A LADY'S GUIDE TO RAKES

Author: Kathryn Caskie ISBN: 0446616095 9/2005 HISTORICAL Publisher: WARNER FOREVER
Time Period: Regency

Once a rake, always a rake! Gentle Reader, always remember that-and pray that I, Miss Meredith Merriweather, heed my own warning. For I find myself caught in a scheme to prove that the notorious "former" scoundrel Lord Lansing, Alexander Lamont, is just as wicked as he always has been. To complete my cautionary guidebook, which will save young ladies from suffering at the hands of rogues and cads, I am dangling my very self as bait! Now the insufferable rogue believes that I am the woman for him. Even more scandalously, my great-aunts-the matchmaking Featherton sisters-are aiding his outrageous pursuit instead of encouraging the respectable gentleman I am determined to marry. I admit that Alexander's charming smile and laughing eyes are most intriguing. But Good Heavens, must I always be tempted to give my heart to the type of man no proper woman should trust, let alone love?

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

After reading reviews for other Kathryn Caskie novels, I couldn't wait to get my hands on A LADY'S GUIDE TO RAKES. This book literally began with me laughing out loud and ended the same way. Ms. Caskie's characters have such pluck, such character, that you feel inexplicably drawn into them, as if they were old friends and you are listening to them tell a story.

Meredith Merriweather is writing a book about rakes—she is determined that all rakes act a certain way, that they never stray from what is familiar to them. In order to fulfill all of the different beliefs that she has about a rake, Meredith sets out on a crazy quest to prove each and every one of her theories. She just knows that a rake will always act like a rake if given the opportunity! And while that may very well be true, her theory is about to be challenged at every turn by the handsome Lord Lansing, Alexander Lamont.

Alexander isn't sure what Miss Merriweather is up to when she literally falls out of the sky onto his lap on their first encounter, but he sure is going to find out. When his father suggests that he marry Miss Merriweather to produce heirs and settle down, Alex is determined that that will not be the case. But, in matters of the heart, Alex finds that our intentions—even the best of them—truly take a back burner to what the heart wants.

Upon the way, there are many mishaps that will have you laughing out loud and wishing for it never to end. Throw in a pair of nosey aunts hell-bent on romance and this book is one great adventure that no reader should miss out on.

Kristal Gorman