What do you think?
Rate this book
The Reluctant Rake: The Reluctant Rake/How to Beguile a Baron
The Reluctant Rake
Proper, elegant Miss Julia Devere is shocked when she spies her fiancé in the arms of another woman. She awakens to the fact that the game of love can be played by very different rules than her own. And unless she can beat this new mistress at her own game, Julia stands to lose all that she suddenly realizes she wants.
How to Beguile a Baron
Miss Susan Wyndham's and Miss Marianne MacClain's debut at the first ball of the season is ruined when they realize they're wearing the same gown―and enamored of the same gentleman. Randal Kenyon, Baron Ellerton, is the most eligible lord in London. And far from making peace, he sparks a battle between the pair of dazzling young beauties who now want only him.
How to Beguile a Baron was previously published as The Irresolute Rivals.
Proper, elegant Miss Julia Devere is shocked when she spies her fiancé in the arms of another woman. She awakens to the fact that the game of love can be played by very different rules than her own. And unless she can beat this new mistress at her own game, Julia stands to lose all that she suddenly realizes she wants.
How to Beguile a Baron
Miss Susan Wyndham's and Miss Marianne MacClain's debut at the first ball of the season is ruined when they realize they're wearing the same gown―and enamored of the same gentleman. Randal Kenyon, Baron Ellerton, is the most eligible lord in London. And far from making peace, he sparks a battle between the pair of dazzling young beauties who now want only him.
How to Beguile a Baron was previously published as The Irresolute Rivals.
448 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published October 29, 2019
97 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
About the author
Jane Ashford
52 books401 followersJane Ashford has written historical and contemporary romances. Her books have been published in England, Spain, France, Italy, Sweden, Slovakia, Denmark, Russia, and Latvia, Croatia and Slovenia as well as the U.S. She was nominated for a Career Achievement Award by RT Book Reviews. Her latest book, Lost Time, is romantic suspense with a touch of magic.
Her website is https://www.janeashford.com/ and her Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/JaneAshfordW... If you'd like to subscribe to Jane's monthly newsletter go to www.eepurl.com/cd-O7r and sign up.
Her website is https://www.janeashford.com/ and her Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/JaneAshfordW... If you'd like to subscribe to Jane's monthly newsletter go to www.eepurl.com/cd-O7r and sign up.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 29, 2019
Two stories in one that had a feeling of going back in time to some of the older historical romance novels that hold a special place in my heart.
The Reluctant Rake was a story of things not always being what they appear.
As the story opens, our hero, Sir Richard goes into a shady part of town to a club masked and hopefully unknown. He bids on a young girl, who is supposedly an innocent, but finds out she wants to be a kept woman. Why does he do this?
Julia Devere, a most innocent debutante had led a very sheltered life. She was so excited to be marrying Sir Richard Beckwith, who was both handsome and wealthy. What more could she want? But then she overhears a conversation about her betrothed being at a club and bidding on a girl.
Surely this was not true?
That is when everything gets interesting and Julia became determined. What was Richard doing with the young girl and would he explain and be forgiven by Julia? A truly delightful tale that made me smile as I turned the pages.
How to Beguile a Baron
What happens when two young ladies making their debut in the new season are wearing the same dress? But worse than that they have set their sights on the exact same gentleman. Such a fun, charming story that only had me wanted to read more of these classics by this author! Superb!
The Reluctant Rake was a story of things not always being what they appear.
As the story opens, our hero, Sir Richard goes into a shady part of town to a club masked and hopefully unknown. He bids on a young girl, who is supposedly an innocent, but finds out she wants to be a kept woman. Why does he do this?
Julia Devere, a most innocent debutante had led a very sheltered life. She was so excited to be marrying Sir Richard Beckwith, who was both handsome and wealthy. What more could she want? But then she overhears a conversation about her betrothed being at a club and bidding on a girl.
Surely this was not true?
That is when everything gets interesting and Julia became determined. What was Richard doing with the young girl and would he explain and be forgiven by Julia? A truly delightful tale that made me smile as I turned the pages.
How to Beguile a Baron
What happens when two young ladies making their debut in the new season are wearing the same dress? But worse than that they have set their sights on the exact same gentleman. Such a fun, charming story that only had me wanted to read more of these classics by this author! Superb!
August 31, 2019
The Reluctant Rake
Jane Ashford
https://www.facebook.com/JaneAshfordW...
Release date 10/29/2019
Publisher Sourcebooks Casablanca
THE RELUCTANT RAKE
Blurb : Proper, elegant Miss Julia Devere is shocked when she spies her fiancé in the arms of another woman. She awakens to the fact that the game of love can be played by very different rules than her own. And unless she can beat this new mistress at her own game, Julia stands to lose all that she suddenly realizes she wants.
The Reluctant Rake was originally published as The Reluctant Rake in 1987.
My review :
Will London ton’s proprieties torn betrothed apart?
As this one book is a very earlier piece of work of Mrs Jane Ashford, the style and narrative are very different from what I have read from her.
This was more a comedy of manners than a romance.
This is a tale about the impact of Society rules on the weakest. It is a clash between reprobates, profligates, person of integrity, prudes and victims. The debauched in this story are the vilain but the prim and proper ‘s are quite judgmental and easily condemning other’s faults.
There is a double romance in this story, and I preferred Bess and Michael to the heroes Sir Richard and Miss Julia. Their so smooth life has never faced any dent, so they are easy to decide what is good or not, to dismiss others and have preconceived opinions and when faced with hardship, they deal badly with it. So afraid of the jaded eyes of the ton to act or react in time. While Bess decided to better her life, not the right way, but with the means she has, and what ever she had to face, she stands her ground while Michael will move heaven and earth to rescue her, and both accept the other with flaws and scars. They don’t let adversity bear on them, they fall down but go back up.
Despite the failing of some of the characters, it was a nice read.
Warning trigger : rape and attempted sexual assault.
4 stars
HOW TO BEGUILE A BARON
BLURB : Miss Susan Wyndham's and Miss Marianne MacClain's debut at the first ball of the season is ruined when they realize they're wearing the same gown—and enamored of the same gentleman. Randal Kenyon, Baron Ellerton, is the most eligible lord in London. And far from making peace, he sparks a battle between the pair of dazzling young beauties who now want only him.
How to Beguile a Baron was originally published as The Irresolute Rivals in 1985
My review:
A few moments in the life of some London Debutante.
If not for the many points of view, it is a kind of Cinderella tale, the poor relative being the companion of one of the two rivaling debutantes.
This tale too was a Human carnival extract, with aplenty of characters postulating for the main roles in the London’s society. The romance part is a bit more developed than in the previous novella.
Each character is well defined, they are with great precision portrayed with lot of details from the physical look to psychological traits.
The two debutantes Susan and Marianne running the show are strongly tempered creatures, one with more experience, understand the ins and outs of the London’s society when the second need first to check her temper as it tends to put her in trouble and label her at a harpy.
This is narrative with a selection of various personalities, Georgina the third woman, kind of played the game well, she is the one nobody sees, she is quiet and reserved but all is fair in love. By her kindness and cleverness she intrigued the one man she never thought she would.
I liked this witty foray in the London season, each characters enlightening a side of the rules and perspectives. The group they form is entertaining by their disparities.
A 4.5 stars read
I was granted an advance copy through Edelweiss by the publisher. Here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272...
Jane Ashford
https://www.facebook.com/JaneAshfordW...
Release date 10/29/2019
Publisher Sourcebooks Casablanca
THE RELUCTANT RAKE
Blurb : Proper, elegant Miss Julia Devere is shocked when she spies her fiancé in the arms of another woman. She awakens to the fact that the game of love can be played by very different rules than her own. And unless she can beat this new mistress at her own game, Julia stands to lose all that she suddenly realizes she wants.
The Reluctant Rake was originally published as The Reluctant Rake in 1987.
My review :
Will London ton’s proprieties torn betrothed apart?
As this one book is a very earlier piece of work of Mrs Jane Ashford, the style and narrative are very different from what I have read from her.
This was more a comedy of manners than a romance.
This is a tale about the impact of Society rules on the weakest. It is a clash between reprobates, profligates, person of integrity, prudes and victims. The debauched in this story are the vilain but the prim and proper ‘s are quite judgmental and easily condemning other’s faults.
There is a double romance in this story, and I preferred Bess and Michael to the heroes Sir Richard and Miss Julia. Their so smooth life has never faced any dent, so they are easy to decide what is good or not, to dismiss others and have preconceived opinions and when faced with hardship, they deal badly with it. So afraid of the jaded eyes of the ton to act or react in time. While Bess decided to better her life, not the right way, but with the means she has, and what ever she had to face, she stands her ground while Michael will move heaven and earth to rescue her, and both accept the other with flaws and scars. They don’t let adversity bear on them, they fall down but go back up.
Despite the failing of some of the characters, it was a nice read.
Warning trigger : rape and attempted sexual assault.
4 stars
HOW TO BEGUILE A BARON
BLURB : Miss Susan Wyndham's and Miss Marianne MacClain's debut at the first ball of the season is ruined when they realize they're wearing the same gown—and enamored of the same gentleman. Randal Kenyon, Baron Ellerton, is the most eligible lord in London. And far from making peace, he sparks a battle between the pair of dazzling young beauties who now want only him.
How to Beguile a Baron was originally published as The Irresolute Rivals in 1985
My review:
A few moments in the life of some London Debutante.
If not for the many points of view, it is a kind of Cinderella tale, the poor relative being the companion of one of the two rivaling debutantes.
This tale too was a Human carnival extract, with aplenty of characters postulating for the main roles in the London’s society. The romance part is a bit more developed than in the previous novella.
Each character is well defined, they are with great precision portrayed with lot of details from the physical look to psychological traits.
The two debutantes Susan and Marianne running the show are strongly tempered creatures, one with more experience, understand the ins and outs of the London’s society when the second need first to check her temper as it tends to put her in trouble and label her at a harpy.
This is narrative with a selection of various personalities, Georgina the third woman, kind of played the game well, she is the one nobody sees, she is quiet and reserved but all is fair in love. By her kindness and cleverness she intrigued the one man she never thought she would.
I liked this witty foray in the London season, each characters enlightening a side of the rules and perspectives. The group they form is entertaining by their disparities.
A 4.5 stars read
I was granted an advance copy through Edelweiss by the publisher. Here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272...
January 15, 2020
Two stories in one....the reluctant rake & how to beguile a baron....
The writing...is good. Typical romance which I always find light and enjoyable. This one is no different. Very well written.
My only critique is this....do you ever read a back cover on a paperback, begin to read and then think...ah, who is supposed to be the main character in this story AND why are we so sidetracked with other story lines and romantic flirtations? Is it just me, the reader? Hmm, maybe. I felt slightly misled here, especially with 'How to beguile a baron'. Aren't there two young ladies who are after the handsome, wealthy baron? But once I began reading, it didn't seem like 'the baron' himself was in it until we were nearing the end. Oh yes, we spotted him across a crowded ballroom. He threw a few cavalier and charming sentences out here and there....but...i thought the story was supposed to focus on two ladies chasing him....AND he wasn't really chased...oh well. It was still a charming story. (very PG as well for those readers who do not enjoy explicit bedroom scenes)
I will read more of Jane Ashford.
The writing...is good. Typical romance which I always find light and enjoyable. This one is no different. Very well written.
My only critique is this....do you ever read a back cover on a paperback, begin to read and then think...ah, who is supposed to be the main character in this story AND why are we so sidetracked with other story lines and romantic flirtations? Is it just me, the reader? Hmm, maybe. I felt slightly misled here, especially with 'How to beguile a baron'. Aren't there two young ladies who are after the handsome, wealthy baron? But once I began reading, it didn't seem like 'the baron' himself was in it until we were nearing the end. Oh yes, we spotted him across a crowded ballroom. He threw a few cavalier and charming sentences out here and there....but...i thought the story was supposed to focus on two ladies chasing him....AND he wasn't really chased...oh well. It was still a charming story. (very PG as well for those readers who do not enjoy explicit bedroom scenes)
I will read more of Jane Ashford.
September 1, 2023
The first book, The Reluctant Rake, was very good. It took the story of a holier-than-thou couple and turned them human. The villain was truly villainous, and I suspect was more dastardly than mentioned, but the ending was a true HEA.
The second book, How to Beguile a Baron, has been renamed from I don't remember what, but definitely more appropriately. The book references the hero of The Reluctant Rake and brings back Tony and Growser from The Last Gentleman Standing. (I'm not sure of the time gap between The Last Gentleman Standing and this book, only that Growser is now significantly older but Tony almost the same age.) The first half of the book was horrendous. I imagined having the audacity to slap around Susan, as she was such a spoiled brat. But the last half of the book focused more on Marianne and Georgina, and Susan was allowed to become more human and less self-involved, which allowed for the HEAs. The synopsis makes you think Susan is a primary character, but the book primarily focuses on Georgina with Marianne being secondary and Susan tertiary. It took a lot of patience before the book became bearable, but in the end I liked it.
The second book, How to Beguile a Baron, has been renamed from I don't remember what, but definitely more appropriately. The book references the hero of The Reluctant Rake and brings back Tony and Growser from The Last Gentleman Standing. (I'm not sure of the time gap between The Last Gentleman Standing and this book, only that Growser is now significantly older but Tony almost the same age.) The first half of the book was horrendous. I imagined having the audacity to slap around Susan, as she was such a spoiled brat. But the last half of the book focused more on Marianne and Georgina, and Susan was allowed to become more human and less self-involved, which allowed for the HEAs. The synopsis makes you think Susan is a primary character, but the book primarily focuses on Georgina with Marianne being secondary and Susan tertiary. It took a lot of patience before the book became bearable, but in the end I liked it.
June 25, 2024
It’s honestly hard to believe that these two novels are by the same Jane Ashford whose more recent work I’ve read this year (The Way to a Lord’s Heart, series which begins with Brave New Earl).
These were easily a cut above that series (which I somewhat enjoyed), with characters which felt more true to life (and the period they were set in).
Originally published in 1987 and 1985, respectively, both The Reluctant Rake and How to Beguile a Baron (originally The Irresolute Rivals) are among some of the best novels I’ve read in this genre.
Maybe it’s the small glimpses into below-stairs life in The Reluctant Rake, or perhaps it’s the exceptionally witty dialogue and tight plotting for How to Beguile a Baron but both of these novels captivated me from start to finish in a way Ashford’s other novels just haven’t.
I’ll be looking to read more of her earlier publications hoping for the same.
These were easily a cut above that series (which I somewhat enjoyed), with characters which felt more true to life (and the period they were set in).
Originally published in 1987 and 1985, respectively, both The Reluctant Rake and How to Beguile a Baron (originally The Irresolute Rivals) are among some of the best novels I’ve read in this genre.
Maybe it’s the small glimpses into below-stairs life in The Reluctant Rake, or perhaps it’s the exceptionally witty dialogue and tight plotting for How to Beguile a Baron but both of these novels captivated me from start to finish in a way Ashford’s other novels just haven’t.
I’ll be looking to read more of her earlier publications hoping for the same.
March 24, 2021
There are two novels in this volume. Sourcebooks has reprinted two Regency romances of Jane Ashford previously published by Signet. The Reluctant Rake seems dated even by Regency standards. We have two women kidnapped by a dastardly, lecherous villain who must be dealt with by the two heroes.
In How to Beguile a Baron, we have three interesting women. Georgina receives the unpleasant task of bringing Susan out into society. Georgina is "on the shelf." She is 29 and bookish. Susan is a redhead possessed of a fearsome temper, spoiled and selfish. She gets herself into considerable mischief. Marianne is in her second season and meets up with the other two women. Romantic involvements are interesting and so is the Baron who is eventually beguiled. I would recommend this novel for an enjoyable read.
In How to Beguile a Baron, we have three interesting women. Georgina receives the unpleasant task of bringing Susan out into society. Georgina is "on the shelf." She is 29 and bookish. Susan is a redhead possessed of a fearsome temper, spoiled and selfish. She gets herself into considerable mischief. Marianne is in her second season and meets up with the other two women. Romantic involvements are interesting and so is the Baron who is eventually beguiled. I would recommend this novel for an enjoyable read.
November 25, 2019
Reprinted older tales, but still good reads. (Where can I get a cat just like Daisy?)
April 1, 2020
Just a quick read. Nothing special, was pretty good for something frivolous to read.
April 2, 2020
Very hard to finish this. The stories were underdeveloped and just not believable.
September 11, 2022
I was quite confused with the titles, summaries and storylines. The second story (how to beguile a baron) is much better than the reluctant rake.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews