“Wonderfully diverting.” —Fresh Fiction for Last Gentleman StandingThe Reluctant RakeProper, elegant Miss Julia Devere is shocked when she spies her fiancé in the arms of another woman. She awakens to the fact that the game of love can be played by very different rules than her own. And unless she can beat this new mistress at her own game, Julia stands to lose all that she suddenly realizes she … stands to lose all that she suddenly realizes she wants.
How to Beguile a Baron
Miss Susan Wyndham’s and Miss Marianne MacClain’s debut at the first ball of the season is ruined when they realize they’re wearing the same gown—and enamored of the same gentleman. Randal Kenyon, Baron Ellerton, is the most eligible lord in London. And far from making peace, he sparks a battle between the pair of dazzling young beauties who now want only him.
Praise for Brave New Earl:
“A refreshingly different, sweetly romantic love story.”—Booklist
“Readers will be charmed.”—BookPage
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Two stories in one that had a feeling of going back in time to some of the older historical romance novels that hold a special place in my heart.
The Reluctant Rake was a story of things not always being what they appear.
As the story opens, our hero, Sir Richard goes into a shady part of town to a club masked and hopefully unknown. He bids on a young girl, who is supposedly an innocent, but finds out she wants to be a kept woman. Why does he do this?
Julia Devere, a most innocent debutante had led a very sheltered life. She was so excited to be marrying Sir Richard Beckwith, who was both handsome and wealthy. What more could she want? But then she overhears a conversation about her betrothed being at a club and bidding on a girl.
Surely this was not true?
That is when everything gets interesting and Julia became determined. What was Richard doing with the young girl and would he explain and be forgiven by Julia? A truly delightful tale that made me smile as I turned the pages.
How to Beguile a Baron
What happens when two young ladies making their debut in the new season are wearing the same dress? But worse than that they have set their sights on the exact same gentleman. Such a fun, charming story that only had me wanted to read more of these classics by this author! Superb!
The Reluctant Rake
Jane Ashford
https://www.facebook.com/JaneAshfordWriter/
Release date 10/29/2019
Publisher Sourcebooks Casablanca
THE RELUCTANT RAKE
Blurb : Proper, elegant Miss Julia Devere is shocked when she spies her fiancé in the arms of another woman. She awakens to the fact that the game of love can be played by very different rules than her own. And unless she can beat this new mistress at her own game, Julia stands to lose all that she suddenly realizes she wants.
The Reluctant Rake was originally published as The Reluctant Rake in 1987.
My review :
Will London ton’s proprieties torn betrothed apart?
As this one book is a very earlier piece of work of Mrs Jane Ashford, the style and narrative are very different from what I have read from her.
This was more a comedy of manners than a romance.
This is a tale about the impact of Society rules on the weakest. It is a clash between reprobates, profligates, person of integrity, prudes and victims. The debauched in this story are the vilain but the prim and proper ‘s are quite judgmental and easily condemning other’s faults.
There is a double romance in this story, and I preferred Bess and Michael to the heroes Sir Richard and Miss Julia. Their so smooth life has never faced any dent, so they are easy to decide what is good or not, to dismiss others and have preconceived opinions and when faced with hardship, they deal badly with it. So afraid of the jaded eyes of the ton to act or react in time. While Bess decided to better her life, not the right way, but with the means she has, and what ever she had to face, she stands her ground while Michael will move heaven and earth to rescue her, and both accept the other with flaws and scars. They don’t let adversity bear on them, they fall down but go back up.
Despite the failing of some of the characters, it was a nice read.
Warning trigger : rape and attempted sexual assault.
4 stars
HOW TO BEGUILE A BARON
BLURB : Miss Susan Wyndham’s and Miss Marianne MacClain’s debut at the first ball of the season is ruined when they realize they’re wearing the same gown—and enamored of the same gentleman. Randal Kenyon, Baron Ellerton, is the most eligible lord in London. And far from making peace, he sparks a battle between the pair of dazzling young beauties who now want only him.
How to Beguile a Baron was originally published as The Irresolute Rivals in 1985
My review:
A few moments in the life of some London Debutante.
If not for the many points of view, it is a kind of Cinderella tale, the poor relative being the companion of one of the two rivaling debutantes.
This tale too was a Human carnival extract, with aplenty of characters postulating for the main roles in the London’s society. The romance part is a bit more developed than in the previous novella.
Each character is well defined, they are with great precision portrayed with lot of details from the physical look to psychological traits.
The two debutantes Susan and Marianne running the show are strongly tempered creatures, one with more experience, understand the ins and outs of the London’s society when the second need first to check her temper as it tends to put her in trouble and label her at a harpy.
This is narrative with a selection of various personalities, Georgina the third woman, kind of played the game well, she is the one nobody sees, she is quiet and reserved but all is fair in love. By her kindness and cleverness she intrigued the one man she never thought she would.
I liked this witty foray in the London season, each characters enlightening a side of the rules and perspectives. The group they form is entertaining by their disparities.
A 4.5 stars read
I was granted an advance copy through Edelweiss by the publisher. Here is my true and unbiased opinion.
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