Rake with a Frozen Heart

by Marguerite Kaye

Waking up in a stranger's bed, Henrietta Markham encounters the most darkly sensual man she has ever met. The last thing she remembers is being attacked by a housebreaker—yet being rescued by the notorious Earl of Pentland feels much more dangerous!

Since the cataclysmic failure of his marriage, ice has flowed in Rafe St. Alban's veins. But meeting impetuous, all-too-distracting governess Henrietta heats his blood to the boiling point.

When she's accused of theft, Rafe finds himself offering to clear her name. Can Henrietta's innocence bring this hardened rake to his knees?

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Harlequin, Regency, Harlequin Historical, Regency Romance

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 1, 2012

About the author

Marguerite Kaye is a prolific historical romance author hailing from Argyll’s West Coast. She is a voracious consumer of books, Scotland’s world-class larder, and the occasional cocktail.

Find out more on her website at www.margueritekaye.com

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Reviews

[Kinga · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was reading ‘The Origins of Sex’ by Faramerz Dabhoiwala and the chapter that especially caught my attention was the chapter about the birth of the Cult of Seduction. Dabhoiwala claims that there was a significant change in the way women’s sexuality was viewed and it happened around 17th century. To simplify it: before, women were considered sexual creatures who led men astray and after the switch it was men who seduced women and women generally had no sexuality of their own until it was brought to life by a man. This gave a rise to a common paranoia about lusty males who are out to get every innocent and chaste woman in sight. There were hundreds of books, pamphlets, paintings whose main goal was to warn women against rakes, or, gasp, libertines! Reading examples of all these sad stories made me really want to read a romance with a ‘rake’ in the title. Basically I wanted exactly the same story as those quoted in the ‘Cult of Seduction’ chapter but with a happy ending.

Luck had it, I saw this for 1.40 in Kindle Store and it’s a Mills&Boon. Mills&Boon is a brand you can (usually) trust. They have been doing it for years and they can deliver, so I bought without hesitation.

‘Rake with a Frozen Heart’ is essentially a story about a sweet, innocent, chaste girl and a rich, handsome rake. Our heroine, Henrietta, has been repeatedly warned by her mother to stay clear of rakes. And what does Henrietta do? Falls for the first rake she meets. Of course, this is a romance novel, so our rake is given some redeeming qualities. He might be a rake but all the women he sleeps with are experienced and they know it’s only sex. Well, at least that’s what Rafe St Alban says.

But I would like to call him out on this. He eventually does sleep with Henrietta, who is neither experienced nor aware it’s only sex. She is quite obviously in love with him. And at that point, he has no idea he is starring in a Mills&Boon so he doesn’t know they will get married and live happily ever after. At that point he still thinks he is in 19th century pamphlet warning young maidens against rakes and libertines, because he has no intention of making an honest woman out of her. Henrietta is bloody lucky it’s a Mills&Boons because that’s the only way this story can have a happy ending and her reckless behaviour does not lead to her ruin. Now, if Rafe failed to notice he was corrupting an innocent girl this time, how can I believe all his previous conquests were as honourable as he claims? You know what they say, never trust a rake!

Another interesting point is the sexuality of the heroine. It is in perfect accordance with the 18th century idea of asexuality of women (unless of course instilled in them by men). And here we have it, Henrietta was completely free of any sexual desire and has never felt as much as a tingle between her legs in all her twenty odd years of life. Yet, when a notorious rake sticks his tongue in her mouth, well, there you have it. She is all about sex from now. A woman who has never even masturbated will go down and suck this rake’s cock just a few chapters later. Yes, ladies, beware of rakes. Only let yourself loose if you are sure you are in a Mills&Boon and you are the heroine (and not some disposable secondary character). In this case, by all means, go for it.

[Ana M. Román · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌟¡Una completa sorpresa! 🌟
De esas lecturas que caen en tus manos sin más y que empiezas sin ninguna expectativa y acabas disfrutando como no disfrutas de otras que llevas siglos queriendo leer.

Los diálogos entre ambos son divertidos y chispeantes. Me he pasado la mayor parte del libro con una sonrisa.

Henrietta me ha encantado con su forma de hablar sin freno y sin pararse a pensar, con su estilo directo y con su tendencia a hablar consigo misma y a hacerse cien preguntas a la vez. Rafe ha sido opacado por completo por ella sin remedio.

La historia es corta pero el planteamiento es bueno y en esta ocasión su longitud ha ido en su favor. Más páginas y la historia habría perdido considerable fuerza.

Y ese epílogo... Ha sido perfecto, un buen broche para la historia y una buena muestra de un epílogo bien hecho sin ser demasiado extenso.
Para aquellas autoras que se niegan a darnos epílogos y nos dejan sabiendonos a poco: ¡Aquí tenéis un buen ejemplo! (Campaña pro epílogos. ¡Unete! 🙋)

[Fani *loves angst* · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Sweet, tender, heartwarming and a joy to read; Do I really need to write anything more?

There are few thing to say about Rake with a Frozen Heart; it's certainly not an original plot. The rakish, brooding lord of the ton and the shy, plump governess, have been done ad nauseum by many romance writers. And yet, this book manages to remain fresh, fast paced and very, very engaging with its extremely likable if (or perhaps because of those) imperfect heroes, the mystery plot that to my delight wasn't too thin nor too heavy, and the well balanced -between stark and flowery- writing. The only reason I had to take half a star down, is because of the ending; I would certainly prefer it if not all obstacles were so miraculously removed eventually.

If it's been a while since you last read a good, old fashioned historical romance, that manages to captivate your emotions not with its twists and turns but with its smooth writing, its atmosphere and its nicely developed characters look no further.

ARC received by NetGalley

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read any other books by this author, and after reading this one, provided by netgalley, I have to wander what exactly I've been doing with my life.

Yes, I really, really enjoyed this one. It hits so many perfect notes for me, that it's almost hard to explain. The writing flows so well that I really wish more authors could write like this. It's not particularly grammatically correct, but she writes in the same style as her protagonists inner monologues, which is rather a clever way of using third person POV, but giving first person insight of both hero and heroine. The book switches often between the hero and heroine POV, but not once did I feel lost. It just felt totally natural, and for some reason, I found that the style meant I felt I was really there - I could not only see the bluebells but smell them, and I could not only see the River Thames, but I could feel the grass on the banks next to it, and hear the ducks quacking. I don't get that feeling very often, unfortunately.

The story concentrates 90% on the hero and heroine, but that's not to say that secondary characters don't get a look in, and in fact, their backstories, for the purposes of moving the story along, are told concisely but completely, and, best of all, they all feel real, not the usual one-dimensional, insipid, tea-swilling "friends" that overpopulate HRs. I very rarely read a HR where the story and characterization is strong enough that I (almost) forget what the hero and heroine actually look like. This was one of those.

I do have one minor complaint. Well, it's not really a complaint really, but it did bother me an eensy-weensy little bit. Despite being sexually innocent, the heroine seems quite uninhibited after only a couple of rounds with the hero in the sack, in a way I found difficult to believe. Although, to be fair, the heroine could be clearly an "enthusiastic amateur", and I did actually appreciate the author's not falling into the "heavy breasts" and "wet in her secret place" -type descriptions, which I hate.

So, the heroine is fabulous - a completely refreshing change. She is stridently honest, a breath of fresh air, and says what she thinks. The hero is a sad, tragic case, but not in an irritating "poor me" way.

So, loved it. 5 stars. A keeper, and I'm now going to raid this author's backlist!

[Aayesha · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.7 heartbreakingly beautiful stars.

Oh my God. I just. I-I-Oh God. I'm in awe. I just loved this book so darned much!!!



This book had exactly, exactly, exactly what I want in a romance novel.
Innocent, delightful, original heroine? Tick.
Cynical, brooding hero with a heart? Tick.
Sizzling chemistry? Tick.
Cynical hero's frozen heart gets warmed by the heroine? Tick.
Deep, abiding and intense love? Tick.

God. I loved this book. The heroine was so utterly charming, and the hero just melted my heart with his morals. I just loved how he stops himself from going further with her because he thinks so much better of her! He stole my heart right then and there. But no, he does it TWICE, this wonderful man :')

The writing is simply amazing. This author has to be one of the best I've ever had the pleasure of reading. The flow is so smooth, the vocabulary rich, and the dialogues so natural. I loved loved loved her writing. One of the most enjoyable pleasures about reading a book with tropes that you absolutely love is when the writing is as amazing as this book's writing was. *sigh* Suffice it to say that I loved EVERYTHING about this book.

I'm definitely going to be checking out more books by this author, God willing *nods*

One thing I forgot to mention - how very endearing his drunk scene was :')

[Preeti ♥︎ Her Bookshelves · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely book about an adorable artless governess and a typical embittered self-flagellating Earl (more sinned against than sinned kinds!). The h, a dewy eyed blabbermouth (n she does roll!) makes a fitting foil for our rigid cold rake.
He rescues her from villains and her own naive stupidity more than once and she proceeds to chatter and skip and prod and poke into his frozen heart. They make a perfect couple and I just loved their chemistry and interplay.
But what I felt let the book down was the last part. When the H is ‘unable’ to give his love and offers the less than honorable alternative, the h walks away. Then her going to a rich titled aunt and getting an haute ton coming out was too meh and convenient. I would have preferred more drama and build up; and less I-am-too-broken-for-you but still I’m-gonna-impress-u-with-my-philanthropic-efforts routine. So a very predictable ending via a boring dragged out route for an otherwise delightful book! *tapping my foot here*

[Mon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entre 3 y 3,5
Una lectura muy entretenida con una pareja deliciosa, lo mejor son los diálogos entre la pareja, muy ingeniosos y divertidos, y esa manía de hablar a solas..me encanto.

Todo un descubrimiento esta escritora, seguro que voy a leer más de ella.

[Colleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Goodness knows why this has over a four point rating. I found it a chore to complete.
Henrietta was a pathetic excuse for a character. It seemed the only purpose of her 'speaking her mind' was to advance the plot because the author had no imagination and couldn't think of any other way to achieve the same amount of knowledge being shared.
The continuity was horrendous at times, with Rafe (suspiciously like rake, might I add of his name) standing after having never sat down and letting go of her hand having never picked it up. There were times, as well, when the author simply seemed to forget what she'd written previously and decided to make the characters do and say things that had either already been established or were simply untrue.
It was so obvious I was bored reading it. I knew from the very first accusation that Henrietta was a thief where it would lead and I knew from the very moment it was mentioned that Rafe was leaving who would unwittingly tag along. Then, when she climbed into his cart, I knew exactly who it belonged to.
For her to conveniently be descended from a Lady was just silly as were her mother's lies and guilt does not vanish when you imagine yourself waving goodbye to your woes.
With a bit more effort, this could have been a good book.
As it was, it became boring quickly and had me huffing and rolling my eyes by the end of it.
Its one of those books that takes a certain kind of person to like. I am very clearly NOT that type of person.

And as a side note, this should have been named 'Rake with a frozen heart who doesn't really have a frozen heart and is only sort of a rake but I really want you to know is a rake with a frozen heart so I will keep telling you that he is a rake with a frozen heart and hope that you will believe he is a rake with a frozen heart doyoubelievemeyet?'

[Doris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marguerite Kaye reminded me why I love reading historicals with this passionate tale. All the usual traits were there - innocent governess being seduced by the handsome rake - or was it?

Henrietta may be the virginal governess and Rafe may give the impression of the typical regency rake, but that's were the similarities end. Henrietta is no simpering virgin, far from it, she is outspoken and her innocence is charming. I liked her straight away, as she comes to terms with this strange attraction she feels to the handsome rake. And Rafe, well, he doesn't quite know what to do with the forthright and unpredictable governess who he finds in his ditch.

When circumstances throw them together they have to fight their attraction, as well as clear Henrietta's name. I loved the way Ms Kaye didn't take the usual route, of forcing them into marriage, because the heroine's name was sullied, as so often happens in these stories. No pregnancy forcing them together either. No, the author does a brilliant job at making the reader wonder how these two are going to resolve their issues. I was flying through the latter part of this book and shed a few tears for Rafe's pain and sniffed even more at the end - in a good way.

A lovely story!

[Serial Romance Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was just meh. I didn’t feel a real connection between the MC’s. Henrietta was annoying and bumbling. I didn’t think her character was accurate for the time period since she never really acted with propriety. There were problems with plot continuity and it dragged. I skimmed.

[willaful · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rafe St Alban, the Earl of Pentland, is startled when he finds an unconscious young woman in a ditch near his home. He's even more startled when the woman, Henrietta, turns up as a stowaway in his carriage several days later, running away from an employer who accused her of stealing jewelry. Against his better judgment, Rafe agrees to help her track down the real culprit and prove her innocence, but the more time he spends with the outspoken and compassionate Henrietta, the less he wants to let her go.

I wound up liking this much more than I initially expected to. A slow start, an obvious mystery, an unoriginal match-up of a young, naive, idealistic heroine with a brooding rake, and an inconsistent historical tone did not bode well. Having finished it, I still can't recommend it to anyone who reads historicals primarily to feel transported to another era, because the plot pretty much ignores any period details that would be inconvenient. Henrietta is left alone with Rafe in his bedroom; she shares a room and a bed (and eventually her body) at an inn with him; he grabs her at a public ball and drags her away to a private area, in full view of all the guests... and none of this has any repercussions, or causes any concern. For me, ignoring the tension caused by society's constraints is a waste of a historical setting.

