A RAKE'S GUIDE TO SEDUCTION
Author: Caroline Linden ISBN: 0821780514 6/2008 HISTORICAL Publisher: KENSINGTON/ZEBRA
Time Period: 1820's England
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HE MUST RELY ON HIS TALENTS IN THE BEDROOM...
Anthony Hamilton cannot help it. The way he looks, the way he lives, his past—it all conspires to make him a man men fear, women desire. His name fills gossip circles in a seemingly endless, lurid drama. But he's never forgotten the only woman he's ever truly wanted—yet could never have.
TO MAKE HER FALL IN LOVE.
Celia Reece knew Anthony well before he forged his scandalous reputation. The young man she remembers spoke kindly to her, made her laugh, and his devilish good looks always quickened her pulse. But Celia's mother had other designs—designs that didn't include marriage to Anthony. Now, Celia is widowed, and her mother is intent on finding her a new husband. Refusing to let any obstacle stand in his path this time, Anthony sets out to win Celia's heart by using the same skills that made him London's most irresistible rake... |
 RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:
A RAKE'S GUIDE TO SEDUCTION by Caroline Linden is a tale that shows that often appearances can be deceiving.
One man whose very presence provokes gossip, known for his scandalous reputation and darkening ways, yearns for a woman who will finally fulfill his dreams. Another man, a seemingly above-reproach member of polite society, hides a darker side while fooling everyone—including his new bride. And a young woman whose only true desire is to be loved, something almost everyone dreams of, but not all find. The circle is formed, and the plot thickens, as what should be a natural progression of events takes an ugly twist before straightening out.
This book has a few turns that took me by surprise, but overall it is fairly predictable. That, in this instance, is not a bad thing—far from it. I liked Celia instantly and wanted her to find happiness. Anthony, although the subject of wild gossip, is also likeable. He shows this early on when he rescues Celia from an older man's unwanted kisses on a dark terrace. He is an unlikely rescuer, but he does, nonetheless, rescue her. And isn't this what we expect from our heroes?
The characters themselves are the best part of this book. Their likeability and the way they interact made me want to keep reading, even though I'd pretty much figured out how this was going to end early on. Still, with Ms. Linden's attention to historic detail and competent use of words to build interesting scenes, I wanted to see her version of the story, to experience this telling of the resolution to the triangle.
Reading THE RAKE'S GUIDE TO SEDUCTION is like diving into a favorite desert. You know you're going to enjoy every bite and even though you may feel a bit full before the plate is cleared, you continue to bring fork to mouth, just because it tastes so good. I enjoyed every bit—and bite!—of this book.
Kay James |
