The Rake Desires The Diamond

by Nicki Pascarella

Lady Katrina Harrington considers herself the luckiest woman in England until a masked rake seduces her, destroying her perfect life. Evan Eaton lives a carefree existence until the diamond of the season kisses him, setting his world spinning. Now, the childhood enemies must fight their scorching chemistry and work together to defeat the odious blackmailer who witnessed their untoward liaison.

Genres: Historical, Historical Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Regency

281 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 1, 2024

About the author

Nicki Pascarella writes Contemporary and Historical romances. She enjoys mixing genres—adding mysteries to steamy small-town romances, or a pinch of paranormal fantasy to her romantic comedies. It’s all about making her readers laugh and fall in love.

Using her twenty-nine years of experience as a high school teacher and her background in creative writing and journalism, she coaches authors for The MediaCasters. Helping artists break through creative blocks is one of her passions.

When she isn't writing and editing, she reads, runs, and hangs with her husband, daughter, and Shetland sheepdogs. Nicki is also an award-winning belly dancer.

Reviews

[Becky (romantic_pursuing_feels) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note: Some of my goodreads shelves can be spoilers

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥 (plus an epilogue scene that was short and I decided not to count)
Humor: Yes
Perspective: third person from both the hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? a mix...maybe a bit more plot
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: Not too long, about 7%
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, about two months later
Format: read on kindle unlimited, though I was sent a paperback version from the author (and I love you for it!!!)
Why I chose this book: Pascarella sent me a copy of her prior books and I have fallen in love with her work. I’ll always try a Pascarella!
(Descriptions found at end of my review)

Should I read in order?
If you like the development of a family then yes? This series has a loose flow with the characters and you’ll get to know Evan a bit in prior books. But it’s not totally necessary, each book really stands alone in its romance story. If you want to start at the beginning, get The Duke Beneath Her Mistletoe first, then The Earl Kisses a Thief, then The Captain Claims His Temptress. I also recommend you grab Pascarella’s freebie short story featuring Ethan and Anna by signing up on her website. They are referenced in this story and I realized I didn’t remember them so I grabbed it to read after this story!

Basic plot:
A masked encounter changes Kat and Evan’s relationship

Give this a try if you want:
- Regency – 1818
- artist hero and art interested heroine
- pampered, diamond of the season heroine
- masquerade
- mistaken identity – the hero believes the heroine is the woman who propositioned him earlier in the evening
- childhood nemesis to lovers
- best friends sibling – the hero is friends with the heroine’s brother
- bathing machines
- must undress you to warm you up
- medium steam – 3-ish scenes plus a shorter epilogue scene I decided not to count

Ages:
- hero is 21, didn’t catch heroine but think she’s very close in age

First line:
Lady Katrina Harrington had a brilliant plan.

My thoughts:
I love how Pascarella dates her chapters. It brings me joy to know exactly how much time has passed 😂

This was another fun addition to her Eatons of Trent series. I find Pascarella’s books really readable. Like they are easy to fall into, and once I start them, they just fly by. I loved the mains in this story! I was wondering how Evan’s story would go because he was so boisterous and sassy in the prior books. Kat is lovely!

I like the intimate scenes in this one. Evan is so….playful and I love that. I love how all in he gets and just basically loses his mind for Kat...

I do think in this one I wanted just a bit more focus on their relationship though. There was quite a bit of focus on the villain in this story (and you know me, I’m always whiny about a villain haha).

Overall though, a super fun read!

I did realize I missed one of Pascarella’s novels reading this one – she has a freebie novella as a newsletter sign up called The Gentleman’s Choice so I’ll be grabbing that one soon!

Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 5
Average rating: 4.8 stars
Favorite book: Probably The Duke Beneath Her Mistletoe

Endearments
The hero calls the heroine ‘princess’ and ‘darling’.

Quotes Any typos or mistakes are most likely my own!

Okay I actually love a heroine like this. A ‘diamond’. Someone a bit spoiled. A belle of the ball.

And since Kat was the luckiest woman in England, and she always got who and what she wanted, she’d surely have both the ribbon and the earl by the end of the evening.

*melts

“Do you know what I dislike about you?” he asked.
Suddenly, she wanted him to adore everything about her. “What?” she asked, feeling very much like the young girl he’d tormented so many years ago, instead of a darling of the ton.
“I loathe that you are so beautiful that you knock the wind from me,” he said in his toe-curling baritone.
She gasped.
“I hate when you stomp your foot. It makes me want to give you the world to make you smile.”

I ADORE scenes like this. Little touches. Hand holding. Those uncertain moments that are so benign but so intimate at the same time.

As if approaching a skittish bird that might fly away at the slightest movement, he slowly and gently pressed his hip against hers.
She did not flinch. Quite the opposite, she met his pressure. Her eyes closed, and her bosom heaved in time to her shallow breaths.
He nudged her ankle with his.
Never in his wildest dreams would he have guessed her response. But the arrogantly proper Lady Katrina Harrington gently tapped the side of her ankle against his. Heat shot from his hip to his toe.
---
“Katrina, we have to stop.”
But she did not want to stop.
“I cannot fuck you in your brother’s library in the middle of the afternoon.”
---
“Won’t you join us for a light repast?” Aunt Justine asked.
“I cannot stay.” His gaze slid to Kat, and his eyes clouded over with…Longing? Affection? Exhaustion? Hunger for sponge cake?
---
Oh, how she’d love this man to gift her stars, rainbows, and rose petals. She rested her hand on his cheek. Might you simply make love to me until the first light of dawn peeks through the windows?”
He stepped back and blinked.
Why had she said something so brazen? What in the dickens was wrong with her? She whimpered as her cheeks heated.
With a feral growl, Evan hoisted her over his shoulder and tossed her onto the bed. She landed in the center with an unladylike squeal. He was instantly on top of her, his lips on hers, one hand dragging her skirts up her legs as the other cradled her neck.
---
She opened her eyes. He presented their joint artwork with a hand flourish. Beside her naked man stood an equally naked woman, long hair cascading past her shoulders and blowing wildly. The couple’s hands were joined, and Evan had sketched a simple heart above their heads.
A heart, by God. She’d taunted him with his naked buttocks, and he’d drawn her a heart. Well, he’d sketched her naked backside and a heart. But hearts meant love. Did they not?



Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.

- side character was mentioned he impregnated a woman then made her lose her job and left her abandoned and destitute
- parental death remembered and grief felt (more of a passing mention and not a focus)
Author content warnings? No


Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:

Safe sex: Hero pulls out
Hows the consent? It’s good – during the initial kiss scene, the heroine is hesitant but curious and the hero believes she propositioned him earlier in the night
Pregnancy/children in story? (Please note this is the best to my memory/note taking. If you see something I missed please feel free to message!) There is mention of a side character being pregnant and the birth of the baby happens later in the story (they are the couple from book 1, The Duke Beneath Her Mistletoe). The heroine does get pregnant in the epilogue.
8% - kiss
47% - kisses and breast play
57% - 🔥 kisses oral for her

“More,” she begged as she reached for him.
The corners of his mouth turned up mischievously as he licked his middle finger. Palm up, he curled that finger inward, then slid it into her.

71% - 🔥 kisses, fingering for her, missionary followed by sit on my face oral

She gasped, then swallowed. “Oh, my.”
So much for slow seduction. His willpower snapped, and he leaped upon her, entwining his fingers in her hair and tugging her head back.

80% - 🔥 blow job
What a superior pupil she was. He might be a shite art instructor, but it seemed he made one deuce of a tutor in the art of seduction.
“What a good girl you are,” he said, his voice hoarse with desire. “Now, flick your tongue.”
Epilogue bj but it’s fairly short


Extra stuff like what my review breakdown means, where to find me, and book clubs


Full break down on what my ratings above mean here:
Overall: How I felt about it everything considered!
Readability: How ‘readable’ was the book? Did I fly through it? Did I have to tell myself to pick it back up repeatedly? Were any passages confusing? (I will probably score like (1) is literally unreadable due to formatting/typing errors, etc (2) There were lots of errors that made it difficult to read OR It was extremely confusing and I had to reread passages to make sense of it OR I disliked it so much I had to bribe myself to keep reading (3) I didn’t really want to keep reading and would have preferred to abandon the read and start something else OR some minor continuity issues/confusion (4) I liked it fine, maybe a minor error or 2. I was happy to pick it up when I had time. (5) I never wanted to put this down. I thought about it when I wasn’t reading it. I hid in the bathroom from my kids to read. I threw inappropriate food at my children for dinner so I could read instead.)
Feels: Totally subjective to each person but did the book give me any tingles? Any butterflies? Did it rip my heart out (in a good way?)
Emotional depth: How well do I feel I know the characters at the end? How much did I feel their emotions throughout the story?
Sexual tension: Again, subjective, but how strong was the wanting and longing to me between the characters? A book might have strong sexual tension without a single touch.
Romance: Was there romance? Did romantic things happen? This can be actions/words/thoughts of the characters and again is subjective.
Sensuality: This is how the intimate scenes are written. Kisses and sexual scenes – how sensual were they? Were they on the mechanical side? Was there emotional pull tied in? Were the details explicit or flowery? These are subjective but generally (1) too short to get a good judgement (2) not all what I'm looking for - very vague or flowery prose (3) either not explicit enough or not enough emotional pull (too mechanical/physically descriptive without the emotions) (4) what I love in a scene (5) absolute perfection - perfect balance of emotional longing and explicit descriptions
Sex Scene Length: How long the bedroom scenes are (generally (1) is 1-3 sentences (2) is a few paragraphs to a page-ish (3) is about average, a few pages (4) more well developed scenes, quite a few pages with descriptions (4) the majority of the book takes place in the bedroom. This is always hard to tell for me on audio!
Steam Scale: Generally, each flame is a scene. If scenes are super close together I sometimes combine them. If a scene is super short or so vague I don’t know what’s happening, I don’t count it. There’s some levels of grey but generally the number of flames is how many sex scenes there are (I max out at 5 so I’ll put a + after if there’s more than that)


Find me
Instagram || The Storygraph || Bookbub ||

Book Clubs
The Ton and the Tartans (Historical Romance)
Upturned Petticoats and Undone Cravats (Historical Romance with Steam Requirements)
A Love Less Ordinary (Science Fiction, Paranormal, Monster, Fantasy)
Modern Manuscripts (Contemporary Romance)
Words for the Wicked (Contemporary Romance with Steam Requirements)
Vintage Romance (Old School Romance – published 2000 and prior)

[Cristina]

The writing style was not for me.

[Karmen O · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Rake Desires the Diamond by Nicki Pascarella, book three of the Eatons of Trent series
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Cover: 5/5
Story: 4.5/5
Steam: 🔥 🔥 🔥 (+kissing, possible fourth scene- I may have my count incorrect)
Ending: HEA with epilogue
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Stand Alone or Series: A reader could read this as a stand alone, but the series is best enjoyed when read as a complete series and in order.
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England, Regency (1818)
Rakish Artistic Gentleman
Queen's Favorite Niece
Mistaken Identity
Best Friend's Sister
Forbidden Love
Protective Hero
She's Mine vibes
Loath to Love
Blackmail
Childhood Foes
Close Knit Families
Meddling Family
LGTBIA+ Rep
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Alas, the last book in the Eatons of Trent series (hopefully just for now!) This was a delightful read which, in true Pascarella fashion, offers the reader a lovely splattering of comedic undertones that perfectly balance out some of the more sinister themes of the plot. While this book has as dark of themes as previous, rest assured that danger and peril are still afoot!

I love Loath to Love. I love Mistaken Identity. I love it when the main characters are forced to join forces against their will. "The Rake" offers up all of these and much more plus a steamy, steamy romance.

Speaking of romance, it was a real treat to experience Evan and Katrina grapple with their feelings for each other as they sort through just when they started to fall for each other and how to move on from where they are now. While it was a little silly that Katrina refused to forgive Evan for such a harmless childhood prank, my dad refuses to forgive one of his cousins for a childhood wrongdoing, so there is truth in those types of feelings! I think Evan and Katrina certainly make up for wasted time in the end and complement each other well.

There is a secondary romance that enhances and supports the main plotline. It was an endearing secondary romance in which the couple, against all odds, can have some semblance of an HEA within the confines of Regency England society.
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As for steam, readers will need to hold out for the true steam to hit but the build-up is GREAT. Pascarella uses a mixture of explicit and alluded-to terms in her writing. The scenes are varied in length and actions and are well-detailed. There is a particular scene at an inn that will be living RENT FREE in my mind. It was so good that I stopped to tell my husband about it.
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Read as a physical copy book gifted by author. Thank you!
Honest review left voluntarily.
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Content Warning (may contain spoilers):
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.
.
.
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De*th of parent- off page, mentioned
Unwanted groping- off page, mentioned
Threat of S.A.
Abd*ction
Physical vi*lence- mild
Time p eriod-based societal feelings towards LGTBQIA+ relationships

[KelseyreadsHR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Childhood enemies to lovers

The Rake Desires the Diamond is the third book in the Eatons of Trent series.

Childhood enemies to lovers, Evan and Katrina haven’t gotten along ever since Evan put a frog in Katrina’s tea as young children. Now all grown, Katrina is a diamond set on marrying Evan’s best friend and despite enjoying his life as a rake, Evan can’t get Katrina out of his head ever since that kiss they shared. Both caught up in the moment at a masquerade, causes them to question their feelings for one another. It throws a kink in Katrina’s plan not only because she’s courting another but someone saw their kiss and is now black mailing her. After getting to know Evan in previous books I was looking forward to his story.

I love reformed rakes and reading as a heroine brings them to their knees and I definitely got that in this one. Evan and Katrina were both artists and enjoyed the different artistic touches that were part of their characters. I liked Katrina, she’s a diamond and seen as spoiled but underneath she’s anxious.

I liked the overall story and MC but the tropes in the first half aren’t my favorite. The love triangle and hero lusting after best friend’s suitor resolve themselves about halfway through and I really enjoyed the MC progression of feelings in the second half.

There are three encounters that are explicit and steamy.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. All opinions are my own.

[Susan Gromis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this steamy episode wherein the young Eaton of Trent, brother Evan, finds his match in Kat Harrington, sister of his best friend! Kat and Evan have known each other since childhood, yet his juvenile prank of a toad in her tea caused a rift, neither willing to admit deeper feelings for each other. Until a mistaken identity at a masked ball, the two may never have given each other the time of day. But the smoldering began that night and through a series of adventures involving their circle of friends and their biggest nemesis, Francis Greyson, their mutual attraction grows. Blackmail, kidnapping, and love abound in this installment in the Eatons of Trent series.
Well done, Nicki Pascarella: highly recommended, but read the series from the beginning to enjoy it more and better understand the familial relationships.

[Alejandra Guerrero · Rating 2 out of 5]

This isn't a historical romance. No thoughts were given to historical accuracy. Every character and every storyline are preposterous when considering all of the events described are supposed to take place in the 1800’s. The only way I could even start this was to consider it a Fantasy of manners in an alternative version of our world. And even then it wasn't good. It even contradicts itself in some minor ways. The characters were shallow outlines of people, and they changed at the drop of a hat (or, apparently, a dip in the ocean), just because they decided to and that's that. Forget everything you considered important until now, it's not, and someone can't ruin you if you don't care. Yeah, right. Her brother was such a hypocrite, and he did nonsensical, plain stupid shit just because he was “protective”, and “loyal”. I constantly confused the brother and the MMC because their names were so similar, and they have essentially the same personality. There are so many people mentioned (who barely appear in the story, some of them never do) that at some point I didn't know who was who, and I just stopped caring.
So, no, this wasn't good. It wasn't even funny, and the smut wasn't that good either. And there's lots of it. At some point I started skipping it.

[Marion Löw · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Spicy Fun Read

I love the unconventional Eatons and Harringtons! This book is so much fun to read, I made me laugh out loud a lot! The plot is very nice with its enemies to lovers, opposites attract, best friend's sister and forbidden love tropes. The characters are endearing, the chemistry between them is great and there are quite a few steamy love scenes. I also liked enjoyed the banter between Evan and his friends and the open and protective attitude towards Alexander.

As the third son of an earl, Evan Eaton is used to a carefree life as a notorious rake until he accidentally kisses his best friend's little sister Katrina, whom he has always considered an uptight, spoilt and shallow nuisance.

Katrina Harrington is the diamond of the season and she loathes Ethan, her brother's best friend since childhood, who always acts immature and likes to play pranks on her until he mistakes her for her cousin and kisses her during a masquerade....

If you like humorous historical romance novels with lots of dirty talk and steam, you will definitely enjoy this book!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Mandy Lehti · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Rake Desires the Diamond sparkles with all the irresistible delight of a classic Regency scandal only heightened by Nicki Pascarella’s sharp banter, luscious chemistry, and a delicious “enemies to lovers” tension that practically crackles off the page. Lady Katrina Harrington is the perfect diamond: admired, polished, and poised for a flawless future… until one masked kiss with Evan Eaton shatters everything she thought she controlled. Their fiery dynamic is intoxicating; every stolen glance and barbed exchange feels like another match striking in a powder keg.

What makes this novel especially fun is the push pull between reputation and desire. Katrina and Evan’s partnership both reluctant and undeniably electric unfolds inside a treacherous world of blackmail, gossip, and social stakes sharp enough to draw blood. The Regency setting feels alive, the romantic tension is deeply satisfying, and the interplay between vulnerability and seduction will make readers grin, swoon, and gasp all at once. A witty, sensual triumph for fans of enemies to lovers and lush historical romance.

[Sisi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Etan e Kat o diamante da temporada, história e uma continuação, então temos o irmão de Kat que é duque e é casado com a irmã de Etan, o outro irmão dela é o melhor amigo dele.
O comportamento geral e muito relaxado em relação ao período, mas a história e gostosa de ler. Os dois se conhecem e se detestam, até q a prima dela marca um encontro com ele e ela vai no lugar. Aparte daí se apaixonam e engatam um romance escondido até q os irmãos autorizem a união do terceiro filho do conde com av irmã do duque

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blackmail, kidnapping and a case of mistaken identity! Well, well these set the ground work for an enticing read!

I really enjoyed Kat and Evan, and I definitely need to go back and read the entire series!

This is my first foray into this author's stories and I know I'm going to enjoy reading more Eatons of Trent!

Do you like toads? LOL

This was a great in between dark romance!

Ms. Pascarella has a new fan!

[Mary Ellen Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Rake Desires The Diamond

The story was good. It wasn't as good as the first two books. It lacked mystery. It also lacked romance. It seemed to me all they did was jump on each other.

[Jeanie V. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3+ stars. OMG, Chapter 6 had me howling!!!!! 🤣🤣🤣

[Alexandra G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seaside shenanigans, her brother’s best friend & a scheming chump

Katrina & Evan
She’s the Queen’s favourite niece, an untouchable diamond, spoiled, haughty and a little too prim for her own good. He’s the youngest Trent, the dashing rake, the painter, the one everyone loves – except for her. They’ve been at odds ever since he dropped a frog in her tea a decade prior, but a stolen moonlit kiss at a Brighton masquerade changes everything...

She’s set her sights on his friend, a terribly shy but very eligible earl, and she refuses to be sidetracked by her lifelong nemesis and his annoying smirks – even if he has the finest arse.
He suddenly realises it’s been her all along... but you don’t steal your mate’s girl and besides, her brothers would neuter him if they knew.
Enter the villain: a sleezy marquess known for abusing women and blackmailing everyone. He wants the diamond, and he shall have her – by any means necessary.

A far too adventurous cousin, a smitten butler and a burdened barrister. Cricket, sea bathing, portrait sittings, long walks and midnight plunges. Theatre flirtations, endless sketches and being stuck in a storm with only one room.
Kat & Evan have been fighting for so long, the sudden realisation of feelings comes as a shock – but once the fire’s been lit, there’s no holding them back. Utterly delicious!
And the BFF dynamic between the men is chef’s kiss! It felt so real; they’re a crew, for better or for worse.

This addictive series is a little bonkers and should really be read in order to capture the full fantabulous madness of this family and their extraordinary love stories.
If you’re looking for historical accuracy and etiquette, please move along.
But if you’re looking for one hell of a good time, mad cross-country chasing, emancipated spirited heroines, protective possessive heroes, swoony romance, verbal and other sparring, delectable steam and action-packed climaxes, this is most definitely your thing!

⭐⭐⭐⭐✨