Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake (2010) Sarah MacLean

Set in London in 1823

Lady Calpurnia Hartwell (Callie to her family) is a spinster. It’s been 10 years since her coming out, and so she has come to accept that she is never going to get married (and she is quite lucky that her family didn’t force a marriage upon her). However, the engagement of her younger sister has made her realize how much life she has missed, sitting on the shelf maintaining her reputation.

I’m in for an adventure, don’t you think? Do you imagine there will be a ruddy-cheeked barkeep with a missing tooth or two? Or a tired, winsome barmaid, working to keep her children fed and clothed? Or a group of young workmen eager for a pint of ale to chase away their tiring day?”

Anne spoke dryly. “The only thing I imagine there will be in that tavern is an overly romantic lady doomed to be disappointed by reality.”

Gabriel St. John, marquess of Ralston is rake. He has no interest in marriage and even less interest in love. But when he and his twin brother discover they have a younger sister, he knows he’ll have to reform (or at least act reformed) for her to be accepted into society.

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this story. Callie is delightful, deciding that she is tired of being a wall-flower and creating a list of things she wants to do. I initially wasn’t quite sure why she’d been in love with Ralston for so long, but the more we learned about him, the more complex and interesting he. Because he may well be a rake, but he generally respects women, which is a concept that was not contradictory at that time.

And she’s marvelous.

“You aren’t really here to see the art, are you?”

Callie’s confusion showed. “Certainly. I very much enjoy the fine arts. You do not?”

“I like a pretty painting as much as the next chap,” Oxford said. “But no one really comes to the private viewing to see the art, Lady Calpurnia. It’s about proving you are able to secure a ticket.”

Callie dipped her head to keep the baron from seeing her roll her eyes.

There was a good deal of boinking and pre-boinking activity in this book, but the relationship between Callie and her family, and Callie and Ralston’s family were complex and interesting. And although Callie and Ralston has misunderstandings and miscommunications (some of which I saw coming from quite a while away) they generally talk to each other and resolve those misunderstandings. (People having misunderstandings and NOT talking to each other is something that irks me in books.)

So, despite all the boinking, I quite enjoyed it.
Rating: 7.5/10

Published by HarperCollins

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