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Wright Bastards #5
Ruining the Rake
A Rake with a Secret
The Honorable Reginald Vane doesn’t mind being known throughout London as a self-indulgent libertine. Years of pleasure-seeking properly earned him the notoriety. He decided long ago that he’d rather everyone believe him to be an ignoble reprobate and womanizer than allow them to discover the truth—that his entire existence is a lie.
A Woman of Wrath
Cecily Fairclough has a reputation amongst the fashionable ton for being a veritable shrew. Women eye her askance. Men dare each other to approach her. But she wasn’t always a sharp-tongued harridan. Betrayal reformed her. And now she does all she can to keep others from the same fate. Even if it means trusting a ruinous rake.
A Seductive Deception
When Reginald and Cecily engage in a fake courtship in order to win a devious wager, they only think they know what’s truly at stake. She will sacrifice her future to avenge evils of the past. He will forfeit his honor to protect a scandalous secret. But neither of them expects to lose their heart in the bargain.
The Honorable Reginald Vane doesn’t mind being known throughout London as a self-indulgent libertine. Years of pleasure-seeking properly earned him the notoriety. He decided long ago that he’d rather everyone believe him to be an ignoble reprobate and womanizer than allow them to discover the truth—that his entire existence is a lie.
A Woman of Wrath
Cecily Fairclough has a reputation amongst the fashionable ton for being a veritable shrew. Women eye her askance. Men dare each other to approach her. But she wasn’t always a sharp-tongued harridan. Betrayal reformed her. And now she does all she can to keep others from the same fate. Even if it means trusting a ruinous rake.
A Seductive Deception
When Reginald and Cecily engage in a fake courtship in order to win a devious wager, they only think they know what’s truly at stake. She will sacrifice her future to avenge evils of the past. He will forfeit his honor to protect a scandalous secret. But neither of them expects to lose their heart in the bargain.
322 pages, Paperback
Published July 18, 2023
24 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
Amy Sandas
116 books344 followersMy love of romance began one summer when I was thirteen and complained of boredom. I ended up with one of my mother's Barbara Cartland books and an obsessive interest that expanded from there. My affinity for writing began with sappy pre-teen poems and led to a Bachelor's degree with an emphasis on Creative Writing from the University of Minnesota--Twin Cities.
I love pizza, wine, and dark brooding heroes! With a husband, three kids, and two dogs at home, it can be difficult to find the time (and the motivation!) to write. But somehow the words keep showing up on the page. I am endlessly grateful to the many wonderful readers who enjoy my books and ask for more!
I love pizza, wine, and dark brooding heroes! With a husband, three kids, and two dogs at home, it can be difficult to find the time (and the motivation!) to write. But somehow the words keep showing up on the page. I am endlessly grateful to the many wonderful readers who enjoy my books and ask for more!
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 9, 2023
The Honorable Reginald Vane has entered into a wager with a villain and only the woman in his crosshairs can help Reginald take the man down. Cecily Fairclough has a reputation for being a shrew...it's a mantle she wears as protection. Can she sacrifice herself to bury the past, get revenge, and protect others?
This is the fifth book in the Wright Bastards series. This book can stand up well if you haven't read the others, but it's better as part of the series and in the whole connected Sandas book universe.
Reginald Vane would rather the ton believe him to be a reprobate and womanizer than a fraud. He's sworn not to marry because he and his twin brother are secretly illegitimate and tied to the notorious Wright bastards. Trying to recover a family property, he makes a wager with Lord Cross, who has been secretly ruining women and blackmailing them. Cecily fell for Cross's lies once; now, she'll reluctantly help Reginald if it means stopping Cross. I loved Cecily's and Reginald's enemies to unlikely accomplices to lovers relationship. The story unfolded at just the right pace and I felt like there was a good balance between their romance, the intrigue, and the background characters. I can't wait for Nicholas's story!
Tropes: Ruined, Wagered, Enemies to Lovers, Revenge-ish, Fake Relationship, Twins
Steam: 3
* I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
This is the fifth book in the Wright Bastards series. This book can stand up well if you haven't read the others, but it's better as part of the series and in the whole connected Sandas book universe.
Reginald Vane would rather the ton believe him to be a reprobate and womanizer than a fraud. He's sworn not to marry because he and his twin brother are secretly illegitimate and tied to the notorious Wright bastards. Trying to recover a family property, he makes a wager with Lord Cross, who has been secretly ruining women and blackmailing them. Cecily fell for Cross's lies once; now, she'll reluctantly help Reginald if it means stopping Cross. I loved Cecily's and Reginald's enemies to unlikely accomplices to lovers relationship. The story unfolded at just the right pace and I felt like there was a good balance between their romance, the intrigue, and the background characters. I can't wait for Nicholas's story!
Tropes: Ruined, Wagered, Enemies to Lovers, Revenge-ish, Fake Relationship, Twins
Steam: 3
* I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
July 28, 2023
This is my 15th book by Amy Sandas. I started reading her in June, 2020. She is becoming another of my favorite authors. I am loving this series. She gets such depth in her characters and the sex is always "off the chain hot" which I'll take any day.
I LOVED this story. I loved Reginald and Cecily and their personalities. Their chemistry just "jumped off the page". The sex was super hot. I loved the twist of this one. Reading over 300 books in the same genre a year you tend to read a lot of similar stories. I loved that this was a bit different with a very different twist. So damn good.
I marked it as one of my favorite reads for 2023. I would most definitely recommend.
I LOVED this story. I loved Reginald and Cecily and their personalities. Their chemistry just "jumped off the page". The sex was super hot. I loved the twist of this one. Reading over 300 books in the same genre a year you tend to read a lot of similar stories. I loved that this was a bit different with a very different twist. So damn good.
I marked it as one of my favorite reads for 2023. I would most definitely recommend.
September 3, 2024
Tropes: enemies to lovers; MMC makes a wager involving MFC; fake courtship becomes real
Steam level: 3
3.75 stars rounded up. I haven't read anything by Amy Sandas in a while, but her books do tend to draw me in right away and maintain the angst at just the right level to keep me reading. I'm not a fan of OTT HR's, and MFC Cecily was on the edge of being unlikable for possibly too long (MMC Reginald was super patient), but I still kept rooting for the couple's HEA. Some books lately I've felt that one (or both) of the MC's would never have been able to maintain a relationship irl, but the emotion between Cecily and Reginald kept bubbling to the surface, even during the steamy scenes. Their banter is strong and neither is a fool, plus the baddie really is an odious guy, so that helps.
Why this isn't a solid 4-5 stars (possible spoilers):
--Typos. I don't mind two or three, but if I have to reread more than a few sentences due to mistakes that got by the author/editor, it becomes a distraction.
--A bit purple-prosy at times.
--I felt that Reginald should have defended Cecily against his judgmental mom a lot more strongly. There really was no closure on that relationship. Nothing is sexier than a MMC who defends a MFC against detractors.
--I would have rather had a Public Big Reveal scene of the baddie's misdeeds than just the Big Misunderstanding that happened between the MC's. Off-page comeuppance leaves me cold.
Overall: not perfect, but engaging.
Steam level: 3
3.75 stars rounded up. I haven't read anything by Amy Sandas in a while, but her books do tend to draw me in right away and maintain the angst at just the right level to keep me reading. I'm not a fan of OTT HR's, and MFC Cecily was on the edge of being unlikable for possibly too long (MMC Reginald was super patient), but I still kept rooting for the couple's HEA. Some books lately I've felt that one (or both) of the MC's would never have been able to maintain a relationship irl, but the emotion between Cecily and Reginald kept bubbling to the surface, even during the steamy scenes. Their banter is strong and neither is a fool, plus the baddie really is an odious guy, so that helps.
Why this isn't a solid 4-5 stars (possible spoilers):
--Typos. I don't mind two or three, but if I have to reread more than a few sentences due to mistakes that got by the author/editor, it becomes a distraction.
--A bit purple-prosy at times.
--I felt that Reginald should have defended Cecily against his judgmental mom a lot more strongly. There really was no closure on that relationship. Nothing is sexier than a MMC who defends a MFC against detractors.
--I would have rather had a Public Big Reveal scene of the baddie's misdeeds than just the Big Misunderstanding that happened between the MC's. Off-page comeuppance leaves me cold.
Overall: not perfect, but engaging.
November 12, 2023
Heroine: Cecily Fairclough, age unknown. Has a reputation as a man-hater.
Hero: Reginald Vane, age unknown. Heir to Viscount Withersfield. Has a reputation as a rake and has vowed to never marry.
Date: 1831
How they meet: At a ball, Reginald is dared to try to win over Cecily, who is known to be uncharmable and cold. A man from whom Reginald has unsuccessfully been trying to obtain an estate, makes a bet with him: if Reginald can get a public declaration of love out of Cecily, he will win the estate. (The man wishes to see Cecily ruined. Even though Reginald isn’t keen on ruining her, he desperately wants the estate and figures he can come up with a way to save her reputation.) Reginald approaches Cecily at the ball and she rejects him.
What happens: Reginald and Cecily talk at another ball. She has caught onto the fact that some sort of wager has generated his interest in her. It turns out the man who made the bet with Reginald is someone Cecily has a huge grudge against. She offers to help him win the bet if he does something in return for her. Their mutual enemy has a key that she wants in order to gain access to what he has locked up at the estate that is the point of the wager. They agree to work together for the six week duration of the bet.
Verdict: The reader needs to have patience with the heroine, who is rather cold and very slow to warm up. Even though she has good reason for how she is, and honorable intentions in her efforts to bring down a certain lord, it is still difficult to like her. The hero is more charming, and the reader gradually learns the extent of the hurt he has been carrying since he was a teenager and how it has affected his outlook on life. The way the wager is resolved was unexpected. I have only read the prequel to the series, not books 1-4. I have a hunch some of the side characters were probably introduced earlier in the series, but it still read fine as a standalone.
Steam-level: steamy and explicit
Rating: 3 stars
Hero: Reginald Vane, age unknown. Heir to Viscount Withersfield. Has a reputation as a rake and has vowed to never marry.
Date: 1831
How they meet: At a ball, Reginald is dared to try to win over Cecily, who is known to be uncharmable and cold. A man from whom Reginald has unsuccessfully been trying to obtain an estate, makes a bet with him: if Reginald can get a public declaration of love out of Cecily, he will win the estate. (The man wishes to see Cecily ruined. Even though Reginald isn’t keen on ruining her, he desperately wants the estate and figures he can come up with a way to save her reputation.) Reginald approaches Cecily at the ball and she rejects him.
What happens: Reginald and Cecily talk at another ball. She has caught onto the fact that some sort of wager has generated his interest in her. It turns out the man who made the bet with Reginald is someone Cecily has a huge grudge against. She offers to help him win the bet if he does something in return for her. Their mutual enemy has a key that she wants in order to gain access to what he has locked up at the estate that is the point of the wager. They agree to work together for the six week duration of the bet.
Verdict: The reader needs to have patience with the heroine, who is rather cold and very slow to warm up. Even though she has good reason for how she is, and honorable intentions in her efforts to bring down a certain lord, it is still difficult to like her. The hero is more charming, and the reader gradually learns the extent of the hurt he has been carrying since he was a teenager and how it has affected his outlook on life. The way the wager is resolved was unexpected. I have only read the prequel to the series, not books 1-4. I have a hunch some of the side characters were probably introduced earlier in the series, but it still read fine as a standalone.
Steam-level: steamy and explicit
Rating: 3 stars
July 23, 2023
Oh, my! How I loved this book! I knew the twins had potential (check the previous book, Charming the Rogue, for a first glimpse of these two gorgeous specimens of men, but the book is totally a standalone) and this book really lived up to my expectations. The main characters have such chemistry and they are both suffering under the constraints of polite society, even if they try to rebel against it. They are really soul mates and it shows! The lovemaking scenes are wonderfully written, full of emotions, of real feelings. I was there with them all the time, I WAS them, Reginald and Cecily in turn, I felt everything they felt. And this is the greatest talent for an author, in my opinion. Even if they are both very different from me, I could relate to them. Wonderful book, really worth reading. And now I can’t wait for Nik’s book!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 15, 2023
This series is excellently-written and each book is so good (not one is better than the other, take my word and read them all and judge for yourself). Amy is so good at tension written into the stories. I swear if you were watching these characters, you would get uncomfortable for them (oh, and that is a fantastic thing to be). Reginald, bless his heart, thinks he is the rakeist of rakes but lo and behold he has a downfall (make that an upfall)…enter Cecily. These two are so good together and their flirtatious innuendoes are out of this world sexy. I absolutely love Amy’s writing and think she is one of the best authors in this genre.
I am so looking forward to Nicholas’ story (he is so dark and broody, I think for a reason and I am anxious to find out why).
I received a complimentary copy.
I am so looking forward to Nicholas’ story (he is so dark and broody, I think for a reason and I am anxious to find out why).
I received a complimentary copy.
July 4, 2024
I seriously loved this story about a jaded rake, Reginald, who gets more than he bargained for when he agreed to a wager involving the acerbic Miss Cecily. She turns the tables on him and they both decide to put on like they're having a fake courtship.
Reginald and his twin brother Nic are the two youngest bastards sired by the late Earl of Wright. Although born within the marriage of his mother and the man they call father, Reginald has always felt like a liar and an imposter.
Cecily has made it her mission to prevent other ladies from suffering her fate at the hands of an ignoble Lord. The one who set Reginald in her direction.
Reginald and Cecily are strangely right for each other. Falling in love takes them both by surprise. This is a sweet and sexy romance with plenty of spice.
Worth a read.
Reginald and his twin brother Nic are the two youngest bastards sired by the late Earl of Wright. Although born within the marriage of his mother and the man they call father, Reginald has always felt like a liar and an imposter.
Cecily has made it her mission to prevent other ladies from suffering her fate at the hands of an ignoble Lord. The one who set Reginald in her direction.
Reginald and Cecily are strangely right for each other. Falling in love takes them both by surprise. This is a sweet and sexy romance with plenty of spice.
Worth a read.
September 14, 2024
It took me days to struggle thru this book. I am seeing a pattern with this author. All of her FC are soooo strong-willed, hostile, argumentative and judgmental to the point I can’t even see how the FC/MC have chemistry. More so in this specific book. I felt absolutely no chemistry with them even during the naughty bits, just rolled my eyes at that point and I don’t know how someone like Reggie would want the cold fish that is Cecily. Her attitude was a turnoff.
July 18, 2023
A great series all the books are great in their own way with lots going on and some suspense added in. The only complaint with this one is the downfall of Lord Cross felt a little rushed and a bit of an after thought. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 30, 2023
Once again, an amazing story to add to an amazing series. Cecily & Reginald are a great pair. I loved watching them fall in love with each other. The beginning was a little rocky, but it truly made the story great. Lots of all the good stuff, romance, suspense, action and rakishly good behavior.
July 24, 2023
Another great read from one of my favourite Author. Ruining the rake is the fifth book in the story and it's not a disappointment. It has enemy to lovers, misunderstanding, passion, laughter and HEA. A definite big thumb up.
August 10, 2023
This one felt tonally different than the others in the series but in a good way. It felt fresh. I love a good wager and I love a hero who knows what he wants. I’m excited for Nic and hopefully Miss Spencer’s story 👀
September 8, 2024
Entertaining book. The banter between Cecily and Reginald gave me laugh out loud moments, even though they were in a serious situation. I enjoyed the characters and their interaction, and the story line. Definitely recommend.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews