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Neville Family & Friends #3
Never Romance a Rake
In this sizzling third book in New York Times bestselling author Liz Carlyle's compelling historical trilogy, a cynical rake joins a sinister game of cards with dangerously seductive stakes.
If he wins this hand...
Shunning the glittering elite of high society Kieran, Baron Rothewell, prefers the dangerous pursuits of London's demimonde. Hardened by a tormented past, he cares little for anyone or anything. So how can he resist the wager proposed by the dissolute Comte de Valigny? A hand of cards for the possession of the comte's exquisite daughter.
Will he win her heart?
Abandoned by her highborn father -- until he decides to use her -- Mademoiselle Camille Marchand puts no trust in an aristocrat's honor, especially that of the notorious baron. She too is gambling -- for her life -- and Rothwell is just one more card to be used. But whatever dark desires run through his veins call to her own, and the heart plays its own game -- winner take all!
436 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
65 people are currently reading
1123 people want to read
About the author
Liz Carlyle
46 books846 followersDear Readers,
The awful truth about novelists is that we are mostly dull, introverted homebodies who only write in order to live our fantasies vicariously. I came to writing rather late in life, and I’m still amazed I can get paid for doing something I love, and that I get to stay home while I do it.
My favorite comedian Steve Martin once said, "I believe entertainment can aspire to be art, and can become art. But if you set out to make art, you’re an idiot." I have never tried to create art, but I do try to tell one heck of a good story. Yes, I try to write with a hot iron, while the heat of the story is in me. And I try, always, to entertain my readers.
Regards,
Liz
The awful truth about novelists is that we are mostly dull, introverted homebodies who only write in order to live our fantasies vicariously. I came to writing rather late in life, and I’m still amazed I can get paid for doing something I love, and that I get to stay home while I do it.
My favorite comedian Steve Martin once said, "I believe entertainment can aspire to be art, and can become art. But if you set out to make art, you’re an idiot." I have never tried to create art, but I do try to tell one heck of a good story. Yes, I try to write with a hot iron, while the heat of the story is in me. And I try, always, to entertain my readers.
Regards,
Liz
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
August 4, 2009
I loved this book because it is totally different in style from the other Carlyle books I've read, so fans of Carlyle beware: no mushy, sweet, loving, adoring heroes in this one.
The hero, Kieran, wins the hand of the heroine in a card game. He doesn't particularly care for a wife, but in a spurr of the moment he decides to save her from a rake worse than himself, plus he desires her. Besides, he's just learned he's probably terminally ill, so it's not like this is going to be with her forever...
Camille, raised in France, needs an English husband before her 28th birthday due in 2 months, so she can win a portion of her grandfather's inheritance. If she also manages to get with child within 2 years, she will gain the rest of the inheritance and thus become independant from her lecherous father. So, she's more than happy to go on with this marriage, thinking she can use her husband to get with child and have nothing more to do with him besides that. After all, he's a known rake who's already told her she shouldn't count on him in any way.
Both Kieran and Camille, are people who carry their own burden. Camille has been self sufficient for too long and believes that caring for Kieran, who still continues to drink and stay all night out after their marriage, will only lead to suffering. Kieran on the other hand, tries to keep his distance because he believes that it would be easier for Camille to cope with his death if she doesn't care at all for him. But they are both misfits, people who have never been loved by anyone before, and the glimpse of care and kindness that they see in each other pulls them together. The fact that there is a powerful sexual attraction between them doesn't hurt either.
Camille is the right woman for Kieran; strong enough to pull him out of his path to self destruction and also overcome her own fear of trusting her heart to a man. Kieran is a man who doesn't speak much, but his actions prove to Camille there is tenderness and feelings for her under his tough facade, even though he refuses to aknowledge them.
I really liked seeing those two taking small steps everyday to get out of their shells and very gradualy fall in love. It was not a love in first sight match, or a sweet, tender, teenage romance. Both Camille and Kieran behaved as real grown ups and had some really heavy baggage to carry. The transition from two strangers to two people deeply caring for each other was smooth and tentative and tender and neither too fast nor too slow; no sudden epiphanies for the heroes in this one. It's also stripped of Carlyle's usual melodrama, over sentimentalism and flowery dialogues. People in favor of more sweet and loving than aloof and self-controlled heroes/heroines should pass this one.
The hero, Kieran, wins the hand of the heroine in a card game. He doesn't particularly care for a wife, but in a spurr of the moment he decides to save her from a rake worse than himself, plus he desires her. Besides, he's just learned he's probably terminally ill, so it's not like this is going to be with her forever...
Camille, raised in France, needs an English husband before her 28th birthday due in 2 months, so she can win a portion of her grandfather's inheritance. If she also manages to get with child within 2 years, she will gain the rest of the inheritance and thus become independant from her lecherous father. So, she's more than happy to go on with this marriage, thinking she can use her husband to get with child and have nothing more to do with him besides that. After all, he's a known rake who's already told her she shouldn't count on him in any way.
Both Kieran and Camille, are people who carry their own burden. Camille has been self sufficient for too long and believes that caring for Kieran, who still continues to drink and stay all night out after their marriage, will only lead to suffering. Kieran on the other hand, tries to keep his distance because he believes that it would be easier for Camille to cope with his death if she doesn't care at all for him. But they are both misfits, people who have never been loved by anyone before, and the glimpse of care and kindness that they see in each other pulls them together. The fact that there is a powerful sexual attraction between them doesn't hurt either.
Camille is the right woman for Kieran; strong enough to pull him out of his path to self destruction and also overcome her own fear of trusting her heart to a man. Kieran is a man who doesn't speak much, but his actions prove to Camille there is tenderness and feelings for her under his tough facade, even though he refuses to aknowledge them.
I really liked seeing those two taking small steps everyday to get out of their shells and very gradualy fall in love. It was not a love in first sight match, or a sweet, tender, teenage romance. Both Camille and Kieran behaved as real grown ups and had some really heavy baggage to carry. The transition from two strangers to two people deeply caring for each other was smooth and tentative and tender and neither too fast nor too slow; no sudden epiphanies for the heroes in this one. It's also stripped of Carlyle's usual melodrama, over sentimentalism and flowery dialogues. People in favor of more sweet and loving than aloof and self-controlled heroes/heroines should pass this one.
January 13, 2009
This book was an enjoyable read. I must admit that Kieran's determination to debauch himself into the grave was a bit annoying at times. He had some serious guilt over an infraction he committed against his brother many years ago, and was horribly abused by his uncle guardian. Fundamentally, he has a lot of self-hatred which drives his cycle of drinking, carousing, and not taking care of himself. One thing I liked is that although it appears that he is saving Camille, she is actually saving him. He never even rethought his lifestyle until she came into his life and gave him something to live for. He carries on the act (minus the carousing) into the marriage, but Camille's backbone and determination are the factors which help him to turn his life around. Carlyle is an exquisite writer. I do enjoy reading her books. Her love scenes are pretty hot but tasteful. I didn't like the first love scene because it felt tawdry, but then maybe that was the point. This is rather early on into their relationship, and Kieran hasn't faced that his feelings for Camille are deeper than sexual. The other love scenes have more of the emotions that were missing from the first one. It was nice to see Kemble in this one. He's a fixture in the Carlyle books. This is actually the third in the trio after Never Decieve a Duke and Never Lie to a Lady, so we meet the two prior couples after the fact. However this doesn't spoil the book. This works well as a standalone, although you will probably be tempted to go back and read the other books, as you will probably find the supporting characters interesting and engaging enough to read more of their stories. I would say that this book shines because of its heroine. She is strong and a survivor. She's very intelligent and pragmatic. She's not a whiny, insipid, stupid heroine that makes you want to throw the book down out of frustration. In fact, her balanced, mature personality is a saving grace for Kieran, and ultimately it is why I did like this book so much. She's had a rough life, but she is determined to succeed in having a better future. Her grit is irresistible. I also like that she is so very French, but not in a stereotypical way (at least not to me). I also liked that Carlyle uses the slavery culture of Barbados as a major plot point, as Kieran grew up there. It plays a role in shaping why Kieran has the issues he does, and becomes part of his mission for the future once he turns his life around. While this was not my favorite book by Carlyle, it was engaging and a keeper. I have an issue with prolonged self-pity (everyone is allowed five minutes and then you need to move on), so I think that is why this wasn't five stars.
July 14, 2025
3.5 to 4 stars. This one started a bit slowly, but gradually became more interesting and engaging as it went on, till by the end it was a full 4 stars. It did take a while for both Rothewell and Camille's rather complicated back stories to be unpacked.
Rothewell had a difficult and cruel upbringing in Barbados with a (literally) wicked uncle, and he had the scars to show for it. Camille also had a horrid childhood, in France, with self-centred, uncaring parents. Rothewell and Camille entered a marriage of convenience, with neither expecting too much from the other, although basic attraction underlay it all. As time went on and they grappled with the realities of their marriage that started so awkwardly, they began to understand and trust each other. And of course they fell in love.
I liked the way the storyline and the romance played out. The relationship felt genuine, and you were left with the feeling that their marriage was a good one that would last. An enjoyable and believable HR, with some interesting, non-typical elements, and also a couple of twists I didn't anticipate but that felt right.
Rothewell had a difficult and cruel upbringing in Barbados with a (literally) wicked uncle, and he had the scars to show for it. Camille also had a horrid childhood, in France, with self-centred, uncaring parents. Rothewell and Camille entered a marriage of convenience, with neither expecting too much from the other, although basic attraction underlay it all. As time went on and they grappled with the realities of their marriage that started so awkwardly, they began to understand and trust each other. And of course they fell in love.
I liked the way the storyline and the romance played out. The relationship felt genuine, and you were left with the feeling that their marriage was a good one that would last. An enjoyable and believable HR, with some interesting, non-typical elements, and also a couple of twists I didn't anticipate but that felt right.
November 6, 2014
3.5
Una lectura muy entretenida, aunque no ha sido lo que me esperaba.
La historia empieza muy bien, con ese tipo de relaciones que a mí me gustan y buenos diálogos.Aunque él no se porta del todo bien.
El argumento parte de una situación bastante original, el problema es que suenamoramiento me ha parecido algo precipitado, sobre todo, teniendo en cuenta la actitud de él.
Pero en general la novela me ha gustado.
Una saga recomendable
Una lectura muy entretenida, aunque no ha sido lo que me esperaba.
La historia empieza muy bien, con ese tipo de relaciones que a mí me gustan y buenos diálogos.Aunque él no se porta del todo bien.
El argumento parte de una situación bastante original, el problema es que suenamoramiento me ha parecido algo precipitado, sobre todo, teniendo en cuenta la actitud de él.
Pero en general la novela me ha gustado.
Una saga recomendable
September 30, 2023
HEARTBREAK IN THE MAKING! THIS STORY HIT A LITTLE CLOSER TO HOME FOR ME, REMINDING ME OF SOMEONE I USED TO KNOW WHO RESEMBLED THE HERO. THERE'S NOTHING EVER SO PAINFUL FOR A YOUNG WOMAN WHO FINDS HERSELF FALLING FOR A MAN WHO IS ON THE PATH OF DESTRUCTION. YOU ASK YOURSELF...HOW CAN I HELP A MAN WHO DOESN'T WANT TO BE SAVED?
KIERAN never expected a night of gambling would "win" him an impudent French bride but alas, his damned heart and sympathetic (and half-sober) mind screamed at him to save the poor girl. Of course, he willingly releases her from the debt BUT she wouldn't have any of it, insisting she has to be married and impregnated within 6 months or she won't get her inheritance. As callous as it sounds, our heroine was desperate and I didn't blame her. Better Kieran than the other fat, pompous lords.
Kieran was a man tortured by his past and yes, his actions were unforgiveable but also, I think he has atoned enough for his sins. And if you're trying to make a guess, no it's not murder, more along the lines of...honour and pride? Well, we all know how PRIDE can lead to a person's demise, and Kieran at a young age had been exactly that - and reckless too.
Back to the story, it didn't take long for Kieran to start appreciating Camille's existence in his life - no longer lonely and someone to take away the pain. They will still have their ups and downs, but at least, his resistance wears down gradually. I'll be honest. Kieran wasn't as hard-hardened as some other heroes I've met. He acquiesced to love rather easily, and no, I wasn't disappointed. I'm actually quite glad that the author chose not to introduce overly inflated angst but, allowed the characters to just fall in love and be lovey-dovey about it. BUT BUT BUT, since Kieran has been working himself to an early grave before Camille, it's safe to say his health is in peril and I actually wondered if this was going to have a tragic ending like Nicholas Sparks's 'A Walk to Remember'. Key word, 'I had wondered', so it didn't happen - thank God!
CAMILLE appeared to be a sassy woman, but that was her anxiety and adrenaline talking. Who wouldn't be flummoxed when one's father is auctioning her off like a broodmare and using her as a pawn for him gambling debt? At that point, Camille doesn't care if she has to wed the perverted, fat lord in order to remove herself from her disgusting father's side. She merely wanted her inheritance.
A little background story - Camille lived in France with her divorced mother who had an affair with the Comte (Camille's father). After her mother's death, she finds a letter from her English grandfather who bequeathed her an inheritance she can only receive once she's married and with child, at the latest age of 28 - thus 6 months to get pregnant. She's desperate. And all she wants is a baby to love, if a marriage of love wasn't in the cards for her. I liked Camille. She's strong despite the ups and downs she's been through and will be expected to endure AFTER her marriage to Kieran.They had no expectations in their 'on-paper' marriage, but it didn't take long for them to fall in love, fulfilling the cracks in their hearts and finding worth in each other.
OVERALL this was beautifully bittersweet. IT WASN'T PERFECT AT ALL and that's why I enjoyed seeing the two characters struggle, mostly Kieran who was so caught up in his past (which I found rather silly because it's all in the past...like almost 10 years down the road long, and the people he wronged were long dead). Needless to say, this story features a pained hero and a heroine who was strong and brave enough to love him for it all, and yes be loved in return. It's wonderful to see them being able to communicate about it - even through the angst and minor misunderstandings.
KIERAN never expected a night of gambling would "win" him an impudent French bride but alas, his damned heart and sympathetic (and half-sober) mind screamed at him to save the poor girl. Of course, he willingly releases her from the debt BUT she wouldn't have any of it, insisting she has to be married and impregnated within 6 months or she won't get her inheritance. As callous as it sounds, our heroine was desperate and I didn't blame her. Better Kieran than the other fat, pompous lords.
Kieran was a man tortured by his past and yes, his actions were unforgiveable but also, I think he has atoned enough for his sins. And if you're trying to make a guess, no it's not murder, more along the lines of...honour and pride? Well, we all know how PRIDE can lead to a person's demise, and Kieran at a young age had been exactly that - and reckless too.
Back to the story, it didn't take long for Kieran to start appreciating Camille's existence in his life - no longer lonely and someone to take away the pain. They will still have their ups and downs, but at least, his resistance wears down gradually. I'll be honest. Kieran wasn't as hard-hardened as some other heroes I've met. He acquiesced to love rather easily, and no, I wasn't disappointed. I'm actually quite glad that the author chose not to introduce overly inflated angst but, allowed the characters to just fall in love and be lovey-dovey about it. BUT BUT BUT, since Kieran has been working himself to an early grave before Camille, it's safe to say his health is in peril and I actually wondered if this was going to have a tragic ending like Nicholas Sparks's 'A Walk to Remember'. Key word, 'I had wondered', so it didn't happen - thank God!
CAMILLE appeared to be a sassy woman, but that was her anxiety and adrenaline talking. Who wouldn't be flummoxed when one's father is auctioning her off like a broodmare and using her as a pawn for him gambling debt? At that point, Camille doesn't care if she has to wed the perverted, fat lord in order to remove herself from her disgusting father's side. She merely wanted her inheritance.
A little background story - Camille lived in France with her divorced mother who had an affair with the Comte (Camille's father). After her mother's death, she finds a letter from her English grandfather who bequeathed her an inheritance she can only receive once she's married and with child, at the latest age of 28 - thus 6 months to get pregnant. She's desperate. And all she wants is a baby to love, if a marriage of love wasn't in the cards for her. I liked Camille. She's strong despite the ups and downs she's been through and will be expected to endure AFTER her marriage to Kieran.They had no expectations in their 'on-paper' marriage, but it didn't take long for them to fall in love, fulfilling the cracks in their hearts and finding worth in each other.
OVERALL this was beautifully bittersweet. IT WASN'T PERFECT AT ALL and that's why I enjoyed seeing the two characters struggle, mostly Kieran who was so caught up in his past (which I found rather silly because it's all in the past...like almost 10 years down the road long, and the people he wronged were long dead). Needless to say, this story features a pained hero and a heroine who was strong and brave enough to love him for it all, and yes be loved in return. It's wonderful to see them being able to communicate about it - even through the angst and minor misunderstandings.
October 13, 2008
I enjoyed the previous two books in this series, and eagerly anticipated the story of Kiernan Neville, Baron Rothewell. I was not disappointed in this book. Kiernan is a complicated, unhappy man who is haunted by his past. The heroine, Camille Marchand, is a lonely young woman who is cruelly treated by her father. I enjoyed watching these two
grow to care for one another. This was a good story with sympathetic characters and it was an appropriate conclusion to the series.
During a night of drinking and gambling, Baron Rothewell is invited to join in a wager in which the winner will wed a beauty. As dissolute as Kieran believes himself to be, he is stunned when an acquaintance wants a group of depraved men to participate in a wager to win his daughter in marriage. When he meets the heroine, Camille Marchand, Kieran's latent protective instincts result in his determination to win, even though he has never had any notion of marriage. After winning the wager, Kieran offers to free Camille from the obligation, but she must marry in order to receive an inheritance. She also has an overwhelming desire for a child of her own to love. Kieran agrees to the marriage, but makes certain Camille understands that he will be a terrible husband upon whom she cannot depend. The two are fiercely attracted to one another, and after a very short period of acquaintance, they have a passionate encounter that results in Kieran insisting that they wed the next day. After their marriage, Kieran and Camille both try to stay aloof from one another even though their physical relationship is very intense. Camille is determined not to lose her heart to Kieran as she believes he will never be a true and faithful husband. Kieran begins to have feelings for Camille, but he has been suffering from an illness from which he does not believe he will recover, and he doesn't want Camille to become too emotionally attached to him. Kieran must come to terms with his past and decide to fight his illness as the feelings between he and Camille intensify. Camille has to step up and demand that Kiernan fight for a chance to have a future together while dealing with issues from her own past.
I enjoyed this book very much. Kieran was a tortured hero who believed that he didn't deserve happiness. For most of the book, he was very accepting of his illness and didn't fight for his life because he believed he was reaping what was his due. Camille was a woman who yearns to give love, but feels that she can only safely give it to a child. I liked watching these two grow to trust and love one another. The book was emotional and poignant at times. I thought that the three books in this trilogy made a wonderful series.
grow to care for one another. This was a good story with sympathetic characters and it was an appropriate conclusion to the series.
During a night of drinking and gambling, Baron Rothewell is invited to join in a wager in which the winner will wed a beauty. As dissolute as Kieran believes himself to be, he is stunned when an acquaintance wants a group of depraved men to participate in a wager to win his daughter in marriage. When he meets the heroine, Camille Marchand, Kieran's latent protective instincts result in his determination to win, even though he has never had any notion of marriage. After winning the wager, Kieran offers to free Camille from the obligation, but she must marry in order to receive an inheritance. She also has an overwhelming desire for a child of her own to love. Kieran agrees to the marriage, but makes certain Camille understands that he will be a terrible husband upon whom she cannot depend. The two are fiercely attracted to one another, and after a very short period of acquaintance, they have a passionate encounter that results in Kieran insisting that they wed the next day. After their marriage, Kieran and Camille both try to stay aloof from one another even though their physical relationship is very intense. Camille is determined not to lose her heart to Kieran as she believes he will never be a true and faithful husband. Kieran begins to have feelings for Camille, but he has been suffering from an illness from which he does not believe he will recover, and he doesn't want Camille to become too emotionally attached to him. Kieran must come to terms with his past and decide to fight his illness as the feelings between he and Camille intensify. Camille has to step up and demand that Kiernan fight for a chance to have a future together while dealing with issues from her own past.
I enjoyed this book very much. Kieran was a tortured hero who believed that he didn't deserve happiness. For most of the book, he was very accepting of his illness and didn't fight for his life because he believed he was reaping what was his due. Camille was a woman who yearns to give love, but feels that she can only safely give it to a child. I liked watching these two grow to trust and love one another. The book was emotional and poignant at times. I thought that the three books in this trilogy made a wonderful series.
September 1, 2008
What a grand conclusion to Liz Carlyle's 'Never' trilogy. "Never Romance a Rake" is a story of redemption. Two people, both lost souls, learn to find and feel worthy of happiness with their love.
Camille is a child of scandal. Her father is a titled French wastrel who has no use for her...until he finds a way to cash in on a forgotten inheritance--by wagering half that inheritance in a card game! Camille knows men. After growing up with her scandalous mother, she knows men are fickle and cannot be relied upon. But she needs a titled English husband and a child to receive her inheritance. And by God, she'll suffer what she must to get it and have the first security she's ever known.
Kieran is a dissolute Baron. His horrific childhood has left permanent physical and mental scars. But even he can't believe what he is seeing when Comte Valigny bets his daughter's hand in marriage. Granted, she's a vision. And the only other 'gentleman' in the room is a truly depraved lord...but he'd no intention of marrying. Especially not if what he belived about his health is true.
Ah Kieran. What a scoundrel. He's done some very bad things in his life and appears to be trying to kill himself in an effort to atone. Good thing his new wife turns out to be not so biddable as she's not about to let him give up!
I read the first two in this series (which, incidentally, touches lightly on the Abolition Movement in England) and enjoyed them quite a bit. Liz Carlyle's heroines are never weak women waiting for a man to save them. Her heroes are also a bit tarnished, but redeemable. She has a deft hand with love scenes and her couples always share a grand passion. Her novels definitely aren't 'your mother's Victorian romances'. While there's not much danger, there's still a bit of action, but most of the story is centered on the effects of the past. If you read the first two, you'll surely want to pick this one up. If you didn't, there shouldn't be any problems as everything is explained well enough that it works easily as a stand-alone story. But I wouldn't be surprised if you ended up buying the first two once you finish "Never Romance a Rake"!
Camille is a child of scandal. Her father is a titled French wastrel who has no use for her...until he finds a way to cash in on a forgotten inheritance--by wagering half that inheritance in a card game! Camille knows men. After growing up with her scandalous mother, she knows men are fickle and cannot be relied upon. But she needs a titled English husband and a child to receive her inheritance. And by God, she'll suffer what she must to get it and have the first security she's ever known.
Kieran is a dissolute Baron. His horrific childhood has left permanent physical and mental scars. But even he can't believe what he is seeing when Comte Valigny bets his daughter's hand in marriage. Granted, she's a vision. And the only other 'gentleman' in the room is a truly depraved lord...but he'd no intention of marrying. Especially not if what he belived about his health is true.
Ah Kieran. What a scoundrel. He's done some very bad things in his life and appears to be trying to kill himself in an effort to atone. Good thing his new wife turns out to be not so biddable as she's not about to let him give up!
I read the first two in this series (which, incidentally, touches lightly on the Abolition Movement in England) and enjoyed them quite a bit. Liz Carlyle's heroines are never weak women waiting for a man to save them. Her heroes are also a bit tarnished, but redeemable. She has a deft hand with love scenes and her couples always share a grand passion. Her novels definitely aren't 'your mother's Victorian romances'. While there's not much danger, there's still a bit of action, but most of the story is centered on the effects of the past. If you read the first two, you'll surely want to pick this one up. If you didn't, there shouldn't be any problems as everything is explained well enough that it works easily as a stand-alone story. But I wouldn't be surprised if you ended up buying the first two once you finish "Never Romance a Rake"!
July 13, 2009
I didn't really finish this. I read through the first hundred pages or so, didn't like the heroine and was generally bored with the story, so I flipped through the rest of the book until I got to the end so I could see what the hero was sick with.
I didn't buy the love story. Maybe that was because I didn't like either character. The author did a good job of making Kieran a loser, but he didn't have enough redeeming characteristics for me to care about him. Sure, he saved Camille from being won by the other guy, but he didn't really do it out of noble intentions.
I couldn't stand listening to Camille talk. Even though I didn't like Kieran that much, I started really not liking him because he fell for someone so blah and annoying so quickly. Seriously, these two people know NOTHING about each other and they think they love the other person? Eh, not buying it in this novel.
The writing was good, but the pace didn't move quickly enough for me to want to try another book buy this author.
I didn't buy the love story. Maybe that was because I didn't like either character. The author did a good job of making Kieran a loser, but he didn't have enough redeeming characteristics for me to care about him. Sure, he saved Camille from being won by the other guy, but he didn't really do it out of noble intentions.
I couldn't stand listening to Camille talk. Even though I didn't like Kieran that much, I started really not liking him because he fell for someone so blah and annoying so quickly. Seriously, these two people know NOTHING about each other and they think they love the other person? Eh, not buying it in this novel.
The writing was good, but the pace didn't move quickly enough for me to want to try another book buy this author.
June 21, 2020
I loved this read. The hr is so feisty, clever, and strong. The h thinks himself a horrible being but he really has a good heart. I wish I had known this was #3 in series. Still it can be a standalone book. Worth the price.
August 9, 2015
This was my second reading of this story. It passed the second-reading test with flying colours and I have to give it a higher rating than the first time. Maybe I read it more slowly this time, maybe all the romances (good, bad and mediocre) that I've read in the meantime have refined my tastes and my reading, but I have to rescind all the criticisms I gave in my original rating and just say it is a damn fine story - not amazing, bet very, very good. Rothewell is fantastic as the tortured hero and George Kemble, the best character Liz Carlyle ever created, makes a memorable appearance, as always.
December 1, 2016
This book... well. What can I say, Kieran wins Camille in a card game, half the book is in French, which take you out of the element in my opinion. I was just skipping over anytime Camille spoke, because it seemed she said the same 3 fucking phrases at the beginning or end of everything she said. It got really irritating. I just didnt feel anything for this couple, their romance was not believable in any way, and the chemistry was practically non existent. There was more sizzle when I made my pb and j for lunch, and I dont even like those anymore.
February 6, 2018
“The truth!”
“Would either of us recognize it, I wonder?”
December 8, 2021
Primero quiero decir que QUEDÉ totalmente con este libro porque me había leído el primero de la saga en enero y había decidido no continuarla aunque pudiesen leerse de forma independiente, pero un día por curiosidad me puse a buscar más información de las continuaciones, vi su sinopsis Y OH ME VIVÍA RONDANDO EN LA CABEZA ASÍ QUE LO TENÍA QUE PEDIR PARA MI CUMPLEAÑOS Y ME LO DIERON Y AAAAAAA.
No me decepcionó para nada y creo saber las razones que procedo a enumerar.
1) Kieran es el protagonista esta vez. Suelen gustarme más los personajes masculinos de por sí, pero Kieran es una especie de antihéroe, cosa que también adoro. Se profundiza en su pasado, en sus culpas y en sus deseos. Y me enamoré mucho más de él de lo que había hecho en el primer libro.
2) Me encantan las relaciones amorosas que comienzan con el pie izquierdo y es precisamente lo que pasa con él y Camille. No solo porque su primer encuentro es en unas circunstancias horribles, sino también porque amo la tensión que se genera y como Kieran acaba siendo un desastre al querer hacer las cosas bien. Jajaja, lo amo.
3) En la ficción me encanta todo lo que implique un sentido de pertenencia de un personaje a otro. Kieran la gana en una partida de cartas, y eso en pleno siglo XIX es algo que no solo mata la reputación de la dama, sino que la remata si alguien se entera. No me olvido de como le explicó a su hermana dónde la conoció. Una de mis escenas graciosas favoritas. Kieran me conquista con sus ocurrencias.
4) Las escenas son INOLVIDABLES. La manera en la que Camille desea que Kieran abra su corazón una noche me mató. Me gusta mucho que el aspecto carnal pasa a segundo plano a medida que avanza la historia, cosa que en el primer libro no pasaba, y se profundiza en su intimidad como amantes.
Ahora bien. Objetivamente admito que deberían ser cuatro estrellas y no cinco porque se hacía MUY repetitivo (de parte de Camille más que nada) esto de "No me debo enamorar o sufriré. No me debo enamorar. No. No de un hombre como él." (Ay Camille, si no te enamoras tú deja que lo hago yo, yo sí me lo quedo, jajaja) y porque el final se me hizo ABRUPTO pero reconozco que fue porque deseaba que la lectura no se terminara y porque quería más detalles de su vida juntos.
¿PERO ME IMPORTA? NO. Y COMO ME LO LEÍ EN UNOS TRES O CUATRO DÍAS, ME ROBÓ RISAS, SUSPIROS, CHILLIDOS Y ME TENÍA ENGANCHADA A MÁS NO PODER POR SUPUESTO QUE SE VA CON CINCO ESTRELLAS.
En serio, la recomiendo muchísimo. Y eso que no soy de este género pERO KIERAN. KIERAAAAAAN. ♡
Me parece que es muy, muy probable sea mejor lectura de este año...
P.D: Cometieron un crimen al cambiar el estilo de las portadas.
No me decepcionó para nada y creo saber las razones que procedo a enumerar.
1) Kieran es el protagonista esta vez. Suelen gustarme más los personajes masculinos de por sí, pero Kieran es una especie de antihéroe, cosa que también adoro. Se profundiza en su pasado, en sus culpas y en sus deseos. Y me enamoré mucho más de él de lo que había hecho en el primer libro.
2) Me encantan las relaciones amorosas que comienzan con el pie izquierdo y es precisamente lo que pasa con él y Camille. No solo porque su primer encuentro es en unas circunstancias horribles, sino también porque amo la tensión que se genera y como Kieran acaba siendo un desastre al querer hacer las cosas bien. Jajaja, lo amo.
3) En la ficción me encanta todo lo que implique un sentido de pertenencia de un personaje a otro. Kieran la gana en una partida de cartas, y eso en pleno siglo XIX es algo que no solo mata la reputación de la dama, sino que la remata si alguien se entera. No me olvido de como le explicó a su hermana dónde la conoció. Una de mis escenas graciosas favoritas. Kieran me conquista con sus ocurrencias.
4) Las escenas son INOLVIDABLES. La manera en la que Camille desea que Kieran abra su corazón una noche me mató. Me gusta mucho que el aspecto carnal pasa a segundo plano a medida que avanza la historia, cosa que en el primer libro no pasaba, y se profundiza en su intimidad como amantes.
Ahora bien. Objetivamente admito que deberían ser cuatro estrellas y no cinco porque se hacía MUY repetitivo (de parte de Camille más que nada) esto de "No me debo enamorar o sufriré. No me debo enamorar. No. No de un hombre como él." (Ay Camille, si no te enamoras tú deja que lo hago yo, yo sí me lo quedo, jajaja) y porque el final se me hizo ABRUPTO pero reconozco que fue porque deseaba que la lectura no se terminara y porque quería más detalles de su vida juntos.
¿PERO ME IMPORTA? NO. Y COMO ME LO LEÍ EN UNOS TRES O CUATRO DÍAS, ME ROBÓ RISAS, SUSPIROS, CHILLIDOS Y ME TENÍA ENGANCHADA A MÁS NO PODER POR SUPUESTO QUE SE VA CON CINCO ESTRELLAS.
En serio, la recomiendo muchísimo. Y eso que no soy de este género pERO KIERAN. KIERAAAAAAN. ♡
Me parece que es muy, muy probable sea mejor lectura de este año...
P.D: Cometieron un crimen al cambiar el estilo de las portadas.
March 5, 2023
This was my first book by this author, and I find myself torn. This book is A LOT, in both good and bad ways.
First the good: both main characters are given rich and interesting backstories, and both backstories are rife with trauma and ugliness. The peripheral characters are vividly drawn and add texture and color to the story, and Halburne is so sympathetic I wish he had shown up earlier in the book. The means by which the main characters are thrown together is repugnant but engrossing,
But the bad: it’s frequently over the top, and obnoxiously repetitive. Yes, yes, yes, Kieran is hard and dissipated and determined not to care about anything or anyone, and yes, yes, yes, Camille cannot afford to give her heart to him. I got it the first thousand times it was mentioned, okay? Edit, for goodness sake! They waste too much time rejecting emotional attachment to each other, which means that the reader wastes too much time reading about them rejecting each other. By the time they start to get closer, I didn’t really CARE whether they got closer. By the time I found out why Kieran was so determined to throw his life away I didn’t really CARE why he wanted to self-destruct. I like it when characters are revealed later by layer, but Kieran’s big reveal came too late in the story, and his turnaround was too abrupt.
Four stars for the rich imagination on display here in a story that needed to be tighter.
First the good: both main characters are given rich and interesting backstories, and both backstories are rife with trauma and ugliness. The peripheral characters are vividly drawn and add texture and color to the story, and Halburne is so sympathetic I wish he had shown up earlier in the book. The means by which the main characters are thrown together is repugnant but engrossing,
But the bad: it’s frequently over the top, and obnoxiously repetitive. Yes, yes, yes, Kieran is hard and dissipated and determined not to care about anything or anyone, and yes, yes, yes, Camille cannot afford to give her heart to him. I got it the first thousand times it was mentioned, okay? Edit, for goodness sake! They waste too much time rejecting emotional attachment to each other, which means that the reader wastes too much time reading about them rejecting each other. By the time they start to get closer, I didn’t really CARE whether they got closer. By the time I found out why Kieran was so determined to throw his life away I didn’t really CARE why he wanted to self-destruct. I like it when characters are revealed later by layer, but Kieran’s big reveal came too late in the story, and his turnaround was too abrupt.
Four stars for the rich imagination on display here in a story that needed to be tighter.
July 31, 2008
The heroine's name is Camille so I already love it LOL - I'm still reading it and Rothewell is turning into a Liz Carlyle classic, of course Mademoiselle Marchand is very likable, unlike most rafe-reforming ladies she is practical, feisty, bitter and very much a cynic on the whole love and fidelity issue.
I would have expected darker from Kieran, I mean if he was so depraved and as low as he was supposed to be, not once did he use the word 'cock'- it was just expected from a Carlyle hero such as this. And for a rake experienced in whoring, you'd think he knew more than two positions. lol
But Camille, ah, well aside from all the similarities I found between myself and her (heck, she could have been me, we have the same first name and initials and I'm a cynic about men too when it comes to love and fidelity), she was a wonderful heroine.
I would have expected darker from Kieran, I mean if he was so depraved and as low as he was supposed to be, not once did he use the word 'cock'- it was just expected from a Carlyle hero such as this. And for a rake experienced in whoring, you'd think he knew more than two positions. lol
But Camille, ah, well aside from all the similarities I found between myself and her (heck, she could have been me, we have the same first name and initials and I'm a cynic about men too when it comes to love and fidelity), she was a wonderful heroine.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 4, 2016
Since last month I'm not in mood to read anything, I struggle with every book I started including those good ones. So I was quite surprised by how much I actually liked this book and how fast I read it.
Kieran lives a senseless life not able to forget about the past and to forgive himself the mistakes he made. One night he wins unexpected prize -a fiancée, daughter of one of the gamblers, Camille. When the girl explains her motives Kieran agrees to marry her. Unfortunately, his health problems are getting worse and the easy business agreement of his marriage turns out to be more than he expected.
I really liked the characters, Kieran and Camille. They are three-dimensional, tortured people who care about each other from the beginning. Their story is easy to follow and entertaining.
I was about to give this book 3 stars but I liked it a lot so I decided to give 4 stars.
Kieran lives a senseless life not able to forget about the past and to forgive himself the mistakes he made. One night he wins unexpected prize -a fiancée, daughter of one of the gamblers, Camille. When the girl explains her motives Kieran agrees to marry her. Unfortunately, his health problems are getting worse and the easy business agreement of his marriage turns out to be more than he expected.
I really liked the characters, Kieran and Camille. They are three-dimensional, tortured people who care about each other from the beginning. Their story is easy to follow and entertaining.
I was about to give this book 3 stars but I liked it a lot so I decided to give 4 stars.
November 11, 2014
Una historia entretenida, bien escrita y con buenos diálogos. Quizá lo que menos me ha gustado es la actitud de ambos. Piensan y dicen algo muy distinto a sus actos...pero supongo que si no se alarga de alguna manera el enamoramiento no hay trama suficiente. Me ha gustado mucho como termina el drama familiar de ella.En cualquier caso es un libro para pasar un buen rato.
May 19, 2017
I liked the book, but found it difficult to handle the language "How do you say.." phrase got old really fast. I liked Kieran but I couldn't get a handle on Camille.
September 2, 2008
I'm not entirely sure what my thinking behind getting this book was, except that it was the last couple of weeks of my shitty job and I wanted a no-brainer, and was looking for something fun like Laura Lee Gurhke - or Georgette Heyer but with sex. Let's face it, no one writes historical romance like Heyer did, full of wit and charm and intelligence. Doesn't stop me from looking though, and I think it was actually the cover that decided this one. I like the dusky pink. I'm serious.
This is actually the third book in a trilogy of sorts, the previous two being Never Deceive a Duke and Never Lie to a Lady, but you don't need to have read those first, as they're only loosely related. Here we have Kieran, Baron Rothewell, hardened by guilt and alcohol and painful seizures which have led him to believe he's not long for the world, winning - in a card game - the hand of the beautiful but illegitimate Camille Marchand - the product of a scandalous affair between a lord's wife and a Frenchman, the Comte de Valigny. Camille must marry before her 28th birthday in order to secure her inheritance from her grandfather, and to get the rest she must have a child within the first two years.
So begins a marriage not just of convenience but of lust (naturally), and one of the nice things about this book is that it revolves heavily around character development. There's really little in the way of plot - no hefty mysteries, a few mild revelations, no scandals or murders or anything - and at over 400 pages that's pretty good. Kieran and Camille drive the story between them and manage quite well. I'm thinking the plot device - using a card game to win a bride - isn't very original, but it's certainly difficult to pull off - how do you justify it? What motivation do you give the heroine for going along with it? How do you avoid letting this taint their relationship? It's shaky ground, but not a problem here: it's all reasoned out and understandable, though "desperate" could very well be Camille's middle name.
I'm not entirely sure when this book is set, but 19th century sometime. It's not Regency, more like mid-century, but unless I did figure it out but have forgotten, it doesn't specify. I didn't notice any major historical blunders, and the conversational style seemed pretty realistic, but then I wasn't reading it for a glimpse of high society of the period. In a way it's a shame, though, not to be able to trust authors. I learnt a great deal about Regency England through Georgette Heyer - and her other books set in different periods were likewise accurate, thorough and believable - but I no longer have such faith. It's enough to find a decent story. I'm not terribly interested in reading the other two books - they're actually quite dark and lack the humour of some other historical romance authors - but this one wasn't bad. It scratched an itch, and that's all I wanted.
This is actually the third book in a trilogy of sorts, the previous two being Never Deceive a Duke and Never Lie to a Lady, but you don't need to have read those first, as they're only loosely related. Here we have Kieran, Baron Rothewell, hardened by guilt and alcohol and painful seizures which have led him to believe he's not long for the world, winning - in a card game - the hand of the beautiful but illegitimate Camille Marchand - the product of a scandalous affair between a lord's wife and a Frenchman, the Comte de Valigny. Camille must marry before her 28th birthday in order to secure her inheritance from her grandfather, and to get the rest she must have a child within the first two years.
So begins a marriage not just of convenience but of lust (naturally), and one of the nice things about this book is that it revolves heavily around character development. There's really little in the way of plot - no hefty mysteries, a few mild revelations, no scandals or murders or anything - and at over 400 pages that's pretty good. Kieran and Camille drive the story between them and manage quite well. I'm thinking the plot device - using a card game to win a bride - isn't very original, but it's certainly difficult to pull off - how do you justify it? What motivation do you give the heroine for going along with it? How do you avoid letting this taint their relationship? It's shaky ground, but not a problem here: it's all reasoned out and understandable, though "desperate" could very well be Camille's middle name.
I'm not entirely sure when this book is set, but 19th century sometime. It's not Regency, more like mid-century, but unless I did figure it out but have forgotten, it doesn't specify. I didn't notice any major historical blunders, and the conversational style seemed pretty realistic, but then I wasn't reading it for a glimpse of high society of the period. In a way it's a shame, though, not to be able to trust authors. I learnt a great deal about Regency England through Georgette Heyer - and her other books set in different periods were likewise accurate, thorough and believable - but I no longer have such faith. It's enough to find a decent story. I'm not terribly interested in reading the other two books - they're actually quite dark and lack the humour of some other historical romance authors - but this one wasn't bad. It scratched an itch, and that's all I wanted.
March 13, 2009
I was a bit worried when I started this Never Romance a Rake because after reading the blurb about a woman lost at cards it seemed it might be full of clichés. I’m very happy to report now that I finished that Carlyle does manage to write a believable story with very angsty characters and that not only I enjoyed it very much but I also think it’s the best story I read in this series so far.
Kieran, Lord Rothewell, has been a secondary character in the previous stories. He usually appears in a dark mood and not seldom under the influence of alcohol.
When the story starts he is enjoying a game of cards with some very shady characters. One of which decides to gamble the right to marry his daughter and receive her dowry. While not one to be bothered but a bit of debauchery Kieran doesn’t feel right accepting the situation, especially as he finds the young woman beautiful and strangely not fighting the situation she is in. He manages to win but when he wants to release her he finds out that she does want to marry at all costs. Unable to leaver to the lechers who have played he takes her home to her aunt.
Camille is a tortured young woman, having grown up in France the bastard daughter of an English noblewoman whose husband divorced her, and the man who has just gambled her away she is desperate to wed so she can receive the inheritance her grandfather left her. Her father is a sort of black sheep in society and being her a bastard there is some problems with her readily acceptance as Kieran’s bride, not to mention the problems with his former mistress.
Camille is determined to have her heart involved in her marriage. She knows man and how they work so this will be a marriage of convenience only. Kieran believes he is dying; he has been having health problems for a while, and decides to help her because under all his bad behavior he has a good heart.
The good thing about this book is exactly the way Carlyle develops the relationship between them. How they slowly get to know each other better and start caring about one another.
There are issues in both their pasts that have to be addressed and that explain both Kieran’s behavior and Camille’s situation. I really enjoyed learning more about them and follow them from barely acquainted to respect and love. A very satisfying read!
Grade: 4/5
Kieran, Lord Rothewell, has been a secondary character in the previous stories. He usually appears in a dark mood and not seldom under the influence of alcohol.
When the story starts he is enjoying a game of cards with some very shady characters. One of which decides to gamble the right to marry his daughter and receive her dowry. While not one to be bothered but a bit of debauchery Kieran doesn’t feel right accepting the situation, especially as he finds the young woman beautiful and strangely not fighting the situation she is in. He manages to win but when he wants to release her he finds out that she does want to marry at all costs. Unable to leaver to the lechers who have played he takes her home to her aunt.
Camille is a tortured young woman, having grown up in France the bastard daughter of an English noblewoman whose husband divorced her, and the man who has just gambled her away she is desperate to wed so she can receive the inheritance her grandfather left her. Her father is a sort of black sheep in society and being her a bastard there is some problems with her readily acceptance as Kieran’s bride, not to mention the problems with his former mistress.
Camille is determined to have her heart involved in her marriage. She knows man and how they work so this will be a marriage of convenience only. Kieran believes he is dying; he has been having health problems for a while, and decides to help her because under all his bad behavior he has a good heart.
The good thing about this book is exactly the way Carlyle develops the relationship between them. How they slowly get to know each other better and start caring about one another.
There are issues in both their pasts that have to be addressed and that explain both Kieran’s behavior and Camille’s situation. I really enjoyed learning more about them and follow them from barely acquainted to respect and love. A very satisfying read!
Grade: 4/5
October 17, 2008
The hero is a dissolute baron who's given up on himself. The heroine is the daughter of a dissolute Frenchman and a scandalous Englishwoman who's come to her father because she had nowhere else to go. And winds up for sale by Dad to give him a fresh stake in a card game. The hero buys her, more because he sees her desperation than anything, and they work out a marriage of convenience that will give them what they both want. Except the hero seems to be determined to kill himself through neglect, and the heroine doesn't want him to die before he gives her a child. There are dark pasts and angst galore in this story. A time or two, I got tired of all the wading through angst, but it was still an excellent story well worth reading. (Ha! I got a SIGNED copy. :) )
October 16, 2008
#3 "Never" trilogy
Featuring the cynical, dark and brooding Baron Rothewell ... who "shuns the glittering high society of London", preferring the seedy & disreputable gambling hells.
Mme Camille Marchand's hand in marriage is wagered in a card game by her father, and the Baron ends up the winner.
Loved this one, a bit darker than the others in the series, but that's OK.
Looking forward to my next Liz Carlyle read!
Featuring the cynical, dark and brooding Baron Rothewell ... who "shuns the glittering high society of London", preferring the seedy & disreputable gambling hells.
Mme Camille Marchand's hand in marriage is wagered in a card game by her father, and the Baron ends up the winner.
Loved this one, a bit darker than the others in the series, but that's OK.
Looking forward to my next Liz Carlyle read!
July 23, 2009
I liked that this was a really quick read. What I didn't like, however, were the two main characters. Baron Rothewell was really hard to like, especially if one has read the other two books, and Camille was kind of annoying, with her little French accent and all. It was an ok read, but definitely not as good as the second.
October 22, 2011
I found this a delightful book, especially because Carlyle does not hide the seamier side of the Regency period. We see the world of the demi-monde, the rakes and the dregs of society. The passion between Camille and Kieran is beautifully brought out as is their growing love for each other. A very entertaining romance.
October 18, 2010
Bleh. You had better make your hero super handsome and charming, Liz Carlyle, if you are going to have him go get treated for gout or something right away! Potentially high on the rape scale--a daughter is won in a game of cards--and not that exciting, so I quit pretty early.
January 9, 2010
Amazon received,headless woman cover
October 4, 2014
Reseña ya en el blog: http://mymagic-books.blogspot.com.es/...
September 6, 2016
I totally loved this book!!!!
m-its-ch
January 29, 2021Previous book review:
✦ Never Deceive a Duke (Neville Family & Friends #2)
✦ Never Deceive a Duke (Neville Family & Friends #2)
January 10, 2025
หนังสือเล่มที่สามในชุดที่แม็กซ์ไม่แน่ใจว่าจะใช้ชื่อชุดว่าอะไรดีนะคะ เพราะจะว่าเป็นเรื่องของพี่น้องในตระกูลเนวิลล์มันก็ไม่ใช่ (เพราะพระเอกเล่มสองไม่ใช่คนในตระกูล) หรือจะบอกว่าเป็นชุดบริษัทเดินเรือเนวิลล์ก็ไม่ใช่อีก เพราะพระเอกเล่มนี้ไม่ยุ่งเกี่ยวกับกิจการของครอบครัว แต่ไม่ว่ามันจะชื่อชุดว่าอะไร แม็กซ์คิดว่าชุดนี้แข็งแกร่งกว่าชุด Sin, lies, and secrets ซึ่งเป็นชุดก่อนหน้าเล่มนี้ยิ่งนัก
และพระเอกในเล่มก็ยังเป็นหนึ่งในโรธเวลล์ที่แม็กซ์อยากอ่านอีกต่างหาก
เคียแรน เนวิลล์ บารอนโรธเวลล์ (สำหรับคนที่ไม่รู้ บรรดาศักดิ์บารอนจะไม่มีคำว่า of นะคะ ดังนั้นแม็กซ์จึงไม่เรียกว่าบารอนแห่ง...) กำลังเผชิญหน้ากับชะตากรรมที่เขาทำกับตัวเอง หลังจากใช้ชีวิตอย่างไม่บันยะบันยัง เขาเริ่มเผชิญหน้ากับความเจ็บป่วย ความตายกำลังจ้องมองลงมาที่เขา แต่อยากเข้าใจผิดคิดว่าเล่มนี้จะมีธีมเรื่องเดียวกับ One Perfect Rose ของแมรี่ โจ พุธเน่ย์ที่เขียนเรื่องพระเอกที่กำลังจะตายนะคะ ธีมเรื่องต่างกันมาก
แต่แม้จะรู้ว่าเวลาของตัวเองคงจะเหลือไม่มาก โรธเวลล์ก็ยังไม่คิดที่จะเปลี่ยนแปลงตัวเอง เขายังดื่มเหล้า เล่นพนัน จนกระทั่งวันนึงนำเขาไปสู่การพนันที่มีเดิมพันสูงกว่าที่คิด เดิมพันที่เขาไม่คิดว่าตัวเองจะเลวพอที่จะเล่น แต่ก็ไม่อาจปฏิเสธความต้องการของตัวเองในการเอาชนะเพื่อให้ได้ตัวเธอไม่ได้
เดิมพันก็คือคามิลล์ เมอร์ชาร์ด แต่มันไม่ใช่การเล่นเพื่อให้ได้ตัวเธอธรรมดา เพราะคาิมิลล์มีสินเดิมติดตัวมาจำนวนไม่น้อย คนที่แต่งงานกับเธอจะได้รับเงินก้อนห้าหมื่นปอนด์ ซึ่งถ้าเขาย��นดีจะแบ่งครึ่งหนึ่งให้กับพ่อของเธอ เขาก็ยินดีที่จะโยนลูกสาวเข้าสู่โต๊ะพนัน
โรธเวลล์ไม่ต้องการเงิน เขามีมันมากพอ แต่เขาก็ยังไม่อาจเดินออกจากเดิมพันอันน่ารังเกียจครั้งนี้ได้ และเมื่อเขาชนะ และถูกต้องคำถามโดยคามิลล์ถึงเหตุผลที่เขาเล่น คำตอบมันก็ช็อคกระทั่งตัวเขาเอง นั่นเพราะเขาต้องการเธอ
เหมือนอย่างนิยายทุกเล่มของลิซ คาร์ไลล์ที่ไม่จำเป็นต้องมีพล็อตสร้างสรรน่าติดตาม เพราะความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างโรธเวลล์และคามิลล์ก็มาพอแล้ว คนสองคนที่มีบาดแผลมามากพอกัน ทำให้พวกเขากร้านโลก และคิดว่าเก่งเกินกว่าจะตกหลุมรัก แต่พวกเขาก็พบว่าตัวเองคิดผิด
สำหรับคามิลล์ เธอเป็นลูกนอกกฎหมาย แม่ของเธอสร้างเรื่องอื้อฉาวในวงสังคมด้วยการหนีตามชู้รักไป และทิ้งให้สามีตามกฎหมายนอนรอความตาย และเพราะความเห็นแก่ตัว แม่ของเธอปกปิดคามิลล์เรื่องมรดกที่ตาของเธอทิ้งไว้ให้ จนเวลากำลังจะหมดลง ตามพินัยกรรมคามิลล์ต้องแต่งงานก่อนวันเกิดปีที่ยี่สิบแปด เพื่อให้มีสิทธิในการรับมรดกของตา แต่เพราะเธอเพิ่งรู้เรื่องนี้เพียงไม่กี่เดือนก่อนหน้า เวลาในการหาสามีที่เหมาะสมกำลังหมดลง
เรื่องมันยุ่งขึ้นไปอีก เมื่อเธอขอความช่วยเหลือจากคนที่ได้ชื่อว่าเป็นบิดา แต่เขาไม่ใช่พ่อที่ห่วงใยลูก เขาต้องการเพียงส่วนแบ่งของเขา และด้วยชื่อเสียงที่มัวหมองมันแทบเป็นไปไม่ได้เลยสำหรับคามิลล์ที่จะเจอผู้ชายดีดีสักคน
และนั่นเป็นเหตุผลสำคัญที่ทำให้คามิลล์ยินยอมเอาตัวเองเป็นเดิมพันในโต๊ะพนัน เธอคิดว่าตัวเองเก่งพอที่จะต่อรอง และเอาชนะพ่อของเธอ เธอยื่นข้อเสนอกลับในโรธเวลล์ บอกว่าเขาจะรวยมากกว่าเงินห้าหมื่นปอนด์ที่จะได้รับจากการแต่งงานกับเธอ ถ้าเพียงแต่เขาแต่งงานกับเธอ
ปกติแม็กซ์ไม่ชอบสถานการณ์ที่นางเอกหมดหนทางจนต้องเอาตัวเข้าแลก เพราะมันบ่งบอกถึงสติปัญญาอันอ่อนน้อยของนางเอก แต่เล่มนี้แม็กซ์ไม่รู้สึกเช่นนั้น เพราะคามิลล์ไม่ใช่เหยื่อ เธอเลือกที่จะควบคุมชีวิตของตัวเองด้วยวิธีการที่เธอเห็นว่าดีที่สุด แต่ก็นั่นนะคะ มันเป็นโชคของคามิลล์ที่คนที่ชนะเดิมพันคือโรธเวลล์ และเราก็รู้กันอยู่ว่าเขาคือพระเอก
อ้อ แล้วขอเตือนเลยนะคะว่า หนังสือเล่มนี้เข้าข่ายน้ำเน่าสุดสุด แม้จะไม่ใช่เน่าในสไตล์ของเจ้าแม่ยุงชุกชุม ชนิดพระเอกรวยโคตร ๆ นางเอกซื่อ (โง่) สุด ๆ ก็ตาม แต่หลายเหตุการณ์ในเรื่องนี้มันเป็นไปตามสูตรอย่างยิ่ง ไม่ต้องคิดมาก และทุกอย่างก็เพื่อความแฮ็ปปี้เอ็นดิ้งของพระเอกและนางเอก
แต่สำหรับคนที่ลำเอียงอย่างมีสาระสำคัญเช่นแม็กซ์นั้น มันไม่ใช่เป็นปัญหาแต่อย่างใด รับได้หมดทุกอย่างค่ะ เพราะอย่างที่บอก ส่วนประกอบที่สำคัญที่สุดของเรื่องนั่นคือตัวละคร มันชนะใจแม็กซ์ไปหมดแล้วล่ะ
เรื่องนี้เป็นเรื่องการให้อภัยตัวเองต่อความผิดพลาดในอดีตของโรธเวลล์ ความเจ็บปวดที่เกิดขึ้นเมื่อในที่สุดเขาเริ่มรู้สึกว่า อยากมีชีวิตเพื่ออะไรบางอย่าง แต่กลับพบว่าเวลาในชีวิตมันไม่เหลืออยู่แล้ว เรื่องของความเสียใจต่อการกระทำในอดีตที่ไม่อาจเรียกกลับมาได้
และการตอกย้ำว่า ความรักเปลี่ยนแปลงคนได้ (แม้เราจะไม่เชื่อในชีวิตจริงก็ตาม)
สรุปว่าไม่ผิดหวังสักนิดเดียวกับเรื่องนี้ค่ะ โรธเวลล์เป็นผู้ชายคนเดิมอย่างที่เขาปรากฎใน Never Lie to a lady และ Never deceive a duke ผู้ชายที่ดูกร้านโลก เมามาย และเสเพล แต่ในเล่มนี้เราจะได้เห็นเขาในด้านที่ลึกขึ้น ไม่ได้ลบล้างการกระทำของเขา แต่เข้าใจเขาได้มากขึ้น และนี่ถือว่าสอบผ่านแล้วสำหรับแม็กซ์
คะแนนที่ 90
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