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How to Reform a Rake #0.5

How to Reform a Rake

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Five rakes and a brothel…

A rogue’s reform can have the most unlikely beginning. When a duke and his friends are forced to stay at the only available accommodations in a snow covered Canterbury, their lives take a dramatic turn. A gypsy convinces them to tempt fate and enter a bet.

The terms? They must each collect a kiss from one lady of worth. What could be the harm in that? After all, once a rake always a rake. Right? The trouble is, these ladies have rules and plans of their own.

How to Reform a Rake is a short prologue. Find out how fate ensares the Duke of Longley, the Marquess of Highwater, the Earl of Kissinger, the Earl of Clearwood, and the Viscount of Averstone in this five book series.

50 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 3, 2019

155 people are currently reading
141 people want to read

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Tammy Andresen

227 books1,069 followers

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5 stars
108 (37%)
4 stars
75 (26%)
3 stars
73 (25%)
2 stars
15 (5%)
1 star
16 (5%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
Profile Image for Ivy H.
856 reviews
January 29, 2019
This was a very short, free prologue ( approx. 20 pages long ) to a new series of novellas, about 5 roguish rakes who are best friends. These 5 men are all peers: there's a duke, a marquess, a couple of earls and a viscount. It was a cute and very entertaining little prologue, that provided a great introduction to all 5 men, but the author focused most attention on the duke since he's the H of the first novella.


In this humorous little prologue, all 5 dissolute friends are drunk and on their way to Dover to spend Christmas. They're stranded at Canterbury due to heavy snowfall and since all the inns are full, they end up having no choice but to share a fortune teller's room at a brothel !



Don't worry, they didn't bang the prostitutes since they were all forced to share one room and spent the night resting and talking.


These 5 idle guys all come up with a silly bet that involves the 5 lovely Ducat sisters. It's obvious that each guy with be paired with one sister.

I ended up liking the duke most of all, because he seemed the most sensible of the 5 guys, plus he was the only one who seemed to be already in love with Lily Ducat. This was a nice introduction to the series, but I felt it could've been included at the start of the first novel. But, it didn't really matter much, I guess since it was free after all. I am intrigued by 4 of the guys, but somehow Chase ( the supreme shameless manwhore of the group and the sole viscount ) kinda annoyed me a little.

The first novella, which deals with the duke's story is Don't Tell a Duke You Love Him.
Profile Image for Dianne.
6,815 reviews632 followers
January 20, 2019
What the five most roguish rakes of the Ton expected the night they stayed at the brothel was far from what they got. Perhaps they shouldn’t have chuckled when the gypsy engaged them in a bet…there was no way a simple kiss would find them their true love, hook. Line and wedding band, especially as they weren’t really looking to settle down… or were they?

Tammy Andresen’s HOW TO REFORM A RAKE is a brief prequel to a new and sexy series that embraces all that is fun, light and definitely romantic!

If you have a few minutes to feel good about love and taming an historical bad boy, I can say you have come to the right place!

I received a complimentary copy from Tammy Andresen!

Publication Date: January 3, 2019
Publisher: Tammy Andresen
Genre: Historical Romance
Available FREE from: AmazonBarnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Profile Image for Siobhan.
5,034 reviews598 followers
January 22, 2019
I’m not usually one for these little prequel stories, but with the How to Reform a Rake series, I knew it would help if I did give the prequel a read. I’m glad I did, as it sets the scene for the series so well.

This prequel is more a chapter than anything else, a quick little insight in how things came to be before the main series. As we dive straight into things with the first book, this is a great way to see the characters and find out what played out. You can understand the references without first reading this one, but it certainly helps if you give this one a read first.

Without a doubt, this prequel promises a great series.
Profile Image for Lori D.
4,079 reviews129 followers
January 24, 2019
This was a prologue to a new series by Tammy Andresen and set the stage. Five rakes, of yes, rakes of the first water, end up stranded at a brothel during a snow storm. Well, what could they get up to there? Not what you are thinking, but it involves a gypsy, tarot cards and bet they all enter into.
They must each collect a kiss from one true lady and it seems is may not turn out too good for a set of sisters! But of course it is harmless fun. Or is it? Cannot wait for this series and know it will be awesome!
Profile Image for 🦉Maggie Whitworth.
3,254 reviews113 followers
December 5, 2019
A Quick prologue of the coming new series by Tammy .
5 Rakes caught in the snow , take refuge in a brothel , meeting a Gypsy, they draw cards to see where their destiny lies .
This is going to be a brilliant series , I can’t wait .
Profile Image for Janet.
5,177 reviews64 followers
January 11, 2019
5 friends decide to travel to the Earl of Clearwater’s estate in Dover for the Christmas holidays but the weather deteriorates so much that they are forced to stop in Canterbury where the only accommodation is Frau Kraus’ brothel. There they meet Vadoma who tempts them to enter a bet to kiss one of the 5 Ducat sisters.
I first read this short story in the Christmas Brothel anthology & hoped that it would be a prologue to a series. Which I’m thrilled there is going to be. The pace was good & whilst only short there were enough teasers to whet my appetite for the series
Profile Image for Marisela M. Chavez.
1,393 reviews6 followers
August 1, 2020
A great introduction to this series. I can’t wait to see how everything plays out.
Profile Image for Jessie.
610 reviews25 followers
January 31, 2024
This was an intro to a series that I read because the first book is part of a historical romance collection I’m currently reading. I enjoyed it well enough, and the series seems like it will be a lot of fun. However, I have to include a CW here and knock off some stars because there is some anti-Romani xenophobia/racism in the story, which goes entirely unchallenged.

For one thing, the typical slur for Romani people is used in the story. I’m aware that it was commonly used at the time the story takes place and that many people still don’t know it’s a slur, but authors should do their due diligence as far as research goes and, at the very least, include their own CWs about problematic, triggering, or hateful things in their stories. Besides the slur, the MC also has the thought that he will “have to sleep with one eye open tonight” as soon as he realizes that the sex worker he and his friends are sharing a room with is Romani. I mean, he thinks it immediately, and then he has the thought that sleeping with her would be “distasteful,” and I know that the author didn’t mean it the way it came across—the MC has clearly been having second thoughts for a while about his life of debauchery—but putting that thought where it was? Yikes. Plus, there’s the whole let’s-make-the-one-person-who’s-different-into-a-magical-plot-device thing, which is just gross.

There is also a lot of sexism, but that’s kind of par for the course in historical romances, so it’s almost not worth mentioning. Anyway, this prologue is honestly pretty good, but with so much of it revolving around a racial stereotype that’s never challenged, I can’t give it more than two stars. I’m hoping the first book, which I’m about to start (as part of the collection I’m reading), is better. We’ll see.
Profile Image for Amelia.
794 reviews19 followers
February 16, 2019
When five friends decide the Christmas holiday would be more enjoyable spent together at one of their estates, they all thought the time there would be a fun drunken celebration. A snowstorm halts their trip, and they can only find shelter at a brothel and end up sharing the room belonging to a gypsy. As they sit around talking and drinking, somehow a bet is made involving them getting a kiss from one of the Ducat sisters. But stealing a kiss could have dire consequences if they are not careful.

There is constant entertainment in this introduction to the HOW TO REFORM A RAKE series, where insight into the lives of five English men of noble birth reveal some of their inner thoughts and unspoken fears. When the group makes a bet amongst themselves, I could easily tell by their reactions to the disclosed details just how much each man was being affected. I learned more about one in particular, a duke, as his story is first, and what I discovered about him has me eager for more and his book has just been bought. I always like books written by Tammy Andresen, as characters are delightfully believable and the storylines are intriguing. Rating - 4.5 Stars
Profile Image for Nicole Normand.
1,974 reviews31 followers
June 3, 2020
I found this book for free on Amazon via BookBub; this is my honest review.
-I love prequels. It sets the series, gives you a map, and leaves you wanting more.
-Very good prequel to the series of 5 books. Gives you a good idea of each man's character, their title, what they think about their present life, ladies in general, and love.
-Usually I'm not into Tarot or anything like that, but I liked the premise of a bet with 5 sisters, the men's own preferences, and the promise of getting a kiss from them.
-I'm guessing they are bind with the gypsy they encountered but I'm not sure. Who else will know if they won the bet or not? For sure, there are no losers.
-Editing: Needs another pass but nothing serious. For ex. read hair (vs. red hair).
Profile Image for Dr. Lillian.
275 reviews
August 7, 2022
The author recommends reading this prequel prior to the first book of the series because it introduces the characters of the series and supposedly where the first book starts off (I’ll be starting the book next). It’s available as a free Kindle book. This prequel novella is really no more than a prequel chapter that really could’ve been included as prequel in the first book or even on the author’s website as other writers have done with very short stories. Glad I read it so I understand the setting of the book series.
3,542 reviews14 followers
January 18, 2019
How To Reform A Rake by Tammy Andresen is closer to a prelude than a book. This is a very, very quick read...think prelude or chapter, that's about how long it is. But, I believe it is a perfect set up for the rest of the series. Five noblemen depart London to head for one of their estates and get caught in a snowstorm. They take refuge at a brothel and a wager is made. I enjoyed this quick read and can't wait to get to book 1 of the How To Reform A Rake Series.
296 reviews3 followers
March 24, 2022
GREAT START TO A SERIES BRILLIANT

How to reform a Rake five friends stop of for the night due to bad weather.
After drinking and discussing women they discuss five sisters
Give of them five sisters .
They make a bet on who can get a sister to miss them if they get caught they will marry the sister they kiss.

A gypsy gets a pack of cards and they pick a card each.

LET THE GAMES BEGIN I CAN'T WAIT TO READ BOOK ONE
Profile Image for SOMDReigel.
1,125 reviews
January 16, 2019
Very short read that introduces the five men of a new series. This is a prologue, not a complete story. You’re not going to get to know these characters in depth, that will come in their own stories that make up the series. A good story to read prior to reading the series.
The first book in the series is Don’t Tell A Duke You Love Him releases January 22, 2019
196 reviews1 follower
March 5, 2019
Extremely short story about how the Reform the Rake series gets started. I haven't started the series yet, but I feel pretty sure this story isn't needed in order to understand how the kissing bets get started. It gives you a little extra background regarding the circumstances of the men, and the women they pick, by the gypsy woman and her cards.
Profile Image for Lori.
773 reviews3 followers
March 14, 2023
Short.

Well, these 5 bachelors, on the way to Dover, get caught in a snow storm, and have to take shelter in a brothel, a room, that belongs to the gypsy woman. So the make a bet to steal a kiss, from the 5 Ducat sisters. So the gypsy woman has it one of them to pick a card, and that would be the woman whom they would kiss. So who gets who?
Profile Image for Lana Birky.
1,699 reviews22 followers
January 13, 2019
I am glad I read this short Prologue about the characters in the upcoming series - it really helped me grasp who was who and what they were doing when I started reading Don't Tell a Duke You Love Him! I highly recommend this short read prior to starting the series!
Profile Image for Laura.
339 reviews16 followers
February 3, 2019
This was a super quick read - just a single chapter prologue to introduce the series of five books that follows it. I'm intrigued now to see how the stories play out for each of the five couples involved (five male friends and five sisters).
Profile Image for shirlene brown.
326 reviews1 follower
May 29, 2019
What the card hold

Tammy Andersen has done it again with this story about a man who didn't know what they was up against.But this story wasn't long enough to found out what this story is about. I give this story a three star rating
Profile Image for Mary Eve.
588 reviews2 followers
June 28, 2019
I'm not much of a romance reader. Somehow this book found its way onto my Kindle. I've read it. I'm not gonna knock it because I'm the wrong audience for a Rogues and Rakes story. If you're interested in the first book in the series DON'T TELL A DUKE YOU LOVE HIM, I hope you enjoy.
Profile Image for Courtney.
4,298 reviews
August 13, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel from the first page until the very last. It has been a very rare occurrence that I could just pick up a book and read it in one day; but, I was captivated by these characters and their amazing love story instantaneously.
1,448 reviews3 followers
January 24, 2022
How to Reform a Rake

ALRIGHT! Here we go on another adventure with some handsome unruly Gents, who think they can outsmart the course of true love. I love Ms Andersen's books. Adventures, mayhems and finally their downfall to love.
Profile Image for Jessica.
948 reviews11 followers
February 20, 2024
intriguing prequel to the series

Interesting premise to start a series of novels. The gypsy in the story has more supernatural powers than they thought. I wonder if the truth about her will be revealed on the last book? Just a taste of what’s to come to whet one’s interest.
Profile Image for Monika.
487 reviews
January 14, 2019
This was a fun read and a great way to introduce future characters in a new series. Can't wait to read all their stories!
Profile Image for Sally Hannoush.
1,882 reviews27 followers
January 16, 2019
How fun

This is a great introduction to five rakes. I look forward to each story and meeting the five sisters in their fated futures. Short read. Pick it up.
Profile Image for Mrs Caroline Trevor.
443 reviews10 followers
January 28, 2019
Good

I found this a good book. A prologue to a book series of 5 titled gentlemen who make a pact to change their ways.
2 reviews
January 29, 2019
Redeem a rake

It all starts with a wager, of course. For a series beginning, it makes an intriguing beginning. Can’t wait to see who goes first!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews

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