase can offer her an exciting adventure in Egypt… But … in Egypt… But that all depends on her response to his shocking proposal!
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“A kiss is like a good book.”
Chase Sinclair is funny, sarcastic, confused and insecure around Ellie, but wants to fix all her problems. Ellie Walsh is practical, independent and insecure around Chase, but totally curious about kissing. So when she asks, he gives his answer.
The death of Chase’s cousin brings him to Huxley Hall to go over his inheritance. Ellie is pretending to be the fiance of the new Lord Huxley, but that soon falls apart. Ellie and her family are financially destitute, Chase comes up with the answers, one of them is Ellie as a companion to his sister on a trip to Egypt. A trip that will give Chase a chance to follow his heart. Also included are missing pages of books, a vase and a mysterious box. Don’t forget swimming in crocodile-infested waters.
I am utterly lost for words, OK, I do say that a lot and to be honest I have words but they are more along the lines of “Brilliant, gorgeous, perfect, stunning, amazing, one of the best books I have read….” my embarrassed babble has no bounds, I could carry one about just perfect this book is, I knew it was going to be a good one, I knew that Chase would steal my heart, but I didn’t count on him locking it away, so no other hero can ever have it again. Honestly though, this book…I am in utter awe of just how marvelous it is.
The Rakes Enticing Proposal is book two in the Sinful Sinclairs series, and really this is one of those books that it is so brilliantly written it is like reading a stand-a-lone, honestly I have read and loved the previous book but even I forgot that I was reading part two of a series, this is book is just all class, there is no other words for it. I cannot wait for the third book; Sam’s story – now I have a feeling that her story is going to be spellbinding.
The story opens in very Temple-esque dramatic style, a great meeting between out hero and heroine one which does end with them in each others arms, in a fashion. Ex-military man and adventurer Chase Sinclaire received a letter from his late cousin, it is both puzzling and mysterious, he is confused by the contents of the letter and knows that it must be serious if his late cousin had sworn him to secrecy so he sets out to look through his late cousins belongings to see if he can find what in the blazes Huxley is talking about.
Ellie Walsh is at Huxley Manor in a deep deception of her own, she had the now Baron Huxley have come to an arrangement; a fake engagement that must be kept secret, something that will benefit both parties. She is in dire need of funds, she is facing destitution and even worse debtors prison, she has debt collectors banging on the door and nothing to pay them with, which is where Huxley comes in. He wants to get his terrifying aunt; Lady Ermintrude off his back and dispel her idea that he will be marrying one of her precious daughters. But all does not exactly go to plan, when she meets, charming, enticing and roguish Chase.
When Ellie helps Chase organise the late Lord Huxley’s belongings, she soon realises that there is far more to the ‘Lucifer’ before her then what she first thought, they see something in each other while going though all those old diaries and he soon sees just how brilliant she is with a notebook and pen in hand at managing everything, and lets her into the secret of the letter. An act that will take them from the dusty, overbearing Huxley Manor across the sea’s to golden Egypt.
Chase…..Oh, my goodness!!! I have died and gone to perfect hero heaven, there is nothing I don’t like about this man, not only gorgeous – you know me, my head is always turned with a charming smile I can’t even begin to describe how perfect Chase is, he is my kind of hero inside and out; charming, charismatic, mysterious, ex-military, multi-layered, thoughtful, considerate, passionate, intelligent, dashing, roguish, loyal, protective, sexy – oh, lordy is this man sexy or what!!! There is just something about him that reached my heart, there is a certain vulnerability about him too, something that made him all the more beautiful. I could go on forever about just how awesome this man is, but that would mean me talking about his perfectly shaped rear end and how well his shoulders fill out a coat – but, I don’t think people want to hear about that.
But, as well as leering over Chase, I must talk about Ellie, what a wonderful young woman she is. I felt a real connection with her, she spoke to me in ways that doesn’t often happen, I am one of those readers that oddly connects with the hero of the story far more then the heroine, but not in this case. I could really relate to her, from her worry about finances, to her love of her family, her passion for reading, her thirst for something more in her life, even her constant need for tea. She has a lot of her shoulders and deep down all she wants is the chance to be able to go off and explore the world, she wants to see things that has only ever read about, but she also knows that she has responsibilities, she would never desert her family for something so selfish. She really is a remarkable woman.
This book has everything I look for in a historical romance; amazing characters, that are both thoughtful as well as sexy, intelligent heroines who don’t take no nonsense, multi-layered heroes that have a roguish twinkle. A plot that is like something from a movie – in fact this book could very easily be a blockbuster. Gorgeous settings, stunning and intricately researched history that is so perfectly woven through out the story you don’t even realize your soaking up historic fact – now that is a skill – and with a breathtaking romance one that will last the test of time, one that will make you fall in love .
I love that Ms Temple is never afraid to push the historical romance boundaries, she steps out of the classical romance zone that so many authors hold on to like a comfort blanket and she stride purposely through new and untrodden lands to bring us some of the most thought-provoking, fascinating, stylish and adventuresome romances that are around today, as I said from the beginning, this lady has a real natural talent for spinning a great tale of absolute love.
The writing is spectacular, the descriptions of each scene is so vivid you can literally see everything in your mind, especially once they reach Egypt. That is a stunning piece of writing, it’s so visual and realistic you can instantly see that the Ms Temple has a real passion for Egypt, it comes through every word, she sweeps the reader along with the characters, the story has a magical almost daydream like quality that sparkles likes the Egyptian sun.
This book is a work of art, it’s as beautiful as the Egyptian setting-sun and as charming as the English countryside, I cannot recommend this book enough, it is dazzling.
Charles “Chase” Sinclair, is on a mission to go through his late cousin, Huxley’s, papers, hoping to find some clues to a cryptic letter he received before Huxley died. In the letter, Huxley hinted at some important information he discovered, with secrecy being crucial. Chase discovers a young woman, who also appears to be looking through Huxley’s papers, and he challenges her, only to find that she’s Eleanor Walsh, the fiancée of Huxley’s heir, his cousin Henry.
Ellie is, in fact, only pretending to be engaged to Henry, a dear friend of hers, in order to shield him from the matchmaking machinations of his aunt. In return for Ellie’s pretense, he will help her financially once he determines the status of his new estate and fully takes over the reins. Ellie’s father died scandalously, leaving Ellie and her four younger siblings in a perilous financial situation. They have been scraping along, but last year’s failed crops have brought them near to being destitute.
While Henry is busy, trying to learn about his property, Ellie is tasked with helping Chase sort through Huxley’s paperwork and possessions. It turns out that some of Huxley’s journals are missing, and that passages have been mysteriously cut out of a set of books. Somehow, the trail indicates that Huxley’s secretary was involved, and that Chase may have to travel back to Egypt to follow the clues.
While Chase and Ellie are sorting through Huxley’s paperwork, they quickly develop a friendship, with Ellie being fascinated by Chase’s previous adventures and travel experiences. Her own life has been limited to her little corner of the world, and she can only imagine what it would be like to travel. Soon they are comfortable enough with each other for Ellie to confess the true status of the engagement, and her family’s sorry state of affairs. Chase can only sympathize at Ellie’s burden, and he’s well aware of the ramifications of having a scandalous father.
When everything has been sorted, it’s time for Ellie to return home, and for Chase to make arrangements to go to Egypt. Chase is somewhat confused about his feelings for Ellie. He knows that he doesn’t want to part from her, and he’d love to help her. But, how? The answer comes to him, as he arranges to help with Ellie’s family debt, secretly, or so he thinks. Ellie is no fool, and immediately realizes what Chase has done. She’s grateful and incensed at the same time. Chase then offers her the chance to travel to Egypt with his party, as companion to his sister, Sam. Again, Ellie feels that she is the beneficiary of Chase’s charity, but he eventually talks her into accepting the offer.
The journey to Egypt has Chase and Ellie becoming closer than ever, with an undeniable attraction building higher and more intensely. Ellie realizes that she’s falling in love, but Chase can’t identify his feelings. What does he know of love? The only affection he’s had has been with his siblings. And even if he were to pursue the relationship further, Ellie (he thinks) longs for a stable home while he is a wanderer with no roots. Sometimes Chase even resents his own feelings, causing him to say hurtful things to Ellie that he really doesn’t mean.
Lara Temple paints a vivid picture of Egypt, a wonderful backdrop for the beautiful romance that’s developing. In THE RAKE’S ENTICING PROPOSAL, each character feels they’re not adequate enough for the other, but in reality, they are a perfect match. Chase is truly a loving, kind, and generous man, while Ellie is strong and more than willing to add a little adventure to her life. The exotic location is not one normally seen in historical romance, and it added a little something extra to this well written and heart touching story. This book two of the Sinful Sinclairs series can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading the first book, which I loved, as well, and is the story of Chase’s brother, Lucas.
4.5 stars, as reviewed at Roses Are Blue: https://wp.me/p3QRh4-Zn
The proposal of the rake in this story isn’t quite what you might expect; if a rake asked me to be his sister’s companion on a trip to Egypt, I don’t think I’d think twice about accepting. Eleanor, the heroine of the story, does, but only because she has other responsibilities, with younger siblings and a crumbling estate to manage.
The first half of the story deals with a rather intriguing setup; Eleanor is fake-engaged to her best friend Henry, Chase Sinclair’s cousin, who has just inherited a crumbling estate of his own. In an attempt to avoid being married off by his determined aunt, Henry promises Eleanor help if she’ll pose as his fake fiancee. Unfortunately, Henry has inherited more debts than assets and it doesn’t take long for Chase to rumble the pair of them. He won’t expose their ruse, but there’s nothing to stop him falling for Ellie himself, which he promptly does as they work together to sort out a mess of papers and artefacts his uncle left to Chase, along with a mystery which doesn’t get resolved until they get to Egypt in the second half of the book.
The Egypt part is where this story really shines; though the character development in the first half is beautifully done and we really get to not only fall in love with the characters, but see why they’re in love with each other, the evocative, descriptive prose about Egypt made me feel as though I was really there, in a palace beside the Nile listening to the jackals howling in the City of the Dead.
Chase and Ellie are really perfectly suited to each other, but like any good romance, there are some trials and tribulations along the way as they come to understand that. There’s no manufactured drama; all of the doubts that beset them both are realistic and related to their own backgrounds, making them both feel very real and relatable.
Though this is the second in the Sinful Sinclairs series, it stands very well alone. I love Lara Temple’s writing and this one definitely deserves five stars.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review from the author.
I was very lucky to have won an advance copy through a giveaway set by the author and her publisher. Mrs Lara Temple is one author I wanted to read since I have seen great reviews from her work. Alas there are still only 24 hours a day, but one can’t pass an arc opportunity.
I do usually rush into my reads, always eager to go through the end and its happily ever after.
The Rake’s Enticing Proposal was not this kind of tale, It needed to be appreciated and savored, slowly, like a very special meal, to discover all its different layers and savors.
The main couple are not flawless characters, they has their faults, Charles Sinclair or Chase for short is a mediator or middleman, he has a talent to smooth things and bring them to conclusion but he refuses to take on any responsibility for himself. Eleanor Walsh / Ellie is the one taking charge, she manages her household and siblings since their parents surrendered their duties, why she relinquishes to give up control and think only for herself.
They were both shaped by their upbringing and their family’s history, and despite their opposite view of life, they are drawn to another but unable to convey their true feelings without hurting the other as they are blind to assess the emotions they experience together. The walls they have built around themselves inhibit their abilities to share what they sense.
It was a very emotional journey from one continent to another, with two souls afraid to not be enough for the other. They revolve around the object of their dreams, so scared to be rejected, they lost all their deductions senses.
4.5 Stars
When globe-trotting Charles Sinclair arrives at Huxley Manor to sort out his late cousin Huxley’s affairs, he meets practical Eleanor Walsh who is engaged to Henry. He can’t shake the feeling that behind her responsibility to clear her family’s debt, Eleanor longs to escape her staid life. Chase asks Ellie to travel to Egypt as companion to his widowed sister Sam.
A lovely romance, Chase is charming witty & a problem solver, Ellie is the glue that holds her family together – they were perfect for each other. I loved that the gorgeous confident Chase fell hard for the older Ellie who is not a diamond of the first water to look at but her true beauty is her personality & love for her family. There are some misunderstandings along their journey but the more time they spend together the more they fall in love but also become best friends. Set against a backdrop of England & Egypt this captivating read held me from start to finish
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
The Rake’s Enticing Proposal is the second book in author Lara Temple’s latest series, “The Sinful Sinclairs”. This story focuses on Chase Sinclair, who I’ll admit intrigued me from the first book. Although this definitely could be read as a stand-alone, I highly recommend reading the first book that features Chase’s older brother Lucas. It’s been a fabulous series so far and I can’t wait for Sam’s story next!
From the moment I first met Chase in the last book, I wanted to know him better. I loved his personality and it’s obvious he loves his siblings and is protective of them. Chase is a charming, witty, handsome rogue who has no intentions of ever settling down…
Eleanor “Ellie” Walsh is a new character for those of us who have been reading this series. She’s a young woman who for the last five years has been taking care of her younger siblings and trying to keep the banks from foreclosing on her family home. She’s weary, tired, desperate and fearful that she won’t succeed.
Our story starts with Chase arriving at Huxley Manor, his late cousin’s estate. Before his cousin died he sent Chase a mysterious letter. Chase is there to try to solve the mystery along with collect the Sinclair’s inheritance. Ellie finds herself at Huxley Manor too, pretending to be the new Lord Huxley’s fiancée. Ellie’s friend Hugh is the new Lord Huxley and also Chase’s cousin. He’s trying to help Ellie get funds to save her home, while she’s helping him by not getting forced into a marriage by his scheming aunt.
From the very beginning, I loved Chase and Ellie’s interactions. Their first meeting is definitely not love at first sight, there is mistrust on both parts but an underlying awareness. As they are forced to spend time together every day going through the late Lord Huxley’s things, a friendship is formed and truths are revealed. Chase finds himself caught off guard confessing things he never would to anyone. As Ellie reveals her reasons behind her fake betrothal, Chase steps in to help. Ms. Temple as always creates characters with wit, charm and you quickly become invested in their lives. Chase was everything I hoped he would be and I absolutely loved the romance between him and Ellie. Ms. Temple excels in creating heroines with spunk and Ellie was no exception. They were a perfect match for each other, even though it took them both time to admit that to themselves and each other.
I also have to say I love when an author steps away from the typical historical romance and gives us something out of the norm. In this story, our couple ends up actually traveling to Egypt to continue on the quest to solve the mystery. It was a fascinating and unique twist and a great setting for this couple to finally solve the mystery and gain their HEA. It’s obvious that the author knows Egypt and she has done extensive research, as the story just comes to life with her descriptions of the time and area.
It was fantastic to see Lucas and Olivia again and I absolutely loved the interactions between the Sinclair siblings. I look forward to reading Sam’s story in the near future and hope to catch another glimpse of the Sinclair brothers and their wives before we have to say our final goodbye to this series. Another perfect story from author Lara Temple and one that I highly recommend!
Beautiful prose, great characters, lovely story. I wanted to read this book in one sitting, and it annoyed me that I wasn’t able to. I think I liked this story even more than Lucas and Olivia’s. Hero in love and not knowing how to deal with it is always a favorite! And now I wish Sam and Edge’s book was here already!
Eleanor Walsh and her long-time friend Henry Whelford, the new Baron Huxley, had agreed to a pretend betrothal. Their deception is to remain secret, as it is to protect Henry from his Aunt Ermy – the rather terrifying Lady Ermintrude – from having him marry one of her wealthy nieces. Henry needs to find a way to replenish the family coffers as well as provide a solution to Ellie’s financial woes, and he is weary of having to depend on the generosity of the intimidating Lady Ermintrude. Ellie has seen to the welfare of her siblings for five years, but they now face debtors’ prison and losing their home if she and Henry cannot come up with a satisfactory solution. Chase Sinclair had received a puzzling letter from the late Baron Huxley asking that Chase look into something that required the utmost secrecy. Ellie has little to do, and when Lady Ermintrude orders her to help Chase with his task, Ellie is only too happy to escape the tyrannical old lady’s clutches. Ellie is delighted to be privy to the late Baron’s collection of artefacts and notebooks on travels to Egypt from an unknown author. However, she finds her attraction to the roguish and mysterious Chase unsettling.
THE RAKE’S ENTICING PROPOSAL is a marvel of superlative writing. Ellie and Chase are exceedingly complex characters – no, not complex, but complete characters – with superb backstories. Both are wary of prying minds, always ready to protect and defend their loved ones. They are also used to mask their feelings and thoughts and stick to straightforward facts or deflect with sharp barbs, which translates into fabulously witty banter between Chase and Ellie.
Lara Temple sweeps us away with her breathtaking descriptions of England and the wonders of Egypt, while carefully revealing the real Ellie and Chase by showing us what makes them tick. The story is deceptively very intricate; there are so many little things that come into play. Apart from the dazzling visuals, Ms Temple surpasses herself in making the reader feel. The initial distrust and wariness between Chase and Ellie slowly shifts to teasing, then progresses to more intimate talks, and the sexual tension mounts accordingly. Lara Temple demonstrates that conveying the passion, the scorching intensity of the sentiments, the burning need convincingly succeeds so much better than explicit scenes. This is more than lust, this is romance. How wonderful it is to witness, to experience those moments, those changes in perception and feelings. The author had me holding my breath in expectation of what would follow, and it was never obvious where anything would lead. The enticing proposal of the title comes rather late in the book, but it is perfectly timed, and just lovely. But oh, the gorgeous, sumptuous prose, the exquisitely worded dialogues, the marvellous romance, the splendour of it all! What a wonderful story!