Cold-Hearted Rake (The Ravenels, #1) in 2-3-4 Challenge

Apr 07, 2022 Jonetta rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 3500-2022, audiobook, historical-romance, 2022-audiobook-challenge, group-read, 2022-beat-the-backlist-challenge, 2022-library-love-challenge

Devon Ravenel is enjoying the aimless life of the entitled aristocracy until he inherits an earldom after his cousin Theo dies from an accidental fall. What also comes with that new title are Theo’s three unmarried sisters, his widow Kathleen and an estate burdened with debt and neglect. Even more incredible is that Kathleen and Theo had only been married three days. Devon is ready to sell Eversby Priory, the ancestral family home the sisters have lived in their entire life, but he’s finding it ...more

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Apr 09, 2016 Angela rated it liked it

Shelves: historical-romance

I do love historical romance and while I thought this book was a fun read, the latter quarter was taken up with setting up the next book. Given that the next book seemed like it would be more entertaining than this instalment I think it detracted from this book. Thus making me less interested in Devon and Kathleen. It made any scenes they had pale in comparison to what was occurring with Helen.

I am looking forward to the next book in the series Marrying Mr Winterbourne.

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Feb 06, 2015 Lauren rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: pregnancy, reformed-rake, virgin-heroines, love-hate-relationship, historical-romance, widow-widower, twins, epistolary

Cold-Hearted Rake
4 Stars

When a distant cousin falls to his death days after his marriage, Devon Ravenel is saddled not only with an Earldom he has not desire to hold, but an estate riddled with debt, three young cousins and a beautiful widow to boot. Lady Kathleen Treaner takes an instant dislike to the new Earl, but finds it virtually impossible to resist his rakish charm and the devastating way he makes her feel. Can these two opposites find any common ground for the sake of those who need the Cold-Hearted Rake
4 Stars

When a distant cousin falls to his death days after his marriage, Devon Ravenel is saddled not only with an Earldom he has not desire to hold, but an estate riddled with debt, three young cousins and a beautiful widow to boot. Lady Kathleen Treaner takes an instant dislike to the new Earl, but finds it virtually impossible to resist his rakish charm and the devastating way he makes her feel. Can these two opposites find any common ground for the sake of those who need them?

Learning that Lisa Kleypas was returning to her tried and true genre of historical romance was one of the highlights of my reading year and on the whole, she does not disappoint.

Her writing is as smooth and engaging as ever, and Kathleen and Devon’s love/hate relationship is entertaining despite their bickering and minor angst.

The secondary characters are fleshed out well, especially Devon’s brother West and the Ravenel cousins. The twins are particularly charming, and the introduction to Helen and Rhy’s romance is excellent and has me eager to read their story - I love a good tortured hero and Rhys is shaping into one of the best.

Now for the problems, which although minor, do detract somewhat from the story.

First is the fact that Kathleen and Devon’s characters are woefully underdeveloped. Their personal back stories are virtually non-existent and this is particularly lacking when one takes their interactions into account. Much could have been explained with some details about their childhood years.

Second is a glaring factual error that could have been easily remedied with a little research, i.e., the fact that (view spoiler). Perhaps it is the teacher in me, but it is extremely annoying when an author makes an error of this type.

Nevertheless, it was well worth the wait for Kleypas’s return to the genre and the next book can’t come soon enough. ...more

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May 16, 2016 Mary rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: country-small-town, book-digital, lisa-kleypas, historical-romance

Es el año 1875, Devon Ravenel y su hermano West se acaban de enterar que son los últimos Ravenel de la familia que quedan, su primo Theo acaba de morir dejándole a Devon como herencia Eversby Priory, la gran mansión de Hampshire plagada de deudas y la gente que vive en sus tierras que ahora dependen de él. Como si todo esto fuera poco en la casa viven Helen, Cassandra y Pandora Ravenel, las hermanas de Theo ahora bajo la tutela del nuevo Lord Trenear, aka Devon, y la viuda del difunto Theo,

Es el año 1875, Devon Ravenel y su hermano West se acaban de enterar que son los últimos Ravenel de la familia que quedan, su primo Theo acaba de morir dejándole a Devon como herencia Eversby Priory, la gran mansión de Hampshire plagada de deudas y la gente que vive en sus tierras que ahora dependen de él. Como si todo esto fuera poco en la casa viven Helen, Cassandra y Pandora Ravenel, las hermanas de Theo ahora bajo la tutela del nuevo Lord Trenear, aka Devon, y la viuda del difunto Theo, Kathleen. Las responsabilidades nunca han sido el fuerte de Devon y West pero al ver el estado de la casa, las condiciones de vida de los habitantes y el campo no hace más que incrementar el odio que ya sentían hacia Theo; pero extrañamente éste nuevo lugar en Hampshire y la gente que habita allí les da a ambos hermanos el motivo que necesitaban para encontrar su lugar en el mundo.

Hay muchos personajes y cada uno tiene su parte en la historia y narración, me gustó que Devon tenga Devon que hacerse cargo de un montón de personas, obligaciones y negocios en un abrir y cerrar de ojos, al principio por obligación, pero luego se da cuenta que no hay nada más que el quiera en la vida que restaurar Eversby Priory. Bueno, nada más excepto Kathleen. La historia romántica entre Devon y Kathleen tal vez se pierde un poco entre medio de tantos personajes, tantas deudas y problemas pero está y es fiel al estilo romántico de Kleypas.

Dentro de la maraña de personajes las mellizas Cassandra y Pandora son muy graciosas e infinitamente entretenidas, nunca hay un momento aburrido cuando ellas están presentes. Creo que mi favorita en Helen, no solo por si mi tocaya de nombre sino por su carácter y por ser la más menospreciada de las hermanas (tengo un punto débil con ese tipo de personas). Una de la historia principales a la para de la de Devon y Kathleen es la Winterbone y Helen lo que me lleva a decir que quiero leer el siguiente libro ya!!!!! Me gustó Rhys, no creo que sea tan frío como parece ser al final y quiero saber cómo se va a arreglar ese malentendido entre ellos y que va a pasar con el compromiso (el nombre de siguiente libro ya es spoiler suficiente).

El inicio de lo que parece será una nueva serie, personajes y material para desarrollar historias hay para rato. Muy divertida,graciosa y plagada de lindos mensajes y hermosos momentos: tal vez no tan romántico como otros libros de Kleypas pero igual de divertido y entretenido como siempre. ...more

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Sep 21, 2015 Charlene rated it liked it

Shelves: historical-romance, romance-erotic, audio, scribd

While this was a very well-done historical, I just didn't feel the connection between Devon and Kathleen. I'm very curious about Helen and Winterborne though, so will be very interested in the next book.

3.5 stars ...more

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Nov 05, 2016 Mary rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: country-small-town, book-papel, lisa-kleypas, historical-romance

Y en español en mi propia biblioteca......
Reseña Original ...more

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Sep 30, 2015 Jo Ann rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2016-read, library-loan

*4.5* I adored this story!! Very few can craft a historical romance like Ms Kleypas - the fully formed characters, small details that render each scene in living color, and the AMAZING dialogue. I fell in love with EVERY character! Picture Oprah shouting and pointing "And you need a book!, And you need a book!, And you need a book!..."
I took off half a star because I wanted more time with Devon and Kathleen...but time with the other characters was so enjoyable I feel like I'm nitpicking. Hell, ...more

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