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The Sinful Sinclairs #2
The Rake's Enticing Proposal
The rake has a proposition…
Will she accept?
Part of The Sinful Sinclairs: When globe-trotting Charles Sinclair arrives at Huxley Manor to sort out his late cousin’s affairs, he meets practical Eleanor Walsh. He can’t shake the feeling that behind her responsibility to clear her family’s debt, Eleanor longs to escape her staid life. Chase can offer her an exciting adventure in Egypt… But that all depends on her response to his shocking proposal!
Will she accept?
Part of The Sinful Sinclairs: When globe-trotting Charles Sinclair arrives at Huxley Manor to sort out his late cousin’s affairs, he meets practical Eleanor Walsh. He can’t shake the feeling that behind her responsibility to clear her family’s debt, Eleanor longs to escape her staid life. Chase can offer her an exciting adventure in Egypt… But that all depends on her response to his shocking proposal!
288 pages, ebook
First published July 1, 2019
15 people are currently reading
150 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
August 29, 2019
I've given this an A- at AAR, so that's 4.5 stars rounded up.
This second instalment of Lara Temple’s three-book Sinful Sinclairs series focuses on Charles – known as Chase – Sinclair, whom readers met briefly in the first book, The Earl’s Irresiststible Challenge . Rather like his older brother Lucas, Chase is handsome, witty and charmingly self-deprecating, but behind the nonchalant, rakish façade he shows to society lies a man with emotional scars that make him restless and unwilling to make real and deep personal connections with anyone other than the siblings he loves so dearly. Until, that is, a cryptic deathbed message from the man who was more of a father to him than his own father ever was sends Chase to Huxley Manor – and (almost literally) into the arms of a most unusual young woman.
Ellie Walsh comes from a family almost as frequently beset by scandal as the Sinclairs. Thanks to her wastrel father, who gambled away a fortune and then died, drunk in a ditch, her family is in danger of losing its home. For the last five years, Ellie has managed to keep Whitworth afloat and keep the creditors at bay, but following a poor harvest there are no more funds and the banks are about to foreclose. As a last-ditch attempt at saving her home and staying out of debtor’s prison, Ellie has agreed to a three-month fake betrothal with her friend Henry – the new Lord Huxley - who believes he can help her to raise the funds necessary to save Whitworth. In return, she’ll be his ‘shield’ against his formidable Aunt Ermintrude’s plans to marry him to one of her nieces.
When Chase arrives in response to his late cousin’s missive, he makes a short detour to the old Folly tower on the estate, and is surprised to find a young woman within, looking through some papers on the late Lord Huxley’s desk. Chase can’t help wondering if the man’s message - “There is something I have but recently uncovered that I must discuss with you” – relates to some newly discovered and unpleasant revelation about his family, so finding a complete stranger looking through Huxley’s personal papers is a most unwelcome sight. He makes his presence known and challenges the woman, who he can now see is a little older than he’d thought, and whose demeanour is that of a very proper governess or schoolmistress; calm, a little impatient and intractable – and is surprised when she introduces herself as Henry’s betrothed and then challenges Chase to explain his own presence there. Chase is immediately intrigued – and more than that, something about her sets him off-balance and makes him feel at a disadvantage – which he dislikes intensely.
When the high-handed Lady Ermintrude decrees that, as she has nothing better to do, Ellie should help Chase to go through his late cousin’s papers and possessions, Ellie knows there’s no point in objecting, and soon finds herself fascinated by the baron’s travel journals and collections of ancient artefacts. She also finds herself just as fascinated by Chase Sinclair, who, during their many conversations – some serious, some not – gradually reveals himself to be a very different man to the one his reputation had led her to expect, an extremely sensitive, perceptive man with a great capacity for love and affection he seems to want to deny. At the same time, Chase comes to appreciate Ellie’s strength, her wit and her determination – and also to sense that there’s a deeply passionate woman lurking beneath her tightly controlled exterior, a woman who longs to reach for more, to escape the rigidly confined life she’s currently living.
The Rake’s Enticing Challenge is character-driven romance at its best. Chase and Ellie are wonderfully drawn, wonderfully real, complex characters who are wary of opening up and who have cultivated the art of masking their thoughts and feelings to a very high level. They deflect deeper questions using sharp barbs or dry humour, always circling around each other and never saying what they mean for fear or rejection or worse; what if they do get what they want and it’s not enough? Ms. Temple does a terrific job of developing their romance, slowly building a strong and genuine rapport between them as they move from initial wariness to gentle teasing and then to a greater level of intimacy as they start to reveal things about themselves they’ve never shared with anyone else. At the same time, their physical awareness of each other grows, the air between them becoming charged with longing and want and desire in a way that’s almost palpable and is far sexier than many full-on love scenes I’ve read; it’s incredibly well done and extremely poignant, Ellie realising that she’s falling in love for the first time in her life while Chase steadfastly refuses to acknowledge he’s head-over-heels because of the danger he believes love brings with it.
The scenes set in Egypt are richly detailed and evocative, and the secondary plot line, concerning Chase’s search for whatever Huxley discovered before his death, is nicely done and also (I suspect) forms part of the set up for the next book, which will feature Lucas and Chase’s widowed sister, Samantha.
Featuring a pair of engaging, strongly characterised leads, intelligent, insightful writing and a superbly developed romance, The Rake’s Enticing Proposal is intense, heartrending, gloriously romantic and easily one of the best historical romances I’ve read this year.
This second instalment of Lara Temple’s three-book Sinful Sinclairs series focuses on Charles – known as Chase – Sinclair, whom readers met briefly in the first book, The Earl’s Irresiststible Challenge . Rather like his older brother Lucas, Chase is handsome, witty and charmingly self-deprecating, but behind the nonchalant, rakish façade he shows to society lies a man with emotional scars that make him restless and unwilling to make real and deep personal connections with anyone other than the siblings he loves so dearly. Until, that is, a cryptic deathbed message from the man who was more of a father to him than his own father ever was sends Chase to Huxley Manor – and (almost literally) into the arms of a most unusual young woman.
Ellie Walsh comes from a family almost as frequently beset by scandal as the Sinclairs. Thanks to her wastrel father, who gambled away a fortune and then died, drunk in a ditch, her family is in danger of losing its home. For the last five years, Ellie has managed to keep Whitworth afloat and keep the creditors at bay, but following a poor harvest there are no more funds and the banks are about to foreclose. As a last-ditch attempt at saving her home and staying out of debtor’s prison, Ellie has agreed to a three-month fake betrothal with her friend Henry – the new Lord Huxley - who believes he can help her to raise the funds necessary to save Whitworth. In return, she’ll be his ‘shield’ against his formidable Aunt Ermintrude’s plans to marry him to one of her nieces.
When Chase arrives in response to his late cousin’s missive, he makes a short detour to the old Folly tower on the estate, and is surprised to find a young woman within, looking through some papers on the late Lord Huxley’s desk. Chase can’t help wondering if the man’s message - “There is something I have but recently uncovered that I must discuss with you” – relates to some newly discovered and unpleasant revelation about his family, so finding a complete stranger looking through Huxley’s personal papers is a most unwelcome sight. He makes his presence known and challenges the woman, who he can now see is a little older than he’d thought, and whose demeanour is that of a very proper governess or schoolmistress; calm, a little impatient and intractable – and is surprised when she introduces herself as Henry’s betrothed and then challenges Chase to explain his own presence there. Chase is immediately intrigued – and more than that, something about her sets him off-balance and makes him feel at a disadvantage – which he dislikes intensely.
When the high-handed Lady Ermintrude decrees that, as she has nothing better to do, Ellie should help Chase to go through his late cousin’s papers and possessions, Ellie knows there’s no point in objecting, and soon finds herself fascinated by the baron’s travel journals and collections of ancient artefacts. She also finds herself just as fascinated by Chase Sinclair, who, during their many conversations – some serious, some not – gradually reveals himself to be a very different man to the one his reputation had led her to expect, an extremely sensitive, perceptive man with a great capacity for love and affection he seems to want to deny. At the same time, Chase comes to appreciate Ellie’s strength, her wit and her determination – and also to sense that there’s a deeply passionate woman lurking beneath her tightly controlled exterior, a woman who longs to reach for more, to escape the rigidly confined life she’s currently living.
The Rake’s Enticing Challenge is character-driven romance at its best. Chase and Ellie are wonderfully drawn, wonderfully real, complex characters who are wary of opening up and who have cultivated the art of masking their thoughts and feelings to a very high level. They deflect deeper questions using sharp barbs or dry humour, always circling around each other and never saying what they mean for fear or rejection or worse; what if they do get what they want and it’s not enough? Ms. Temple does a terrific job of developing their romance, slowly building a strong and genuine rapport between them as they move from initial wariness to gentle teasing and then to a greater level of intimacy as they start to reveal things about themselves they’ve never shared with anyone else. At the same time, their physical awareness of each other grows, the air between them becoming charged with longing and want and desire in a way that’s almost palpable and is far sexier than many full-on love scenes I’ve read; it’s incredibly well done and extremely poignant, Ellie realising that she’s falling in love for the first time in her life while Chase steadfastly refuses to acknowledge he’s head-over-heels because of the danger he believes love brings with it.
The scenes set in Egypt are richly detailed and evocative, and the secondary plot line, concerning Chase’s search for whatever Huxley discovered before his death, is nicely done and also (I suspect) forms part of the set up for the next book, which will feature Lucas and Chase’s widowed sister, Samantha.
Featuring a pair of engaging, strongly characterised leads, intelligent, insightful writing and a superbly developed romance, The Rake’s Enticing Proposal is intense, heartrending, gloriously romantic and easily one of the best historical romances I’ve read this year.
Read
July 16, 2019This is ... as shelved ... rather charming. No particular surprises, and I don't mean that as a criticism, since I don't read category romances to be surprised, but just generally engaging across the board. I haven't read the first book so I was a bit adrift in some of the secondary characters, but the central romance is strong. The heroine is of the managing, bluestocking, secretly think she's plain variety, and while he has a reputation as rake the hero falls closer to the "ironically detached" mould of some of Heyer's later dukes rather than the "I would literally shag a hole in the wall if left alone for five seconds"interpretation of rake one sometimes encounters. He is, however, called Chase. For which I suppose I can forgive him.
There's also a family mystery and a trip to Egypt, which provides a nice change of pace--although I always am faintly unsettled by such journeys, especially in historical settings, since it's hard not to make such places little more than a backdrop for white people falling in love. But...ehhh.
It's very low angst read, which is what I needed right now, and there's lots of touches I appreciated (it's the heroine who asks the hero for the kiss, for example - and in general her agency is very much respected). I enjoyed seeing *grits teeth* Chase (why, for the love of God, why Chase) unravelling and Ellie, whose life has always been restricted by duty, getting to have some adventures. The endgame bugged me the teeniest bit because it was very "oh, but I didn't think you could love me" despite all the fucking evidence to the contrary - and, for some reason, having spent the entire book talking to a woman explicitly desperate to see the world, Chase has somehow come to the conclusion what she really wants is a blah blah steady home blah blah, which he isn't sure he can give.
READ THE ROOM DUDE.
But the book gave me smiles when I needed to smile. And the kissing is excellent. And there's this little sequence which I found legit delightful:
There's also a family mystery and a trip to Egypt, which provides a nice change of pace--although I always am faintly unsettled by such journeys, especially in historical settings, since it's hard not to make such places little more than a backdrop for white people falling in love. But...ehhh.
It's very low angst read, which is what I needed right now, and there's lots of touches I appreciated (it's the heroine who asks the hero for the kiss, for example - and in general her agency is very much respected). I enjoyed seeing *grits teeth* Chase (why, for the love of God, why Chase) unravelling and Ellie, whose life has always been restricted by duty, getting to have some adventures. The endgame bugged me the teeniest bit because it was very "oh, but I didn't think you could love me" despite all the fucking evidence to the contrary - and, for some reason, having spent the entire book talking to a woman explicitly desperate to see the world, Chase has somehow come to the conclusion what she really wants is a blah blah steady home blah blah, which he isn't sure he can give.
READ THE ROOM DUDE.
But the book gave me smiles when I needed to smile. And the kissing is excellent. And there's this little sequence which I found legit delightful:
‘I presume you know what a good kiss entails, Mr Sinclair, however—’
‘I do,’ he interrupted. ‘A good kiss is like a good book.’
[...]
‘Why is a kiss like a good book?’
[...]
‘Imagine you find a book you’ve searched for for a long, long time. You want to rush through it, don’t you? Immerse yourself in it, consume it whole in one sitting. But you also want to make it last, sink into each page and let it absorb you whole. This is where you feel alive and you never want it to end, because you know that when it does you will be bereft, thrust out of that perfect place where you felt you belonged, where you were temporarily whole. You want to devour, but you also want to savour and that conflict is both torture and bliss. That is what a good kiss is.’
January 19, 2026
First half of the book is amazing. There is so much tension because he thinks she is engaged to his friend.
I could not wait for their first kiss.
But the resolution has been dragging and for no real purpose accept that he didn’t feel he is right for her.
I could not wait for their first kiss.
But the resolution has been dragging and for no real purpose accept that he didn’t feel he is right for her.
July 4, 2019
This is the second book in Temple's planned 3-book series about the Sinclair siblings, Lucas, Chase, and Sam(antha). They had a rough patch in the past with a scandal and secrets involving their late father, and each still has issues to deal with because of this. Lucas got himself sorted out in #1, THE EARL'S IRRESISTIBLE CHALLENGE, and married his love Olivia in a book I highly recommend for its good writing, well-developed characters, and the general romance-reading satisfaction it gave me.
Now it's brother Chase's turn to find True Love, although he, of course, has no clue he needs to and certainly doesn't want to. But then Ellie Walsh shows up to complicate his peripatetic, adventurous way of life by being betrothed to his cousin Henry, the newly-minted Baron Huxley, and by being a woman who, despite her outward plainness (except for expressive, beautiful eyes), attracts him entirely too much for his own comfort.
Well, fortunately for us and for Chase, that betrothal is actually a sham. Ellie's trying to keep hearth and home together for her siblings and aunt (parents deceased) but the mortgage is being called in. Henry is being besieged by dreadful Aunt Emily to marry one of her wards (doesn't matter which). So the two collude in the fake betrothal.
Chase doesn't know it's a sham but, although we are continually told what a rakish rake he is, he is actually rake-lite and honorable enough to struggle against his attraction. Chase, BTW, is a charming "rake" with a heart of gold and a huge need to always be trying to make things better for others.
Chase and Ellie are thrown together at Huxley Manor when she is assigned the task of assisting Chase with getting the late, recently-deceased Baron Huxley's affairs in order. Henry has inherited the title and all that goes with it except for the late baron's artifacts and notebooks from his years of travel in Egypt, which have been left to Chase.
There's a teensy mystery here, personal issues to get sorted out, a hint of the book to come which will feature Sinclair sister Sam, and a trip to Egypt! Win-win for me. The story kept me interested and I appreciated the lack of ballrooms and rides in Hyde Park. The writing and character development are just about as good as in book #1 but I couldn't get myself to give this 5 stars because Chase and his repetitious "I am not worthy" hairshirt did annoy before we got to the HEA.
The writing, as I said, is very good. Just try these excerpts out:
"Sam's blue-grey eyes rose to his. They used to be so expressive, but like Sinclair Hall they'd fallen into disrepair and now they just reflected a rueful weariness. Chase still hoped that, like the Hall, their old grandeur could be resurrected."
"Why must you always try to make things better? Better isn't always better, you know. Sometimes just staying where one is can be the most sensible thing to do."
"...Chase smiled at Ellie's glower and took one of the strawberries. They were still a little hard, but surprisingly sweet. Rather like Ellie."
"His mere presence filled spaces in her she hadn't even known existed. Sometimes she felt she knew him better than the new person she was becoming in his company."
"Her scent caught him immediately, soft and soothing, and addictive. Every evening he'd come to replace her in Sam's cabin they'd discussed Sam's progress in the corridor and he would fill himself with that scent like the Bedouin filling their water gourds at the desert well."
Lest you think I'm gushing too much about this romance, I have a complaint to make before I finish. The proofreading of this is sadly lacking. Words are left out in places, the wrong word used in others, a few problems with punctuation. The mistakes were not indicative of the author's lack of knowledge of grammar, just of a lack of care in what seems to be a rush to get this to publication.
Now it's brother Chase's turn to find True Love, although he, of course, has no clue he needs to and certainly doesn't want to. But then Ellie Walsh shows up to complicate his peripatetic, adventurous way of life by being betrothed to his cousin Henry, the newly-minted Baron Huxley, and by being a woman who, despite her outward plainness (except for expressive, beautiful eyes), attracts him entirely too much for his own comfort.
Well, fortunately for us and for Chase, that betrothal is actually a sham. Ellie's trying to keep hearth and home together for her siblings and aunt (parents deceased) but the mortgage is being called in. Henry is being besieged by dreadful Aunt Emily to marry one of her wards (doesn't matter which). So the two collude in the fake betrothal.
Chase doesn't know it's a sham but, although we are continually told what a rakish rake he is, he is actually rake-lite and honorable enough to struggle against his attraction. Chase, BTW, is a charming "rake" with a heart of gold and a huge need to always be trying to make things better for others.
Chase and Ellie are thrown together at Huxley Manor when she is assigned the task of assisting Chase with getting the late, recently-deceased Baron Huxley's affairs in order. Henry has inherited the title and all that goes with it except for the late baron's artifacts and notebooks from his years of travel in Egypt, which have been left to Chase.
There's a teensy mystery here, personal issues to get sorted out, a hint of the book to come which will feature Sinclair sister Sam, and a trip to Egypt! Win-win for me. The story kept me interested and I appreciated the lack of ballrooms and rides in Hyde Park. The writing and character development are just about as good as in book #1 but I couldn't get myself to give this 5 stars because Chase and his repetitious "I am not worthy" hairshirt did annoy before we got to the HEA.
The writing, as I said, is very good. Just try these excerpts out:
"Sam's blue-grey eyes rose to his. They used to be so expressive, but like Sinclair Hall they'd fallen into disrepair and now they just reflected a rueful weariness. Chase still hoped that, like the Hall, their old grandeur could be resurrected."
"Why must you always try to make things better? Better isn't always better, you know. Sometimes just staying where one is can be the most sensible thing to do."
"...Chase smiled at Ellie's glower and took one of the strawberries. They were still a little hard, but surprisingly sweet. Rather like Ellie."
"His mere presence filled spaces in her she hadn't even known existed. Sometimes she felt she knew him better than the new person she was becoming in his company."
"Her scent caught him immediately, soft and soothing, and addictive. Every evening he'd come to replace her in Sam's cabin they'd discussed Sam's progress in the corridor and he would fill himself with that scent like the Bedouin filling their water gourds at the desert well."
Lest you think I'm gushing too much about this romance, I have a complaint to make before I finish. The proofreading of this is sadly lacking. Words are left out in places, the wrong word used in others, a few problems with punctuation. The mistakes were not indicative of the author's lack of knowledge of grammar, just of a lack of care in what seems to be a rush to get this to publication.
May 27, 2019
Eleanor Walsh and her long-time friend Henry Whelford, the new Baron Huxley, had agreed to a pretend betrothal. Their deception is to remain secret, as it is to protect Henry from his Aunt Ermy - the rather terrifying Lady Ermintrude - from having him marry one of her wealthy nieces. Henry needs to find a way to replenish the family coffers as well as provide a solution to Ellie's financial woes, and he is weary of having to depend on the generosity of the intimidating Lady Ermintrude. Ellie has seen to the welfare of her siblings for five years, but they now face debtors' prison and losing their home if she and Henry cannot come up with a satisfactory solution. Chase Sinclair had received a puzzling letter from the late Baron Huxley asking that Chase look into something that required the utmost secrecy. Ellie has little to do, and when Lady Ermintrude orders her to help Chase with his task, Ellie is only too happy to escape the tyrannical old lady's clutches. Ellie is delighted to be privy to the late Baron's collection of artefacts and notebooks on travels to Egypt from an unknown author. However, she finds her attraction to the roguish and mysterious Chase unsettling.
THE RAKE'S ENTICING PROPOSAL is a marvel of superlative writing. Ellie and Chase are exceedingly complex characters - no, not complex, but complete characters - with superb backstories. Both are wary of prying minds, always ready to protect and defend their loved ones. They are also used to mask their feelings and thoughts and stick to straightforward facts or deflect with sharp barbs, which translates into fabulously witty banter between Chase and Ellie.
Lara Temple sweeps us away with her breathtaking descriptions of England and the wonders of Egypt, while carefully revealing the real Ellie and Chase by showing us what makes them tick. The story is deceptively very intricate; there are so many little things that come into play. Apart from the dazzling visuals, Ms Temple surpasses herself in making the reader feel. The initial distrust and wariness between Chase and Ellie slowly shifts to teasing, then progresses to more intimate talks, and the sexual tension mounts accordingly. Lara Temple demonstrates that conveying the passion, the scorching intensity of the sentiments, the burning need convincingly succeeds so much better than explicit scenes. This is more than lust, this is romance. How wonderful it is to witness, to experience those moments, those changes in perception and feelings. The author had me holding my breath in expectation of what would follow, and it was never obvious where anything would lead. The enticing proposal of the title comes rather late in the book, but it is perfectly timed, and just lovely. But oh, the gorgeous, sumptuous prose, the exquisitely worded dialogues, the marvellous romance, the splendour of it all! What a wonderful story!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
THE RAKE'S ENTICING PROPOSAL is a marvel of superlative writing. Ellie and Chase are exceedingly complex characters - no, not complex, but complete characters - with superb backstories. Both are wary of prying minds, always ready to protect and defend their loved ones. They are also used to mask their feelings and thoughts and stick to straightforward facts or deflect with sharp barbs, which translates into fabulously witty banter between Chase and Ellie.
Lara Temple sweeps us away with her breathtaking descriptions of England and the wonders of Egypt, while carefully revealing the real Ellie and Chase by showing us what makes them tick. The story is deceptively very intricate; there are so many little things that come into play. Apart from the dazzling visuals, Ms Temple surpasses herself in making the reader feel. The initial distrust and wariness between Chase and Ellie slowly shifts to teasing, then progresses to more intimate talks, and the sexual tension mounts accordingly. Lara Temple demonstrates that conveying the passion, the scorching intensity of the sentiments, the burning need convincingly succeeds so much better than explicit scenes. This is more than lust, this is romance. How wonderful it is to witness, to experience those moments, those changes in perception and feelings. The author had me holding my breath in expectation of what would follow, and it was never obvious where anything would lead. The enticing proposal of the title comes rather late in the book, but it is perfectly timed, and just lovely. But oh, the gorgeous, sumptuous prose, the exquisitely worded dialogues, the marvellous romance, the splendour of it all! What a wonderful story!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 29, 2019
I was very lucky to have won an advance copy through a giveaway set by the author and her publisher. Mrs Lara Temple is one author I wanted to read since I have seen great reviews from her work. Alas there are still only 24 hours a day, but one can’t pass an arc opportunity.
I do usually rush into my reads, always eager to go through the end and its happily ever after.
The Rake’s Enticing Proposal was not this kind of tale, It needed to be appreciated and savored, slowly, like a very special meal, to discover all its different layers and savors.
The main couple are not flawless characters, they has their faults, Charles Sinclair or Chase for short is a mediator or middleman, he has a talent to smooth things and bring them to conclusion but he refuses to take on any responsibility for himself. Eleanor Walsh / Ellie is the one taking charge, she manages her household and siblings since their parents surrendered their duties, why she relinquishes to give up control and think only for herself.
They were both shaped by their upbringing and their family’s history, and despite their opposite view of life, they are drawn to another but unable to convey their true feelings without hurting the other as they are blind to assess the emotions they experience together. The walls they have built around themselves inhibit their abilities to share what they sense.
It was a very emotional journey from one continent to another, with two souls afraid to not be enough for the other. They revolve around the object of their dreams, so scared to be rejected, they lost all their deductions senses.
A five stars read.
I do usually rush into my reads, always eager to go through the end and its happily ever after.
The Rake’s Enticing Proposal was not this kind of tale, It needed to be appreciated and savored, slowly, like a very special meal, to discover all its different layers and savors.
The main couple are not flawless characters, they has their faults, Charles Sinclair or Chase for short is a mediator or middleman, he has a talent to smooth things and bring them to conclusion but he refuses to take on any responsibility for himself. Eleanor Walsh / Ellie is the one taking charge, she manages her household and siblings since their parents surrendered their duties, why she relinquishes to give up control and think only for herself.
They were both shaped by their upbringing and their family’s history, and despite their opposite view of life, they are drawn to another but unable to convey their true feelings without hurting the other as they are blind to assess the emotions they experience together. The walls they have built around themselves inhibit their abilities to share what they sense.
It was a very emotional journey from one continent to another, with two souls afraid to not be enough for the other. They revolve around the object of their dreams, so scared to be rejected, they lost all their deductions senses.
A five stars read.
June 18, 2019
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋
The passion. The humour. The stunning descriptions. The brilliant writing.
All these are reasons I love this book .
Please do yourself a favour and read this series. Ms Temple will blow your mind with her wonderful stories.
This is the 2nd in the series and is awesome in every way .
Chase is so cool, he’s funny , slightly sarcastic, he’s thoughtful, provoking and annoying but not in a bad way , he falls for Ellie without even realising it , he’s sweet and passionate , he’s just perfect .
Ellie is devoted to her family, cautious in the extreme , beautiful inside and out , has a heart of gold , she’s friendly , sweet and passionate.
She will do anything for anyone.
The two together are explosive, to watch their relationship blossom is beautiful in itself , to read their exchanges is amusing and enjoyable.
See I told you it was a wonderful book.
I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review
💋
The passion. The humour. The stunning descriptions. The brilliant writing.
All these are reasons I love this book .
Please do yourself a favour and read this series. Ms Temple will blow your mind with her wonderful stories.
This is the 2nd in the series and is awesome in every way .
Chase is so cool, he’s funny , slightly sarcastic, he’s thoughtful, provoking and annoying but not in a bad way , he falls for Ellie without even realising it , he’s sweet and passionate , he’s just perfect .
Ellie is devoted to her family, cautious in the extreme , beautiful inside and out , has a heart of gold , she’s friendly , sweet and passionate.
She will do anything for anyone.
The two together are explosive, to watch their relationship blossom is beautiful in itself , to read their exchanges is amusing and enjoyable.
See I told you it was a wonderful book.
I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review
June 17, 2019
The Rake's Enticing Proposal (Mills & Boon Historical) is the second book in The Sinful Sinclairs series by Lara Temple. It can easily be read as a standalone story, but if you are like me and haven't read the first book yet, you will definitely want to by the time you have finished this book.
Unfortunately, I was unwell when I read this book and found myself having to stop and start reading more than usual. Despite that, it was easy to get back into the flow of the story and that to me is one of the signs of an excellent story. I didn't even have to read a few pages back to catch up on what was happening, I remembered it and was happy to be able to continue reading.
Charles Sinclair (Chase) has returned to England after receiving a letter from his late cousin. The late Baron Huxley wants him to look into something of a very secret nature. The new Baron Huxley (Henry) needs to have all of the old Baron's paperwork, books and treasures from his travels sorted through and it has been left to Chase to do that. A good job too as he is hoping to find clues to help him discover the secret that his cousin wanted him to know.
Henry lives with his overbearing aunt who has made it obvious that she expects him to marry one of her daughters. It is the last thing he wants to do so he asks his good friend Eleanor to pose as his betrothed. It will keep his aunt off his back, but also give him time to try to find a way to build up the coffers of both his estate, but also to help Eleanor (Ellie) out of dire financial problems too. It has fallen to her to try to save her home where she lives with her siblings. Debtors prison is in their future if she can't.
Chase and Ellie meet in a dramatic style, I'm not saying how, but from that moment there is an attraction between them. When in a bid to give her nieces time to attract Henry, his aunt tells Ellie she should help Chase sort through the late Baron's things. She is thrilled to help especially as she is interested in all the fabulous things he has both written and collected.
From that moment on their relationship grows. As does the excitement of the book. They leave England for Egypt where they hope to find more clues if not the answer to the secret. During that time their feelings toward each other grow but Ellie thinks she is too plain for Chase and he feels he is too much of an adventurer, somebody who can't give her the settled home and life that she craves. Despite that, they give in a couple of times to some passionate kisses. But can it ever be more than that? What of the secret they are in search of answers for, will they ever discover what the late Baron desperately wanted Chase to know?
The plot of this book was wonderful, the romance, the intrigue, and most wonderful was the settings that the story took place in. Not only beautiful England but then we spend some time on board ship with Chase and Ellie on their way to Egypt. The author's descriptions of the sites to be seen there, including Ellie being awestruck at her first sight of a pyramid, were fabulous. You could easily picture yourself there, seeing the sights for yourself, feeling the warm wind around you, and feeling as awed as Ellie.
I also loved the build-up of the romance between Ellie and Chase, how they so desperately wanted each other and how hard they tried not to give in to the attraction believing they weren't good enough for the other. When they do give in to at least their lust, it never goes into the bedroom, and yet the relief you feel for them finally having that kiss, and the emotions portrayed by them is just amazing.
I loved this book and am very happy to recommend it.
Unfortunately, I was unwell when I read this book and found myself having to stop and start reading more than usual. Despite that, it was easy to get back into the flow of the story and that to me is one of the signs of an excellent story. I didn't even have to read a few pages back to catch up on what was happening, I remembered it and was happy to be able to continue reading.
Charles Sinclair (Chase) has returned to England after receiving a letter from his late cousin. The late Baron Huxley wants him to look into something of a very secret nature. The new Baron Huxley (Henry) needs to have all of the old Baron's paperwork, books and treasures from his travels sorted through and it has been left to Chase to do that. A good job too as he is hoping to find clues to help him discover the secret that his cousin wanted him to know.
Henry lives with his overbearing aunt who has made it obvious that she expects him to marry one of her daughters. It is the last thing he wants to do so he asks his good friend Eleanor to pose as his betrothed. It will keep his aunt off his back, but also give him time to try to find a way to build up the coffers of both his estate, but also to help Eleanor (Ellie) out of dire financial problems too. It has fallen to her to try to save her home where she lives with her siblings. Debtors prison is in their future if she can't.
Chase and Ellie meet in a dramatic style, I'm not saying how, but from that moment there is an attraction between them. When in a bid to give her nieces time to attract Henry, his aunt tells Ellie she should help Chase sort through the late Baron's things. She is thrilled to help especially as she is interested in all the fabulous things he has both written and collected.
From that moment on their relationship grows. As does the excitement of the book. They leave England for Egypt where they hope to find more clues if not the answer to the secret. During that time their feelings toward each other grow but Ellie thinks she is too plain for Chase and he feels he is too much of an adventurer, somebody who can't give her the settled home and life that she craves. Despite that, they give in a couple of times to some passionate kisses. But can it ever be more than that? What of the secret they are in search of answers for, will they ever discover what the late Baron desperately wanted Chase to know?
The plot of this book was wonderful, the romance, the intrigue, and most wonderful was the settings that the story took place in. Not only beautiful England but then we spend some time on board ship with Chase and Ellie on their way to Egypt. The author's descriptions of the sites to be seen there, including Ellie being awestruck at her first sight of a pyramid, were fabulous. You could easily picture yourself there, seeing the sights for yourself, feeling the warm wind around you, and feeling as awed as Ellie.
I also loved the build-up of the romance between Ellie and Chase, how they so desperately wanted each other and how hard they tried not to give in to the attraction believing they weren't good enough for the other. When they do give in to at least their lust, it never goes into the bedroom, and yet the relief you feel for them finally having that kiss, and the emotions portrayed by them is just amazing.
I loved this book and am very happy to recommend it.
July 9, 2019
The proposal of the rake in this story isn't quite what you might expect; if a rake asked me to be his sister's companion on a trip to Egypt, I don't think I'd think twice about accepting. Eleanor, the heroine of the story, does, but only because she has other responsibilities, with younger siblings and a crumbling estate to manage.
The first half of the story deals with a rather intriguing setup; Eleanor is fake-engaged to her best friend Henry, Chase Sinclair’s cousin, who has just inherited a crumbling estate of his own. In an attempt to avoid being married off by his determined aunt, Henry promises Eleanor help if she’ll pose as his fake fiancee. Unfortunately, Henry has inherited more debts than assets and it doesn’t take long for Chase to rumble the pair of them. He won’t expose their ruse, but there’s nothing to stop him falling for Ellie himself, which he promptly does as they work together to sort out a mess of papers and artefacts his uncle left to Chase, along with a mystery which doesn’t get resolved until they get to Egypt in the second half of the book.
The Egypt part is where this story really shines; though the character development in the first half is beautifully done and we really get to not only fall in love with the characters, but see why they’re in love with each other, the evocative, descriptive prose about Egypt made me feel as though I was really there, in a palace beside the Nile listening to the jackals howling in the City of the Dead.
Chase and Ellie are really perfectly suited to each other, but like any good romance, there are some trials and tribulations along the way as they come to understand that. There’s no manufactured drama; all of the doubts that beset them both are realistic and related to their own backgrounds, making them both feel very real and relatable.
Though this is the second in the Sinful Sinclairs series, it stands very well alone. I love Lara Temple’s writing and this one definitely deserves five stars.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review from the author.
The first half of the story deals with a rather intriguing setup; Eleanor is fake-engaged to her best friend Henry, Chase Sinclair’s cousin, who has just inherited a crumbling estate of his own. In an attempt to avoid being married off by his determined aunt, Henry promises Eleanor help if she’ll pose as his fake fiancee. Unfortunately, Henry has inherited more debts than assets and it doesn’t take long for Chase to rumble the pair of them. He won’t expose their ruse, but there’s nothing to stop him falling for Ellie himself, which he promptly does as they work together to sort out a mess of papers and artefacts his uncle left to Chase, along with a mystery which doesn’t get resolved until they get to Egypt in the second half of the book.
The Egypt part is where this story really shines; though the character development in the first half is beautifully done and we really get to not only fall in love with the characters, but see why they’re in love with each other, the evocative, descriptive prose about Egypt made me feel as though I was really there, in a palace beside the Nile listening to the jackals howling in the City of the Dead.
Chase and Ellie are really perfectly suited to each other, but like any good romance, there are some trials and tribulations along the way as they come to understand that. There’s no manufactured drama; all of the doubts that beset them both are realistic and related to their own backgrounds, making them both feel very real and relatable.
Though this is the second in the Sinful Sinclairs series, it stands very well alone. I love Lara Temple’s writing and this one definitely deserves five stars.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review from the author.
March 16, 2021
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 stars
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖 4 books
Romance: 💞💞💞 3 hearts
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋 3 butterflies
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔 3 broken hearts
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋 4 kisses
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡ 4 lightnings
Sex Scene Length: 0 peaches
Number of Sex Scenes (Steam Scale): 0 flames
(These are all personal preference 1-5 except for our Steam Scale which follows the chart for our Facebook groups (The Ton & the Tartans/Upturned Petticoats & Undone Cravats)
I forgot to write my review for this book before returning it the library. And now I’m forgetting some details :( I think there are zero sex scenes here, just a few sexy kisses, but I could be wrong.
You can pick this book up as a standalone, but I do recommend reading this series in order. There’s an overlap of characters, plus you’ll get more background on the family drama that still affects the children. It also builds up a bit of character depth for the future characters.
Chase is left with a mystery to solve when he reads the now deceased Lord Huxley’s letter. When he returns to the estate, he finds Ellie. Ellie is participating in a fake engagement and attempting to save her family from financial ruin.
Give this book a try if you want:
- some world travel! The last third of this book takes place in Egypt.
- Regency time period
- Sweet romance with plenty of sexual tension, a few kisses, but no open door sex scenes
- A bit of a mystery to work through in the book
I enjoyed this book a touch more than book 1. I liked Chase’s personality a bit more. He was more naughty and engaging. The tension is lovely and I adored every touch that happened. For me, it did get a bit slow towards the middle. They were spending a lot of time in the library, researching and organizing things, looking for clues, but once they went to Egypt it picked up again.
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖 4 books
Romance: 💞💞💞 3 hearts
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋 3 butterflies
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔 3 broken hearts
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋 4 kisses
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡ 4 lightnings
Sex Scene Length: 0 peaches
Number of Sex Scenes (Steam Scale): 0 flames
(These are all personal preference 1-5 except for our Steam Scale which follows the chart for our Facebook groups (The Ton & the Tartans/Upturned Petticoats & Undone Cravats)
I forgot to write my review for this book before returning it the library. And now I’m forgetting some details :( I think there are zero sex scenes here, just a few sexy kisses, but I could be wrong.
You can pick this book up as a standalone, but I do recommend reading this series in order. There’s an overlap of characters, plus you’ll get more background on the family drama that still affects the children. It also builds up a bit of character depth for the future characters.
Chase is left with a mystery to solve when he reads the now deceased Lord Huxley’s letter. When he returns to the estate, he finds Ellie. Ellie is participating in a fake engagement and attempting to save her family from financial ruin.
Give this book a try if you want:
- some world travel! The last third of this book takes place in Egypt.
- Regency time period
- Sweet romance with plenty of sexual tension, a few kisses, but no open door sex scenes
- A bit of a mystery to work through in the book
I enjoyed this book a touch more than book 1. I liked Chase’s personality a bit more. He was more naughty and engaging. The tension is lovely and I adored every touch that happened. For me, it did get a bit slow towards the middle. They were spending a lot of time in the library, researching and organizing things, looking for clues, but once they went to Egypt it picked up again.
June 8, 2020
Puedes encontrar esta reseña en español al final.
I loved the first instalment in this series much, much better. This story is more ordinary.
It still is enjoyable, and I really like the author´s writing. But this is a romance, and I found it lacking.
Here we have one of those cases in which the heroine can´t get a hold of her traitorous body and the same goes for the hero. They are interrupted twice or thrice when things seem are getting a bit out of control by a trusted someone for their own good and, immediately afterwards, they both have doubts about each other´s intentions… See where I am going? Exactly.
So, three enjoyable but not enough stars because I already know this author can do better. Much better.
***
Me gustó muchísimo más la primera de la serie. Esta ha sido un poco más corriente.
Sigue siendo una historia entretenida y me gusta cómo escribe la autora. Pero esto es un romance y el romance ha sido bastante flojo.
Este es uno de esos casos en los que la heroína no puede controlar su cuerpo traicionero y el héroe tampoco. Dos o tres escenas en las que ambos se dejan llevar (besos y alguna mano traicionera nada más) hasta que alguien, por su propio bien, los interrumpen. Acto seguido ambos dudan de los sentimientos del otro. ¿Ves adonde quiero llegar? Pues eso.
Tres entretenidas pero no suficientes estrellas porque ya sé que esta autora lo puede hace mejor. Mucho mejor.
I loved the first instalment in this series much, much better. This story is more ordinary.
It still is enjoyable, and I really like the author´s writing. But this is a romance, and I found it lacking.
Here we have one of those cases in which the heroine can´t get a hold of her traitorous body and the same goes for the hero. They are interrupted twice or thrice when things seem are getting a bit out of control by a trusted someone for their own good and, immediately afterwards, they both have doubts about each other´s intentions… See where I am going? Exactly.
So, three enjoyable but not enough stars because I already know this author can do better. Much better.
***
Me gustó muchísimo más la primera de la serie. Esta ha sido un poco más corriente.
Sigue siendo una historia entretenida y me gusta cómo escribe la autora. Pero esto es un romance y el romance ha sido bastante flojo.
Este es uno de esos casos en los que la heroína no puede controlar su cuerpo traicionero y el héroe tampoco. Dos o tres escenas en las que ambos se dejan llevar (besos y alguna mano traicionera nada más) hasta que alguien, por su propio bien, los interrumpen. Acto seguido ambos dudan de los sentimientos del otro. ¿Ves adonde quiero llegar? Pues eso.
Tres entretenidas pero no suficientes estrellas porque ya sé que esta autora lo puede hace mejor. Mucho mejor.
June 16, 2019
I am utterly lost for words, OK, I do say that a lot and to be honest I have words but they are more along the lines of “Brilliant, gorgeous, perfect, stunning, amazing, one of the best books I have read….” my embarrassed babble has no bounds, I could carry one about just perfect this book is, I knew it was going to be a good one, I knew that Chase would steal my heart, but I didn’t count on him locking it away, so no other hero can ever have it again. Honestly though, this book…I am in utter awe of just how marvelous it is.
The Rakes Enticing Proposal is book two in the Sinful Sinclairs series, and really this is one of those books that it is so brilliantly written it is like reading a stand-a-lone, honestly I have read and loved the previous book but even I forgot that I was reading part two of a series, this is book is just all class, there is no other words for it. I cannot wait for the third book; Sam’s story – now I have a feeling that her story is going to be spellbinding.
The story opens in very Temple-esque dramatic style, a great meeting between out hero and heroine one which does end with them in each others arms, in a fashion. Ex-military man and adventurer Chase Sinclaire received a letter from his late cousin, it is both puzzling and mysterious, he is confused by the contents of the letter and knows that it must be serious if his late cousin had sworn him to secrecy so he sets out to look through his late cousins belongings to see if he can find what in the blazes Huxley is talking about.
Ellie Walsh is at Huxley Manor in a deep deception of her own, she had the now Baron Huxley have come to an arrangement; a fake engagement that must be kept secret, something that will benefit both parties. She is in dire need of funds, she is facing destitution and even worse debtors prison, she has debt collectors banging on the door and nothing to pay them with, which is where Huxley comes in. He wants to get his terrifying aunt; Lady Ermintrude off his back and dispel her idea that he will be marrying one of her precious daughters. But all does not exactly go to plan, when she meets, charming, enticing and roguish Chase.
When Ellie helps Chase organise the late Lord Huxley’s belongings, she soon realises that there is far more to the ‘Lucifer’ before her then what she first thought, they see something in each other while going though all those old diaries and he soon sees just how brilliant she is with a notebook and pen in hand at managing everything, and lets her into the secret of the letter. An act that will take them from the dusty, overbearing Huxley Manor across the sea’s to golden Egypt.
Chase…..Oh, my goodness!!! I have died and gone to perfect hero heaven, there is nothing I don’t like about this man, not only gorgeous – you know me, my head is always turned with a charming smile 😉 I can’t even begin to describe how perfect Chase is, he is my kind of hero inside and out; charming, charismatic, mysterious, ex-military, multi-layered, thoughtful, considerate, passionate, intelligent, dashing, roguish, loyal, protective, sexy – oh, lordy is this man sexy or what!!! There is just something about him that reached my heart, there is a certain vulnerability about him too, something that made him all the more beautiful. I could go on forever about just how awesome this man is, but that would mean me talking about his perfectly shaped rear end and how well his shoulders fill out a coat – but, I don’t think people want to hear about that.
But, as well as leering over Chase, I must talk about Ellie, what a wonderful young woman she is. I felt a real connection with her, she spoke to me in ways that doesn’t often happen, I am one of those readers that oddly connects with the hero of the story far more then the heroine, but not in this case. I could really relate to her, from her worry about finances, to her love of her family, her passion for reading, her thirst for something more in her life, even her constant need for tea. She has a lot of her shoulders and deep down all she wants is the chance to be able to go off and explore the world, she wants to see things that has only ever read about, but she also knows that she has responsibilities, she would never desert her family for something so selfish. She really is a remarkable woman.
This book has everything I look for in a historical romance; amazing characters, that are both thoughtful as well as sexy, intelligent heroines who don’t take no nonsense, multi-layered heroes that have a roguish twinkle. A plot that is like something from a movie – in fact this book could very easily be a blockbuster. Gorgeous settings, stunning and intricately researched history that is so perfectly woven through out the story you don’t even realize your soaking up historic fact – now that is a skill – and with a breathtaking romance one that will last the test of time, one that will make you fall in love .
I love that Ms Temple is never afraid to push the historical romance boundaries, she steps out of the classical romance zone that so many authors hold on to like a comfort blanket and she stride purposely through new and untrodden lands to bring us some of the most thought-provoking, fascinating, stylish and adventuresome romances that are around today, as I said from the beginning, this lady has a real natural talent for spinning a great tale of absolute love.
The writing is spectacular, the descriptions of each scene is so vivid you can literally see everything in your mind, especially once they reach Egypt. That is a stunning piece of writing, it’s so visual and realistic you can instantly see that the Ms Temple has a real passion for Egypt, it comes through every word, she sweeps the reader along with the characters, the story has a magical almost daydream like quality that sparkles likes the Egyptian sun.
This book is a work of art, it’s as beautiful as the Egyptian setting-sun and as charming as the English countryside, I cannot recommend this book enough, it is dazzling.
This was a Arc copy via the author in exchange for an honest review, thank you Lara. x
The Rakes Enticing Proposal is to be released on 27th June and can be pre-ordered now at Amazon, do go and pre-order it, you will not be disappointed.
The Rakes Enticing Proposal is book two in the Sinful Sinclairs series, and really this is one of those books that it is so brilliantly written it is like reading a stand-a-lone, honestly I have read and loved the previous book but even I forgot that I was reading part two of a series, this is book is just all class, there is no other words for it. I cannot wait for the third book; Sam’s story – now I have a feeling that her story is going to be spellbinding.
The story opens in very Temple-esque dramatic style, a great meeting between out hero and heroine one which does end with them in each others arms, in a fashion. Ex-military man and adventurer Chase Sinclaire received a letter from his late cousin, it is both puzzling and mysterious, he is confused by the contents of the letter and knows that it must be serious if his late cousin had sworn him to secrecy so he sets out to look through his late cousins belongings to see if he can find what in the blazes Huxley is talking about.
Ellie Walsh is at Huxley Manor in a deep deception of her own, she had the now Baron Huxley have come to an arrangement; a fake engagement that must be kept secret, something that will benefit both parties. She is in dire need of funds, she is facing destitution and even worse debtors prison, she has debt collectors banging on the door and nothing to pay them with, which is where Huxley comes in. He wants to get his terrifying aunt; Lady Ermintrude off his back and dispel her idea that he will be marrying one of her precious daughters. But all does not exactly go to plan, when she meets, charming, enticing and roguish Chase.
When Ellie helps Chase organise the late Lord Huxley’s belongings, she soon realises that there is far more to the ‘Lucifer’ before her then what she first thought, they see something in each other while going though all those old diaries and he soon sees just how brilliant she is with a notebook and pen in hand at managing everything, and lets her into the secret of the letter. An act that will take them from the dusty, overbearing Huxley Manor across the sea’s to golden Egypt.
Chase…..Oh, my goodness!!! I have died and gone to perfect hero heaven, there is nothing I don’t like about this man, not only gorgeous – you know me, my head is always turned with a charming smile 😉 I can’t even begin to describe how perfect Chase is, he is my kind of hero inside and out; charming, charismatic, mysterious, ex-military, multi-layered, thoughtful, considerate, passionate, intelligent, dashing, roguish, loyal, protective, sexy – oh, lordy is this man sexy or what!!! There is just something about him that reached my heart, there is a certain vulnerability about him too, something that made him all the more beautiful. I could go on forever about just how awesome this man is, but that would mean me talking about his perfectly shaped rear end and how well his shoulders fill out a coat – but, I don’t think people want to hear about that.
But, as well as leering over Chase, I must talk about Ellie, what a wonderful young woman she is. I felt a real connection with her, she spoke to me in ways that doesn’t often happen, I am one of those readers that oddly connects with the hero of the story far more then the heroine, but not in this case. I could really relate to her, from her worry about finances, to her love of her family, her passion for reading, her thirst for something more in her life, even her constant need for tea. She has a lot of her shoulders and deep down all she wants is the chance to be able to go off and explore the world, she wants to see things that has only ever read about, but she also knows that she has responsibilities, she would never desert her family for something so selfish. She really is a remarkable woman.
This book has everything I look for in a historical romance; amazing characters, that are both thoughtful as well as sexy, intelligent heroines who don’t take no nonsense, multi-layered heroes that have a roguish twinkle. A plot that is like something from a movie – in fact this book could very easily be a blockbuster. Gorgeous settings, stunning and intricately researched history that is so perfectly woven through out the story you don’t even realize your soaking up historic fact – now that is a skill – and with a breathtaking romance one that will last the test of time, one that will make you fall in love .
I love that Ms Temple is never afraid to push the historical romance boundaries, she steps out of the classical romance zone that so many authors hold on to like a comfort blanket and she stride purposely through new and untrodden lands to bring us some of the most thought-provoking, fascinating, stylish and adventuresome romances that are around today, as I said from the beginning, this lady has a real natural talent for spinning a great tale of absolute love.
The writing is spectacular, the descriptions of each scene is so vivid you can literally see everything in your mind, especially once they reach Egypt. That is a stunning piece of writing, it’s so visual and realistic you can instantly see that the Ms Temple has a real passion for Egypt, it comes through every word, she sweeps the reader along with the characters, the story has a magical almost daydream like quality that sparkles likes the Egyptian sun.
This book is a work of art, it’s as beautiful as the Egyptian setting-sun and as charming as the English countryside, I cannot recommend this book enough, it is dazzling.
This was a Arc copy via the author in exchange for an honest review, thank you Lara. x
The Rakes Enticing Proposal is to be released on 27th June and can be pre-ordered now at Amazon, do go and pre-order it, you will not be disappointed.
June 24, 2019
The Rake’s Enticing Proposal is the second book in author Lara Temple’s latest series, "The Sinful Sinclairs”. This story focuses on Chase Sinclair, who I’ll admit intrigued me from the first book. Although this definitely could be read as a stand-alone, I highly recommend reading the first book that features Chase’s older brother Lucas. It’s been a fabulous series so far and I can’t wait for Sam’s story next!
From the moment I first met Chase in the last book, I wanted to know him better. I loved his personality and it’s obvious he loves his siblings and is protective of them. Chase is a charming, witty, handsome rogue who has no intentions of ever settling down...
Eleanor "Ellie" Walsh is a new character for those of us who have been reading this series. She’s a young woman who for the last five years has been taking care of her younger siblings and trying to keep the banks from foreclosing on her family home. She’s weary, tired, desperate and fearful that she won’t succeed.
Our story starts with Chase arriving at Huxley Manor, his late cousin’s estate. Before his cousin died he sent Chase a mysterious letter. Chase is there to try to solve the mystery along with collect the Sinclair’s inheritance. Ellie finds herself at Huxley Manor too, pretending to be the new Lord Huxley’s fiancée. Ellie’s friend Hugh is the new Lord Huxley and also Chase’s cousin. He’s trying to help Ellie get funds to save her home, while she’s helping him by not getting forced into a marriage by his scheming aunt.
From the very beginning, I loved Chase and Ellie’s interactions. Their first meeting is definitely not love at first sight, there is mistrust on both parts but an underlying awareness. As they are forced to spend time together every day going through the late Lord Huxley's things, a friendship is formed and truths are revealed. Chase finds himself caught off guard confessing things he never would to anyone. As Ellie reveals her reasons behind her fake betrothal, Chase steps in to help. Ms. Temple as always creates characters with wit, charm and you quickly become invested in their lives. Chase was everything I hoped he would be and I absolutely loved the romance between him and Ellie. Ms. Temple excels in creating heroines with spunk and Ellie was no exception. They were a perfect match for each other, even though it took them both time to admit that to themselves and each other.
I also have to say I love when an author steps away from the typical historical romance and gives us something out of the norm. In this story, our couple ends up actually traveling to Egypt to continue on the quest to solve the mystery. It was a fascinating and unique twist and a great setting for this couple to finally solve the mystery and gain their HEA. It’s obvious that the author knows Egypt and she has done extensive research, as the story just comes to life with her descriptions of the time and area.
It was fantastic to see Lucas and Olivia again and I absolutely loved the interactions between the Sinclair siblings. I look forward to reading Sam’s story in the near future and hope to catch another glimpse of the Sinclair brothers and their wives before we have to say our final goodbye to this series. Another perfect story from author Lara Temple and one that I highly recommend!
From the moment I first met Chase in the last book, I wanted to know him better. I loved his personality and it’s obvious he loves his siblings and is protective of them. Chase is a charming, witty, handsome rogue who has no intentions of ever settling down...
Eleanor "Ellie" Walsh is a new character for those of us who have been reading this series. She’s a young woman who for the last five years has been taking care of her younger siblings and trying to keep the banks from foreclosing on her family home. She’s weary, tired, desperate and fearful that she won’t succeed.
Our story starts with Chase arriving at Huxley Manor, his late cousin’s estate. Before his cousin died he sent Chase a mysterious letter. Chase is there to try to solve the mystery along with collect the Sinclair’s inheritance. Ellie finds herself at Huxley Manor too, pretending to be the new Lord Huxley’s fiancée. Ellie’s friend Hugh is the new Lord Huxley and also Chase’s cousin. He’s trying to help Ellie get funds to save her home, while she’s helping him by not getting forced into a marriage by his scheming aunt.
From the very beginning, I loved Chase and Ellie’s interactions. Their first meeting is definitely not love at first sight, there is mistrust on both parts but an underlying awareness. As they are forced to spend time together every day going through the late Lord Huxley's things, a friendship is formed and truths are revealed. Chase finds himself caught off guard confessing things he never would to anyone. As Ellie reveals her reasons behind her fake betrothal, Chase steps in to help. Ms. Temple as always creates characters with wit, charm and you quickly become invested in their lives. Chase was everything I hoped he would be and I absolutely loved the romance between him and Ellie. Ms. Temple excels in creating heroines with spunk and Ellie was no exception. They were a perfect match for each other, even though it took them both time to admit that to themselves and each other.
I also have to say I love when an author steps away from the typical historical romance and gives us something out of the norm. In this story, our couple ends up actually traveling to Egypt to continue on the quest to solve the mystery. It was a fascinating and unique twist and a great setting for this couple to finally solve the mystery and gain their HEA. It’s obvious that the author knows Egypt and she has done extensive research, as the story just comes to life with her descriptions of the time and area.
It was fantastic to see Lucas and Olivia again and I absolutely loved the interactions between the Sinclair siblings. I look forward to reading Sam’s story in the near future and hope to catch another glimpse of the Sinclair brothers and their wives before we have to say our final goodbye to this series. Another perfect story from author Lara Temple and one that I highly recommend!
July 6, 2019
Chase, one of the notorious ‘Sinful Sinclairs’, returns to his uncle’s estate, to retrieve his legacy, stored in the folly on his late uncle’s estate. His surprising meeting with Eleanor (Ellie), threatens the creed he lives by.
This not your usual Rake Regency romance. Chase has a Rake’s reputation, but it is at odds with the true man and his actions. Ellie is fiercely independent and willing to sacrifice the truest part of herself, which she denies, to ensure her family’s security.
The attraction is instant, but forbidden, as soon as one obstacle to their romance disappears, another appears, and the internal conflicts are the biggest barrier to their happiness.
The Egyptian setting and the quest for the missing box gives the story added historical interest and mystery. The romance is slow burning, but you do empathise with their unrequited feelings. Chase is a charming man, far too nice to be a Rake, but nevertheless a worthy man for Ellie. She is brave, selfless and intelligent, so glad they get the ending they deserve.
A Regency Romance with an original twist.
I received a copy of this book from Mills and Boon via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
This not your usual Rake Regency romance. Chase has a Rake’s reputation, but it is at odds with the true man and his actions. Ellie is fiercely independent and willing to sacrifice the truest part of herself, which she denies, to ensure her family’s security.
The attraction is instant, but forbidden, as soon as one obstacle to their romance disappears, another appears, and the internal conflicts are the biggest barrier to their happiness.
The Egyptian setting and the quest for the missing box gives the story added historical interest and mystery. The romance is slow burning, but you do empathise with their unrequited feelings. Chase is a charming man, far too nice to be a Rake, but nevertheless a worthy man for Ellie. She is brave, selfless and intelligent, so glad they get the ending they deserve.
A Regency Romance with an original twist.
I received a copy of this book from Mills and Boon via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
June 27, 2019
4.5 Stars
When globe-trotting Charles Sinclair arrives at Huxley Manor to sort out his late cousin Huxley’s affairs, he meets practical Eleanor Walsh who is engaged to Henry. He can’t shake the feeling that behind her responsibility to clear her family’s debt, Eleanor longs to escape her staid life. Chase asks Ellie to travel to Egypt as companion to his widowed sister Sam.
A lovely romance, Chase is charming witty & a problem solver, Ellie is the glue that holds her family together – they were perfect for each other. I loved that the gorgeous confident Chase fell hard for the older Ellie who is not a diamond of the first water to look at but her true beauty is her personality & love for her family. There are some misunderstandings along their journey but the more time they spend together the more they fall in love but also become best friends. Set against a backdrop of England & Egypt this captivating read held me from start to finish
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
When globe-trotting Charles Sinclair arrives at Huxley Manor to sort out his late cousin Huxley’s affairs, he meets practical Eleanor Walsh who is engaged to Henry. He can’t shake the feeling that behind her responsibility to clear her family’s debt, Eleanor longs to escape her staid life. Chase asks Ellie to travel to Egypt as companion to his widowed sister Sam.
A lovely romance, Chase is charming witty & a problem solver, Ellie is the glue that holds her family together – they were perfect for each other. I loved that the gorgeous confident Chase fell hard for the older Ellie who is not a diamond of the first water to look at but her true beauty is her personality & love for her family. There are some misunderstandings along their journey but the more time they spend together the more they fall in love but also become best friends. Set against a backdrop of England & Egypt this captivating read held me from start to finish
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
June 9, 2019
I wanted to read this book in one sitting, and it annoyed me that I wasn't able to. I think I liked this story even more than Lucas and Olivia's. Hero in love and not knowing how to deal with it is always a favorite! And now I wish Sam and Edge's book was here already!
June 1, 2020
Truly sorry on the late review , I honestly thought I'd posted it, I loved this story very much, it has everything I adore in our authors fantastic books, definitely highly recommend.
August 22, 2019
Lara Temple is just consistently outstanding. There wasn't a wrong note in this book.
October 3, 2019
4.5 stars as reviewed at Roses Are Blue: https://wp.me/p3QRh4-Zn
Charles “Chase” Sinclair, is on a mission to go through his late cousin, Huxley’s, papers, hoping to find some clues to a cryptic letter he received before Huxley died. In the letter, Huxley hinted at some important information he discovered, with secrecy being crucial. Chase discovers a young woman, who also appears to be looking through Huxley’s papers, and he challenges her, only to find that she’s Eleanor Walsh, the fiancée of Huxley’s heir, his cousin Henry.
Ellie is, in fact, only pretending to be engaged to Henry, a dear friend of hers, in order to shield him from the matchmaking machinations of his aunt. In return for Ellie’s pretense, he will help her financially once he determines the status of his new estate and fully takes over the reins. Ellie’s father died scandalously, leaving Ellie and her four younger siblings in a perilous financial situation. They have been scraping along, but last year’s failed crops have brought them near to being destitute.
While Henry is busy, trying to learn about his property, Ellie is tasked with helping Chase sort through Huxley’s paperwork and possessions. It turns out that some of Huxley’s journals are missing, and that passages have been mysteriously cut out of a set of books. Somehow, the trail indicates that Huxley’s secretary was involved, and that Chase may have to travel back to Egypt to follow the clues.
While Chase and Ellie are sorting through Huxley’s paperwork, they quickly develop a friendship, with Ellie being fascinated by Chase’s previous adventures and travel experiences. Her own life has been limited to her little corner of the world, and she can only imagine what it would be like to travel. Soon they are comfortable enough with each other for Ellie to confess the true status of the engagement, and her family’s sorry state of affairs. Chase can only sympathize at Ellie’s burden, and he’s well aware of the ramifications of having a scandalous father.
When everything has been sorted, it’s time for Ellie to return home, and for Chase to make arrangements to go to Egypt. Chase is somewhat confused about his feelings for Ellie. He knows that he doesn’t want to part from her, and he’d love to help her. But, how? The answer comes to him, as he arranges to help with Ellie’s family debt, secretly, or so he thinks. Ellie is no fool, and immediately realizes what Chase has done. She’s grateful and incensed at the same time. Chase then offers her the chance to travel to Egypt with his party, as companion to his sister, Sam. Again, Ellie feels that she is the beneficiary of Chase’s charity, but he eventually talks her into accepting the offer.
The journey to Egypt has Chase and Ellie becoming closer than ever, with an undeniable attraction building higher and more intensely. Ellie realizes that she’s falling in love, but Chase can’t identify his feelings. What does he know of love? The only affection he’s had has been with his siblings. And even if he were to pursue the relationship further, Ellie (he thinks) longs for a stable home while he is a wanderer with no roots. Sometimes Chase even resents his own feelings, causing him to say hurtful things to Ellie that he really doesn’t mean.
Lara Temple paints a vivid picture of Egypt, a wonderful backdrop for the beautiful romance that’s developing. In THE RAKE’S ENTICING PROPOSAL, each character feels they’re not adequate enough for the other, but in reality, they are a perfect match. Chase is truly a loving, kind, and generous man, while Ellie is strong and more than willing to add a little adventure to her life. The exotic location is not one normally seen in historical romance, and it added a little something extra to this well written and heart touching story. This book two of the Sinful Sinclairs series can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading the first book, which I loved, as well, and is the story of Chase’s brother, Lucas.
Charles “Chase” Sinclair, is on a mission to go through his late cousin, Huxley’s, papers, hoping to find some clues to a cryptic letter he received before Huxley died. In the letter, Huxley hinted at some important information he discovered, with secrecy being crucial. Chase discovers a young woman, who also appears to be looking through Huxley’s papers, and he challenges her, only to find that she’s Eleanor Walsh, the fiancée of Huxley’s heir, his cousin Henry.
Ellie is, in fact, only pretending to be engaged to Henry, a dear friend of hers, in order to shield him from the matchmaking machinations of his aunt. In return for Ellie’s pretense, he will help her financially once he determines the status of his new estate and fully takes over the reins. Ellie’s father died scandalously, leaving Ellie and her four younger siblings in a perilous financial situation. They have been scraping along, but last year’s failed crops have brought them near to being destitute.
While Henry is busy, trying to learn about his property, Ellie is tasked with helping Chase sort through Huxley’s paperwork and possessions. It turns out that some of Huxley’s journals are missing, and that passages have been mysteriously cut out of a set of books. Somehow, the trail indicates that Huxley’s secretary was involved, and that Chase may have to travel back to Egypt to follow the clues.
While Chase and Ellie are sorting through Huxley’s paperwork, they quickly develop a friendship, with Ellie being fascinated by Chase’s previous adventures and travel experiences. Her own life has been limited to her little corner of the world, and she can only imagine what it would be like to travel. Soon they are comfortable enough with each other for Ellie to confess the true status of the engagement, and her family’s sorry state of affairs. Chase can only sympathize at Ellie’s burden, and he’s well aware of the ramifications of having a scandalous father.
When everything has been sorted, it’s time for Ellie to return home, and for Chase to make arrangements to go to Egypt. Chase is somewhat confused about his feelings for Ellie. He knows that he doesn’t want to part from her, and he’d love to help her. But, how? The answer comes to him, as he arranges to help with Ellie’s family debt, secretly, or so he thinks. Ellie is no fool, and immediately realizes what Chase has done. She’s grateful and incensed at the same time. Chase then offers her the chance to travel to Egypt with his party, as companion to his sister, Sam. Again, Ellie feels that she is the beneficiary of Chase’s charity, but he eventually talks her into accepting the offer.
The journey to Egypt has Chase and Ellie becoming closer than ever, with an undeniable attraction building higher and more intensely. Ellie realizes that she’s falling in love, but Chase can’t identify his feelings. What does he know of love? The only affection he’s had has been with his siblings. And even if he were to pursue the relationship further, Ellie (he thinks) longs for a stable home while he is a wanderer with no roots. Sometimes Chase even resents his own feelings, causing him to say hurtful things to Ellie that he really doesn’t mean.
Lara Temple paints a vivid picture of Egypt, a wonderful backdrop for the beautiful romance that’s developing. In THE RAKE’S ENTICING PROPOSAL, each character feels they’re not adequate enough for the other, but in reality, they are a perfect match. Chase is truly a loving, kind, and generous man, while Ellie is strong and more than willing to add a little adventure to her life. The exotic location is not one normally seen in historical romance, and it added a little something extra to this well written and heart touching story. This book two of the Sinful Sinclairs series can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading the first book, which I loved, as well, and is the story of Chase’s brother, Lucas.
June 17, 2019
“She was Eleanor Walsh. She could, and would, deal with anything.”
Faced with a mysterious letter from the late Baron Huxley, Chase Sinclair is left to look through the remains of the man’s paperwork and artefacts, when Eleanor Walsh quite literally falls into his life.
Chase may have a dubious reputation, but Ellie has secrets of her own, and is currently maintaining a fake betrothal to Henry, the newly inherited Baron Huxley in order to provide some stability for her family, and, unfortunately for all concerned, Chase and Ellie’s strange first meeting is about to change their lives as Lara Temple takes the reader on a journey through an unexpected romance via a trip to Egypt and an air of mystery that is set to continue into the next book of this excellent series.
Having previously met Chase in the previous book (the excellent ‘The Earl’s Irresistible Challenge), the reader may be aware that Chase is a complex character who very much cares about his family, but has no intention of settling down, and it is testament to Lara Temple’s writing that, despite his reputation, you soon find yourself agreeing with Ellie that there is something about Chase that makes him quite appealing, if only he could be persuaded that falling in love can be a good thing.
Equally, Ellie is also very well created, and more than a match for Chase, and the author has once again given the reader a strong heroine who does not necessarily fit the typical society bride that the likes of Chase may be expected to form a match with. The two spark off each other well, and there is a healthy dose of good humour as the story progresses, not least as Chase provides entertaining fictional anecdotes that could be used if Ellie were to fulfil her desires of travelling to Egypt. Readers of the previous book will remember Chase’s now sister in law, Olivia, posing as a fake psychic called Madam Bulgari, and it is somewhat entertaining to note Chase’s suggestions that Ellie could pose as ‘Madam Ambrosia’ - given Ellie and Olivia’s similarities, we can only imagine the fun that could be had if the two were to form a double act!
Ellie’s fake betrothal conveniently dealt with, the story moves on to an excellently described trip to Egypt where, thanks to the author’s excellent writing style, the reader sees Egypt through Ellie’s eyes, and you really can visualise the surroundings. A lot of research has clearly gone into this section of the book, and there is a strong element of history in and amongst the story. The inclusion of Lucas and Olivia, as well as Chases’s sister, Sam provides a strong basis for the plot as Chase and Ellie begin to accept that they are falling for each other, and there are enough hints about Sam’s past history with Lord Edgerton to tease the forthcoming third book in the series.
As well as Sam, Lucas and Olivia (and her cat Inky), the supporting characters are equally strong, and special mention must go to the scene stealing Aunt Ermintrude who sets out to thwart Ellie and Henry’s fake betrothal, and provides several entertaining moments in the early stages of the book.
In typical Lara Temple style, the story moves towards it’s beautifully romantic conclusion which provides a satisfying end to this entertaining story of breaking down barriers and finding the love of your life in unexpected circumstances.
Thank you to Lara Temple for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Faced with a mysterious letter from the late Baron Huxley, Chase Sinclair is left to look through the remains of the man’s paperwork and artefacts, when Eleanor Walsh quite literally falls into his life.
Chase may have a dubious reputation, but Ellie has secrets of her own, and is currently maintaining a fake betrothal to Henry, the newly inherited Baron Huxley in order to provide some stability for her family, and, unfortunately for all concerned, Chase and Ellie’s strange first meeting is about to change their lives as Lara Temple takes the reader on a journey through an unexpected romance via a trip to Egypt and an air of mystery that is set to continue into the next book of this excellent series.
Having previously met Chase in the previous book (the excellent ‘The Earl’s Irresistible Challenge), the reader may be aware that Chase is a complex character who very much cares about his family, but has no intention of settling down, and it is testament to Lara Temple’s writing that, despite his reputation, you soon find yourself agreeing with Ellie that there is something about Chase that makes him quite appealing, if only he could be persuaded that falling in love can be a good thing.
Equally, Ellie is also very well created, and more than a match for Chase, and the author has once again given the reader a strong heroine who does not necessarily fit the typical society bride that the likes of Chase may be expected to form a match with. The two spark off each other well, and there is a healthy dose of good humour as the story progresses, not least as Chase provides entertaining fictional anecdotes that could be used if Ellie were to fulfil her desires of travelling to Egypt. Readers of the previous book will remember Chase’s now sister in law, Olivia, posing as a fake psychic called Madam Bulgari, and it is somewhat entertaining to note Chase’s suggestions that Ellie could pose as ‘Madam Ambrosia’ - given Ellie and Olivia’s similarities, we can only imagine the fun that could be had if the two were to form a double act!
Ellie’s fake betrothal conveniently dealt with, the story moves on to an excellently described trip to Egypt where, thanks to the author’s excellent writing style, the reader sees Egypt through Ellie’s eyes, and you really can visualise the surroundings. A lot of research has clearly gone into this section of the book, and there is a strong element of history in and amongst the story. The inclusion of Lucas and Olivia, as well as Chases’s sister, Sam provides a strong basis for the plot as Chase and Ellie begin to accept that they are falling for each other, and there are enough hints about Sam’s past history with Lord Edgerton to tease the forthcoming third book in the series.
As well as Sam, Lucas and Olivia (and her cat Inky), the supporting characters are equally strong, and special mention must go to the scene stealing Aunt Ermintrude who sets out to thwart Ellie and Henry’s fake betrothal, and provides several entertaining moments in the early stages of the book.
In typical Lara Temple style, the story moves towards it’s beautifully romantic conclusion which provides a satisfying end to this entertaining story of breaking down barriers and finding the love of your life in unexpected circumstances.
Thank you to Lara Temple for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 1, 2019
Lara Temple delights us again with this cozy love story where passion is the key to be free. Two wild hearts, carrying the burden of their families' unfortunate past, find the liberation they need in each other's arms as they discover the good in themselves.
Eleanor Walsh, the witty, stoic and curious Ellie, thought she was condemned to carry the burden of her father's debt and protect her house and siblings. But when she meets Charles Sinclair, who everybody thought about as the most adventurous and sinful of all the Sinclairs, her daring nature will bloom just to realize how much passion she lacked in her life.
Ellie decides to search for a way to free Whitworth from the mortgage and avoid losing their home, and the only way is to plot a fake engagement to her friend, Henry Huxley, to find the evidence she needs, never imagining that instead she'd find herself in the trap of love to the most inconvenient rake. Meanwhile, after Chase -Charles- discovers Ellie's lies and her miserable family story, he decides to help her (at least, he isn't the only one with a pity past and childhood). Yet, he never imagined that, on their way, Ellie would be the one to help him discover a secret which involves his mother and sister.
Ellie wishes to escape from the passion Chase was awakening in her. But suddenly, she and her siblings are free of debts, her house saved, and she's offered an opportunity to travel to Egypt and live an adventure. These all are thanks to Chase who never found the will to stay away from her.
This is the kind of stories that always trap me until the end, where not only a great romance takes place, but also believable characters and facts about real places and historical events which I so love to discover in each read.
I get so engrossed in Temple's writing, for her style and novels have become unique, always with a fresh twist and deep feelings. There was no part I didn't like and I was always waiting to know what would come next, what awaited Chase and Ellie. These two adventurous souls deserved to be together indeed and I loved the way Ellie unveiled each of Chase's raked falsettos to show him the true, pure heart he is. I may even say I was encompassed by their story more than that of Lucas and Olivia's.
This is one of the nest historical romances I've read and I highly recommend it.
It deserves a 5 stars review...
Eleanor Walsh, the witty, stoic and curious Ellie, thought she was condemned to carry the burden of her father's debt and protect her house and siblings. But when she meets Charles Sinclair, who everybody thought about as the most adventurous and sinful of all the Sinclairs, her daring nature will bloom just to realize how much passion she lacked in her life.
Ellie decides to search for a way to free Whitworth from the mortgage and avoid losing their home, and the only way is to plot a fake engagement to her friend, Henry Huxley, to find the evidence she needs, never imagining that instead she'd find herself in the trap of love to the most inconvenient rake. Meanwhile, after Chase -Charles- discovers Ellie's lies and her miserable family story, he decides to help her (at least, he isn't the only one with a pity past and childhood). Yet, he never imagined that, on their way, Ellie would be the one to help him discover a secret which involves his mother and sister.
Ellie wishes to escape from the passion Chase was awakening in her. But suddenly, she and her siblings are free of debts, her house saved, and she's offered an opportunity to travel to Egypt and live an adventure. These all are thanks to Chase who never found the will to stay away from her.
This is the kind of stories that always trap me until the end, where not only a great romance takes place, but also believable characters and facts about real places and historical events which I so love to discover in each read.
I get so engrossed in Temple's writing, for her style and novels have become unique, always with a fresh twist and deep feelings. There was no part I didn't like and I was always waiting to know what would come next, what awaited Chase and Ellie. These two adventurous souls deserved to be together indeed and I loved the way Ellie unveiled each of Chase's raked falsettos to show him the true, pure heart he is. I may even say I was encompassed by their story more than that of Lucas and Olivia's.
This is one of the nest historical romances I've read and I highly recommend it.
It deserves a 5 stars review...
October 3, 2019
The second in The Sinful Sinclairs mini series, though it can be read as a standalone, The Rake’s Enticing Proposal is Chase’s story.
Eleanor Walsh - Ellie – and Charles Sinclair - Chase – meet at Huxley Manor and there’s an instant spark between them. However, Charles is disconcerted to discover Ellie is betrothed to his cousin Henry, the new Baron Huxley. From the very first, Chase and Ellie are thrown together by Chase and Henry’s aunt, and it doesn’t take Chase long to realise there is something not right about the betrothal. Eventually Ellie confesses it is a sham. Huxley wants protection against his aunt’s matchmaking, Ellie needs money to retain ownership of her home, and as they’d always been good friends, a pretend betrothal seemed like a good idea.
Ellie has had to take on the care of her family since her father’s death, and she’s struggling under the weight of her responsibilities. Can she throw off the shackles of responsibility and respectability, and allow herself to really live?
Chase is that rare creature, an honourable rake. He’s charming, sexy, and initially jumps to wrong conclusions about Ellie, and she gets under his skin in a way no-one else has been able to. Chase also struggles under the weight of duty, and the burden of the part he’s chosen to play. Until now, he’s always been able to hide the truth from people. Can he finally allow himself throw off his mask, and be the man he truly is?
The Rake’s Enticing Proposal is a wonderful, character driven story. Ellie and Chase are multi-layered, deeply convincing, real people. It’s full of witty banter, fun, and despite Ellie’s and Chase’s backstories, it’s very light in tone.
Set partly in England, and partly in Egypt, it’s got romance, intrigue, and mystery. Lara Temple has combined all her skills and incomparable storytelling ability to weave a spellbinding web of pure delight.
Eleanor Walsh - Ellie – and Charles Sinclair - Chase – meet at Huxley Manor and there’s an instant spark between them. However, Charles is disconcerted to discover Ellie is betrothed to his cousin Henry, the new Baron Huxley. From the very first, Chase and Ellie are thrown together by Chase and Henry’s aunt, and it doesn’t take Chase long to realise there is something not right about the betrothal. Eventually Ellie confesses it is a sham. Huxley wants protection against his aunt’s matchmaking, Ellie needs money to retain ownership of her home, and as they’d always been good friends, a pretend betrothal seemed like a good idea.
Ellie has had to take on the care of her family since her father’s death, and she’s struggling under the weight of her responsibilities. Can she throw off the shackles of responsibility and respectability, and allow herself to really live?
Chase is that rare creature, an honourable rake. He’s charming, sexy, and initially jumps to wrong conclusions about Ellie, and she gets under his skin in a way no-one else has been able to. Chase also struggles under the weight of duty, and the burden of the part he’s chosen to play. Until now, he’s always been able to hide the truth from people. Can he finally allow himself throw off his mask, and be the man he truly is?
The Rake’s Enticing Proposal is a wonderful, character driven story. Ellie and Chase are multi-layered, deeply convincing, real people. It’s full of witty banter, fun, and despite Ellie’s and Chase’s backstories, it’s very light in tone.
Set partly in England, and partly in Egypt, it’s got romance, intrigue, and mystery. Lara Temple has combined all her skills and incomparable storytelling ability to weave a spellbinding web of pure delight.
July 2, 2019
This is book 2 in the sinful sinclairs series. Although you don't really have to off read the first book in the series I do recommend you do to find out more about the sinclair family. Book 1 is the earls irresistible challenge.
After reading the first book in the series I couldn't wait to read the next and I definitely wasn't disappointed. This book is about the charming Charles ( chase) sinclair who arrives at Huxley Manor after hearing of the death of his cousin in order to sort out hexleys affairs. This is where he meets Eleanor ( Ellie) Walsh who is engaged to Henry. Chase can't shake off a feeling that not everything is as it seems with the couple.
Ellie and Henry have come come to an arrangement, a fake engagement. They are hoping this will benefit them both, but it has to be kept secret at all costs. She desparatly needs money in order to save her family home and Henry wants to get his overbearing aunt, lady ermintrude off his back who has made it clear she wants him to marry one off her daughters.
You see chase and Ellie relationship and affection for each of their grow as they work together to go through huxleys papers and solve the mystery he has left beind.
I Love this book the descriptions are amazing specially when they go to Egypt they really drew you into the book letting your imagination run wild. Like all the characters in lara temples books they work so well together and you find yourself intently liking them.
Love laras writing style and can't wait to read the next book in the series and see sam get her happily ever after.
I definitely recommend this book.
After reading the first book in the series I couldn't wait to read the next and I definitely wasn't disappointed. This book is about the charming Charles ( chase) sinclair who arrives at Huxley Manor after hearing of the death of his cousin in order to sort out hexleys affairs. This is where he meets Eleanor ( Ellie) Walsh who is engaged to Henry. Chase can't shake off a feeling that not everything is as it seems with the couple.
Ellie and Henry have come come to an arrangement, a fake engagement. They are hoping this will benefit them both, but it has to be kept secret at all costs. She desparatly needs money in order to save her family home and Henry wants to get his overbearing aunt, lady ermintrude off his back who has made it clear she wants him to marry one off her daughters.
You see chase and Ellie relationship and affection for each of their grow as they work together to go through huxleys papers and solve the mystery he has left beind.
I Love this book the descriptions are amazing specially when they go to Egypt they really drew you into the book letting your imagination run wild. Like all the characters in lara temples books they work so well together and you find yourself intently liking them.
Love laras writing style and can't wait to read the next book in the series and see sam get her happily ever after.
I definitely recommend this book.
July 2, 2019
The Rake’s Enticing Proposal is the second book in The Sinful Sinclairs series and we get to see Chase Sinclair meet his match in Ellie Walsh. Both characters were strong and wonderfully crafted and with the backdrop of Egypt, this made for a very exotic read.
The story starts off with Chase making his way back to his cousin’s estate, where he meets Ellie. There’s an instant spark between the two and from there the attraction between them just snowballs. The sure and confident Chase Sinclair is on shaky ground, unsure about his feelings or how to communicate them articulately and this causes his brother, Lucas ample amusement, since in the previous book, the shoe was on the other foot. Ellie is a strong character with deeper insecurities and she shows great resilience and dignity in facing her troubles, except when it comes to Chase, she feels nothing except the deep need to be with him.
Another beautifully crafted book from Lara Temple with vivid descriptions of Egypt, plenty of sexual tension and brilliant characters. I’m keen to see how Sam will live up to the standard set by her brothers and their love stories and I’m in no doubt that Ms Temple will do her story justice.
The story starts off with Chase making his way back to his cousin’s estate, where he meets Ellie. There’s an instant spark between the two and from there the attraction between them just snowballs. The sure and confident Chase Sinclair is on shaky ground, unsure about his feelings or how to communicate them articulately and this causes his brother, Lucas ample amusement, since in the previous book, the shoe was on the other foot. Ellie is a strong character with deeper insecurities and she shows great resilience and dignity in facing her troubles, except when it comes to Chase, she feels nothing except the deep need to be with him.
Another beautifully crafted book from Lara Temple with vivid descriptions of Egypt, plenty of sexual tension and brilliant characters. I’m keen to see how Sam will live up to the standard set by her brothers and their love stories and I’m in no doubt that Ms Temple will do her story justice.
June 23, 2019
"A kiss is like a good book."
Chase Sinclair is funny, sarcastic, confused and insecure around Ellie, but wants to fix all her problems. Ellie Walsh is practical, independent and insecure around Chase, but totally curious about kissing. So when she asks, he gives his answer.
The death of Chase's cousin brings him to Huxley Hall to go over his inheritance. Ellie is pretending to be the fiance of the new Lord Huxley, but that soon falls apart. Ellie and her family are financially destitute, Chase comes up with the answers, one of them is Ellie as a companion to his sister on a trip to Egypt. A trip that will give Chase a chance to follow his heart. Also included are missing pages of books, a vase and a mysterious box. Don't forget swimming in crocodile-infested waters.
Chase Sinclair is funny, sarcastic, confused and insecure around Ellie, but wants to fix all her problems. Ellie Walsh is practical, independent and insecure around Chase, but totally curious about kissing. So when she asks, he gives his answer.
The death of Chase's cousin brings him to Huxley Hall to go over his inheritance. Ellie is pretending to be the fiance of the new Lord Huxley, but that soon falls apart. Ellie and her family are financially destitute, Chase comes up with the answers, one of them is Ellie as a companion to his sister on a trip to Egypt. A trip that will give Chase a chance to follow his heart. Also included are missing pages of books, a vase and a mysterious box. Don't forget swimming in crocodile-infested waters.
June 21, 2019
“You are the only home I want.”
That line sums up this book. There it is in a nutshell.
Lara Temple’s writing skills are superb, indeed they are improving with each successive book – if that’s possible. Chase and Ellie’s story in “The Rake’s Enticing Proposal” is so satisfying I never wanted it to end.
I have never visited Egypt, although I have always wanted to, and the Egypt of the early 19th Century comes alive through Ms. Temple’s words. It’s not often that I want to re-read any book and I have never wanted to re-read a Harlequin, but this is going into that special folder of comfort re-reads along with my favourite Georgette Heyers and Mary Baloghs.
Brava!
(I received an ARC in return for an honest review.)
That line sums up this book. There it is in a nutshell.
Lara Temple’s writing skills are superb, indeed they are improving with each successive book – if that’s possible. Chase and Ellie’s story in “The Rake’s Enticing Proposal” is so satisfying I never wanted it to end.
I have never visited Egypt, although I have always wanted to, and the Egypt of the early 19th Century comes alive through Ms. Temple’s words. It’s not often that I want to re-read any book and I have never wanted to re-read a Harlequin, but this is going into that special folder of comfort re-reads along with my favourite Georgette Heyers and Mary Baloghs.
Brava!
(I received an ARC in return for an honest review.)
June 30, 2019
Well, I think that I have found another "go to" author if I ever need an historical romance. Temple has been consistently good for the two books I have read back to back this weekend and just what I needed!
Solid characters, even though I could make a complaint that the "rake" is absolutely no rake at all and more a paragon of male virtue. The heroines are plain but strong (for the most part). Completely fictional and totally implausible storylines, in reality, but who reads for a dose of reality??? I am all for escapism and this is quality escapism!
Thank you Temple!
Solid characters, even though I could make a complaint that the "rake" is absolutely no rake at all and more a paragon of male virtue. The heroines are plain but strong (for the most part). Completely fictional and totally implausible storylines, in reality, but who reads for a dose of reality??? I am all for escapism and this is quality escapism!
Thank you Temple!
October 5, 2019
Rating: 5 Stars ⭐️
Wow. I devoured this book. I loved everything about this story. Chase Sinclair is my favorite - swoon
Wow. I devoured this book. I loved everything about this story. Chase Sinclair is my favorite - swoon
December 7, 2024
Lengvas meilės romanas apie XIX a. Anglijos ir ne tik gyvenimą.
August 22, 2019
There is not one Lara Temple book that I have not loved. This story is no different. I devoured it in one sitting and could not get enough!
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