Only Rakes Need Apply

Rakes of London #1

by Kate Pearce

A sexy new series begins as three daring Regency ladies each seek lovers with no strings attached . . . and find even the most unfettered hearts can get tangled up in passion.

What’s a woman to do when her husband has departed but her . . . desires . . . very much remain? The only thing Lady Carenza Smythe-Harding misses about her late spouse, a notorious gambler and adulterer, is his expertise between the sheets. After two years donning mourning dresses, it’s her turn for some frisky fun. But with no intention of remarrying, how can she find the right devil-may-care rogue for the job?

Titled lady seeks experienced, unmarried rake for afternoon dalliance . . .

The anonymous newspaper advertisement leaves little to the imagination, and has the gentlemen of the ton wagering who is the temptress taking applications—and measurements!—to fill a most enticing position.

Thanks to an unexpected inheritance, confirmed bachelor Julian Laurent is free to indulge his passions—including the occasional seduction of married ladies. Still, he is appalled to discover his longtime friend, Carenza, is behind the public proposition. Surely Julian can prevent a damning scandal by pleasuring the lady to her heart’s content. After all, it’s the gentlemanly thing to do. . . . But as their sensual escapades tumble into a dangerously addictive game, might their friends-with-benefits arrangement take them from bedding to wedding?

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Friends To Lovers, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Regency

321 pages, Paperback

First published October 28, 2025

About the author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kate Pearce was born in England in the middle of a large family of girls and quickly found that her imagination was far more interesting than real life. After acquiring a degree in history and barely escaping from the British Civil Service alive, she moved to California and then to Hawaii with her kids and her husband and set about reinventing herself as a romance writer.

She is known for both her unconventional heroes and her joy at subverting romance clichés. In her spare time she self publishes science fiction erotic romance, historical romance, and whatever else she can imagine. You can find Kate on katepearce.com.

Reviews

[Nancy •͙͙✧⃝•͙͙✩ͯ {Comment restriction} · Rating 2 out of 5]

──⟡⋆˙✩ 2 stars ✩ ⋆˙⟡──

An entertaining, steamy read.

★ Lady Carenza is a widow searching for a lover—and Julian, her good friend, is more than willing to step into that role.

★ This was my first historical romance in quite some time, and it reminded me why I usually steer clear of the genre. The double standards are maddening: men can spend their days gambling and frequenting brothels, even while married, yet if a woman dares to express the slightest displeasure, society deems her "ill-bred."

How infuriating is that?

ᯓ★ Carenza: Her mother, an opera singer, never fit society’s mold. As a result, Carenza has always strived to be perfect—to protect her fragile reputation. Her secret search for a lover is the very kind of scandal that could destroy everything she’s worked for.

ᯓ★ Julian: The quintessential charming rake with hidden depths. Outwardly, he’s flamboyant and unserious, but as the story unfolds, more layers are revealed. I especially appreciated how protective he was of Carenza—he consistently made an effort to shield her from ruin.

★ My one complaint is something I almost feel guilty admitting, because I knew what I was signing up for. The book follows the classic "friends with benefits to lovers" trope—which, of course, means it’s going to be steamy. Still, I wasn’t prepared for one of those scenes to hit me in the face so early on!

ᯓ★ 𝔸𝕝𝕝 𝕚𝕟 𝕒𝕝𝕝, this was a fun, passionate read with a surprisingly emotional core. If you're in the mood for a spicy friends-to-lovers story with historical flair, this one might just hit the spot.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[*ೃnaziba ˘͈ᵕ˘͈ · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I have a few thoughts. Here are the notes I took while reading this story. SPOILERS BEYOND

- side characters are pissing me off
- Aragon is annoying asf and does not act like an older sibling (honestly it’s probably bc he’s on the spectrum), and Olivia is a fake ass friend bruh.
- Other woman drama… I don’t like that
- Carenza is lady in the streets and a freak in the sheets — which is super slay — but Julian is actually a straight up manwhore bro. He pmo. But he’s reforming which is also a slay I guess. Carenza succeeded in reforming the manwhore via her loaning him out as a boy toy essentially. Neither of them have much depth to them unfortunately. They’re a good match I think… I don’t see them being together forever.
- Everyone in this society is so ugly to each other I hate it actually.. like even within the family structure it’s so jarring.

SPOILERS !!

- Literally why does everyone hate carenza bruh like even her own sister doesn’t mention to her the fact that her best friend was fucking on her husband??? Thats sick
- Istg everyone in this book is pissing me off. If Olivia wanted to vindicate her friend and prove hector to be the pos he is,,,, why wouldn’t she go to her friend and tell her about it. She’s a weirdo and a proven liar 🤥 I don’t trust her for anything.
- At this point (86%) I STILL don’t know why Julian’s mom actually hates him. Weird asf. I think she’s projecting her hate for credenza and the fact that her mother is from a low social standing (she was literally just an opera singer) onto herself bc Julian is probably a love child. Update: yup.
- You know I used to think that Carenza was the weaker one but actually it’s Julian. The man has no spine istg — chivalry died with him.
- The ending was way too abrupt.



All in all… did the characters piss me off .. absolutely. Was the plot juicy though… sure. It was interesting enough to keep me coming back, so there’s that I guess. And the spicy scenes were actually spicy.
Story - ☆ ☆ ★ ★ ★
Spice- ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ★

Thank you to Hambright PR, Netgalley and publishers for letting me read this in exchange for an honest review!

