What do you think?
Rate this book
Brotherhood of the Black Tartan #2
Romancing the Rake
Lady Sophronia Sorrow considers herself an unlikely heroine. Why, just her name alone proves this. Sophronia Sorrow sounds like a girl from a gothic penny novel—the foolish miss who falls prey to a rake and becomes an object lesson for the true heroine to avoid. No, despite her mawkish name, Sophie refuses to spend her life invisible and unwanted, relegated to the margin of the text. Despite her eccentric, bluestocking ways, there must be a place where she is wanted. If only she could uncover the identity of her natural father, perhaps she would belong there? But one thing Sophie knows for sure—unlike that foolhardy miss in a novel, she will not succumb to a rake. No matter how thoroughly the rakish Lord Rafe Gilbert may tempt her. Lord Rafe Gilbert longs for freedom—freedom from his controlling father, freedom to live his life as he chooses. He knows playing the rake keeps his autocratic father in check, but Rafe longs to determine his own destiny. Case in point, he fell in love with Lady Sophie years ago, but his father’s threats and his mother’s health prevent him from pursuing Lady Sophie in earnest. So when Fate thrusts Sophie into his path, Rafe knows he must turn her away and distance himself. But doing the right thing has never been so impossibly difficult. Sophie and Rafe soon find themselves on a journey together from London to a castle in the Scottish Highlands. Along the way, can two kindred souls heal from past hurts and seize a second chance to write a love story of their own?
361 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 18, 2020
779 people are currently reading
806 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 347 reviews
March 20, 2024
He falls first is always superior
This was a very engaging book and the ending/culmination fueled my love of vengeance but gawd, the first 40% of this was extremely repetitive with all of Sophie’s talk of life science, biology and genus classifications. Much like the first book, I had to skip over some sections, but the first book didn’t go on and on. Also, like the first book, I found the phonetic Scottish dialogue to be distracting and inconsistent. Now I know Rafe was half English and his accent deliberately went in and out, however the author would go in and out within the same paragraph and it felt badly edited rather than deliberate at points.
Note: lots of hammering of Sophie’s made up science words, and you know if I resort to doing a search and find, I’m annoyed by it:
Primus is used 35 times
rake is used 77 times
rakus is used 55 times.
But other than those small quibbles, this was an entertaining book and very emotional. The stakes were appropriately high for why they couldn’t be together and the mystery was skillfully done. I was on the edge of my seat at the end. Also, he falls first is always superior and I will always be here for it.
This was a very engaging book and the ending/culmination fueled my love of vengeance but gawd, the first 40% of this was extremely repetitive with all of Sophie’s talk of life science, biology and genus classifications. Much like the first book, I had to skip over some sections, but the first book didn’t go on and on. Also, like the first book, I found the phonetic Scottish dialogue to be distracting and inconsistent. Now I know Rafe was half English and his accent deliberately went in and out, however the author would go in and out within the same paragraph and it felt badly edited rather than deliberate at points.
Note: lots of hammering of Sophie’s made up science words, and you know if I resort to doing a search and find, I’m annoyed by it:
Primus is used 35 times
rake is used 77 times
rakus is used 55 times.
But other than those small quibbles, this was an entertaining book and very emotional. The stakes were appropriately high for why they couldn’t be together and the mystery was skillfully done. I was on the edge of my seat at the end. Also, he falls first is always superior and I will always be here for it.
February 28, 2024
This series is so good I have no time to write reviews because I want to read the next book words 😭
February 20, 2021
Superb!
It's books like this that really keep me reading. Ms. Van has really taken the time to develop a wonderful story with complex characters, swoony romance, an intriguing mystery or two and takes you on a journey of discovery for our leads Rafe and Sophie. I'm not exaggerating when I say I couldn't put this one down, as soon as I started I was sucked right into the story. I did pause to text some friends letting them know early on this book was a keeper. So, despite wanting to savor it, I did end up reading this in one day. I HAD to know what was going to happen.
The writing was spot on, a great flow to the story that kept me engaged. The characters were really well developed, so many layers to them. The mysteries were great, I had no clue how things were going to play out, but watching it all come together in the end was epic.
I love a good romance, and the story of Rafe and Sophie is just so yummy. Very believable emotions, trials and heartache. The both face quite a bit and there are some heavy themes, but I appreciate that it was kept positive and even had some great lighthearted moments. Lots of swoony tension as well.
I remember loving the first book, and this one was equally great. I eagerly look forward to the rest of the series, this is one I will read over and over. HIGHLY recommend to everyone.
Content:
Romance: Clean, kissing
Language: Mild
Violence: Mild-moderate
Brotherhood of the Black Tartan Series
It's books like this that really keep me reading. Ms. Van has really taken the time to develop a wonderful story with complex characters, swoony romance, an intriguing mystery or two and takes you on a journey of discovery for our leads Rafe and Sophie. I'm not exaggerating when I say I couldn't put this one down, as soon as I started I was sucked right into the story. I did pause to text some friends letting them know early on this book was a keeper. So, despite wanting to savor it, I did end up reading this in one day. I HAD to know what was going to happen.
The writing was spot on, a great flow to the story that kept me engaged. The characters were really well developed, so many layers to them. The mysteries were great, I had no clue how things were going to play out, but watching it all come together in the end was epic.
I love a good romance, and the story of Rafe and Sophie is just so yummy. Very believable emotions, trials and heartache. The both face quite a bit and there are some heavy themes, but I appreciate that it was kept positive and even had some great lighthearted moments. Lots of swoony tension as well.
I remember loving the first book, and this one was equally great. I eagerly look forward to the rest of the series, this is one I will read over and over. HIGHLY recommend to everyone.
Content:
Romance: Clean, kissing
Language: Mild
Violence: Mild-moderate
Brotherhood of the Black Tartan Series
May 19, 2024
As a hero-centric HEA-hoarder, a serious case of reader insta-love with a heroine is no small thing. I fell fast and hard for Sophie the invisible bluestocking, nevermind that we lean towards opposite sides of our brains. I may not enjoy taxonomy myself, but I can certainly relate to a good geek out and marvel at her brave scientific mind, how it shapes her worldview and interactions, how deeply embedded it is in her self-aware characterization and motivations. We do both have the tendency to leave others befuddled with our conversation hopping, so basically we’re brain-yin-yang kindred spirits. Plus, we do not suffer rakes. Apparently unless it’s a biologist rake with dimples. Then, we never stood a chance.
Because, not only dimpled biologist rake, but second-chance pining/groveling rake. I KNOW. And then not only second-chance, but forced proximity merry-widow-on-a-mission roadtrip to the Highlands. Yes, Ms. Van was like “Can’t stop, won’t stop. Let him let out that Scots half and those kilt-wearing bare knees out to play.” That first “lass”, I tell ya. But back to how this gave something I adore to see with the second chance trope: first chapters as sort of an extended prologue, where we witness on page that first chance bloom and then experience it meeting its premature death. So very effective to have that foundation of dashed hopes and well-nursed resentment to build from for our star-crossed lovers angst.
Because then we at turns also get Resigned Rake, Hate-Fueled Rake, Autopilot-Flirt Rake, Frustrated Rake, Jealous Rake, and, perhaps most devastating of all, Vulnerable Rake (besides Values-Your-Competence Rake, of course). The heart-baring commiserating of deep dark secrets these two get into, and yet the pangs at the dual POV giving us what is said and what was wanted to be said. Another differing aspect between myself and bosom friend Sophie: she does not back down from some healthy soul-eviscerating prodding, which makes her prime to perception-shred through faćades. If you’re into a rake’s redemption, this is like a full dismantling/reprogramming from Ms. Van, who we know by now is some sort of themes-of-forgiveness-and-healing savant. And is probably why she’s so brilliant at tangling that web, raising those stakes, making both internal and external conflicts seem so impossibly bleak and then gobsmack one with full-circle triumphant resolutions. All perfectly paced with that series overarching mystery/peril, and, as proven ever-generous, we also get the MOST UTTERLY “PERFECT FOR THEM” proposal. Oh, I’ll be silly-grinning at the thought of that one for not a short amount of time.
Adore this series, and this story is just so elementally tender, heart-squeezing and charming. Nichole Van is making me discover new depths of rabid fan devotion.
Content notes: Kissing Only. Mention and openly addressing of adultery and affairs. Heroine is illegitimate child from unknown father. On page recovery from toxic marriage and infidelity trauma. On page toxic parent. On page panic attack. Mention of stillborn birth and post-partum depression. Some biblical swearing.
Because, not only dimpled biologist rake, but second-chance pining/groveling rake. I KNOW. And then not only second-chance, but forced proximity merry-widow-on-a-mission roadtrip to the Highlands. Yes, Ms. Van was like “Can’t stop, won’t stop. Let him let out that Scots half and those kilt-wearing bare knees out to play.” That first “lass”, I tell ya. But back to how this gave something I adore to see with the second chance trope: first chapters as sort of an extended prologue, where we witness on page that first chance bloom and then experience it meeting its premature death. So very effective to have that foundation of dashed hopes and well-nursed resentment to build from for our star-crossed lovers angst.
Because then we at turns also get Resigned Rake, Hate-Fueled Rake, Autopilot-Flirt Rake, Frustrated Rake, Jealous Rake, and, perhaps most devastating of all, Vulnerable Rake (besides Values-Your-Competence Rake, of course). The heart-baring commiserating of deep dark secrets these two get into, and yet the pangs at the dual POV giving us what is said and what was wanted to be said. Another differing aspect between myself and bosom friend Sophie: she does not back down from some healthy soul-eviscerating prodding, which makes her prime to perception-shred through faćades. If you’re into a rake’s redemption, this is like a full dismantling/reprogramming from Ms. Van, who we know by now is some sort of themes-of-forgiveness-and-healing savant. And is probably why she’s so brilliant at tangling that web, raising those stakes, making both internal and external conflicts seem so impossibly bleak and then gobsmack one with full-circle triumphant resolutions. All perfectly paced with that series overarching mystery/peril, and, as proven ever-generous, we also get the MOST UTTERLY “PERFECT FOR THEM” proposal. Oh, I’ll be silly-grinning at the thought of that one for not a short amount of time.
Adore this series, and this story is just so elementally tender, heart-squeezing and charming. Nichole Van is making me discover new depths of rabid fan devotion.
Content notes: Kissing Only. Mention and openly addressing of adultery and affairs. Heroine is illegitimate child from unknown father. On page recovery from toxic marriage and infidelity trauma. On page toxic parent. On page panic attack. Mention of stillborn birth and post-partum depression. Some biblical swearing.
February 8, 2020
Wow! What a fantastic addition to the Brotherhood of the Black Tartan series! How fantastic you ask? Well, lets just say I already want to read it again!
Lady Sophie is a rather unique and quirky heroine. But you can't help but love her from the very beginning. Lord Rafe is one of those heroes that you instantly love. Put the two of them together and sparks start flying off the page. They were truly perfect for each other. Not only did they balance the other out, but they loved each other for who they were on the inside... quirks, insecurities, family drama and all. I couldn't get enough of these two!
Watching Sophie and Rafe navigate through their trails and tribulations and trying to figure out their relationship was not easy. I'm warning you ahead of time. You'll feel all the feels! I found myself laughing, getting teary eyed, seething with anger, shocked, and letting out little dreamy sighs throughout the book.
From the moment I started Romancing the Rake, I did not want to put it down. All the twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat and trying to devour the book as quickly as I could. The time I spent away from the book was absolute torture. I found myself sneaking in reading time whenever I could. I may or may not have gotten irrationally angry when real life kept me from finishing the book as fast as I wanted.
Ms. Van is a phenomenal storyteller! I can always count on her to whisk me away to the setting of her book where I'll live and breathe with all the characters until the very last page. It's no wonder that she's a favorite and an auto-buy author for me.
And what review of mine would be complete without my casting? I absolutely adore these two! What do you think?
Lady Sophie is a rather unique and quirky heroine. But you can't help but love her from the very beginning. Lord Rafe is one of those heroes that you instantly love. Put the two of them together and sparks start flying off the page. They were truly perfect for each other. Not only did they balance the other out, but they loved each other for who they were on the inside... quirks, insecurities, family drama and all. I couldn't get enough of these two!
Watching Sophie and Rafe navigate through their trails and tribulations and trying to figure out their relationship was not easy. I'm warning you ahead of time. You'll feel all the feels! I found myself laughing, getting teary eyed, seething with anger, shocked, and letting out little dreamy sighs throughout the book.
From the moment I started Romancing the Rake, I did not want to put it down. All the twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat and trying to devour the book as quickly as I could. The time I spent away from the book was absolute torture. I found myself sneaking in reading time whenever I could. I may or may not have gotten irrationally angry when real life kept me from finishing the book as fast as I wanted.
Ms. Van is a phenomenal storyteller! I can always count on her to whisk me away to the setting of her book where I'll live and breathe with all the characters until the very last page. It's no wonder that she's a favorite and an auto-buy author for me.
And what review of mine would be complete without my casting? I absolutely adore these two! What do you think?
February 13, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed Sophie and her frank bluestocking mannerisms! Her scientific categorization of members of society and the way she studies and interprets their behavior was hilarious. She and Rafe have amazing chemistry, and he adores her eccentricities. The unfairness and injustice that keeps them apart is difficult to swallow, but important lessons are learned as they each passed through their own refiner's fire. Sophie especially had wisdom for Rafe that helped him finally overcome his anger and find inner peace. Their journey together was exciting as they came to know each other again, but this time at a much deeper level, and long-held family secrets are finally revealed. The sense of mystery and suspense propelled the plot forward and the way history wove their two families together was surprising. There is also an overarching mystery of the shipwreck in Rafe's past that connects all the books together. I'm loving this series and can't wait for more!
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
December 31, 2023
Omggg, this book!!😫 Nichole Van has finished me! Rafe was utter perfection and his story was just so devastatingly tough to read as well as Sophie’s somewhat. This book made me Rage, laugh and cry within pages of each other. Sooo good!
“If I wish to verb a word, then I will do so.” I do this all the time Sophie. I so get it!!
The main thing y’all need to know is that Rafe is mine!!
“Prepare yourself, Lady Sophie,” he said, voice husky and low. “I intend to be most devoted in my attentions to you.”
Swoon!!! Blast his “demon dimples!”
“If I wish to verb a word, then I will do so.” I do this all the time Sophie. I so get it!!
The main thing y’all need to know is that Rafe is mine!!
“Prepare yourself, Lady Sophie,” he said, voice husky and low. “I intend to be most devoted in my attentions to you.”
Swoon!!! Blast his “demon dimples!”
October 8, 2023
Dear Nicholle Van,
You have ruined me—and I mean that in the best way. You simply are the queen of clean Scottish romance. Please continue writing historical romance containing Scotsmen with swoony scenes and intriguing mysteries forever and ever.
Sincerely and ardently,
Your newly minted fan,
Nicole
4.75 ⭐️
Bookish Yays:
😍 This book made me FEEL things. I teared up. I raged. I smiled. I swooned.
😍 The writing! Just read to find out.
😍 Layered characters and character growth
😍 An interesting mystery that kept me wondering
😍 Good pacing
😍 This series has an overarching mystery. Do yourself a favor and read book 1 first (Suffering the Scot)
😍 Excellent audio narrator that enhanced the story experience. Everyone should periodically be swept away by a Scotish brogue.
Mixed Bag:
😐 A little heavy handed on the moral discussion about hate in the middle of the book. A good message, just a tad overdone. Bringing in Christ would have made it more powerful, but I get that this is a secular romance.
😐 What happened to the father to make him so cruel? It was briefly hinted at, but I'm left curious with no resolution. Minor curiosity though, I'll be ok.
😐 I was satisfied with the ending, it left me all happy and such, but it would have been even BETTER if Rafe had found a way to fight for their relationship instead of being rescued by an accidental juicy discovery. Still, the final set down was oh so satisfying regardless.
Bookish Nays:
😒 One or two of Rafe's comments made me uncomfortable with their innuendo, though he is known as a rake so...
😒 A few of the phrases were unexpectedly modern—full stop. (I think that one was used twice)
Quotes for Your Enjoyment:
✨Oh, be still her heart. A biology-educated rake. The man was truly a menace to bluestockings everywhere.
✨Fortunately for him, spite was not one of her personal shortcomings. Blunt frankness, however, was.
✨“Did ye just call my kilt a skirt?”
She raised her brow and added a smirk. “Why, yes. I do believe I did.” Everything in her tone added and what are you going to do about it?
✨Twice now she had simply not recognized him. Her skills of observation required some honing. She was blaming the kilt for distracting her. A man’s bare knees had a way of upending even the soundest woman’s good sense.
✨"Demon" dimples 😂
Content:
Kissing only, though semi detailed and an implied makeout, one violent brawl in an alley where someone ends up unconscious, a true villian that is downright wretched and manipulating, mentions of mental and emotional abuse, brief depictions of the horrors of assylums, mild language (biblical swear words, a few more than the last book), but no blasphemies
You have ruined me—and I mean that in the best way. You simply are the queen of clean Scottish romance. Please continue writing historical romance containing Scotsmen with swoony scenes and intriguing mysteries forever and ever.
Sincerely and ardently,
Your newly minted fan,
Nicole
4.75 ⭐️
Bookish Yays:
😍 This book made me FEEL things. I teared up. I raged. I smiled. I swooned.
😍 The writing! Just read to find out.
😍 Layered characters and character growth
😍 An interesting mystery that kept me wondering
😍 Good pacing
😍 This series has an overarching mystery. Do yourself a favor and read book 1 first (Suffering the Scot)
😍 Excellent audio narrator that enhanced the story experience. Everyone should periodically be swept away by a Scotish brogue.
Mixed Bag:
😐 A little heavy handed on the moral discussion about hate in the middle of the book. A good message, just a tad overdone. Bringing in Christ would have made it more powerful, but I get that this is a secular romance.
😐 What happened to the father to make him so cruel? It was briefly hinted at, but I'm left curious with no resolution. Minor curiosity though, I'll be ok.
😐 I was satisfied with the ending, it left me all happy and such, but it would have been even BETTER if Rafe had found a way to fight for their relationship instead of being rescued by an accidental juicy discovery. Still, the final set down was oh so satisfying regardless.
Bookish Nays:
😒 One or two of Rafe's comments made me uncomfortable with their innuendo, though he is known as a rake so...
😒 A few of the phrases were unexpectedly modern—full stop. (I think that one was used twice)
Quotes for Your Enjoyment:
✨Oh, be still her heart. A biology-educated rake. The man was truly a menace to bluestockings everywhere.
✨Fortunately for him, spite was not one of her personal shortcomings. Blunt frankness, however, was.
✨“Did ye just call my kilt a skirt?”
She raised her brow and added a smirk. “Why, yes. I do believe I did.” Everything in her tone added and what are you going to do about it?
✨Twice now she had simply not recognized him. Her skills of observation required some honing. She was blaming the kilt for distracting her. A man’s bare knees had a way of upending even the soundest woman’s good sense.
✨"Demon" dimples 😂
Content:
Kissing only, though semi detailed and an implied makeout, one violent brawl in an alley where someone ends up unconscious, a true villian that is downright wretched and manipulating, mentions of mental and emotional abuse, brief depictions of the horrors of assylums, mild language (biblical swear words, a few more than the last book), but no blasphemies
April 18, 2025
Oh my! I loved these characters. The way Sophie classifies everything, Rafe’s not-really-a-rake flirty protector. Their banter had me grinning like a fool. Can’t want to read more of this series and get answers to the Minerva mystery.
April 2, 2020
Romance, clean, period; series but stand alone read
Lovely, honest, hurting, healing, hopeful romance. Beautifully crafted, strong side characters, and sweet romance with a lovely chemistry between the two main characters. N.V. Does a wonderful job creating this world, set partially in England and partially in Scotland. The Brotherhood saga continuing in this novel. Loved reading this, an can't wait for the next installment in the next novel in this series.
https://theflippedpage.blogspot.com/
Lovely, honest, hurting, healing, hopeful romance. Beautifully crafted, strong side characters, and sweet romance with a lovely chemistry between the two main characters. N.V. Does a wonderful job creating this world, set partially in England and partially in Scotland. The Brotherhood saga continuing in this novel. Loved reading this, an can't wait for the next installment in the next novel in this series.
https://theflippedpage.blogspot.com/
February 15, 2020
"Imagine living your life feeling like a cautionary tale."
That's just how Sophie has felt and her tendencies towards categorizing nature only serve to contribute to her bluestocking ways. Sophie longs to belong--to feel wanted and loved--and she won't settle for less.
Although Rafe and Sophie come from different backgrounds, they share a commonality, which leads them to embark on the same journey to Scotland. Nichole Van has composed a delightfully beautiful story, full of spellbinding prose that completely enchanted me. The characters thoughts, words, and banter sang a hallelujah chorus to my soul and had me swooning, smiling, and eagerly devouring each and every single page. I love nothing more than immersing myself deep into a story and this one was so satisfying.
I was captivated with the goings on in London, but Scotland is where my heart was really stolen. I loved the adventures and thought I knew exactly how things would turn out, but never fear--I was surprised. I loved the twists, the plot, the setting, the characters, and really, just everything about this tale.
Although this series can stand alone, there is a spindle of mystery that drifts throughout each of the books and it was gratifying to uncover another layer of it in this book. I'm anxiously awaiting the next story!
Content: mild+ language; mild violence
*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
That's just how Sophie has felt and her tendencies towards categorizing nature only serve to contribute to her bluestocking ways. Sophie longs to belong--to feel wanted and loved--and she won't settle for less.
Although Rafe and Sophie come from different backgrounds, they share a commonality, which leads them to embark on the same journey to Scotland. Nichole Van has composed a delightfully beautiful story, full of spellbinding prose that completely enchanted me. The characters thoughts, words, and banter sang a hallelujah chorus to my soul and had me swooning, smiling, and eagerly devouring each and every single page. I love nothing more than immersing myself deep into a story and this one was so satisfying.
I was captivated with the goings on in London, but Scotland is where my heart was really stolen. I loved the adventures and thought I knew exactly how things would turn out, but never fear--I was surprised. I loved the twists, the plot, the setting, the characters, and really, just everything about this tale.
Although this series can stand alone, there is a spindle of mystery that drifts throughout each of the books and it was gratifying to uncover another layer of it in this book. I'm anxiously awaiting the next story!
Content: mild+ language; mild violence
*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
February 1, 2020
MAN!! I loved this one. Stayed up late to finish it. I needed every word. This is the second book in the Black Tartan series. A brotherhood of yummy Scottish men who have a deep connection going through an adventure together. This is the story of Rafe the Rake and Sophia Sorrow the bluestocking. This was seriously the most fun regency romance I have read in a while. This pulls you in from the very beginning and it has all the feels! So much tension and torment! But so much light hearted fun. This book deals with some pretty heavy issues but they are handled very well. This is not a squeaky clean read, it has talk of sex as she has been married before, there is clean innuendo and bits of scattered swearing. The swearing is more words like bloody and bastard. He's kinda an angry guy there for a bit. So if you like your regency on the squeaky side where they never touch and only share one chaste kiss at the end, this book is not for you. There is no religion. Mention of a prayer.
THANKS NICHOLE!!!!!!
THANKS NICHOLE!!!!!!
October 19, 2022
Second book in the series. This is a clean romance that struggles a bit because it requires the reader to be patient with a hero who doesn’t stand up to his father’s abusive manipulations. We must also be patient with a very repetitive heroine who’s constantly going on and on about fake scientific terms.
The story does end with a happy ending but its just a long story that was a bit hard to get into.
The story does end with a happy ending but its just a long story that was a bit hard to get into.
April 15, 2024
2024: Romancing the Rake might be my favorite from this series. Sophie is such an original character and her taxonomy is so much fun! Is Rafe really a Rakus lasciviosus? He certainly appears to be irresistible, even to a bluestocking like Sophie. Unfortunately, Rafe is not in control of his own life, and neither is Sophie. I loved watching them both seek for the answers they needed to find their happily-ever-afters. All the hearts and stars for this one! 💖💖💖💖💖
2021: I loved the characters in this one! Adorably nerdy heroine falls in love with a charming rake. Both characters make a journey of discovery and find happiness together. A very satisfying ending.
2021: I loved the characters in this one! Adorably nerdy heroine falls in love with a charming rake. Both characters make a journey of discovery and find happiness together. A very satisfying ending.
March 11, 2020
This book was a little different from the last one in the series. It has some serious issues that it addresses. One of the biggest that jumped out at me is what makes a father? There is also the lack of women's rights during the time period.
The romance will make you laugh, cry, and angry. I am so glad that I read this book and look forward to the next installment.
The romance will make you laugh, cry, and angry. I am so glad that I read this book and look forward to the next installment.
August 15, 2025
4.5⭐️
I absolutely ADORED this book 😍 What can I say? If Nichole Van writes it, I’m going to LOVE it! This book, especially, made my heart so happy ♥️ Sophie was everything!
.
.
.
Lady Sophronia Sorrow had long felt metaphorically invisible and, therefore, had much time on her hands in which to observe the microcosm of the entire animal kingdom—that is, ballrooms. In doing so, Sophie quickly came to discover that all human species belonged to a sub-class and species of Linnaean taxonomy. For example, Lord Rafe Gilbert was a 𝚁𝚊𝚔𝚞𝚜 𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚌𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚘𝚜𝚞𝚜. He couldn’t help but be a flirt, drawing in all of the ladies. This puzzled Sophie and made her wonder what exactly caused women to fling themselves at rakes with such shocking regularity? But it only took one piercing gaze from said 𝚁𝚊𝚔𝚞𝚜 𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚌𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚘𝚜𝚞𝚜 to send her own heart lurching in her chest—quite an unexpected reaction, but utterly fascinating.
Lord Rafe Gilbert, well renowned rake, found himself utterly entranced by Sophie and her scientific minutia and logical deductions. They fell head over heels for one another, only for it to all fall apart as quickly as they had come together.
Years went by and much happened. Sophie found herself widowed, and Rafe found himself even more desperate to escape the clutches of his insufferably terrible father. As fate would have it, they both found themselves seeking out the same man, and so they succumbed to the fact that they may as well journey together.
Sophie found her thoughts drifting much too often to Rafe as she puzzled over who he truly was—a Scottish Highlander, a London rake, or neither? What she did know was that 𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚒𝚗 𝚊𝚍𝚍𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚜, 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚋𝚒𝚘𝚕𝚘𝚐𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚕 𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏 𝚏𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝚂𝚌𝚘𝚝𝚝𝚒𝚜𝚑 𝚍𝚒𝚜𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚜𝚌𝚞𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚞𝚗𝚋𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚢 𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎. 𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔— 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊𝚗 𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚛𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚎𝚗 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚍 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜. Seeing Lord Rafe Gilbert in a kilt was almost Sophie’s undoing for seeing 𝚊 𝚖𝚊𝚗'𝚜 𝚋𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚊 𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝚞𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚠𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗'𝚜 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚎. His flirting and winking certainly did not help matters any…"𝙲𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚏𝚞𝚕, 𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚜, 𝚘𝚛 𝙸 𝚖𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚊𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚎 𝚖𝚢 𝚋𝚒𝚛𝚍." The man’s dimples and eyes of warm chocolate seemed to scream, “𝙸 𝚊𝚖 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚕𝚢 𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎. 𝙷𝚘𝚠 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚖𝚎?” What can a woman do when faced with such blatant attractiveness but fall madly in love with the man; it is simply fate.
Embark on this delightful journey to Scotland with Rafe and Sophie as they go searching for answers they both are in desperate straits without!
Favorite quotes:
𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚋𝚕𝚊𝚣𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚘𝚗 𝚖𝚢 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚜𝚘𝚞𝚕.
"𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚐, 𝚝𝚊𝚎 𝚋𝚎 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚑𝚘𝚕𝚎. 𝙸 𝚜𝚒𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚢 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚊𝚎 𝚋𝚎 𝚏𝚛𝚎𝚎."
𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠. 𝙸 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚐𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚎.
"𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚌𝚎𝚛𝚝𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚢. 𝙸 𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚒𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚐𝚒𝚌 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝. 𝙸𝚝 𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚛𝚍𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚘𝚜. 𝙸𝚝 𝚐𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚊 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚎, 𝚊 𝚜𝚙𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍."
𝙻𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚍𝚒𝚍 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍 𝚜𝚒𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚘𝚛 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝. 𝙻𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚚𝚞𝚒𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎, 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚏𝚞𝚕𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚐𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚛𝚘𝚜𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝚜𝚘𝚞𝚕.
I absolutely ADORED this book 😍 What can I say? If Nichole Van writes it, I’m going to LOVE it! This book, especially, made my heart so happy ♥️ Sophie was everything!
.
.
.
Lady Sophronia Sorrow had long felt metaphorically invisible and, therefore, had much time on her hands in which to observe the microcosm of the entire animal kingdom—that is, ballrooms. In doing so, Sophie quickly came to discover that all human species belonged to a sub-class and species of Linnaean taxonomy. For example, Lord Rafe Gilbert was a 𝚁𝚊𝚔𝚞𝚜 𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚌𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚘𝚜𝚞𝚜. He couldn’t help but be a flirt, drawing in all of the ladies. This puzzled Sophie and made her wonder what exactly caused women to fling themselves at rakes with such shocking regularity? But it only took one piercing gaze from said 𝚁𝚊𝚔𝚞𝚜 𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚌𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚘𝚜𝚞𝚜 to send her own heart lurching in her chest—quite an unexpected reaction, but utterly fascinating.
Lord Rafe Gilbert, well renowned rake, found himself utterly entranced by Sophie and her scientific minutia and logical deductions. They fell head over heels for one another, only for it to all fall apart as quickly as they had come together.
Years went by and much happened. Sophie found herself widowed, and Rafe found himself even more desperate to escape the clutches of his insufferably terrible father. As fate would have it, they both found themselves seeking out the same man, and so they succumbed to the fact that they may as well journey together.
Sophie found her thoughts drifting much too often to Rafe as she puzzled over who he truly was—a Scottish Highlander, a London rake, or neither? What she did know was that 𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚒𝚗 𝚊𝚍𝚍𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚜, 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚋𝚒𝚘𝚕𝚘𝚐𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚕 𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏 𝚏𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝚂𝚌𝚘𝚝𝚝𝚒𝚜𝚑 𝚍𝚒𝚜𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚜𝚌𝚞𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚞𝚗𝚋𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚢 𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎. 𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔— 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊𝚗 𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚛𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚎𝚗 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚍 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜. Seeing Lord Rafe Gilbert in a kilt was almost Sophie’s undoing for seeing 𝚊 𝚖𝚊𝚗'𝚜 𝚋𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚊 𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝚞𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚠𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗'𝚜 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚎. His flirting and winking certainly did not help matters any…"𝙲𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚏𝚞𝚕, 𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚜, 𝚘𝚛 𝙸 𝚖𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚊𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚎 𝚖𝚢 𝚋𝚒𝚛𝚍." The man’s dimples and eyes of warm chocolate seemed to scream, “𝙸 𝚊𝚖 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚕𝚢 𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎. 𝙷𝚘𝚠 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚖𝚎?” What can a woman do when faced with such blatant attractiveness but fall madly in love with the man; it is simply fate.
Embark on this delightful journey to Scotland with Rafe and Sophie as they go searching for answers they both are in desperate straits without!
Favorite quotes:
𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚋𝚕𝚊𝚣𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚘𝚗 𝚖𝚢 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚜𝚘𝚞𝚕.
"𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚐, 𝚝𝚊𝚎 𝚋𝚎 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚑𝚘𝚕𝚎. 𝙸 𝚜𝚒𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚢 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚊𝚎 𝚋𝚎 𝚏𝚛𝚎𝚎."
𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠. 𝙸 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚐𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚎.
"𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚌𝚎𝚛𝚝𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚢. 𝙸 𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚒𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚐𝚒𝚌 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝. 𝙸𝚝 𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚛𝚍𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚘𝚜. 𝙸𝚝 𝚐𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚊 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚎, 𝚊 𝚜𝚙𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍."
𝙻𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚍𝚒𝚍 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍 𝚜𝚒𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚘𝚛 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝. 𝙻𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚚𝚞𝚒𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎, 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚏𝚞𝚕𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚐𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚛𝚘𝚜𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝚜𝚘𝚞𝚕.
March 2, 2024
Oh gosh. Lady Sophie is my favorite kind of heroine- the brainy kind. And of course, she totally throws the hero for a loop! Love it! They were so much fun together! And then there’s the villain.. *throws in all the angry emojis
October 5, 2022
NEW HISTORICAL FAV.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
Wowwww goodness me, I LOVED THIS. This had all the tropes I love y’all. All the romance I love and more.
This was a combination of a bit of second chance, IT WAS ALWAYS YOU, major forced proximity and more. I loved the vibes between a supposed rake and an incredibly intelligent bluestocking. Their chemistry was heated from the moment the banter began and I was here for every dang moment between them. I loved forced proximity because it allows so much more conversation and interactions that give me all the feels.
Not to mention what had me up in my feels was the passionate arguments leading to my favorite kind of confessions. It was just all so good. SO GOOD. Rafe is a wonderful love interest and I loooooove that this series is dual POV. A treasured must have for romances.
The plot was thickening between the Brotherhood and I like that this subtle mystery plays out in the background of the larger story between the two main characters. I liked the reveals and how the conflict and closing scenes were accomplished. The writing is amazing and I will without a doubt be continuing this series.
Overall audience notes:
- Historical romance
- Language: very little
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: mild
- Trigger/Content Warnings: gaslighting, extortion, a mother with depression (and on page depictions), emotional abuse
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
Wowwww goodness me, I LOVED THIS. This had all the tropes I love y’all. All the romance I love and more.
This was a combination of a bit of second chance, IT WAS ALWAYS YOU, major forced proximity and more. I loved the vibes between a supposed rake and an incredibly intelligent bluestocking. Their chemistry was heated from the moment the banter began and I was here for every dang moment between them. I loved forced proximity because it allows so much more conversation and interactions that give me all the feels.
Not to mention what had me up in my feels was the passionate arguments leading to my favorite kind of confessions. It was just all so good. SO GOOD. Rafe is a wonderful love interest and I loooooove that this series is dual POV. A treasured must have for romances.
The plot was thickening between the Brotherhood and I like that this subtle mystery plays out in the background of the larger story between the two main characters. I liked the reveals and how the conflict and closing scenes were accomplished. The writing is amazing and I will without a doubt be continuing this series.
Overall audience notes:
- Historical romance
- Language: very little
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: mild
- Trigger/Content Warnings: gaslighting, extortion, a mother with depression (and on page depictions), emotional abuse
February 27, 2020
I loved both of these characters. Nichole has a real talent for writing characters that really are individuals with complicated traits, flaws and interests. These characters grew and stretched and challenged each other. Their relationship was quirky and sweet.
Content: Clean
Content: Clean
March 10, 2020
So Good!
I loved this story! The main characters were human, layered and likable. I loved their interactions. I was interested and invested from the very beginning. So good!
I loved this story! The main characters were human, layered and likable. I loved their interactions. I was interested and invested from the very beginning. So good!
March 20, 2022
RTC when I stop swooning.
March 23, 2024
1814-1819 England and Scotland
Four Scottish friends called "The Brotherhood of the Black Tartan"
The rake - Lord Rafe Gilbert, aka Lennon Gordon (super cute story about why Rafe wanted Sophie to call him that)
The merchant - Andrew Mackenzie, the new Earl of Hadley and newly married to Lady Jane from book one
The physician - Alex Whitaker
The Artist - Ewan Campbell
The Sailor - Master Kieran MacTavish, a bit crass, but extremely likable
Other main characters:
Lady Sophronia Sorrow, aka Sophie
George Gilbert, aka Duke of Kendall
Jamie, always Jamie, the boy they all loved and presumed dead
Just so anyone reading this knows…the male MC is not a rake. That might be a spoiler, but my reputation as someone who doesn’t read tawdry fiction needs to be upheld. Generally, I don’t read anything with the word rake in the title. But thankfully, Nicole Van is pretty particular about her books not being cringe worthy.
Plus, this is about two scientists, one college educated, the other self-educated. A bit different for a Nicole Van book, but still her usual creative self was poured into it.
I think I’m almost done, so more review to come.
Later…
Done.
Well, like I said, this was a bit different. In this second book in the series, Rafe Gilbert, son of the Duke of Kendall, was a scientist, much to his father’s chagrin. Rafe falls for a self-educated scientist, only it’s more than chagrin that his father felt about their attraction. It is revulsion and hatred because of who her father is: a sworn enemy.
Rafe’s father, the Duke, was what I would call an evil person. It’s hard to believe that anybody could be as evil as he was, and treat people, including his son and wife, as cruelly as he did. The only thing I could compare it to is the many Nazi stories I’ve read about their heartless, brutal actions. Rafe’s father would have made the perfect Nazi.
What was amazing was how such a wretched, evil person could sire such a wonderful, gracious, loving man. It had to be because of Rafe's nurturing mother.
I don’t want to give too much of the story away, but one side theme in a few sections was Ms. Van's inclusion of forgiveness. It was absolutely stunning. Rafe's love, Sophie, had lived a difficult life as well, but being a scientist, figured out what unforgiveness was, and what it did to the victim who needs to forgive…scientifically. Not to be missed!
A beautiful love story with covert travel, suspense, honest and often cute dialog, hardships and victories.
Mind you, this is a secular book, so mild swearing is included. Thankfully no sex scenes, just mild kissing.
Oh, and the Author's Notes at the end were enlightening.
Looking forward to the next book: Loving a Lady about Ewan Campbell.
Four Scottish friends called "The Brotherhood of the Black Tartan"
The rake - Lord Rafe Gilbert, aka Lennon Gordon (super cute story about why Rafe wanted Sophie to call him that)
The merchant - Andrew Mackenzie, the new Earl of Hadley and newly married to Lady Jane from book one
The physician - Alex Whitaker
The Artist - Ewan Campbell
The Sailor - Master Kieran MacTavish, a bit crass, but extremely likable
Other main characters:
Lady Sophronia Sorrow, aka Sophie
George Gilbert, aka Duke of Kendall
Jamie, always Jamie, the boy they all loved and presumed dead
Just so anyone reading this knows…the male MC is not a rake. That might be a spoiler, but my reputation as someone who doesn’t read tawdry fiction needs to be upheld. Generally, I don’t read anything with the word rake in the title. But thankfully, Nicole Van is pretty particular about her books not being cringe worthy.
Plus, this is about two scientists, one college educated, the other self-educated. A bit different for a Nicole Van book, but still her usual creative self was poured into it.
I think I’m almost done, so more review to come.
Later…
Done.
Well, like I said, this was a bit different. In this second book in the series, Rafe Gilbert, son of the Duke of Kendall, was a scientist, much to his father’s chagrin. Rafe falls for a self-educated scientist, only it’s more than chagrin that his father felt about their attraction. It is revulsion and hatred because of who her father is: a sworn enemy.
Rafe’s father, the Duke, was what I would call an evil person. It’s hard to believe that anybody could be as evil as he was, and treat people, including his son and wife, as cruelly as he did. The only thing I could compare it to is the many Nazi stories I’ve read about their heartless, brutal actions. Rafe’s father would have made the perfect Nazi.
What was amazing was how such a wretched, evil person could sire such a wonderful, gracious, loving man. It had to be because of Rafe's nurturing mother.
I don’t want to give too much of the story away, but one side theme in a few sections was Ms. Van's inclusion of forgiveness. It was absolutely stunning. Rafe's love, Sophie, had lived a difficult life as well, but being a scientist, figured out what unforgiveness was, and what it did to the victim who needs to forgive…scientifically. Not to be missed!
A beautiful love story with covert travel, suspense, honest and often cute dialog, hardships and victories.
Mind you, this is a secular book, so mild swearing is included. Thankfully no sex scenes, just mild kissing.
Oh, and the Author's Notes at the end were enlightening.
Looking forward to the next book: Loving a Lady about Ewan Campbell.
May 1, 2024
The prologue chapters alone are worth five stars! Having accidentally read and loved the spin-off Penn-Leith series first, I’m so grateful for the added insights this series gives. Being a biology girl myself, I have to say that the FMC in this book is one of the most delightful I’ve ever read. But as with all the other books I’ve read by this author, the word “romance” is far too reductive. These stories are filled with real pain, loss, loyalty, duty, honor, family, and, yes, love. The men and women are all, of course, too beautiful, but it is a failing easily overlooked for depth of character.
December 16, 2024
The narration of this audiobook was great! Once again, such a cool experience to hear both the English and Scottish accents throughout. I loved the adorably quirky Bluestocking FMC and our rake of an MMC finding each other in a second chance romance with some forced proximity, finding themselves, and solving some very well written mystery behind their families. All the feels in this one!
March 18, 2020
This has to be one of the cutest series ever! I loved the witty banner and all the clever terms that Sophronia used. This one was constantly making me smile!
October 18, 2021
Holy buckets, this book was absolutely fantastic!
I seriously loved everything about this book - the characters, the forced proximity, the clever and witty banter, the super swoony romance, and the crazy unforeseen plot twists.
Seriously, I have entire pages marked on my kindle because I could not decide which sentence or paragraph to mark.
Loved the first book in the series and with how much I enjoyed this one, this series is quickly shaping up to one of my all-time favorites.
Off to binge read the next three!
I seriously loved everything about this book - the characters, the forced proximity, the clever and witty banter, the super swoony romance, and the crazy unforeseen plot twists.
Seriously, I have entire pages marked on my kindle because I could not decide which sentence or paragraph to mark.
Loved the first book in the series and with how much I enjoyed this one, this series is quickly shaping up to one of my all-time favorites.
Off to binge read the next three!
February 27, 2020
Usually I am delighted with this author’s books but she wrote such an awful monster of a villain that the pages with him were terribly uncomfortable to read. This book wasn’t as light-hearted as the first and had some themes that were in no way pleasant. Nevertheless, although I had speculated the reasons for several plot twists And was close on a few accounts, I was totally surprised by the others.
August 17, 2022
4.5⭐️ A deliciously satisfying read. Sophie and Rafe had sigh worthy chemistry. Their humor was charming, and their romantic feelings toward each other made my toes curl. The clever, well thought out mystery kept me guessing up until the reveal. A minor quibble, I would have preferred less emphasis on action and a more sparing hand with anachronisms.
January 26, 2022
Romancing the Rake (Brotherhood of the Black Tartan Book 2)
Thank you to my library for having this ❤️
The characters were alright and liked curtain parts more then others.
It was an alright read, will continue with the series.
⚠️Content Warnings⚠️
Some Language
Some Violence
DV (Domestic violence)
Emotional abuse
Book Synopsis:
"Lady Sophronia Sorrow considers herself an unlikely heroine. Why, just her name alone proves this. Sophronia Sorrow sounds like a girl from a gothic penny novel—the foolish miss who falls prey to a rake and becomes an object lesson for the true heroine to avoid. No, despite her mawkish name, Sophie refuses to spend her life invisible and unwanted, relegated to the margin of the text. Despite her eccentric, bluestocking ways, there must be a place where she is wanted. If only she could uncover the identity of her natural father, perhaps she would belong there?
But one thing Sophie knows for sure—unlike that foolhardy miss in a novel, she will not succumb to a rake. No matter how thoroughly the rakish Lord Rafe Gilbert may tempt her.
Lord Rafe Gilbert longs for freedom—freedom from his controlling father, freedom to live his life as he chooses. He knows playing the rake keeps his autocratic father in check, but Rafe longs to determine his own destiny. Case in point, he fell in love with Lady Sophie years ago, but his father’s threats and his mother’s health prevent him from pursuing Lady Sophie in earnest. So when Fate thrusts Sophie into his path, Rafe knows he must turn her away and distance himself. But doing the right thing has never been so impossibly difficult.
Sophie and Rafe soon find themselves on a journey together from London to a castle in the Scottish Highlands. Along the way, can two kindred souls heal from past hurts and seize a second chance to write a love story of their own?"
Thank you to my library for having this ❤️
The characters were alright and liked curtain parts more then others.
It was an alright read, will continue with the series.
⚠️Content Warnings⚠️
Some Language
Some Violence
DV (Domestic violence)
Emotional abuse
Book Synopsis:
"Lady Sophronia Sorrow considers herself an unlikely heroine. Why, just her name alone proves this. Sophronia Sorrow sounds like a girl from a gothic penny novel—the foolish miss who falls prey to a rake and becomes an object lesson for the true heroine to avoid. No, despite her mawkish name, Sophie refuses to spend her life invisible and unwanted, relegated to the margin of the text. Despite her eccentric, bluestocking ways, there must be a place where she is wanted. If only she could uncover the identity of her natural father, perhaps she would belong there?
But one thing Sophie knows for sure—unlike that foolhardy miss in a novel, she will not succumb to a rake. No matter how thoroughly the rakish Lord Rafe Gilbert may tempt her.
Lord Rafe Gilbert longs for freedom—freedom from his controlling father, freedom to live his life as he chooses. He knows playing the rake keeps his autocratic father in check, but Rafe longs to determine his own destiny. Case in point, he fell in love with Lady Sophie years ago, but his father’s threats and his mother’s health prevent him from pursuing Lady Sophie in earnest. So when Fate thrusts Sophie into his path, Rafe knows he must turn her away and distance himself. But doing the right thing has never been so impossibly difficult.
Sophie and Rafe soon find themselves on a journey together from London to a castle in the Scottish Highlands. Along the way, can two kindred souls heal from past hurts and seize a second chance to write a love story of their own?"
February 6, 2024
I listened to this as an audiobook and loved the narrator who really brought the story and all the Scottish vibes to life.
I'm glad I had friends tell me to read this before the A Heart Sufficient (from the author's newest series) because there is a lot of important background that plays a role in that story. Definitely recommend others going that route if you want to understand the full story and implications!
This book was delightful. I loved the heroine with all her scientific, inquisitive and straight forward ways and how she observed so much about people around her. The banter between the couple was so fun and I loved how the conflict of the story didn't rely on poor communication between them. There were some powerful themes about hate, forgiveness, and taking control of your own happiness.
Trigger/content warnings: abusive, controlling family member; infidelity. Steam level is kissing.
I'm glad I had friends tell me to read this before the A Heart Sufficient (from the author's newest series) because there is a lot of important background that plays a role in that story. Definitely recommend others going that route if you want to understand the full story and implications!
This book was delightful. I loved the heroine with all her scientific, inquisitive and straight forward ways and how she observed so much about people around her. The banter between the couple was so fun and I loved how the conflict of the story didn't rely on poor communication between them. There were some powerful themes about hate, forgiveness, and taking control of your own happiness.
Trigger/content warnings: abusive, controlling family member; infidelity. Steam level is kissing.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 347 reviews