Historical Romance Book Club discussion
Gaol/BOTM
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BOTM 1 - June 2020 - The Rake
This one doesn't really look like my cup of tea. I don't think I'll join this BOTM read, but might read the other one for June instead. (The Bride Price).
I will be joining in this read. My book arrived the other day.
I haven’t found a book written by Suzanne Enoch that I liked yet so I won’t be joining this BOTM.
I just got audiobook which is not my favorite format for romance but that’s what library had. I like the cover and I’m going to give it a try. If I like it enough I might even get the book.
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Wow that’s amazing that it works like Netflix. I just download it and my library is not there :(.
Finished the book in a little less than a day, I ended up really enjoying it! I had some reservations about the storyline, but I really liked the characters as well as most of the plot twists. The bickering and flirtations were well balanced and I really enjoyed that Tristan wasn’t another brooding, tough guy who has to make everything difficult. He knew what he wanted and he was openly honest with Georgiana, which I found refreshing because I don’t feel like most authors write their characters with those redeeming qualities. HOWEVER, the ending was disappointing. I wanted to read more about how the ton took to the drama and I wanted a wedding night scene. So much potential for a 5 star read, but the ending had to knock a star for me.
I’m on chapter 3 and I’m staring to like. Just like you said Mikayla it is intriguing that Tristan doesn’t seem like that brooding dark guy. I am looking forward to see this storyline unfold with him in it. Not looking forward to not having wedding night. Does it mean this is a clean romance? With cover like that I wouldn’t thing so.
Anyway Excited to see what happens next.
@Petra it certainly isn’t a clean romance but I was definitely hoping for more. I mean the cover screams sex, but my expectations were too high I think. I fully blame the cover LOL!
I also wanted to say that Chapter 13 gave me a good laugh! I can definitely appreciate the unexpected humor in a romance novel!
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This about where I am too. I agree that it’s nice Tristan is not a brooding sort. He seems to be a family-oriented hero, which I appreciate. I think it’s fun so far.
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The cover is great! It does give a good expectation for some hot scenes, haha.
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Chapters 1-9 I am happy to see that Georgiana has friends. I like it when there are friends to discuss stuff with in stories. Though the lessons that Georgiana is planning on ..."
I am not as far as this so am leaving your spoilers alone, but I agree that it’s nice Georgiana has friends. I like it when that’s included in a book.
I am intrigued by Tristan and Georgiana’s past and how that will affect how they get on now.
I just finished chapter 7 and what a fun it was. I love how Tristan is showing up here and confusing Georgiana little bit. (view spoiler)
I like this book, even though it is hard to believe some of the things that happen like (view spoiler)
Did I say I really really like Tristan? I do he surprises me.
@Petra right! I loved Tristan, he is so different from the usual brooding man we are used to!
I finished - it was all so much fun. At first it took my a little while to get through some unbelievable things like Georgina moving in. But once I suspended my belief it was a lot of fun. Especially that crazy scene towards the end (view spoiler)They were both such an adventurous characters. I very much enjoyed it.
Did anyone else laugh out loud at chapter 13?
I am enjoying this one so far. I’ve read through chapter 8. It’s not what I expected. I do think Georgiana is a little over the top with how far she’s willing to go to teach Tristan a lesson. I get that she’s broken by what he did to her, but why would she torture herself by getting so close to him if she’s really that upset? But I guess there wouldn’t be a book otherwise...LOLI’m wondering about the youngest brother who is only eight. Where is the mother? While he’s a charming addition to the story, I can’t help but think how little he is to be motherless. Did she die in childbirth? It’s a little odd that she hasn’t been mentioned, even in passing. I hope that gets cleared up.
I started this today, so far I like him more than her (even though I get he did something wicked which he shouldn't have - it's pretty obvious she was not against it at the time) . He seems to acknowledge his guilt and most of the time lets her take it out on him with little comment.
I first read this years ago, and have reread many times. I love this book. I love the whole series. Have you gotten to the part about the fans yet? The fans. Le sigh.
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What this story is doing so well is building the anticipation. It’s clever and I it continues to be through the end. Endings tend to let me down.
I am now on chapter 14. I think the scene (view spoiler). Am I the only one who is feeling bad for Amelia? I mean she is not the sharpest tool in the shed but she still does not deserve to have her heart broken.
Patti about brother’s mother. Don’t remember her being mentioned. But they do have two aunts to mother them. Although I don’t what it is with HR or maybe it’s all romance books but 90% of the time the parents are gone or dead. Yeah Ana there is definitely attraction between them even if they are trying to get over it.
And Tristan shows his promise worthy side by keeping his engagement with Amelia. I remember I had her in back my mind too feeling like how is Georgiana going to explain it to Amelia. Keep on reading.
Poppy wrote: "Did anyone else laugh out loud at chapter 13?"Absolutely! It was hilarious and unexpected.
I am almost done with the book and I just want to strike what I said above. Amelia is such a ... @#@!#$
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Haha, good to know. I still have a ways to go but was wondering about the Amelia aspect too.
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Glad you joined in Susan!
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Ha... I see what you mean now...that was funny
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Hi everyone!I am new here.I am gonna start reading this botm.It caught my interest.Hope to catch up soon!
I started a while ago and just finished but hadn't stopped by to type my thoughts over the past week.I am in the minority. I did not like Tristan or Georgiana. Like Jan, I guess this just wasn't my cup of tea. In addition to not liking the characters, I couldn't suspend my disbelief enough. The whole premise seemed ludicrous though that agreed with the lighthearted tone.
I agree with Patti's comments: I do think Georgiana is a little over the top with how far she’s willing to go to teach Tristan a lesson. I get that she’s broken by what he did to her, but why would she torture herself by getting so close to him if she’s really that upset?
The writing bumped it up one star. I have read and enjoyed other Suzanne Enoch books and would consider continuing the series, but this individual book was not for me.
I am on chapter 6...So far I am not super excited.Does anyone else find the writing poor?
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The premise is a bit convoluted so that doesn’t help in the writing. I listened to it which may have worked better to go with the flow.
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I am in the minority. I did not like Tristan or Georgiana. Like Jan, I guess this just wasn't ..."
I think the premise is the hardest part of it. It is wonky. This trope in general can be fun but also hard to convince me.
Enoch is a writer that I have enjoyed but never really loved. That’s where I am on this one, though I did like it more than most of hers.
I have just passed the chapter where they become intimate and I still find nothing so complicated about the premise.Just poor writing.No descriptions of the places,clothing,people and situations.Also kind of rushed and even the "steamy" scene was poor.She gave in way too easy I think.Also it is the first time I am reading a book where the writer only takes care of the hero's pleasure.
Not so enthusiastic about the book still
:(
Just finished this book and I have many thoughts!Tristan and Georgiana: (view spoiler).
Tristan's aunts: (view spoiler).
Amelia: (view spoiler)
Bit: (view spoiler)
Overall, I gave it 5 stars. Read it in one sitting and can't wait to continue the series. I hope I'm not the only one on this thread that did love it!
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Yea, I wouldn’t consider Enoch as a descriptive writer. She tries to show through interactions and situations, but that’s not going to be enough or work for everyone. Writers that stood out for me in describing the scenes are Gaelen Foley and Kerrigan Byrne. Have you tried either of them? Sometimes really descriptive writing can bog down a story for me and it doesn’t work as well when listening so the amount here was enough for me.
The first love scene didn’t stand out much other than it seemed more like Georgie choosing rather than giving in so rather equal terms. Did she not climax? I thought she did but there wasn’t an elaborate foreplay scene.
Patti wrote: "I am enjoying this one so far. I’ve read through chapter 8. It’s not what I expected. I do think Georgiana is a little over the top with how far she’s willing to go to teach Tristan a lesson. I get..."I agree with Georgianna being very over the top and it's starting to annoy me. I don't see her as a good person in this story at all, she comes across as very immature and uses others for her own entertainment.
I'm about halfway through and I feel as though the side characters really aren't getting their fair share of the story. I really love the aunts but I started this book thinking it was about all 3 of the girls teaching lessons however the friends barely appear and I also have many questions about the brothers. I think possibly there's too many characters and it could have done with being pared down if no detail was going to be given about them.
Amy wrote: "I have just passed the chapter where they become intimate and I still find nothing so complicated about the premise.Just poor writing.No descriptions of the places,clothing,people and situations...."
Definitely agree about the steamy scene. Felt very rushed and like it was just there to get it over with and have at least one scene in the book. I also don't enjoy the whole "can be rough because she's not a virgin" thing. Very lazy writing during that whole part I feel.
Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "Amy wrote: "I have just passed the chapter where they become intimate and I still find nothing so complicated about the premise.Just poor writing.No descriptions of the places,clothing,people and s..."Thanx for the suggestions!I will check them out!
Yeah apparently Enoch is not for me :( No she did not and the whole thing was more about him and boring :/ Poor poor poor :/
Darbella wrote: "Ashleigh, I thought Tristan's aunt were awesome:)"They were my favourite. Normally the aunts and elder family members in these type of books are just there to frown upon what the couple is doing or just be a buzzkill, but these two were great. I would love more of them in the future books haha.
Darbella wrote: "Amy and Alex, I hesitate to mention this since this one is has not been a good read for you two, but there is also a botm2 for the second most highest book that was nominated with the wager theme a..."Hi Darbella :) Yes I have noticed that,thank you though for bringing it into our attention,just in case we missed it.Kind of you :)
However I think I should not read anything bellow 4 stars :P Apparently I am quite difficult to be satisfied and whenever I try I get quite dissappointed.Maybe there will be a botm in the future to catch my interest.This for sure was not :( Thanx again :)
This book got me onto a little Enoch marathon so I have read the second and third book in the series. The Rake is the best of them but I got a good glimpse into Enoch’s writing style. She is not overly concerned about believability of her plot and yes wher writing style is simple. The intimate scenes were all rushed and in strange places but not bad.
I've just finished and I have to say despite some criticisms this was an enjoyable read. The characters grated on me in the middle but after (view spoiler) they seemed to grow and redeem themselves. I was glad for the plot twist (view spoiler)
I wish there was an epilogue at least, the ending felt a bit abrupt.
I really loved the aunts and that they actually had personality and were a bit cheeky. I wish some of the other side characters had more substance, there were so many it was hard to keep up with them all. I think I would have preferred if there were less off them and more detail added about the main ones. I can see how this was set up to be a series though. I'm not sure if I will continue with the series as I think the teaching a lesson storyline may just not be for me, as that was the main thing I disliked about this book.
I think this gets 3 stars from me. It was enjoyable to read and I did want to know what was going to happen. Really appreciate that the storyline wasn't completely obvious, just felt like there was something missing for me. I can't say I really cared about Tristan and Georgianna that much. There were some funny parts but I think there could have been more humour and then the unrealistic lesson teaching and moving in might have been more agreeable.
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I also went on the read the second in this series - the story plot seemed even more ridiculous in the second and I really did not like the heroine. To 'teach him a lesson' Even though I enjoyed the Rake I am not sure, on this basis, that I would read anymore Suzanne Enoch.
Historical Romance Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
The Rake (other topics)Authors mentioned in this topic
Gaelen Foley (other topics)Kerrigan Byrne (other topics)
Suzanne Enoch (other topics)
Happy Reading!
The Rake by Suzanne Enoch
Three determined young ladies vow to give three of London's worst rakes their comeuppance ― but when these rogues turn the tables, who truly learns a lesson in love?
Once upon a time, the notorious Viscount Dare charmed Lady Georgiana Halley out of her innocence ― to win a wager, no less! ― and now he must pay dearly. The plan is simple: She will use every seductive wile she knows to win Dare's heart...and then break it. But his smoldering gaze once again tempts Georgiana to give in to desire ― and when he astonishes her with a marriage proposal, she wonders: Is he playing yet another game...or could it truly be love this time?