But despite its flaws, once past the beginning I found Rake With a Frozen Heart engaging. It was fast-paced and straightforward, with passionate love scenes and dialogue that establishes intimacy between the characters. It was the dialogue, especially Rafe's, that really grabbed me. The bitter man with a tragic secret is a romance staple and Rafe's tragic secret was nothing new, but I was struck by how he talks about it to Henrietta, the quality of his self-expression and insights. It made him seem very real.

Overall, this was a pleasant change of pace from many more bloated and meandering historical romances.

(Reviewed from e-arc provided by netGalley.)

[♡ Sassy ~ Amy ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a surprise! Best of all this book was written by an author from the UK about the Historical UK. The english spelling was such & terminology was great! Obviously not an american describing something they aren't really familiar with!

This was a great short story. Not a Novella.

Henrietta is a governess accused if stealing heirloom jewels from her employer. After whitnessing the break in & being knocked unconscious by the housebreaker & left for dead in a ditch, she is rescued by the notorious rake, (Rafe) the next door neighbor(neighbour) After her escape from the accusing employer, she stoys away in Rafe's carriage as he leaves for London. He find her & offers to help her clear her name.

Rafe is a Rake & not until the end do you find out his true story even though parts are told throughout. I was surprised & never saw it coming. Many things were hinted atm but none were useless fillers in this fast paced story. Every line had a reason, which made it a great story & NOT something randomly pieced together as an after thought.

This was a hard to put down story & when I had to put it down. It put me in a bad snappy mood when I had to run my errands & I couldn't wait to get back to read the rest!

The only bad part is the cover. Neither character looks or dresses as described. I'm glad I didn't see the cover & only saw the title. I may not have read it.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky to be given a copy to review by the lovely Marguerite herself.

First impressions? The cover is just wonderful and so elegant.

Now for the story. Stolen Emeralds. An Aristocrat with emotions and a sparky heroine who is true to herself.
The book is such a great read. I fell into Regency England from the first page. Loved the opening pages and the story itself flowed like a river. Twists and turns, ups and downs. It was just great.

Marguerite gives the Regency romance a break from the norm when she wrote Rafe St Alban. I dreaded the thought of a "Darcy type" hero with so much arrogance. I was wrong. Rafe at first is autocratic,aloof and hides his emotions well. However, when he meets Henrietta, he does a complete change. He is passionate, loving and caring. Best of all, stays true to himself in acting with his heart and persevering with Henrietta and making her his.
I loved Henrietta so much. Sparky, with moxie. Best of all, she was herself and did not pretend to be someone she wasn't.

I laughed out loud at parts, much to the surprise of my son. Like most books the sad bit is, they have to end.

A simpering miss and an Arrogant Arse? No way Jose. Rake with a Frozen Heart is in a class all of its own.

I LOVED IT! and thanks Marguerite!

[Sammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a nice book for quiet night , where you need breakout from your schedule and just enjoy a good romance with hot coffee...

I liked the characters and how they were so good with each other , they complimented each other, like where the heroine was so honest and forthcoming with her optimistic and enthusiastic approach for life ... whereas the Hero was intelligent , realistic , and had a bit sarcastic approach.

I also liked how the puzzle was solved at 60% of the storyline , & from there on we had more of reconciling track. I liked how the wrap up was done.

[Susanna Herrero · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entretenido, lo mejor los diálogos entre los protagonistas.

[Heather Book Savvy Babe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review first published to Book Savvy Babe Blog

Rafe St Alban is an Earl, he is reclusive, cold, and a rake. When Rafe comes across a young woman injured and unconscious on his property, he is unprepared for his world to be tilted on its axis. The young woman in question is Henrietta Markham, a governess who has been caught up in a robbery. As Henrietta's situation becomes more complicated, Rafe becomes more determined to help the woman. As the pair go about trying to clear Henrietta's name and discover the truth, they develop an attraction. However, Rafe has been deeply hurt in the past and is determined to not be hurt again. He must keep Henrietta from getting to close, but he might be too late.

I really enjoyed the Rake With A Frozen Heart, the romance is sweet. Henrietta is very much an innocent, and Rafe is the opposite. Rafe's relationship with his deceased ex-wife damaged him, made him determined to never open his heart again. He has many regrets and can't let the past go. Henrietta is the only woman to come along and challenge him. She is unconventional in that she speaks her mind and she is always honest. I liked both characters very much and they work well together.

The main hindrance to their relationship is Rafe's inability to open his heart. What doesn't really compute is the fact that Henrietta's status is much lower than Rafe's. She is an untitled governess. Her lack of social standing doesn't really come into play in the book, and I found that a bit odd. As an Earl, Rafe would be expected to marry a woman of higher status. Henrietta's mother's family obviously comes from a higher standing family, but it is never fully explained.

Overall, I found the Rake With A Frozen Heart to be a touching historical romance about overcoming the past and opening the heart to love. The Rake With A Frozen Heart is a fairly quick read and a wholly enjoyable historical romance read.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. Rafe made an incredibly tortured hero. He did a great job of rescuing Henrietta the first time, even though he didn't want to. Then he stepped up to clear her name of the charges of theft. He had a terrible habit of going back and forth between cold and kind. I really liked Henrietta. She was a bit on the naive side, but she was a good person. She could see that Rafe had his issues, but she came to see that he was a good person under that rake-like exterior. I loved the way that she said what she thought, without any thought of lying. I also respected the fact that she stood up to Rafe and declined his offer, rather than settle for less than she felt deserved. I loved the concluding scenes.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rafe is a hero tormented by his past. He is dark, brooding and full of guilts. His first marriage was a disaster. He blames himself for the death of his wife and baby. He won't forgive himself and he won't allow himself to find happiness and redemption.

Henrietta is a feisty, sweet governess who blurts out literally whatever is on her mind. She is witty, funny and just adorable. When she is accused of stealing, Rafe is willing to help her clear her name and they embark on a journey of love, adventure and self-discovery.

Loved how Henrietta melts the ice from around this emotionally inaccessible man's heart and brings out the wonderful man and father he could be. She really is his light and soul! Epilogue was fantastic as well!

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me ha sorprendido para bien. La relación entre los protagonistas, aunque ocurra en literalmente 2 días, no se siente precipitada y la verdad es que me ha llegado a la patatilla. El trauma de Rafe me ha hecho mucha pena y me ha gustado cómo reacciona Henrietta.
Es cierto que hay algunas cosas que dices ??? pero, chica, tampoco es para tanto jajajajaj Me ha entretenido y me ha dejado con buen sabor de boca. Además, me ha gustado bastante el estilo de la autora, con sus buenas descripciones y sus buenos diálogos, y aunque la traducción a veces me ha patinado, ha estado bien.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The talented Marguerite Kaye has outdone herself once again with Rake with a Frozen Heart, a seductively readable tale of blazing sensuality, nail-biting intrigue and dangerous desire that will hold readers spellbound from beginning to end!

When Henrietta Markham had gone chasing after her mistress’ mischievous pug, the vivacious governess never imagined that she would find herself attacked by a ruthless housebreaker – or that she would wake up the next morning in the Earl of Pentland’s bed! Plain-looking governesses who are more interested in charity work and other people’s welfare than in beautiful gowns and making an advantageous match don’t usually attract the attentions of lascivious scoundrels like Rafe St. Alban. But when the rakish earl had come across the spirited Miss Markham, unconscious in a ditch on his property, he had no other choice but to offer her sanctuary until she recovers. Henrietta had been absolutely flabbergasted when she realized that she had been attacked by a perfidious burglar and that Rafe St. Alban had given her shelter in his magnificent house – but she was positively bowled over when she realized how devastatingly attractive society’s most scandalous rake was in the flesh…

After the abysmal failure of his first marriage, Rafe St.Alban had vowed to steer clear of relationships and matters of the heart and to only indulge in transient relationships with women who are well aware that although he’s more than allowing to share his body with them, he will never allow them to breach the impenetrable defenses which he’d erected around his heart. Rafe is perfectly aware that society perceives him to be a debauched scoundrel, but after his late wife had smashed his heart to a million tiny pieces, he had vowed never to let another woman get close to him ever again. Used to seducing experienced women of the world, Rafe is surprised when he finds himself attracted to the virginal Miss Markham – and absolutely shocked when he finds himself unable to stop himself from thinking about a future with the spirited young girl who had turned his perfectly structured life upside down!

Rafe’s breathtaking masculinity and tempting kisses have awakened feelings deep within Henrietta which she’s never experienced before, but when she finds herself accused of a crime she didn’t commit, romance is the last thing on her mind! With her freedom in jeopardy and her life hanging in the balance, Henrietta unexpectedly finds herself turning to the only man who could clear her name: Rafe.

Thrown together by destiny, Rafe and Henrietta soon find themselves falling in love with one another, but with an enemy hell-bent on destroying them and a ghost from the past that refuses to be vanquished, will their love manage to triumph against all these adversities?

Marguerite Kaye continues to affirm her place as one of historical romance’s most talented and most innovative writers with Rake with a Frozen Heart! Superbly written, beautifully rendered and full of red-hot passion, evocative atmosphere and pulse-racing danger, Rake with a Frozen Heart features a wickedly handsome rakish hero readers will fall madly in love with and one of the most delightful heroines I’ve ever come across in a historical romance. Henrietta is smart, witty and so lovely that I couldn’t help but admire her.

A captivating Regency romance that ticks all the right boxes, Rake with a Frozen Heart is sure to enthrall, entertain and enchant historical romance readers the world over!

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Henrietta Markham, a rather ordinary, small but feisty little governess meets rather extraordinary, handsome and enigmatic Rafe St Alban, Earl of Pentland under dubious circumstances. She wakes up early one morning in Rafe's bed, with a large lump on her head and a far fetched story to explain the getting of said lump!

The story unfolds with Rafe becoming - much against his will to begin with - embroiled in Henrietta's complicated escapade. Rafe is a man with a secret, a past which has left him hurt and cold, he has become a Rake with a Frozen Heart. Henrietta wheedles her way under his skin with her directness, sheer love of life and innocence. Despite his past, and reputation as a rake, Rafe is an honourable man, as is slowly unveiled throughout this romantic, beautifully written story. Although Henrietta is direct, almost to the point of rudeness, Rafe begins to like and admire her and craves her good opinion.

Can Henrietta melt Rafe's frozen heart? Slowly but surely she chips away the ice and he responds in an honourable, protective manner not realising that his heart and desires are becoming engaged.

Marguerite Kaye's exceptional writing talents are always a joy to read, her descriptive passages so vivid as to transport the reader to the location she describes:

' The stews of Petticoat Lane were sordid beyond belief, a warren of narrow alleyways and blind cul-de-sacs, where the ramshackle tenements leaned precariously towards one another as if attempting a drunken kiss. What little light penetrated between the steeply shelving roofs was blocked by the lines of ragged washing strung out of windows on poles, and further filtered by the acrid smoke of sea coal belching from the chimney pots. Behind the buildings, a labyrinth of wooden stairs, precarious platforms and rotten ladders allowed the rookery's residents to flit unnoticed between the maze of lodging houses, gin houses and hovels where no Charley would dare give chase. In the lanes, the gutters were awash with the foul-smelling waste cast carelessly from the broken windows patched with brown paper. Flea-bitten dogs scratched themselves vigorously, skeletal cats scrounged waste heaps fruitlessly, for they had already been scavenged several times over by the hordes of barefoot urchins too young to be harnessed into a more formal life of crime.

Clutching her cloak tightly around her, Henrietta picked her way carefully through the detritus, trying hard not to breathe too deeply, for the stench was overpowering.......'

The above is a fine example of Ms Kaye's fabulous descriptive talents, the sense of actually being amongst the filth and poverty, of picking ones way 'through the detritus' experiencing the foul smells 'trying hard not to breathe too deeply'. I find myself returning to passages she has written purely to commit them to memory. I fear that perhaps a reader purely looking just for romance and sex might miss this remarkable side of Marguerite Kaye's writing.

Henrietta eventually emerges from her brown chrysalis into a rather attractive butterfly, strong and with an integrity Rafe is captivated by. A gorgeous book, enjoyed all the more by my second reading of it.
Strongly recommended.....5 stars...can't find anything I would want changed.

[Marybeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, I love historical romance novels. I think they are just the best romance in the world, and I don't know why, I just do. And I tend to be picky about which books I read and which authors I read. I had never heard of Kaye before, but I decided to give this book a shot and so I requested it. And I was heavily disappointed.

When Henrietta wakes up she finds herself in the bed of a rake, better known as Rafe. Unknowing how she got there, Henrietta finds instant attraction to the rake, but when she's accused of theft, the cold-hearted Rafe offers to clear her name.

This book took me way too long to get into. I usually push through books until the 100th page to decide if I'll continue or not, because by that time either books are getting really good or the action has started already, but not with this book. I felt like Henrietta was too little - there just wasn't enough personality with her - and that Rafe was too much - way too emotional for my taste.

The story didn't really pick up and even though I kept catching a glimpse of a plot line, I didn't feel like much was really going. It was just like, "Oh this is happening and this is happening, so here you go" type of thing. And I think that was what my real problem with this book was - there just wasn't enough emotion, life in the characters.

I did like the premise a little, but if you are really into romance novels, especially historical, I'd say check this out in the library or something. It's not worth the money, because, like I said, the character's felt too stale for me.

This really could have been a better story. I just wish a little more was going on, but I guess you get what you get.

[Alejandra Guerrero · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Entertaining, but there are several things that took me out of the story:
- Doesn't feel like the story took place in 1824. The heroine doesn't act like any woman at that time would, specially considering her mother's way of thinking, that sould've reflected on Henrietta's education.
- everyone spills the Count's secrets; servants were exceptionally loyal, specially ones that knew their masters since childhood like the housekeeper, Mrs. Peters, who, by the way, was given her position by Rafe himself, which would have warranted her complete loyalty to him, and yet she tells Henrietta, a complete stranger (and a governess, which servants didn't consider one of them and were generally treated with mistrust) all about the horrible Lady Julia.
-people leave them alone all the time, which would be unthinkable at the time this supposedly takes place. AND there's absolutely no way Mrs. Peters would have Let Rafe take an unconscious Henrietta to HIS bed, master or not, specially not with his reputation as a Rake. Nor would Lady Gwendolyn let her go unchaperoned with him anywhere.
- there's no way anyone would have Let Henrietta have breakfast outside her room in a robe (a man's robe), they would have sent the food to the room and insisted she stayed in bed for like a day at least, since she was injured. And definitely someone would have called a doctor way before she woke up, instead of waiting for her to refuse one.
- we are told Rafe Is a rake, but he certainly doesn't act like one. We're told he has a heart of ice, but never see It. He's described as "Byronian" (which I take means he is like a hero of one of Lord Byron's poems or something) but he's definitely not temperamental, proud, brooding, nor cynical. We're just told he is, but he never acts that way.
- the rooms are never described: in one scene, he sits behind a desk we weren't told was there, which is IN FRONT OF A CHIMNEY (who the hell puts a desk in front of the chimney?) then walks to a window that's not mentioned before, while she's sitting god knows where, because we don't freaking know the room, and was having tea which dissapears from one moment to the next.

[Sharon Osburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drama Mystery & Sizzling Romance

S P O I L E R A L E R T!!!!

I liked the development of both star characters. The hero was elusive and kept everything hidden with just hints of guilt. The author did a fine job holding my interest as she navigated the twists and turns of this story. I was just as mesmerized by the devastatingly handsome hero as Henrietta! It was perfect the way she acted around him & try to not show how he affected her with his presence.

I truly loved the part when Henrietta told him by his choosing to not allow himself happiness and love he has denied her as well because she could never love another man .... it's a must read unless you don't like the explicite sex. Don't give a bad review because of it!

[Seema · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I read from this new to me author Marguerite Kaye. While the trope of a an innocent girl changing a rake is done ad nauseum, Rake with a Frozen Heart managed to keep my interest. The relationship between the hero, Rafe, and the chaste governess who has been accused of theft Henrietta was well developed. Henrietta while being innocent was shown courageous and honest. Rafe was full of guilt over his horrible past and was trying to atone while showing the world a bitter exterior. While there were many issues I had with the plot including the innumerable sexually explicit scenes which I believe is what sells, I enjoyed reading the book.

[_yay_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This ARC was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Publish date: May 1st, 2012 Fiction – Adult: Romance: Historical, 288 pages
Harlequin (Harlequin Historical)

Henrietta Markham is an honest soul, not capable of lying. When she’s accused of having committed a crime, waiting for the Bow Street Runner to arrive doesn’t seem like such a good idea. Determined to find the real culprit and clear her name she sets out for London.
How the Earl of Pentland ended up aiding a damsel in distress, he doesn’t quite know himself. Void of all emotions after a terrible tragedy, he vowed to never let anyone in again. Rafe isn’t about to admit to himself that Henrietta is the one making him laugh again. He doesn’t deserve happiness – she deserves it all. It’s getting harder and harder to remain indifferent.

Crossing paths with Henrietta was nothing but an unpleasant disruption of his day. The hero acted like I expected him to. In fact, I was hoping he’d be this way. Precision landing! The blurb referred to the ice flowing through his veins, and a shiver went down my spine. I just had to request this galley. Wow, what an enigmatic recluse! His demeanor was cold and unyielding, but that didn’t keep him from helping Henrietta out of the ditch she found herself in. This little act of chivalry, no matter how much the hero despised the thought of being called chivalrous, gave me hope. I love the dark and brooding type, but I must at least get a glimpse of the man he could be (kind, loving, …). The author did a wonderful job in making me believe he had a good heart hidden underneath all these layers of protection.

Normally I would’ve gotten bored hearing all that talk about his perfect physique, his perfect everything, but that wasn’t the case here. Maybe because I had a pretty clear vision of the hero in my mind. Perfect…perfectly accurate. Besides, I was okay with him looking so darn good (selfless of me, wasn’t it?) He had to learn the hard way that thinking he had the upper-hand didn’t necessarily mean he really had it. I thought to myself: You just wait until Henrietta finally has you by the…err….(emotionally speaking). Denial worked only for so long.

Henrietta, I should probably mention up front, is innocent, inexperienced, and a real chatterbox. The latter turned out to be the trait I loved about her most. She blabbered away even when she wasn’t actually speaking; just thinking round and round and round. She couldn’t control her outbursts, which resulted in a couple of *facepalm* moments I will cherish and hold dear to my heart forever. It didn’t come across as silly at all. I found her adorable. A likeable heroine who, despite being out of her comfort zone, held on to her opinions and morals. She did not want to accept Rafe’s money, however, her situation rendering it inevitable. The fact, that it bothered her was proof of her integrity.

I had such fun with the main characters and saw the change that gradually happened within Rafe. The longer he was around Henrietta, the more he smiled, the more he came out of his shell. The mystery part of the novel didn’t overshadow the character development. I wanted a dreamy historical romance with a tortured hero and that’s what the author provided. Henrietta bombarded Rafe with questions and sometimes put her foot in her mouth. I couldn’t be angry at her, though. It was what Rafe needed. She was embarrassed, but never seriously considered not asking something or telling what’s on her mind. Courageous little thing!

They were a great couple: A larger than life hero (his regrets, too) and a heroine who’s sweet, sensual and chattered like a magpie.

What I didn’t like about the book was that Henrietta constantly talked about her parents - what mother or father would say to this and that. The author had her reasons for sharing a bit of background information about the heroine’s parents, but it all turned from endearing innocence to childish innocence. By god, I didn’t want to think of a child being held in the hero’s arms. Unfortunately, even in bed Henrietta talked about what they taught her. Wow, not the right place!

There were two tiny glitches in the plot (no biggie, but I thought I’d mention them anyway). Rafe offered Henrietta breakfast, but soon after his departure she was surprised it was morning already. Breakfast is a very specific term. It could’ve been avoided by simply using “something to eat” instead.
The second glitch: The actions of the real criminal didn’t add up with the conclusion.

All historical romance fans out there; this is a book you should read. Not overly long, but with lots of heart. It might not have wowed me into silence with its brilliance, but I loved the romance and let out a content sigh at the end. Sometimes that’s just what it’s all about. Lovely! 4 stars to Rake with a Frozen Heart by Marguerite Kaye.

Beware of Spoilers!
A few of my favorite quotes for those of you who are interested:
° “Do your worst, the man replied laconically, for all you know I may already have done mine.”
° “Had not ever – in bed – on bed – whatever! She had not.”
° “…realized that calling someone a rake to their face, even if they were a rake, wasn’t perhaps the most tactful thing to say.”
° “Yearning. Not a word he normally associated with himself, but that’s what he felt.”

[Regiane Moreira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Primeiro livro que leio da autora e gostei

Um lindo e sensual conde traumatizado que tem um coração de pedra.
Uma preceptora que fala o que vem a mente, sincera, impetuosa e atraente.
Uma mistura estranha que ferve ao ponto de derreter esse coração magoado...
Mais um livro delicioso para ler entre leituras mais intensas.

[Desi · Rating 3 out of 5]

No sé, fue raro... fue entretenida pero hasta ahí

No fue mala pero siento que le faltó algo para realmente gustarme.... igual, los protagonistas me agradaron, sobre todo Henrietta, era muy honesta, demasiado diría yo!! jajaja fue algo refrescante su personaje... pero no sé, creo que a los días olvidaré esta historia

[Vana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Am excellent read with a far from perfect hero and heroine, who despite this you were drawn to anyway. Very enjoyable.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I enjoyed this book, the ending was very sappy.