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Rakes on Tour #3
Rake Most Likely to Seduce
"All gamblers are alike in luck…"
Although when Nolan Gray enters a high-stakes game in Venice, facing a ruthless opponent, he'll need more than just luck. He can't start losing now…especially when the virginity of the enthralling Gianna Minotti hangs in the balance!
Fate is on his side, and Nolan seizes victory. But leaving in a gondola with Gianna and not collecting on his tantalizing prize pushes Nolan to his limits! Can he help her claim her freedom when really he wants to claim her for his own?
Although when Nolan Gray enters a high-stakes game in Venice, facing a ruthless opponent, he'll need more than just luck. He can't start losing now…especially when the virginity of the enthralling Gianna Minotti hangs in the balance!
Fate is on his side, and Nolan seizes victory. But leaving in a gondola with Gianna and not collecting on his tantalizing prize pushes Nolan to his limits! Can he help her claim her freedom when really he wants to claim her for his own?
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 15, 2015
10 people are currently reading
76 people want to read
About the author
Bronwyn Scott
337 books167 followersBronwyn Scott writes historical romances for Harlequin, Mills and Boon. She has 50 titles currently in print with them.
Bronwyn's 2018 release, Dancing with the Duke's Heir was RITA finalist.
Bronwyn's 2009 novel, The Viscount Claims His Bride was a RomCon finalist for best short historical, as was her 2011 release, A Thoroughly Compromised Lady.
Bronwyn's 2018 release, Dancing with the Duke's Heir was RITA finalist.
Bronwyn's 2009 novel, The Viscount Claims His Bride was a RomCon finalist for best short historical, as was her 2011 release, A Thoroughly Compromised Lady.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 13 reviews
September 17, 2016
I've given this a B- at AAR, so that's 3.5 stars rounded up.
There’s one thing to be said for Harlequin book titles – they’re very much WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) - so the hero of Rake Most Likely to Seduce, the third book in Bronwyn Scott’s Rakes on Tour series, is pretty much just that – a man who likes his drink, his gambling and most definitely his women. Nolan Gray embarked upon a Grand Tour of Europe with his three best friends, but has reached Venice accompanied by only one of them, as the other two have recently married.
Unlike his friends, Nolan is not independently wealthy and supports himself by his efforts at the card tables, which are usually met with a large degree of success; indeed the only time he ever loses is if he wants to as his excellent memory and knowledge of strategy give him the edge over his opponents. Nolan looks set for another lucrative night at the tables until Count Agostino Minotti makes one desperate bid to win their current game, wagering the only thing he retains of value - his daughter’s virginity. Nolan is aghast. For one thing, he has no need to win a woman and for another, what kind of callous bastard would do such a horrible thing? Thinking he is doing the young woman a favour by getting her away from a father who would treat her so badly, Nolan accepts, wins, leaves with his winnings, and then says goodbye to the lovely Gianna Minotti, having no intention whatsoever of becoming any further embroiled in what is clearly an unpleasant family situation.
But Gianna has other ideas. She has no desire to belong to any man, but leaving with the handsome Englishman might buy her the time she needs in order to secure her independence. In just under four weeks, she will turn twenty-two and will gain control of the significant inheritance left to her by her mother, a former courtesan who married a nobleman in an attempt to secure respectability for her children. Since her death five years earlier, Gianna has been at the mercy of the count, who, in his desperation to get his hands on her money is trying to force her into marriage. If she can evade him for a few more weeks she will be safe, so she grabs the chance to get away from him, if only for a few days, while she lays her plans. Those plans, however, seem as though they will be thwarted before they have been fully formed when Nolan tells her that she is free to go and that he has no intention of bedding her. Gianna is dismayed – not so much at the not-bedding part, but because she has nowhere else to go in Venice. Her treatment at the hands of the count has made her very wary of trusting any man, so she is faced with trying to inveigle Nolan into helping her without revealing too much about herself and her situation.
Even though Gianna is a virgin, she isn’t clueless about sex and thinks to use the strength of the attraction that flares between her and Nolan to distract him and stop him asking too many questions. But Nolan is a highly intelligent and resourceful man, and much as he would like to take Gianna to his bed, he quickly realises that there is more to her situation than she is telling him and that she is in serious trouble.
Over the course of the few days they spend together, the couple discovers they have more in common that they could ever have imagined. The son of a puritanical father, Nolan feels responsible for events he could not have prevented, but for which he nonetheless feels himself obliged to atone. This gives him a unique perspective on Gianna’s situation and serves to deepen the already strong connection between them. The storyline has plenty of action as the pair races to stay a step ahead of the count, and the final confrontation is suitably climactic and fraught with danger.
Both Nolan and Gianna are attractive characters and I enjoyed watching them gradually begin to trust each other enough to open up about their pasts and for Gianna to trust Nolan with her greatest secrets. For all his protestations that he’s not the sort of man who looks after anyone other than number one, Nolan is revealed through his actions to be the opposite. Even when he is suspicious of Gianna’s motives, he wants to help and protect her, sometimes against his better judgement. I wasn’t wild about the way Gianna takes so long to trust him and keeps trying to manipulate him, but given her experience of men up to that point consisted of a man who threatened and beat her, I can understand why she acted as she did.
Bronwyn Scott’s historicals are at the hotter end of the HH/M&B scale, and she certainly doesn’t disappoint in that department; the chemistry between Nolan and Gianna is terrific and the love scenes are nice and steamy. Gianna may be a virgin, but as the daughter of a courtesan it’s easy to believe she’s a little more clued up about sex than the average virginal young woman at the time. Ms Scott’s descriptions of the sights and sounds of La Serenissima, from the canals and gondolas to the piazzas and markets are wonderfully evocative and round out the story nicely.
Rake Most Likely to Seduce is a quick and enjoyable read, and one I’d recommend to anyone looking for an historical romance with a dash of adventure in a setting that’s slightly different to the norm.
There’s one thing to be said for Harlequin book titles – they’re very much WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) - so the hero of Rake Most Likely to Seduce, the third book in Bronwyn Scott’s Rakes on Tour series, is pretty much just that – a man who likes his drink, his gambling and most definitely his women. Nolan Gray embarked upon a Grand Tour of Europe with his three best friends, but has reached Venice accompanied by only one of them, as the other two have recently married.
Unlike his friends, Nolan is not independently wealthy and supports himself by his efforts at the card tables, which are usually met with a large degree of success; indeed the only time he ever loses is if he wants to as his excellent memory and knowledge of strategy give him the edge over his opponents. Nolan looks set for another lucrative night at the tables until Count Agostino Minotti makes one desperate bid to win their current game, wagering the only thing he retains of value - his daughter’s virginity. Nolan is aghast. For one thing, he has no need to win a woman and for another, what kind of callous bastard would do such a horrible thing? Thinking he is doing the young woman a favour by getting her away from a father who would treat her so badly, Nolan accepts, wins, leaves with his winnings, and then says goodbye to the lovely Gianna Minotti, having no intention whatsoever of becoming any further embroiled in what is clearly an unpleasant family situation.
But Gianna has other ideas. She has no desire to belong to any man, but leaving with the handsome Englishman might buy her the time she needs in order to secure her independence. In just under four weeks, she will turn twenty-two and will gain control of the significant inheritance left to her by her mother, a former courtesan who married a nobleman in an attempt to secure respectability for her children. Since her death five years earlier, Gianna has been at the mercy of the count, who, in his desperation to get his hands on her money is trying to force her into marriage. If she can evade him for a few more weeks she will be safe, so she grabs the chance to get away from him, if only for a few days, while she lays her plans. Those plans, however, seem as though they will be thwarted before they have been fully formed when Nolan tells her that she is free to go and that he has no intention of bedding her. Gianna is dismayed – not so much at the not-bedding part, but because she has nowhere else to go in Venice. Her treatment at the hands of the count has made her very wary of trusting any man, so she is faced with trying to inveigle Nolan into helping her without revealing too much about herself and her situation.
Even though Gianna is a virgin, she isn’t clueless about sex and thinks to use the strength of the attraction that flares between her and Nolan to distract him and stop him asking too many questions. But Nolan is a highly intelligent and resourceful man, and much as he would like to take Gianna to his bed, he quickly realises that there is more to her situation than she is telling him and that she is in serious trouble.
Over the course of the few days they spend together, the couple discovers they have more in common that they could ever have imagined. The son of a puritanical father, Nolan feels responsible for events he could not have prevented, but for which he nonetheless feels himself obliged to atone. This gives him a unique perspective on Gianna’s situation and serves to deepen the already strong connection between them. The storyline has plenty of action as the pair races to stay a step ahead of the count, and the final confrontation is suitably climactic and fraught with danger.
Both Nolan and Gianna are attractive characters and I enjoyed watching them gradually begin to trust each other enough to open up about their pasts and for Gianna to trust Nolan with her greatest secrets. For all his protestations that he’s not the sort of man who looks after anyone other than number one, Nolan is revealed through his actions to be the opposite. Even when he is suspicious of Gianna’s motives, he wants to help and protect her, sometimes against his better judgement. I wasn’t wild about the way Gianna takes so long to trust him and keeps trying to manipulate him, but given her experience of men up to that point consisted of a man who threatened and beat her, I can understand why she acted as she did.
Bronwyn Scott’s historicals are at the hotter end of the HH/M&B scale, and she certainly doesn’t disappoint in that department; the chemistry between Nolan and Gianna is terrific and the love scenes are nice and steamy. Gianna may be a virgin, but as the daughter of a courtesan it’s easy to believe she’s a little more clued up about sex than the average virginal young woman at the time. Ms Scott’s descriptions of the sights and sounds of La Serenissima, from the canals and gondolas to the piazzas and markets are wonderfully evocative and round out the story nicely.
Rake Most Likely to Seduce is a quick and enjoyable read, and one I’d recommend to anyone looking for an historical romance with a dash of adventure in a setting that’s slightly different to the norm.
September 11, 2018
Gambler Nolan Gray and his three friends leave England behind for an European tour of adventure, revelry, romance and to make their way in the world. Settling in Venice, Nolan has a gift for playing cards. Entering a high-stakes game, Nolan meets a dangerous count. When the count puts up the virginity of his beautiful ward, Gianna Minotti, Nolan’s distaste is evident. When he wins the hand and Gianna, he whisks her away before the count changes his mind. Nolan doesn’t have time for a liaison so he grants her freedom. But she refuses to leave.
Gianna is desperate to escape the count’s clutches and Nolan Gray appears to be the only way out. She can’t lay all her cards on the table, not yet, no matter how much her body quivers with desire. Can Nolan and Gianna put aside their attraction long enough to garner her freedom or will their luck run out?
A fantastic, riveting historical romance! I loved the setting of Venice and it added a layer of seduction to the story. I got swept away in the dance Nolan and Gianna portrayed. The count is a conniving evil man and added depth to the story. Can’t wait to read more from Bronwyn Scott.
My Rating: 5+ stars
Reviewed by: Mrs. N
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/si...
Gianna is desperate to escape the count’s clutches and Nolan Gray appears to be the only way out. She can’t lay all her cards on the table, not yet, no matter how much her body quivers with desire. Can Nolan and Gianna put aside their attraction long enough to garner her freedom or will their luck run out?
A fantastic, riveting historical romance! I loved the setting of Venice and it added a layer of seduction to the story. I got swept away in the dance Nolan and Gianna portrayed. The count is a conniving evil man and added depth to the story. Can’t wait to read more from Bronwyn Scott.
My Rating: 5+ stars
Reviewed by: Mrs. N
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/si...
March 30, 2017
Es una historia entretenida, sin lugar a dudas la nota se la lleva Nolan. Es sin lugar a dudas un tipo que me ganó.
Gianna me exasperó el 95% del tiempo.
La sorpresa grata fue con el final, y Giovanni se robó mi corazón eso que apareció muy poco
Gianna me exasperó el 95% del tiempo.
La sorpresa grata fue con el final, y Giovanni se robó mi corazón eso que apareció muy poco
February 4, 2016
Good book with an exciting beginning that keeps the tension all the way through. Nolan has joined three friends on a "Grand Tour" of Europe. He is also escaping from a miserable family life. A few months later, Nolan is in Venice, doing what he does best - gambling. The game he is playing takes a strange twist when his opponent gambles away the virginity of his daughter. Though skeptical of the claim, he can't see leaving her to the mercies of the other men at the table. Knowing he can't leave her unprotected, he immediately takes her with him and leaves.
Gianna has been at the mercy of her stepfather for five years, ever since the death of her mother. She will gain her inheritance in a few weeks, an inheritance he is desperate to get his hands on. She knows his actions were another way of threatening her and was determined that he wouldn't see her fear. All she needs is to be able to stay with the Englishman for a few days while she gets her plans together. She doesn't expect the flare of attraction that threatens her plans to walk away from him.
I really liked Nolan. Although he thinks of himself as selfish, he is actually a really honorable man. He is suspicious of Gianna and her motives and worries that the attraction between them is an attempt to distract him. He quickly realizes that she is in serious trouble and is determined to help her, but first he has to get her to tell him the whole truth. I loved his intelligence and resourcefulness as he helps Gianna achieve her goal.
Gianna was also a strong and resourceful young woman. She is determined to lead a different life than her mother had, but to do so she has to get away from her stepfather. His threats against her grow worse the closer she comes to gaining her inheritance and being able to escape. Making sure that she can stay with Nolan is crucial to her plan, and she will do whatever she has to for it to happen. She's reluctant to trust him with the entire truth, and has some interesting ways of trying to distract him.
I liked the growing relationship between them. The chemistry between them is strong and draws them closer together, even though neither plans a long acquaintance. As they learn to trust each other, details of their pasts are shared. They find that their motivations are very similar, creating even more of a connection. Their feelings for each other deepen, but Gianna doesn't want to put Nolan at risk because of her troubles and tries to put distance between them. Nolan discovers a deepening sense of protectiveness, and a reluctance to part ways with her. I loved seeing them come together at the end.
The issue of Gianna's inheritance and her stepfather's pursuit of her was well done. Each layer that Gianna revealed ramped up the intensity of what they needed to do. From the retrieval of her mother's jewel case to the rescue of her brother, I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next. The final confrontation was great, with a twist at the end that I didn't see coming.
I loved the setting of Venice during Carnevale. The descriptions of the canals and the scenery were vivid, making me feel as though I was there. I could almost hear the music of the concert and see the ball as it was happening.
Gianna has been at the mercy of her stepfather for five years, ever since the death of her mother. She will gain her inheritance in a few weeks, an inheritance he is desperate to get his hands on. She knows his actions were another way of threatening her and was determined that he wouldn't see her fear. All she needs is to be able to stay with the Englishman for a few days while she gets her plans together. She doesn't expect the flare of attraction that threatens her plans to walk away from him.
I really liked Nolan. Although he thinks of himself as selfish, he is actually a really honorable man. He is suspicious of Gianna and her motives and worries that the attraction between them is an attempt to distract him. He quickly realizes that she is in serious trouble and is determined to help her, but first he has to get her to tell him the whole truth. I loved his intelligence and resourcefulness as he helps Gianna achieve her goal.
Gianna was also a strong and resourceful young woman. She is determined to lead a different life than her mother had, but to do so she has to get away from her stepfather. His threats against her grow worse the closer she comes to gaining her inheritance and being able to escape. Making sure that she can stay with Nolan is crucial to her plan, and she will do whatever she has to for it to happen. She's reluctant to trust him with the entire truth, and has some interesting ways of trying to distract him.
I liked the growing relationship between them. The chemistry between them is strong and draws them closer together, even though neither plans a long acquaintance. As they learn to trust each other, details of their pasts are shared. They find that their motivations are very similar, creating even more of a connection. Their feelings for each other deepen, but Gianna doesn't want to put Nolan at risk because of her troubles and tries to put distance between them. Nolan discovers a deepening sense of protectiveness, and a reluctance to part ways with her. I loved seeing them come together at the end.
The issue of Gianna's inheritance and her stepfather's pursuit of her was well done. Each layer that Gianna revealed ramped up the intensity of what they needed to do. From the retrieval of her mother's jewel case to the rescue of her brother, I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next. The final confrontation was great, with a twist at the end that I didn't see coming.
I loved the setting of Venice during Carnevale. The descriptions of the canals and the scenery were vivid, making me feel as though I was there. I could almost hear the music of the concert and see the ball as it was happening.
September 5, 2025
Nope. DNF @ p. 53. This book is NOT for me.
Chapter 1 we are introduced to these four 'outrageous rakes' who are raking it up so hard, so over the top, so much rakey japes and quips and running about getting into duels and running away from cuckolded husbands on horseback and jumping onto ships while reminiscing about all the crazy wild times they have had - I'm actually feeling embarrassed for the author. These guys are cringingly OTT rake material, it's just way too much and as a woman with both a working brain and vagina I automatically hated their guts.
The next chapter we meet our heroine, and within minutes of her being introduced to the hero she's shoved her hand in his trouser pocket and is millimeters away from grabbing his dick. Here is where I decided to nope out. She's too OTT slutty, he's too OTT rakey - not my thing sorry.
Chapter 1 we are introduced to these four 'outrageous rakes' who are raking it up so hard, so over the top, so much rakey japes and quips and running about getting into duels and running away from cuckolded husbands on horseback and jumping onto ships while reminiscing about all the crazy wild times they have had - I'm actually feeling embarrassed for the author. These guys are cringingly OTT rake material, it's just way too much and as a woman with both a working brain and vagina I automatically hated their guts.
The next chapter we meet our heroine, and within minutes of her being introduced to the hero she's shoved her hand in his trouser pocket and is millimeters away from grabbing his dick. Here is where I decided to nope out. She's too OTT slutty, he's too OTT rakey - not my thing sorry.
February 28, 2018
My main qualm with this series is that all the takes so far are not very.... rakish.
August 22, 2023
Me encantó. Se me hizo tan fresca la historia. Nunca he leído una novela con una historia parecida a esta
April 16, 2017
Nolan Gray is in a high-stakes card game when Count Minotti adds an unusual prize: his step-daughter's virginity. Nolan was victorious and now, unexpectedly, had a companion on his adventure in the Italian countryside.
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January 26, 2016"With its lively pace, lush backdrop, bit of mystery and simmering sensuality, Scott’s Rakes on Tour series captures readers’ attention. Though the premise is classic, there are enough twists and turns to make what’s old new and delight readers who are already hooked on the series, stirring their anticipation for another entertaining tale" (RT Book Reviews).
Miniseries: Rakes on Tour
Miniseries: Rakes on Tour
December 27, 2016
Es un libro muy cortito, que se lee en un suspiro. Con una historia de amor maravillosa, donde ambos protagonistas tendrán que aprender a confiar el uno en el otro, enmarcada en las calles de la maravillosa Venecia y sus canales, que harán la historia mucho más irresistible.
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February 14, 2016Miniseries: Rakes on Tour
January 6, 2024
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