What do you think?
Rate this book
Drake's Rakes #5
Once a Rake
All he wants is her help . . .
Colonel Ian Ferguson may be a rake, but he's no traitor. Accused of trying to kill the Duke of Wellington, the disgraced Scotsman is now a fugitive--from the law, the army, and the cunning assassin who hunts him. Wounded and miles from his allies, Ian finds himself at the mercy of an impoverished country wife. The spirited woman is achingly beautiful . . . and hiding some dangerous secrets of her own.
All she needs is his heart . . .
She was a child nobody wanted. Now for Lady Sarah Clarke, holding on to her vanished husband's crumbling estate is her final chance to earn respectability. She knows that hiding the devastatingly handsome Ferguson will jeopardize her home. Common sense demands that she turn him in. But a single, delirious kiss shatters her resolve . . . and awakens a passion that neither of them can escape.
Colonel Ian Ferguson may be a rake, but he's no traitor. Accused of trying to kill the Duke of Wellington, the disgraced Scotsman is now a fugitive--from the law, the army, and the cunning assassin who hunts him. Wounded and miles from his allies, Ian finds himself at the mercy of an impoverished country wife. The spirited woman is achingly beautiful . . . and hiding some dangerous secrets of her own.
All she needs is his heart . . .
She was a child nobody wanted. Now for Lady Sarah Clarke, holding on to her vanished husband's crumbling estate is her final chance to earn respectability. She knows that hiding the devastatingly handsome Ferguson will jeopardize her home. Common sense demands that she turn him in. But a single, delirious kiss shatters her resolve . . . and awakens a passion that neither of them can escape.
386 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
40 people are currently reading
999 people want to read
About the author
Eileen Dreyer
73 books765 followersNew York Times bestselling, award-winning author Eileen Dreyer, known as Kathleen Korbel to her Silhouette readers, has published 28 romance novels, 8 medico-forensic suspenses, and 7 short stories.
2012 sees Eileen enjoying critical acclaim for her first foray into historical romance, the Drake's Rakes series, which follow the lives of a group of British aristocrats who are willing to sacrifice everything to keep their country safe. After publication of the first trilogy in the series, she has just signed for the next trilogy, following the graduates of the aptly named Last Chance Academy, who each finds herself crossing swords with Drake's Rakes. Eileen spent time not only in England and Italy, but India to research the series (it's a filthy job, but somebody has to do it).
A retired trauma nurse, Eileen lives in her native St. Louis with her husband, children, and large and noisy Irish family, of which she is the reluctant matriarch. She has animals but refuses to subject them to the limelight.
Dreyer won her first publishing award in 1987, being named the best new Contemporary Romance Author by RT Bookclub. Since that time she has also garnered not only five other writing awards from RT, but five RITA Awards from Romance Writers of America, which secures her only the fourth place in the Romance Writers of America prestigious Hall of Fame. Since extending her reach to suspense, she has also garnered a coveted Anthony Award nomination.
A frequent speaker at conferences, she maintains membership in Romance Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and, just in case things go wrong, Emergency Nurses Association and International Association of Forensic Nurses.
Eileen is an addicted traveler, having sung in some of the best Irish pubs in the world, and admits she sees research as a handy way to salve her insatiable curiosity. She counts film producers, police detectives and Olympic athletes as some of her sources and friends. She's also trained in forensic nursing and death investigation, although she doesn't see herself actively working in the field, unless this writing thing doesn't pan out.
Get in touch: eileendreyer@eileendreyer.com
2012 sees Eileen enjoying critical acclaim for her first foray into historical romance, the Drake's Rakes series, which follow the lives of a group of British aristocrats who are willing to sacrifice everything to keep their country safe. After publication of the first trilogy in the series, she has just signed for the next trilogy, following the graduates of the aptly named Last Chance Academy, who each finds herself crossing swords with Drake's Rakes. Eileen spent time not only in England and Italy, but India to research the series (it's a filthy job, but somebody has to do it).
A retired trauma nurse, Eileen lives in her native St. Louis with her husband, children, and large and noisy Irish family, of which she is the reluctant matriarch. She has animals but refuses to subject them to the limelight.
Dreyer won her first publishing award in 1987, being named the best new Contemporary Romance Author by RT Bookclub. Since that time she has also garnered not only five other writing awards from RT, but five RITA Awards from Romance Writers of America, which secures her only the fourth place in the Romance Writers of America prestigious Hall of Fame. Since extending her reach to suspense, she has also garnered a coveted Anthony Award nomination.
A frequent speaker at conferences, she maintains membership in Romance Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and, just in case things go wrong, Emergency Nurses Association and International Association of Forensic Nurses.
Eileen is an addicted traveler, having sung in some of the best Irish pubs in the world, and admits she sees research as a handy way to salve her insatiable curiosity. She counts film producers, police detectives and Olympic athletes as some of her sources and friends. She's also trained in forensic nursing and death investigation, although she doesn't see herself actively working in the field, unless this writing thing doesn't pan out.
Get in touch: eileendreyer@eileendreyer.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
July 25, 2016
Just finishing up with the next book in this series Sarah is tired of the weight of the burdens she carries – which we soon discover consist of more than just trying to support her small family – and tries to tell herself that she’s so strongly drawn to Ian because she is lonely and he’s the first man who has seen that or offered her a shoulder to lean on.
When Ian is well again, he begins making preparations to leave. Sarah knows this has always been his intention, but she can’t lie to herself and deny that his leaving won’t also leave a big hole in her life and in her heart. Ian finds himself similarly affected – and asks Sarah to accompany him, both for her own safety and to act as a guide. They have discovered that several of the Rakes will be at a house-party at nearby Ripton Hall, the seat of Sarah’s half-brother. Ian can meet them there, pass on his information and clear his name.
Although reluctant to accompany Ian, Sarah travels with him as a guide and they make their way to Ripton. A rendezvous has been arranged and their goal is within sight – but there are still dangers ahead in the form of the beautiful but deadly Minette Ferrar, a French spy and assassin who surely owes much to Dumas’ Milady deWinter.
Sometimes, in books which feature an adventure story alongside the romance, I find that one (sometimes both) of those elements is underdeveloped. That isn’t the case here, however, because I thought the balance between the spy-story and the romance was just about right. The emphasis is firmly on the romance, but the secondary plotline feels just as well thought-out, possibly because it has been running through several books already and will obviously continue in future stories.
The characterisation throughout is strong, and is particularly so in the case of the two protagonists. Both have had to overcome adversity, but they don’t mope or dwell on it; they have got on with their lives as best they could, doing what needs to be done. Sarah is a particularly engaging heroine, someone who has been continually put down and cast aside, yet has the strength to keep going from day to day. She is innately kind and selfless without being priggish – she asks only for the strength to keep her small family together. Ian is an attractive hero, a strong, honourable man who is trying to do the best for his sisters (who were at school with Sarah) and to keep the promises he has made to the grandfather who barely tolerates him (and that only because Ian is his heir).
I had a couple of minor issues with the book – such as the author’s preoccupation with the description of Ian as a “beserker”, and the fact that his unseen fiancée existed only as a road-block to the romance – but overall Once a Rake was entertaining, well written and emotionally satisfying. There’s a teaser at the end for the next book in the series, and I’m certainly intrigued and impressed enough to want to read it.
When Ian is well again, he begins making preparations to leave. Sarah knows this has always been his intention, but she can’t lie to herself and deny that his leaving won’t also leave a big hole in her life and in her heart. Ian finds himself similarly affected – and asks Sarah to accompany him, both for her own safety and to act as a guide. They have discovered that several of the Rakes will be at a house-party at nearby Ripton Hall, the seat of Sarah’s half-brother. Ian can meet them there, pass on his information and clear his name.
Although reluctant to accompany Ian, Sarah travels with him as a guide and they make their way to Ripton. A rendezvous has been arranged and their goal is within sight – but there are still dangers ahead in the form of the beautiful but deadly Minette Ferrar, a French spy and assassin who surely owes much to Dumas’ Milady deWinter.
Sometimes, in books which feature an adventure story alongside the romance, I find that one (sometimes both) of those elements is underdeveloped. That isn’t the case here, however, because I thought the balance between the spy-story and the romance was just about right. The emphasis is firmly on the romance, but the secondary plotline feels just as well thought-out, possibly because it has been running through several books already and will obviously continue in future stories.
The characterisation throughout is strong, and is particularly so in the case of the two protagonists. Both have had to overcome adversity, but they don’t mope or dwell on it; they have got on with their lives as best they could, doing what needs to be done. Sarah is a particularly engaging heroine, someone who has been continually put down and cast aside, yet has the strength to keep going from day to day. She is innately kind and selfless without being priggish – she asks only for the strength to keep her small family together. Ian is an attractive hero, a strong, honourable man who is trying to do the best for his sisters (who were at school with Sarah) and to keep the promises he has made to the grandfather who barely tolerates him (and that only because Ian is his heir).
I had a couple of minor issues with the book – such as the author’s preoccupation with the description of Ian as a “beserker”, and the fact that his unseen fiancée existed only as a road-block to the romance – but overall Once a Rake was entertaining, well written and emotionally satisfying. There’s a teaser at the end for the next book in the series, and I’m certainly intrigued and impressed enough to want to read it.
November 3, 2013
i did not like it sam i am.
I had the misfortune of picking this up as an escape from The Wicked Deeds of Daniel Mackenzie. Unfortunately, I found that Once a Rake eerily suffered from the same sins as Wicked Deeds: distasteful othering of Scottish men, incoherent plots, and ever-changing character motivations. I did not like it *at all*.
If the heroine of the book thought of Ian one more time as a "berserker" this would have become a wallbanger in truth.
Dreyer's plots are always choc-full of douchey heroes and stale romance tropes, but I've always been compelled to buy and read them nevertheless because of the sublime angst she can sometimes wring out- Grace literally watching her husband screw around for God and country being a prime example- but Once a Rake lacked even a heavy lashing of decent angst. All tropes no love.
I had the misfortune of picking this up as an escape from The Wicked Deeds of Daniel Mackenzie. Unfortunately, I found that Once a Rake eerily suffered from the same sins as Wicked Deeds: distasteful othering of Scottish men, incoherent plots, and ever-changing character motivations. I did not like it *at all*.
If the heroine of the book thought of Ian one more time as a "berserker" this would have become a wallbanger in truth.
Dreyer's plots are always choc-full of douchey heroes and stale romance tropes, but I've always been compelled to buy and read them nevertheless because of the sublime angst she can sometimes wring out- Grace literally watching her husband screw around for God and country being a prime example- but Once a Rake lacked even a heavy lashing of decent angst. All tropes no love.
January 2, 2015
This continues to be a very exciting series. Ian and the rest of the Rakes are still trying to figure out who is behind the attempts on Wellington's life. This time he has been caught in the middle, and in attempting to stop an assassin has been shot and is now on the run, accused of the deed himself. He ends up at Sarah's farm, feverish and in danger of being captured.
Sarah takes him in, hides him and cares for his injuries, for the sake of his sisters. She was friends with them at school and while she disapproves of his neglect of them, for their sake she will do her best to save him. She doesn't expect the intense attraction to him, an attraction that can't go anywhere. Sarah is illegitimate and shunned by many because of it. I loved her strength of will as she cared for her land and her husband's relatives as best she can.
As Sarah cares for Ian, their attraction to each other grows. Sarah starts out mistrustful of Ian and anxious to get him healed and gone. She soon realizes that he is innocent of the charges, and begins to see the man that his sisters described. He is kind and protective, loyal and honorable, and she soon finds herself falling for him. Ian is conflicted because he is falling for her too, but he has no way of making her part of his life. There are things that conspire to keep them apart and seem impossible to overcome. I loved the way their relationship developed. Sarah wasn't a pushover by any means, and has no trouble standing up to him about what she intends to do and what she expects from him. She does admit to herself that her attraction to him can make it difficult to stay focused. I loved Ian's protectiveness and how he saw her vulnerabilities. He also discovered that she was everything he always wanted, even though he didn't know it until he met her. All he has to do is figure out a way to make it possible.
This was an intense story from the beginning. Ian's attempt to save Wellington, then his need to save himself, started the story with a rush. Then there is Sarah's need to hide Ian and nurse him back to health. Sarah is also in danger of losing her home. Her husband went off to war and hasn't returned, leaving her to fend off her cousin's attempts to claim her land. He is involved in some less savory activities himself, including participating in the continuing manhunt for Ian. Ian, once he has started to heal, knows he has to get to the other Rakes for their help in saving Wellington and clearing his own name. There are betrayals and dangers that nearly cost them their lives before they are able to resolve the immediate problem. The final confrontation kept me riveted until I was sure everyone would be safe. Then all that had to happen was for Ian to find a way for he and Sarah to be together and I thought that he did a marvelous job with that.
The secondary characters were all wonderfully done. Sarah's mother-in-law, with her overly dramatic attitudes, was both frustrating and funny, and had some scenes that had me laughing and shaking my head. There was enough information about and exposure to the cousin who was trying to take Sarah's land that I was quite happy to see what happened to him. I loved seeing her half brother have to face some consequences of his own, and loved what that ended up meaning for Sarah. I also loved seeing more of Chuffy and am looking forward to more of him. But my favorite of all the secondary characters had to be Willoughby the pig. He was wonderful.
While part of the mystery that has been present in all of the books has been resolved, it is still not over. The assassin is still at large, and there is someone very highly placed who is still pulling the strings. Ian's sisters are also missing, and someone is going to have to find them. I expect that the next book will be another nail-biter and I can't wait to read it.
Sarah takes him in, hides him and cares for his injuries, for the sake of his sisters. She was friends with them at school and while she disapproves of his neglect of them, for their sake she will do her best to save him. She doesn't expect the intense attraction to him, an attraction that can't go anywhere. Sarah is illegitimate and shunned by many because of it. I loved her strength of will as she cared for her land and her husband's relatives as best she can.
As Sarah cares for Ian, their attraction to each other grows. Sarah starts out mistrustful of Ian and anxious to get him healed and gone. She soon realizes that he is innocent of the charges, and begins to see the man that his sisters described. He is kind and protective, loyal and honorable, and she soon finds herself falling for him. Ian is conflicted because he is falling for her too, but he has no way of making her part of his life. There are things that conspire to keep them apart and seem impossible to overcome. I loved the way their relationship developed. Sarah wasn't a pushover by any means, and has no trouble standing up to him about what she intends to do and what she expects from him. She does admit to herself that her attraction to him can make it difficult to stay focused. I loved Ian's protectiveness and how he saw her vulnerabilities. He also discovered that she was everything he always wanted, even though he didn't know it until he met her. All he has to do is figure out a way to make it possible.
This was an intense story from the beginning. Ian's attempt to save Wellington, then his need to save himself, started the story with a rush. Then there is Sarah's need to hide Ian and nurse him back to health. Sarah is also in danger of losing her home. Her husband went off to war and hasn't returned, leaving her to fend off her cousin's attempts to claim her land. He is involved in some less savory activities himself, including participating in the continuing manhunt for Ian. Ian, once he has started to heal, knows he has to get to the other Rakes for their help in saving Wellington and clearing his own name. There are betrayals and dangers that nearly cost them their lives before they are able to resolve the immediate problem. The final confrontation kept me riveted until I was sure everyone would be safe. Then all that had to happen was for Ian to find a way for he and Sarah to be together and I thought that he did a marvelous job with that.
The secondary characters were all wonderfully done. Sarah's mother-in-law, with her overly dramatic attitudes, was both frustrating and funny, and had some scenes that had me laughing and shaking my head. There was enough information about and exposure to the cousin who was trying to take Sarah's land that I was quite happy to see what happened to him. I loved seeing her half brother have to face some consequences of his own, and loved what that ended up meaning for Sarah. I also loved seeing more of Chuffy and am looking forward to more of him. But my favorite of all the secondary characters had to be Willoughby the pig. He was wonderful.
While part of the mystery that has been present in all of the books has been resolved, it is still not over. The assassin is still at large, and there is someone very highly placed who is still pulling the strings. Ian's sisters are also missing, and someone is going to have to find them. I expect that the next book will be another nail-biter and I can't wait to read it.
October 27, 2013
Can one single moment change everything?
Lady Sarah Clarke is keeping everything running until her husband returns from battle. She tends to the lands and the animals fighting off a blood thirsty relative looking to take it all away. The last thing Sarah needs is any more complications so find a traitor in her barn is really turning things in a negative direction
Colonel Ian Ferguson has been accused of an attempted assassination for which he had no part and was in fact wounded himself. He has been keeping under cover and now finds himself in Sarah’s clutches because the luck has run out he thinks. Sarah is always one to do the right thing but that is not as clear cut as usual and deciding to help Ian may cause a ripple effect that will ruin everything. However, Sarah looks into Ian’s beautiful eyes and sees the truth he is telling and knows she is making the right decision to help him. The upside is everyone believes Ian is deceased and with Sarah’s ability to convince the hordes coming to prove otherwise maybe they will get out of this alive.
Fighting for her home, her way of life, alongside a man she has come to love makes Sarah think fate is dealing her an interesting hand. Does she tell him about why she is free to love him, what her true lineage is, or why when dreams come true they are not the ones you have always looked for.
Eileen Dreyer is such a brilliant writer she transports the reader to a time and place with such accuracy you are spellbound with the love and drama one couple is sharing.
Lady Sarah Clarke is keeping everything running until her husband returns from battle. She tends to the lands and the animals fighting off a blood thirsty relative looking to take it all away. The last thing Sarah needs is any more complications so find a traitor in her barn is really turning things in a negative direction
Colonel Ian Ferguson has been accused of an attempted assassination for which he had no part and was in fact wounded himself. He has been keeping under cover and now finds himself in Sarah’s clutches because the luck has run out he thinks. Sarah is always one to do the right thing but that is not as clear cut as usual and deciding to help Ian may cause a ripple effect that will ruin everything. However, Sarah looks into Ian’s beautiful eyes and sees the truth he is telling and knows she is making the right decision to help him. The upside is everyone believes Ian is deceased and with Sarah’s ability to convince the hordes coming to prove otherwise maybe they will get out of this alive.
Fighting for her home, her way of life, alongside a man she has come to love makes Sarah think fate is dealing her an interesting hand. Does she tell him about why she is free to love him, what her true lineage is, or why when dreams come true they are not the ones you have always looked for.
Eileen Dreyer is such a brilliant writer she transports the reader to a time and place with such accuracy you are spellbound with the love and drama one couple is sharing.
September 4, 2013
This book started off a bit slow but once I got twenty or thirty pages in it really held my interest. The writing was nicely done and the author did a good job of making me believe these were persons living in the regency era rather than people with modern sensibilities dropped into an historical setting.
One of the strong points for me was that there was sufficient conflict to carry the book. They were falling in love but there was plenty to keep them apart until the end of the book. Lately I've been reading regencies that were rather dull because of lack of conflict. Here we had two sorts of conflict. There was danger to all if she was found harboring the hero who was accused of treason and also he was engaged to someone else when they met. In this period in history breaking an engagement could lead to serious legal action. Plus it really could ruin reputations. Also she was illegitimate which could present a problem. So all this conflict led to some lovely angst when it seemed that the hero and heroine could not be together.
