What do you think?
Rate this book
The Reluctant Rake
Secretly longing for Sir Valerian Underwood, the ton's most notorious scoundrel, prim and proper Miss Althea Bronson is stunned when Val asks for her help in keeping his innocent young cousin Abigail from harm, an unlikely partnership that leads to undeniable passion. Original.
256 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2003
About the author
Jeanne Savery
53 books18 followersJeanne Savery has lived and travelled in Great Britain with her spouse, an American Professor of British Politics. An American herself, she is descended from the English (via her father) and the Scots (via her mother).
She first read the Regency Romances of Georgette Heyer while living in Sidcup, Kent. She reread them while living in Whitstable, Kent. The dialogue was charming, but the detail was forbidding: No mistakes! That's the watchword.
For library research, she amassed (and read) a library of diaries, letters, memoirs, yearbooks, etc., from the era. For field research, she (and her spouse) repeatedly crisscrossed the island of Great Britain. Their two daughters fondly recall a family jaunt (with bed and breakfast) in August, 1973: London to Pembroke to Chester to Carlisle to Stirling to Edinburgh to Hawick ... to London.
She published her first Regency Romance in 1991. Since then, she has published more numerous novels and novellas.
She has received the Reader's Choice Award and been awarded the Holt Medallion. She is a member of Novelists, Inc. and Romance Writers of America.
She first read the Regency Romances of Georgette Heyer while living in Sidcup, Kent. She reread them while living in Whitstable, Kent. The dialogue was charming, but the detail was forbidding: No mistakes! That's the watchword.
For library research, she amassed (and read) a library of diaries, letters, memoirs, yearbooks, etc., from the era. For field research, she (and her spouse) repeatedly crisscrossed the island of Great Britain. Their two daughters fondly recall a family jaunt (with bed and breakfast) in August, 1973: London to Pembroke to Chester to Carlisle to Stirling to Edinburgh to Hawick ... to London.
She published her first Regency Romance in 1991. Since then, she has published more numerous novels and novellas.
She has received the Reader's Choice Award and been awarded the Holt Medallion. She is a member of Novelists, Inc. and Romance Writers of America.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 23, 2022
This book drove me bonkers. The beginning felt very much about Sir Val's cousin as opposed to Althea. The book seems like a sequel but I couldn't figure out what the first book was. Considering I didn't care for the character of Clair, I almost gave up on reading this. Basically, a man shows up in town claiming to be Clair's husband's heir presumptive and starts to create problems (this is all explained in the beginning of the book). Clair refuses to believe that this man is bad, even though it's pretty obvious, and Sir Val asks Althea to help to protect Clair.
Sir Val is a reformed rake and very much in love with Althea. I don't like rakes in general but, since he's already reformed in the beginning of the story, I was able to enjoy him for the good man he's become. I understand why Althea was reluctant to be in a relationship with him. However, her protestations continue until the very end of the book, after Sir Val had proved himself over and over again. The book should have been called The Reluctant Lady. Most of the book is about these issues with the heir presumptive which, once again, were exacerbated by Clair continuing association with him as well as Althea's rejection of Sir Val. Sir Val and Althea spend more time with each other and Sir Val is unwavering in his love for her. It's one of those rare occasions when I thought the h was not good enough for the H (I find that it's usually the other way around). I also thought the ending and the way Althea finally "changes her mind" were pretty disappointing.
Jeanne Savery is usually at least 3 stars for me but this one was just too frustrating and annoying for me.
Sir Val is a reformed rake and very much in love with Althea. I don't like rakes in general but, since he's already reformed in the beginning of the story, I was able to enjoy him for the good man he's become. I understand why Althea was reluctant to be in a relationship with him. However, her protestations continue until the very end of the book, after Sir Val had proved himself over and over again. The book should have been called The Reluctant Lady. Most of the book is about these issues with the heir presumptive which, once again, were exacerbated by Clair continuing association with him as well as Althea's rejection of Sir Val. Sir Val and Althea spend more time with each other and Sir Val is unwavering in his love for her. It's one of those rare occasions when I thought the h was not good enough for the H (I find that it's usually the other way around). I also thought the ending and the way Althea finally "changes her mind" were pretty disappointing.
Jeanne Savery is usually at least 3 stars for me but this one was just too frustrating and annoying for me.
August 11, 2019
It has been a while since I have read a Regency romance, and I was not disappointed in this one. The rake has cared for the sweet, Miss Althea Bronsen ever since they shared a kiss--- years ago. Though he pledges his love for her, she is unconvinced. Val does not give up , using the threat to one of her friends as a way to insinuate himself into her daily life.Mild mystery, but a cute story.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews