Rake's Ransom

by Barbara Metzger

Madcap heiress Jacelyn Trevain's accidental kidnapping of the impecunious Lord Leigh Claibourne leads to their betrothal, but their growing love is threatened by his slave-trading uncle, drunken cousin, a fire, a litter of puppies, and two more kidnappings

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Regency, Historical, Fiction, Traditional Regency, Historical Fiction

366 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1989

About the author

Barbara Metzger is the author of over three dozen books and a dozen novellas. She has also been an editor, a proof-reader, a greeting card verse-writer, and an artist. When not painting, writing romances or reading them, she volunteers at the local library, gardens and goes beach-combing and yard-saling.

Her novels, mostly set in Regency-era England, have won numerous awards, including the Romance Writers of America RITA, the National Reader's Choice Award, and the Madcap award for humor in romance writing. In addition, Barbara has won two Career Achievement Awards from Romantic Times Magazine.

Source: http://www.barbarametzger.com/about_b...

Reviews

[Kathy * Bookworm Nation · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not sure why I liked this one as much as I did. I admit to skimming over a few sections that were a tad boring, I don’t like things to be overly detailed. But, the overall story was quite fun. Jacelyn and Clairborne have a fun relationship. Their first meeting was fun, she accidently kidnaps him and holds him in exchange for her beloved dog who is being held by the local Squire.

Jacelyn was an endearing character. She is only seventeen and I think with time she would mature nicely. She is pretty careless of the social standards and restrictions. She loves life and is a good friend. I loved how she treated those around her and her love for animals. She is crazy about Clairbrone, and is firm in not marrying him unless he truly loves her. You know from the beginning that he is crazy about her. I loved how he wanted her to have a season and didn't want to rush her into marriage, even though he desperately wants to marry her. He wants her to come to him willingly, not because they are forced to marry.

Clairborne was rather likable. He is considered a rake, but I never really got that feeling from him. Maybe since he falls for Jacelyn and is totally loyal to her from the get go. He is on the poor side, despite his title and feels insecure about marrying her for her money. He is so accepting of Jacelyn and her mad schemes, it was fun to see how he cares for her and helps her experience new things without treating her like a child. I admit I had to do a little age editing (she is seventeen, and he is thirty-two), by todays standards that would be pretty gross. Considering the time though, it was probably pretty accurate. Most girls seemed to have their first season and be married around seventeen so it didn’t really bother me that much.

I loved their relationship and thought they were perfect for each other. While they do everything together, I would have liked a bit more conversations between them or maybe had a little more from his POV. I don’t know, I just liked it and would totally re-read it.

Content
Romance: Pretty clean. The night they meet he kisses her to punish her for kidnapping him. His hands wonder a bit. Then its super clean until almost the end when there is a make-out scene that is a bit steamy. He undoes her dress and fondles her a bit. To be honest, it seemed totally out of place and didn’t match the tone of the novel. Not sure why it was put in, it would have matched their courtship a lot better if they had just kissed. Nothing else happens and aside from those two mild scenes its clean.
Language: Mild.

[Mela · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars because it was the best of Metzger I have read so far. And, I stress it out: it isn't comparable to my 5-stars for Georgette Heyer.

Yes, one can see it as a patchwork of Heyer's ideas. Sometimes I almost felt like I was reading e.g. 'The Grand Sophy' variation. So, if you grudge such kind of copying - you aren't going to like it much. But I don't mind. If an author does it well, I can enjoy it. Besides, let's face it, the whole Regency romance genre is quite repetitive.

To me, it was funny, engaging, sometimes even swooning.

I totally sympathized with Jacelyn regarding a hunting. I am so much against it like she was. Her tricks were quite gripping. I have had a great time reading about a kidnapping, going to Flo, meeting Percy, and don't even ask me about a few last actions. I burst out loud when puppies appeared and when Jacelyn gave Leigh laudanum and reading about all those Percy's attempts...

This book reminded me sometimes a good adventure novel, sometimes a hilarious comedy.

The main characters were one of my favorite types. A headstrong, smart yet a bit naive (considering some aspects) heroine and a strong, wise hero (a bit rake). There were also good chosen supporting characters, especially Squire, Arthur, Percy, Flora, Priscilla.

I was positively surprised how smartly Metzger put here so many aspects of Regency times like manners, Almack's, balls, London's architecture, museum etc., politics, customs, literature.

I liked also that despite initial small misunderstandings Jacelyn and Leigh came quickly to understandings every time (except whether they loved each other). You can tell: they talked and when anger pasted they apologized. It is rather rare in such kind of novels.

So, again, don't read it after one of Heyer's romances. This way, you have a chance to really enjoy it.

[Nabilah · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Not a bad book, but the story dragged at certain places. It just went on a bit too long. Classic BM (with the signature humour and comedy of errors).

[Grace*dnfing books since 2022* · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ai...to be completely honest, Barbara Metzger is not my favorite regency romance author, and the reason I do sometimes read her books is because (1) there are a ton of them, (2) there's humor -- this is super important for me, and (3) they're consistent...in the sense that they're pretty much all the same.

That said, this is not one of her best. Obviously this is one of her earlier books, but it's pretty crappy. Her stories normally have two types of protagonists:

(1) Madcap tomboyish girl and older, experienced, rakish man. Generally speaking, the tomboyish girl is super-duper endearing to the man and is seen as "cute" by him and he wants to protect her. That was the topic of this book and another one in which the girl has to sell her hair in order to bring her sister to the ton.

(2) Impulsive man who is somewhat impatient and roars a lot (picture a guy whose bark is worse than his bite) and an older, more mature, sensible lady who always seems to make him appear like an idiot. This was seen in Wedded Bliss, and I think Ace of Hearts or one of the books in those categories.

Anyway, although her books fall in these two categories or somewhere in between, they do while away a good rainy afternoon with plenty of laughs. This book fell well below her usual standard.


It started out pretty cute -- this madcap girl is against fox-hunting and always tries to ruin it for her neighbor the Squire. Her last foible resulted in him having the magistrate lock up her dog at the county jail or some equivalent thereof. Because he did so, she wants to retaliate -- by kidnapping his heir and nephew (this annoying chubby guy she used to despise) and holding him for ransom for her dog. It all goes according to plan until the person she kidnaps is the rake in question, a friend of the nephew, who's heir to some title but incredibly impoverished, with an infamous family history, and just back from the wars.

He was riding alone when taken off the main trail with some sob story about a sick grandfather, and then held at gunpoint. At no point is he terribly concerned for his danger -- and rightly so, since he sees the "grandfather" cleaning his rifle (obviously unloaded) and proceed to cleaning the main girl's gun (also obviously unloaded). So he humorously goes along with writing the ransom note, since he's so filled with ennui at life (even though apparently that doesn't stop him from raking around town).

By the time the Squire gets around to tending to the note, (he's realized she doesn't have his nephew since his chubbiness is sitting next to him at dinner) they all go tearing off into the night thinking the poor girl is ensconced in some cabin hidey-hole with the biggest rake of all time, and they get there in time to see him inducing her to a compromising kiss. So of course she's "ruined" and must get married to him, and he comes up with this scheme that they'll all go to town, she gets presented as his fiancee, and at the end of the Season, she can cry off (since he'll be raking up the wazoo and creating sufficient scandal for her), and they all end up happily by themselves ever after. But of course, he already has determined to keep her, and she kind of likes him already.

Very typical humorous historical fiction stuff. This far into the book, everything's cute and fun. Three stars. But THEN, the whole plot goes to hell and back and to hell again. Why? Because the story drags and drags and drags. There are endless accounts of her getting "ideas" and putting them into practice and him either indulging her or forbidding her to do stuff or whatever. The point is, there are just endless episodes that felt less like a story developing but more like bullet-point examples. Sort of like:

Schemes to Show Heroine is Not Tamed by Society
- Wanting to stand on her horse like the people at the circus
- Wanting to stop the cock-fight/dog-fight race

Actually, I can't remember all the examples, but it was the one with the standing on the horse that just ended with me rolling my eyes and thinking, "Oh my gosh, can the author be seriously dragging out the story like this?" Seriously, it felt as though the author was trying to pump up this story so that it met some sort of page requirement because it all felt so extrinsic to the storyline that it was ridiculous. It was ridiculous that she was super hoydenish and so "loved" by society, because c'mon, as large as her dowry was, she wasn't some well-born chit. It was ridiculous that she would denigrate fox-hunting (to fox-hunt-mad gentlemen!!) and still be adored by them. Her endless "matchmaking" (which was not matchmaking as much as it was saying aloud that these two people should be together) was ridiculous and the endless number of people that kept cropping up and getting involved in the plot was ridiculous. It was as though the author didn't know exactly how the story was going to turn out and then kept adding more and more convoluted elements and thinking, "Oh, how about a poor duke's grandniece who's cowed by her beautiful stepmom?" and "Oh, how about bringing in some Bluestockings??" and "Oh, how about developing said Bluestockings further by making the mannish one dance really well and the attractive one hate to dance?" And so on and so forth. THERE was NO POINT TO all these extra people who seriously did nothing for the story. I mean, the author's prose is interesting and engaging (and that's why I kept reading) and to be honest, I wasn't all that invested in the main girl's romance.

Oh, and another thing, the guy's rakishness and poverty. WTH. He's supposed to be a huge rake, and you never see any evidence of this. Sure, he meets the girl at the beginning and likes her right off the bat, but shouldn't some of his past acquaintances come floating out of the dark? Or maybe they did (I don't know, a lot of this author's books float together in my head). But how was it he was such a hardcore rake with no money? And how was it he kept coming up with money to escort her everywhere? I know that he kept to keep putting his prize horse to stud for money and would appear with crappy workhorses but he kept coming up with gifts and jewels for her. Maybe it was because at the end of the book, I just wanted it to be over.

[Zahara Cerise cares about alien existential angst · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last four paragraphs ~ funniest, sweetest ending!

[Desi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unlikely naive, slightly childish heroine, pleasant romps and ruckus ensue. Benign clumsy villains with weak motivations. Definitely a go with the flow, don't think on it too hard, book with a laugh here and there.

[Katja · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had started reading this and wandered off at about chapter ten and it took me months to get back to it. I didn't mean to DNF, I just felt like reading something else. It's got amusing bits but the FMC seems very young and naive, and I think the less of the MMC for falling for a child.

[_inbetween_ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Torture. Metzger steals Heyer's ideas (like countless other published authors, I have to ad, none ever pursued) and then systematically bludgeons and flattens that smart, witty romance into nothingness.
Twice as long as her usual books, just as haphazard and staccato, even more so than Beaton's, the novel seems to go on and on and on until it takes days to read just because it's so dreary.
The couple meet, an hour later they kiss, and then nothing ever changes or develops! They do not get to know each other, they do not grow or or or ANYTHING. The one time he starts groping her private parts towards the end I hardly noticed because it was so out of it, the whole book completely unsensual. Him being so much older doesn't work, just like his tan or his rakeness. Freddy was an "unintelligent dandy" and Heyer made us see him as resourceful and appealing as he grew and they fell in love. Here the girl is super-young, but of course super bright and super duper and small and brown but of course super figure and everyone wants her and she saves animals and makes marriages like Arabella and other novels were thrown in and meets his mistress as is done in modern regency romances only NOTHING ever actually happens, it's all a house-fire in one half page, a kidnapping in another half page, and punchlines that are only recognisable because they are offset from the paragraph before.
I was rooting for the fat foxhunting squire and the ugly idiot Percy in the end, but they don't have any screentime or three-dimensionality either. I felt sick and bored.

[Wendy Sparrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heroine is a hoyden who has pushed the local squire too far. He arrests and jails her dog. She kidnaps and holds his nephew for ransom…only it’s not his nephew. To save her reputation, she and the rake she kidnapped become engaged and go to London for her to experience a season. Unfortunately, some of his relatives decide to knock him off before he can provide his fiancée with an heir. I swear I read this when I was younger. It’s really sweet and funny.

[Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted at: http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.c...


One of the reasons I love Regency novels so much is they’re a fun and sometimes humorous read.

Despite this story having situations I’d seen before, it held my interest from start to finish. One reason for that was the heroine. It’s always fun to hear about the lead character through someone else’s viewpoint before you get to ‘meet’ them and I think that’s what worked so well with this story. She wasn’t your usual Regency young lady and her interaction with everyone along with her antics made for a humorous read.

I enjoyed the witty banter which is a must for this sub-genre and the many cast of characters that appeared throughout the story. The pacing was good and the author conveyed a good sense of this period in British history including some of the eccentric characters who frequent the pages of a Regency novel.

I’ll be looking for more historical titles by the author. If you’re a die-hard Regency fan, you won’t want to miss this one.

[A Voracious Reader (a.k.a. Carol) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Considering fox hunting to be inhumane Jacelyn Trevaine managed to interfere at every hunt and Squire George Bottwick couldn’t take it anymore. When Jacey wasn’t repentant enough after her latest effort the Squire jailed her dog, Penelope, for being a public nuisance. Jacey was outraged and with the squire throwing the gauntlet Jacey planned to get the upper hand. She knew the Squire’s nephew, Lord Arthur Ponsonby, was arriving at the estate that evening, so she planned to take him hostage and demand her dog be released as the ransom. Wearing a groom’s outgrown clothes, she waylaid a man and horse on the road and her plan was on track. Then everything went wrong. Or was it right?

Once again Ms. Metzger had me excitedly turning the pages. With well-developed characters and a delicious plot filled with humor I didn’t want to put the story down until it had reached its conclusion. Barbara Metzger’s books are a guilty pleasure I so look forward to reading.

*Book source ~ Many thanks to Untreed Reads for providing me with a review copy. Please see disclaimer page on my blog.

[Adrianna · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a very boring book. The characters did not have complex personalities, and there was not a lot of interaction between Jacelyn and Claibourne, who are the main characters and love interests. It was probably one of the worst romances I have ever read! The only positive thing about the novel was the author's attention to the time period and details of the clothes that the characters wore.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Metzger is often called LOL funny and this book is a terrific example. Take a tomboy heroine who despises hunting and mix in a bemused earl and you have an unlikely couple that will capture your hearts. The machinations of her father and his best friend the squire are very enjoyable.

[Frances · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rake's............

I could not get past the age difference in the story. If she had been 2 years older or he had been 2 years younger it might have made a difference. And why does one suppose these womanizing men are going to be faithful?

[Susannah Carleton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story, interesting characters, several unusual plot twists. This is a vintage Barbara Metzger story.

[Toni]

Sadly, skimming through the pages (yeah, I know it's a bad habit, but I cannot help it - I need to know what's coming before reading it), I discovered there is an explicit scene, maybe not that descriptive, but still incompatible with my desire of a clean read. So I stopped reading this story although Jacelyn and Leigh were cute and refreshing, both separately and together.
Narrative: 3rd person, following different personages, but focusing on Jacelyn and Leigh
Religion: none
Sensuality: not clean according to my standards - a steamy kissing scene at the beginning, innuendo throughout and an explicit scene towards the end

[Treece · Rating 4 out of 5]

Publisher and Release Date: Zebra, December 1st 1989
RHL Classifications

Time and Setting: Regency England
Heat Level: Sweet
Reviewer rating: 4.0
Rake’s Ransom by Barbara Metzger
Review by Patrice F.

INTRO
Readers should take note that this novel was written in the late 1980’s, with a cute picture reminiscent of that glossy over-the-top prettiness that graced covers from Harlequin novels to Avon publishing. The plot and characterization, like the cover, fits the “teen affliction” trend popular to the 80’s era, despite the fact this is a Regency historical romance. Recall John Hughes’ influences—Sixteen Candles, Pretty in Pink, The Breakfast Club—along with other hallmarks such as Adventures in Babysitting, Some Kind of Wonderful, and St. Elmo’s Fire. There’s the rollicking, endless cast to fit various archetypes; overblown hijinks, and risqué antidotes. No scenario was complete without the feisty, smart, none traditionally pretty heroine in the lead, capturing the attention of the popular guy/bad boy while pitting her wits against adversity, chaos, and rivals.

With that said, enter Lady Jacelyn Trevaine, a country hoyden who becomes entangled with worldly Leigh Merrill, the Earl of Claiborne, gentleman and soldier, who secretly has no wish to be free of his obligations but must make a good show of it, lest his delightful prey escape him. While this unusual pair struggles to define their feelings and relationship, the demands of family, friends, and the Ton, intrude in ways that would do a Hughes film proud.

PLOT OVERVIEW

For the zillionth time, Jacelyn “Jacey” Trevaine has run afoul of her neighbor, Squire Bottwick, a fox hunting enthusiast. Despite the Squire’s constant complaints and warnings to his oldest friend, Lord Trevaine, regarding the spunky miss, Jacey’s scholarly father dotes on her, acting as mediator when conflict arises—and it does, often. When Jacey crosses the line, Squire Bottwick retaliates by blackmailing her into visiting his nephew, Arthur. She responds by kidnapping her childhood nemesis. Later, Jacey discovers that she has captured the wrong man, the Earl of Claiborne, a man so compellingly attractive she wonders why she didn’t figure this out sooner.

Forced to announce an engagement to society, Jacelyn and Lord Claiborne maneuver their way through the London Ton who are all agog at the unexpected news. A battle of wills and a nasty plot to stop the nuptials test their mettle and the validity of their budding friendship and romance.

CHARACTERS

Lady Jacelyn “Jacey” Trevaine is not a modern seventeen year old; she’s an English aristocrat with just a touch more freedom than other girls since she is a country lass. She does have the impulsive, rebellious traits that are familiar to teenagers today. She’s versed in at least two living languages, and one that is not, Latin. Jacey is familiar with the writings of Cicero and other Greek relic philosophers, and has been running her father’s household since her mother is long deceased. Financial independence, lack of female influence and more education than her peers, has made Jacey outspoken and content with the idea of not marrying. If she is the instigator in changing her future, then Claiborne is the catalyst. Although she’s been stuck in the country forever, Jacey is a quick learner, with loads of common sense and self-confidence. Because she’s never had romantic feelings for anyone, it takes a while for her recognize what she feels for Lord Claiborne is beyond friendship and gratitude.


Claiborne is dashing, with polish and charm from his time spent on the continent, after recovering from battles on the front with Napoleon. He has a strong sense of familial responsibility and honor. Grasping, scheming mothers, greedy socialites and vain debutantes circle him like sharks, and he never backs down while keeping his eye on Jacey’s madcap antics. I found him likeable though sometimes distant; his actions reveal the truth in the style of Heyer’s heroes.


Squire Bottwick, his wife, Clothida, daughters Samantha and Priscilla, are central to the plot and trials the couple face as their relationship evolves. His nephew, Arthur, is on the outskirts of the story and is neatly woven into various situations that bring enlightenment and change. Claiborne’s relations, such as his French tante—a timelessly chic survivor of the Terror who reminds me of Coco Chanel—is the perfect contrast to Jacey’s family, in particular her aunt, Lady Parkhurst, who is unbendingly British. The antagonists are strictly there for comedic relief, and provide an amusing climax and unexpected, if a bit bewildering, finale.


SUMMARY

Ms. Metzger brings to life a character as self-sufficient, witty and unconventional as Molly Ringwald in those iconic 80’s films. I liked Jacey’s wacky antics and Claiborne’s smooth strategy in dealing with her, keeping her safe. Their group of friends and acquaintances add just the right amount of conflict and resolution. I snickered at some of the sly and random bawdiness that suddenly appears in few scenes.


Rake’s Ransom was a fun, wholesome read, a relaxing way to escape the traffic, work woes and things-that-need-to-be-addressed-at-home. If you’re okay with a liberal dash of Cartland-Heyer and a splash of Hughes-attitude, then you can’t go wrong with this sassy, Regency romp.

[Alicia]

From Help name that book FB group, trying to find this book:
"This is the book with animals thrown over a fence, and sad horses, a insane invalid uncle and a tall skinny drunken cousin and an ex mistress! I got how they met wrong… she (h) and her dog Pen had raised hell with the neighbors fox hounds (to save the foxes) and when the neighbor arrested her dog she kidnapped and ransomed his son, who wasn’t his son, but a rake." 11/15/2021

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting concept with poor execution. This wasn't really a romance so much as "Mary Sue's first London adventure" The heroine could have been interesting with her outgoing personality and disdain for convention, but it was ruined when everyone loved her unconditionally and she never made mistakes or had any struggles whatsoever.

The romance was terrible as well. The main characters had all the chemistry of a brother and sister and barely interact with each other throughout the novel.

[S.K. Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a delightful story. This is my first Barbara Metzger novel. However, I have four on the way to start my journey with her writing. If the initial read is any indication of those to come, I cannot wait. Her style of writing is old school, and if you enjoy Georgette Heyer, I highly recommend Metzger. You fall in love with her characters right away. Even the redeemable rakes and her heroines are not helpless creatures waiting to be saved.

[Tchipakkan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even Metzger's less spectacular offerings are still well worth reading. This one is a bit silly, but if all her heroines were the same, they wouldn't be well drawn individuals. My only complaint is that I wish there were glossary at the back of each book translate the Regency slang. At this point I 'm used to blunt for money, and chit for girl, but there are still are many over which I puzzle (quiz?). Clearly "top of trees" is emotional, but sometimes it seems to be in alt, other times seems to be upset. Other times I wonder of she is not an expert on the period or simply having the readers on, because how would we know?

[Jaclyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun with some random action scenes. I love that the heroine is an animal lover.

I'm just a bit meh at the dynamics between the hero and heroine. He acts so much older than she is and keeps treating her like a child.

Also a bit meh at the villain. I get that it's played for comedy, but like, their attempts to break the couple apart were just so useless that they got annoying after a while.

[Flo · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too Full of Shenanigans, Not Enough Love

The Earl of Claiborne wants Jacey Trevinian but she is a madcap girl untutored in society's ways and would like to stay in the country and ride her horse wearing breeches. It takes far too long to teach her to be a lady.

[Bookish · Rating 3 out of 5]

3-3.5⭐️ It was my least favorite of Metzger’s. Probably because the heroine was only 17 years old, very impulsive and immature, which made her accomplishments unconvincing. Also, the age gap (mainly its mental and behavioral aspects) made me feel uncomfortable with the hero being 32.

[Inés · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classical regency in the good sense. Nothing new, and the main characters were quite stereotypical (a young hoyden and an older, more experienced rake), but still, the chemistry was good, the romance was sweet and the whole story, entertaining.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light, fun, PG-13 Regency romance, with just a naughty bit here and there, but nothing X rated. :) Clever and fun ending

[Audiobook Accomplice (Gillian) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging story with a heroine who’s as much the bandit as the belle!
My Full Review

[Jobelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh it was very good until... that last chapter. Haha still enjoyable tho. I just wish that twist in the end did not happen.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute romp with lots of interesting characters.

[Anne Bryson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful romp, very entertaining when read for what it is.