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5

Heat Index: 7/10

—widows have needs, you know

—what's a sex deal between buddies?

—maybe don't advertise your needs in the newspaper, though

The Basics:

Carenza is a widow, and like many widows, she still wants sex. What she doesn't want is a husband as disappointing as her last one. She also doesn't fancy ruining her reputation, especially since her scandalous origins already put her under constant vigilance from society. When her friend puts an anonymous ad in the paper for a lover (hence the "only rakes need apply" part) her friend, discreet rake Julian, figures it all out... And offers his own services. After all—what kind of friend would he be if he let Carenza put her reputation on the line?

The Review:

If you want a pretty classic, comfy historical romance with a solid amount of heat, this is going to hit the spot. While there's a little angle of "Who's got it out for Carenza?" it really is more of an insular plot, about whether or not Carenza and Julian can get over themselves and realize they want to do a lot more than jump each other's bones. They do, in fact, want to be together forever and ever.

There's something refreshing about a historical romance that doesn't bother with dragging out the sexual tension. These two start banging early and often, and they're both pretty confident about what they want. (It's also refreshing that, while Carenza's late husband was a douche, he was also good in bed; she's no babe in the woods.) It's the feelings they struggle with, and there isn't anything super dramatic there—they're just afraid, for various reasons both valid and realistically nonsensical because humans are nonsensical.

At points, I kind of felt like there could've been more plot. It's not that there were too many sex scenes; and I did believe in Carenza and Julian's friendship, which is the crux of their romantic feelings for each other. I just wanted... more. More action, more drama. Theirs is a solid romance, but I always felt pretty comfortable with where it was going.

Which will be great news for a lot of readers! I'm just not necessarily someone who wants to be totally comfortable with a book.

It's not that there isn't angst. Hurt feelings happen. Pining occurs. But it is the kind of historical romance I've read a good bit of before, just with a bit of a modern update. You don't have as many heroines like Carenza in older books—experienced, a bit bossy, widowed but not "all but untouched" and certainly not a virgin. I kind of wish Julian had been less genteel.He's charming, but I wouldn't have minded a bit more friction between them. Beyond the sexual friction.

One thing I did note that was a little old school was Julian's brother going off to fight... in India? Come on. It's 2025. Why does the random side character need to go do imperialism in India? It's one of those things that raises my eyebrows because the man could've gone anywhere. It's unnecessary.

Generally speaking, I did otherwise like this book. I just don't know if I'll remember it in the sea of historicals I've read.

The Sex:

The sex scenes are well done, explicit without veering into erotic romance territory. They're fairly vanilla, but read like sex scenes between two people who are super comfortable with each other. I loved the way Carenza expresses herself and bossed Julian around, just a bit—she could've done it more, to be honest!

The Conclusion:

A solid friends to lovers historical romance with the added benefit of nobody being a sad sack and good sex abounding. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but I do think it will please those looking for an updated version of a classic Regency vibe.

Thanks to Kensington and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Jacklyn B · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a unique and fun read! It was funny and a little quirky and completely different from any other regency era romance I have read. I loved the idea of a regency era lady taking out an anonymous ad looking for…a gentleman’s company - oh the scandal!!!

Carenza and Julian are long time friends and when he finds out she was responsible for the ad immediately jumps to help her…in the most gentlemanly ways 😉

I love how we get to see their friendship development into something more. They had great chemistry and a strong connection and they were so much fun to root for! I also loved the side characters and am excited to see them in future books!

✨What To Expect:
🫖 Regency Era
💜 Historical Romance
💞 Friends to Lovers
😏 Rake
🖤 Widow
🤝 Pleasure Pact
🤫 Save her from Scandal
⛓️ Kink

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was actually a really cute story. I love the time period and appreciated the spicyness. When it was spicy was *chef’s kiss* but despite the title it wasn’t too much.

I’m still not sure about Mrs. Olivia Sheraton - is she a friend or a villain? Frenemy? It’s almost like she’s trying to hurt the people most important to her and consistently. I’m definitely not her biggest fan. The fact that she never came out and told Carenza is the worst part of it all!!!

Carenza and Julian - sadly I don’t have much to say about them. Their personalities were exactly what they needed to be when they needed to be but maybe that’s on purpose. Not too brave but not too cowardly. Not too anything really. I would’ve liked to see more from them but I did enjoy their characters anyway so kudos to the author.

My last critique is poor Aragon. His portrayal changed throughout the story. I think he was evolving and I liked to see that but can he please get the girl next time? Maybe his own girl, lol

[MMJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having read and enjoyed other books by Kate Pearce, I’m sad to say that I was disappointed by this one. While the plot elements were interesting and flowed well, it was the way the characters were written that fell flat. There was a lack of introspection and interactions lacked depth and transitions. Often, characters acted and said things that were in direct opposition of how they had been originally presented, with no explanation regarding the change of view or personality. There was little to no build-up to the spicier moments which made the actions perfunctory and emotionless, lacking real passion. I would suggest an interested reader try her Millcastle series for better stories.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Hambright and NetGalley for the complimentary ARC of Only Rakes Need Apply.

Lady Carenza Smythe-Harding misses only one thing about marriage: sex. To that end, she and her friends joke that she should place an advertisement in the paper to find a lover, since the last thing Carenza wants is another controlling, wastrel husband. But when her friend Olivia actually does place the advertisement, things get messy. Carenza now has men applying for the role of “lover,” and all of London is gossiping about who the mysterious lady could be.

Julian Laurent, the second son of an earl, has long been friends with Carenza. They grew up on neighboring estates, and he was her late husband’s best friend. So when he finds out that Carenza placed the ad that has the ton on fire, he immediately jumps in to protect her reputation. But things get out of hand when he offers to become Carenza’s lover. Their chemistry is off the charts, but between her family’s reputation, a blackmailer, and some inconvenient feelings, things spiral out of control faster than either Julian or Carenza can manage.

I bumped this book up my weekly TBR list because I wanted a madcap Regency, and the premise sounded like it would fit the bill. And half of the book was a giggle-and-kick-your-feet-while-you-read kind of silly Regency romance. The first half is delightfully playful, with a group of female friends who talk openly about their marital woes and resolve to do something about it—even if that decision is ill-advised.

Things take a decidedly dark turn in the back half of the book, and that tonal shift felt strange to me. We go from Carenza describing her late husband as a gambler who, despite his financial faults, was great in bed at the beginning of the book, to her detailing some pretty terrible physical, financial, and emotional abuse at his hands toward the end. Honestly, by the 60% mark, I didn’t know how Carenza could bear to be around Julian if he really had been such good friends with her dead husband.

I did really like our main characters as people. Carenza grew up as the daughter of an earl who married an opera singer (gasp), so she and her siblings dealt with the stigma of a notorious mother. She strove to be perfect in her marriage to avoid the condemnation that would fall on her if she put a foot wrong—despite the fact that society knew her husband was a gambling philanderer and said nothing against him. Julian has dealt with his mother’s disdain his whole life and has only recently started to connect with his brothers, independent of her influence. I really enjoyed seeing his relationship with his brothers grow on the page.

This book is quite spicy for a typical Regency. Because Carenza and Julian are lovers, they get down to business and don’t hold back with each other. If you’re looking for something higher heat, this will have you covered.

Overall, I liked a lot about this book but found the tonal shift very odd. I don’t know who edited this novel, but a developmental round to even out the tone would have done it some good. 3.5 stars.

[Ferne (Enthusiastic Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lady Carenza Smythe-Harding and her younger sister, Allegra, are currently living in their father's house in London while their parents reside at the family estate in Norfolk, which is their father's preferred residence. During a visit from their friend Olivia Sheraton, the sisters enjoy tea and engaging conversation. Carenza, a widow who has been in mourning for the past 2 years, reveals that she misses a specific aspect of being married. It's not the abusive and adulterous husband himself, but rather a particular skill he possessed. As the discussion unfolds, the women discuss the wording of an advertisement. It seems that the blunt phrasing, although anonymous, generates considerable interest.

I particularly enjoyed the various relationships depicted in this novel, which include sisters, female friends, brothers, childhood family friends, and individuals met through shared interests and charity work—people who evolve from acquaintances to friends. These relationships add layers of complexity and depth to the story.

The author's descriptive writing has raised the heat to a very high level —not from the thermostat. Neither the woman nor the man expected their emotions to surface. So, be prepared; the doors may be closed wherever the sexual interludes begin to occur, but as readers, you'll be privy to all the explicit details. The question is: Is this a dalliance or something deeper?

I chose this title from the November selections for the 2025 BTC Reading Challenge. This is my first introduction to the author's writing, and I look forward to reading more of her novels.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only thing Lady Carenza Smythe-Harding misses about her late spouse, a notorious gambler and adulterer, is his expertise between the sheets. After two years donning mourning dresses, it’s her turn for some fun. But with no intention of remarrying, how can she find the right devil-may-care rogue for the job?
Titled lady seeks experienced, unmarried rake for afternoon dalliance . . .
The anonymous newspaper advertisement leaves little to the imagination, and has the gentlemen of the ton wagering, at Whites as to who is the temptress taking applications — and measurements! —to fill a most enticing position. Thanks to an unexpected inheritance, confirmed bachelor Julian Laurent is free to indulge his passions but he is appalled to discover his longtime friend, Carenza, is behind the public proposition. So he offers his services!
A very well written romance with humour & steam. I loved both Carenza & Julian, they’ve been friends since childhood & he was her late husband’s best friend, the chemistry between them sizzled, it took some time for them to realise their feelings had changed. I had difficulty liking some of the secondary characters but did like he couple’s siblings who were both supporting. There was plenty of humour, the advert was hilarious, as was the interview of prospective candidates. There was some mystery about who was trying to bring the couple down, I liked that most of the ‘villains’ got their comeuppance but one couple didn’t & she definitely needed bringing down a peg or two. An enjoyable romance which I thoroughly enjoyed
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carenza Smyth-Harding is looking for a bit of fun after a very disappointing marriage. What started as a playful joke about advertising for a no-strings-attached lover in the local paper quickly turned scandalous when her mischievous friend Olivia decided to actually submit the ad. Soon enough, it becomes the talk of the ton — and Carenza finds herself “interviewing” a number of eager suitors.

Enter Julian Laurent, her late husband’s best friend and notorious rake, who offers himself up for the position. But as Carenza spends more time with Julian, she begins to see a very different side to him — one with warmth, loyalty, and an unexpectedly kind heart. Maybe there’s more to this arrangement than either of them anticipated…

This was my first book by Kate Pearce, and I didn’t mind it at all! The story was fun, well-paced, and easy to read. I especially loved Julian’s brother Aragon — his obsession with horses and the unintentional innuendos had me cackling.

Highly recommend for anyone looking for a light, entertaining historical romance!

✨ Thank you to Kensington Publishing for the ARC — and apologies for the late review!

[Alex L Criddle · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

I really liked the concept of this story, but the execution was lacking. The main characters were shallow and inconsistent. Their chemistry was middling and the progression of their feelings was not well-developed. All of a sudden, they both felt love. I also didn’t like how Julian was pining after another character while being a lover to Carenza. And their intimate scenes were forced and tedious. I liked a couple of the supporting characters much more and hope they will feature in the next books in the series. The plot ebbed and flowed, but ultimately, it fell flat for me. Overall, I liked the world and might read the next book, but this one was not for me.

Thank you to Hambright PR and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review!!!

[Samantha Ramsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much for the opportunity to receive the #gifted physical copy of this book and arc in exchange for my honest opinion .

This is the first Kate Pearce book and im glad that Hambright reached out to me personally because some books and authors you don’t hear of til someone introduces you to them .

Overall the book was a fun time . It was a cozy historical romance with friends to lovers trope and had some fun steamy scenes . The characters were enjoyable , but would have loved to have seen more depth . The spicy scenes were well written and even though not the spiciest I ever read , I did thoroughly enjoy . I’m trying to read more historical romance and glad I was introduced to this one . Thank you so much for reaching out .

[Yadi · Rating 3 out of 5]

The beginning was good I I did enjoy the interaction between the two main characters they did have chemistry without a doubt. But what took me completely out of the story was the way the dialogue between the characters was written. The way they talked the words they used and how they were so informal with each other was not at all how people will behave around this time period. Their conversations could have been place in a contemporary book without any problem.

💕Thanks to Hambright_PR for the gifted copy .

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this novel and this is my freely given opinion.

This is the first bool of a new series by Kate Pearce, and is a story that seems to be just as much about complicated family and friend relationships as it is about about an intimate relationship between the MMC and FMC. I enjoyed the story in general, but left with some questions and conflict about some of the relationships in the story. Not necessarily a bad thing really, but I am left with a vague sense of dissatisfaction that is colouring my feelings about the story.

Lady Carenza is a widow, and while she clearly does not miss her husband and their failed marriage, she does miss the fun physical aspects of the marriage bed. In an episodic of female bonding and gossip, she jokingly mocks her desires, and she and her friends come up with a joking advertisement for a lover, which one of her friends submits to a newspaper verbatim. This sets them on a scandalous path where Carenza and her friends have to tread carefully to maintain secrecy to protect their reputations. As it is, Carenza must be especially careful because of her own family's notoriety, and her husband's scandalous behaviour, all of which are held against Carenza and her sister.

Her old friend, as well as her rakish husband's best friend, Julian Laurent, catches wind of their scheme and steps in to prevent their scandalous scheme from being revealed... and offers his own services as a lover and a safe option if Carenza is so in need of a lover.

Such an unusual and provocative advertisement catches the attention and curiosity of the Ton and the situation escalates though, especially as the ladies secretly involved become targets for blackmail and threats, and Julian and Carenza's secret affair develops and is also threatened to be revealed, and Julian and Carenza each slowly realize that what starts as a friends with benefits affair is turning into something more, but are each reluctant to risk revealing their vulnerability.

To add context, Julian and Carenza are two people who have built hard shells to protect their vulnerable underbellies from being hurt repeatedly. Carenza and her family have been the targets of Society's venom because of her parents passionate loving marriage, because of their mother's background, and Carenza herself because of her husband's open affairs and his treatment of her. Julian, because of his family's rejection of him, specifically his mother, which he does not understand, and which started from childhood and continues. Her spite and hypocrisy are evident in the story and she is one of the aspects of the story that leave me dissatisfied because while she is confronted, her relationship with Julian is neither resolved or fully addressed. Carenza, Julian's, and her husband, Hector's, relationship. Carenza and Julian were supposed to be friends from childhood, and later, it was alluded that Julian may have felt more for Carenza, but was cut out by Hector. Then Hector and Julian were best friends, but Julian still considered Carenza a friend as well. I found it difficult to wrap my head around Carenza and Julian having an enduring friendship while Julian was a witness to Hector's disrespectful and profligate behaviour while married to Carenza. I could not help feeling that, if I were Carenza, I would not be able to not hold Julian to account either in his loyalty to her as a friend, or his ability to influence Hector as a friend as well. Perhaps I would expect too much.

Regardless, this was an enjoyable read in that there are complex, challenging relationships, scandalous intrigue and secrets, steamy open door sex, but hidden deeper feelings. Friendships and loyalties are challenged by difficult revelations. But some aspects of the past are revealed but not followed through to a satisfactory ending for me. At least Julian finds an unexpected ally and loyalty from his brother, in spite of his mother's attempts to alienate Julian from his own family and an HEA is alluded to for Carenza and Hector, but I felt that they need an epilogue to anchor their HEA and future happiness, considering how hard other appear to try to take any happiness away from them.

