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The Righteous Rakehell
Justin Avery, Viscount Kenelm, must have a wife. His choice falls on a lady whom he admires for her intelligence and beauty. Unusual circumstances brought him together with Miss Talbot and her swashbuckling family. He's aware of the unfortunate state of the Talbot fortunes. Surely a generous settlement will counterbalance his rakehell reputation. Miss Talbot seems content with her life away from London and he counts that as an advantage. He wants a marriage of convenience, so he can continue in his untrammeled life as a man about town. Catherine Talbot is in love with the viscount. When Lord Kenelm offers for her hand, she has stars in her eyes. That is, until his lordship outlines his vision of their future. Horrified, hurt and angry, Catherine nevertheless accepts the viscount's offer. Tempting fate is a family trait. The high-spirited beauty insists on a long betrothal. She also insists on a London Season. A woman scorned, Catherine plans to humble a certain arrogant viscount. Lord Kenelm has no inkling that troubles and scandal are in the making.
328 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1988
9 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Gayle Buck
55 books18 followersGayle Buck has freelanced for regional publications, worked for a radio station and as a secretary. Until recently, she was involved in public relations for a major Texas university. Besides her Regencies, she also writes fantasy and romantic suspense. She lives in Bandera, Texas.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 5, 2017
Well, that was preposterous and not in the fun way. First of all, it's riddled with errors. The aristocratic titles were all wrong, there were tons of typos and missing words. If this is a good example of a Signet Regency, I don't think I need to read any more.
Really though I was just bored. I have limited patience these days for ballrooms and bloodlines. I thought this was going to be a marriage of convenience story where they get married and learn to like each other. I love those. Instead we get an interminable engagement (probably to avoid any reference to even marital sex) and a series of silly escapades, primarily by the heroine, to attract her insta-beloved's attention.
Frankly, I didn't see what either of them saw in the other. The hero is high-handed, perfectly calculated to make the sassy, independent heroine crazy. And she's both naive and stubborn, never a good combination. Besides their physical attraction to each other, which was never consummated because it's a trad Regency romance, they never seemed to like each other much. Add in a totally contrived crisis ending and I can say I'm officially less than impressed.
At least the plot, such as it was, proceeded apace. And the hero and heroine's families were both lovely and engaging, which kept the book from being a total waste of time.
I have another of these, that one by Edith Layton. I'll read it eventually probably. But it's distinctly probable that these just aren't for me.
Really though I was just bored. I have limited patience these days for ballrooms and bloodlines. I thought this was going to be a marriage of convenience story where they get married and learn to like each other. I love those. Instead we get an interminable engagement (probably to avoid any reference to even marital sex) and a series of silly escapades, primarily by the heroine, to attract her insta-beloved's attention.
Frankly, I didn't see what either of them saw in the other. The hero is high-handed, perfectly calculated to make the sassy, independent heroine crazy. And she's both naive and stubborn, never a good combination. Besides their physical attraction to each other, which was never consummated because it's a trad Regency romance, they never seemed to like each other much. Add in a totally contrived crisis ending and I can say I'm officially less than impressed.
At least the plot, such as it was, proceeded apace. And the hero and heroine's families were both lovely and engaging, which kept the book from being a total waste of time.
I have another of these, that one by Edith Layton. I'll read it eventually probably. But it's distinctly probable that these just aren't for me.
November 15, 2012
Let me start with the positive. The premise of the story was good. That being said...I didn't like the title of the book. I am not sure about the 'Righteous' part. It seems to me that 'righteous' and 'rakehell' are oxymorons? I didn't find the story, the hero, or the heroine believable. There were some characters that intrigued me...so much so, I am going to see if their story is told in any of her other books.
December 9, 2022
Not a bad story ,really liked the relationship Catherine had with her family. Her father Lord Talbot was a bad boy in his younger days right into his marriage but turned it around because he had to redeem his mortgages or would leave nothing for his son.Now the love interest for Catherine was not likable nor noble more self serving and arrogant with a temper to match . I still read the story because it allowed a bumpy road to romance and in my opinion so will the marriage be.
June 10, 2010
This was a really good book and it was very clean as well.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews