What do you think?
Rate this book
Reece Family Trilogy #3
A Rake's Guide to Seduction
Anthony Hamilton is the most scandalous man in London, a gambler, a fortune hunter, an infamous rake. Celia Reece is sure he's never had one thought of her, except as his friend David's younger sister. Who would ever guess she's the only woman he's ever loved—and can never have…
351 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 2008
71 people are currently reading
1116 people want to read
About the author
Caroline Linden
54 books1,697 followersCaroline Linden was born a reader, not a writer. She earned a degree in mathematics from Harvard University and worked as a programmer in the financial services industry before realizing writing fiction is much more exciting than writing code. Her books have won the NEC-RWA Readers' Choice Award, the JNRW Golden Leaf, the Daphne du Maurier Award, and RWA's RITA Award, and have been translated into seventeen languages around the world. She lives in New England.
Sign up at http://www.carolinelinden.com/signup.... to get notified about her books and receive a free short story exclusively for subscribers.
Sign up at http://www.carolinelinden.com/signup.... to get notified about her books and receive a free short story exclusively for subscribers.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 260 reviews
June 7, 2021
Reread Jun 2021
Ebook reread for HRBC. One of my absolute favorites.
Reread Jan 2021
Listened to this as it was recently released. This book remains one of my favorites. Narration was decent. I love how this book is so relatable on certain levels — loneliness/depression is a theme. And it’s beautifully done. Just wonderful.
Jan 2019 Review:
A beautiful book.
As I reread, I am trying to do some reviews, but haven't been doing a great job lately. But, this one deserves something more than what I have been able to do recently. It's one of Linden's best in my opinion. A lovely, beautiful book.
The hero, Anthony, is a friend of the heroine, Celia's, older brother David, who is a reprobate and has a fast reputation, as do all his friends. The worst of the lot, based on reputation, is Anthony. He's always been kind to Celia whenever their paths cross, which is rare, and she has felt at ease with and enjoyed those brief shared moments. Celia is the belle of her first season, and when Anthony helps her ward off an unwanted suitor, he begins to see her as not his friend's little sister but a grown woman that he could care deeply for. Considering her popularity, he decides to not waste time and after some deliberation he approaches her eldest brother for permission to court her. Still, he finds that he was too late and consent for her marriage has been given away to the heir to an earldom from the north. Celia fancies herself in love, and Anthony walks away without trying to steal her away.
Celia moves to her husband's father's estate to live with him and her father-in-law, and it does not take long for the early happiness of her marriage to dwindle. Her husband is moody and inconstant, and her father-in-law is needy, depressive and controlling. For four years she is kept at the estate with little amusement and not allowed to visit her family (because on the chance that she is increasing, they must take no risks). By the time that her mother suggests coming for a visit, she wards her off, not wanting her cheerful mother or happily-married brothers to know the state of her marriage.
Celia was such a real character to me from her youthful ideas of romance and love to her rude awakening of the reality of a marriage based on a weak foundation. I also thought the factors contributing to her subsequent depression well shown. She was isolated from the people that loved her, and then made to feel guilt and self-doubt for various aspects of her married life by herself, husband and father-in-law, and finally in the loneliness in having only her father-in-law as company. None of these circumstances were uniquely horrifying and tragic. What made it more impactful was how commonplace the situation was and still can be today. Very relatable.
When Celia is returned to the bosom of her family, they realize her marriage must not have been happy as her letters suggested. Her mother means well, but goes about the business of cheering her up in all the wrongs ways. She tries to pair her daughter up with handsome, young men, but Celia just sees them for their charming facade like her first husband. In the previous books in the series, her mother has seemed to view the world with rose-colored glasses, so when tending to a depressed child, she clearly doesn't know how to handle it. Anthony does. He's patient and kind and listens. Because he's not respectable, he's not deemed suitable, but gets invited to the cheer-Celia-up house party by David.
I know I am writing a lot about Celia, but let me just say that Anthony is the best sort of hero. He earns a place on my favorite heroes shelf "get your mac on". He is a very well drawn character, and one of his key characteristics is how observant he is. For some reason scandal has always followed him, much of it undeserved, but it's not a true reflection of the character. He's not your typical ne'er do well rake, because he's careful and thoughtful. He rarely acts on impulse.
This story draws the characters fully before their connection really takes hold. I appreciated that. I thought it made you understand what made them tick and why they were well suited to each other. Linden is very good at character development, and this is among her best here.
Ebook reread for HRBC. One of my absolute favorites.
Reread Jan 2021
Listened to this as it was recently released. This book remains one of my favorites. Narration was decent. I love how this book is so relatable on certain levels — loneliness/depression is a theme. And it’s beautifully done. Just wonderful.
Jan 2019 Review:
A beautiful book.
As I reread, I am trying to do some reviews, but haven't been doing a great job lately. But, this one deserves something more than what I have been able to do recently. It's one of Linden's best in my opinion. A lovely, beautiful book.
The hero, Anthony, is a friend of the heroine, Celia's, older brother David, who is a reprobate and has a fast reputation, as do all his friends. The worst of the lot, based on reputation, is Anthony. He's always been kind to Celia whenever their paths cross, which is rare, and she has felt at ease with and enjoyed those brief shared moments. Celia is the belle of her first season, and when Anthony helps her ward off an unwanted suitor, he begins to see her as not his friend's little sister but a grown woman that he could care deeply for. Considering her popularity, he decides to not waste time and after some deliberation he approaches her eldest brother for permission to court her. Still, he finds that he was too late and consent for her marriage has been given away to the heir to an earldom from the north. Celia fancies herself in love, and Anthony walks away without trying to steal her away.
Celia moves to her husband's father's estate to live with him and her father-in-law, and it does not take long for the early happiness of her marriage to dwindle. Her husband is moody and inconstant, and her father-in-law is needy, depressive and controlling. For four years she is kept at the estate with little amusement and not allowed to visit her family (because on the chance that she is increasing, they must take no risks). By the time that her mother suggests coming for a visit, she wards her off, not wanting her cheerful mother or happily-married brothers to know the state of her marriage.
Celia was such a real character to me from her youthful ideas of romance and love to her rude awakening of the reality of a marriage based on a weak foundation. I also thought the factors contributing to her subsequent depression well shown. She was isolated from the people that loved her, and then made to feel guilt and self-doubt for various aspects of her married life by herself, husband and father-in-law, and finally in the loneliness in having only her father-in-law as company. None of these circumstances were uniquely horrifying and tragic. What made it more impactful was how commonplace the situation was and still can be today. Very relatable.
When Celia is returned to the bosom of her family, they realize her marriage must not have been happy as her letters suggested. Her mother means well, but goes about the business of cheering her up in all the wrongs ways. She tries to pair her daughter up with handsome, young men, but Celia just sees them for their charming facade like her first husband. In the previous books in the series, her mother has seemed to view the world with rose-colored glasses, so when tending to a depressed child, she clearly doesn't know how to handle it. Anthony does. He's patient and kind and listens. Because he's not respectable, he's not deemed suitable, but gets invited to the cheer-Celia-up house party by David.
I know I am writing a lot about Celia, but let me just say that Anthony is the best sort of hero. He earns a place on my favorite heroes shelf "get your mac on". He is a very well drawn character, and one of his key characteristics is how observant he is. For some reason scandal has always followed him, much of it undeserved, but it's not a true reflection of the character. He's not your typical ne'er do well rake, because he's careful and thoughtful. He rarely acts on impulse.
This story draws the characters fully before their connection really takes hold. I appreciated that. I thought it made you understand what made them tick and why they were well suited to each other. Linden is very good at character development, and this is among her best here.
October 16, 2017
I've given this an A- at AAR, so that's 4.5 stars rounded up.
Caroline Linden’s A Rake’s Guide to Seduction is one of her earliest published titles, having originally appeared in 2008. It’s now being reissued with a rather fetching new cover (in paperback), and as it’s a book I haven’t yet read, this gave me a good excuse reason to add it to my pile of review books. This, I quickly discovered, was a very good move, because it’s a lovely, gently moving character-driven romance featuring a young widow who is given second chance at love and the man who has secretly loved her for many years.
Anthony Hamilton, Viscount Langford, was a scandal from the moment he was born. Almost certainly a cuckoo in the nest, be grew into a wild boy and proceeded to get himself thrown out of three schools, after which, having finished his education at Oxford, he embarked upon a life of debauchery in London, his reputation as a high-stakes gamester and seducer of wealthy widows and bored wives very quickly earning him the blackest of reputations while also rendering him utterly fascinating to the members of the ton. The fact that he is gorgeous, remarkably discreet and closely guards his privacy only increases his allure.
Anthony – who, owing to his estrangement from his father now chooses to style himself as plain Mr. Hamilton – spent many of his holidays from school at Ainsley Park, the home of his closest friend, David Reece. David’s younger sister, Celia, remembers Anthony fondly; he’d been like another brother who helped launch her kites and tie her fishing lines. As he grew older and his reputation grew worse, her mother banned Anthony from visiting, although now Celia is ‘out’, she sees him from time to time and finds it amusing that he is now so very wicked that young ladies are afraid to do so much as walk past him alone. She has never believed him to be quite as black as he is painted; indeed, her own brothers have not exactly been pattern cards of propriety in the past and she can’t really see why Anthony should be singled out for such gossip and censure.
Celia is young, beautiful, vivacious and, as the sister of a duke, much sought after. After interrupting her and an over-amorous swain one evening, she and Anthony have the first real conversation they’ve had in a long time and he is suddenly struck by an almost unwelcome realisation – that she’s no longer the little girl he knew and that he’s in love with her and has been for some time. But it’s hopeless. No brother who truly cares about his sister is going to give her hand in marriage to a man with a reputation like Anthony’s… yet her image is burned into his brain, her lemon scent haunts him and he can’t forget their conversation:
“Anyone who took the trouble to know you would accept you,” Celia insisted ignoring his efforts to turn the subject.
“You’ve gone and ruled out every woman in England.” He leaned over the railing, squiting into the darkness.
“Except myself,” Celia declared and then she stopped. Good heavens, what had she just said?
The fact that she doesn’t see him as the decadent wastrel society believes him to be gives Anthony the courage to approach her brother to ask for permission to court her – only to be told that he has just sanctioned the betrothal between Celia and Lord Bertram, the young man who has gained her affections.
Four years pass, during which Celia discovers that the man she married was not the charming, solicitous young man she had fallen for, but was instead selfish, disgruntled, unfaithful and very quick to relegate her to the ranks of Things That Do Not Matter. His death from pneumonia sees Celia returning to her family, but she’s a very different young woman to the one who left amid such happiness and celebration. Subdued, quiet and depressed, Celia feels out of place and uncomfortable; everyone else has moved forward without her and in spite of her mother’s attempts to make it seem otherwise, Celia can’t pretend things haven’t changed.
Deeply worried about her daughter’s state of mind, the dowager decides to cheer Celia up by arranging a house party to which she invites many of her old friends. Her intentions are good, but being forced into company with these young women with whom she no longer has anything in common only serves to make Celia feel even more disconnected. The one bright spot is that her brother David has invited Anthony Hamilton to the party, and even though her mother is obviously not pleased that he is there, he’s the one person outside her family Celia is pleased to see and with whom she feels able to be herself. And Anthony, who is truly saddened at the change in Celia, determines to make her smile once more and, perhaps, to see if there is any possibility she could be persuaded to throw in her lot with the most scandalous man in society.
Caroline Linden has created a truly beautiful love story between two people whose lives haven’t been easy or turned out as they hoped. Celia’s depression is sympathetically and realistically presented, as is her growth from someone blinded by a childish ideal of love to a more mature woman who is able to recognise and accept real, deep love and affection. Her worry that because she made the wrong choice once she may do so again is understandable, but ultimately, she doesn’t allow that fear to control her and I found her willingness to open her heart again to be admirable.
As for Anthony… well, he’s dreamy. *sigh* He’s no saint, but he’s no rake, either; his reputation is largely the result of gossip and misunderstanding which, because of his reluctance to discuss it has become a self-perpetuating myth. Over the years he has learned to ignore what is said of him; as he tells Celia, even if he told the truth, nobody would believe him. One of the loveliest moments in the book is the point at which Celia realises he has never had anyone in his corner to stand up for him, and then determines she will be that person.
The romance between Celia and Anthony is beautifully developed, and there’s never any question they are perfect for one another and that their love for each other is genuine. The author writes with insight about society marriages of the time through the words and attitudes of Celia’s friends who have become bitter and bitchy; and I rather liked the hint of a romance blossoming between her somewhat starchy mother and Anthony’s big, braw, Scottish uncle.
The book’s one flaw is in the sudden plot twist thrown in near the end, which is why I ended up not giving it a straight A grade; the story doesn’t really need it, although I did appreciate it as an opportunity for Celia to show her faith in Anthony in the face of the doubts exhibited by everyone around her.
Caroline Linden is a ‘must-read’ author for me these days, and she’s one of a handful of historical romance authors who is able to craft a satisfying love story that functions within the social conventions of the time and in which the characters are believably rooted in the nineteenth century rather than being a group of twenty-first century people in period dress. Finding time to read favourite authors’ back-catalogues is difficult given the number of new books I read and review, but I’m really glad I made time for this one. A Rake’s Guide to Seduction is highly recommended.
Caroline Linden’s A Rake’s Guide to Seduction is one of her earliest published titles, having originally appeared in 2008. It’s now being reissued with a rather fetching new cover (in paperback), and as it’s a book I haven’t yet read, this gave me a good excuse reason to add it to my pile of review books. This, I quickly discovered, was a very good move, because it’s a lovely, gently moving character-driven romance featuring a young widow who is given second chance at love and the man who has secretly loved her for many years.
Anthony Hamilton, Viscount Langford, was a scandal from the moment he was born. Almost certainly a cuckoo in the nest, be grew into a wild boy and proceeded to get himself thrown out of three schools, after which, having finished his education at Oxford, he embarked upon a life of debauchery in London, his reputation as a high-stakes gamester and seducer of wealthy widows and bored wives very quickly earning him the blackest of reputations while also rendering him utterly fascinating to the members of the ton. The fact that he is gorgeous, remarkably discreet and closely guards his privacy only increases his allure.
Anthony – who, owing to his estrangement from his father now chooses to style himself as plain Mr. Hamilton – spent many of his holidays from school at Ainsley Park, the home of his closest friend, David Reece. David’s younger sister, Celia, remembers Anthony fondly; he’d been like another brother who helped launch her kites and tie her fishing lines. As he grew older and his reputation grew worse, her mother banned Anthony from visiting, although now Celia is ‘out’, she sees him from time to time and finds it amusing that he is now so very wicked that young ladies are afraid to do so much as walk past him alone. She has never believed him to be quite as black as he is painted; indeed, her own brothers have not exactly been pattern cards of propriety in the past and she can’t really see why Anthony should be singled out for such gossip and censure.
Celia is young, beautiful, vivacious and, as the sister of a duke, much sought after. After interrupting her and an over-amorous swain one evening, she and Anthony have the first real conversation they’ve had in a long time and he is suddenly struck by an almost unwelcome realisation – that she’s no longer the little girl he knew and that he’s in love with her and has been for some time. But it’s hopeless. No brother who truly cares about his sister is going to give her hand in marriage to a man with a reputation like Anthony’s… yet her image is burned into his brain, her lemon scent haunts him and he can’t forget their conversation:
“Anyone who took the trouble to know you would accept you,” Celia insisted ignoring his efforts to turn the subject.
“You’ve gone and ruled out every woman in England.” He leaned over the railing, squiting into the darkness.
“Except myself,” Celia declared and then she stopped. Good heavens, what had she just said?
The fact that she doesn’t see him as the decadent wastrel society believes him to be gives Anthony the courage to approach her brother to ask for permission to court her – only to be told that he has just sanctioned the betrothal between Celia and Lord Bertram, the young man who has gained her affections.
Four years pass, during which Celia discovers that the man she married was not the charming, solicitous young man she had fallen for, but was instead selfish, disgruntled, unfaithful and very quick to relegate her to the ranks of Things That Do Not Matter. His death from pneumonia sees Celia returning to her family, but she’s a very different young woman to the one who left amid such happiness and celebration. Subdued, quiet and depressed, Celia feels out of place and uncomfortable; everyone else has moved forward without her and in spite of her mother’s attempts to make it seem otherwise, Celia can’t pretend things haven’t changed.
Deeply worried about her daughter’s state of mind, the dowager decides to cheer Celia up by arranging a house party to which she invites many of her old friends. Her intentions are good, but being forced into company with these young women with whom she no longer has anything in common only serves to make Celia feel even more disconnected. The one bright spot is that her brother David has invited Anthony Hamilton to the party, and even though her mother is obviously not pleased that he is there, he’s the one person outside her family Celia is pleased to see and with whom she feels able to be herself. And Anthony, who is truly saddened at the change in Celia, determines to make her smile once more and, perhaps, to see if there is any possibility she could be persuaded to throw in her lot with the most scandalous man in society.
Caroline Linden has created a truly beautiful love story between two people whose lives haven’t been easy or turned out as they hoped. Celia’s depression is sympathetically and realistically presented, as is her growth from someone blinded by a childish ideal of love to a more mature woman who is able to recognise and accept real, deep love and affection. Her worry that because she made the wrong choice once she may do so again is understandable, but ultimately, she doesn’t allow that fear to control her and I found her willingness to open her heart again to be admirable.
As for Anthony… well, he’s dreamy. *sigh* He’s no saint, but he’s no rake, either; his reputation is largely the result of gossip and misunderstanding which, because of his reluctance to discuss it has become a self-perpetuating myth. Over the years he has learned to ignore what is said of him; as he tells Celia, even if he told the truth, nobody would believe him. One of the loveliest moments in the book is the point at which Celia realises he has never had anyone in his corner to stand up for him, and then determines she will be that person.
The romance between Celia and Anthony is beautifully developed, and there’s never any question they are perfect for one another and that their love for each other is genuine. The author writes with insight about society marriages of the time through the words and attitudes of Celia’s friends who have become bitter and bitchy; and I rather liked the hint of a romance blossoming between her somewhat starchy mother and Anthony’s big, braw, Scottish uncle.
The book’s one flaw is in the sudden plot twist thrown in near the end, which is why I ended up not giving it a straight A grade; the story doesn’t really need it, although I did appreciate it as an opportunity for Celia to show her faith in Anthony in the face of the doubts exhibited by everyone around her.
Caroline Linden is a ‘must-read’ author for me these days, and she’s one of a handful of historical romance authors who is able to craft a satisfying love story that functions within the social conventions of the time and in which the characters are believably rooted in the nineteenth century rather than being a group of twenty-first century people in period dress. Finding time to read favourite authors’ back-catalogues is difficult given the number of new books I read and review, but I’m really glad I made time for this one. A Rake’s Guide to Seduction is highly recommended.
June 9, 2021
From the first chapter I loved both Celia and Anthony. I was hooked. They had polarities to their character. Celia who is young innocent debutant but at the same time she is ready to get adventurous with men and Anthony who is recognized as a rake yet he is genuinely friendly and easily approachable and not aggressive to women with his behavior.
This is not the story of instant attraction but slow and not so apparent seduction. It is a beautiful story of two people getting to know each other.
I appreciated how Celia was quick to figure things out and never once wavered in trusting Anthony. Even though there were some strong obstacles.
Anthony is a beta hero with characteristics of Alfa. His status is on the outskirts of society, most people shun him and mostly unfairly. He likes women also because he understands them and their unfair status in life. I love that about him. Everyone should find themselves a husband who understands women and likes them not as objects but as human beings. That’s why he is so good for Celia, he sees her for who she is and it’s heart melting.
Caroline Linden is now one of my favorite authors.
This is not the story of instant attraction but slow and not so apparent seduction. It is a beautiful story of two people getting to know each other.
I appreciated how Celia was quick to figure things out and never once wavered in trusting Anthony. Even though there were some strong obstacles.
Anthony is a beta hero with characteristics of Alfa. His status is on the outskirts of society, most people shun him and mostly unfairly. He likes women also because he understands them and their unfair status in life. I love that about him. Everyone should find themselves a husband who understands women and likes them not as objects but as human beings. That’s why he is so good for Celia, he sees her for who she is and it’s heart melting.
Caroline Linden is now one of my favorite authors.
April 20, 2017
This is part of a series and characters from the others feature prominently here. I recommend reading the others first, though the second, David's story, has some problems.
I was looking forward to Celia's story as I enjoyed her naïve, lightening presence in the other books. Her brothers were so serious and had weighty issues to overcome and I looked forward to the more lighthearted story I thought this might be. Only then Linden took the story off the rails a bit early on when Celia marries someone not the hero. This part is wrapped up in the first three chapters, that were only a little bit awkward, so I don't think I'm spoiling much in mentioning it, here. This sets Celia up to be much more serious and I thought I'd hate that only I totally didn't. I won't say I liked the leavening of her character, because it was such an unexpected development, but it made it so much easier to take her seriously and set her up much better to be a companion and friend with Anthony so it really was a nice twist for her story once digested.
So I enjoyed this story and loved seeing Anthony and Celia coming to know each other and their relationship was outstanding. I liked their friendship and understanding and that Anthony was so good at noticing the little things that brought her joy in her loneliness. This turns out to be my favorite relationship of the series and thus my favorite of the three books.
That said, I kind of hate Linden's awkwardness with action plot elements that serve only to intrude and disrupt the things I actually care about. It was so prevalent in David's story that I couldn't finish it and while the intrusion was much, much lighter in this one, it still dropped my enjoyment nearly half a star. It was an intrusively stupid distraction and I'm only glad it lasted a mere few chapters before the right people were shot and we could move on.
Anyway, it was a solid four stars for the whole book and I'm rounding it to that even with the late-game fumble. Anthony was just awesome and I really enjoyed Celia's depth and eventual resilience. It's a good ending for the trilogy, though I'm not sure I'll seek out other books by Linden as she seems smitten with these intrusive action elements I find so awkward.
A note about Steamy: There are three explicit sex scenes and they're not short. The last one is completely unnecessary so I feel like this is edging out of the middle of my steam tolerance, even if it isn't really. Frankly, the sex was kind of extraneous as all the emotional intimacy was already adequately on display and the physical depictions were more distracting than supporting, I think.
I was looking forward to Celia's story as I enjoyed her naïve, lightening presence in the other books. Her brothers were so serious and had weighty issues to overcome and I looked forward to the more lighthearted story I thought this might be. Only then Linden took the story off the rails a bit early on when Celia marries someone not the hero. This part is wrapped up in the first three chapters, that were only a little bit awkward, so I don't think I'm spoiling much in mentioning it, here. This sets Celia up to be much more serious and I thought I'd hate that only I totally didn't. I won't say I liked the leavening of her character, because it was such an unexpected development, but it made it so much easier to take her seriously and set her up much better to be a companion and friend with Anthony so it really was a nice twist for her story once digested.
So I enjoyed this story and loved seeing Anthony and Celia coming to know each other and their relationship was outstanding. I liked their friendship and understanding and that Anthony was so good at noticing the little things that brought her joy in her loneliness. This turns out to be my favorite relationship of the series and thus my favorite of the three books.
That said, I kind of hate Linden's awkwardness with action plot elements that serve only to intrude and disrupt the things I actually care about. It was so prevalent in David's story that I couldn't finish it and while the intrusion was much, much lighter in this one, it still dropped my enjoyment nearly half a star. It was an intrusively stupid distraction and I'm only glad it lasted a mere few chapters before the right people were shot and we could move on.
Anyway, it was a solid four stars for the whole book and I'm rounding it to that even with the late-game fumble. Anthony was just awesome and I really enjoyed Celia's depth and eventual resilience. It's a good ending for the trilogy, though I'm not sure I'll seek out other books by Linden as she seems smitten with these intrusive action elements I find so awkward.
A note about Steamy: There are three explicit sex scenes and they're not short. The last one is completely unnecessary so I feel like this is edging out of the middle of my steam tolerance, even if it isn't really. Frankly, the sex was kind of extraneous as all the emotional intimacy was already adequately on display and the physical depictions were more distracting than supporting, I think.
June 10, 2021
2.5
The first three chapters drew me in but then things really slowed down from chapters 4 through 11. Then the romance finally started and these two are perfect for each other. Plus, the love scenes were slightly steamy (see chapters 13 and 22, ).
The first three chapters drew me in but then things really slowed down from chapters 4 through 11. Then the romance finally started and these two are perfect for each other. Plus, the love scenes were slightly steamy (see chapters 13 and 22, ).
October 20, 2014
Originally posted
HERE
.
What’s with the ridiculous way historical romance is marketed? This book isn’t about a “guide to seduction”. I question whether it’s even about a rake!
Caroline Linden is one of my favourite authors in this genre because she is one of the few who actually captures what life was like back in the Georgian/Regency eras. There’re very few who can do what she does (Madeline Hunter being another), working with the social rules of the time to create conflict and romance rather than throwing it all away and writing a contemporary story in pretty dresses.
This is the third book in a trilogy and I’ve not read the other two yet (but I certainly will). A Rake’s Guide to Seduction is about growing up and changing and losing your silly childish dreams. There’re so many wonderful references to the realities of upper class marriages of the times. I know readers who prefer anachronistic fluff have criticised the book for the more serious tone, but I can’t read anachronistic fluff, so I loved it.
The attitudes to physical contact between the genders is also much closer to how it would have been – making the anticipation much better.
Our hero, Anthony Hamilton, misses the boat by only moments at the start of the story. He has just made up his mind to ask permission to court our heroine, Celia Reece, when her engagement to another man is announced. Things don’t work out the way anybody planned, and when we catch up with Celia again she is isolated, disillusioned, depressed and widowed. Her family plans a house party to try and bring her back to herself, fearing for her life. Our hero is only a rake in name; his reputation has been built by the cruelty of the gossips.
Depressing plot? Well, no, actually. Things change and our now more mature heroine learns what true love is as she grows and changes. I was so happy to have some real evolution for both main characters. I was thrilled that all the social restrictions of the time were shown more realistically. I loved the whole concept of the book.
Another great thing about this one was the subtle secondary romance involving “older” characters. Remembering how young everyone married and reproduced in the past, I don’t see why we couldn’t have more romances like this one. After all, these “older” characters would be considered pretty young these days!
I was also overjoyed that this heroine seemed to love the colour blue as much as I do!
There’re very few complaints I have about the characters’ actions in this one (though why US editors insist on including the term gotten nonstop in their historical romances is beyond me). There were the usual niggles: only in American English will you hear anyone calling autumn fall, or saying write me.
This is a brilliant author with a firm grasp of the past. I wish there were more like her.
What’s with the ridiculous way historical romance is marketed? This book isn’t about a “guide to seduction”. I question whether it’s even about a rake!
In all the years he had known her, he had never once touched her except very properly on the hand, on the elbow, and once on the back, when he had helped her into a carriage.
Caroline Linden is one of my favourite authors in this genre because she is one of the few who actually captures what life was like back in the Georgian/Regency eras. There’re very few who can do what she does (Madeline Hunter being another), working with the social rules of the time to create conflict and romance rather than throwing it all away and writing a contemporary story in pretty dresses.
This is the third book in a trilogy and I’ve not read the other two yet (but I certainly will). A Rake’s Guide to Seduction is about growing up and changing and losing your silly childish dreams. There’re so many wonderful references to the realities of upper class marriages of the times. I know readers who prefer anachronistic fluff have criticised the book for the more serious tone, but I can’t read anachronistic fluff, so I loved it.
The more time she spent with Jane, Mary and Louisa, the more she realised her marriage had not been the only one made on short acquaintance and uncertain affection. Louisa liked being a viscountess, but otherwise had little fondness for Lord Elton. Mary’s marriage had been arranged by her parents, and she made no secret of being resenting being treated like a child by her elderly husband.
The attitudes to physical contact between the genders is also much closer to how it would have been – making the anticipation much better.
Celia sat beside him on the sofa, where he could touch her hand discreetly from time to time to make her cheeks turn pink.
Our hero, Anthony Hamilton, misses the boat by only moments at the start of the story. He has just made up his mind to ask permission to court our heroine, Celia Reece, when her engagement to another man is announced. Things don’t work out the way anybody planned, and when we catch up with Celia again she is isolated, disillusioned, depressed and widowed. Her family plans a house party to try and bring her back to herself, fearing for her life. Our hero is only a rake in name; his reputation has been built by the cruelty of the gossips.
Depressing plot? Well, no, actually. Things change and our now more mature heroine learns what true love is as she grows and changes. I was so happy to have some real evolution for both main characters. I was thrilled that all the social restrictions of the time were shown more realistically. I loved the whole concept of the book.
Another great thing about this one was the subtle secondary romance involving “older” characters. Remembering how young everyone married and reproduced in the past, I don’t see why we couldn’t have more romances like this one. After all, these “older” characters would be considered pretty young these days!
I was also overjoyed that this heroine seemed to love the colour blue as much as I do!
There’re very few complaints I have about the characters’ actions in this one (though why US editors insist on including the term gotten nonstop in their historical romances is beyond me). There were the usual niggles: only in American English will you hear anyone calling autumn fall, or saying write me.
This is a brilliant author with a firm grasp of the past. I wish there were more like her.
January 21, 2019
4.5/5 stars.
This would be another out and out 5 star book for me if it wasn't for the last minute drama that, for me at least, served no purpose. I'll expand on that later, but because it's too late in the night I'm incapable of forming sentences to write this review.
So excuse the mess that is this review.
The plot of the book, true to this entire book, isn't a very overly done trope. Celia the youngest of the Reece family is the belle of the ball after her debut. All she wants is to marry for love, having seen how much her parents loved each other, and after that her older brothers falling in love - it's her only requirment in a marraige. She's young, naive and ready to give her all in the name of true love. However, as it so happens, young love isn't what it's all cracked up to be. Celia marries the first man who's made her feel the butterflies at his charm and swoon at his words. Little by little she comes to realize that perhaps she's been hasty, and the immidiate embarrassment she feels at having chosen wrong is so well worded that you truly feel for her.
A few years later, Celia is now withdrawn, somber and hardened by the experiences of her naiveity. She is relatable to a great degree. Her coming of age and realizing that life isn't all pony's and rainbows is beautiful and tragic at the same time. Caroline Linden has shown a palpable look at a character suffering depression, and it definitely hits the right spots. Celia is a heroine that grows individually way way before the romance starts, and that's why I believe I loved this book so much. Celia is definitely a heroine to look out for.
Anthony Hamilton is the supposed bastard son of an Earl and has been labelled as scandalous way before he was even born. He's a brilliant example of how deep seeded issues with parents don't have to turn someone into a man-pain riddled douchebag. Anthony definitely has several insecurities borne from his less than favorable upbringing and that impacts his courtship - or attempted courtship - of Celia. But he decides to embrace the reputation he's been given and simply decides to make the most of it for himself. Most of the things written about him are complete fabrications, fueled by his refusal to ever refute or acknowledge a single rumor. He's a man you instantly want to know more about.
Early on he tries to get premission from Marcus to court Celia but the moment he's told that she's already engaged his heartbreak is extremely well written. Even though you're barely a few chapters in you already start to feel like he's lost the love of his life, and that's the power of Miss Linden's writing.
The real romance starts when Anthony decides to live up to his reputation as a seducer to bring some joy to Celia. An once he begins his "seduction" of sorts it's impossible to put the book down. Because, well, he's hot. I'll just leave that there.
Some of my favorite quotes/lines from the book:
"Too often, regrets spring from the things that one could have done but didn't, and the chance that those actions might have led to success. It is the weight of personal fault that causes the pain, the feeling that but for being remiss in some, you might have achieved your goal."
****
"Some have said that love unrequited is the most painful agony, as if the outpouring of love saps one of will and life."
My only complaint would be the sudden dramatic ending. I couldn't for the life of me understand why it was needed. If I was to guess it was to show that Celia trusted Anthony implicitly and wouldn't believe lies people spoke of him. I could perhaps understand the need of such melodramatic plot points to prove such a point, if the relationship and their connect hadn't been as well developed as it has been here. So hence, for me it just felt waaaay off the flow of the rest of the story and left me blinking in surprise.
But still, a wonderful book!
This would be another out and out 5 star book for me if it wasn't for the last minute drama that, for me at least, served no purpose. I'll expand on that later, but because it's too late in the night I'm incapable of forming sentences to write this review.
So excuse the mess that is this review.
The plot of the book, true to this entire book, isn't a very overly done trope. Celia the youngest of the Reece family is the belle of the ball after her debut. All she wants is to marry for love, having seen how much her parents loved each other, and after that her older brothers falling in love - it's her only requirment in a marraige. She's young, naive and ready to give her all in the name of true love. However, as it so happens, young love isn't what it's all cracked up to be. Celia marries the first man who's made her feel the butterflies at his charm and swoon at his words. Little by little she comes to realize that perhaps she's been hasty, and the immidiate embarrassment she feels at having chosen wrong is so well worded that you truly feel for her.
A few years later, Celia is now withdrawn, somber and hardened by the experiences of her naiveity. She is relatable to a great degree. Her coming of age and realizing that life isn't all pony's and rainbows is beautiful and tragic at the same time. Caroline Linden has shown a palpable look at a character suffering depression, and it definitely hits the right spots. Celia is a heroine that grows individually way way before the romance starts, and that's why I believe I loved this book so much. Celia is definitely a heroine to look out for.
Anthony Hamilton is the supposed bastard son of an Earl and has been labelled as scandalous way before he was even born. He's a brilliant example of how deep seeded issues with parents don't have to turn someone into a man-pain riddled douchebag. Anthony definitely has several insecurities borne from his less than favorable upbringing and that impacts his courtship - or attempted courtship - of Celia. But he decides to embrace the reputation he's been given and simply decides to make the most of it for himself. Most of the things written about him are complete fabrications, fueled by his refusal to ever refute or acknowledge a single rumor. He's a man you instantly want to know more about.
Early on he tries to get premission from Marcus to court Celia but the moment he's told that she's already engaged his heartbreak is extremely well written. Even though you're barely a few chapters in you already start to feel like he's lost the love of his life, and that's the power of Miss Linden's writing.
The real romance starts when Anthony decides to live up to his reputation as a seducer to bring some joy to Celia. An once he begins his "seduction" of sorts it's impossible to put the book down. Because, well, he's hot. I'll just leave that there.
Some of my favorite quotes/lines from the book:
"Too often, regrets spring from the things that one could have done but didn't, and the chance that those actions might have led to success. It is the weight of personal fault that causes the pain, the feeling that but for being remiss in some, you might have achieved your goal."
****
"Some have said that love unrequited is the most painful agony, as if the outpouring of love saps one of will and life."
My only complaint would be the sudden dramatic ending. I couldn't for the life of me understand why it was needed. If I was to guess it was to show that Celia trusted Anthony implicitly and wouldn't believe lies people spoke of him. I could perhaps understand the need of such melodramatic plot points to prove such a point, if the relationship and their connect hadn't been as well developed as it has been here. So hence, for me it just felt waaaay off the flow of the rest of the story and left me blinking in surprise.
But still, a wonderful book!
June 11, 2021
Really enjoyed this.
Reread June 2021. (Though to be fair I do not remember reading this before but I apparently did leave the review above.) Celia and Anthony (Celia and Bertie). 4 stars. I really enjoyed most of this one.
It started out as my cup of tea. I hated the part where she marries someone else. I was enjoying Celia and Anthony getting to know one another as adults then Bam she is married to someone else. Her journal was very depressing as we learn more about her first marriage. Though her being a widow did free up the author to have Celia and Anthony to have some pretty steamy pre marriage sex. I am a sucker for the hero and heroine to write letters to each other so of course I was over the moon during that section of the story. I thought their night boat scene was romantic. I loved how much faith Celia had in Anthony during one of the "twist" parts. I wish there was an epilogue to discover if she was able to have children and some others questions left open.
Reread June 2021. (Though to be fair I do not remember reading this before but I apparently did leave the review above.) Celia and Anthony (Celia and Bertie). 4 stars. I really enjoyed most of this one.
It started out as my cup of tea. I hated the part where she marries someone else. I was enjoying Celia and Anthony getting to know one another as adults then Bam she is married to someone else. Her journal was very depressing as we learn more about her first marriage. Though her being a widow did free up the author to have Celia and Anthony to have some pretty steamy pre marriage sex. I am a sucker for the hero and heroine to write letters to each other so of course I was over the moon during that section of the story. I thought their night boat scene was romantic. I loved how much faith Celia had in Anthony during one of the "twist" parts. I wish there was an epilogue to discover if she was able to have children and some others questions left open.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 4, 2021
I just finished the book and I totally enjoyed it. I am giving nothing away by saying it is a book where the couple really get to know each other and fall in love by doing so. I rate it 5 stars.
March 16, 2011
I loved this book! The plot, the characters, the darkness.. It was wonderful!
It is a story about self-worth, depression, abandonment, and yes, finding the one person who really understands you and loves you. It looks at what can happen when marriages go wrong, and I particularly like that there is no one really to blame - the heroine and her first husband are not suited and not in a position to cope.
The hero is wonderful. I loved him within the first two paragraphs and just loved him more and more right through until the very end. He has built a life for himself, suffers cruelly at the hands of gossips and has little self-esteem.
I've read some reviews about how this is a dark story (the heroine finds herself trapped in the wrong marriage, and falls into depression from which she can't escape) and, it's true this isn't a galloping Regency romp, but I LOVED the darkness. The author's descriptions of how moderate depression (non-suicidal) feels are absolutely spot on. It really is the best characterisation of what it looks like for the sufferer I've seen. Likewise her descriptions of the hero's insecurities are excellent.
So, from the caring, but extremely irritating mother, to the gossipy, obnoxious friends, I really enjoyed it.
OK, the last little plot twist was a bit unnecessary, but it didn't annoy me either.
5 stars, all-time-favorites list. This author is now an auto-buy for me.
It is a story about self-worth, depression, abandonment, and yes, finding the one person who really understands you and loves you. It looks at what can happen when marriages go wrong, and I particularly like that there is no one really to blame - the heroine and her first husband are not suited and not in a position to cope.
The hero is wonderful. I loved him within the first two paragraphs and just loved him more and more right through until the very end. He has built a life for himself, suffers cruelly at the hands of gossips and has little self-esteem.
I've read some reviews about how this is a dark story (the heroine finds herself trapped in the wrong marriage, and falls into depression from which she can't escape) and, it's true this isn't a galloping Regency romp, but I LOVED the darkness. The author's descriptions of how moderate depression (non-suicidal) feels are absolutely spot on. It really is the best characterisation of what it looks like for the sufferer I've seen. Likewise her descriptions of the hero's insecurities are excellent.
So, from the caring, but extremely irritating mother, to the gossipy, obnoxious friends, I really enjoyed it.
OK, the last little plot twist was a bit unnecessary, but it didn't annoy me either.
5 stars, all-time-favorites list. This author is now an auto-buy for me.
April 19, 2016
5 stars for the amazing romance and the adorable hero, 1 star for all the contrived and eye-roll inducing drama , so somewhere between 3 and 4 stars.
January 24, 2009
Lady Celia Reece is enjoying her Season in London and her many admirers. She also encounters her brother David's old friend, the notorious rake Anthony Hamilton, estranged son of an Earl. When Lord Andrew Bertram proposes though she's swept off her feet and believes herself in love. Four years of bleak, disappointing, lonely marriage later and Celia is a widow. Yet she feels empty inside, hollow and sad. Although only twenty-two and just as beautiful as before, her melancholy casts a shadow. In an effort to lift her spirits, her mother, the Dowager-Duchess, Rosalind, throws a house party at the family estate, and David invites Anthony.
Anthony has always wanted Celia but was too late the first time. Now he's determined not just to make her laugh again but to make her his - if she'll have the most scandalous seducer in London.
This book was a delight to read and more realistic than the usual historical romances. Firstly, her prose is effortless, completely lacking in pretension and manages to capture the tone and style of early 19th century prose without the stuffiness, and without trying too hard. There's a grim grittiness that doesn't normally work in historical romance but the way both Celia and Anthony mature and harden from their experiences, really spoke to me. They felt very alive.
Also, the premise and plot weren't contrived or silly. Often it's fun to read these outlandish premises that throw the hero and heroine together, but it's also nice to read one that seems perfectly natural - and less impossible. I found Anthony to be a very intriguing character, and Celia too was engaging and interesting. Linden had a superb hold on their characters and was able to achieve a lot within the parameters of the period.
The only thing that I thought Linden should have taken more care with was her titles - Because Celia is the daughter of a Duke she is automatically "Lady Celia" and will be all her life. When she married Bertram, she would still be "Lady Celia" not "Lady Bertram". Marrying Mr Hamilton wouldn't change that either. She never loses her title, she just can't transfer her title to her husband. It's a small quibble but for a book with such a subtle grasp of historical accuracy - by which I mean to say you never feel like Linden is a modern writer - it stuck out.
Anthony has always wanted Celia but was too late the first time. Now he's determined not just to make her laugh again but to make her his - if she'll have the most scandalous seducer in London.
This book was a delight to read and more realistic than the usual historical romances. Firstly, her prose is effortless, completely lacking in pretension and manages to capture the tone and style of early 19th century prose without the stuffiness, and without trying too hard. There's a grim grittiness that doesn't normally work in historical romance but the way both Celia and Anthony mature and harden from their experiences, really spoke to me. They felt very alive.
Also, the premise and plot weren't contrived or silly. Often it's fun to read these outlandish premises that throw the hero and heroine together, but it's also nice to read one that seems perfectly natural - and less impossible. I found Anthony to be a very intriguing character, and Celia too was engaging and interesting. Linden had a superb hold on their characters and was able to achieve a lot within the parameters of the period.
The only thing that I thought Linden should have taken more care with was her titles - Because Celia is the daughter of a Duke she is automatically "Lady Celia" and will be all her life. When she married Bertram, she would still be "Lady Celia" not "Lady Bertram". Marrying Mr Hamilton wouldn't change that either. She never loses her title, she just can't transfer her title to her husband. It's a small quibble but for a book with such a subtle grasp of historical accuracy - by which I mean to say you never feel like Linden is a modern writer - it stuck out.
March 26, 2012
Delightful story!
What I Liked
*Anthony! Not exactly a tortured hero, but certainly a mistreated and misunderstood one. Yes, a rake, but also honest, caring, and proud of accomplishing so many things without the love and support of his mean earl of a father. He longs for Celia for years, but thinks he's not worthy of her love.
*Celia. Although she starts out as a typical girl having her first season, her unhappy first marriage matures her. She takes a little too long to come around to accepting Anthony, but once she does she's loyal to the core.
*Celia's diary. The diary covering Celia's first marriage is well done -- heartbreaking, really.
*Celia's depression. Well, I didn't like her depression, but I admired the author's ability to depict her feelings of hopelessness and helplessness. I don't really understand the reviewers who said the book was too depressing; that's really just one small part of the overall story.
*Great sex! But what else would you expect from London's most accomplished lover?
What I Didn't Like
*The murder/kidnapping/wife plot. This felt tacked-on at the end (much like the counterfeiting excitement in What A Gentleman Wants). What was the purpose, other than to show that Anthony and Celia were willing to risk their lives to save the other.
*Rosalind. She verged on becoming as annoying as Mrs. Bennett.
*The rest of the Reece family. I would have enjoyed seeing a bit more of Celia's brothers and their wives. I expect it's hard for authors writing a series to get the right balance of old and new faces, but Mary Balogh has perfected the art, IMHO, in the Bedwyn series.
Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot and recommend it. It works just fine as a stand alone (and is by far the best of the trilogy, so you needn't bother with the first two).
What I Liked
*Anthony! Not exactly a tortured hero, but certainly a mistreated and misunderstood one. Yes, a rake, but also honest, caring, and proud of accomplishing so many things without the love and support of his mean earl of a father. He longs for Celia for years, but thinks he's not worthy of her love.
*Celia. Although she starts out as a typical girl having her first season, her unhappy first marriage matures her. She takes a little too long to come around to accepting Anthony, but once she does she's loyal to the core.
*Celia's diary. The diary covering Celia's first marriage is well done -- heartbreaking, really.
*Celia's depression. Well, I didn't like her depression, but I admired the author's ability to depict her feelings of hopelessness and helplessness. I don't really understand the reviewers who said the book was too depressing; that's really just one small part of the overall story.
*Great sex! But what else would you expect from London's most accomplished lover?
What I Didn't Like
*The murder/kidnapping/wife plot. This felt tacked-on at the end (much like the counterfeiting excitement in What A Gentleman Wants). What was the purpose, other than to show that Anthony and Celia were willing to risk their lives to save the other.
*Rosalind. She verged on becoming as annoying as Mrs. Bennett.
*The rest of the Reece family. I would have enjoyed seeing a bit more of Celia's brothers and their wives. I expect it's hard for authors writing a series to get the right balance of old and new faces, but Mary Balogh has perfected the art, IMHO, in the Bedwyn series.
Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot and recommend it. It works just fine as a stand alone (and is by far the best of the trilogy, so you needn't bother with the first two).
June 2, 2021
A Rake's Guide to Seduction is the third book in the Reece Family series and I thought the story was well-written and enjoyable to read. I so loved connecting with the main characters Celia and Anthony, as well as the sub-characters. Will enjoy reading David's story as all three can be somewhat read/listened standalone.
The narration by Heather Wilds was just okay for me but did not takeaway my need to finish the book. I was hooked from beginning to end and loved their building relationship that led to the HEA.
The narration by Heather Wilds was just okay for me but did not takeaway my need to finish the book. I was hooked from beginning to end and loved their building relationship that led to the HEA.
April 30, 2024
Caroline Linden is a fairly new author for me even though this is my 17th book by her. I read 3 of her books in 2021 but didn't pick her up again until June 2023 when I read her 7 book series The Scandals, which was really good. Although I really like her writing and her stories, she is not someone I normally look to when trying to find a book to read because as someone that reads 300 books a year, I found some of her books a bit too expensive. But I keep her on my list and will check back periodically to see if any of her books go on sale or if I have credits to buy them.
So when browsing for books to read, I saw this series and actually they weren't too expensive. Book 1 was actually KU and I was able to get book 2 and this book on credits so they didn’t cost that much.
I loved Anthony and Celia. This was my favorite book of the series. What a great story. I loved Anthony's character. I loved them together as a a couple. Just a great read. Sex was pretty hot and a great love story.
So when browsing for books to read, I saw this series and actually they weren't too expensive. Book 1 was actually KU and I was able to get book 2 and this book on credits so they didn’t cost that much.
I loved Anthony and Celia. This was my favorite book of the series. What a great story. I loved Anthony's character. I loved them together as a a couple. Just a great read. Sex was pretty hot and a great love story.
February 24, 2024
This book is not without merit. In fact, a few conversations between characters were enlightening or genuinely emotional and engaging. The conversation between Lynley and Hamilton at the end of the book comes to mind.
But this book doesn’t go far and takes forever to get there. I’ve seen snails move faster and with more purpose. Every short conversation is followed by half a chapter of one character or another—sometimes several—thinking about it, analyzing it. There’s so much filler I had to start skimming or I would have strangled myself from sheer boredom. At one point, an entire page was taken up by characters deciding to go indoors or not. It mattered not one whit to plot advancement or character development but it had to be plodded through. Plodding, plodding, egads, the plodding. Then SEX IN THE LIBRARY and I skidded to a halt thinking, “Okay, now something has to happen!” But no, the participants decided to just keep doing what they had been doing for the last umpteen chapters.
And then there was some perfectly ridiculous danger thrown in and then the end. Which I was never happier to get to.
But this book doesn’t go far and takes forever to get there. I’ve seen snails move faster and with more purpose. Every short conversation is followed by half a chapter of one character or another—sometimes several—thinking about it, analyzing it. There’s so much filler I had to start skimming or I would have strangled myself from sheer boredom. At one point, an entire page was taken up by characters deciding to go indoors or not. It mattered not one whit to plot advancement or character development but it had to be plodded through. Plodding, plodding, egads, the plodding. Then SEX IN THE LIBRARY and I skidded to a halt thinking, “Okay, now something has to happen!” But no, the participants decided to just keep doing what they had been doing for the last umpteen chapters.
And then there was some perfectly ridiculous danger thrown in and then the end. Which I was never happier to get to.
February 7, 2017
Oh well.
A Rake's Guide to Seduction is a ridiculously silly if not eye-catching title to this spicy Regency. Yes, the H is a rake but more through gossip and circumstances. When it comes to his behavior he's quite the honorable Sir who wants to do what's best for the heroine even if it means denying himself. The H and his Scottish uncle won my heart.
It starts out where our sweet, kind and winsome virginal heroine is testing the bounds of propriety by walking unchaperoned in a garden with a real lunkhead. He pops out an awkward proposal when all she was thinking of was m-a-y-b-e a kiss. The H swoops in and and chivvies the suitor away. The H is close friends with her brother. They both have terrible rakish reps, but the H is shunned by his father as a cuckoo in the nest and his rep is almost beyond the pale.
The h is very fond of the H as he's always been kind to her. She's known him since she was a child and has never seen any aberrant behavior not that she would know what aberrant behavior is. She's a real sweetheart, and it disturbs her so many people shun him including her rather irritating mother. Over the next few weeks, the H realizes she is what he needs and approaches her older brother to court her. He has more money than people think and pledges to make her happy. Ack. Unfortunately, the h was now engaged and the H leaves. Sad. Sad. Sad.
The h's marriage is not quite the love match she though, and via diary entries we see a lonely life. Her husband conveniently dies, and the h makes it back home to mama. She's sad and disallusioned by the concept of love which is worsened when she meets up with friends. Their unions are no happier than hers was and she's emotionally exhausted and cynical. She's 22.
Her mother, who vacillates between being a loving and concerned mother and a Managing Martha, thinks the best thing is to get her married off again so a big house party is arranged with the h's now annoying friends and tons of single men. The h eye-rolls herself as single man after single man is trotted out. The only one she's remotely happy to see is the H. Her mother is furious he was invited, but her stepson insisted. The mother is further aggravated as his rather large Scottish uncle was invited as well, and he calls her on the carpet for preferential treatment of the other single men while snubbing his nephew horribly. This is a brief moment, but I enjoyed it immensely. The Uncle really ruffles the mother's feathers, and who doesn't love a Scottish accent.
The h is glum; her friends gossip non stop and most of it is about the H and his dastardly reputation: he beds anything that walks, he cheats at cards, he killed a man in Reno just to watch him die. No actually it was Bath, but the rumors are rampant. One of her friends even plots to get him into bed.
Suddenly the h starts getting little notes on her morning tray. They amuse her and she responds. She gets out of her funk and figures out the H is really the only one that could have written them. She asks him to meet her in the library. She rationalizes that if it's one of the other suitors, she'll tell them to stop writing, but if it's the H who knows what will happen. It is the H who struggles with going to the library. Of course he does go. They get really cozy, and I need my fan whew, and they get caught. Yikes.
The onus falls on the H despite the fact the h was the one that invited him. Here is where the seduction kicks in. The H is still on the fence as to whether he's worthy or not (he is), and his waffling drops the story a star, but he loves her and wants her.
There is more to the story, but it falls into spoiler territory and I have certainly written enough.
Secondary characters I really want to read more about are the stable boy who is quite the charmer in the little that we see him as well as the aforementioned uncle.
Not the most historically accurate Regency, quite steamy, but very enjoyable.
A Rake's Guide to Seduction is a ridiculously silly if not eye-catching title to this spicy Regency. Yes, the H is a rake but more through gossip and circumstances. When it comes to his behavior he's quite the honorable Sir who wants to do what's best for the heroine even if it means denying himself. The H and his Scottish uncle won my heart.
It starts out where our sweet, kind and winsome virginal heroine is testing the bounds of propriety by walking unchaperoned in a garden with a real lunkhead. He pops out an awkward proposal when all she was thinking of was m-a-y-b-e a kiss. The H swoops in and and chivvies the suitor away. The H is close friends with her brother. They both have terrible rakish reps, but the H is shunned by his father as a cuckoo in the nest and his rep is almost beyond the pale.
The h is very fond of the H as he's always been kind to her. She's known him since she was a child and has never seen any aberrant behavior not that she would know what aberrant behavior is. She's a real sweetheart, and it disturbs her so many people shun him including her rather irritating mother. Over the next few weeks, the H realizes she is what he needs and approaches her older brother to court her. He has more money than people think and pledges to make her happy. Ack. Unfortunately, the h was now engaged and the H leaves. Sad. Sad. Sad.
The h's marriage is not quite the love match she though, and via diary entries we see a lonely life. Her husband conveniently dies, and the h makes it back home to mama. She's sad and disallusioned by the concept of love which is worsened when she meets up with friends. Their unions are no happier than hers was and she's emotionally exhausted and cynical. She's 22.
Her mother, who vacillates between being a loving and concerned mother and a Managing Martha, thinks the best thing is to get her married off again so a big house party is arranged with the h's now annoying friends and tons of single men. The h eye-rolls herself as single man after single man is trotted out. The only one she's remotely happy to see is the H. Her mother is furious he was invited, but her stepson insisted. The mother is further aggravated as his rather large Scottish uncle was invited as well, and he calls her on the carpet for preferential treatment of the other single men while snubbing his nephew horribly. This is a brief moment, but I enjoyed it immensely. The Uncle really ruffles the mother's feathers, and who doesn't love a Scottish accent.
The h is glum; her friends gossip non stop and most of it is about the H and his dastardly reputation: he beds anything that walks, he cheats at cards, he killed a man in Reno just to watch him die. No actually it was Bath, but the rumors are rampant. One of her friends even plots to get him into bed.
Suddenly the h starts getting little notes on her morning tray. They amuse her and she responds. She gets out of her funk and figures out the H is really the only one that could have written them. She asks him to meet her in the library. She rationalizes that if it's one of the other suitors, she'll tell them to stop writing, but if it's the H who knows what will happen. It is the H who struggles with going to the library. Of course he does go. They get really cozy, and I need my fan whew, and they get caught. Yikes.
The onus falls on the H despite the fact the h was the one that invited him. Here is where the seduction kicks in. The H is still on the fence as to whether he's worthy or not (he is), and his waffling drops the story a star, but he loves her and wants her.
There is more to the story, but it falls into spoiler territory and I have certainly written enough.
Secondary characters I really want to read more about are the stable boy who is quite the charmer in the little that we see him as well as the aforementioned uncle.
Not the most historically accurate Regency, quite steamy, but very enjoyable.
March 30, 2021
Tags: pining, childhood friends, timeskip
Love is timing and this book plays with that concept so well. Reminded me of Persuasion the way there was so much longing and quiet contemplation, missed opportunities and personal journeys.
It’s definitely too introspective for some readers, with chapters devoted to house parties, diary entries, or letters. There’s some last minute drama that seems almost cut and pasted from another novel, the tone was completely different.
Still, for fans of the one-sided pining trope, its pretty perfect.
Love is timing and this book plays with that concept so well. Reminded me of Persuasion the way there was so much longing and quiet contemplation, missed opportunities and personal journeys.
It’s definitely too introspective for some readers, with chapters devoted to house parties, diary entries, or letters. There’s some last minute drama that seems almost cut and pasted from another novel, the tone was completely different.
Still, for fans of the one-sided pining trope, its pretty perfect.
December 26, 2018
“Celia realized what had brought her to Anthony’s room tonight, what had made her stay when he told her to go: it was love. Not the giddy, effervescent infatuation she’d felt before, but real love, the deep, true feeling for another that didn’t need poetry and flowers to thrive. It was not the hothouse plant her affection for Bertie had been, but a strong and vibrant thing. It hadn’t withered and died at the first storm but had grown stronger with each trial it endured, until the roots of it spread through her entire being. She could never rip it out without ripping out a piece of herself.”
A Rake’s Guide to Seduction was ALL of my catnip: pining hero, strong willed heroine, excellent display of character growth, passionate romance and much, much more. There may have been a few hiccups along the way, but none of it detracted from the beautiful love story that left me in a puddle of intense feels.
A slow burner to the core, the book begins in London during young Lady Celia Reece’s coming out. At the tender age of nineteen, Celia came across as idealistic, romantic at heart and, not surprisingly, more than a little naive. She quickly becomes the toast of the season, with many eligible gentlemen vying for her attention. Most especially taken with her was her brother’s longtime friend Anthony Hamilton, who was already on the receiving end of the ton’s ire for his supposedly scandalous reputation. His rakish moniker didn’t keep Celia from his company however and after renewing their childhood acquaintance, Anthony longs for nothing more than to have Celia by his side. One huge problem though: Celia marries someone else. OUCH. But never fear dear readers! All works out for the better, I PROMISE.
Celia marries for what she thinks is love, and maybe it was, but suffice to say, it doesn’t end well and Celia soon finds herself a widow at only twenty-three. Worthy of mention is the diary she kept during those four years which gave us a window into what marriage is really like for those who discover all too late that they have not made a worthy match. It’s fascinating and sad and poignant all at the same time and I was glad to have had this glimpse into Celia’s first marriage as it was a great show of how much she grows as a character over the course of the book. Anyway, at the end of her mourning period, Celia’s mother Rosalind (more on her later) convinces her to attend a house party at her family’s country estate in hopes of it lightening up Celia’s melancholy mood as of late (dead husbands tend to do that to a person). Celia reluctantly agrees and soon finds herself unexpectedly reunited with one, you guessed it, Anthony Hamilton, who had never forgotten her, nor she him. This is when all the good stuff happens, trust me. All that pent up longing I’d been reading and feeling comes to fruition in the most amazing, life ruining way. I’m still not over it.
Anthony was what I like to call a huggable hero. HE WAS SO SWEET AND LOVABLE AND PERFECT IN HIS IMPERFECTIONS. I just loved him. Sadly society and his peers didn’t share my opinion. Misconceptions and gossips regarding his private and public life led him to being virtually shunned and everyone believing the absolute worst in him. Except one (well two if you count me). Celia, having grown into a thoughtful and mature woman post-marriage, didn’t let the scandalous accusations libeled at Anthony color her own good opinion of the man who had always been a dear friend to her and was soon becoming something much more. Anthony’s attentions in the form of honest conversations and easy rapport, eventually morphed into a mutual attraction, also aided in part by a series of love notes he sent clandestinely to Celia. LOVE NOTES GET ME EVERY TIME. And it’s through those letters that Celia sees in Anthony something he had thought he’d kept very well hidden, but something she knew had been there all along: a tender, loving man more than worthy of giving her heart to. Celia does struggle doing just that, though. And after her first marriage ending in the way it did, it’s not much of a surprise that she didn’t 100% trust herself, much less her own heart. But falling in love with Anthony gave her confidence and assurance that had been missing in her previous marriage. As a result, she never doubted Anthony, or herself. Not once, and that made all the difference in the end.
“I love you,” he repeated. His grip tightened on her hand. “I love you.”
Celia smiled. If she didn’t smile, she might cry. “I know,” she told him softly. “I’ve known that for a while now.”
Anthony’s own personal struggles were a bit different from Celia’s. From the moment of his birth, he was seen as less than. And that feeling of inadequacy carried on into adulthood when he was left on his own with no money, no family, nothing. But Anthony strove ahead, making his own way in this often cruel, unforgiving world. His methods to self sufficiency may not have been entirely of the honest variety and he wasn’t perfect, not by a long shot, but he certainly wasn’t the monster rogue everyone thought him to be. Can you imagine how hard that was for him? Hearing strangers and even supposed friends see the worst in you no matter how much you try to prove otherwise? It was a lonely, miserable and solitary existence, made worse when there came a time when Anthony didn’t even bother fighting back or standing up for himself anymore. He thought, what was the point? People would say what they wanted, believe what they wanted and there was nothing he could do or say to change their opinions. But Celia would have none of that nonsense. She saw right through it all directly to Anthony’s sincere heart and never once questioned his motives and that was a first for Anthony. FINALLY, someone who saw only good in him. Even after exposing all his flaws to her, she wanted ALL of him.
“All that you are, I am, too,” she said.
He turned their linked hands over, raising her knuckles to his lips. “No, my dear, I think you are much better.”
This soulful understanding and deep trust between them damn near broke me, okay? Because I loved Anthony so much and I wanted him to be happy and Celia made him so, so, soooo happy and Anthony made her very happy in return which made me VERY, VERY HAPPY. I’m about two seconds away from sobbing all over this review.
There was a a loveliness and an ease to Celia and Anthony’s romance that I just loved. Two halves of the same whole finding each other and that feeling of utter completion and peace came right through the page. I’ve been finding a lot of couples lately that fall into a similar category and it never gets old. It’s like Celia’s quote at the top says, love doesn’t have to be all bright lights and blazing heat, it can be a slow and steady fire that gets stronger over time and never dies out. Real relationships take time, hard work and are worth fighting to hold on to. It was only after coming together that Celia became braver, gutsier and less prone to adhere to anyone’s bs, while Anthony finally realized that he didn’t have to be who society, his douche of a father or anyone else thought he had to be, he only had to be the all around good person that he was because that was the man Celia fell in love with. Essentially, they made each other stronger and BETTER!!! Aww man, I’m getting choked up just writing this out. I love couples who have that effect on me. It’s the best feeling in the world. And I haven’t even mentioned the library sex, midnight foot massages and reciting made up on the spot poetic verses while he went down on her...oh wait, I just did, didn’t I? YOU’RE WELCOME.
Um, negatives? Because of course there were some, there always are. Thankfully there was very few. The main one being the last minute drama that left me scratching my head if I’m being honest because it came out of nowhere and made absolutely no sense. It didn’t ruin anything, but I definitely could have done without it. Then there was the fact that Celia had virtually no lady friends at all, unless you count her mother, young niece and sisters-in law. Her so-called ‘friends’ were catty and juvenile and I just wish Celia had been given a bit more support on that end. The pacing was also off in places, especially in scenes when Celia and Anthony weren’t together, but that’s the case with most books. And this really wasn’t a negative per say, but the background romance between Celia’s mother Rosalind, the dowager duchess, and Anthony’s uncle Lord Warfield, who also happened to be Scottish!!!, was so good that I really wish they had been given a separate story all their own. There should be more later in life romance!
Yeah so, that’s it. I think. Geez, that was a lot wasn’t it? Kudos to anyone who read everything and understood any of it. Just read the book, please???
edit 2018 : Caroline finally gave Warfield and Rosalind their HEA and I couldn't be happier about it.
February 17, 2024
This is me after finishing this book:
This is also me every time the hypocrite, co-dependent assh*ole of a mother bad-mouthed Anthony:
But let's start with the good
(⋈◍＞◡＜◍)。✧♡ Steadfast Anthony, aka my new book husband
Cold, calculating rake is rake-ing away when he saves the heroine from an awkward encounter. The baby sister of one of his best friends, Anthony has always thought highly of her. Except she knows, without even a silver of a doubt, that the description above is a lie. Touched,the cold, calculating rake who was rake-ing away awkward, guarded young man trying to survive on his own sees in her the chance to maybe do more than surviving. “Six children and raise dogs.” Except, when he musters up the courage, she's engaged. Seeing her laughing and happy and clearly in love, he silently backs out. Because all he wants is her happiness.
When he meets her again as a widow, he is still awkward and guarded, but add to that the emotional wear of living under constant attack from lies and vicious gossip. He doesn't believe himself worthy of her, but will still do everything in his power to help her through her depression.
(⋈◍＞◡＜◍)。✧♡ The heroine
Bubbly, silly-but-harmless Celia is in love and so she marries. Her husband, turns out, is silly as well, only he's not harmless. He's immature and unable to cope with the responsibilities that come with marriage so he emotionally abandons the heroine for four years until he frees her (he dies of pneumonia).
For years, this is how Celia has been feeling
Don't judge me, I like the song
Anyway, her family and her life before her marriage just makes more and more despondent so the mother plans a month-long house party to cheer her up. It doesn't work.
Anthony can see it isn't doing anything and in her attempt to cheer her up, they rekindle their friendship, this time with spiciness added to it.
(⋈◍＞◡＜◍)。✧♡ The romance
Slow-burn, friends to lovers to madly in love with an epistolary cherry on top. What more do you want?
The "bad" which isn't bad bad, but infuriating.
There are special characters that have awoken in me levels of rage that real-life people have never been able to even evoke.
My top two are Milady de Winter (Les Trois Mousquetaires, Umbridge (Harry Potter) Mercédès (Le Comte de Monte-Cristo) respectively. (Can you guess who nurtured my love for historical fiction? 😂) The reason is because they inflict inconceivable amounts of pain while still believing themselves superior or righteous.
Rosalyn was itching to get on the infamous list. The self-righteous, judgmental mother-in-law from hell kept saying to not gossip yet she believed every single one when it came to Anthony, despite his own step-son keeping a long-term friendship with him. Anthony's reputation isn't too far removed from her own step-son's, yet she refuses to see past it. Her hostility is borderline hysterical and in my mind the Scottish earl realizes this and leaves her high and dry while her daughter refuses to ever see her again and she dies slowly and painfully of a broken heart. 💀
Murderous thoughts aside, this book was wonderful. If you have the plus catalogue it's there. Go listen to it 😍
This is also me every time the hypocrite, co-dependent assh*ole of a mother bad-mouthed Anthony:
But let's start with the good
(⋈◍＞◡＜◍)。✧♡ Steadfast Anthony, aka my new book husband
Cold, calculating rake is rake-ing away when he saves the heroine from an awkward encounter. The baby sister of one of his best friends, Anthony has always thought highly of her. Except she knows, without even a silver of a doubt, that the description above is a lie. Touched,
When he meets her again as a widow, he is still awkward and guarded, but add to that the emotional wear of living under constant attack from lies and vicious gossip. He doesn't believe himself worthy of her, but will still do everything in his power to help her through her depression.
(⋈◍＞◡＜◍)。✧♡ The heroine
Bubbly, silly-but-harmless Celia is in love and so she marries. Her husband, turns out, is silly as well, only he's not harmless. He's immature and unable to cope with the responsibilities that come with marriage so he emotionally abandons the heroine for four years until he frees her (he dies of pneumonia).
For years, this is how Celia has been feeling
Don't judge me, I like the song
Anyway, her family and her life before her marriage just makes more and more despondent so the mother plans a month-long house party to cheer her up. It doesn't work.
Anthony can see it isn't doing anything and in her attempt to cheer her up, they rekindle their friendship, this time with spiciness added to it.
(⋈◍＞◡＜◍)。✧♡ The romance
Slow-burn, friends to lovers to madly in love with an epistolary cherry on top. What more do you want?
The "bad" which isn't bad bad, but infuriating.
There are special characters that have awoken in me levels of rage that real-life people have never been able to even evoke.
My top two are Milady de Winter (Les Trois Mousquetaires, Umbridge (Harry Potter) Mercédès (Le Comte de Monte-Cristo) respectively. (Can you guess who nurtured my love for historical fiction? 😂) The reason is because they inflict inconceivable amounts of pain while still believing themselves superior or righteous.
Rosalyn was itching to get on the infamous list. The self-righteous, judgmental mother-in-law from hell kept saying to not gossip yet she believed every single one when it came to Anthony, despite his own step-son keeping a long-term friendship with him. Anthony's reputation isn't too far removed from her own step-son's, yet she refuses to see past it. Her hostility is borderline hysterical and in my mind the Scottish earl realizes this and leaves her high and dry while her daughter refuses to ever see her again and she dies slowly and painfully of a broken heart. 💀
Murderous thoughts aside, this book was wonderful. If you have the plus catalogue it's there. Go listen to it 😍
July 3, 2014
This is my 6th Caroline Linden book, and like those before I liked the plot, the setting, the attention to historical details, the adorable hero and the strong heroine.
However, once again the sex scenes were a few too many, and the sex too samey and slightly too modern. Apparently it is "the thing" lately to write lots of clit-centric sex, even into historicals. Given that a mere 50 or so years ago the average male (and female) didn't have much of an idea what a clitoris was and to which use it could be put, it felt strange reading about a man who constantly kept returning to the heroine's clit during sex (oh, and any guy doing that to me during sex would earn himself a swift clout to the back of his head: not all women are clitcentric!). That's what cost this one a star.
However, once again the sex scenes were a few too many, and the sex too samey and slightly too modern. Apparently it is "the thing" lately to write lots of clit-centric sex, even into historicals. Given that a mere 50 or so years ago the average male (and female) didn't have much of an idea what a clitoris was and to which use it could be put, it felt strange reading about a man who constantly kept returning to the heroine's clit during sex (oh, and any guy doing that to me during sex would earn himself a swift clout to the back of his head: not all women are clitcentric!). That's what cost this one a star.
June 21, 2008
Fabulous steamy historical romance from Caroline Linden. "A Rake's Guide to Seduction" explores the story of a woman who learns the difference between infatuation and love. The hero is strong, complex, and misunderstood. The heroine grows into a woman who learns her own strength and stands up for and by her man. The plot flows as smooth as aged whiskey, and the ending will put an ear-to-ear grin on your face. Now, I'm off to make sure I have copies of Linden's other books to put on my keeper shelf!
February 11, 2011
4.5 stars. An excellent character-driven Regency romance, slightly marred by an improbable villainous plot stuck on at the end. Anthony, though no real fault of his own, has a terrible reputation amongst society; Celia married for what she thought was love and discovered she and her husband actually had nothing in common. When Celia is widowed, the two old acquaintances have a second chance to find happiness. The characters are both sympathetic and interesting and I would have been happy to read about the progress of their relationship without any additional plot elements.
June 23, 2021
Five big super duper stars! This is my favorite in the Reece Family series. I liked them all but this one will definitely be on my read again list.
January 20, 2019
I wonder why all heroines seem to smell of lemons? I think it is strange...what's this passion for lemons?
However, this was not the first time I read A Rake's Guide to Seduction, which was first published in 2008. I really liked it the first time, I had given it 4.5/5 here on Goodreads, I had found it very sweet and it's the type of story I love: the hero is secretly in love with the heroine, who's the hero's friend's little sister.
Moreover here, everything charming happens, he decides to ask her brother for her hand after several internal struggles given by the feeling of not being good enough for her,
The first time I read it, I really liked all of it, but something put me a little bit of, and this is the fact that they get caught after they have had a love moment and she's kind of "forced" to think about marry again. HOWEVER, I don't know why, that didn't bother me at all. I actually think it makes the story more interesting, especially because of the developments that the fact puts in motion. How strange tastes are.
So, this is my new opinion (and possibly last): I loved it. It is one of the sweetest story I've ever read, maybe to Quinn's When He Was Wicked level. For sure the heroes are equally adorable.
The passion between Anthony and Celia, in the story, is amazing; the heroine is great, she definitely becomes a mature young lady throughout the plot and I adored how she wants to protect the hero.
Marvellous.
I received an ARC of this novel
However, this was not the first time I read A Rake's Guide to Seduction, which was first published in 2008. I really liked it the first time, I had given it 4.5/5 here on Goodreads, I had found it very sweet and it's the type of story I love: the hero is secretly in love with the heroine, who's the hero's friend's little sister.
Moreover here, everything charming happens, he decides to ask her brother for her hand after several internal struggles given by the feeling of not being good enough for her,
The first time I read it, I really liked all of it, but something put me a little bit of, and this is the fact that they get caught after they have had a love moment and she's kind of "forced" to think about marry again. HOWEVER, I don't know why, that didn't bother me at all. I actually think it makes the story more interesting, especially because of the developments that the fact puts in motion. How strange tastes are.
So, this is my new opinion (and possibly last): I loved it. It is one of the sweetest story I've ever read, maybe to Quinn's When He Was Wicked level. For sure the heroes are equally adorable.
The passion between Anthony and Celia, in the story, is amazing; the heroine is great, she definitely becomes a mature young lady throughout the plot and I adored how she wants to protect the hero.
Marvellous.
I received an ARC of this novel
November 1, 2017
4,5 stars! I knew I could trust you Amanda!
After all the instalust/instalove books I have been trying to avoid lately, I was recommended this book since it was a slow burner. I so got what I wanted.
I'm a sucker for "friends to lovers" stories, but even more for the "loving from afar" we got in this book. It reminded me a little of Theresa Romain's Scandalous Ever After, where a good friend has to see the love of his life marry another and not be happy.
Anthony was such a noble idiot, but in a good way. He was obviously too late the first time, but he didn't hate the heroine or pushed away all women. He just went on with his life, even after all the shit he got from the ton and their wicked tongues.
Celia was great too. She started as a naive and happy young woman who fell in love at first sight, but soon learned married life was not as easy as she thought. I liked that her husband wasn't horrible, like in so many others in HR, just selfish and not what she thought. Both had expectations and discovered too late that they couldn't meet them. I liked reading about her married life in the form of a diary. It was sad and it felt too real.
I was so ready for them to meet again, and I wasn't dissapointed. She didn't fall in love with him in two pages, and he didn't process his undying love the moment he knew she was a widow. It was a slow dance that first started with sweet lust and ended up in trust and understanding. Seeing Celia BELIEVE and DEFEND Anthony was so satisfying. Even when the author threw some angst at the end, she didn't care what anyone thought and fought for her feelings and what she knew was true.
This book was just so DAMN SATISFYING! I swear I shouted HELL YES, when she didn't run away crying after the ex tried to pretend he had a son and another wife.
So this book had it all going for me, sweet and sexy romance, no noble idicoy, enough angst to keep it interesting and a secondary romance that came out of nowhere but ended up being hilarious.
This has become my favourite Caroline Liden book! (SO MANY FEELS, I get it now Amanda!)
After all the instalust/instalove books I have been trying to avoid lately, I was recommended this book since it was a slow burner. I so got what I wanted.
I'm a sucker for "friends to lovers" stories, but even more for the "loving from afar" we got in this book. It reminded me a little of Theresa Romain's Scandalous Ever After, where a good friend has to see the love of his life marry another and not be happy.
Anthony was such a noble idiot, but in a good way. He was obviously too late the first time, but he didn't hate the heroine or pushed away all women. He just went on with his life, even after all the shit he got from the ton and their wicked tongues.
Celia was great too. She started as a naive and happy young woman who fell in love at first sight, but soon learned married life was not as easy as she thought. I liked that her husband wasn't horrible, like in so many others in HR, just selfish and not what she thought. Both had expectations and discovered too late that they couldn't meet them. I liked reading about her married life in the form of a diary. It was sad and it felt too real.
I was so ready for them to meet again, and I wasn't dissapointed. She didn't fall in love with him in two pages, and he didn't process his undying love the moment he knew she was a widow. It was a slow dance that first started with sweet lust and ended up in trust and understanding. Seeing Celia BELIEVE and DEFEND Anthony was so satisfying. Even when the author threw some angst at the end, she didn't care what anyone thought and fought for her feelings and what she knew was true.
This book was just so DAMN SATISFYING! I swear I shouted HELL YES, when she didn't run away crying after the ex tried to pretend he had a son and another wife.
So this book had it all going for me, sweet and sexy romance, no noble idicoy, enough angst to keep it interesting and a secondary romance that came out of nowhere but ended up being hilarious.
This has become my favourite Caroline Liden book! (SO MANY FEELS, I get it now Amanda!)
July 17, 2020
4.5 stars
This is the story of Anthony & Celia. They have known each other since childhood, but see each other for the first time after many years in London during Celia’s first season. Anthony is a rake, big time, and has a horrible reputation. They have a little encounter and Anthony walks away being entranced by Celia. After some indecision on his part, he decides that he wants to court her and so goes to ask her brother for permission. Unfortunately, Celia has already become engaged to another man & soon she marries him and goes to live her newly wed life with her husband and her new FIL at the family estate. She spends 4 years away from her family during which time we learn about her disappointments in her married life, which effectively bring her down and break her spirits. Her husband dies and after a year of mourning, she returns back to her family home with her mother. She’s clearly depressed, so her mother decides to throw a house party with all of her friends to cheer her up. Anthony is invited to the party and decides to attend - he has harbored some feelings for Celia for all the years they were apart. Here’s where the book goes from 5 stars to 4.5 for me... Anthony doesn’t think he’s good enough for Celia and spends a lot of time in a state of inaction. This just doesn’t make sense to me at all. He loves this girl but is willing to let her go again!?! I was rolling my eyes HARD at some of his bs. It all ended well, ofc, and there were some really sweet moments at the end.
Should be safe for most; although there was quite a bit of angst.
This is the story of Anthony & Celia. They have known each other since childhood, but see each other for the first time after many years in London during Celia’s first season. Anthony is a rake, big time, and has a horrible reputation. They have a little encounter and Anthony walks away being entranced by Celia. After some indecision on his part, he decides that he wants to court her and so goes to ask her brother for permission. Unfortunately, Celia has already become engaged to another man & soon she marries him and goes to live her newly wed life with her husband and her new FIL at the family estate. She spends 4 years away from her family during which time we learn about her disappointments in her married life, which effectively bring her down and break her spirits. Her husband dies and after a year of mourning, she returns back to her family home with her mother. She’s clearly depressed, so her mother decides to throw a house party with all of her friends to cheer her up. Anthony is invited to the party and decides to attend - he has harbored some feelings for Celia for all the years they were apart. Here’s where the book goes from 5 stars to 4.5 for me... Anthony doesn’t think he’s good enough for Celia and spends a lot of time in a state of inaction. This just doesn’t make sense to me at all. He loves this girl but is willing to let her go again!?! I was rolling my eyes HARD at some of his bs. It all ended well, ofc, and there were some really sweet moments at the end.
Should be safe for most; although there was quite a bit of angst.
November 24, 2020
I loved the first book in this series, hated the second book... and this one falls in between.
There were many lovely things about this story. I loved how the author wrote and dealt with the heroine's depressed mood and how she overcame it. It felt true and believable. I did like how the hero on one hand didn't care what others thought about him, but on the other hand it got old that he would not even defend himself to outlandish accusations and just walk away. To me, that was weak.
There was just soooo much gossip about how unrespectable and what a manwhore the hero was, that it almost felt like that was the main point of the story (instead of the romance). Do we trust him, do we not trust him, do we kick him out of the party, do we let him stay? etc. I would have loved to see more romantic tension between the hero and heroine, instead of the house party gossip.
What really ruined the whole story for me and left me irritated was the whole over dramatic scene at the end. Between the lady visitor and her little son and then The Great Shootout. It was way over done, unnecessary and cheesy.
There were many lovely things about this story. I loved how the author wrote and dealt with the heroine's depressed mood and how she overcame it. It felt true and believable. I did like how the hero on one hand didn't care what others thought about him, but on the other hand it got old that he would not even defend himself to outlandish accusations and just walk away. To me, that was weak.
There was just soooo much gossip about how unrespectable and what a manwhore the hero was, that it almost felt like that was the main point of the story (instead of the romance). Do we trust him, do we not trust him, do we kick him out of the party, do we let him stay? etc. I would have loved to see more romantic tension between the hero and heroine, instead of the house party gossip.
What really ruined the whole story for me and left me irritated was the whole over dramatic scene at the end. Between the lady visitor and her little son and then The Great Shootout. It was way over done, unnecessary and cheesy.
November 4, 2015
Aaaaaaawwwwww Anthonyyyyyyyyyy *dégouline de coeurs* *craque des tablettes de chocolat* soupirs.....
Anthony est parfait, du moment où il se rend compte que Celia n'est plus "la petite soeur de David" jusqu'a la 2eme balade en bateau, en passant par les lettres anonymes, et les conseils conjugaux donnés à Percy xD
Il fait partie de mes héros doudous lui !!
Dans les deux premiers tomes j'aimais beaucoup la maman de Celia mais là je l'ai trouvé too much... Et heureusement qu'il y avait lord warfield pour la calmer un peu (c'est le scotish power). Molly toujours génial. On perçoit aussi très bien le changement dans l'esprit de Celia, le désenchantement au début et petit à petit la vie qui revient en elle grâce à Anthony...
Anthony est parfait, du moment où il se rend compte que Celia n'est plus "la petite soeur de David" jusqu'a la 2eme balade en bateau, en passant par les lettres anonymes, et les conseils conjugaux donnés à Percy xD
Il fait partie de mes héros doudous lui !!
Dans les deux premiers tomes j'aimais beaucoup la maman de Celia mais là je l'ai trouvé too much... Et heureusement qu'il y avait lord warfield pour la calmer un peu (c'est le scotish power). Molly toujours génial. On perçoit aussi très bien le changement dans l'esprit de Celia, le désenchantement au début et petit à petit la vie qui revient en elle grâce à Anthony...
November 13, 2008
A compelling and well written historical, but the feel of the story was so morose and depressing through much of the book it made for quite an emotional ride. The heroine deals with depression, and while the author did a great job keeping it real I don’t think I was in the mood to read something so dark.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 260 reviews