3.5 stars out of 5, rounded down because of that sense of dissatisfaction because of unresolved issues

[Cheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Unlike most readers of Kate Pearce, I didn’t come to her via her historical romance books. I didn’t even know she wrote historical romance until a couple of years after I first started reading her Morgan Ranch contemporary romance books. When picking up this book, the only historical romance I had read by the author was a short story included in a holiday novella. For the most part, I loved the Morgan Ranch series and its offshoots. Yet, her last contemporary series didn’t hit me the same way. I was hoping to rediscover my love of Kate Pearce with this book.

When it comes to the characters, I loved both Carenza and Julian. Carenza’s best friend, Olivia, is a whole other story, and it remains to be seen if the character will ever be liked. On one hand, she seemed supportive of Carenza being a strong and independent woman, yet she did things over and over that seemed like that mean girl in school who never takes responsibility for her mistakes, regardless if those mistakes are made while trying to help or not.

Carenza finding her voice, finding her joy, finding her “don’t give a f***”, are the wonderful things about this book. I loved how Julian let her be herself so she could figure out who that was. His instincts often told him to treat her otherwise, but he came to realize she could handle what she asked for. That aspect of the story is great; the exploration and de-stigmatizing of what Carenza and Julian liked between the sheets. Carenza exploring her sexual needs is what the premise of this story is tethered to. But that was also what I found very inconsistent. The beginning is about Carenza missing sex, saying her deceased husband was useless except for bedding her. Then, as the story unfolds, it seems as though he had forced her to suppress her desires, didn’t care whether she enjoyed the bedding as long as he got off, and shamed her into thinking she was a bad lay, among other terrible things he did. Did the author and editors forget why Carenza decided to place a personal ad in the paper in the first place?

The chemistry between Julian and Carenza was great when they were allowed to be vulnerable with each other. The more time they spent together, the more I could feel their connection. I loved how they were drawn to each other if they were having a bad day. Those were the bits I was in it for.

I can only imagine this is intended to be the first of a series. There were a lot of characters introduced that seemed much more than side characters. I would almost say too many characters were introduced. It messed with the flow a bit to have Carenza and Julian dealing with so many issues that were not related, yet somehow entwined. By the way, I adore Julian’s brother. Didn’t think I would at first, but he actually had the most character growth in this book. I’d love to see his story.

**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely**

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
The past week or so was the worst ever for both my reading and my mental health. Nothing stuck or appealed to me, and while I can’t say what started it, I place the blame in large part on trying to read some more obscure (or at least lesser known) 18th century classics that are between 450 and 500 pages that just dragged for research purposes for a novel I’m writing, although even the usual suspects fell short of expectations. But Only Rakes Need Apply proved that what I needed was a fun, sexy historical, which sadly, is becoming harder to find these days. But I must say, having read Kate Pearce’s cowboy romances before and not enjoying them much, I much prefer this style, although that’s purely a personal preference.
The characters are both quite interesting and sympathetic. Carenza is a widow whose former marriage came with a lot of baggage and trauma, but the one thing she misses is that her now-deceased husband was good in bed, even if he was habitually unfaithful and otherwise cruel. I admired her boldness of seeking out a new man for her bed, even if it did attract scandal. And in turn, I quite liked Julian too. He’s in a bit of delicate situation, in that he cares deeply for Carenza, but was friends with her late husband, and carries a lot of guilt due to seeing how her husband treated her.
Their relationship was interesting to watch unfold, with the tension between them as they navigated their respective expectations from their relationship. At the outset, the intent was a purely physical relationship, but the balance of them also being friends and being able to maintain that made things complicated. While “friends with benefits” is not my favorite trope. I feel like the chemistry between them worked, where I found the dynamic believable. And as things developed, I felt their feelings had grown in a realistic way, but they, especially Carenza, had some issues to confront before they were ready to fully commit to being together.
The pacing did get a little muddled in the second half, with the heavier focus on angst, especially with not much else propping the story up. However, for a story with heavy emphasis on the steamy scenes, I really enjoyed this, and it has a good balance of that and solid emotional depth.
Overall, this was a solid, fairly quick read, and I had a good time with it, after really struggling to care about anything else. I recommend it to readers interested in a spicy/steamy historical romance.

[Tracy Emro · Rating 3 out of 5]

After two long years, Carenza, the widowed Countess Smythe-Harding has finally finished mourning her late (and unlamented) husband and is ready to move on with her life. After enduring a miserable marriage with a man that cheated on her and left her penniless, she has no desire to remarry but does miss the benefits of the marriage bed. After jokingly saying she should place an ad for a lover, her best friend Olivia Sheraton places the ad and sets up a place for them to interview applicants. Carenza is mortified but goes along with it. When her late husband’s best friend Julian Laurent shows up and stops the nonsense, he makes Carenza an offer of his own – he will be her lover, no strings attached.

Julian Laurent has known Carenza for most of her life, as their family estates border each other. As the second son, Julian had no fortune, title or purpose, so he did as many other “spares” did and sowed his wild oats in London and gaining a reputation as a rake. But recently he inherited a massive fortune from his godmother and has tried to become more responsible. When he learns that Carenza has placed an ad for a lover, he can’t stand by and let her ruin her reputation, so he intervenes, not intending to offer himself to her, but that is exactly what happens. Too bad they both have enemies determined to see them ruined before they can claim their HEA.

I have mixed feeling about this book, I loved the idea of the story and felt that the story was well-written with some great characters. But at the same time, there was a lot going on and despite the steamy love scenes, I wasn’t feeling the chemistry between Carenza and Julian – in fact at some points I wondered if they even liked each other. I did like Carenza’s circle of friends, which gave the story a bit of a “Desperate Housewives” vibe, but even that created more drama than the story could support. I finished the book and felt like the story was too chaotic and I didn’t get enough closure – I know this was the start of a series, so some unfinished business is bound to work its way through future installments - but this was more about things that were central to this story. Overall, I didn’t love this story, but I didn’t hate it either – I will definitely be reading the next book to see if I judged this installment too harshly.

*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. *

[Debbie Steed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who would have thought that an advertisement for a lover by a lonely widow in a local newspaper would cause such a stir! When Lady Carenza Smythe- Harding jokes with her friends about wanting a lover she never thought one of them would advertise for one. But they did and it has turned into a bit of a fiasco.
Julian Laurent, a second son but very wealthy from an inheritance from his godmother, finds out about the advertisement and goes to see who the mysterious widow is. He’s shocked to find it’s his best friend’s widow who is looking for a lover. He offers his services to her to avoid her becoming involved in a greater scandal than she already is in.
Both have issues that have affected their lives. Julian’s mother doesn’t like him and blames him for everything but he is a good man who is loyal to his family and friends. He is aware and involved with social issues of the lower classes. He also has problems with the man who feels he was jilted out of the huge inheritance that Julian had and has tried to overturn the will numerous times without success.
Carenza had a difficult marriage with Hector, who had a gambling addiction and killed himself when his debts mounted up but he was a good lover and Carenza misses that part of her marriage. She doesn’t want to marry again, she just wants a great lover to scratch her sexual itch. She also lives under the shadow of her husband’s reputation and demise which is difficult in the upper class world that she lives in.
Carenza has a small but close group of friends who have been supportive of each other but one of them, Olivia, is a friend who can bite as well. She seems to have good intentions but ruins things with jealousy.
The longer Julian and Carenza are together, the closer they get emotionally and they may have to redefine their “friends with benefits” deal (which they are both extremely passionate about) into a “more than just friends” status, which neither are prepared for. There were some secrets that came out that were surprising and unexpected that could change the relationship between some of the characters.
The story is a very steamy read and I really enjoyed reading it. The characters, main and secondary were well written and were believable. I’m glad this book is the first of a series as there were some interesting characters that I would love to read more about.
I received an ARC copy from NetGalley. I’m voluntarily leaving this review.

[whatmarissareads · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌹"You consider yourself an expert in bed?"
👔"I've never had any complaints."
🌹"You do know that women lie about such things.
👔"Not about me."

4.25 ⭐ 2.5🌶️

Carenza is a widow of a horrible, abusive man who honestly ruined love for her. She’s craving connection again… but has no idea how to go about it. After all this is a time when women’s reputations were printed in the social pages (APPAULING!!!!) So how does one find a hookup when Tinder isn’t an option??

YOU POST AN AD IN THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER OF COURSE!!! lollll

obviously it stirs quite the scandal... but her best friend steps up to the challenge.
And maybe JUST MAYBE there’s more between them than friendship… 👀 hehehee

I honestly had such a good time with this book! This is my first book by Kate Pearce and I am such a sucker for a historical time piece... *think Downton Abbey vibes*
I thought the relationships and the banter were top notch
It’s not heavy on dramatic plot twists... it’s more about the social dynamics and the expectations of the time which I found so fascinating

It's soooooooooooooo incredibly unfair how women were treated in these times
the double standard absolutely kills me
but Julian is a true man of the people. watching their relationship unfold was so satisfying

I also thought it was so interesting how Kate wrote the spice in this book?
Like they are explicit but so uniquely done like they felt almost proper? I don't know how to explain it but I really enjoyed that the spice matched with like the time piece of this book

ANYWAYS! I loved this, I felt like this was written for me LOL so I am excited to read more by Kate Pearce!

[Rekha O'Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️💫 (2.5 rounded up to 3)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

The Setup 💋

Only Rakes Need Apply by Kate Pearce kicks off a new historical romance series centred around Lady Carenza Smythe-Harding, a recently widowed woman looking to reclaim her freedom—quite boldly, by placing an advertisement for an “experienced unmarried rake” to satisfy her physically. Enter Julian Laurent, the late husband’s best friend, a wealthy second son who’s always had a soft spot for Carenza and decides to “rescue” her reputation… by fulfilling the post himself.

The Chemistry vs. the Chaos ⚔️

There’s undeniable attraction between Carenza and Julian, but the story leans too heavily on constant arguments and unnecessary conflict. Instead of sparkling banter, it often felt like they were just bickering for the sake of it, which undercut the emotional connection.

The Supporting Cast 🎭

Olivia, I’m afraid, was baffling—I never quite understood her motivations, tragic backstory or not. Most of the secondary characters felt a bit silly, with the delightful exception of Aragon (Julian’s older brother), who, ironically, is meant to be the least clever but came across as the most grounded. Carenza’s sister Allegra and her friend Maud had potential, though, and I suspect future instalments may focus on them.

Final Thoughts 💭

Kate Pearce can definitely write good spice, but I wanted more emotional depth and less pointless squabbling. The premise promised fun and freedom, yet the execution felt more like friction than flirtation. If I continue with the series, I’ll be hoping for calmer waters and a bit more heart ne

[Bethany McGrail · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple, sexy, regency romp! This book does exactly what it says on the tin.

I will start by saying that I did enjoy reading this book, but there were a few niggles which prevented me from giving this any more than 3 stars.

The storyline was really fun, Lady Carenza, a recently widowed woman, when encouraged by her friends, writes an anonymous advertisement for a rake to meet her very specific needs... Enter Julian, her childhood friend who would do just about anything to help her and keep her from tarnishing her reputation. I thought this was great, however, the build up was lacking. I know I am known to enjoy my fair bit of spice, but it felt rushed in this. I'm not sure I fully believed the love story either, when they ended up together, I knew it was coming but it didn't excite me.

The side characters were good but underdeveloped. I thought there was going to be a whole side romance with Allegra and Anton but then he goes to India in the first couple of chapters and is never mentioned again. And at another point, Allegra had another possible suitor (I can't for the lie of me remember his name now) who was in one chapter and then just disappeared!
I wish I could have read more about Olivia too, she was great.

If you are purely wanting to read a bit of smut then I would say go for it. I thought this book was good but I won't be reaching for a re-read.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in Kate Pearce's new Rakes of London series. Lady Carenza Smythe-Harding has been in mourning for two years since her late husband Hector took his own life. He was a notorious gambler and womanizer who was faced with insurmountable gambling debts. Carenza is happy to be out of mourning and has no desire to remarry, but she does miss the closeness and intimacy that marriage provides. Her close friend, Olivia Sheraton, and her sister, Allegra, suggest she form a liaison with a rake. They talk her into posting an anonymous advertisement in the newspaper that states "...seeking an unmarried rake for afternoon dalliance". As you can well imagine, one thing leads to another and Carenza and her partners in crime are in well over their heads.

Carenza's close friend and confirmed bachelor, Julian Laurent, gets wind of this and determines that he must save Carenza from herself. He applies for the position and she accepts. What follows is chaos as some of the wrong people get wind of this plan that Carenza and her cohorts have put into place.

This was an engaging story with a delightful cast of characters that poke fun at the double standard of Regency England. I look forward to the next book in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the gift of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Marti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only Rakes Need Apply by Kate Pearce. The novel is an historical romance with a little twist. Carenza, a widow of two years, is looking for a rake. After all she is single with money and no desire for a spouse, just looking for a little spice!

The only problem was the methodology - which caused a maelstrom. Without even really realizing the trouble they are in, confirmed bachelor Julian Laurent rushes in to save his old friend, Carenza. Through a series of mishaps, plans and situations, Julian and Carenza are thrown together over and over again. Their escapades threaten their discrete affair and what happens then?

I did like Julian and Carenza together. The stubborness on Carenza’s part did cause issues that she couldn’t/wouldn’t see. I enjoyed Julian’s older brother; he made me laugh.I do think that Carenza has a friend who is not really a good friend and I hope that is a misperception on my part.

This is the first book in a series, although the title of the series and the number of books was not listed. I have read many of Kate Pearce’s novels in the past and really enjoyed all of them. I look forward to reading other books in this series. Only Rakes Need Apply by Kate Pearce was a good read.

Thanks to Kensington and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Billi · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝓡𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 4/5 ⭐️
𝓢𝓹𝓲𝓬𝓮 3/5🌶️

Only Rakes Need Apply by Kate Pearce
When Lady Carenza finds herself a widow she doesn’t know what to do when her desires still remain. How can she find someone to help her with this problem when she has no intention of remarrying?

Thank you to Hambright PR, NetGalley, and the author for the eARC of this book!

I love a good regency romance! Lots of social commentary in here and the differences between social rank and how that affects reputation, marriage options, etc. Super quick and easy read. The pacing kept me invested. Lots of witty banter and chemistry.

There are some tough subjects discussed, not on page but mentioned. I would check to see if there any trigger warnings before reading!

I found myself really loving some of the minor characters as well and hope we get books that explore their stories! Julians brother was such a sweetheart and Carenza’s sister needs her marriage prospects! One of the things I truly thought was done well was the balance between romance, banter, and humor. It had me laughing out loud one minute and “awwwing” the next minute.

I would this is great for those who enjoy easy to read spicy regency romances with an honest FMC and a swoon worthy MMC.

[ChasingLeslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two years after the death of her cheating husband, Lady Carenza Smythe-Harding is ready to turn in her widow's weeds for a new bed partner. An anonymous newspaper advertisement leaves little to the imagination, and has the men of the ton wagering who is the woman taking applications. Julian Laurent is appalled to discover his longtime friend is behind the public proposition and means to be the only one claiming her as the prize.

This is the first of a new series, The Rakes of London. I had mixed feelings about this book as the concept appealed to me but I didn't love its execution. Right off the bat, there were a lot of characters introduced, and the list kept growing throughout the story. I really felt like most of these characters and at least two of the side-plots were unnecessary. It could simply be world-building for the rest of the series but, for me, it took away too much from the main couple and I really didn't think they got the attention they deserved. Despite a good number of sex scenes, there wasn't enough flirtation and focus on their chemistry.

Tropes: Widow, Friend to Lovers, Sex Bargain

Steam: 5 (8 scenes, but some are short)

* I received an ARC and this is my honest review

[Margaret Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carenza Smythe-Harding is ready to move on from her failed marriage which ended when her scoundrel spouse took his own life rather than deal with proof of his failures. With the help of her friends, she places a scandalous ad in the paper seeking a lover. Her friends, Julian Laurent tries to protect her and her friend, Olivia’s reputations when he finds out their plans. Carenza and Julian decide to be lovers to prevent her having to search for one through her ad. In comes Julian’s enemies- an ex mistress and a man whose own relative left her money to Julian instead of him. In addition to preventing society from finding out who is responsible for the ad, Julian and Carenza try to manage a discreet affair amongst the ton. They will have to confront all of the insecurities Carenza has courtesy of her deceased spouse and the scandal caused by her parents when he father married her mother, an opera singer and Julian has to deal with a mother who treats him as if he doesn’t belong in their family. A very impactful story with lots of intrigue, tragedy, scandals and a HEA for Carenza and Julian. Looking forward to reading more about the auxiliary characters in the story.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kaley · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

Wanted: experienced, unmarried rake for an afternoon dalliance.

Widowed Carenza Smythe-Harding does not miss her husband at all. What she does miss? Having someone to take care of her … ahem, needs.

A joke with a friend about placing an advertisement to find such a man goes too far, and suddenly, tons of men are replying to the advertisement hoping to service the anonymous lady. But when Julian, longtime friend of Carenza, finds out she was behind the advertisement, he makes her an offer — he’ll be her lover instead. He’ll save her reputation and take care of her needs all at once! Besides, neither of them have any interest in getting married . . . So what’s the worst that can happen?

✨✨✨

I really enjoyed the romance between Carenza and Julian. He is so protective of her and while he wants to protect her reputation, he also doesn’t care what anyone thinks of her when it comes to them being together. He was always looking out for her best interest but in a way where he also always saw her as her own person who could make her own decisions, which isn’t always the case with a historical romance.

Thank you so much to Hambright PR for an advanced copy!

[Reading Adventures · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌹 Personal Review: Only Rakes Need Apply by Kate Pearce

Kate Pearce opens her Rakes of London series with a passionate friends-to-lovers romance that sparkles with chemistry. Lady Carenza Smythe-Harding and Julian Laurent are engaging, well-drawn characters whose bond deepens in delightful and unexpected ways.

I loved seeing their friendship evolve into something richer, and Pearce’s signature sensuality adds intensity to their journey. The premise—a titled lady boldly seeking pleasure and a rake determined to protect her reputation—makes for a fun, daring setup that kept me intrigued.

The romance is heartfelt, the banter is lively, and the passion between Carenza and Julian is undeniable. Their story feels like the beginning of something wonderful, and I’m excited to see how Pearce continues their journey in future books.

This is a captivating start to a new series, and I’m glad I had the chance to read it early. I received an advance copy and am leaving this review voluntarily and honestly.“Sometimes friendship turns into the most delicious kind of love… 💕 Kate Pearce’s Only Rakes Need Apply swept me into Regency scandal and passion. Can’t wait for book two! #BookReview #RomanceReaders #RakesOfLondon #KatePearce #FriendsToLovers”

[Cat Lady Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightfully fun read! 4.5 stars rounded up to 5. I binged this book in a day.

In this regency-era novel, the widowed lady Carenza finds herself in need of a lover. She jokes with her friends about placing a personal ad in the paper, but to her horror and surprise her friend went ahead and placed the ad! Now her wealthy (and handsome) friend Julian has to help her save her reputation, and maybe help her out with her needs along the way.

This book was steamy for sure, maybe a 3.5/5 on the spicy scale. Carenza and Julian have a fabulous frienemies-to-lovers romance. Their fights only make their relationship even hotter. But Julian has enemies that are hoping to ruin him as well, and chaos and hilarity reign supreme. I laughed out loud quite a few times and chuckled throughout. I could've done without some of the mean-girl antics, but what regency novel is complete without jealous biddies causing trouble?

The book gets a bit dark towards the end - if you have triggers about abuse or pregnancy loss maybe read with precaution. But as in all romance, we do get our HEA in the end!

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC I received in exchange for my honest review.

[SelinaW · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a big fan of Kate Pearce and was thrilled to read an advance copy of this book. This is, as usual, an easy read. Kate Pearce is amazing at writing spicy moments, which feel just right for the mood of the story.

I really enjoyed seeing Carenza’s character develop from the person, who has been cowed by her difficult marriage and abusive husband and open herself up to the possibility that she is “enough” and deserving of love with Julian. Julian is following similar trajectory in a sense, having always felt unexplained contempt from his own mother throughout his life. He adjusted his outward persona to fit with the image of the man, who is not bothered by much, but really he feels deeply for his friends and loved ones. It is a wonderful story of two imperfect people falling imperfectly in love.

This is also a series starter and included vivid, descriptive references to supporting characters, who I imagine will become subjects of the upcoming novels. I can’t wait to read more about Maude, Allegra and Olivia, as well as about Aragon and Ms Cartwright.

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for this wonderful advance copy read.