The characterizations were good. The heroine especially was well developed. The hero was a lovely man but he was written as believably male. And the romantic tension between them was intense and believable. I liked the earthiness of their relationship.
All in all I recommend this one to regency lovers.
I received this book for review from GR First Reads and thank you very much.
One of the strong points for me was that there was sufficient conflict to carry the book. They were falling in love but there was plenty to keep them apart until the end of the book. Lately I've been reading regencies that were rather dull because of lack of conflict. Here we had two sorts of conflict. There was danger to all if she was found harboring the hero who was accused of treason and also he was engaged to someone else when they met. In this period in history breaking an engagement could lead to serious legal action. Plus it really could ruin reputations. Also she was illegitimate which could present a problem. So all this conflict led to some lovely angst when it seemed that the hero and heroine could not be together.
The characterizations were good. The heroine especially was well developed. The hero was a lovely man but he was written as believably male. And the romantic tension between them was intense and believable. I liked the earthiness of their relationship.
All in all I recommend this one to regency lovers.
I received this book for review from GR First Reads and thank you very much.
April 18, 2015
2.5 stars
December 19, 2013
4.5 Stars
Eileen Dreyer is dividing her Drake’s Rakes series into trilogies. Once a Rakeintroduces the second trilogy, the Last Chance Academy series, which was introduced by a novella, It Begins with a Kiss (July 2012). Readers who have followed the series will recognize Ian Ferguson and his plight. I confess to a weakness for red-haired heroes. I was already fascinated by Ian, and I have been looking forward to his story. It does not disappoint. Ian has all the necessary qualities for a romance hero—intelligence, honor, strength, a sense of humor, a capacity for tenderness, and sufficient biography and personality to make him an individual rather than a type with a name.
Sarah broke my heart from the beginning with her blend of quiet strength and aching vulnerability. She is one of the loneliest characters I have encountered. Early in the book, Dreyer describes her: “She had spent her entire life seeking inclusion. Envying her four friends that they were wanted for no other reason than their existence. A feeling Sarah couldn’t comprehend. emotionally” Once she is separated from her school friends, her closest tie is to a pig. But despite the emotional deprivation she has known, Sarah is a woman of grace and generosity. She treats those who see her as inferior because of her birth with kindness and understanding, and yet she is human enough to admit her longing to exact revenge. Plus, how can anyone resist a heroine who dreams of Oxford and names a pig Willoughby? Sarah and Ian not only have incredible chemistry but they also share their status as outsiders who know what it is to fight for survival.
Readers who prefer romances that focus on the hero and heroine and keep them together for most of the story will appreciate Once a Rake. And yet Dreyer accomplishes this and still creates substantial contexts with a host of characters whom she sketches in sufficient detail to give them all—from the absent Bromwell to the substantially present pig--individual reality. The assassin Minette Ferrar frightens me beyond description and her heinous behavior lingers in my mind far too long for comfort.
I’m a reader who generally prefers quiet books with the focus on relationships, but I have discovered a few authors who write what I term “romantic adventure” whose books unfailingly engage me fully. They create characters in whom I believe wholly and plots that keep my heart in my throat. Mary Jo Putney is the historical romance author who has best exemplified these qualities for me for decades, and Eileen Dreyer’s skills rival those of MJP. I am also intrigued by the way Dreyer is creating a heroine-centric series on the foundation of a male-bonded society.
If you are already a Drake’s Rakes fan, you will be pleased to know that tendrils of the overarching plot of treason continue to entangle even as other tendrils are severed and the romance is as satisfying as it was in the first trilogy. If you have never read Eileen Dreyer’s historical romances, Once a Rake is a great starting point. Or if you want a brief sample of her style first, the digital edition of the prequel novella, It Begins with a Kiss, is available for $.99. I’ve been recommending this writer since I first read her Kathleen Korbel categories years ago. I’m delighted that I can recommend her historicals with as much enthusiasm.
See full review at:
http://justjanga.blogspot.com/2013/10...
Eileen Dreyer is dividing her Drake’s Rakes series into trilogies. Once a Rakeintroduces the second trilogy, the Last Chance Academy series, which was introduced by a novella, It Begins with a Kiss (July 2012). Readers who have followed the series will recognize Ian Ferguson and his plight. I confess to a weakness for red-haired heroes. I was already fascinated by Ian, and I have been looking forward to his story. It does not disappoint. Ian has all the necessary qualities for a romance hero—intelligence, honor, strength, a sense of humor, a capacity for tenderness, and sufficient biography and personality to make him an individual rather than a type with a name.
Sarah broke my heart from the beginning with her blend of quiet strength and aching vulnerability. She is one of the loneliest characters I have encountered. Early in the book, Dreyer describes her: “She had spent her entire life seeking inclusion. Envying her four friends that they were wanted for no other reason than their existence. A feeling Sarah couldn’t comprehend. emotionally” Once she is separated from her school friends, her closest tie is to a pig. But despite the emotional deprivation she has known, Sarah is a woman of grace and generosity. She treats those who see her as inferior because of her birth with kindness and understanding, and yet she is human enough to admit her longing to exact revenge. Plus, how can anyone resist a heroine who dreams of Oxford and names a pig Willoughby? Sarah and Ian not only have incredible chemistry but they also share their status as outsiders who know what it is to fight for survival.
Readers who prefer romances that focus on the hero and heroine and keep them together for most of the story will appreciate Once a Rake. And yet Dreyer accomplishes this and still creates substantial contexts with a host of characters whom she sketches in sufficient detail to give them all—from the absent Bromwell to the substantially present pig--individual reality. The assassin Minette Ferrar frightens me beyond description and her heinous behavior lingers in my mind far too long for comfort.
I’m a reader who generally prefers quiet books with the focus on relationships, but I have discovered a few authors who write what I term “romantic adventure” whose books unfailingly engage me fully. They create characters in whom I believe wholly and plots that keep my heart in my throat. Mary Jo Putney is the historical romance author who has best exemplified these qualities for me for decades, and Eileen Dreyer’s skills rival those of MJP. I am also intrigued by the way Dreyer is creating a heroine-centric series on the foundation of a male-bonded society.
If you are already a Drake’s Rakes fan, you will be pleased to know that tendrils of the overarching plot of treason continue to entangle even as other tendrils are severed and the romance is as satisfying as it was in the first trilogy. If you have never read Eileen Dreyer’s historical romances, Once a Rake is a great starting point. Or if you want a brief sample of her style first, the digital edition of the prequel novella, It Begins with a Kiss, is available for $.99. I’ve been recommending this writer since I first read her Kathleen Korbel categories years ago. I’m delighted that I can recommend her historicals with as much enthusiasm.
See full review at:
http://justjanga.blogspot.com/2013/10...
December 30, 2013
Lady Sarah Clarke, “born on the other side of the blanket,” is the wife of Lord Boswell Clarke, who has recently signed up to join up with the military and fight in the war. As she has not heard from him in months, many assume that he has been killed. Sarah’s day consists of working to care for her husband’s crumbling estate, Fairbourne, along with his self-centered mother and sister. With very little money to be had, this is a constant trial that has fallen completely on Sarah’s shoulders. Her husband’s cousin and neighbor, Martin Clarke, believes that Boswell is dead and wants Sarah out so he can claim the estate for his own.
Colonel Ian Ferguson is a Scottish man who has distinguished himself in the war but now stands accused of trying to assassinate the Duke of Wellington. Wounded, he is on the run and finds himself at the Clarke estate. When Sarah discovers him, she cannot help but hide him and treat his severe wound.
As Sarah and Ian get to know one another, attraction follows and they realize they cannot be parted.
Eileen Dreyer has written a story of love and commitment that completely tests all the mettle that the characters possess.
I loved this book and the story of Sarah and Ian will leave you sighing.
Connie for b2b
*ARC provided by the author.
MEL’S THOUGHTS: Here’s another book that deserves our two reviews,
I’m a huge fan of this author and this series. I’m probably the only one that liked Diccan, one of Drake’s Rakes in ‘Never a Gentleman’. The reason behind it was the great characterizations this author does. Her heroes are complex. They’re not one-dimensional and there to ‘look and act macho’ but each one is unique in looks, his specialty and his background. They are a diverse group of men that are loyal to their King, Country and family.
And as for the heroine of this book, Ms. Dreyer did an outstanding job in paring this strong, willful and independent woman with one of her best heroes, Ian Ferguson.
Once more Ms. Dreyer gave me a well written plot, sensual romance and fast pace. Loved it!
*ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
Colonel Ian Ferguson is a Scottish man who has distinguished himself in the war but now stands accused of trying to assassinate the Duke of Wellington. Wounded, he is on the run and finds himself at the Clarke estate. When Sarah discovers him, she cannot help but hide him and treat his severe wound.
As Sarah and Ian get to know one another, attraction follows and they realize they cannot be parted.
Eileen Dreyer has written a story of love and commitment that completely tests all the mettle that the characters possess.
I loved this book and the story of Sarah and Ian will leave you sighing.
Connie for b2b
*ARC provided by the author.
MEL’S THOUGHTS: Here’s another book that deserves our two reviews,
I’m a huge fan of this author and this series. I’m probably the only one that liked Diccan, one of Drake’s Rakes in ‘Never a Gentleman’. The reason behind it was the great characterizations this author does. Her heroes are complex. They’re not one-dimensional and there to ‘look and act macho’ but each one is unique in looks, his specialty and his background. They are a diverse group of men that are loyal to their King, Country and family.
And as for the heroine of this book, Ms. Dreyer did an outstanding job in paring this strong, willful and independent woman with one of her best heroes, Ian Ferguson.
Once more Ms. Dreyer gave me a well written plot, sensual romance and fast pace. Loved it!
*ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
August 30, 2023
DNF @ 86%
Where do I start?
- the fake Frenchified English from a wannabe Mata Hari with a very disturbing fetish for blood
- an overly heavy and inconsistent Scottish brogue from the male protagonist
- a female protagonist that is heroically selfless and a total martyr...
- ...who falls in love in several days and insists that they have wild sex. Multiple times. While they are running away and in hiding and were literally seconds away from being caught (because apparently some rickety shack/barn could contain all of their wild sex noises and her screams of delight 🙄
- and are we going to forget about the dead body of her husband?
- and wow, the man had accused her of being a murderer, kidnapped her, offered her a (sort of) carte blanche, and asked her to marry him and destroy all of his future ambitions and dreams? All of this happened within several days 👀
- if I read the word "beserker" one more time...
- just how horribly incompetent are the Drake's Rakes, anyway?
In case it wasn't obvious, I wasn't a fan of the couple. This book somehow manages to be just as awful than the others (which is impressive considering that the others in the series featured leading men like Sir "I'm gonna compare you to my lover OUT LOUD mid-action after I threw your pregnant ass out", Lord "I'm fucking for England", or General "Let's kidnap you and fix your trauma with my magical dick").
Where do I start?
- the fake Frenchified English from a wannabe Mata Hari with a very disturbing fetish for blood
- an overly heavy and inconsistent Scottish brogue from the male protagonist
- a female protagonist that is heroically selfless and a total martyr...
- ...who falls in love in several days and insists that they have wild sex. Multiple times. While they are running away and in hiding and were literally seconds away from being caught (because apparently some rickety shack/barn could contain all of their wild sex noises and her screams of delight 🙄
- and are we going to forget about the dead body of her husband?
- and wow, the man had accused her of being a murderer, kidnapped her, offered her a (sort of) carte blanche, and asked her to marry him and destroy all of his future ambitions and dreams? All of this happened within several days 👀
- if I read the word "beserker" one more time...
- just how horribly incompetent are the Drake's Rakes, anyway?
In case it wasn't obvious, I wasn't a fan of the couple. This book somehow manages to be just as awful than the others (which is impressive considering that the others in the series featured leading men like Sir "I'm gonna compare you to my lover OUT LOUD mid-action after I threw your pregnant ass out", Lord "I'm fucking for England", or General "Let's kidnap you and fix your trauma with my magical dick").
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 18, 2015
Typically I read 1-3 books A DAY. It took me 3 days to get 60% into this book. The beginning was very long winded and to be honest, boring. The plot, premise, all of it sounded great, but getting to the action, the interesting parts took forever. Once you hit that 60% mark, the book begins to pick up. Things get exciting and enjoyable. If you can make it through the slow half of the book, I think you'll enjoy the rest of it. It's just hard to make yourself push through it.
January 5, 2016
ARC received for review
3.5 stars
I realized the other day I have some really old books in my ARC "pile" and decided this year I would try to read one a week. That's a good resolution to have.
I read the first three books in this series a long time ago and didn't really remember them, but that's okay cause I wasn't lost reading this one. Immediate attraction between Ian and Sarah plus an adventure along the way.
3.5 stars
I realized the other day I have some really old books in my ARC "pile" and decided this year I would try to read one a week. That's a good resolution to have.
I read the first three books in this series a long time ago and didn't really remember them, but that's okay cause I wasn't lost reading this one. Immediate attraction between Ian and Sarah plus an adventure along the way.
October 24, 2013
This one was okay. I think the pig was my favorite character. lol
Review to come
Review to come
August 30, 2014
Loved this book! Haven't read any of the other books in this series, but I think I'm going to have to if I want to hear more about Ian and Sarah's happy ending!
July 31, 2015
Eh, this one was okay. Rather boring in my opinion.
April 11, 2014
Ian Ferguson is on the run after being accused of attempting to assassinate the Duke of Wellington. He's injured and is far from London and his friends.
Lady Sarah Clarke is the sole caretaker of her husband's estate, and of her mother-in-law and her young sister-in-law. Funds are scarce and Sarah cannot afford to make a mistake as her husband's heir circles about them like a buzzard waiting for the kill. When a wanted man appears at her door, Sarah's first instinct is to protect herself and her family, but when she realises that he is the older brother of her dearest friends from Last Chance Academy, she knows she must help him at all costs.
The heroine, Sarah Clarke, is admirable in her devotion to her husband's family. She's had to bear the responsibility of being the head of their household because her mother-in-law is too flighty and her sister-in-law is too young. It isn't the happiest situation, but, for Sarah, it's the happiest she's been. She was born a bastard and has longed for acceptance, recognition and love from a family. When she married, Boswell, she knew it wasn't a love match, but she was content because her marriage came with the life she has always dreamed of. Here, in this tiny corner of Fairbourne, in this rundown farm with her pig and chickens, she belongs. But her life also teeters at a balance. If her husband does not return from the war, he would be declared dead and their cousin, Martin Clarke would inherit the farm. She and her in-laws would be turned out from the farm and have no place to go. It's been four months since the war ended, and, with each day that passes, the chances of her husband returning home becomes slimmer and slimmer.
When she finds Ian, she is torn between her loyalty to her family and loyalty to her dearest school friends. She knows who Ian is and had, as a young girl at the academy, listened to his letters being read by his sisters and imagined his adventures in distant lands. In fact, Sarah was secretly infatuated with the idea of Ian. And, now, the man himself is the stuff of her daydreams ... and more.
Ian's character isn't as clearly defined in this story. The title implies that Ian is a rake, but he doesn't really exhibit rakish tendencies. Dreyer also puts a lot of emphasis on Ian's size, often referring to him as being very tall and with having very broad shoulders and with being broad and big all over.
His hips were so wide, she could barely straddle him, but she managed ...
- pp. 285-286
I am amazed by his physical prowess, considering how long he has survived wounded -- with an infected wound, at that! I think what overshadowed his character development and the romance between Sarah and Ian is Ian's own backstory and his relationship with his sisters (Fiona and Mairead). Despite his reconciliation with his sisters, there's a lot of things left unspoken and unresolved between them -- and it's what takes center stage in this story. (This and Ian's strained relationship with their grandfather.) Ian's conversations with Sarah are almost always about his sisters (or about the sinister plot he is involved in), and there's actually more emotional pull in the scenes with Alex and Ian's grandfather. I didn't really see a way for Sarah and Ian's relationship to flourish with so many other things happening around them. The relationship seemed one-sided for the most part of the story: it is clear that Sarah was infatuated with Ian from the beginning, whereas Ian seems to just depend on Sarah. I did like how he tried to protect Sarah at the risk of his own life and he was willing to go away, even though he hadn't fully recovered to save Sarah.
My second problem is the intrigue itself. The initial premise is clear: Did Ian try to assassinate the Duke of Wellington? Dreyer's recounting of the events in the Prologue is a bit vague and confusing and I wonder if that was deliberately done.
What is clear is that Ian has a flask and the villains want it back at all cost, including calling in one of their most ruthless assassins, Madame Ferrar, a recurring character. While her reappearance is meant to tie Ian's story to the rest of the series, I could not help but feel that she was acting with her own agenda and her scenes, while gory and compelling, did not seem as a cohesive part of Once a Rake.
I had expected this story to be about how Ian would clear his name and it all seemed link to the flask -- but, even the role of the flask isn't that clear. It contains an image? It implicates someone they already know to be involved? The best part of the intrigue is how Ian manages to send messages to his compatriots -- and then the plot goes downhill from there. The resolution is just as vague and confusing as the beginning: it was a house party at the Duke of Ripton's house and the tone of atmosphere at the party is a strange mix of light and sinister -- it seemed to house the dangerous criminals who were after Ian. Another of Sarah's school friends, Lizzie, is the sister of the Duke and she has a room in the house. Another friend, Pippin, the younger sister of Alex Knight (one of Drake's agents) is also at the house party and those scenes felt very much like what a house party should be, but they abruptly jump to scenes of lurking around hallways and danger being present everywhere. Where were the footmen? The maids? The other guests?
* * *
Another plot twist that took my attention away from the resolution was the relationship between Lizzie, Sarah and the Duke of Ripton -- though the author hints about this early on, when she finally reveals the details, it took away the momentum from the Ian/traitors conflict. Was Ian able to prove that he didn't try to kill the Duke of Wellington? Yes -- but it seemed like a secondary thing ... something incidental that just happened as they confronted Madame Ferrars and her cohorts.
I'm a big fan of Dreyer's Drake's Rakes (Three Graces) series and I was very excited to read about Ian Ferguson after encountering him in the previous books. I was also very excited to read about the ladies from Last Chance Academy after reading the e-novella, It Begins with a Kiss . Sadly, Once a Rake was a bit of a disappointment for me: it isn't the best romance I've read from Dreyer and not the best intrigue either -- I will still continue to follow this series, despite the slow start -- there's a lot of electricity in the scenes between Alex and Fiona and Pippin is such a fun character as well. ^_^
Lady Sarah Clarke is the sole caretaker of her husband's estate, and of her mother-in-law and her young sister-in-law. Funds are scarce and Sarah cannot afford to make a mistake as her husband's heir circles about them like a buzzard waiting for the kill. When a wanted man appears at her door, Sarah's first instinct is to protect herself and her family, but when she realises that he is the older brother of her dearest friends from Last Chance Academy, she knows she must help him at all costs.
The heroine, Sarah Clarke, is admirable in her devotion to her husband's family. She's had to bear the responsibility of being the head of their household because her mother-in-law is too flighty and her sister-in-law is too young. It isn't the happiest situation, but, for Sarah, it's the happiest she's been. She was born a bastard and has longed for acceptance, recognition and love from a family. When she married, Boswell, she knew it wasn't a love match, but she was content because her marriage came with the life she has always dreamed of. Here, in this tiny corner of Fairbourne, in this rundown farm with her pig and chickens, she belongs. But her life also teeters at a balance. If her husband does not return from the war, he would be declared dead and their cousin, Martin Clarke would inherit the farm. She and her in-laws would be turned out from the farm and have no place to go. It's been four months since the war ended, and, with each day that passes, the chances of her husband returning home becomes slimmer and slimmer.
When she finds Ian, she is torn between her loyalty to her family and loyalty to her dearest school friends. She knows who Ian is and had, as a young girl at the academy, listened to his letters being read by his sisters and imagined his adventures in distant lands. In fact, Sarah was secretly infatuated with the idea of Ian. And, now, the man himself is the stuff of her daydreams ... and more.
Ian's character isn't as clearly defined in this story. The title implies that Ian is a rake, but he doesn't really exhibit rakish tendencies. Dreyer also puts a lot of emphasis on Ian's size, often referring to him as being very tall and with having very broad shoulders and with being broad and big all over.
His hips were so wide, she could barely straddle him, but she managed ...
- pp. 285-286
I am amazed by his physical prowess, considering how long he has survived wounded -- with an infected wound, at that! I think what overshadowed his character development and the romance between Sarah and Ian is Ian's own backstory and his relationship with his sisters (Fiona and Mairead). Despite his reconciliation with his sisters, there's a lot of things left unspoken and unresolved between them -- and it's what takes center stage in this story. (This and Ian's strained relationship with their grandfather.) Ian's conversations with Sarah are almost always about his sisters (or about the sinister plot he is involved in), and there's actually more emotional pull in the scenes with Alex and Ian's grandfather. I didn't really see a way for Sarah and Ian's relationship to flourish with so many other things happening around them. The relationship seemed one-sided for the most part of the story: it is clear that Sarah was infatuated with Ian from the beginning, whereas Ian seems to just depend on Sarah. I did like how he tried to protect Sarah at the risk of his own life and he was willing to go away, even though he hadn't fully recovered to save Sarah.
My second problem is the intrigue itself. The initial premise is clear: Did Ian try to assassinate the Duke of Wellington? Dreyer's recounting of the events in the Prologue is a bit vague and confusing and I wonder if that was deliberately done.
Later, no one would be able to agree as to exactly what happened on the HMS Reliance that night. The witnesses were too many and the action too sudden to gain a coherent story.
- p. 1
What is clear is that Ian has a flask and the villains want it back at all cost, including calling in one of their most ruthless assassins, Madame Ferrar, a recurring character. While her reappearance is meant to tie Ian's story to the rest of the series, I could not help but feel that she was acting with her own agenda and her scenes, while gory and compelling, did not seem as a cohesive part of Once a Rake.
I had expected this story to be about how Ian would clear his name and it all seemed link to the flask -- but, even the role of the flask isn't that clear. It contains an image? It implicates someone they already know to be involved? The best part of the intrigue is how Ian manages to send messages to his compatriots -- and then the plot goes downhill from there. The resolution is just as vague and confusing as the beginning: it was a house party at the Duke of Ripton's house and the tone of atmosphere at the party is a strange mix of light and sinister -- it seemed to house the dangerous criminals who were after Ian. Another of Sarah's school friends, Lizzie, is the sister of the Duke and she has a room in the house. Another friend, Pippin, the younger sister of Alex Knight (one of Drake's agents) is also at the house party and those scenes felt very much like what a house party should be, but they abruptly jump to scenes of lurking around hallways and danger being present everywhere. Where were the footmen? The maids? The other guests?
Reaching another hallway, obviously the guest wing, Pippin tiptoed to the third door on the right and scratched on the door. There was no answer. Taking another look over her shoulder, she turned the knob and pushed the door open. Sarah wasn't surprised to see that she was grinning. Pippin adored high adventure.
"Huh," Pippin breathed, striding across the room to where a canopied bed rose before them. Empty. "Why, that sly dog. I wonder whose bedroom he is in?"
'There was a light in the library," Sarah suggested, staring at the tidy line of the untouched bed linen.
"We don't have time," Pippin said. "We'll have to breach the defences of Chuffy's sanctuary." She flashed another grin Sarah could barely see in the dark. "Gird your loins, Lady Clarke. We are about to do something quite scandalous."
Sarah scowled. "Pip, I have been kidnapped by a man wanted for treason, hidden with him in a barn, and climbed a wall in a dress. I think I left scandalous back at Fairbourne."
Only Pip would giggle.
- p. 319
* * *
Well, Ian thought, testing the ropes that held him to the chair, at least he'd been smart enough to hide the flask back in the tunnel. If only he knew where Sarah was. If only he knew she was safe.
...
"I don't think you appreciate your situation, Colonel Ferguson," the silky voice insisted beside him. "We can do anything we want to you, and no one will care. When your body washes up on the beach in a few days, they will shake their heads and think how a traitor had met his just fate."
Ian laughed, even though it hurt. Hell, by this time, everything hurt. He could no longer see out of his right eye, his nose was broken again, and at least one tooth was loose. He didn't even want to think about his ribs.
- p. 329
Another plot twist that took my attention away from the resolution was the relationship between Lizzie, Sarah and the Duke of Ripton -- though the author hints about this early on, when she finally reveals the details, it took away the momentum from the Ian/traitors conflict. Was Ian able to prove that he didn't try to kill the Duke of Wellington? Yes -- but it seemed like a secondary thing ... something incidental that just happened as they confronted Madame Ferrars and her cohorts.
I'm a big fan of Dreyer's Drake's Rakes (Three Graces) series and I was very excited to read about Ian Ferguson after encountering him in the previous books. I was also very excited to read about the ladies from Last Chance Academy after reading the e-novella, It Begins with a Kiss . Sadly, Once a Rake was a bit of a disappointment for me: it isn't the best romance I've read from Dreyer and not the best intrigue either -- I will still continue to follow this series, despite the slow start -- there's a lot of electricity in the scenes between Alex and Fiona and Pippin is such a fun character as well. ^_^
June 12, 2025
Reviewing this because I read it before reading book 2, which was a disaster, and felt this one needed its own review as it's not nearly as bad as 1 & 2 are.
The main issue I had with this one was that the MCs were way too lusty in their stressful situations overall so that was pretty unrealistic.
But otherwise, the MMC was delightful, frankly, and the FMC was a competent, resourceful, strong woman who didn't really need the MMC. Which, turns out, is a refreshing change from at least the first 2 books of the series lol.
No forced marriage, no arranged marriage, MOC, in this one.
MMC has been guarding Wellington, and was on a ship with Wellington off the coast of England when an assassin tried to kill Wellington from behind. MMC, in front of Wellington, shoots/shot the assassin, but unfortunately it looked like he tried to shoot Wellington. He gets shot by the assassin, who's high up in the military himself, falls into the water, and washes up on FMC's estate/farm, which is on the coast.
He's targeted as a traitor/assassin and has to hide to recover enough to get a message to loyalists and Wellington that he's in dire danger as his assassin is like still free and raring to kill Wellington.
Anyway, shenanigans ensue, sometimes featuring a giant pig named Willoughby, there's a big chase, and a couple chapters of grueling torture porn where a crazy woman with a knife fetish tries to carve up both MCs.
Decent read, compared to the 1st 2 books, and if I hadn't read it first I would have given up on the entire series.
The main issue I had with this one was that the MCs were way too lusty in their stressful situations overall so that was pretty unrealistic.
But otherwise, the MMC was delightful, frankly, and the FMC was a competent, resourceful, strong woman who didn't really need the MMC. Which, turns out, is a refreshing change from at least the first 2 books of the series lol.
No forced marriage, no arranged marriage, MOC, in this one.
MMC has been guarding Wellington, and was on a ship with Wellington off the coast of England when an assassin tried to kill Wellington from behind. MMC, in front of Wellington, shoots/shot the assassin, but unfortunately it looked like he tried to shoot Wellington. He gets shot by the assassin, who's high up in the military himself, falls into the water, and washes up on FMC's estate/farm, which is on the coast.
He's targeted as a traitor/assassin and has to hide to recover enough to get a message to loyalists and Wellington that he's in dire danger as his assassin is like still free and raring to kill Wellington.
Anyway, shenanigans ensue, sometimes featuring a giant pig named Willoughby, there's a big chase, and a couple chapters of grueling torture porn where a crazy woman with a knife fetish tries to carve up both MCs.
Decent read, compared to the 1st 2 books, and if I hadn't read it first I would have given up on the entire series.
February 25, 2018
Once a Rake ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️by Eileen Dreyer
(Drakes Rakes #4)
Ian Ferguson finds himself on the run as he is accused of attempted murder of the Duke of Wellington. He is wounded and need of shelter as he wonders unfamiliar territory. As he scavengers for food and shelter he finds himself at the mercy of Sarah Clarke. Sarah lives an impoverished life with her husbands family. Her husband has been in service and not been heard from for many months.
When Sarah confronts Ian she cannot reject helping him even though she realizes it will endanger herself and her family. As she gets to know him she learns of his background and he is brother to girls she attended school with. She finally understands the reason why he was missing from their lives and admires all the sacrifices he made for them. Sarah born on the other side of the blanket suffered much as a child and had no one to rescue her.
This story was woven with the author’s depth of hand. The characters came alive off the pages and into your heart. I would recommend this book.
(Drakes Rakes #4)
Ian Ferguson finds himself on the run as he is accused of attempted murder of the Duke of Wellington. He is wounded and need of shelter as he wonders unfamiliar territory. As he scavengers for food and shelter he finds himself at the mercy of Sarah Clarke. Sarah lives an impoverished life with her husbands family. Her husband has been in service and not been heard from for many months.
When Sarah confronts Ian she cannot reject helping him even though she realizes it will endanger herself and her family. As she gets to know him she learns of his background and he is brother to girls she attended school with. She finally understands the reason why he was missing from their lives and admires all the sacrifices he made for them. Sarah born on the other side of the blanket suffered much as a child and had no one to rescue her.
This story was woven with the author’s depth of hand. The characters came alive off the pages and into your heart. I would recommend this book.
April 15, 2025
Very enjoyable read about a suspected traitor (Ian) and a widow doing her best to hold things together-literally-until she gets word of her missing soldier husband. Sara is my favorite type of heroine-she's pragmatic, strong of will and character, appreciates what she has but secretly longs for more. She finds a very injured Ian on her land and against her better judgement, nurses him back to health. We are reintroduced to the Drake's Rakes and the dastardly femme fatale Madame Monster but we also get our MCs traveling together on the lam, avoiding other villains to reach safety. It's not necessary to read alk the books in order (I didn't) but it would certainly help. And the only other one I read, Never A Gentleman, was so worth it. So I absolutely recommend this book as well as the series as a whole.
September 16, 2019
Was he really a rake? Yes, a Drake’s Rake but a real one? The title really annoys me. The book was OK, though I didn’t really believe in their lust - I mean, in the stall with the soldiers just there? Kissing is loud! Anyway, the plot for me was too plotty and though it all got a bit more dramatic at the end, most of the story was quite skimable.
October 4, 2017
3.5 stars.
June 23, 2018
Liked the rural locale and the bravery of the heroine.
January 5, 2020
This the first one where the hero doesn't 1. dismiss the woman for liars OR 2. tell them nothing to
"protect" them.
"protect" them.
November 12, 2021
This was a quick read for me which tells me that I enjoyed it immensely.
October 11, 2013
Once a Rake is the beginning of a new trilogy in author Eileen Dreyers Drake's Rakes Series. A nice way to enjoy a series without having to wait for the entire series to continue. Basically, Ms Dreyer will be writing three trilogies in this series, 3 trilogies, separated by the heroines. The first trilogy was informally known as The Three Graces. The second trilogy will be Last Chance Academy. Then the third trilogy is patiently waiting to be named. So in a way, Once a Rake was book one in this new series.. LOL.. yeah I know only I could come up with that explanation.
Whatever the series.. Ms Dreyer is telling a Regency era story.. about the war and the survival of a nation once it ended. About those who just knew that they knew best. Were willing to go to any means to obtain it and those who were willing to die to stop them. Drake's Rakes a seemingly dissolute group of men, returned from war but still having battles to win. Similar to Ms Laurens' Bastion Club and Ms Foley's Inferno club, these men stand together sometimes within society's rules and sometime on the outside. But always as a unit.
Lady Sarah Clarke was betrayed by those who were supposed to protect her. Born on the wrong side of the blanket, Sarah had been abandoned to her fate until her father's wife saved her. Finally adopted by a vicar in the family Sarah should have had a decent life. Instead she was constantly reminded that she was a nobody and should never aspire to be anything. The last straw was when her "brother" the Duke, sold her off to a local baron, in order to protect his father's reputation. Resented even there by both her family and her husband, Sarah has done her best to make this family a home. When her husband sold what was left of her dowry to by his commission, Sarah stepped up and did everything possible to keep the family afloat. Not that they were even remotely appreciative. Now the war is over, her husband's cousin is doing his best to try and run her off the land and a notorious villain is lose in the countryside. When said villain ends up on Sarah's land, she is determined to turn him away. That is until she realizes he is the brother of one of her only true friends. The one man a group of lonely girls had dreamed about. How could she ever turn him away? No matter what he had done. But the more Sarah gets to know Ian, the more she falls in love. Not with the hero of her girlhood but of the real life flesh and blood man.
Colonel Ian Ferguson has been branded a traitor for trying to SAVE the Duke of Wellington! Unfortunately the man who was actually trying to kill him survived and is telling an entirely different story. Wounded, carrying the only evidence that might save him, Ian is on the run. Only he's not running away, he's running to his friends, the men of Drake's Rakes, the only people who might believe in him and just maybe might be able to save him. Only even those plans run afoul when Ian finally gives in to a bullet wound. Found alone and feverish on Sarah's property his only hope is in this simple war widow. Save him or destroy him. Believe him or not but only he can stop the plans that are currently in action.
Ian and Sarah face insurmountable odds. Even if they succeed in surviving and saving Wellington their lives will never be compatible. But the heart wants what the heart wants and Sarah understands just what she is a throwaway. No one who could ever help Ian with the dreams he has to change society. There are moments when you truly want to cry for these two noble individuals.
Since this was my first book in the Drake's Rakes series, I was pleased to meet several of the other Rakes. Some of course have stories yet to tell and the secondary female characters are truly promising. Sarah had three really good friends at Last Chance Academy so the math doesn't quite work out. Unless of course one of these women will show up in the next trilogy. I hope so, they each obviously have a story to tell. Once a Rake, is a very good story about a time in history that is often romanticised but in reality while there was a belief and hope alive in the country, there was also darkness, despair and deceit. Ms Dreyer offers us a story with balance and a chance to get swept away in an era gone by. I certainly suggest you give it a try.
Shauni
This review is based on the ARC of Once a Rake, provided by netgalley and is scheduled to be released on October 29, 2013
Whatever the series.. Ms Dreyer is telling a Regency era story.. about the war and the survival of a nation once it ended. About those who just knew that they knew best. Were willing to go to any means to obtain it and those who were willing to die to stop them. Drake's Rakes a seemingly dissolute group of men, returned from war but still having battles to win. Similar to Ms Laurens' Bastion Club and Ms Foley's Inferno club, these men stand together sometimes within society's rules and sometime on the outside. But always as a unit.
Lady Sarah Clarke was betrayed by those who were supposed to protect her. Born on the wrong side of the blanket, Sarah had been abandoned to her fate until her father's wife saved her. Finally adopted by a vicar in the family Sarah should have had a decent life. Instead she was constantly reminded that she was a nobody and should never aspire to be anything. The last straw was when her "brother" the Duke, sold her off to a local baron, in order to protect his father's reputation. Resented even there by both her family and her husband, Sarah has done her best to make this family a home. When her husband sold what was left of her dowry to by his commission, Sarah stepped up and did everything possible to keep the family afloat. Not that they were even remotely appreciative. Now the war is over, her husband's cousin is doing his best to try and run her off the land and a notorious villain is lose in the countryside. When said villain ends up on Sarah's land, she is determined to turn him away. That is until she realizes he is the brother of one of her only true friends. The one man a group of lonely girls had dreamed about. How could she ever turn him away? No matter what he had done. But the more Sarah gets to know Ian, the more she falls in love. Not with the hero of her girlhood but of the real life flesh and blood man.
Colonel Ian Ferguson has been branded a traitor for trying to SAVE the Duke of Wellington! Unfortunately the man who was actually trying to kill him survived and is telling an entirely different story. Wounded, carrying the only evidence that might save him, Ian is on the run. Only he's not running away, he's running to his friends, the men of Drake's Rakes, the only people who might believe in him and just maybe might be able to save him. Only even those plans run afoul when Ian finally gives in to a bullet wound. Found alone and feverish on Sarah's property his only hope is in this simple war widow. Save him or destroy him. Believe him or not but only he can stop the plans that are currently in action.
Ian and Sarah face insurmountable odds. Even if they succeed in surviving and saving Wellington their lives will never be compatible. But the heart wants what the heart wants and Sarah understands just what she is a throwaway. No one who could ever help Ian with the dreams he has to change society. There are moments when you truly want to cry for these two noble individuals.
Since this was my first book in the Drake's Rakes series, I was pleased to meet several of the other Rakes. Some of course have stories yet to tell and the secondary female characters are truly promising. Sarah had three really good friends at Last Chance Academy so the math doesn't quite work out. Unless of course one of these women will show up in the next trilogy. I hope so, they each obviously have a story to tell. Once a Rake, is a very good story about a time in history that is often romanticised but in reality while there was a belief and hope alive in the country, there was also darkness, despair and deceit. Ms Dreyer offers us a story with balance and a chance to get swept away in an era gone by. I certainly suggest you give it a try.
Shauni
This review is based on the ARC of Once a Rake, provided by netgalley and is scheduled to be released on October 29, 2013
November 18, 2014
Fans of historical romance will not want to miss this intriguing, sexy tale. Taken from my review at RomanceJunkies.com:
Colonel Ian Ferguson of the Black Watch, a Scot, is accompanying the Duke of Wellington home to England when he discovers that the duke’s new aide, Horace Stricker, has his own agenda. Seeing Stricker in the shadows with a gun aimed at the duke, Ian pulls his gun. But everyone believes Ian is trying to kill the duke, instead of protecting him. In the chaos, Ian is shot and the impact of the bullet sends him over the edge of the ship into the water. But a flask in his pocket takes much of the damage. The flask is the evidence Ian needs to prove that Stricker is not who he appears to be. Hearing Stricker issue orders to shoot him, Ian dives under the water, but not before being shot as he sinks below the waves.
When Sarah Clarke, the illegitimate daughter of a duke, discovers that her pig, Willoughby, has escaped his pen, she immediately sets out for the cliffs. But she arrives there to find her pig tied to a tree. For the past few days, she has noticed that some of the eggs have gone missing, but she has not seen anyone around. Whoever the culprit is, he has also been helping her. Each morning she finds some chore already done for her. Willoughby’s capture seems to be just another act by her mysterious benefactor. Sarah was left with taking care of her home and those who live with her when her husband left for war some time ago and she has been waiting for four months for his return. Other soldiers have already returned and her husband’s cousin, Martin, is eager to get her off the land and take possession, believing her husband to be dead. But Sarah has not given up hope yet.
Believed to be a traitor, Ian hides out, trying to recover and gain back his strength. When Sarah discovers him, she knows he is the man everyone is looking for and is torn. If she gets caught with him, she will hang. But his wound is badly infected and he can barely stand on his feet. Hiding him, as soldiers and Martin close in, Sarah finds herself falling in love for the very first time. All it takes is one heated kiss and neither can deny their passion for each other. Can they evade Ian’s pursuers long enough to prove his innocence, or will Ian be found guilty of treason and drag Sarah down with him?
A suspenseful tale, ONCE A RAKE, the first book in the second trilogy of award winning author Eileen Dreyer’s DRAKE’S RAKES series, known as LAST CHANCE ACADEMY, is an intriguing, passionate historical romance that captivated me from the very beginning. Sarah and Ian are both vulnerable in their own way. Sarah was raised as an unwanted child, the illegitimate offspring of a duke. No one has ever wanted her, not even her own husband, who took her dowry and purchased his commission, leaving her with his responsibilities at home. As the heir to a British marquess, Ian has been working with his grandfather and Drake’s Rakes, a group of government spies who helped him get his sisters into Last Chance Academy to keep them safe. There is no love lost between Ian and his grandfather, who did not acknowledge Ian or his sisters until later in life. Ian has worked hard, taking on extra assignments to provide for his two sisters, who first met Sarah at the academy, but it meant that he had no time to spend with them. Together, Sarah and Ian find what they have been missing from life. But Sarah has a missing husband and Ian is contracted to wed Lady Ardeth, who was introduced to him by his grandfather.
Ms. Dreyer’s unique storytelling prose brings her characters to life, making it impossible not to empathize with their situation. Packed with suspense, spies, treason, assassins, clever dialogue, sizzling sensuality, a forbidden romance and one-of-a-kind love, this story is not to be missed. I enjoyed this book immensely and look forward to the next installment in this trilogy, TWICE TEMPTED. In the meantime, be sure to check out ONCE A RAKE. I highly recommend it!
Dottie, RomanceJunkies.com
Colonel Ian Ferguson of the Black Watch, a Scot, is accompanying the Duke of Wellington home to England when he discovers that the duke’s new aide, Horace Stricker, has his own agenda. Seeing Stricker in the shadows with a gun aimed at the duke, Ian pulls his gun. But everyone believes Ian is trying to kill the duke, instead of protecting him. In the chaos, Ian is shot and the impact of the bullet sends him over the edge of the ship into the water. But a flask in his pocket takes much of the damage. The flask is the evidence Ian needs to prove that Stricker is not who he appears to be. Hearing Stricker issue orders to shoot him, Ian dives under the water, but not before being shot as he sinks below the waves.
When Sarah Clarke, the illegitimate daughter of a duke, discovers that her pig, Willoughby, has escaped his pen, she immediately sets out for the cliffs. But she arrives there to find her pig tied to a tree. For the past few days, she has noticed that some of the eggs have gone missing, but she has not seen anyone around. Whoever the culprit is, he has also been helping her. Each morning she finds some chore already done for her. Willoughby’s capture seems to be just another act by her mysterious benefactor. Sarah was left with taking care of her home and those who live with her when her husband left for war some time ago and she has been waiting for four months for his return. Other soldiers have already returned and her husband’s cousin, Martin, is eager to get her off the land and take possession, believing her husband to be dead. But Sarah has not given up hope yet.
Believed to be a traitor, Ian hides out, trying to recover and gain back his strength. When Sarah discovers him, she knows he is the man everyone is looking for and is torn. If she gets caught with him, she will hang. But his wound is badly infected and he can barely stand on his feet. Hiding him, as soldiers and Martin close in, Sarah finds herself falling in love for the very first time. All it takes is one heated kiss and neither can deny their passion for each other. Can they evade Ian’s pursuers long enough to prove his innocence, or will Ian be found guilty of treason and drag Sarah down with him?
A suspenseful tale, ONCE A RAKE, the first book in the second trilogy of award winning author Eileen Dreyer’s DRAKE’S RAKES series, known as LAST CHANCE ACADEMY, is an intriguing, passionate historical romance that captivated me from the very beginning. Sarah and Ian are both vulnerable in their own way. Sarah was raised as an unwanted child, the illegitimate offspring of a duke. No one has ever wanted her, not even her own husband, who took her dowry and purchased his commission, leaving her with his responsibilities at home. As the heir to a British marquess, Ian has been working with his grandfather and Drake’s Rakes, a group of government spies who helped him get his sisters into Last Chance Academy to keep them safe. There is no love lost between Ian and his grandfather, who did not acknowledge Ian or his sisters until later in life. Ian has worked hard, taking on extra assignments to provide for his two sisters, who first met Sarah at the academy, but it meant that he had no time to spend with them. Together, Sarah and Ian find what they have been missing from life. But Sarah has a missing husband and Ian is contracted to wed Lady Ardeth, who was introduced to him by his grandfather.
Ms. Dreyer’s unique storytelling prose brings her characters to life, making it impossible not to empathize with their situation. Packed with suspense, spies, treason, assassins, clever dialogue, sizzling sensuality, a forbidden romance and one-of-a-kind love, this story is not to be missed. I enjoyed this book immensely and look forward to the next installment in this trilogy, TWICE TEMPTED. In the meantime, be sure to check out ONCE A RAKE. I highly recommend it!
Dottie, RomanceJunkies.com
January 20, 2020
3.5 stars
Felt a bit rushed.
Felt a bit rushed.
September 27, 2019
Stars 3/4 (Kate Pearce, Maureen Driscoll, Elisa Braden)
Hey fellow readers I don’t summarize the books (as there are always great full summaries written that I read myself).
I only give it my personal, general, summary of 5 stars to 1 star.
3 stars: This book is worth a read but didn’t really have me excited about interacting with the book where I could not put it down. It lacks the excitement and well roundness of my personal markers for a great read throughout the book.
Development and interest in main characters, secondary characters, humorous, movement of the book, writing/conversation and romantic/sexual content (1-2 scenes or too much unnecessary).
Read it once and that is enough for me.
However, if this book is part of a series, I would read the next book (pervious book) in the series as it would still peek my reading interest.
I’ll continue reading from this author. I wouldn’t cross the author out of my potential reads in the future.
Hey fellow readers I don’t summarize the books (as there are always great full summaries written that I read myself).
I only give it my personal, general, summary of 5 stars to 1 star.
3 stars: This book is worth a read but didn’t really have me excited about interacting with the book where I could not put it down. It lacks the excitement and well roundness of my personal markers for a great read throughout the book.
Development and interest in main characters, secondary characters, humorous, movement of the book, writing/conversation and romantic/sexual content (1-2 scenes or too much unnecessary).
Read it once and that is enough for me.
However, if this book is part of a series, I would read the next book (pervious book) in the series as it would still peek my reading interest.
I’ll continue reading from this author. I wouldn’t cross the author out of my potential reads in the future.
October 29, 2013
I read the last book in the Drake’s Rakes series (Always a Temptress) in February, 2012 and have been waiting anxiously to find out what happened to Ian Ferguson! We last left him in the ocean with a gunshot wound and presumed dead, not to mention that he was accused of being a traitor. Finally, we are able to see what happens next. My husband could not believe that I would anticipate a book for that length of time. Well, I somehow managed to wait and it was so worth it! I love Eileen Dreyer’s superb writing and I love the Rakes.
The giant Scotsman, Ian Ferguson, is enmeshed in political and military intrigue. He is accused of attempting to kill Wellington when he is actually protecting him. Ian escapes the situation by diving into the sea and is shot in the process. He makes his way to land and hides in a building on the property of Lady Sarah Clarke (who, in the most gigantic coincidence, happens to be best friends with his sisters). Sarah’s husband went off to fight in the war against Napoleon four years earlier and has not returned. She struggles to manage the estate and take care of various relatives and friends that live there. The attraction between Ian and Sarah is swift and strong, but numerous issues prevent them being a couple. Ian is engaged and needs his prospective wife to gain the political influence to initiate reforms. Sarah has a missing husband and greedy relatives waiting to take the property at the first misstep. Ian is a wanted man and Sarah is harboring a fugitive. After Sarah helps Ian recover from his gunshot wound he heads to a nearby estate party to get help from his friends in proving his innocence. Sarah has to accompany him as a semi-hostage. It takes quite a bit of adventure and intrigue to unravel this complicated mess and the road to their Happily Ever After is difficult and twisted.
We all enjoy following a good series, but once in a while a series really gets under your skin. That is the way I feel about Drake’s Rakes. The entire series is planned to encompass nine books and Dreyer has organized them into three trilogies or sub-series. The first three (The Three Graces) were released in 2011 and early 2012. Once A Rake begins the second trilogy (called Last Chance Academy for the school that Sarah and her friends attended). It is not necessary to have read the previous trilogy to enjoy Once a Rake, but it is so much more interesting if you know about the other Rakes. Each guy in this spy network has a unique personality and their interaction is a strong element of the series. Once a Rake was exciting and emotional. The relationship between Ian and Sarah was sweet, steamy and genuine. Ian is a perfect example of the tough Scot with a soft heart. Ian realized Sarah felt unwanted and he was so sympathetic and supportive. There was a good lead-in for the next book, Twice Tempted, about Rakes Alex and Chuffy (I LOVE Chuffy!). I hope it will be a much shorter wait – once I return to the world of the Rakes I never want to leave!
February 16, 2014
Review from Backchatting Books
Colonel Ian Ferguson is in a spot of bother. He saved his beloved Duke of Wellington from an assassination plot but instead of being lauded, the Duke's comrades shot at him. Despite being injured, stuck in cold water and facing ten knot winds (this bit was confusing as I thought something this strong was like a gentle breeze), he managed to swim ashore to Sarah's estate of Fairbourne in Dorset where he encountered Willoughby, Sarah's pig. Obviously he needed to avoid the authorities, warn Wellington and sweep Sarah off her feet. Simple really for a "well over six feet" member of the Black Watch with "hair that shone like fire and...shoulders [which] were as wide as a Yule log".
Ian saw the military as his chance to escape poverty so he left his mother and two sisters behind while he climbed the ranks. At some point along the way they were 'discovered' by their paternal grandfather the Marquess of Leyburn. Ian is supposed to be loyal and devout but I didn't really buy it as he spent the little time he had back in England trying to secure an advantageous marriage rather than spending time with his sisters. His accent was laid on very thickly which was distracting and I think Dreyer still could have dialled it back a little without negatively impacting on the story.
Sarah is a bit of a martyr and seems to relish her difficulties. Her brother threatened to arrest her if she contacted the family again, her husband that she didn't love spent all her dowry on a military commission and is now missing, her cook can't cook, her scheming brother-in-law is trying to get rid of her and her mother-in-law who could sell some of her artwork to support the family would instead rather impoverish them by buying expensive Egyptian Mummy paint. When a treasonous fugitive pops up in one of her outhouses, she decides to conceal him, heal him and make her life even harder. I really loved it when she showed independence, intellect or humour but these instances are far too quickly squashed.
If you are a fan of the usual tropes in historical romances, then this book will probably enchant you as it is packed to the brim with them and plays out in a fairly stereotypical if meandering fashion. I could handle most of them but a Scotsman who is constantly referred to as a berserker was a bit much. My favourite character would have to be the lustful Willoughby as not only were his needs simple, he wasn't afraid to go after the object of his affection.
Reading the series out of order is not advised as several times I was left scratching my head. The Drake's Rakes are plotting (fairly ineffectually) against an anarchist group, the British Lions who are plotting against the crown. The Drake's Rakes have been infiltrated and undermined by those close to them so it gets pretty messy trying to work out people's allegiances.
Colonel Ian Ferguson is in a spot of bother. He saved his beloved Duke of Wellington from an assassination plot but instead of being lauded, the Duke's comrades shot at him. Despite being injured, stuck in cold water and facing ten knot winds (this bit was confusing as I thought something this strong was like a gentle breeze), he managed to swim ashore to Sarah's estate of Fairbourne in Dorset where he encountered Willoughby, Sarah's pig. Obviously he needed to avoid the authorities, warn Wellington and sweep Sarah off her feet. Simple really for a "well over six feet" member of the Black Watch with "hair that shone like fire and...shoulders [which] were as wide as a Yule log".
Ian saw the military as his chance to escape poverty so he left his mother and two sisters behind while he climbed the ranks. At some point along the way they were 'discovered' by their paternal grandfather the Marquess of Leyburn. Ian is supposed to be loyal and devout but I didn't really buy it as he spent the little time he had back in England trying to secure an advantageous marriage rather than spending time with his sisters. His accent was laid on very thickly which was distracting and I think Dreyer still could have dialled it back a little without negatively impacting on the story.
Sarah is a bit of a martyr and seems to relish her difficulties. Her brother threatened to arrest her if she contacted the family again, her husband that she didn't love spent all her dowry on a military commission and is now missing, her cook can't cook, her scheming brother-in-law is trying to get rid of her and her mother-in-law who could sell some of her artwork to support the family would instead rather impoverish them by buying expensive Egyptian Mummy paint. When a treasonous fugitive pops up in one of her outhouses, she decides to conceal him, heal him and make her life even harder. I really loved it when she showed independence, intellect or humour but these instances are far too quickly squashed.
If you are a fan of the usual tropes in historical romances, then this book will probably enchant you as it is packed to the brim with them and plays out in a fairly stereotypical if meandering fashion. I could handle most of them but a Scotsman who is constantly referred to as a berserker was a bit much. My favourite character would have to be the lustful Willoughby as not only were his needs simple, he wasn't afraid to go after the object of his affection.
Reading the series out of order is not advised as several times I was left scratching my head. The Drake's Rakes are plotting (fairly ineffectually) against an anarchist group, the British Lions who are plotting against the crown. The Drake's Rakes have been infiltrated and undermined by those close to them so it gets pretty messy trying to work out people's allegiances.
August 12, 2017
In February, 2012 at the finish of the third of the Drake’s Rakes series (Always a Temptress) we left Ian Ferguson shot, in the sea, branded a traitor, and presumed dead. I have waited (impatiently) for 20 long months with Ian’s situation weighing heavily on my mind. Finally the story continues in Once a Rake. Was it worth the wait? You bet it was. I love this series and was delighted to rejoin this intriguing group of guys. Eileen Dreyer is a masterful writer. Her way of describing details painted a totally engaging picture.
The giant Scotsman, Ian Ferguson, is enmeshed in political and military intrigue. He is accused of attempting to kill Wellington when he is actually protecting him. Ian escapes the situation by diving into the sea and is shot in the process. He makes his way to land and hides in a building on the property of Lady Sarah Clarke (who, in the most gigantic coincidence, happens to be best friends with his sisters). Sarah’s husband went off to fight in the war against Napoleon four years earlier and has not returned. She struggles to manage the estate and take care of various relatives and friends that live there. The attraction between Ian and Sarah is swift and strong, but numerous issues prevent them being a couple. Ian is engaged and needs his prospective wife to gain the political influence to initiate reforms. Sarah has a missing husband and greedy relatives waiting to take the property at the first misstep. Ian is a wanted man and Sarah is harboring a fugitive. After Sarah helps Ian recover from his gunshot wound he heads to a nearby estate party to get help from his friends in proving his innocence. Sarah has to accompany him as a semi-hostage. It takes quite a bit of adventure and intrigue to unravel this complicated mess and the road to their Happily Ever After is difficult and twisted.
I love the Rakes! The entire series is planned to encompass nine books and Dreyer has organized them into three trilogies or sub-series. The first three (The Three Graces) were released in 2011 and early 2012. Once A Rake begins the second trilogy (called Last Chance Academy for the school that Sarah and her friends attended). It is not necessary to have read the previous trilogy to enjoy Once a Rake, but it is so much more interesting if you know about the other Rakes. Each guy has a unique personality and their interaction is a strong element of the series. Once a Rake was a great adventure and romance story. The relationship between Ian and Sarah was sweet, steamy and genuine. It was particularly nice that Ian realized Sarah felt unwanted and he was so sympathetic and supportive. There was a good lead-in for the next book, Twice Tempted, about Rakes Alex and Chuffy (I LOVE Chuffy!). Please, Ms. Dreyer, do not make me wait so long for it. It’s killing me!
The giant Scotsman, Ian Ferguson, is enmeshed in political and military intrigue. He is accused of attempting to kill Wellington when he is actually protecting him. Ian escapes the situation by diving into the sea and is shot in the process. He makes his way to land and hides in a building on the property of Lady Sarah Clarke (who, in the most gigantic coincidence, happens to be best friends with his sisters). Sarah’s husband went off to fight in the war against Napoleon four years earlier and has not returned. She struggles to manage the estate and take care of various relatives and friends that live there. The attraction between Ian and Sarah is swift and strong, but numerous issues prevent them being a couple. Ian is engaged and needs his prospective wife to gain the political influence to initiate reforms. Sarah has a missing husband and greedy relatives waiting to take the property at the first misstep. Ian is a wanted man and Sarah is harboring a fugitive. After Sarah helps Ian recover from his gunshot wound he heads to a nearby estate party to get help from his friends in proving his innocence. Sarah has to accompany him as a semi-hostage. It takes quite a bit of adventure and intrigue to unravel this complicated mess and the road to their Happily Ever After is difficult and twisted.
I love the Rakes! The entire series is planned to encompass nine books and Dreyer has organized them into three trilogies or sub-series. The first three (The Three Graces) were released in 2011 and early 2012. Once A Rake begins the second trilogy (called Last Chance Academy for the school that Sarah and her friends attended). It is not necessary to have read the previous trilogy to enjoy Once a Rake, but it is so much more interesting if you know about the other Rakes. Each guy has a unique personality and their interaction is a strong element of the series. Once a Rake was a great adventure and romance story. The relationship between Ian and Sarah was sweet, steamy and genuine. It was particularly nice that Ian realized Sarah felt unwanted and he was so sympathetic and supportive. There was a good lead-in for the next book, Twice Tempted, about Rakes Alex and Chuffy (I LOVE Chuffy!). Please, Ms. Dreyer, do not make me wait so long for it. It’s killing me!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews