What do you think?
Rate this book
A Rake's Reward
A treasure lost…
American Sara Whately came to England with a single goal: recover a long-lost family treasure. Her father had long ago renounced his title and abandoned his country, but desperate financial straits call for desperate measures. Gaining access won’t be easy. The jewels are hidden on an estate Sara’s grandfather lost long ago in an unlucky turn of the cards. And then there’s the vexing, villainous, valiant Viscount Reath…
A jewel of a woman…
Sinclair Stratton, Lord Reath has always gotten everything he wants—money, privilege, and woman. But after ten years in India, he’s returned to England, ready to make amends for his youthful follies. He plans to return his ill-gotten estate to its rightful owner, but the man is impossible to find. And despite still being one of the most sought after rakes in town, the bold American beauty he keeps encountering seems to be immune to his charms and dashing good looks.
While Sara has promised to not just search for her grandfather’s jewels, but make an attempt at fitting into society, it might just be that Viscount Reath is the treasure she actually needs.
American Sara Whately came to England with a single goal: recover a long-lost family treasure. Her father had long ago renounced his title and abandoned his country, but desperate financial straits call for desperate measures. Gaining access won’t be easy. The jewels are hidden on an estate Sara’s grandfather lost long ago in an unlucky turn of the cards. And then there’s the vexing, villainous, valiant Viscount Reath…
A jewel of a woman…
Sinclair Stratton, Lord Reath has always gotten everything he wants—money, privilege, and woman. But after ten years in India, he’s returned to England, ready to make amends for his youthful follies. He plans to return his ill-gotten estate to its rightful owner, but the man is impossible to find. And despite still being one of the most sought after rakes in town, the bold American beauty he keeps encountering seems to be immune to his charms and dashing good looks.
While Sara has promised to not just search for her grandfather’s jewels, but make an attempt at fitting into society, it might just be that Viscount Reath is the treasure she actually needs.
271 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2015
142 people are currently reading
206 people want to read
About the author
Meredith Bond
69 books204 followersMeredith Bond's books straddle that beautiful line between historical romance and fantasy. An award-winning author, she writes fun traditional Regency romances, medieval Arthurian romances, and Regency romances with a touch of magic. Known for her characters “who slip readily into one’s heart,” Meredith loves to take her readers on a journey they won't soon forget. She is currently living in Europe enjoying the Bohemian life. I write a blog on writing and self-publishing that is published every Sunday at www.meredithbond.com/blog/posts
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
August 5, 2016
Quick, light read perfect for a morning on the couch with a summer cold. A few too many alliterations using viscount for my taste, but it was exactly the type of read I was looking for at the time. Happy ending and all.
December 10, 2015
Not thrilled
The story was going great and then it ended. I mean it abruptly ended and it was lovely, I am sadden that it was a poor ending.
The story was going great and then it ended. I mean it abruptly ended and it was lovely, I am sadden that it was a poor ending.
October 16, 2024
A Delightful, Romantic Adventure
“A Rake's Reward” by Meredith Bond is a charming Regency romance that deftly weaves a tale of treasure hunting, family honor, and unexpected love. Sara Whately is a strong-willed, intelligent heroine with a clear mission: reclaim her family’s lost treasure. What starts as a straightforward quest for jewels, however, becomes complicated when she meets Sinclair Stratton, the rakish Viscount Reath, whose devil-may-care exterior hides surprising depth and a desire to make amends for past mistakes.
The chemistry between Sara and Sinclair is palpable, and their verbal sparring is full of wit and tension, making their eventual romance feel both earned and deeply satisfying. Sinclair is particularly compelling as a reformed rake who brings both charm and vulnerability to the story. Watching him fall for the fiery, independent American is as delightful as it is inevitable.
The treasure-hunting plot adds a layer of intrigue to the romance, keeping the pace brisk and the stakes high. The English society setting, combined with Sara’s outsider status as an American, adds additional tension and drama to her interactions with the ton, giving the story a fresh perspective.
The only reason this isn’t a full five stars is that some of the secondary characters and plotlines could have used more development, particularly the resolution of the treasure hunt, which felt slightly rushed.
Overall, “A Rake's Reward” is an engaging, enjoyable read that strikes a great balance between romance, adventure, and character growth. Perfect for fans of historical romance who enjoy strong heroines and reformed rakes.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. My review is voluntary and my honest assessment and interpretation of the story. Neither author, publisher, narrator, or producer have had any influence on my review.
“A Rake's Reward” by Meredith Bond is a charming Regency romance that deftly weaves a tale of treasure hunting, family honor, and unexpected love. Sara Whately is a strong-willed, intelligent heroine with a clear mission: reclaim her family’s lost treasure. What starts as a straightforward quest for jewels, however, becomes complicated when she meets Sinclair Stratton, the rakish Viscount Reath, whose devil-may-care exterior hides surprising depth and a desire to make amends for past mistakes.
The chemistry between Sara and Sinclair is palpable, and their verbal sparring is full of wit and tension, making their eventual romance feel both earned and deeply satisfying. Sinclair is particularly compelling as a reformed rake who brings both charm and vulnerability to the story. Watching him fall for the fiery, independent American is as delightful as it is inevitable.
The treasure-hunting plot adds a layer of intrigue to the romance, keeping the pace brisk and the stakes high. The English society setting, combined with Sara’s outsider status as an American, adds additional tension and drama to her interactions with the ton, giving the story a fresh perspective.
The only reason this isn’t a full five stars is that some of the secondary characters and plotlines could have used more development, particularly the resolution of the treasure hunt, which felt slightly rushed.
Overall, “A Rake's Reward” is an engaging, enjoyable read that strikes a great balance between romance, adventure, and character growth. Perfect for fans of historical romance who enjoy strong heroines and reformed rakes.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. My review is voluntary and my honest assessment and interpretation of the story. Neither author, publisher, narrator, or producer have had any influence on my review.
April 23, 2024
Audiobook: This was my first experience with Meredith Bond's work, and it was charming and delightful. Sara Whately left America and traveled to England. As Sara had been raised in America, she had no idea how to behave properly in English society. Regency England has long been a favorite setting for me. I enjoyed the characters. There were some amusing scenes as Sara learned proper English etiquette. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. Harry Singers' narration was great, and his performance enhanced the story's entertainment. I was given a free copy of the audiobook, and I have voluntarily posted this review which reflected my opinions.
June 10, 2024
A clean regency story of an American girl that doesn't understand London's culture. It is slow moving with a little humor, a rake that is trying to reform, a girl with an ulterior motive and an aunt that wants to find her a man. A nice story, indeed.
I don't have much experience with regency novels, but I feel the narrator did a wonderful job with this story. I felt his voice matched the area and times perfectly. 5 stars.
Thanks to StoryOrigin and the author for gifting me this book. This is my honest review.
I don't have much experience with regency novels, but I feel the narrator did a wonderful job with this story. I felt his voice matched the area and times perfectly. 5 stars.
Thanks to StoryOrigin and the author for gifting me this book. This is my honest review.
May 23, 2017
This was a delightful book. Imagine an American coming to England for her "season". Quite a duck out of water. All those rules and imagine being born with a silver spoon and claiming authority on that alone. Poor Sara was ill equipped for the Ton and was in constant need of rescue. It was a great read and I loved the characters. Seeing a long ago hidden treasure was a neat addition. My first read by this author. I'll be reading others.
December 27, 2017
Just loved it!
I think that a story with ups and downs, and where day to day you don’t know what’s going to happen is a more realistic story. It is full of surprises and love. I just love your stories.
I think that a story with ups and downs, and where day to day you don’t know what’s going to happen is a more realistic story. It is full of surprises and love. I just love your stories.
July 22, 2020
This was another cute story but not very realistic. Sara seemed really naive and did all sorts of things that that felt off.
July 28, 2021
Very good
This is a very good book with strong characters and a hero who keeps saving the damsel who keeps needing to rescued.
This is a very good book with strong characters and a hero who keeps saving the damsel who keeps needing to rescued.
February 7, 2022
So glad life is not so constrained
May 26, 2023
A dilemma too easily resolved with a kiss
November 11, 2021
American-born Sara arrives in England for her coming-out season. She is out of place immediately. The arrogance of claiming things solely based on your family ties and background! Sara makes mistake after faux pau and is always needing to be saved from situations.
Enter the Viscount. Sara makes plenty of blunders, but Reath is understanding and helpful. He finds Sara amusing and different that the rest of society.
He is battling the restoration of his own honor and trying to return an estate he won in a game of cards. But the original owners seemed to have vanished into the wilds of America. Reath feels that Lord Wynsham should not have bet something he wasn’t prepared to lose. He seeks out Wynsham’s sister, Lady Darlington, who refuses to speak with him. Reath must investigate and find the man on his own.
Since a young age, Sara has run the household that she and her father shared in America. Americans are far more outspoken than the English. The two countries are moving toward the American Revolution, a war that will divide the countrymen. Sara came to England not for a debut, but to seek out a treasure hidden within the family estate, but this is a secret.
The romance is a sweet build and there is more that brings this Englishman and American hoyden together than just a ton debut.
Enter the Viscount. Sara makes plenty of blunders, but Reath is understanding and helpful. He finds Sara amusing and different that the rest of society.
He is battling the restoration of his own honor and trying to return an estate he won in a game of cards. But the original owners seemed to have vanished into the wilds of America. Reath feels that Lord Wynsham should not have bet something he wasn’t prepared to lose. He seeks out Wynsham’s sister, Lady Darlington, who refuses to speak with him. Reath must investigate and find the man on his own.
Since a young age, Sara has run the household that she and her father shared in America. Americans are far more outspoken than the English. The two countries are moving toward the American Revolution, a war that will divide the countrymen. Sara came to England not for a debut, but to seek out a treasure hidden within the family estate, but this is a secret.
The romance is a sweet build and there is more that brings this Englishman and American hoyden together than just a ton debut.
August 11, 2016
Clean, enjoyable read..
I very much enjoyed a historical romance that was, firstly, in keeping with the time period. The Americans were moving towards the war for Independence and given our heroine had essentially run not only her own life, but her father's as well, including managing a home and finances, following the death of her mother at the age of 8, add this to the fact that many colonists, even women, were more outspoken than their English counterparts, her behaviors- though a bit over the top considering she was a guest to my mind- were at least plausible. The hero handles it all well, and with some amusement, but he does understand her. I VERY much enjoyed that there was not a bunch of illicit lovemaking, making out, whatever you want to call it. Those books for this period do not really ring true for me.
My only real problem was how quickly it wrapped up. It was really rather abrupt and jarring. It felt as though the author had gotten you this far, so let's rush the remainder in one breath. As though there was a page or word limit that was about to be breached.
Otherwise it was a really relaxing read- just be prepared for the hard jolt at the end.
I very much enjoyed a historical romance that was, firstly, in keeping with the time period. The Americans were moving towards the war for Independence and given our heroine had essentially run not only her own life, but her father's as well, including managing a home and finances, following the death of her mother at the age of 8, add this to the fact that many colonists, even women, were more outspoken than their English counterparts, her behaviors- though a bit over the top considering she was a guest to my mind- were at least plausible. The hero handles it all well, and with some amusement, but he does understand her. I VERY much enjoyed that there was not a bunch of illicit lovemaking, making out, whatever you want to call it. Those books for this period do not really ring true for me.
My only real problem was how quickly it wrapped up. It was really rather abrupt and jarring. It felt as though the author had gotten you this far, so let's rush the remainder in one breath. As though there was a page or word limit that was about to be breached.
Otherwise it was a really relaxing read- just be prepared for the hard jolt at the end.
November 26, 2015
Very enjoyable sweet Regency Romance
The Viscount is trying to restore his honor and return an estate that he won at cards to the original owner. But they seem to have gone to America and vanished. At the same time a young American woman has arrived in England to make her debut. She's not impressed with lordly titles. Of course it's inevitable that they meet.
Very nice although it's never explained about the problems between the two families. Everything is hinted at but not really revealed. A sweet romance with kissing, social blunders, and secrets that if revealed would end the story. Fun.
The Viscount is trying to restore his honor and return an estate that he won at cards to the original owner. But they seem to have gone to America and vanished. At the same time a young American woman has arrived in England to make her debut. She's not impressed with lordly titles. Of course it's inevitable that they meet.
Very nice although it's never explained about the problems between the two families. Everything is hinted at but not really revealed. A sweet romance with kissing, social blunders, and secrets that if revealed would end the story. Fun.
August 8, 2016
Sara came to England because her aunt wanted to give her a season. Sara wanted to find the treasure that she was sure was hidden in her family's former home. Viscount Reath wanted to find Lord Wynsham so he could return the family estate. Even though he had won it fairly in a card game he felt he should not accept it. He felt the former Lord Wynsham should not have bet something he wasn't prepared to lose. He wanted to talk to the current Lord Wynsham's sister, Lady Darlington to find out where her brother was so he could return the estate. However the lady would not talk to him. How was he to know that Sara was the daughter of the man he was hunting for?
August 9, 2016
Highs and lows........
There were good things in this little novel and parts were well written but it was often jerky and needed development. I was especially disappointed with the abrupt ending.
Was it labeled "clean"? If so, I missed that. It was too clean for me. There were only two kisses and those were in the last 4% of the book. Sadly, the first kiss bordered on erotic which was completely out of place in a book that intentionally avoided passion before that point. I can see how someone who wanted a clean book would be lune do along then WHAM "that vibrant, virile, vivacious viscount actually has a libido."
There were good things in this little novel and parts were well written but it was often jerky and needed development. I was especially disappointed with the abrupt ending.
Was it labeled "clean"? If so, I missed that. It was too clean for me. There were only two kisses and those were in the last 4% of the book. Sadly, the first kiss bordered on erotic which was completely out of place in a book that intentionally avoided passion before that point. I can see how someone who wanted a clean book would be lune do along then WHAM "that vibrant, virile, vivacious viscount actually has a libido."
September 2, 2016
A Non-courting courtship of misinformation
This author obviously likes alliteration: vexing, villainous, valiant, virile, vain, vexatious all paired with viscount. A delightful story filled with unexpected encounters and obfuscation.
The first Regency that I have read to make use of Beau Brummell as a secondary character.
“I am afraid you are mistaken, Miss Compton. I am not currently looking to marry.” The young lady giggled again. “I have never heard of a gentleman who was, and yet they do so all the same.”
This author obviously likes alliteration: vexing, villainous, valiant, virile, vain, vexatious all paired with viscount. A delightful story filled with unexpected encounters and obfuscation.
The first Regency that I have read to make use of Beau Brummell as a secondary character.
“I am afraid you are mistaken, Miss Compton. I am not currently looking to marry.” The young lady giggled again. “I have never heard of a gentleman who was, and yet they do so all the same.”
October 10, 2016
A Rake's Reward (Merry Men Quartet Book 2)
This is a sweet story about a young lady who arrives from America planning to find a treasure on the estate her grandfather lost in a card game. She stays with her aunt who tries to teach her the different ways between American ideals and those in England.
This is a sweet story about a young lady who arrives from America planning to find a treasure on the estate her grandfather lost in a card game. She stays with her aunt who tries to teach her the different ways between American ideals and those in England.
August 19, 2016
Very good!
The book was a really good read. I enjoyed the character Sara, she definitely kept interesting. A good quick read. I would be interested in knowing the true relationship between Aunt Deanna and Lord Alton.
The book was a really good read. I enjoyed the character Sara, she definitely kept interesting. A good quick read. I would be interested in knowing the true relationship between Aunt Deanna and Lord Alton.
August 26, 2016
A Rake's Reward
I really enjoyed the characters and the story, I loved that their was not explicit sex. The characters were believable and entering. I look forward to reading more of the series and I loved that the stories are stand alone books.. And you
I really enjoyed the characters and the story, I loved that their was not explicit sex. The characters were believable and entering. I look forward to reading more of the series and I loved that the stories are stand alone books.. And you
August 23, 2016
It is a great book to read
August 8, 2016
A good book. Has some editing errors. Liked the story a lot. The ending could have been more satisfying.
August 10, 2016
An ok read. The author's voice didn't really appeal to me.
August 14, 2016
Could not force myself to finish.
September 23, 2016
Harmless afternoon read with the expected ending. Maybe worth another star because the author made the effort for a book that's part of a series to be able to stand on its own.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews