A Rake's Midnight Kiss

Sons of Sin #2

by Anna Campbell

It Takes A Lady

Brilliant scholar Genevieve Barrett knows how to keep a secret. Her identity as the author of her father's academic articles has always been her greatest deception—until a charming housebreaker tries to steal the mysterious Harmsworth Jewel from her. She doesn't reveal that she recognizes her father's devastatingly handsome new student as the thief himself. For Genevieve, this will be the most seductive secret of all...

To Catch A Thief

Sir Richard Harmsworth has been living a lie, maintaining a rakish façade to show society that he doesn't care about his status as a bastard. Yet long haunted by his unknown father's identity, Richard believes the Harmsworth Jewel will confirm his claim as the rightful heir. But when Richard sets out to seduce the bookworm who possesses the stone, he instead falls for its beautiful owner. But even as she steals Richard's heart, Genevieve will be in greater danger than her coveted treasure...

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

395 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

I've written 53 bestselling historical romances: 11 multi-award winning books for Hachette Grand Central Publishing and Avon HarperCollins, and more than 40 as an independently published author, These include my popular series The Sons of Sin (6 books), The Dashing Widows (7 books), The Lairds Most Likely (10 books), A Scandal in Mayfair (4 books), and Scoundrels of Mayfair (4 books). My new series, Cinderellas of Mayfair, launched with Sir Hugo Seeks a Wife in 2025.

When I'm not touring the world seeking inspiration for my passionate stories, I live on the beautiful east coast of Australia.

I've always been a voracious reader and I delve into many different genres, as you'll see if you check out my books list. Favorite authors include Dorothy Dunnett, Elly Griffiths, K.J. Charles, and Loretta Chase.

My website is http://www.annacampbell.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annacampbell...

Twitter: AnnaCampbellOz

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Anna-Campbell/...

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/anna-...

I love to hear from readers and you can contact me on AnnaCampbellOz@hotmail.com

Reviews

[Carol Cork *Young at Heart Oldie* · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! I LOVED THIS BOOK!

Anna Campbell is known for her intense, emotional stories but A RAKE’S MIDNIGHT KISS is much lighter in tone. It reminded me of Loretta Chase’s books …romantic, sexy and funny…a winning combination. This book was pure joy to read from the first page to the last!



Oh, how I loved Richard and Genevieve! They were just the perfect match for each other and are definitely joining my list of all-time favourite Romancelandia couples.

Richard is such a wonderful romantic hero. He’s handsome, tender, kind, clever and brave. His devastating charm and sense of humour just add to his appeal. Richard may appear strong and sure of himself on the outside, but inside he is still vulnerable to the pain and humiliation of being a bastard.

I adore the prim, unworldly, intellectual Genevieve who dreams, not of a husband, but of the freedom to pursue her scholarly ambitions. I admire her devotion to her father although he is unworthy of it.

It was an unadulterated pleasure to share their eventful journey to a Happy Ever After. Experiencing…

Richard’s determined pursuit and Genevieve’s retreat; their growing attraction; the sensuous pool scene; ‘The Kiss’; the villain showing his true colours; the picnic where the appetite is for more than just food!!; the foiled kidnapping; the hero to the rescue; the invitation no hero could refuse; the confession and the quarrel; the dire situation with benefits; the friendly helping hand; two people head over heels in love; All’s Well That Ends Well!

Along the way I enjoyed…

Some delightful banter

(Richard is posing as Christopher Evans)

Mr. Evans, you are presumptious.”
His lips twitched. “Miss Barrett, you are correct.”
“Pray be presumptuous at a greater distance.”
His laugh was low and attractive. “How can I argue when you’re armed?”
She realized that she brandished the needle like a miniature sword. Despite her annoyance, the scene’s absurdity struck her and she choked back a laugh.

Some tender romantic moments

Then she felt the glance of Christopher’s little finger against hers. A brush, almost accidental. He touched her again. Such insignificant contact. Yet she felt it. In a strange way, as strongly as she’d felt those brazen caresses on the river.

Some hot sexy moments

Tonight, praise the Lord, her legs swiftly fell open. She was wet, gloriously, lusciously, sumptuously wet.
He pressed his forehead into her satiny shoulder and tested her with one finger, then two. Yes…

Some funny moments

By Jove, he was in a bad way. The stickler who had scorned a hundred diamonds of the first water was head over heels with a woman who looked like she’d wrestled a mule through a landslide.

There is a rich array of secondary characters; Dr Barrett, Genevieve’s weak, selfish father, the villainous Lord Neville and the powerful , enigmatic Camden Rothermere, Duke of Sedgemoor (the hero of the next book). I also enjoyed seeing Jonas and Sidonie (Seven Nights in a Rogue’s Bed) and their daughter. I must mention Richard’s dog, Sirius, who plays an important part in this story and not forgetting the “pregnant elephant”!

The Epilogue is both heartfelt and touching and had me reaching for the tissues.

Enchanting, romantic, sexy and funny! This is definitely a keeper!

How I imagine Richard…



How I imagine Genevieve …



REVIEW RATING: Stellar 5/5 Stars

SENSUALITY RATING: HOT

My sincere thanks to Anna Campbell for providing me with an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

This review has also been posted on my blog:

http://rakesandrascals.wordpress.com/...

[Lover of Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sir Richard Harmsworth, has had to work very hard to gain respect as a member of the Ton, despite the fact he is a bastard. When he learns that a certain artifact, a jewel, will prove his legitimacy, his goal is to obtain it no matter the cost. Genevieve, is a scholar, and is the writer behind all of her fathers work. She hopes with the Harmsworth Jewel that was given to her, by a elderly woman who was always kind to her, that she will create a name for herself and have a career. She is content in being a spinster, until a certain rake comes along and stirs a hidden passion in her. Richard has come to seduce Genevieve into his bed, to gain the jewel, but as the progresses further into his seduction, he starts to lose his heart to her. Can he still go through with his plans or will the lovely Genevieve be his future?

A Rake's Midnight Kiss is the second in this fantastic series that Campbell has created for us. Ever since I read the first book last year, I was hooked. I fell in love with the first one, so I had super high expectations for this one. However despite how much I enjoyed it, I think I was expecting a story to make me fall in love again just like"Seven Nights in a Rogue's Bed" did. There are quite a few things that I did enjoy about it. And it still was a lovely romance that kept me hooked all the way through. The beginning set the stage for the story in such a perfect way, I couldn't have imagined it any better. There is a scene of Genevieve being robbed, only the robber doesn't know she is at home and she surprises him, and oh boy.....did this scene definitely made me laugh and stir up all kinds of senses. It took my breath away and I guarantee you won't have any problem getting started with this one. We see Richard slowly seducing Genevieve, in very creative and playful ways, you just want to trade places with the heroine so you can experience it too. The heat in the story isn't explosive or anything, its more of a gradual journey for them both, and the scenes were a bit steamy but not over much...just perfect for the style of this author and the way the story turns out.

The characters in this story were such fun. Richard, is a rake and a rogue but a fun one. He isn't all serious or anything, to me he was as playful as a kitten and passionate as any grown man would be. We definitely see his faults first hand, but he makes up for it in many other ways that I am sure will delight the reader. The heroine was stubborn and very "Bluestocking" and I loved how Richard uses creative ways to soften her up. She has never been courted really, and has always known books and study and scholarly pursuits. It was very interesting seeing a different side to Genevieve blossom in ways you don't expect from the beginning. We do see the other sons of sins in this book. We see Jonas and Sid-and they added some flavor to the story and it was fun seeing their involvement in helping this couple work their issues out since they have already obtained their HEA. Then we see Cam who is the next book. And oh boy, did he give me tingles in anticipation for his book--should be a whopper. There is a villain in the story but the villain isn't fully realized until later half of the book, so his involvement in the story definitely adds a edge of suspense and tension that you don't expect in the beginning but will blow you away in the end!!!

Overall A tender romance that is guaranteed to pull at the emotions and make your forget about reality and you live in the precious moments between Genevieve and Richard. BEAUTIFULLY DONE!!

[Jonetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick summary
Genevieve Barrett is a bluestocking, secretly the academician behind her father's reputation as an antiquarian. Richard Harmsworth is the heir to his family's legacy but has lived under the cloud of his questionable paternity. Legacy has it that the heir would have possession of the Harmsworth Jewel and Richard believes if he can get it, he'll have earned the legitimacy he's sought for most of his life.

Heart of the story
Richard has confirmed that Genevieve owns the Jewel and he assumes a fake identity to attempt to have her sell or give him the Jewel. Though she doesn't who he is, Genevieve is immediately suspicious of him. She's a confirmed spinster, valuing her independence so she's not receptive of his efforts to disarm her.

What I liked
I really liked Richard, despite his past behavior and his deception. He had a strong appreciation for Genevieve's intellect and fell for her brain as well as her attractiveness. His inevitable seduction was caring and sensual, always thinking of her. I also appreciated their banter as it was clever and engaging. There's also a sinister element to the story that hooked me as soon as it emerged.

What slowed me down
The first half of the story was tough for me to navigate. I've been accustomed to the author's writing style and really liked it. However, this book was overburdened with esoteric metaphors and arcane references that slowed my reading to a crawl. Maybe it was to accommodate the background of the heroine. Fortunately, the second half was really exciting and saved the experience.

The bottom line
The sum of this book's parts made this a really good story. While the first half was troublesome, the second more than overcompensated. It's a great romance with two very interesting characters. I'm enjoying the series and the unconventional issues presented in these regency period romances.

(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)

[Izzah ꒰Duchess of Cabria ಇ ⭑✧ ᴏɴ ᴘᴀᴛʀᴇᴏɴ ✧ ⋆꒱ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Officially trudging the slump swamp

I like Anna Campbell. A lot of people hated Claiming the Courtesan (with reason) but I loved it. I also was moved (in a suffocating, despairing way, but moved nonetheless less) by Untouched.

I admit, the first book in this series wasn't a favorite of mine (good angst but terrible grovel), still, it's not like it was unreadable.

This one nearly was.
・
・
・
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

[Caz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've given this a B+ at AAR, so that's 4.5 stars in my book!

We first met Sir Richard Harmsworth, sophisticated, charming and devastatingly handsome man-about-town, in the previous novel in this series, Seven Nights in a Rogue's Bed. Like his friend Jonas Merrick, the hero of that story, Richard is similarly tainted by the slur of bastardy; although in Richard’s case, he is legally entitled to his baronetcy as his mother was married to Sir Lester Harmsworth at the time of Richard’s birth, and Sir Lester formally acknowledged Richard as his heir. Unfortunately, however, it’s public knowledge that Sir Lester was out of the country at the time of Richard’s birth and conception, so while he is technically legitimate, in the eyes of society, he’s still a by-blow.

But whereas Jonas opted to hide away from society’s prying eyes, Richard has grown up in front of them, and has developed an iron-clad defence mechanism, presenting himself as a “lazy, even-tempered man who cared for little”. He has cultivated an emotional detachment that allows him to maintain the pretence that the behind-hands sneers and whispered scandal don’t bother him, whereas underneath he’s a seething mass of resentment.

In an unguarded moment one evening, he vows to seek out the famous “Harmsworth Jewel”, an ancient artefact that has been passed down through the generations and which is always possessed by the holder of the title and his heirs. After six months of searching, Richard discovers the jewel’s whereabouts. His aunt Amelia, a noted devotee of Mary Wollstonecraft, had bequeathed it to one Miss Genevieve Barrett, a young lady with whom she had struck up a friendship, with firm instructions that under no circumstances should she allow the jewel to find its way into Sir Richard’s hands. I admit, when I thought this book was going to be a treasure hunt/adventure yarn, I felt a bit peeved. But it wasn’t long before I realised that it wasn’t like that at all, and what I was reading was in fact a warm, witty, character-driven romance.

Genevieve Barrett is twenty-five, beautiful, and possessed of a brilliant mind. As far as the world knows, she is her father’s amanuensis, helping him to produce and publish a large number of highly regarded and scholarly papers and articles about Medieval History. But what the world doesn’t know – and which Richard works out almost immediately – is that Genevieve is actually the author of those works. Her father had promised to give her co-authorial credit, but it has never happened and she can’t help feeling aggrieved. Even though she loves him, she is not blind to his faults, having realised over the years that his affable and distinguished exterior in fact hides a selfish, weak man.

Genevieve is currently – and unbeknownst to her father – writing an article about the Harmsworth Jewel which she intends to publish under her own name in order to kick-start an academic career. Richard has offered to purchase the jewel for much more than it is worth, but she has refused to part with it, so he resorts to subterfuge.

Obtaining an introduction to the Reverend Barrett courtesy of his friend the Duke of Sedgemoor, Richard, calling himself Mr Christopher Evans, and styling himself an interested amateur in the field of English Medieval History, undertakes a period of study under Barrett’s guidance.

The sparks fly the minute he and Genevieve set eyes on each other. Genevieve is immediately suspicious of the handsome charmer who is determined to flirt with her, and tries everything she can think of to put him off. The problem is that she doesn’t realise that her put-downs and obvious displeasure in ‘Mr Evans’’ company have exactly the opposite effect on that gentleman and only make him even more determined to succeed in his quest to “charm the jewel out of her”.

I like an adversarial couple in a romance, but it’s not every author who can pull it off without making the banter seem arch or artificial. Fortunately, Ms Campbell is one of those who can make it work, and the exchanges between the urbane Mr Evans and the frustrated and often snippy Miss Barrett were delightful, as he gradually begins to break through her defences and win a grudging acceptance.

Even though Genevieve is a ‘feisty’ bluestocking heroine, she never rubbed me up the wrong way as so many feisty heroines do. I think it’s because she reacts to things in a manner that is completely in keeping with her character as it has been established. Her suspicion of Mr Evans is natural, given her inexperience with men – especially very agreeable, very good-looking ones; and is even more so when one considers that her own father has, in effect, betrayed her trust in the matter of the co-authorship. There’s also the fact that one of her father’s cronies, the smarmy Lord Neville, has designs upon her and frequently tries to assert his claim to her in the face of Richard’s obvious interest by attempting to dictate her actions. I thought her reaction to the way ‘Mr Evans’ invades every corner of her life – from the parlour at the vicarage to her secret hideaways, leaving her feeling as though she no longer has anywhere to call her own – rang very true.

Of course, the longer she spends in Richard’s company, the more Genevieve begins to perceive that there is more to him than at first appears. In spite of her wariness, she finds him to be good company, intelligent and perceptive – and although she fights it, she senses he is a man she can trust.

For Richard’s part, he finds that he rather likes being ‘Mr Evans’ – discovering a new and unlooked for freedom that comes from feeling unfettered by his past, and which enables him to allow his true self free rein. It was a moment of great poignancy when he admitted to Sedgemoor that he liked himself far more as Evans and that Harmsworth was a “scurvy fellow”.

I thought this novel provided a near-perfect balance of romance, character development and plot. The emphasis is on the former two, yet the third is neither neglected nor too prominent. Both Genevieve and Richard grow as characters throughout the story – her horizons are broadened as she admits the possibility of a life that encompasses more than dusty books and parchments, yet she loses none of her fierceness and tenacity. When he assumes a different identity, it’s immediately apparent that there is so much more to Richard than the world-weary and self-centred dandy he presents to the world (which, to be fair, was apparent in his willingness to aid Jonas in the first book), and he finally grows into the decent, kind and loving man he was always meant to be.

Finally, a note about the epilogue, which – fortunately – didn’t include characters from other books cropping up with their broods of children while Richard gives a heavily pregnant Genevieve a foot-rub. No, the epilogue here was worth reading because it provides the final piece in the jigsaw of Richard Harmsworth’s past, finally allows him to make his peace with it and to begin to rebuild his relationship with his mother.

Although I have read the previous book in the series, you don’t need to do so in order to enjoy this one. Richard and Genevieve are a thoroughly likeable and well-matched central couple and their romance is well-developed and full of tenderness and affection. Ms Campbell writes with intelligence and humour and I’m definitely looking forward to reading Cam’s story in the next book.

[Mary - Buried Under Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Posted on my blog: http://www.buriedunderromance.blogspo...

Anna Campbell broke hearts with Midnight's Wild Passion, induced tears with Seven Nights in a Rogue's Bed, and now has charmed her way onto a grand pedestal with this mesmerizingly sweet, sensual romance of two kindred souls who are both diamonds in the rough.

Sir Richard Harmsworth is a rake, a baronet, and undeniably a bastard. It was enough that he grew up with a highly promiscuous, uncaring mother, but even more that the ton scorns his every action and lashes at him with contempt. Unlike his friend, Camden Rotherrnere, Richard’s armor is not to thrive for perfection, but to don a mask of nonchalance and feign disinterest to the world; this armor is not as durable as it seems, as Richard seeks to find the legendary Harmsworth Jewel and declare himself the legitimate heir to the baronetcy. After six months of investigation, he has finally located the jewel…with the vicar’s daughter Genevieve Barrett who absolutely refuses to sell it. Richard, for all his roguish charm, disguised himself as a student of medieval history, planning to set up a slight flirtation with Genevieve for his jewel…except he did not know how serious this flirtation would soon become.

Richard and Genevieve both share a sharp wit and biting humor. Upon their first “official” meeting -Richard’s masked break-in to Genevieve’s house for the jewel notwithstanding – verbal daggers were drawn, Richard’s charm only serving to infuriate Genevieve. It was only until he revealed his natural character that affability was achieved:

“This time he laughed out loud. The sound was attractive. Open. Joyful. Genuine. ‘You defeat me, Miss Barrett. How am I to work my wiles when you undo me at every turn?’” (Loc 721/5647)

However, this is somewhat short-lived, as Richard could not reveal himself to Genevieve for the greater goal of securing the jewel. For someone of his intelligence, I had hoped he would perceive the gem that is Genevieve and through her affection and care become his own power, and he did that, though it took a good while of the story. Genevieve I admire more than Richard, for her understanding, resourcefulness, and act of self-sacrifice for Richard, while he behaved at times an inconsiderate rogue. That is not to say Richard did not experience a journey either, for he did, and it made him honorable in the truest sense, but at the point that can only be fully appreciated near the end of the story.

Despite this, this story has all the adventure, fun, and lightness (up to a certain point) that marked its originality among the rest of Anna Campbell’s darker themed works. While I do not know whether her last Sons of Sin book starring Cam Rothermere will be as light and frothy as this one, it will certainly be a fantastic treat to behold romance readers.

Plot: 7/10
Characters: 9/10
Writing: 9/10
Structure: 8/10
Overall: 8/10

*ARC received from the publisher via Netgalley

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think Anna Campbell has a beautiful way with words. Her books contain many words I have to look up on my Kindle, and she often creates scenes that do a wonderful job of painting a picture for me as a reader. While that skill typically pairs well with a plot that propels me through a novel, I am sad to say this story was missing that element.

Genevieve Barrett is a prickly but beautiful spinster who is working hard to make a name for herself in the publishing world instead of letting her spineless father steal all of the credit. To do so, she is revealing secrets about the Harmsworth Jewel, a lovely medieval artifact that Richard Harmsworth wants to get his hands on to stop the constant jabs that the ton aims at his illegitimacy. Unfortunately for Richard, Genevieve won't sell. Thus, Richard resorts to a disguise to charm the jewel from her (this disguise lasts through much of the novel..I think if I remember correctly over 50%). However, small town living changes Richard and he begins rethinking what he wants in life, while Genevieve reluctantly falls for him. It was an interesting premise, but for some reason, it read slowly. I never found myself plowing through pages or gushing over the characters. I could put the book down any time and I did so on occasion to read a novella.

Also, there is a lot of drama in here. Richard has some mommy issues, Genevieve has some daddy issues, and they both have creepy neighbor issues. The story just seemed to drag in places. The only reason I finished it was because some of the scenes were written so beautifully that I savored those enough to wade through a slower scene. This story most likely would have done better as a shorter novel. I don't think there was enough meat here for it to read like a tightly plotted novel. As a result, despite the beautiful prose, I can only give this 3.5 stars, which I didn't round up.

I am still fascinated by Richard's ducal friend, Cam, and will be continuing with the series to read his story. If you haven't read Campbell, I would highly recommend it, just don't read this one first because it doesn't showcase her skill as well as some of her others.

[Ursula · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first Anna Campbell book and I really enjoyed it! The writing was great- some lovely turns of phrase - and the main characters had lots of layers. The story is quite emotional and I even wiped away a tear at the end when our hero contemplated reconciliation with his estranged mother.
I really didn't like the hero, Richard (aka Mr Evans) initially and AC does a good job of portraying him as a shallow, vain, preening dilettante with a giant chip on his shoulder. So it is a real joy to see him change and become the man he is meant to be.
The heroine, Genevieve, is a highly intelligent scholar who has been writing her selfish father's scholarly articles for him and letting him take the credit. After all, what hope does a woman have of being taken seriously in the academic circles of that time? It is wonderful (even if a bit unrealistic, but hey- this is romantic fiction, not a doco) how Richard admires her intellect and facilitates her success.
Lots of passion, witty banter and emotion. A winner for me.

[İlkim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Artık eskisi gibi sevemiyorum, bu baya yavan geldi sonlara doğru. Anna Campbell baya sevdiğim bir yazardı oysa ama zaman geçtikçe, benzerlerini de çok okuduğumuzdan heralde bende pek yer etmiyorlar eskisi gibi.

[Danica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Postoje knjige koje te zarobe od prve stranice, i postoje one koje, nažalost, ne uspiju probuditi ni tračak one čarolije koju obećavaju!
Ova priča, unatoč privlačnim i očaravajućim koricama, ostavila me u potpunoj tišini!
Čitala sam, čekala, nadala se da će se pojaviti trenutak koji će me slomiti, podići ili zapaliti iskru u meni – ali stranice su prolazile, a obećani plamen nikada se nije rasplamsao.

Kao da sam hodala kroz labirint pun vrata, a iza svakih samo prazne sobe. Ljepota ambalaže nije uspjela sakriti činjenicu da duša romana nije dosegla ono što sam tražila.
Moje srce je ostalo gladno emocija, a ono što sam dobila bilo je tek sjenka onoga što sam priželjkivala.

Od mene nemate preokruku!

Danica 😊🩷

[T’Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Genevieve is a country spinster who is secretly the author behind her father's academic works. Richard is a bastard who wants to obtain a family heirloom that will bolster his claims to his title (though he was recognized by his stepfather as his heir so the setup is a little flimsy - which the hero does acknowledge by the end) Of course, Genevieve is in possession of said heirloom and plans to establish her own name and publish the information she has discovered. Sir Richard poses as Mr. Christopher Evans to charm the heirloom away from her ... that's the setup!

The beginning of this book took a while for me to get interested. The author commented that she was aiming for the banter of a 40s Hollywood comedy but for me it didn't work. Despite the heroine's inner thoughts of attraction, she voices to Mr. Evans REPEATEDLY that she doesn't want him around her and he just ignores that because he, of course, can sense that she is attracted to him. That's all well and good but if a woman says to go away then ... GO AWAY.

That being said, Richard/Christopher is exceedingly charming and funny. And very handsome and fashionable. Overall, he was very swoon-worthy and the cover model was perfect. Genevieve is also very likable and I enjoyed her intelligence, independence and her loyalty to her father, despite his valuing her only for her work that furthered his fame.

Once they cross the line and she gives in to her feelings though, then the banter really works and their love story takes off for me. As does the drama surrounding the heirloom. All in all, a very enjoyable read, but the first book was much more compelling for me.

If you liked this book, you might like: The Other Miss Bridgerton - this also has the hero concealing his identity and he's also quite the charmer!

[Mariana · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in the series is much better than the first.

[Alycia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the second in Ms. Campbell's first series, Sons of Sin. I read this one first, I couldn't wait once it arrived, and I wanted to mention the caveat that it doesn't have to be read in order. The hero and heroine from the first book, (Seven Nights in a Rogue's Bed) are mentioned briefly a couple of times. I never felt lost or that I was lacking in general information. The Sons of Sin are three friends with questionable heritage that made them all illegitimate in some way. Instead of letting this label cripple their lives, these men have risen above what society expects.

Genevieve Barret, our heroine is a beautiful bluestocking. She quietly pursues an academic hobby in medieval history. She wants nothing more than to break gender barriers, become a public and notable historian and be free to lead an independent life. She expects to gain her entre into the academic world by writing an astonishing paper on the Harmsworth jewel.

Rector Barret, Genevieve's father is an easy character to dislike. He is selfish, childish, has a dubious academic career focusing on Edward IV's disappearing princes. He puts no one's needs or concerns above his own, least of all the protection of his daughter.

Sir Richard Harmsworth is the notorious Harmsworth bastard who leads an idle life, but still has trouble with society's label. He can prove his worth if only he could locate the missing Harmsworth jewel. An artifact that was passed down among his family that proclaims the heir. Of course obtaining the jewel is much harder than expected.

Richard masquerades as a country gentleman curious about studying history with the Rector. He knows of Genevieve and sees her as no major threat to obtaining the jewel and if seduction is needed, so be it. He quickly discovers that he has met an intellectual match wrapped up in a beautiful and fiery country woman. There is more to Genevieve and Richard then first meets the eye. They both are dimensional characters as revealed over time.

There is slight mystery to this story, attempted murder, a local country lord that is smarmy that you will read a lot of. What I loved about this book is the fact that it didn't take the hero and heroine forever to realize that they loved each other. No long drawn out cat and mouse games, just two lovers exploring love together and realizing that they can get through anything to be together. Campbell's story is written in a lighter vein, but it is very engaging. The love scenes are somewhat steamy. A Rake's Midnight Kiss is my favorite book by far from the author. She writes loves stories like this one exceptionally well. I plan on reading the first book of the series next. I recommend this book to all fans of the author and fans of historical romance.

[Gamze · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://gamzeninkitapdunyasi.blogspot....

Serserinin Öpücüğü, Sons of Sins serisinin ikinci kitabı. Bilmeyenler için ilk kitap Yedi Gece'dir. Ve benim için de bu kitaptan daha iyidir :))

Bir Harmsworth Düşesi var ki.. Sormayın gitsin. Tam bir kapalı kutu. İşte bu hatun zamanında kocasının evden 16 ay uzak olduğu bir dönemde başkasından hamile kalmış ve Richard o ilişkinin meyvesi.

Küçük yaşından itibaren sosyetenin iğnelemeleri ve p*ç lafları adamı çıldırtma noktasına getirmiş. O yüzden son bir çırpınma ile meşruluğunu kanıtlayacak olan Harmsworth mücevherini aramaya çıkar.

Mücevher ise, Genevieve'ye miras olarak bırakılmıştır. Ve Richard mücevherinin papaz kızında olduğunu öğrenince arkadaşının da yardımıyla papaz evine kılık değiştirerek sızar. Amacı önceleri çalmak olsa da daha sonra mücevheri Genevieve'nin Richard'a satması için ikna etmeye çalışmak olur. Çünkü çalacak olsa o mücevheri hiç kimselere gösteremez.

Genevieve ise, 25 yaşında dönemin kız kurusu lakabını almış zeki kızımız :))

Papaz olan babasının bilimsel alandaki asistanı. Aslında çaktırmayın tüm o makaleleri falan yazan da bizzat kendisi zaten. Ama babası tarafından ne değer ne de takdir görür. Bu durumdan bunalan Genevieve kendisine emanet edilen mücevher ile ilgili araştırma yapıp, bir makale hazırlar. Amacı bununla ilgili gerçeği gün yüzüne çıkarıp, kendisine bir gelecek oluşturmak.

Kitabın konusu genel olarak bu şekilde. Gelelim benim yorumuma :)

Anna Campbell, historical tarzında kalemi güçlü olan yazarlardan biri hatta başı çeken birkaç kişiden biri diyebilirim. Ben genel olarak seviyorum tüm kitaplarını. Okurken of çok uzadı, çok saçma sapan şeyler oluyor tarzından şeyler aklımın ucundan bile geçirmiyorum.

Kitapları aynen su gibi akıp gidiyor. Ve o süre içinde keyif alarak, büyük merakla okuyorsunuz.

Bu kitapta beni tatmin etmeyen tek şey mücevher ile ilgili bilgi oldu. Şahsen ben daha karmaşık bir şeyler bekliyordum.

En başta da yazdığım gibi kitap serinin ikinci kitabı. İlk kitap olan Yedi Gece benim için çok daha iyiydi. Yani o çiftimi okumayı çok daha sevmiştim :) Burada da yine azıcık bile olsa onlara tekrar rastlamak iyi oldu.

Seride bir karakter var ki onun kitabını deli gibi merak ediyorum. Cam :) Aşka inan canımm karakterim :) Onun hikayesini okumak için şimdiden sabırsızlanıyorum. Dilerim yayınevi bizleri çok bekletmez.

Seri 4 kitaptan oluşuyor.

1. Yedi Gece
2. Serserinin Öpücüğü
3. What a Duke Dares - Cam & Penelope
4. A Scoundrel by Moonlight

Bu tarzı seven arkadaşlara kesinlikle bu kitabı ve yazarın diğer kitaplarnı tavsiye ederim :)

[Mei · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really love Ms. Campbell's writing and her deliciously dark and misteriously sensual books. I really do.

That's why I felt left down by this one... :(

There wasn't anything misterious, dark and only a small amount of sensual... A great pity!

I admit that the dialogue was the best feature of this book. The banter between Genevieve and Richard/Christopher was fun and witty and it is the only thing I enjoyed here and they bear the weight of all 3 stars.

The rest was lukewarm. The supposedly spark between Genevieve and Richard wasn't a prelude to an explosion, but remained a small spark... The complications that are necessary in a romance here were sooooo overused. The characters are also very tipical: Genevieve is a beautiful bookworm; Richard is a rake and a bastard; Neville is a villainous greedy neighbor; Genevieve's aunt is a silly older woman, there's a cat, a dog, a pond... Everything has been already used in countless romance novels!

The plot was like that also: a bastard rake wants the ton acknowledge; the bookworm has a jewel that will make it so; the rake will get the jewel seducing (just a little, without ruining her!!!) the bookworm; the bookworm is suspicious; the rake is "disguised"; the rake falls in love with the bookworm; the bookworm resists, but at the end she falls in love too; the villain want the jewel too and first want to marry the bookworm, then tries to force her, then to kill them both... You see what I mean?

I'm still asking myself why this happened? Where's the mystery? Where's the sizzling chemistry, the explosive heat when the MC come together? Where's the thrilling sensation? Where's the doom?

There's nothing of that here... Sadly...

As I said before: this book earned 3 stars only because of the dialogue!

I hope the next book in the series(Cam's story?) will be better and more faithful to Ms. Campbell's other books!

[Nas Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

A RAKE’S MIDNIGHT KISS is a September 2013 release by author Anna Campbell.

The day Richard Harmsworth broke into the vicarage to look for the Harmsworth jewel was the most exciting day of Genevieve Barrett’s life. She felt something while being held in the burglar’s arms. After he locked her in and without taking anything from her home walked away, she was intrigued.

So, when she met Richard in the guise of simple Mr. Evans, she had the niggling feeling she knew him. Of course, she remembered his cologne.
Richard Harmsworth was just after the Harmsworth jewel that would give him his rightful place in the society. He was a born bastard and had to endure it. But the jewel was bequeathed to Genevieve. And she had no intention of selling or parting with it. How would Richard get it from her? And now there were more people after it.

A RAKE’S MIDNIGHT KISS is a sensational romance, which is filled with mystery and danger as well as intrigue. The dialogue is fast and witty. This is another fabulous mesmerizing romance from the brilliant regency romance author Anna Campbell.

[Amarilli 73 · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 - Tutta un’altra storia rispetto al primo volume.
Questo si è rivelato avvincente, divertente e con due protagonisti che non vogliono cedere. Da un lato, Richard, deciso a mostrarsi sotto copertura per recuperare il famoso gioiello simbolo della propria famiglia (ritenuto la prova della legittimità del titolo) e, dall'altro, miss Barrett, figlia nubile di un vicario di provincia e anch'essa studiosa sotto copertura.
Bonus: Sirius, il villaggio simpatico, i battibecchi tra i due.
Semplicemente adorabile.

[Alex ✴︎ · Rating 2 out of 5]

To be honest, this book was pretty bland and generic. I'm starting to see a lot of the same tired plot points and characterizations in historical romances, and this book was just nothing particularly special.

Historical romances tend to include these things:
-a practical, (sometimes fiery or bubbly) heroine who is still pretty naive and ignorant when it comes to romance and who (sooner or later) throws caution/intelligence/rational thought to the wind due to their desire for the hero
-a hero who is either dark/broody (dangerous/scary) or a womanizer (enigmatic/charming) but is always more worldly than the heroine
-the hero becomes so obsessed with the heroine by the 65% mark that all he can do is wax poetic regarding how beautiful/special/passionate/amazing/insert adjective here the heroine is. His whole life becomes the heroine. Usually includes the hero doing some wacky protective shenanigans (that always end up saving the heroine)
-irredeemably evil (male) or bitchy/jealous (female) villain with about all the subtlety of an elephant

And I'm not inherently mad at these tropes- it's just that they are used in such a tired and bland way in a lot of the HR I've read. Anyway...

Genevieve Barrett is the daughter of a vicar and an academic, who is the secret brains behind her father's work. Richard Harmsworth is a bastard, but is inheriting due to being the only heir. His status as a bastard really rubs him the wrong way and hatches a bit of a harebrained plot to take back the legendary Harmsworth jewel which is supposedly only to be owned by the actual Harmsworth line, thus silencing the gossip surrounding his birth. Genevieve is in possession of said jewel, so Richard decides to go undercover in order to take the jewel from her.

The premise was fun, and the first 50% kept me entertained enough, however past that the flaws of this book started to sink in.

Genevieve, for being book smart, is pretty naive and has her fair share of dumb moments, which were a bit frustrating. Although her dialogue was pretty biting and quick-witted, her actual deductive reasoning skills left a lot to be desired and her emotional intelligence was just not up to par. This was a bit frustrating because I feel like in HRs a lot of times heroines are so emotionally unintelligent and can't be rational, and this was the case with Genevieve. Sometimes her attraction to Richard prevented her from making good decisions. She's mad at him, then absolutely insists she must be with him, and then is mad at him again (when the plot needed some conflict between the two.) It's just not really interesting.

The last 50% became pretty melodramatic. There were a lot of grand gestures and feelings changing from chapter to chapter and I got whiplash. Richard becomes obsessed with protecting Genevieve and it's like he BREATHES and DIES for her. It got a bit too sickly sweet and the conflicts between the two were boring because the conflicts stemmed from the hero doing something problematic (aka lying about his identity in order to get the jewel) and then the heroine is *rightfully* mad but then takes him back a chapter later, which we all knew was going to happen. There is just not a lot of tension or interesting things going on thematically with these kind of conflicts.

Harmsworth was a typical HR hero, he was fine but forgettable and not particularly interesting. He was a bit cringe at some points but eh, what can you do.

As Gordon Ramsay would say: Where's the finesse? Where's the lamb sauce?

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this smoldering romance by one of my favorite authors! Genevieve Barrett is tired of living in her father's shadow and is ready to break free and show the world who really writes up his academic articles by publishing her research on the mysterious Harmsworth Jewel. Unfortunately, the jewel was left to her by an aunt and Sir Richard Harmsworth wants it back for himself and will go to any means to obtain it back...even steal. When the break in goes awry, he is drawn to the prickly Genevieve and devises a new plan that involves going undercover to seduce the lady and get the jewel back. What he does not expect is to have Genevieve help him find himself and fall hard for her. When a vile threat poses too great of a risk to Genevieve's life, Richard knows he must tell her the truth before it is too late. Will Genevieve be able to forgive the deceit and hurt that Richard has caused?

Reading an Anna Campbell romance is always guaranteed to make me smile, blush and devour the book to fast and wish I had not! This book accomplished all of that and more! I adored Genevieve with her appealing, clever, prickly demeanor she is just the right woman to help Richard see past the views of society to the man he truly is. She can see that his heart is heavily guarded due to his mothers indiscretion that lead to his birth and it has shaped him into the man he is today. Richard has grown up with being sneered at in society as all of society knows he is not the true heir, even if he was accepted by his father. She finds herself misjudging him just as everyone else has done but she gradually sees him for the kind, brave, perceptive handsome man he is. The only thing that really bothered my about the wonderful story was the deception. I understand why Richard did what he did but it is always a touchy subject for me, especially when he choose to finally reveal his true identity to Genevieve. I thought the villain aspect was well done and worked well within this story. Anna Campbell writes with her usual lush descriptions and smoldering passion and I got swept away by the delicious romance of Richard and Genevieve! 4 stars

eARC provided by Grand Central Publishing via netgalley

[Abby Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anna Campbell is an auto buy for me. Loved this second story in the Sons of Sin series. Genevieve is a stunning, independent and sensual heroine. Richard is a gorgeous hero, full of layers and depths and sexy HOT. Can't wait for book #3. Cam's story.

[Natasha Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aww this one was sweet! I loved Sir Richard! I thought his silliness was just that, him being silly. But the more you get to see his true self you see it’s his amour. And boy the relationship he had with his dog 🥰 there’s something so telling when a man cares for his dog like that!
.
I liked Genevieve, she was strong, smart and determined. There were a few moments I wanted to shake her but her character was fully formed and you absolutely understand why she is the way she is.
.
Their relationship and their dialogue together was great! The chemistry and back and forth banter was brilliant! I loved Cam and Jonas’s evolvement and especially Cams confrontation scene. His lines in the previous book when he said mice and this one when he mentions godfather, they brought such a smile to my face!
.
It’s a good and easy read. I’d class it not as steamy but more romantic. And that did feel like it took a while to get to. But I enjoyed it, it wasn’t gripping but was definitely a pleasant read!

[Nancy Goodman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, I’ve said it before but it never gets old and it bears repeating. I love Anna. I love the way she writes, so full of emotion, heart and soul. Her characters feel, and because of her expressive, beautiful writing, you feel for them too.
So when Anna came out with her Sons of Sins series, I was right on that happy bandwagon. A Rake’s Midnight Kiss is the second of the trilogy (although who knows if there may be more…) and is the story of the scandalous Lord Harmsworth, who can’t live down the scandal of his birth. For while he was acknowledged by his father as legitimate, the entire Ton knew better, as his father had not been in the country for well over a year. He wants to recover the famous Harmsworth jewel, which he believes can restore his family status by cementing his position as the family heir. Unfortunately, he doesn’t possess it and he discovers it is hidden, out in the country under the very studious nose of Miss Genevieve Barrett.
When Sir Richard discovers who has the jewel, he sneaks into the house to snatch it back, only he ends up snatching a kiss from a lovely lady. He then masquerades as a scholarly student, worming his way into her home and ultimately into her heart. It’s not an easy road to love, as Genevieve believes she is a spinster and is most untrustworthy of this strange man.
Who is is and why does he smell so familiar?
Genevive is a brilliant scholar, who has been writing her father’s academic articles for years, without credit to her name. She has been given the jewel and has no intention of giving it up, no matter how hard this mysterious stranger tries to seduce it out of her. Nor is she willing to marry and give herself and her jewel over to an odious Marquess.
When attacks on her home star occurring with frequency, she knows it is concerning the jewel. For only a moment, Genevieve believes Richard is gulity. Richard has his own ideas who the criminal is. I enjoyed seeing Jonas Merrick and of course Cam, the Duke of Sedgemoor back in the picture
(And being the shameless Book Slut that I am, I can’t WAIT for Cam’s book)
I won’t give the ending away, but it is a sweet moment for Richard when he realizes he has fallen for a woman who he normally wouldn’t have given a second thought to.
And, I will agree that this epilogue is probably the BEST ONE EVER…snuggle up with a big box of tissues and let the tears flow.

[Keri · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I don't think this 2nd book was as strong as the first book in the series, it was still a really good read. This was Richard's book. He was the slightly foppish natural child in the first book. Of course it was all for show and the ending was very emotional with Richard's mom and I wish that part could have been drawn out a bit more. Looking forward to Cam's book.

[Ana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Out of all of Anna Campbell's heroes, I like Richard least. It's just that he knows he's doing something wrong and still he persists when he has little to gain or loose. He felt really childish and the couple was less interesting than I expected. Still there is no denying that this is a well written book, I just wish there was a little more tension and a better plot.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so loved this story Ms Campbell has written another one that will go on my keeper shelf Richard is such a romantic hero and I fell for him instantly and Genevieve is so lovely, this is a story of seduction romance and excitement as Richard and Genevieve journey to their HEA a must read.

[Viri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pues a pesar de haber tenido un inicio súper lento al final me pareció un libro bonito que me entretuvo, no estuvo por mucho cerca de lo bueno que fue el primero pero simplemente fue disfrutable. Pasando la mitad del libro por supuesto jajaja

[Tin · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a while to finish this book because I couldn't stay immersed in the story of Richard and Genevieve and this puzzled me a bit because I love Anna Campbell and have enjoyed all of her previous books.

I loved the idea of the Harmsworth Jewel and the quest to restore it to the Harmsworth family, but I did not like the idea of Sir Richard's plan in order to do so. Deception in romance novels never sit well with me, but I usually read through those books because the action is almost always "justified" by the deceiver in the end.

In this case, I could not accept Sir Richard's justification for wanting to take the jewel away from Genevieve. According to legend, the jewel confirms the rightful succession of the Harmsworth heir, and Richard believes that possession of the jewel will silence the rumours of his bastardy once and for all. But Richard is a bastard, and anyone with even the smallest ounce of common sense could figure the questionable circumstances of Richard's birth sixteen months after his "father" left for a diplomatic assignment to the continent. This does not stop Sir Richard from carrying out his plan: he dyes his hair, takes on the false name of Christopher Evans, and has himself introduced as a scholar to Genevieve's father.

Sir Richard is a man driven by his impulses and he justifies all his actions by recalling the "difficulties" he experienced because of his bastardy. There are moments in the story when his friend, Cam, the Duke of Sedgemoor, tries to reason with him (read: Chapter 20) and Richard's own introspection proves that he realises his wrong judgment. But he turns a blind eye to it! Sigh~

He suffered a momentary pang that he didn't pursue her as his real self. But then, Genevieve would despise the shallow Sir Richard Harmsworth. Hell, she didn't much like Christopher Evans.
- Chapter 5

And I didn't like reading about Genevieve's corruption at the hands of Sir Richard Harmsworth. At the beginning of the story, I was very sympathetic to Genevieve's situation. She's an intellectual who is dedicated to her research, but her father has taken credit for all the academic papers that she's written, dangling her with promises of "sharing" the credit for her future work. She displays her keen intelligence when she was able to figure out that it was Christopher Evans/Richard Harmsworth who broke into the vicarage and then she was able to deduce the motive of the break-in (Read: Chapter 9).

Now she understood why every instinct had leaped to alert the first time he'd sauntered into the parlour. No wonder his touch had always felt familiar. It wasn't some mystical affinity. He'd held her close when he'd disarmed her.

Last night, she'd stormed back through the dark woods, determined to denounce Mr. Evans. How she loathed a thief. Her father had spent the last ten years stealing her work without an ounce of compunction. Now the first man to kiss her turned out to be a thief too.
- Chapter 9

Even her conversations with Christopher/Richard displayed her remarkable sharpness -- she was Ego to his Id, but, as the story progressed and, as their relationship developed, Genevieve slowly lost that very likeable/admirable rational quality of hers and became so ... enraptured by carnal/physical pleasures that she forgot to see reason in all things:

1. She was careless enough to reveal the jewel to Lord Neville, her father's patron, who has a dangerous reputation for acquiring historical pieces regardless of cost. Considering that someone had already broken in, and she knew that the burglar was after the jewel, I would have thought she would be more careful and more circumspect about whom she shared the information (and the jewel) with.
2. She had devoted so much of her time writing the paper regarding the Harmsworth Jewel, and all she needed to do was submit her final draft for publication, which would allow her to step out of her father's shadow and ensure her own place in the academic field -- and she was going to give it all up to save Christopher/Richard's reputation. Sigh~

There's a point in every story where the writer must decide the reason for sex between the hero and heroine. In some stories, there is usually a moment when the heroine feels vulnerable and turns to the hero for comfort. In Genevieve's case, she had been kidnapped and mauled by Lord Neville in his carriage -- more would have happened, if Christopher/Richard hadn't chased after them and caught them. Despite Genevieve's suspicions about Christopher/Richard's motive for being in Little Derrick and his involvement in the series of break-ins at their house (at this point, 3 times), she turns to him and admits that she wants him.

I often see this point as a test of the hero's resolve and honour. A heroic hero, an honourable hero would refuse the offer and see the heroine safely home and find another way to comfort her -- he would need give in to his own needs and desires -- I have yet to meet a hero who has passed this test. All have succumbed to the irresistible temptation offered by the heroine. In Richard's case, I thought that act was doubly dishonourable because he hadn't yet admitted his true identity to Genevieve. In fact, part of Richard's plan was to seduce and "soften" Genevieve enough that she might be more amenable malleable to selling the jewel to him.

Her hands curled in his shirt. "Please make me forget what happened tonight."

Oh God, God, God. She sounded so hurt, so wretched. So bereft.

He stared blindly above her and hoped darkness hid the bulge in his trousers. "No."

"Oh."

...

But no man with a heart could ignore the plea in that trembling hand.

Knowing that he tested his principles but unable to do otherwise, he seized her hand. Her fingers clenched hard around his.

"I can't resist you," he muttered, hoping she wouldn't hear.

She straightened and faced him, bewilderment clear in the flickering light. "I don't understand."

For one moment more, he held back. If he'd marched her to the vicarage when she'd first offered, he'd have kept his hands to himself. But what could a man do when he wanted a woman as badly as he wanted this one and she promised to make all his dreams come true?

"Hell, Genevieve," he groaned in defeat and swept her into his arms.
- Chapter 23

While I did not like the premise of the story, I did appreciate the conflict presented by the writer:
1. Sir Richard ingratiates himself into the Barrett household, hoping to get close to Genevieve. Initially, it's because of the jewel, but, as he gets to know Genevieve more, he realises that she is a jewel far more precious than the Harmsworth Jewel. It seems a matter of semantics, but I saw Sir Richard struggle morally with his wanting to stay, with his wanting to be with Genevieve.
2. Lord Neville was a formidable antagonist, and I truly wondered how Campbell would have resolved this. (Without spoiling anything, I enjoyed how the author handled this part of the story. ^_^)

The very human need for Belonging and the aspiration to Worthiness are also very clear in this story. Richard yearns it from the society he moves in, and Genevieve secretly wishes for it from her father. The small town of Little Derrick also serves as an apt backdrop for this story, offering the very striking reminder that love (and answers) are found in the most unlikely places.

...it surprised Richard how easily everyone accepted him as rich Mr. Evans from Shropshire. He wasn't used to meeting people without the scandal surrounding his birth tainting introductions. It was both appealing and galling, reminding him yet again of the barriers his bastardy placed between him and the world.
- Chapter 4

* * *

"...I like Little Derrick. They're good people, better people than I've met hanging around society, pretending that nobody sneered at me. No one here gives a rat's arse about the fall of my cravat or the cut of my coat. Damn it, they like Christopher Evans. I like Christopher Evans. I never had much truck with Richard Harmsworth. He was a dashed scurvy fellow."
- Chapter 20

I really loved the first book in the series and was surprised at the change of tone in Richard's story. Jonas's story was a bit dark and very emotional. This book was very light and had a lot of humour in it. I will continue to read this series: from what I've read of Cam in this story, I'm definitely curious about What a Duke Dares

[Caz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review from 2014

I had a hard time rating this as an audiobook. I really liked the print edition and gave it 4.5 stars (B+), but as an audio, it only rates 3.5 stars (B-).

I read and enjoyed A Rake’s Midnight Kiss early in 2013 and was very much looking forward to revisiting it in audio format. I’d already listened to the previous book in the series (Seven Nights in a Rogue's Bed) and will admit to having reservations about Mr. Ferguson’s narration, principally due to one particular vocal tick that got on my nerves after an hour or so. But I like to follow series and see if the performers develop and make changes to their interpretations from book to book, and I’m pleased to report the absence of the particular quirk that had so annoyed me before.

The hero of this story is Sir Richard Harmsworth, whom we met briefly in the previous book. Like his friends, Jonas Merrick and Camden Rothermere (hero of the next book), Richard has lived all his life dealing with slurs about his parentage. Although he is technically legitimate as his mother was married to Sir Lester Harmsworth at the time of his birth, Richard is not actually Sir Lester’s son, and everyone in society knows it. Even as a boy, he had to bear the taunts of his schoolmates, and as he grew into adulthood, he developed an ironclad defence mechanism, cultivating an even-temperedness and urbanity so that society believes him to be lazy and unconcerned about little more than his tailoring. Of course, having a thick skin doesn’t mean that the insults don’t sting, and when, on one particular evening, he is pushed beyond his limit, Richard vows to find the famous Harmsworth Jewel, an ancient artefact passed through the generations and always in the possession of the true heir to the Harmsworth name.

After searching for six months, Richard discovers the jewel is in the possession of Miss Geneveive Barrett, the daughter of a renowned medieval historian. She was left the jewel by Richard’s aunt, and has refused his offers to purchase it, so Richard hatches a scheme to pass himself off as a dilettante scholar by the name of Christopher Evans who wishes to study with Genevieve’s father. He thinks he will be able to persuade her to sell the jewel, or alternatively, seduce it out of her – but he has reckoned without the lady’s determination and tenacity.

The sparks begin to fly from the moment the pair set eyes on each other. Genevieve is immediately suspicious of the handsome charmer who is determined to flirt with her, and tries everything she can think of to put him off. In her innocence, she doesn’t realise that her put-downs and obvious displeasure in Mr. Evans’ company have exactly the opposite effect on that gentleman and only make him even more determined to succeed in his quest.

Of course, the longer she spends in Richard’s company, the more she begins to see that he’s not the louche lothario he first appeared to be. In spite of her wariness, she finds him to be good company, kind, and unexpectedly perceptive – a man she can trust.

For Richard’s part, he finds that he rather likes being Mr. Evans – discovering a new freedom that comes from feeling unfettered by his past, and which enables him to allow his true self free rein.

A Rake’s Midnight Kiss is an enjoyable, character driven romance laden with humour and sensuality in which the character development and plot are very well balanced. Both Genevieve and Richard grow as characters throughout the story – her horizons are broadened as she admits the possibility of a life that encompasses more than dusty books and parchments while Richard is finally able to let go of his demons and become the decent, kind, and loving man he was always meant to be.

While I thought Mr. Ferguson’s narration here was superior to that in the previous book, there were still some things I wasn’t happy with. He has a well modulated, pleasing voice and his diction is very good. He differentiates clearly between characters of different genders and performs female characters without making them sound shrill. I thought his interpretation of Genevieve worked very well for the most part, although I wasn’t particularly convinced by his characterisation of Richard. I know that in the first few chapters, he is still very much acting his assumed persona of bored rake, and Mr. Ferguson’s affected drawl was very appropriate for that. But as the story progresses and Richard’s mask begins to slip, I didn’t feel there was enough of a change in the vocal characterisation to reflect that development in his personality.

I had a major issue with the narration in terms of the emotional content – or lack thereof – in the more romantic scenes. What one enjoys listening to in love/sex scenes is very much a personal thing, so I don’t often offer a critique of a narrator’s performance in that area. But, as those scenes are so important to this particular genre, I feel it appropriate to comment on those occasions where I think that something is either missing, or has gone a little too far, and this audiobook falls into the former category. I needed to hear more emotional engagement from the narrator and by extension,the characters, in the love scenes, which fell rather flat.

One of the things I really enjoyed in the novel was the banter between Richard and Genevieve which was funny and frequently affectionate – the sense of which was almost completely lost in the audiobook. I kept waiting to hear the witty, flirtatious exchanges I recalled from the print version but they didn’t materialise and I started to wonder if I was listening to the same story!

This lack of emotional engagement also led me to another discovery – I didn’t enjoy the story as much in audio as I did in print. I gave the print version a B+ when I reviewed if for All About Romance but I just wasn’t as engrossed in the audio version, which put me in something of a quandary. The story is the story, so how could I give A Rake’s Midnight Kiss a lower content grade in audio than I did in print? But then I reasoned that, just as there are some audiobooks in which the performance enhances the story, the reverse can also be true. I wasn’t as caught up in the book as I had been when reading; I found myself rewinding because my attention had wandered or I’d get to the end of a car journey and not want to sit and wait until the end of the chapter before getting out! Therefore, I’ve lowered the content grade here although I want to emphasise the fact that I enjoyed the book. This might be one of those occasions when it’s best to stick to the printed page if you want to appreciate this story as it deserves.

[Funda41 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genevieve Barret sır tutmak konusunda uzmandır. Babasının adıyla yayımladığı makaleleri ise en büyük sırrıdır –ta ki etkileyici bir hırsız, Harmsworth Mücevheri’ni ondan çalmak isteyene dek. Genç kadın, babasının kusursuz yakışıklılıktaki öğrencisinin gerçek kimliğini açık etmek niyetinde değildir. Çünkü an itibariyle kendini en baştan çıkarıcı sırrın tam ortasında bulmuştur. Sör Richard ise hayatı boyunca soğukkanlı görüntüsünü korumuştur. Yaşadığı acı tecrübeler sonucunda duygusal ilişkilerin insanı sadece felakete sürüklediğini öğrenmiştir. Bir gün Harmsworth Mücevheri’ni –onun baronetlik üzerindeki hakkını kanıtlayan paha biçilemez sanat eserini– ele geçirmek için harekete geçer. Ancak kendisini sonsuza dek değiştirecek bir maceraya atıldığından habersizdir. Toplum gözündeki itibarını değiştireceğini düşündüğü bu mücevher için uğraş verirken, kendini taşın sahibi genç kadının cazibesine kapılmış bulacaktır. Onun kusursuz görünüşüne direnebilen bu kadının kabuğunu kırmak sandığı kadar kolay olmayacaktır.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars
I liked it but I didn't love it. The first half of the book bored me a little and I couldn't get into it. It just became one thing after another. The second half picked up but too little, too late for more than 3 stars rating. There was also just a little too much love/hate for me to enjoy this book better (too much "I hate him but I love him" for my taste). Also there was the "big misunderstanding" that could have been cleared up with an open conversation between the H/h. I really hate those.
But overall it was well written with likable characters.