Romancing the Rake

by Trinity Wood (Editor), A.T. Abbott, Gabbi Black

They’ve lived in the shadows of scandal, but love has a way of rewriting the past.

In this historical romance, experience the passion, heartbreak, and ultimate redemption of notorious rakes who dare to risk it all for the women who change their lives forever. From glittering ballrooms to moonlit gardens, each story is a tantalizing journey of love, second chances, and the power of forgiveness.

In the world of the Ton, reputations may be ruined, but these daring heroes prove that redemption—and true love—are never out of reach.

Perfect for fans of second chances and bad boys with hearts of gold, this anthology delivers swoon-worthy tales that will keep you reading long into the night.

Kelsey Swanson
Freya Theadore
Mihwa Lee
Gabbi Grey
Kathleen Ryder
Gabbi Black
Ginny B. Moore
Melissa Kendall
Caro Kinkead
Emma Brady
Alivia Fleur
Sharon Michalove
Carrie DiRisio
Heather Scarlett
Lisabel Chretien
Tasha Blythe
Alexa Santi
Steffy Smith
Heather Boyd
Eliana Piers
Kat Sterling
Sherri Lupton Hollister
Olivia Huxley
A.T. Abbott
Tanya Wilde
Giovanna Siniscalchi
Ramona Elmes
Christina Diane

Genres: Romance

945 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 17, 2025

About the author

Trinity writes contemporary romance set in New Zealand. Because she can't get enough of book boyfriends, she created some of her own. Get ready to meet Sam, Corey, Jay, Tai, Luke, Mike, Travis, and many more, but please form an orderly line. Behind Trinity.

A self-professed good-time nerd, Trinity's never far away from one of her trusty Pokemon coffee mugs. Trinity also swears that Margaritas can cure colds.

Keep in touch on Facebook in The New Romance Cafe.

Reviews

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

Romancing the Rake

These reviews will be more brief than my usual so I don’t hit the character limit haha.

Lord Hadleigh’s Last Chance by Olivia Huxley


First line:
Matthew Berringer, Earl of Hadleigh, fought against the encroaching brightness, wanting more than anything to slide back into oblivion.

Give this a try if you want:
- historical romance
- Earl hero
- she nurses him back to health
- bit of a jerk hero
- heroine is a vicar’s daughter
- class difference
- close proximity – he stays at the vicarage with her most of the book

Thoughts:
4 stars
Cute, short and sweet. It did read a bit….’inspirational’ to me with all the vice regrets. This is a new author for me, would definitely try more!

A few other notes:
- mains are on page together immediately

Steam details: kisses only
Chapter 8 – kiss
Chapter 10 – kiss
Total chapters: 11


Content warnings: parental death, hero mentions sleeping with possibly a hundred women, many of them married, domestic violence – a side character is abused by her husband



The Rake’s Return by Alexa Santi


First line:
Dr. Johnson had said when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life, and Simon, Lord Rowston, now felt he truly understood.

Give this a try if you want:
- historical romance
- arranged marriage – they were married and he went off to London, leaving her in the country
- second chance-ish – she wants a real marriage and lures him to the country with letters
- abandoned summer house

Thoughts:
4 stars
This is perfect for a quick read before bed or in the bath...a very short story that I liked overall. It’s such a short story it’s hard to feel convinced of the love factor. And I do wish we had seen a bit more of her letters to him.

A few other notes:
- mains are on page pretty soon in

Steam details: 1 full scene though it’s pretty short
No chapters but there’s a kiss earlier on and 1 full scene (sex at the empty summer house)
Total chapters: No chapters listed



The Debauched Duke by Kelsey Swanson


First line:
Nearly four decades of life had taught Arthur Cliffe many things, like how to manage a dukedom and the art of the Intimidating Glare; however, he’d also learned many more useful talents, such as the benefits of a winning and well-timed smile, the proper way to flirt, and how not to form lasting attachments with females while they both satisfied their carnal needs.

Give this a try if you want:
- historical romance
- age gap – he’s near 40, she’s a new debutante
- he falls in love at first site
- let’s elope

Thoughts:
5 stars
I loved this one! Super sweet, loved both mains and their dialogue. I am a sucker for hero’s being all in and Arthur is in looooooooove. The only thing that would have made this better is a longer more fleshed out story because this was perfection to me!

A few other notes:
- mains are on page soon in
- he doesn’t pull out ;)

Steam details: 1 full scene, missionary



A Roguish Pair of Eyes by Sharon Michalove


First line:
I climbed into the carriage, my heart fluttering with a mixture of trepidation and anticipation of the journey to Altheney Court.

Give this a try if you want:
- historical romance – Regency - 1819
- first person POV (from both mains)
- life turnaround – the hero is a gambler and rake, but learns his lesson
- mains are together at a friend / relatives house
- a bit of she nurses him back to health – she reads to him while he’s recovering
- zero steam

Thoughts:
3 stars
I wasn’t in love with this one. There was a stressful, negative aura for me throughout the read and not enough turn around to feel a solid HEA by the end. I cared more about 2 servants dallying together than the mains.

A few other notes:
- scenes of gambling, alcohol usage and physical assault on the hero happen



A Less-Than-Convenient Marriage by Lisabel Chretien

Leaning forward to whisper in her ear, he allowed his breath to trail along her neck before he said, “I would make oyu want to come to me.”


First line:
To all appearances, Mr. John Davenport lounged comfortably in Lady Emma Renfrew’s well-appointed Mayfair drawing room.

Give this a try if you want:
- historical romance
- widow heroine
- must marry to gain inheritance
- unrequited love (from hero)
- marriage of convenience
- she’s 32, he’s similar age
- she’s an author

Thoughts:
5 stars
Oh, I LOVED this story. The writing grabbed me immediately and I found myself excitedly searching Chretien’s other novels to mark more to try. She has a writing style that I adored and want more of.

A few other notes:
Content warnings:
- mentions of smoking / wanting a cigarette
- remembrance of an abusive marriage

Steam:
ch 1 – a kiss
ch 4 – a kiss


The Rake is the Lady’s Choice by Ramona Elmes

First line:
Vivienne, the Countess of Harlow, stepped into the small sitting room of the Harlow Manor House, needing a break from the crush of people arriving.

Give this a try if you want:
- historical romance – Victorian romance - 1844
- widow heroine – she’s a mother with an adult daughter
- Earl hero
- house party
- second chance – she was initially supposed to marry him but chose another man
- childhood friends
- she’s 38, he’s similar age
- together at the empty hunting cottage
- 1 steam

Thoughts:
5 stars
This is such a sweet story about a second chance offered to a broken childhood love. I eat up unrequited love / longing especially from the hero and this was so sweet how they find each other again.

Steam:
- kisses, oral for her, missionary at the hunting cottage


A Wounded Gentleman by Gabbi Grey


First line:
Spotting Crosswood Hall from the window of the carriage as I approached brought no happiness.

Give this a try if you want:
- historical romance
- M/M pairing
- first person POV
- soldier hero
- disability rep – hero lost an arm in the war with France
- child in the story – Henry takes care of his orphaned niece who is 6 months old
- Valet hero
- unrequited love
- Henry is 35, Percy is a similar age

Thoughts:
5 stars
I LOVED this novel! This is my first reading of Gabbi Grey and I need more! The writing pulled me in right away and I loved Percy and Henry together. This story had a lot of emotion, and was steamy and maybe a bit longer than some of the other stories so it just felt more complete and not rushed. Absolutely adored this one!

Steam:
- Percy gives Henry a handy in the bath
- Percy gives Henry a bj, Henry gives Percy a handy
- spooning sex and handy for Henry

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

Drawing Mr. Drent by AT Abbott


Note: Some of my goodreads shelves can be spoilers

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔 (It’s a short story)
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥
Humor: A touch
Perspective: third person from both hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: she sees him immediately, but they don’t interact until the end of chapter 1 (32%)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after for the mains
Epilogue: Yes there’s a brief summary epilogue
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy from the author in e-book form
Why I chose this book: I’ve liked Abbott’s first two novels and as this one was shorter I was sure I could squeeze it in!
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
(Descriptions found at end of my review)

Mr. Drent’s eyes flickered to her lips, and his eyes darkened.
“Tell me, Miss Hutton...have you ever been naughty?”
Angelica held his gaze, even as it seared her. To her surprise, she replied, “Not yet. But I would like to be.”

Should I read in order?
There’s some mention of prior characters – you don’t NEED to read in order though, the romance stands alone nicely. (book 1 is Child of Summer if you want to start there – and those mains are in this story)

Basic plot:
The moment Angelica sees Nev swimming in a lake she dreams of drawing him – and the house party gives the opportunity.

Give this a try if you want:
- Georgian romance – 1809
- artist heroine
- she wants to draw him
- house party
- this hero is the king of endearments
- compromised heroine
- shorter novel
- average novella steam – 1 scene

Ages:
- heroine is 18, didn’t catch hero but think he’s just a bit older? Maybe mid 20s?

First line:
The male specimen in front of Angelica Hutton was exquisite.

My thoughts:
I loved this novella! It was so cute and sweet and romantic and exactly the reason I read historical romance. A country house party with the opportunity for secret night time rendezvous? It’s one of my favorite things about HR. And Abbott’s writing is so romantic – I love the focus on the mains, the longing glances, the uncertainty that gives me butterflies and a culmination that is so sweet.

Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 3
Average rating from me: 4.67 stars
Favorite book: This one!

Endearments
The hero calls her ‘angel’, ‘darling’, ‘lovely girl’, and ‘sweet girl’

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

Safe sex: No
How’s the consent? It’s good
Pregnancy/children in story? possibility of pregnancy discussed and children mentioned in the epilogue
Chapter 2 (Pg 17, 50%) – kiss
Chapter 3 (Pg 24, 71%) – 🔥 touches, oral for her, him standing her on the bed
“I want you, angel,” Nev muttered fervently. “I want your body, your mind, your heart. Let me show you pleasure.”
Chapter 4 (Pg 32, 94%) - kiss
Total pages: 34 (4 chapters and an epilogue)


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 (5) 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)

[Kate W · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is for Trappednwith a rake by Mihwa Lee.

The appreciation of female scholars by young rumbunctious males is to point the out in a crowd then laugh at them but secretly read their everyone of females printed articles when they finally reach some maturity. This book was filled with wit and humour a piglet to be called 'Bacon'. With forced proximity later in life thes former young friends end up locked in a tower room and the connection between them sparks. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend.

[Nina Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a review of Mihwa Lee‘s short story „Trapped with a rake“.
It doesn’t matter how long or short Mihwa Lee‘s stories are, they are all wonderful and contain such great, different characters.
This story is exactly the same. We experience a night with two people who have actually loved each other their entire lives, but were always too insecure to admit it to themselves and each other.
How they now overcome this obstacle and find each other is simply wonderful

[Gylene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the privilege of reading and reviewing the following stories. I thoroughly enjoyed each and every one of them and look forward to reading the rest of the book!!

Plumage: A Historical Romance Retelling of the Swan Maiden – Alivia Fleur – 5 Stars

Elliot Turner is busy living his carefree life. Ava has been best friends with Elliot’s sister since they were younger. Elliot returns home for his sister’s come out ball and finds Ava is all grownup and thinking about getting married to another man. Will Elliot decide to give up his carefree lifestyle and decide to settle down with Ava?

I loved Elliot and Ava’s story and how they got their happily ever after together!! They were both very likable characters!! While this was a quick read it was very sweet and delightful.

Jim Harper is the Worst – Kat Sterling – 5 Stars

Astrid Anderson is very competitive and always wants to win. Jim Harper likes Astrid and has been trying to get her to notice him. Jim proposes a wager to see who is the faster rower. Astrid begins to wonder maybe just maybe being first is not what matter but maybe Jim is what matters.

This was a quick short read that was a lot of fun and very enjoyable. Both Astrid and Jim were both very likable characters who figured out that they did belong together.

To Seduce a Rake – Christina Diane – 5 Stars
Lady Rebecca Eliot has decided after several failed season she is firmly on the shelf. She is leaving London to go home since she is just going to be a spinster. Harrison Sinclair, Earl of Mulgrave is a known Rake and doesn’t care what the Ton says about him. He is starting to question his life when he meets Rebecca at the inn he is staying at. Will Harrison change his mind about marriage and decide marriage to Rebecca will not be a bad idea?

I loved, loved Rebecca and Harrison love story and how they got their happily ever after!! This was a very delightful, oh so sweet and very steamy short story. I instantly liked both Rebecca and Harrison’s characters and felt they were perfect for each other!!

The Widow Reforms a Rake – Steffy Smith – 5 Stars

Robert Balfour, the Duke of Stanworth has longed for Eliza Carden, the Dowager Countess of Hartwell since his friend married her years ago. Eliza was sure Robert would asked for her, but when he didn’t she married another. Now they have a chance to be together. Will Robert decide it is time to stop being a Rake and being with Eliza is what truly matters?

I absolutely loved Robert and Eliza’s love story and how they go their happily ever after!! Their story was so wonderful, very sweet and oh so romantic!! I loved how they reconnected and finally decided they were perfect together!!

Entrenched with the Grenadier – Giovanna Siniscalchi – 5 Stars

Wanton Wallflower received a surprised inheritance from her Uncle Barthelemy. She now has the freedom to go on her own adventure. So off to Portugal she sails. There she meets a grenadier named Edward Grant who ends up saving her when she ends up in the middle of a battlefield. Will they continue their adventure together?

I loved this story!! This was such a fun adventure which had me laughing throughout the story!! It was a lot fun, so delightful and very entertaining!!

Remedy For A Rake – Ginny B. Moore – 5 Stars

Miss Lavinia Fairfax has dreams of being a physician, but is not allowed to study in England. She has been accepted to study at the Sorbonne in Paris and planning on leaving. Dominic Bailey is a known rake who has started to have feelings for Lavinia, but afraid to tell her how he feels. Now Dominic begins to wonder did he wait to long to tell Lavinia how he really feels about her?

I thoroughly loved Lavinia and Dominic’s love story and how they got their happily ever after!! It was so sweet, very entertaining and oh so romantic!! I liked how they were friends who both started developing feeling for each and in the end finally decided to tell each other how they felt. Their story was so delightful!!

[PlotTrysts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the chance to read several of the stories in this anthology before publication! I haven't yet read the entire book, but I'll rank what I have read. I will note that I really like the short (short!!) nature of the stories in the book. This isn't a collection of longer novellas, but rather truly short stories that still manage to be sexy and emotional.

Plumage - Alivia Fleur (5 stars): This is 6 chapters of historical romance friends-to-lovers perfection. Alivia Fleur is one of my favorite indie HistRom authors, and her short stories and novellas are my favorites! This is a wonderful addition to her oeuvre. It's sexy, it's sweet, and it's a fully realized love story in about 15 minutes of reading. I'll definitely be revisiting this steamy fairy tale retelling!

Jim Harper Is the Worst - Kat Sterling (4.5 stars): Another satisfying 15-minute historical romance! Kat Sterling writes turn-of-the-20th-century Pacific Northwest-set romances. They're usually pretty high heat, but this is a "first kiss between college students who bond over Anne of Green Gables" romance, so while you can feel the chemistry, they keep it (almost!) fully-clothed. I really enjoyed the historical details, as both characters are rowers at the University of Washington. Great for when you need a break.

To Seduce a Rake - Christina Diane (4 stars): This was the first thing I'd ever read by this author, and it was short and sweet. It's an instalust/instalove relationship. Rebecca meets Harrison at an inn. They share dinner in the dining room and then she sneaks into his bedroom for a little dessert, because she's a spinster and what does she have to lose? It's such a short story that the relationship development is truncated, but I wasn't disappointed to spend 20 minutes with these characters.

Remedy for a Rake - Ginny B. Moore (4 stars): Super sexy little historical romance about a rake who's been in love with a bluestocking for years. She's about to leave for Paris to attend medical school and he knows he has one final chance to admit his love. He finally manages it and also manages to f*ck it up. But since it's a romance, he manages to unf*ck it in less than 20 pages. I'm proud of him.

The Widow Reforms a Rake - Steffy Smith (3.5 stars): Rakish duke falls for his BFF's betrothed a few days before the wedding. After her husband kicks the bucket they flirt for a while via letter. (A little TOO long for me ... we're talking at least a decade of distance.) They do eventually hook up thanks in part to John Donne.

These reviews are based on complimentary copies of these stories only.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is for the short story, "Drawing Mr. Drent," by A.T. Abbott, which is included in the anthology. Other stories in Romancing the Rake were not available for my reading at the time of this review.

Miss Angelica Hutton, a skilled artist at heart, aches to draw the human body in motion, but as a young woman of almost nineteen who is the most prized debutante of the season, such artistry is frowned upon as being improper. Yet she attends a house party at Ainsley Manor, where she meets handsome Neville Drent, a close friend of the Earl of Hartfield and a bit a rake. Quickly drawn to and intrigued by each other, Angelica reveals her desire to draw the human body and asks Neville, or Nev, to model for her, to which he avidly consents. What follows is her drawing him in her chambers, which leads to a night of passion between them (and a deflowering to which she consents wholeheartedly). But when the two are caught out, will Nev do the right thing and ask her to marry him, or will he keep to his rakish ways and allow her to be seen as ruined in the eyes of the ton?

This is an enjoyable short story that has one scene of intimacy (fully open-door), moves very quickly, but has a satisfying happy ending for both Nev and Angelica. It is light-hearted and well-written. Perhaps my only critical points are that because of its brevity, there is not much character development of either main character, and I do object to men who are seducing virgins to calling them "girls", as in "my darling girl." I prefer for the MMC to view his sexual partner as an equal, and not as rake and girl, but rather as man and woman. That is my personal preference though, and other readers may not mind that aspect to their MMC's. Still, it was a sweet story, with both Angelica and Nev being likable characters, with their hearts in the right place.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this story from the author, and I am leaving my review of it voluntarily.

[Tracy Emro · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Anthology features 25 short novellas from some of your favorite historical romance authors.

They’ve lived in the shadows of scandal, but love has a way of rewriting the past.
In this historical romance, experience the passion, heartbreak, and ultimate redemption of notorious rakes who dare to risk it all for the women who change their lives forever. From glittering ballrooms to moonlit gardens, each story is a tantalizing journey of love, second chances, and the power of forgiveness.

In the world of the Ton, reputations may be ruined, but these daring heroes prove that redemption—and true love—are never out of reach.

Perfect for fans of second chances and bad boys with hearts of gold, this anthology delivers swoon-worthy tales that will keep you reading long into the night.

I was gifted a copy of Trapped with a Rake by Mihwa Lee, this novella is a classic friend to enemies to lovers romance. Beatrice Winters is a brilliant young woman with thoughts and ideas that are not typical of a woman in the Victorian era, she and Lord Ira Harrison where childhood friends who grew apart, but when they see each other again years later, he seems to be interested in her research, but any thought of reconciliation is crushed when he humiliates her in front of his friends. It is seven years before they see each other again and they end up trapped together in a tower. They will have to confront their past before they can have a future. Kissing only, HEA

I am looking forward to the release of this title so I can enjoy the other stories!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

[BookishMya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romancing the Rake Anthology
One sitting wonders, instant gratification, sweet little romance appetizers, an amuse bouche that is chefs kiss.😘 This anthology has brought me wonderful little joys from authors I absolutely adore, as well as introducing me to a bevy of new authors to delight in. I have only scratched the surface so enjoy the mini reviews of those I read. I’ll update as I go.

To Seduce a Rake - Christina Diane
A quick and tasty morsel to feed all your senses. Diane weaves the longing of romance with the heat of new love to give us a fully satisfying encounter. Truly the definition of whirlwind romance, this story proves when you know, you know. A rake is only a rake because he has yet to meet the right woman. Once Rebecca waltzed into his life, Harrison was helpless against her charm and innocence.

Jim Harper is the worst - Kat Sterling
This quick short story is full of surprising tenderness. There is nothing sweeter than when a couple moves past barbs & taunts and admits to the motivation behind the vitriol. Jim Harper has been pining for quite some time, and Astrid is only just now seeing the truth behind his flirtatious nature. It’s only ever been her, and isn’t that just the rub. A sweet and gentle read with all the similarities of Anne & her sweet Gilbert Blythe. Kat Sterling captures all the emotions in delicious banter and tender love.

Remedy With a Rake - Ginny Moore
Lavinia is not your typical heroine, but that is why I love her. With her love of medicine, somewhat macabre interests and brilliant thinking, she stands out from the crowd. Boys can be stupid though, don’t tool a full two years for Dominic to admit his feelings. The poor sap just has horrid timing. With her leaving for Paris in less than 24 hours, this is where the story really takes off. I loved the gentle humour between these two, even in intimacy things were light and teasing. I love this kind of love. This story wouldn’t be complete without some spicy times, for science of course! A sweet, and satisfying tale of unselfish love and putting that love first!

[Ellie (On a break, mostly rereading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review for the Scandalous Letter by Kathleen Ryder, a short story (approx. 5K words) which has been published as part of a Regency era anthology.

If you're looking for something with a meaty plot, obvious this isn't the story for you. However, if you're intrigued by a short story with a rake and a tenacious lady, then give it a go.

I thoroughly enjoyed the story between Lady Violet and Lord Alistair Hawthorne. They know each other through Violet's brother, and it is trying to save him that brings them into close proximity with each other. A really pleasing short story with a HEA. Cannot complain about anything.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[KelseyreadsHR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trapped with a Rake: Enjoyable second chance romance for former childhood friends. A blue stocking heroine and a hero that has plenty to make up for find themselves trapped in a secluded tower.

This is a short story and I loved how the author was able to establish these characters so quickly. The hero is pretty awful and wasn’t sure how he would be able to redeem himself in such a short time but Mihwa found a way to convince me.

There’s a lot of authors I enjoy that’s part of this anthology and am looking forward to the other stories that’ll join this one.

Thanks to Mihwa Lee for an advance copy of her story.

[Jordan Fiest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romancing the Rake is an anthology part of the Romance Cafe Collection Series.

There were numerous short stories in this collection. This is a historical collection and they are all set roughly with the regency era.

I overly enjoyed The Debauched Duke by Kelsey Swanson. The Duke, Arthur, has a reputation of being a womanizer. But once he seems Beatrice at a party, he knows she is the one for him. She is also intrigued by him and even though she's heard of his reputation, she doesn't hold it against him. What happens is a lot of forcing the two apart, but love holds out strong and these two fight to be together.

Super great collection of short stories!

[DS_Promotions · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a swoon-worthy romance collection i adored!
This was a historical based romance collection from some amazing authors i have previously read and some who are completely new reads for me and I adored them all.

This collection was centred on rakes who wern't scared to challenge the norm to chase for what they wanted - the woman who changed their life in more ways than one.

If you love romance with passion, redemption, second chances, forgiveness and love you will love this collection.

[Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is for "Entrenched with the Grenadier" by Giovanna Siniscalchi.

This is a quick & quirky romp!

The story of Wanton & Edward is short yet both fascinating and simply fun.

I loved the author's turn of phrase and her use of humour:

"The wind slapped her face like a scandalized dowager."

"How can you trust someone who looks less intelligent than his quadruped?"

I'll definitely be watching for more adventures of Wanton Wallflower!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many new to me authors with stories about rakes!

Why is it that good girls like bad boys?
We think we can reform them!
Right ladies?

Well, the question is, will there be ladies that reform these rakes?
I definitely enjoyed finding out!

I now have some new authors to follow and many more books added to my TBR list!

Plenty to keep you swooning for many entertaining hours!

[Up All Night With Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this historical romance collection.

This collection was from some authors i have read before and some who are new to me that I will be reading more from. This is why I adore reading romance collections because you get to read stories from authors you may not have had the chance to read before, and you discover your new favorite authors and a whole new world of books to devour!

[Lazarra Blair · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a review of Trapped with a Rake by Mihwa Lee, a short story contained within this collection.
If you are looking a quick read and love second chance romances or forced proximity stories then I highly recommend this one!!
If the other stories in this collection are half as entertaining as this one then this book will definately be a massive hit!

[JoAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent collection of historical romance novellas. Includes stories with chemistry, emotions, drama, intrigue, situations, scandels, heros and heroines, and twists.

[Bianca White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent anthology from New Romance Cafe. Some great stories from upcoming and best-selling authors.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved reading this anthology of wonderful collection of stories about attraction, passion, love and romance.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

To Seduce a Rake – Christina Diane
LOVED IT! A short story with lots of emotions. Rebecca and Harrison were so stinking cute and their story is endearing. Oh, how the mighty will fall.

Trapped with a Rake – Mihwa Lee
Such a sweet story. It felt like looking through a window into the love blooming between the two people. It is definitely a feel good story.

[Tami Willard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is on Kathleen Ryder's story...
This is a very short and to the point story. Someone is threatening her family's reputation. The only solution she can think of is to ask for help from her brother's best friend. Who's behind it and why?.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Zena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read early copies of the following books in this collection and am happy to recommend it:
TRAPPED WITH A RAKE by Mihwa Lee
Just Wonderful!
I read an early copy of Trapped with A Rake (which I thoroughly enjoyed) and am happy to leave my voluntary review below:
From friends to enemies, from enemies to friends and then to lovers, this is Beatrice and Ira's captivating story.
I loved the word wars between them. If she said day, he said night, if he did A, she insisted on B, neither willing to give in to their tug of war.
Yes, childish in a way but these are two crazily-in-love characters who couldn't or wouldn't admit it, until... they did!
This is a story which held me and had me reading till it was done, entertaining me all the way! So if this one is any indication of the rest in this collection, then we have a perfect winner!

TO SEDUCE A RAKE by Christina Diana
Then I read an early copy of TO SEDUCE A RAKE by Christina Diana and this short and cute story did not disappoint. It reads easily and has two characters who complimented each other very nicely.
Rebecca Eliot is a spinster and Harrison Sinclair is the Earl of Mulgrave. Their meeting is under surprising circumstances when she mistakenly barges into his bedchamber at an Inn and their story takes off from there.
It is a very quick read and I enjoyed it very much.

PLUMAGE by Alivia Fleur
Feathers for Love!
I was so happy when Ava and Elliot got their well deserved happy ever after. This short story was so nicely written and I loved how they found their common ground.
I also liked that Ava didn't excuse the killing of birds for the use of their feathers in decoration and only had use for those which had fallen out naturally. It says something for her character and that Elliot understood this and accepted it said something of his.

ENTRENCHED WITH A GRENADIER by Giovanna Siniscalchi
Funny and Hot!
This short story made me laugh - just what I needed today!
It also gets a bit heated as our wallflower-come-wanton has a rather hot under the collar adventure.
Interesting and funny characters, including a donkey, of all things. Lol!

REMEDY FOR A RAKE by Ginny B Moore
Happiness Is ....!
This is a cute romantic short story where Lavinia and Dominic have to decide what and who their priorities in life are in order to find their happy ever after.
The characters, main and supporting were interesting - each one adding to the story in their own unique way. The story itself was very easy to read, interesting and entertaining and I enjoyed it very much.
I read an early copy of this story and these are my own thoughts about it.

[Emma Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have had the honour of read a few of the short stories as ARC copies. I have enjoyed them all in different ways
Christina Diane to seduce a rake. A perfect quick read with insta list and steam!
Kat sterling- perfect short story warm the heart.
Mihwa Lee astounding as always. Love a clever heroine.
Steffy Smith just a lovely short romance story.
Ginny B Moore amazing! What a beautiful story loves it
Alicia fluer one of my fav tropes! Brilliant x
Amazing read

[Winnifred D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Totally worth checking out. There are a few real gems in this collection. Short stories can be difficult to pull off, especially in the HR genre, but these were my faves:

--"Plumage" by Alivia Fleur: 5 stars. Sexy, sweet, beautifully written. Best friend's brother trope.
--"Jim Harper is the Worst" by Kat Sterling: 4.5 stars. So much fun. This writer has such a way with words and does her research. Enemies to lovers.
--"Remedy for a Rake" by Ginny B. Moore: 4.25 stars. Cute and sweet and sexy. Friends to lovers.
--"Trapped With a Rake" by Mihwa Lee. 4 stars. Haven't read anything by this author before but I'll have to check out one of her full-length books. Wasn't sure the HEA would work for me but it was suprisingly emotional. Enemies to lovers.
--"How to Redeem a Rake" by Sherri Lupton Hollister. 4 stars. Another author I haven't checked out before and would read something from in the future. A HR short story with decent action and a twisty little spy-ish plot is tough to pull off. Fun, lightly sexy.

[Mindy B (reader_of_the_lost_arcs) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is for Mihwa Lee's TRAPPED WITH A RAKE.

Beatrice and Ira grew up as childhood friends. She's incredibly brilliant and she employs a scientific method to livestock and advancement in farming. She's probably smarter than anyone in a 5 mile radius.

Ira is a second son and is unsure about what his purpose and calling. He tends to be influenced by his rougish friends.

Seven years ago he behaved abominably towards Beatrice and embarrassed her horribly. Fast forward - they are now in a situation that they are stuck together. I was VERY IMPRESSED with Ira's ability to grovel. Good job, man. As he should. What happens next is very tender, emotional and they clear the air. Very cathartic. And also hot. Did I mention there's only one bed??

I hope we hear more about these two!

Thank you to Mihwa Lee for the copy of this book. Opinions are my own.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

To Seduce a Rake – Christina Diane LOVED IT! A short story with lots of emotions. Rebecca and Harrison were so stinking cute and their story is endearing. Oh, how the mighty will fall.

Trapped with a Rake – Mihwa Lee Such a sweet story. It felt like looking through a window into the love blooming between the two people. It is definitely a feel good story.

[Marie Library Mouse]

Trapped with a Rake / Mihwa Lee. 3.5*
To Seduce a Rake / Christina Diane 3*
Drawing Mr. Drent / AT Abbott 4*
Jim Harper is the Worst / Kat Sterling 4.5*
Lord Hadleigh's last chance / Olivia Huxley 4*
Plumage / Alivia Fleur 4*
Remedy For A Rake / Ginny B. Moore
Widow Reforms a Rake / Steffy Smith
Entrenched with the Grenadier / Giovanna Siniscalchi
Debauched Duke / Kelsey Swanson 3*

[mmreads430 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gabbi Grey MM short: A Wounded Gentleman

[Caren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some really good stories, a few were “meh”. I’m not a short story fan, but I really enjoyed this.