The Redemption of Lord Rawlings

House of Renwick #3

by Rachel Van Dyken

Phillip Crawford, the eighth Earl of Rawlings and notorious rake of the ton, has come to the end of his rope. Out of money, out of favor, and out of luck, he wanders the streets of London in the rain, hoping to be hit by inspiration...or a runaway carriage. Something has to give. It is his father's final cruel trick to hold his inheritance just out of reach, requiring him to marry by his next birthday in order to claim his full rights as earl. His step-mother refuses to offer him any more support. With no money, no prospects and no other place to turn, he has only two options: Marriage or debtor's prison. The better choice seems clear enough, but with his name and reputation being attacked daily in the society papers, there's not a proper lady in all of London desperate enough to accept him. It isn't going to be easy, even if the reports of his exploits and rakish lifestyle are greatly exaggerated. On the other hand, debtor's prison does start to look much more appealing when the only friends he has left decide to help him in his search for the perfect bride. Matters become much more complicated when the only woman who shows an interest in him just happens to be the young sister-in-law of the Duke of Tempest; the same man who, just months ago, had been tempted to kill him. One thing is for certain, as the Season draws to an end, Lord Rawlings will have to decide once and for all, if his wicked ways are enough to bring him contentment in life, or if a leopard really can change his spots. Or in Phillip's case—can a devil truly be redeemed?

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Regency, Historical Fiction, Amazon, Regency Romance

208 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 28, 2012

About the author

Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of mafia and contemporary romances.

Hey guys I'm rarely on Goodreads, if you need to reach me feel free to email!
EMAIL ME: rachelvandykenauthor@gmail.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rachel-...

Reviews

[Krystle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great follow-up to The Seduction of Sebastian St. James! Short read, which only means it's fully of juiciness! Thank you Rachel!

[Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted at: http://www.longandshortreviews.blogsp...


In The Redemption of Lord Rawlings the steamy cover really does not lead one astray. Oh it all begins darkly enough: Phillip Crawford, Earl of Rawlings... doomed. He needs a rescue –the kind of rescue that would arrive with a bride and (more importantly) generous dowry. Its not an uncommon problem… but miserable, nonetheless.

Then the brazen nymph appears…and we (and he) can hardly believe it. In a way, this sets the tone for this fun and fast paced romance. A subtle hint of whimsy drives some of the action, even the serious, driven-by-hatred type action (desperate though things become) there is a crafty undertone of humor throughout.

So here we have Phillip, quite startled in fact, as he is ‘a rake beyond redemption’; he’s hardly expecting to meet someone worse than he is, without a moment’s notice!

Abigail is no hoyden, not really: she IS a very calculating package for certain. And Papa is wrapped around her little finger, in a completely devoted and utterly believable sort of way. Phillip is about to be her mark: she can hardly be considered inexperienced, but this is a new realm for her, in truth. London drawing rooms set the stage for these events, as well as the expected ball and similar. Yet, although the backdrop is quite perfect, in fact it remains politely in the ‘back.’

Characters, without a doubt, run this whole show. The ‘redemption’ is a speedy charge into society – the nice and the not-so-nice, and you will (in spite of yourself) cheer even for the manipulative one who (at least) really does have a good heart…as does, all unexpectedly, someone else. My only complaint is that everyone seemed to “smirk” over practically everything - but one over-used word is hardly something to harp on.

Intriguing from the start, Van Dyken’s deft touch keeps the pace – and the people – lively.

Historical romance fans will not find themselves alone in being completely entertained by ‘The Redemption of Lord Rawlings.’

[January · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lord Rawlings is in trouble. His inheritance comes with strings. He must get married before his next birthday or he loses everything. After having given up his chance with his former betrothed for a life of wild oats, he now finds himself with no money, no prospects and no hope.

And that’s where his only hope finds him. Down and out and sitting in the rain all alone in the park.

The problem? He still thinks of the young lady as the little girl in pigtails he used to know. And it’s up to her to change his perception of the situation. And all this amidst the public scrutiny of the revered Mrs. Peabody who seems to have it out for him.

This is the third book in the House of Renwick series. In both the first and second books Rawlings was an antagonist, and a bit of a slimeball at that. I was anxious to see how the author would develop her third protagonist into a character worthy of redemption, let alone deserving of his happily ever after.

Van Dyken did not disappoint. From the very beginning, the character development was well done. All Rawlings’ former rogue-ish qualities were shown to be steps on the way to that redemption. The heroine in this book was younger than the first two, and she often behaved like a spoiled child, but her growth also led her to maturity worthy of being Rawlings’ match.

The attraction between the two characters is undeniable, and the tension is built throughout the story through passionate interactions, though clean and sweet. I love this author’s ability to build the intensity of the relationship without crossing the line. Add to this, her usual knack for comedic wordplay, and you have a winning combination.

With every new release, Rachel Van Dyken’s books keep getting better and better. I was completely absorbed in Lord Rawlings’ story from start to finish, in spite of hating his guts after the first book and being on the fence about him after book two. This is an enjoyable story, one of the best romances I’ve read in a while.

[K. Chase · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read of Ms. Van Dyken (I know, all out of order) and I have to say that I don't think another book has ever made me laugh, scream, blush, giggle, and squeal in delight as much as this one did. I ate this story up! Could not put it down. The dialogue is absolutely outstanding. I could totally see the facial expressions of the characters. The pacing of both the story and the dialogue was rapid and you'll not want to put it down, trust me. I wanted to strangle Phillip at times--he needs a wife to secure his fortune and low and behold the one woman who wants him--for no other reason than a life-long love--is the one he won't choose. Phillip's staunch refusal of Abby is frustrating, but his equally strong desire of her is delicious. You will root for Abby to wear this man down! I enjoyed how this author's description of the wedding night was both tasteful and descriptive--extremely well done without the actual 'act' occurring on stage.

I whole-heartedly recommend this book. I can't begin to tell you how enjoyable this book was to read, despite my earlier comments, but this author has a fan for life.

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Redemption of Lord Rawlings was very pleasing and enjoyable, with characters that are lively and engaging!

Read full review in the 2012 Holiday issue of InD’tale Magazine.

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

Reviewed for InD'Tale Magazine: http://www.indtale.com/

[Arlena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author: Rachel Van Dyken
Published By: Astraea Press
Age Recommend: Adult
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Raven Rating: 5
Blog Review For: Great Minds Think Aloud


Review:


"The Redemption of Lord Rawlings" by Rachel Van Dyken was some good read. I loved it. Now, I will admit I am a 'House of Renwick' fan so I really wanted to see what Ms. Van Dyken had for us in this read. I was not disappointed at all. Truly this novel was one of steer enjoyment..one of the best....that had me definitely laughing out loud! This novel was one of love and the characters were really amusing, exciting, humorous....all combined into one. This author really knows how to get your attention and keep it focus on it! Just to be able to see Lord Rawlings from the previous book now a hero? Ms Van Dyken works a wonderful story that brought people to life just with words. This was a page turner that I could not put down until the end.... and kept on the edge of my seat through the whole novel just wanting to know what was coming next. The plot, the reason for redemption, characters and then the romance were all very well dealt with in this novel. Now, this is the time I will simply say get ....pick up "The Redemption of Lord Rawlings"... for you will not be disappointed with this absorbed read.


If you are looking for a enjoyable read "The Redemption of Lord Rawlings" will not disappoint you and I would recommend as a good romantic read. Thank you Ms. Van Dyken... you did a wonderful job with this well written novel!

[Tifferz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book three in the House of Renwick Series. I think it also stands alone nicely. I simply can not get enough of Ms. Van Dyken's stories. The characters come to life and they simply charm me. Though at times I wanted to ring Phillip's neck and times I wanted to kill Abby. Wow those two are really stubborn. The chemistry flew off the pages, combined that with the banter, this story had me laughing and smiling so big my kids where asking what are you reading about. I enjoyed that this story is a bit different and it is not love at first sight. Phillip and Abby have some history!

I liked how Abby pushed the limits and learned some lessons. Though I would have loved to see what Phillip did about Abby calling him a street urchin! I enjoyed how each chapter had a quote from Mrs. Peabody's Society Pages.

This is a sensual romance that left me with a smile on my face. I look forward to reading many more of Ms. Van Dyken's books as each one seems to get better than the last! A delicious read I highly recommend!

[CoffeeTimeRomance andMore · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Redemption of Lord Rawlings is Regency Romance at its best. A dedicated reader of Regencies will enjoy the conflict between the debutante and the rake, the humorous exchanges between the leg-shackled nobles and the Earl who must join their ranks against his will, not to mention the twists and turns of the ton. Woven throughout are the delightful newspaper articles of Miss Peabody's Society Papers as she chronicles the developing romance of the Earl and Abigail. Although The Redemption of Lord Rawlings is a stand-alone novel, it is the third book in the House of Renwick series. Ms. Van Dyken does an outstanding job of integrating the characters from the previous novels into Lord Rawlings's tale without revealing too much of earlier plots. The Ugly Duckling Debutant and The Seduction of Sebastian St. James have been added to this reader's To Be Read list.

Rita
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More

Official Review @ Coffee Time Romance & More

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I am very quickly becoming Ms Van Dyken's number one fan these stories from the House of Renwick series occupy a very special place in my heart that I think will take something very special to compete with it. My only complaint about this story is it was over to quickly. I wasnt sure if I liked Abby at first but I grew to love her and I think I agree with other reviews I think Phillip is my favourite hero so far. Cant wait for the next adventure.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book not realizing that there was two previous ones. There was a few sections that I felt I was missing background info on but for the most part it could have been a stand alone book. I enjoyed Abigail's naive and pure outlook especially when it pertained to Lord Rawlings. Phillip was a joy to watch grow up and fill the his position. The two made a interesting, yet perfectly matched couple.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would have been so much better if everyone was not "acting" so immature. Sebastian and Emma were bizarre--not at all like they were protrayed in their previous book. Abby was OK, and Rawlings was redeemed, but far too easily.

[Ricki · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very fun story, but the real conflict did not seem to hit until very late. The two main characters liked each other but would just take turns denying it for about two-thirds of the novel. I personally enjoy a harder battle.

[bookscoffeeandcats77 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first Rachel Van Dyken book I've read and it won't be the last. I really enjoyed this book. It was very well written with engaging characters and a good plot. Can't wait to read the rest of the series.

[Kirsten Lenius · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a rather nice Regency romance. There are a couple of historical inconsistancies, though not glaring, and a couple of odd word choices, but overall, I found it to be an entertaining story. The ending struck me oddly, but that was a different issue.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have fallen in love with the House of Renwick series. Rachel Van Dyken is a wonderful writer who brings her historical characters to life in a way that makes you keep reading until you finish the book. So far, I've really enjoyed all of her books and can't wait until I can read the next one.

[Nellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

In spite of the cover, this was a pretty clean book. It starts to get steamy, and I got worried it would not be as clean as I wanted it to be, but then everything stays behind closed doors.I liked the story likne, and will enjoy more from this author.

[Alanna Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

See http://www.celticbutterfly.co.uk/2012... for my review of the entire House Of Renwick series.

[Aly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Out of all three House of Renwick books, I liked this on the most. The plot was good. I don't think that this one is a clean read either.

[Jeanie's Kindle · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a rake goes straight! Oh my! Phillip has a horrible reputation and a well deserved one. Ruining Emma his previously betrothed years earlier by breaking their betrothal contract when she was caught in a compromising situation. It freed him up to sew his wild oats and so he did. Upon his fathers death he discovered the entire amount of the estate would go to his step-mother if he did not marry by his 30th birthday.
How does a disgraced, impoverished rake find a lady of quality to marry? Abigail Gates younger sister to the afore mentioned Emma has been in love with Phillip all her life. He has always seen her as a younger sister and a child. She is no longer a child and has now come to England to enter the marriage market. Emma did not take her dowry so Abigail has a very large dowry. Just what Phillip needs. Now to get him to see her as a woman not a child.

[Annette Meier · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little different tone to this story . . . A bit softer.

[Virginia · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Dorothy · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF!

[Addison · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Lord Rawlings’ story of redemption is gripping and emotional. Phillip Crawford, the notorious rake, is forced to marry in order to claim his inheritance, and he struggles against his reputation and circumstances. This novel delves into themes of redemption, self-worth, and second chances, all while delivering a passionate romance. The slow burn between Lord Rawlings and his love interest is satisfying, and the character growth throughout the book adds depth to the storyline. The balance between romance and redemption is expertly handled, making this a memorable read for fans of regency romances with a touch of complexity.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third novel in Rachel Van Dyken’s wonderful House of Renwick series, The Redemption of Lord Rawlings focuses on notorious rake, Lord Rawlings (Phillip Crawford). With his name trashed in the local papers and the ton (even though this is largely exaggerated) and debts piling up, Rawlings has little to no hope of escaping the claws of the ton and debtors prison. Unfortunately for him, he cannot inherit the full rights of the Earldom unless he marries a respectable woman by his next birthday. To make matters worse, he is out of money and his step-mother refuses to offer him any aid. Rawlings faces a perilous choice: either marry soon, or face debtors prison. With this motivation to push him along, Rawlings and his remaining friends gather to find him a match. Oddly enough, the only woman who shows any interest in him is Abigail, the sister of his former fiancée. Will Rawlings be able to overcome these significant obstacles in order to become the true Earl of Rawlings? Will Abigail be able to convince Rawlings that she is the perfect match for him?

I LOVE this series. Van Dyken has created a wonderful group of men each with their own unique demons that tear them up inside. The women she introduces into their lives are all strong and fearless in their own way, yet are each damaged as well. Her ability to take these damaged couples and write a believable transformation from broken to whole is what draws me to her works. Her characters have realistic issues and realistic reasons for those issues. Rawlings’ past is dark. A good portion of that darkness is his own doing, making his self-loathing a realistic characterization. I think that Rawlings might be Van Dyken’s favorite of her heroes. Her blood, sweat, and tears are visible in this work more so than in the previous books in the series. (My reviews of: Book 1, Book 2, Book 2.5) Upon finishing Rawlings I couldn’t decide whether he or Renwick (the hero of book one) was my favorite of the heroes. They’re richly written, deep characters that have stories that are honest and easy to sympathize with. As a reader of all of Van Dyken’s works, not just The House of Renwick series, I can 100% without a doubt state that this is her best work yet.
I applaud Van Dyken for her character development and intricate plot.

The works in this series are getting better and better! I can only hope that when the next novel in this series comes out this tradition continues and I can enjoy yet another exciting story. If you haven’t read any of the House of Renwick novels yet I highly suggest that you do!

Kimberly (Reflections of a Book Addict)
http://wp.me/p18lIL-XC

[Romancing the Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Patti, Book provided by Astraea Press, and Review originally posted at Romancing the Book.
The story of Lord Rawlings is the third book of the Renwick House series. I had never heard of the series before starting this particular book but my pleasure of it did not suffer any because I hadn’t read any of the prior titles. That being said I will now be going back and collecting the rest because I enjoyed this one so much. I want to know what happened to everyone. I am usually adamant about reading series in order so the fact that I am not ranting about it is highly unusual for me. I would like to thank Ms. Van Dyken for making it possible for me to be able to read this without feeling like I have missed something important.
Lord Rawlings character is the type of man who gets me every time. The man who after years of running around and carelessly flaunting his freedom to do as he pleases, he suddenly has nothing and no one. His character responds to each challenge and learns to accept things as best he can. He made me want to save him and at the same time I was glad to see him suffer. He holds deep secrets and throughout the book they slowly come to light. I really enjoyed how the author chose to reveal them in this book. Sometimes the methods used by authors are too harsh or too obvious. I felt this time they were delivered in a very smooth and seamless style.
Abigail Gates wants to be his wife and save him from the awful shambles he finds his life in but he only sees her as a little girl in pigtails. At first she thinks she may have finally gained his notice but then discovers that what she is doing is only causing more chaos. Throughout the story I wanted to reach into the pages and warn her of the trouble she is heading for or give her a different path to follow. I felt connected to her like a friend or a big sister and wanted to help her finally get what she feels will make her happy. I love when an author can sucker me in like that; it just makes reading a book much more fun for me.
The entire book was a pleasure to read. I loved the added snippets at the beginning of each chapter they gave it just a little extra something, I started to look forward to them. There seemed to be quite a few things going on in the background that I would love to know more about. The focus and flow of the book stayed consistently on the main characters and their story. There was definite chemistry between them each time they are together. It is clear that Abigail has grown up and Philip has noticed.
This is a fabulous read and I highly recommend it. I am off to find the rest of the books in the series.

[Carrie Olguin · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF.

Contrived conflict and a simplistic plot with a whinny, scheming 18 year old heroine and a hero with a "bad reputation" who behaves honorably - cause all that bad behavior is supposed to be in his past.

He has to marry within three months to inherit the money that comes with his title. But with his bad reputation and a scorned lover spreading untrue gossip in the scandal sheets, no respectable woman will have him. Even though he is attracted to the heroine and has known her since childhood (not to mention she keeps throwing herself at him) he refuses to consider her an option. He has excuses like, she's the little sister in law to his new best friend (a best friend who wants to help him find a wife as well as a husband for his sister in law), he wants to marry for love (not an option buddy if you need the money).

The heroine thinks she is in love with the hero and wants to marry him. So she schemes to find ways to convince him she isn't a child and to force him into her company.

The solution to their problem is so obvious. No mystery to solve here. The characters are bland.

In some of the scenes, the characters create conflict out of nothing, like an argument about the heroine getting permission from her father to order new dresses under false pretenses. Her sister argues she must return the dresses. But the heroine argues that if she returns the dresses, it will cause a scandal. But the sister argues since she ordered them under false pretenses, the dresses should be returned, etc.

This is the type of "conflict" in this story, contrived and tedious.

The men in this story blush - hardened rakes, powerful titled (dukes, earls, etc) married men in their thirties, turning red faced - really?

The married women in this story have more power than their husbands, as if marriage has a gelding influence. Yuck.

[Aspoon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m glad this book was a short read. I liked it but I probably wouldn’t have been able to handle the heroine’s childish antics for an entire book. No way! I’m glad she matured by the end of the story. As for Lord Rawlings, he was a man desperately trying to shed from his past, however what I couldn’t understand is what kind of man would just take being destitute laying down. I mean yes, his stepmother deceived him but at the same time you are a grown man, the head of the family, the owner of all these estates and you just wash your hands of everything because you “had” daddy issues…come on…some of the things he was finding out later in the book didn’t seem believable…either that or he isn’t someone I would call a man or hero.

[Priscilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't think I would love Lord Rawlings because he caused me some angst in the previous books in this House of Renwick series but Rachel Van Dyken has redeemed him in my eyes! That was easy to do either but Rachel will make you root for and love all of her lead characters. She is a very talented writer and I have yet to read a book of hers that I didn't love and give 5 stars. You will love her too...get her books now!

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good G rated historical romance. I have loved Van Dykens humor in some of her other books but I did find this one lacking. It was a tad bit boring not much excitement and I didn't really feel a connection to the characters. I like this author so I decided to try this book out but it was just ok for me. There is virtually no sex whatsoever so pretty much anyone could read this one.