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The Rake's Challenge
Giles Maltravers, the rakish Earl of Longwood, is weary of society life, duels and even his mistress.
Anna Lawrence, nineteen and inspired by Lord Byron’s poems, is determined to seek a life of travel and adventure. Both decide to flee society.
They meet when Giles rescues Anna from her first escapade. Anna is resolute in demonstrating her independence but, somehow, she always ends up in trouble. His own pleasures forgotten, Giles rescues her from one potential disaster after another.
He knows he cannot live without her, but he meets an unexpected obstacle, for Anna has a secret that means she can never be more than a friend to the man she has come to love with all her heart... Is there any way for their love to prevail?
Always keen to travel, Beth took a degree in Modern Languages in preparation for a life of adventure. Her first job was in France, where she met her Turkish husband, another keen traveller. After some years lecturing at Ataturk University in eastern Turkey, they became languages teachers in England. Inspired by the novels of Jane Austen, Beth set her own Regency Tales in the Napoleonic era, featuring adventure, intrigue and romance. Thanks to the years in Turkey, some tales include exotic settings and events. Nowadays Beth’s travelling is mostly done via the characters in her stories. According to an official review, her novels are “full of enjoyable moments”.
You can find out more on her website www.regencytales.co.uk
Anna Lawrence, nineteen and inspired by Lord Byron’s poems, is determined to seek a life of travel and adventure. Both decide to flee society.
They meet when Giles rescues Anna from her first escapade. Anna is resolute in demonstrating her independence but, somehow, she always ends up in trouble. His own pleasures forgotten, Giles rescues her from one potential disaster after another.
He knows he cannot live without her, but he meets an unexpected obstacle, for Anna has a secret that means she can never be more than a friend to the man she has come to love with all her heart... Is there any way for their love to prevail?
Always keen to travel, Beth took a degree in Modern Languages in preparation for a life of adventure. Her first job was in France, where she met her Turkish husband, another keen traveller. After some years lecturing at Ataturk University in eastern Turkey, they became languages teachers in England. Inspired by the novels of Jane Austen, Beth set her own Regency Tales in the Napoleonic era, featuring adventure, intrigue and romance. Thanks to the years in Turkey, some tales include exotic settings and events. Nowadays Beth’s travelling is mostly done via the characters in her stories. According to an official review, her novels are “full of enjoyable moments”.
You can find out more on her website www.regencytales.co.uk
182 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2011
33 people are currently reading
92 people want to read
About the author
Beth Elliott
12 books18 followersHearing both Welsh and English throughout her childhood, Beth has always been fascinated by words - the sound of them, the shape when writing them, and making sense of them.
Words are magic. They can be put together into a story and then, every person who reads that story, reads a different tale from everyone else. Sometimes, you can read the same story at different times in your life and find it is a completely new tale to you. So being a writer of stories is truly special.
Beth mainly writes about people and places of long ago and far away, but always people and places that are real to her.
Words are magic. They can be put together into a story and then, every person who reads that story, reads a different tale from everyone else. Sometimes, you can read the same story at different times in your life and find it is a completely new tale to you. So being a writer of stories is truly special.
Beth mainly writes about people and places of long ago and far away, but always people and places that are real to her.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
September 29, 2022
It wasn't really my type of book but the star rating and review is more so about the choice of narration. They used a synthesized voice. Not quite sure what that means but was surprisingly good.
June 6, 2022
Perfect
Traditional regencies this lovely don’t come along very often, and I have to read a ton of mediocre and unfinishables to find just a few that immerse me in the world and grab my attention as these do. It makes it all worth it when a book this well-conceived and written comes along, with engaging plots, endearing characters and smooth dialogue. Pitch perfect, as are this author’s other books. Very romantic, in spite of (and because of) the lack of graphically detailed sex scenes. I will be re-reading these, along with Georgette Heyer and a very small selection of other keepers. A breath of fresh air. Gosh I hope Beth Elliott is a fast writer. I will snap up anything she writes.
Traditional regencies this lovely don’t come along very often, and I have to read a ton of mediocre and unfinishables to find just a few that immerse me in the world and grab my attention as these do. It makes it all worth it when a book this well-conceived and written comes along, with engaging plots, endearing characters and smooth dialogue. Pitch perfect, as are this author’s other books. Very romantic, in spite of (and because of) the lack of graphically detailed sex scenes. I will be re-reading these, along with Georgette Heyer and a very small selection of other keepers. A breath of fresh air. Gosh I hope Beth Elliott is a fast writer. I will snap up anything she writes.
April 30, 2018
A perfect Regency romance!
This is a lovely, clean Regency romance in the traditional form. Anna is the perfect young miss who stumbled into one mishap after another only to be rescued by one of the ton's most infamous rakes. Giles, Lord Longwood, is taken by this fresh young Miss but only sees himself as her protector. It slowly dawns on him that his feelings for her may be changing, but Anna has told him of her plans and they don't include him! A lovely story set mostly in Brighton with dastardly men and jealous women! A joy to read.
This is a lovely, clean Regency romance in the traditional form. Anna is the perfect young miss who stumbled into one mishap after another only to be rescued by one of the ton's most infamous rakes. Giles, Lord Longwood, is taken by this fresh young Miss but only sees himself as her protector. It slowly dawns on him that his feelings for her may be changing, but Anna has told him of her plans and they don't include him! A lovely story set mostly in Brighton with dastardly men and jealous women! A joy to read.
December 27, 2017
This is a wonderfully spun tale. Giles could not foresee that taking a longer way to his estate would change his life. He's a rake who has become bored with his lifestyle until he saves a damsel in distress. Anna has decided to take her future into her own hands, but needs a bit of guidance when she's surrounded by unscrupulous characters. Most of the story takes place in Brighton around the victory celebrations. Well-written with underlying suspense of what is to come.
February 24, 2018
A very Fine Romance just right up my alley. This is the kind of Regency love story that I am used to. Nothing to spoil my time while I am in this particular world, just plain smooth sailing 'til the end. So thank you Ms. Elliot for the few hours spent in your Regency World.
December 19, 2017
Oh what a perfectly wonderful Regency romance. A runaway heiress, saved by a Rake, who then ensures her safe passage through the perilous corridors of the Ton. In the end she saves him.
May 6, 2018
Smooth and sweet.
January 25, 2022
Poetry and love
Delightful love story. Lord Byron inspired our heroine thirst for adventure but she couldn't have being safe if not for the intervention of an honorable rake. Ironic, right? Well, even the worst of rakes have a heart and the desire to be someone's hero. It was a refreshing reading, ❤ it!
Delightful love story. Lord Byron inspired our heroine thirst for adventure but she couldn't have being safe if not for the intervention of an honorable rake. Ironic, right? Well, even the worst of rakes have a heart and the desire to be someone's hero. It was a refreshing reading, ❤ it!
March 5, 2022
Sweet romance with just the right amount of intrigue
The book had a few characters that you love to hate, a dose of mystery, and some slightly flawed characters. It was probably challenging to write a book about a rake without any sex scenes. The author did a good job of intimating that such things had occurred without including it. I enjoyed the references that to like to drink milk instead of wine would make you unpopular. It was a fun little piece of humor.
The book had a few characters that you love to hate, a dose of mystery, and some slightly flawed characters. It was probably challenging to write a book about a rake without any sex scenes. The author did a good job of intimating that such things had occurred without including it. I enjoyed the references that to like to drink milk instead of wine would make you unpopular. It was a fun little piece of humor.
December 25, 2017
Fully enjoyed reading this masterpiece . It was artfully written with such intriguing story that had to read without putting the story down. Trullyenjoyed and would like to read morestoriesby Beth Elliot.
Fully enjoyed reading this mast e earpiece. It was artfully written with such a intriguing story that I had to read without putting the story down . Truly enjoyed and would like to read more stories by Beth Elliot.
Fully enjoyed reading this mast e earpiece. It was artfully written with such a intriguing story that I had to read without putting the story down . Truly enjoyed and would like to read more stories by Beth Elliot.
December 21, 2017
This was a good, "suspend belief and it will put a smile on your face", type of book. An easy, quick read without anything really nasty in it- apart from attempted murder, voyeurism and the unwanted attentions of a stepfather.
The rake appeared to be easily reformed and the heroine in search of Byronic adventure settled for the life of a paid companion.
It is mainly set in Regency Brighton.
The rake appeared to be easily reformed and the heroine in search of Byronic adventure settled for the life of a paid companion.
It is mainly set in Regency Brighton.
February 14, 2018
The story that is exceptionally well told by an author who does not have to resort to sex to sell the plot. The storyline was realistic and made for easy reading. It was as if you were sitting on the side watching the tale unfold. I enjoyed this book from start to finish.
I have rated this book 5stars.
I obtained this book from Amazon in Kindle format.
Thank you Frank for your review.
I have rated this book 5stars.
I obtained this book from Amazon in Kindle format.
Thank you Frank for your review.
February 2, 2018
An evil plot and duels and jealousy and all kinds of craziness. This story was well written and I enjoyed reading the story. I liked the characters and wonder if there is more to come? What is an adventure, I ask myself during this read? It may not be what you think it is.
September 14, 2022
This is one of those books that absolutely shouldn’t have worked for me. It was too tropey for words, and channelled some of my least favourite Georgette Heyers. And yet I enjoyed it a whole heap. So there.
Here’s the premise: Annabelle (Anna) Lawrence is a straight-out-of-school heiress running away from home because of a wicked stepfather trying to push her into an unwanted marriage (I told you it was tropey). Giles Maltravers, the Earl of Longwood and heir to the Duke of Hawkesborough (because of course he is) is a world-weary rake, bored with his fast-living scandalous life of duels (three this year!) and tired of his avaricious mistress. Yes, I know, Heyer wrote this plot several times, but stay with me. Anna has enterprisingly arranged a job as a companion to an elderly lady to tide her over until she can draw on her inheritance and be independent, but, being scrape-prone, she’s missed the stage coach and can’t afford to stay at the inn, so she sets off along a quiet country lane in the middle of nowhere, where she is set upon by two upper-class thugs bent on… well, rape, presumably. Was Hampshire really so lawless that an obviously gently-bred girl would be targeted in that way? Fortunately, along comes our dissolute hero, who surprises even himself by becoming an actual hero and rescuing her.
So far, so unoriginal. This book was first published in 2011 (according to Goodreads) but it feels a lot older than that. Yes, it’s an unoriginal start but I’m always prepared to give a book its initial premise. It’s how things develop that I judge on, and here things look more promising. Giles takes it upon himself to protect Anna, successfully negotiates the hazards of the overnight stay at an inn, and drives her to destination, where there’s a much more interesting setup. Lady Fording, Anna’s elderly employer, turns out to have a daughter who’s an Italian Contessa and a nephew who’s also very Italian and clearly some kind of revolutionary. The three are hoping to return to Italy soon now that things have settled down on the continent a bit. So that’s all a bit different.
Lady Fording is supposedly ill, but happily her indispositions never interfere with the plot. The three decide to decamp from the Hampshire countryside to Brighton for a little shopping and socialising, and they buy a whole new wardrobe for Anna. She’s a little surprised that the paid companion is to be fashionably dressed but she’s young enough not to refuse. And so off they go to Brighton, where everyone turns up - not merely Giles and a couple of cronies, but also his mistress and the two thugs who assaulted Anna, and a mother and daughter determined to hook Giles by any means necessary. And of course the Prince Regent, because what self-respecting Regency romance can visit Brighton without Prinny?
And so the plot trundles on, with Anna falling into one scrape after another, Giles rescuing her in gentlemanly fashion, and his attentions attracting the jealousy of his ex-mistress and the ambitious mama and her daughter. And then there’s the scheme which required the fancy clothes. I’m not quite sure just how much Lady Fordham and the Contessa were involved in all that. Were they complicit, or merely willing dupes? In other hands, this story might have been dull work, but Elliott gives it a light-hearted froth, and the main characters are likeable. Anna is the innocent abroad, not exactly silly but not always wise to the machinations of those around her, although she’s a fast learner.
As for Giles, he’s a charmer right from the start, clearly falling in love with Anna from day 1, yet stoutly refusing to believe it’s anything more than a gentlemanly urge to protect her. Even when the idea of marriage seeps into his brain, he finds all sorts of reasons why it won’t do - he’s too old for her, for heaven’s sake! He’s thirty, not exactly at his last prayers. And although much is made of his scandalous reputation, we never see him as other than honourable. It seems to be a habit with the genre that a man can be described as a rake of the most committed sort, yet behave impeccably throughout. Giles steals one kiss, under provoking circumstances, but is stricken with guilt afterwards, so no, not in the least rakish, and no, I don’t believe for one minute that rakes give up their wicked ways the instant the heroine hoves into view. Not plausible. But, as I said, he’s a charmer, despite the author’s attempts to paint him as a stern sort of man, and I liked his very honest discussion with his father, which was the best scene in the book, with real emotion showing through. I’m not quite sure what he saw in Anna, who seemed a little bit too young and innocent for a sophisticated man-about-town, but he says he’ll never be bored with her, and that’s as good a reason as any. Love is ineffable, after all.
I spotted very few errors. The Duke of Hawkesborough was referred to as Lord Hawkesborough, which is wrong. I baulked at ‘weekend’, but there were pre-Regency usages, although not necessarily in the modern meaning. I also wasn’t sure about the use of fans to convey meanings, which sounds more Victorian to me. Other than that, nothing tripped me up, and the writing was very smooth. It’s not as literate as Heyer (but then, what is? She was one of a kind), but for a Heyer-esque plot with a fine, independent-minded heroine and a charming hero, I can recommend this. Four stars.
Here’s the premise: Annabelle (Anna) Lawrence is a straight-out-of-school heiress running away from home because of a wicked stepfather trying to push her into an unwanted marriage (I told you it was tropey). Giles Maltravers, the Earl of Longwood and heir to the Duke of Hawkesborough (because of course he is) is a world-weary rake, bored with his fast-living scandalous life of duels (three this year!) and tired of his avaricious mistress. Yes, I know, Heyer wrote this plot several times, but stay with me. Anna has enterprisingly arranged a job as a companion to an elderly lady to tide her over until she can draw on her inheritance and be independent, but, being scrape-prone, she’s missed the stage coach and can’t afford to stay at the inn, so she sets off along a quiet country lane in the middle of nowhere, where she is set upon by two upper-class thugs bent on… well, rape, presumably. Was Hampshire really so lawless that an obviously gently-bred girl would be targeted in that way? Fortunately, along comes our dissolute hero, who surprises even himself by becoming an actual hero and rescuing her.
So far, so unoriginal. This book was first published in 2011 (according to Goodreads) but it feels a lot older than that. Yes, it’s an unoriginal start but I’m always prepared to give a book its initial premise. It’s how things develop that I judge on, and here things look more promising. Giles takes it upon himself to protect Anna, successfully negotiates the hazards of the overnight stay at an inn, and drives her to destination, where there’s a much more interesting setup. Lady Fording, Anna’s elderly employer, turns out to have a daughter who’s an Italian Contessa and a nephew who’s also very Italian and clearly some kind of revolutionary. The three are hoping to return to Italy soon now that things have settled down on the continent a bit. So that’s all a bit different.
Lady Fording is supposedly ill, but happily her indispositions never interfere with the plot. The three decide to decamp from the Hampshire countryside to Brighton for a little shopping and socialising, and they buy a whole new wardrobe for Anna. She’s a little surprised that the paid companion is to be fashionably dressed but she’s young enough not to refuse. And so off they go to Brighton, where everyone turns up - not merely Giles and a couple of cronies, but also his mistress and the two thugs who assaulted Anna, and a mother and daughter determined to hook Giles by any means necessary. And of course the Prince Regent, because what self-respecting Regency romance can visit Brighton without Prinny?
And so the plot trundles on, with Anna falling into one scrape after another, Giles rescuing her in gentlemanly fashion, and his attentions attracting the jealousy of his ex-mistress and the ambitious mama and her daughter. And then there’s the scheme which required the fancy clothes. I’m not quite sure just how much Lady Fordham and the Contessa were involved in all that. Were they complicit, or merely willing dupes? In other hands, this story might have been dull work, but Elliott gives it a light-hearted froth, and the main characters are likeable. Anna is the innocent abroad, not exactly silly but not always wise to the machinations of those around her, although she’s a fast learner.
As for Giles, he’s a charmer right from the start, clearly falling in love with Anna from day 1, yet stoutly refusing to believe it’s anything more than a gentlemanly urge to protect her. Even when the idea of marriage seeps into his brain, he finds all sorts of reasons why it won’t do - he’s too old for her, for heaven’s sake! He’s thirty, not exactly at his last prayers. And although much is made of his scandalous reputation, we never see him as other than honourable. It seems to be a habit with the genre that a man can be described as a rake of the most committed sort, yet behave impeccably throughout. Giles steals one kiss, under provoking circumstances, but is stricken with guilt afterwards, so no, not in the least rakish, and no, I don’t believe for one minute that rakes give up their wicked ways the instant the heroine hoves into view. Not plausible. But, as I said, he’s a charmer, despite the author’s attempts to paint him as a stern sort of man, and I liked his very honest discussion with his father, which was the best scene in the book, with real emotion showing through. I’m not quite sure what he saw in Anna, who seemed a little bit too young and innocent for a sophisticated man-about-town, but he says he’ll never be bored with her, and that’s as good a reason as any. Love is ineffable, after all.
I spotted very few errors. The Duke of Hawkesborough was referred to as Lord Hawkesborough, which is wrong. I baulked at ‘weekend’, but there were pre-Regency usages, although not necessarily in the modern meaning. I also wasn’t sure about the use of fans to convey meanings, which sounds more Victorian to me. Other than that, nothing tripped me up, and the writing was very smooth. It’s not as literate as Heyer (but then, what is? She was one of a kind), but for a Heyer-esque plot with a fine, independent-minded heroine and a charming hero, I can recommend this. Four stars.
May 9, 2019
Pleasant and fun
What a pleasant, fun and entertaining romance this is. Giles is such a dashing and gallant character. Anna is such an innocent and endearing character. Two people trying to stay apart but keep coming together.
What a pleasant, fun and entertaining romance this is. Giles is such a dashing and gallant character. Anna is such an innocent and endearing character. Two people trying to stay apart but keep coming together.
August 16, 2019
4 stars
A fashion focussed cute regency romance with duels, stolen kisses, and a poisoning. Throw in a rake and an independent young graduate who finds trouble navigating the social expectations, and discriminations of the time.
A fashion focussed cute regency romance with duels, stolen kisses, and a poisoning. Throw in a rake and an independent young graduate who finds trouble navigating the social expectations, and discriminations of the time.
October 10, 2022
sweet and well written
4.5 stars I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters and setting were reminiscent of Heyer novels but written in a more modern style. I enjoyed this one! Also, clean!! It’s been awhile since I’ve found a Kindle Unlimited book that wasn’t ho-hum.
4.5 stars I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters and setting were reminiscent of Heyer novels but written in a more modern style. I enjoyed this one! Also, clean!! It’s been awhile since I’ve found a Kindle Unlimited book that wasn’t ho-hum.
January 23, 2022
Great book
December 6, 2022
An enjoyable read from start to finish.
January 20, 2025
An old-fashioned regency, for good and for bad. Some stuff was certainly stereotypical, but as a whole I really enjoyed reading it.
December 19, 2017
I enjoyed this book very much. It seems well researched, but a bit too far fetched for that period of time. The man never would’ve been alone with a girl, period. However, if you can look past the mcguffin it’s a fun jaunt.
It all happens a bit too easily for me to consider it a truly well written book though. Miss Beveridge is a crass raving heifer in pursuit of the ducal son until a puppy of a boy with no title makes eyes at her then all the sudden she miraculously finds the power to stand against her mother when she never did before? And apologizes too? Uh, no. And how on earth did the ladies not know their loony relation put poison in there? It’s not like he could’ve sprinkled it on later or something. And if they’re such good folks how could they have let him get so far? Or let him use/dress her so? It doesn’t really make sense. And get it straight, did she run away because of the nasty cousin-fiancée or because of the stepdads abuse? Because her impetus for leaving truly establishes who she is as a person in this book, is she really afraid or just independent minded? All her actions can be viewed in different ways depending on which one it is, having both just muddies the waters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews