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Last Chance Scoundrels #1
The Good Girl's Guide to Rakes
In USA TODAY bestselling author Eva Leigh’s new novel a notorious rake and an innocent debutante strike a scandalous bargain…
When Kieran Ransome’s latest antics result in a massive scandal, his father issues an ultimatum: find a respectable wife or inherit nothing. But as one of London’s most inveterate scoundrels, Kieran doesn’t know any ladies who fit the bill. Or does he?
Celeste Kilburn is a society darling, beloved by influential members of the ton. But keeping a spotless reputation leaves little room for adventure and she longs to escape her gilded cage, especially with her impending engagement to a stuffy earl. When Kieran—her older brother’s best friend and an irresistibly attractive rogue—begs for her help, Celeste makes a deal: she’ll introduce him to the right social circles if he’ll show her the scandalous side of London.
In between proper teas and garden parties, Kieran escorts Celeste—disguised as “Salome”—to rowdy gaming hells, wild fêtes, and sensual art salons. As they spend more time together, their initial attraction builds to a desperate desire that neither can ignore. But when someone discovers their midnight exploits, Celeste’s freedom and reputation are endangered, and Kieran must save the woman he loves… respectable or not.
When Kieran Ransome’s latest antics result in a massive scandal, his father issues an ultimatum: find a respectable wife or inherit nothing. But as one of London’s most inveterate scoundrels, Kieran doesn’t know any ladies who fit the bill. Or does he?
Celeste Kilburn is a society darling, beloved by influential members of the ton. But keeping a spotless reputation leaves little room for adventure and she longs to escape her gilded cage, especially with her impending engagement to a stuffy earl. When Kieran—her older brother’s best friend and an irresistibly attractive rogue—begs for her help, Celeste makes a deal: she’ll introduce him to the right social circles if he’ll show her the scandalous side of London.
In between proper teas and garden parties, Kieran escorts Celeste—disguised as “Salome”—to rowdy gaming hells, wild fêtes, and sensual art salons. As they spend more time together, their initial attraction builds to a desperate desire that neither can ignore. But when someone discovers their midnight exploits, Celeste’s freedom and reputation are endangered, and Kieran must save the woman he loves… respectable or not.
367 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 22, 2022
247 people are currently reading
9768 people want to read
About the author
Eva Leigh
27 books1,477 followersEva Leigh is a USA Today bestselling romance author. A graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, her books have been featured by the New York Times, NPR, Oprah Daily, the Washington Post, Entertainment Weekly, Library Journal, Kirkus, Booklist, Self, Paste Magazine, and many more. Her work has also been translated into numerous languages. She lives on the Central California coast with her husband and cats. Visit her on the web at evaleighauthor.com.
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April 9, 2022
✨dirty talk dirty talk dirty talk✨
Reader, this book fucks. There are few things I love in this world more than a nice solid “fuck” spoken in historical romances. It truly spices up any scene, sexual or not. We love the flavor. I also really appreciate that the dirty talk was mutual and mutually enjoyed. Celeste loved that such a pretty man could be so dirty, and Kieran loved that such a proper woman could be so wanton.
Kieran Ransome is much like my favorite word (see above): decadent, filthy, satisfying. Tall, dark, triple chocolate dessert. He was just so yummy! It also helped that I knew his character inspiration was Aidan Turner. Yes, the very man I watched 8 hours of The Hobbit films to see. A true tasty slice of man. I also really loved his relationship with his brother and that we was deeply in touch with his emotions. He wrote poetry and supported Celeste’s entire self.
And Celeste! What a character! Kieran went to her because she was respectable and he needed to become respectable and marry an equally respectable woman. But obviously Celeste wasn’t the respectable woman for him. Couldn’t be! Wouldn’t be! (Reader, it did not go as planned.) In exchange, Celeste wanted to live at night like she wasn’t respectable and didn’t have her family’s reputation on her shoulders. I really enjoyed her journey of self discovery.
Celeste and Kieran made a perfectly wicked pair and I loved their midnight cavorting. There were poetry battles and dirty books and did I mention dirty talk? I loved the big deceit at the end. I was CACKLING! I love me a man who doesn’t run from the problem but makes the problem run from him.
I can’t wait for the next books in the series!! Dom is such a broody muffin and I really appreciated the relationship between Finn and Kieran. I can’t wait to see Finn shine!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶🌶🌶.5/5
*Thank you so much to the author for this advanced copy! All opinions are honest and my own.*
__________
Okay I’m going to keep this at five stars but upon my reread I’m so fucking done with the familial duty of Celeste and the fact that she didn’t fucking chew Dom out for fucking her over and all the rest of the shit. When I first read this I wasn’t so bothered by falling willingly upon the blade of self sacrifice but I’ve been bitch slapped by that trope too many times since then.
Since it’s a me thing and I did and still do love the book I’ll keep it at 5⭐️ but maybe read it near a punching bag? Idk it just got a significant portion of the ending which is good bc it wasn’t rushed but god it tortured me via audiobook. The saving graces are that Kieran is smart about it and didn’t shut down and Celeste told him about her problems right away and didn’t try to hide it. Bc of that I must accept it’s a thing that happens in books and need to be okay with it lmao.
The way they handled it was fun and he did humiliate the villain so I’m FINE I just need to take a breather.
Reader, this book fucks. There are few things I love in this world more than a nice solid “fuck” spoken in historical romances. It truly spices up any scene, sexual or not. We love the flavor. I also really appreciate that the dirty talk was mutual and mutually enjoyed. Celeste loved that such a pretty man could be so dirty, and Kieran loved that such a proper woman could be so wanton.
Kieran Ransome is much like my favorite word (see above): decadent, filthy, satisfying. Tall, dark, triple chocolate dessert. He was just so yummy! It also helped that I knew his character inspiration was Aidan Turner. Yes, the very man I watched 8 hours of The Hobbit films to see. A true tasty slice of man. I also really loved his relationship with his brother and that we was deeply in touch with his emotions. He wrote poetry and supported Celeste’s entire self.
And Celeste! What a character! Kieran went to her because she was respectable and he needed to become respectable and marry an equally respectable woman. But obviously Celeste wasn’t the respectable woman for him. Couldn’t be! Wouldn’t be! (Reader, it did not go as planned.) In exchange, Celeste wanted to live at night like she wasn’t respectable and didn’t have her family’s reputation on her shoulders. I really enjoyed her journey of self discovery.
Celeste and Kieran made a perfectly wicked pair and I loved their midnight cavorting. There were poetry battles and dirty books and did I mention dirty talk? I loved the big deceit at the end. I was CACKLING! I love me a man who doesn’t run from the problem but makes the problem run from him.
I can’t wait for the next books in the series!! Dom is such a broody muffin and I really appreciated the relationship between Finn and Kieran. I can’t wait to see Finn shine!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶🌶🌶.5/5
*Thank you so much to the author for this advanced copy! All opinions are honest and my own.*
__________
Okay I’m going to keep this at five stars but upon my reread I’m so fucking done with the familial duty of Celeste and the fact that she didn’t fucking chew Dom out for fucking her over and all the rest of the shit. When I first read this I wasn’t so bothered by falling willingly upon the blade of self sacrifice but I’ve been bitch slapped by that trope too many times since then.
Since it’s a me thing and I did and still do love the book I’ll keep it at 5⭐️ but maybe read it near a punching bag? Idk it just got a significant portion of the ending which is good bc it wasn’t rushed but god it tortured me via audiobook. The saving graces are that Kieran is smart about it and didn’t shut down and Celeste told him about her problems right away and didn’t try to hide it. Bc of that I must accept it’s a thing that happens in books and need to be okay with it lmao.
The way they handled it was fun and he did humiliate the villain so I’m FINE I just need to take a breather.
November 7, 2022
If you read the synopsis for The Good Girl's Guide to Rakes, you'll see that it is a fairly conventional romance plot: libertine needs to clean up his act and marry a respectable woman; he asks his BFF's sister, a respectable woman, to help him rehabilitate his reputation; feelings ensue. And that really is what happens here. Kieran asks Celeste to introduce him to debutantes that might meet his "respectable" requirements, and she agrees - as long as he takes her to some DISreputable venues so she can live a little before her inevitable engagement and marriage.
Although the book might not break any new ground, it superlatively executes the plot. Celeste's desire to experience more of the world is completely understandable, and the fact that she's always had a bit of a crush on Kieran helps it along. Where the book really shines is in Leigh's exploration of Kieran's character. So many times historical romance provides readers with "rakish" heroes with zero explanation of why they choose to be rakes. And of course, they reform once they meet their sweet, virginal one-and-only heroine. Instead, Kieran has reasons for his actions (this is HR so they might be slightly angsty reasons, but they make lots of sense) and choices that he explains to Celeste as she enters his world. (Also, this is a sex book. There, we said it.)
45-Word Summaries:
Laine: Kieran needs a respectable woman to reintroduce him to polite society, except the one (1) respectable woman he knows turns out to be not-so-respectable after all and needs his help to explore impolite society. Oh, and she's the one woman he can't have, so LUST.
Meg: Dear PlotTrysts: I am a young debutante, soon to be married to a man I don’t love. My childhood crush (he’s my older brother’s best friend) asked me to introduce him to “respectable” women. Should I take the opportunity to sow my own wild oats?
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
Although the book might not break any new ground, it superlatively executes the plot. Celeste's desire to experience more of the world is completely understandable, and the fact that she's always had a bit of a crush on Kieran helps it along. Where the book really shines is in Leigh's exploration of Kieran's character. So many times historical romance provides readers with "rakish" heroes with zero explanation of why they choose to be rakes. And of course, they reform once they meet their sweet, virginal one-and-only heroine. Instead, Kieran has reasons for his actions (this is HR so they might be slightly angsty reasons, but they make lots of sense) and choices that he explains to Celeste as she enters his world. (Also, this is a sex book. There, we said it.)
45-Word Summaries:
Laine: Kieran needs a respectable woman to reintroduce him to polite society, except the one (1) respectable woman he knows turns out to be not-so-respectable after all and needs his help to explore impolite society. Oh, and she's the one woman he can't have, so LUST.
Meg: Dear PlotTrysts: I am a young debutante, soon to be married to a man I don’t love. My childhood crush (he’s my older brother’s best friend) asked me to introduce him to “respectable” women. Should I take the opportunity to sow my own wild oats?
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
March 30, 2022
I have seen so many good reviews for this book from friends I trust, so I was excited to read this. Kieran is faced with the ultimatum to marry or lose his inheritance, so he turns to his best friend's sister to get him into society's events so he can find a wife. In return, he shows her the more fun, underground side of England. This book was cute to start, but it was missing something that made me really care for the romance and the plot. It just felt like we were following these characters going from place to place and I didn't feel like there were stakes or an end goal. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood for this romance when I read it, but nothing really grabbed me or was special about this book.
March 10, 2022
3.5 stars!
“On time’s great voyage, I have lost my way, Adrift, unmoored, eyes to horizon trained. All stars I seek fade with the light of day Yet to this cold prow my body is chained. Each question I pose, one answer is true— My guide is the constellation of you.” Kieran Ransome is an unrepentant rogue. As a third son, he does not have any duties but he does get a generous allowance from his parents that allow him to live his life of leisure. But that allowance would soon be cut off if he does not find himself a respectable bride. In order to rectify this problem, Kieran strikes a deal with Celeste Kilburn, his best friend's sister and a society darling. If Celeste will introduce him to the right social circles and vouch for his reformed behavior in order to show the Ton that he’s a good potential husband for their unmarried daughters, Kieran must show her the scandalous side of London aka the places he knows best. And as they spend more time with each other, feelings that shouldn’t have blossomed did, even as they know that they are destined to marry different people. But when Celeste’s perfect reputation and social standing is threatened, Kieran will prove that a rake like him is the perfect match for a good girl like Celeste, Earl be damned.
The Good Girl’s Guide to Rakes is the first book in Eva Leigh’s newest historical romance series, Last Chance Scoundrels. This tells the story of Kieran Ransome and Celeste Kilburn. This one had been on my radar because I’ve been reading nothing but good reviews for it! When I saw that it was finally published, I did not waste any more time and decided to get on with it. By all means, this book seemed to have everything I like when reading a book. A rogue and a lady and forbidden romance. Surely, that would result in a fairly satisfying read. Perhaps, I had such high expectations resulting in me feeling rather underwhelmed. Well, underwhelming is a bit harsh. Perhaps, it was fairly satisfying but it failed to really hit the spots I was looking for.
Meet Celeste Kilburn: Celeste is the daughter of a dockyard magnate. Her father tried very hard to remove the traces of their humble beginnings. Like any genteel girl her age, she was sent off to a finishing school. Celeste came back the perfect lady, as perfect as any aristocratic debutante. She has succeeded in charming the most influential of the Ton and is a society darling. She had played the role of a perfect lady because it was needed. Her family needed a good social standing. And soon enough, she will be married to an earl, heir to a marquessate. But Celeste longs for a life different from the one she is leading.
Meet Kieran Ransome: Kieran is the third son of a respectable earl and countess. As a third son, he has no obligations to provide an heir or watch over any of his father’s many estates. As such, he has led a life of leisure. He is known for his scandalous pursuits. He is a rake and scoundrel of first water. But behind the persona he presents to the Ton is a heart of gold and a passion for poetry.
Kieran Ransome was no stranger to passionless marriages, he’d seen it in his parents his whole life. Which is why when his friend, Dom, was having second thoughts about marrying Kieran’s sister, he aided him in his escape thinking he did both Dom and his sister, Willa, a favor. Naturally, this latest scandal he brought to his family did not make his parents happy. They had enough of Kieran’s antics which is why they issued an ultimatum: marry a respectable girl or lose his allowance and inheritance. Celeste Kilburn was the perfect solution for the predicament Kieran is in. If she could help him show the Ton that he was respectable again, then it would be easy to court and marry a lady beyond reproach like his parents wanted. But Celeste’s help is not without conditions. The only way she will agree to help Kieran is if he showed her the scandalous side of London. The more Kieran and Celeste spend time in each other’s company, the more they see sides to each other no one has seen before, and feelings ensue. But a marriage between the two would be impossible, for Celeste’s reputation would be at stake once the truth about her relationship and escapades with Kieran is revealed to all of London. She must do one thing she knows would separate her from Kieran for the rest of their lives and that is to marry the Earl she was engaged to….or else everything her family holds dear would crumble.
I have no strong feelings for the heroine. She was okay. I think that there was so much potential for me to love her but I just didn’t. She certainly wasn’t bad. In truth, she was okay and I know many would love her. But I am not one of them. I didn’t hate her either. As I’ve stated, I just have no strong feelings for her character. I liked that she wanted to have a purpose and be charitable. However, I think her lust for adventure is a bit dumb considering the precarious social standing she was in. By all means, her want of freedom and taste of adventure was justified but I still think it was silly. But then, there would be no story if she didn’t crave an adventure. She felt caged in her life and felt like she wasn’t doing what she really wanted to do. In some ways she reminded me of Rose from Titanic because of the caged bird aspect of their lives. Although I loved Rose so much better. Nevertheless, one will feel sorry for the heroine because the life she has is obviously something that did not make her happy and content. Individual personality aside, she was a good enough heroine. She saw behind the hero’s assumed personality, she is his defender, she tried to stand up for what she wanted and she was so supportive of the hero’s passion. She wasn’t one to give in to other people’s demands unless the situation really calls for it. At times, I found her actions a bit too reckless but I guess that was the point of her seeking adventures. I really wanted to like her, I really did! But alas, at the end of the book, she was just okay for me! Tolerable enough although not as endearing as the other heroines I’ve come to love.
I did not love the hero either. I know, I know… what is wrong with me? By all means, he was exactly the type of hero I was supposed to love. I didn’t. And although I may not love him, I guess we can say I liked him enough. He was a rake although I did not really see it. He was supposed to be a scoundrel, he wasn’t. The persona that he portrayed was actually what people saw him as and as such, he saw no point in proving them wrong. They already painted and saw him that way, why bother to change right? He was actually very kind hearted and generous, even if it cost him the only cash he had in hand. That was something I liked about him. The ton portrayed him as this impetuous rogue but deep inside he really was such a big softie who cries at musicals. He was not given much importance, especially by his parents. In some ways, I do feel sorry for him and his inner child. He was a poet at heart and sadly, it was something his family looked down on. Hence, his passion was hidden and he felt wary of letting people know this side of him. He was actually a sweet man. He had love to give and he obviously needed to be loved. His parents deprived him of that long enough. Moving on, you know how I love self made men in HRs and I know it is unrealistic for all heroes to be rich in their own right but I guess I was kind of turned off by this Hero’s lack of money without the support of his parents. As the son of an aristocrat, I know that he was expected to live a life of leisure but why didn’t he just take up an occupation as a soldier beforehand? It was a respectable enough occupation for second and third sons. Just a thought. A man can’t depend on his parents’ money forever. This man would really rather find a bride than actually think of ways to earn money. I guess I just am not a big fan of heroes who live a leisurely life they can’t even afford. I must admit I think ahead and it is stressful to think about. What of their offspring? Who would produce the dowries? Where would he and his family settle down? How can he support his family only with the allowance coming from his parents? Mayhaps from the inheritance but would it be enough? Those are the thoughts that bugged my mind. Perhaps this aspect shouldn’t have bothered me as much as it did but it did bother me. Anyway, putting all that behind, he was definitely a hero deserving of his happy ending. He wasn’t in denial over his feelings and love for the heroine, he tried his best to do what he could for her in order to make her happy, and he came up with a rather smart plan to free her from an engagement she wanted no part in. This one would definitely be loved by readers who have a soft spot for rakes who actually have a heart of gold and one who knows his way with words.
I can’t say much about the couple’s chemistry. I think this is a “It’s not the book, it’s me” problem. Nothing was wrong with the book at all. The characters were nuanced enough. The author’s prose was engaging and she writes well. Yet somehow, I wasn’t fully sucked in like I was expecting. I admit that I had a hard time getting through the first thirty percent. It started out so slow and yet it was needed in order to show what happened and why the ultimatum was given to the hero. I decided to push through because it was getting such good reviews, and surely I would be rewarded with a good romance book. I guess I am the odd one out. I tend to love books that many people do not seem to like and yet I seem to be dissatisfied with books that many loved. It really is just a matter of preferences and what works out for one reader.
I can definitely see why many readers would love the h and H. They may seem very different yet at the very core of their person, they were very similar to each other. They saw each other for who they really were. They were accepting of each other. They encouraged each other’s respective pursuits. By all means, they were great for each other. Add to that is the forbidden romance appeal and the best friend’s sister aspect. It definitely made for an interesting read. I must admit that I preferred the chapters wherein it was the heroine’s turn to help the hero in his quest for a respectable bride. I found the scandalous parts of London scenes rather boring. For something that was supposed to be an adventure, it made me yawn a lot. I guess I really just enjoy reading about the ton’s silliness, it’s so much more fun.
The first chapter intrigued me though. I find myself interested whether Dom and Willa would end up together or if Dom would end up finding someone else. If they do end up with each other, it would make for an angsty book. Finn was okay enough. He did not really pique my curiosity but we shall see if I’d be tempted to pick up his upcoming book in time. Lord Montford annoyed me. I am still confused as to why he thinks that way. I thought the conflict and resolution was rushed. I don’t know. I just felt like it was solved too quickly but I guess it would make sense since Kieran’s plan was rather neat. I had no idea how they would get their HEA so how it happened was unpredictable. For me, at least. Also, there was an epilogue so yay for that. Not my type of epilogue but it will do. Overall, it was an okay read to pass one’s time. The book has a fairly interesting premise and the author’s style was pleasant enough. I have no idea if I would be interested in reading more of this author’s work but perhaps I would be if I saw something that appealed to me. I was really excited for this and wanted to love the book more, but anyway, it was okay and managed to hold my interest until the end. So that’s still nice! Also, I did not plan for this review to be so long, it just sort of happened. In fact, I was too lazy to collect my thoughts and type it out so I don’t know how I ended up saying so much again. If anyone is reading this/ managed to read this, sorry for being annoying.
Some quotes:
“There’s poetry, of course,” Kieran murmured, “which abounds with descriptions of emotion. Words, though, are sharp, delineated things. They only hint at something, something so profound as to exist outside language, beyond careful construction. You can very well say something pretty and evocative about living to see a smile bloom on someone’s face—but until you’ve actually experienced the answering blossom of light in your own chest when you do behold that smile, a poem’s nothing more than empty syllables.”
“Christ almighty, he was in love with Celeste. So much so he ached with it. Every face he saw was hardly worth a glance because it wasn’t her face. Anyone who spoke simply made meaningless sounds because it wasn’t Celeste speaking. A moment without her was a moment without joy, without purpose.”
“Without thought, he moved toward Celeste because he couldn’t see her and remain at a distance. Wherever she was, he needed to be.”
“You’ve become the world to me, and I want to be yours for the rest of our days. I will do everything to bring you the happiness you deserve.”
“The thought of walking away, of never yielding even just a fraction to this powerful yearning hollowed him out. Emptiness without her flooded him. Ahead of him lay a lifetime deprived of her company, her smiles, her energy.”
“On time’s great voyage, I have lost my way, Adrift, unmoored, eyes to horizon trained. All stars I seek fade with the light of day Yet to this cold prow my body is chained. Each question I pose, one answer is true— My guide is the constellation of you.” Kieran Ransome is an unrepentant rogue. As a third son, he does not have any duties but he does get a generous allowance from his parents that allow him to live his life of leisure. But that allowance would soon be cut off if he does not find himself a respectable bride. In order to rectify this problem, Kieran strikes a deal with Celeste Kilburn, his best friend's sister and a society darling. If Celeste will introduce him to the right social circles and vouch for his reformed behavior in order to show the Ton that he’s a good potential husband for their unmarried daughters, Kieran must show her the scandalous side of London aka the places he knows best. And as they spend more time with each other, feelings that shouldn’t have blossomed did, even as they know that they are destined to marry different people. But when Celeste’s perfect reputation and social standing is threatened, Kieran will prove that a rake like him is the perfect match for a good girl like Celeste, Earl be damned.
The Good Girl’s Guide to Rakes is the first book in Eva Leigh’s newest historical romance series, Last Chance Scoundrels. This tells the story of Kieran Ransome and Celeste Kilburn. This one had been on my radar because I’ve been reading nothing but good reviews for it! When I saw that it was finally published, I did not waste any more time and decided to get on with it. By all means, this book seemed to have everything I like when reading a book. A rogue and a lady and forbidden romance. Surely, that would result in a fairly satisfying read. Perhaps, I had such high expectations resulting in me feeling rather underwhelmed. Well, underwhelming is a bit harsh. Perhaps, it was fairly satisfying but it failed to really hit the spots I was looking for.
Meet Celeste Kilburn: Celeste is the daughter of a dockyard magnate. Her father tried very hard to remove the traces of their humble beginnings. Like any genteel girl her age, she was sent off to a finishing school. Celeste came back the perfect lady, as perfect as any aristocratic debutante. She has succeeded in charming the most influential of the Ton and is a society darling. She had played the role of a perfect lady because it was needed. Her family needed a good social standing. And soon enough, she will be married to an earl, heir to a marquessate. But Celeste longs for a life different from the one she is leading.
Meet Kieran Ransome: Kieran is the third son of a respectable earl and countess. As a third son, he has no obligations to provide an heir or watch over any of his father’s many estates. As such, he has led a life of leisure. He is known for his scandalous pursuits. He is a rake and scoundrel of first water. But behind the persona he presents to the Ton is a heart of gold and a passion for poetry.
Kieran Ransome was no stranger to passionless marriages, he’d seen it in his parents his whole life. Which is why when his friend, Dom, was having second thoughts about marrying Kieran’s sister, he aided him in his escape thinking he did both Dom and his sister, Willa, a favor. Naturally, this latest scandal he brought to his family did not make his parents happy. They had enough of Kieran’s antics which is why they issued an ultimatum: marry a respectable girl or lose his allowance and inheritance. Celeste Kilburn was the perfect solution for the predicament Kieran is in. If she could help him show the Ton that he was respectable again, then it would be easy to court and marry a lady beyond reproach like his parents wanted. But Celeste’s help is not without conditions. The only way she will agree to help Kieran is if he showed her the scandalous side of London. The more Kieran and Celeste spend time in each other’s company, the more they see sides to each other no one has seen before, and feelings ensue. But a marriage between the two would be impossible, for Celeste’s reputation would be at stake once the truth about her relationship and escapades with Kieran is revealed to all of London. She must do one thing she knows would separate her from Kieran for the rest of their lives and that is to marry the Earl she was engaged to….or else everything her family holds dear would crumble.
I have no strong feelings for the heroine. She was okay. I think that there was so much potential for me to love her but I just didn’t. She certainly wasn’t bad. In truth, she was okay and I know many would love her. But I am not one of them. I didn’t hate her either. As I’ve stated, I just have no strong feelings for her character. I liked that she wanted to have a purpose and be charitable. However, I think her lust for adventure is a bit dumb considering the precarious social standing she was in. By all means, her want of freedom and taste of adventure was justified but I still think it was silly. But then, there would be no story if she didn’t crave an adventure. She felt caged in her life and felt like she wasn’t doing what she really wanted to do. In some ways she reminded me of Rose from Titanic because of the caged bird aspect of their lives. Although I loved Rose so much better. Nevertheless, one will feel sorry for the heroine because the life she has is obviously something that did not make her happy and content. Individual personality aside, she was a good enough heroine. She saw behind the hero’s assumed personality, she is his defender, she tried to stand up for what she wanted and she was so supportive of the hero’s passion. She wasn’t one to give in to other people’s demands unless the situation really calls for it. At times, I found her actions a bit too reckless but I guess that was the point of her seeking adventures. I really wanted to like her, I really did! But alas, at the end of the book, she was just okay for me! Tolerable enough although not as endearing as the other heroines I’ve come to love.
I did not love the hero either. I know, I know… what is wrong with me? By all means, he was exactly the type of hero I was supposed to love. I didn’t. And although I may not love him, I guess we can say I liked him enough. He was a rake although I did not really see it. He was supposed to be a scoundrel, he wasn’t. The persona that he portrayed was actually what people saw him as and as such, he saw no point in proving them wrong. They already painted and saw him that way, why bother to change right? He was actually very kind hearted and generous, even if it cost him the only cash he had in hand. That was something I liked about him. The ton portrayed him as this impetuous rogue but deep inside he really was such a big softie who cries at musicals. He was not given much importance, especially by his parents. In some ways, I do feel sorry for him and his inner child. He was a poet at heart and sadly, it was something his family looked down on. Hence, his passion was hidden and he felt wary of letting people know this side of him. He was actually a sweet man. He had love to give and he obviously needed to be loved. His parents deprived him of that long enough. Moving on, you know how I love self made men in HRs and I know it is unrealistic for all heroes to be rich in their own right but I guess I was kind of turned off by this Hero’s lack of money without the support of his parents. As the son of an aristocrat, I know that he was expected to live a life of leisure but why didn’t he just take up an occupation as a soldier beforehand? It was a respectable enough occupation for second and third sons. Just a thought. A man can’t depend on his parents’ money forever. This man would really rather find a bride than actually think of ways to earn money. I guess I just am not a big fan of heroes who live a leisurely life they can’t even afford. I must admit I think ahead and it is stressful to think about. What of their offspring? Who would produce the dowries? Where would he and his family settle down? How can he support his family only with the allowance coming from his parents? Mayhaps from the inheritance but would it be enough? Those are the thoughts that bugged my mind. Perhaps this aspect shouldn’t have bothered me as much as it did but it did bother me. Anyway, putting all that behind, he was definitely a hero deserving of his happy ending. He wasn’t in denial over his feelings and love for the heroine, he tried his best to do what he could for her in order to make her happy, and he came up with a rather smart plan to free her from an engagement she wanted no part in. This one would definitely be loved by readers who have a soft spot for rakes who actually have a heart of gold and one who knows his way with words.
I can’t say much about the couple’s chemistry. I think this is a “It’s not the book, it’s me” problem. Nothing was wrong with the book at all. The characters were nuanced enough. The author’s prose was engaging and she writes well. Yet somehow, I wasn’t fully sucked in like I was expecting. I admit that I had a hard time getting through the first thirty percent. It started out so slow and yet it was needed in order to show what happened and why the ultimatum was given to the hero. I decided to push through because it was getting such good reviews, and surely I would be rewarded with a good romance book. I guess I am the odd one out. I tend to love books that many people do not seem to like and yet I seem to be dissatisfied with books that many loved. It really is just a matter of preferences and what works out for one reader.
I can definitely see why many readers would love the h and H. They may seem very different yet at the very core of their person, they were very similar to each other. They saw each other for who they really were. They were accepting of each other. They encouraged each other’s respective pursuits. By all means, they were great for each other. Add to that is the forbidden romance appeal and the best friend’s sister aspect. It definitely made for an interesting read. I must admit that I preferred the chapters wherein it was the heroine’s turn to help the hero in his quest for a respectable bride. I found the scandalous parts of London scenes rather boring. For something that was supposed to be an adventure, it made me yawn a lot. I guess I really just enjoy reading about the ton’s silliness, it’s so much more fun.
The first chapter intrigued me though. I find myself interested whether Dom and Willa would end up together or if Dom would end up finding someone else. If they do end up with each other, it would make for an angsty book. Finn was okay enough. He did not really pique my curiosity but we shall see if I’d be tempted to pick up his upcoming book in time. Lord Montford annoyed me. I am still confused as to why he thinks that way. I thought the conflict and resolution was rushed. I don’t know. I just felt like it was solved too quickly but I guess it would make sense since Kieran’s plan was rather neat. I had no idea how they would get their HEA so how it happened was unpredictable. For me, at least. Also, there was an epilogue so yay for that. Not my type of epilogue but it will do. Overall, it was an okay read to pass one’s time. The book has a fairly interesting premise and the author’s style was pleasant enough. I have no idea if I would be interested in reading more of this author’s work but perhaps I would be if I saw something that appealed to me. I was really excited for this and wanted to love the book more, but anyway, it was okay and managed to hold my interest until the end. So that’s still nice! Also, I did not plan for this review to be so long, it just sort of happened. In fact, I was too lazy to collect my thoughts and type it out so I don’t know how I ended up saying so much again. If anyone is reading this/ managed to read this, sorry for being annoying.
Some quotes:
“There’s poetry, of course,” Kieran murmured, “which abounds with descriptions of emotion. Words, though, are sharp, delineated things. They only hint at something, something so profound as to exist outside language, beyond careful construction. You can very well say something pretty and evocative about living to see a smile bloom on someone’s face—but until you’ve actually experienced the answering blossom of light in your own chest when you do behold that smile, a poem’s nothing more than empty syllables.”
“Christ almighty, he was in love with Celeste. So much so he ached with it. Every face he saw was hardly worth a glance because it wasn’t her face. Anyone who spoke simply made meaningless sounds because it wasn’t Celeste speaking. A moment without her was a moment without joy, without purpose.”
“Without thought, he moved toward Celeste because he couldn’t see her and remain at a distance. Wherever she was, he needed to be.”
“You’ve become the world to me, and I want to be yours for the rest of our days. I will do everything to bring you the happiness you deserve.”
“The thought of walking away, of never yielding even just a fraction to this powerful yearning hollowed him out. Emptiness without her flooded him. Ahead of him lay a lifetime deprived of her company, her smiles, her energy.”
February 14, 2022
I loved this so much! This is everything I want in new historical romance releases! A bad boy with a heart of gold, a heroine finding joy when society tells her not to, and chemistry, passion, and sparks a plenty.
Kieran is under threat of losing his income by his parents unless he finds a respectable bride ASAP. Celeste is just the woman for the job, especially considering she is his best friend's sister. A perfect lady in every sense of the word. Her only demand is that Kieran take her to the dark side of London to show her all the sensual delights forbidden to her, before she makes a respectable match at the end of the season.
He reluctantly agrees, and sparks quickly turn into full blown flames between these two.
I loved how much depth the characters had, and how every nighttime outing or afternoon tea let them see a different side of each other they weren't expecting. This was a pure delight from start to finish and I loved every single page.
Kieran is under threat of losing his income by his parents unless he finds a respectable bride ASAP. Celeste is just the woman for the job, especially considering she is his best friend's sister. A perfect lady in every sense of the word. Her only demand is that Kieran take her to the dark side of London to show her all the sensual delights forbidden to her, before she makes a respectable match at the end of the season.
He reluctantly agrees, and sparks quickly turn into full blown flames between these two.
I loved how much depth the characters had, and how every nighttime outing or afternoon tea let them see a different side of each other they weren't expecting. This was a pure delight from start to finish and I loved every single page.
August 22, 2025
Português
Jamais imaginei que este livro me conquistaria desta maneira. Comecei a leitura a acreditar que seria somente uma forma de passar o tempo, mas acabei com uma surpresa — gostei imenso!
English
I never imagined this book would captivate me like this. I started reading it thinking it would be just a way to pass the time, but I ended up pleasantly surprised — I really enjoyed it!
Jamais imaginei que este livro me conquistaria desta maneira. Comecei a leitura a acreditar que seria somente uma forma de passar o tempo, mas acabei com uma surpresa — gostei imenso!
English
I never imagined this book would captivate me like this. I started reading it thinking it would be just a way to pass the time, but I ended up pleasantly surprised — I really enjoyed it!
March 15, 2022
“That’s the trouble with hearts. They involve themselves, whether we want them to or not.”
A handsome, rakish, dirty-talking scoundrel with the soul of a poet; a spirited, charming, witty young woman with a heart of gold; shared illicit adventures; heart-squeezing angst; an achingly sweet forbidden love; and a happily ever after. What more could you ask for? This book was beautifully written and the character development a joy to read. The entire book was just one big bowl of catnip for me ❤️
Careful if you read this… Kieran’s dirty talk is so hot the book should come with a “Possible Spontaneous Combustion” warning 🔥
He groaned. “All I want to do is bite that gorgeous neck of yours. I want to nip at it, sink my teeth into it. Lick it and taste you. My hands burn because they want to wrap around your throat and hold you still as I pleasure you.”
“Would you merely tell me these things,” she whispered, “or would you do them?” “All good seduction involves waiting, love. A little teasing builds anticipation, which is part of the joy of it. But,” he went on when she was certain her body would be reduced to cinders, “after telling you what I want to do, I’d lightly, very lightly, stroke my lips along your throat. As gentle as a sigh, but you’d feel my breath against your skin, and then I’d touch the tip of my tongue to your flesh.”
“I’d go higher,” he continued, his voice deep and rough, “and scrape my teeth to the place just beneath your ear. Perhaps I’d give you the softest of bites, and you’d moan because it wouldn’t be enough. Not nearly enough.”
And he writes poetry, too 😍
On time’s great voyage, I have lost my way,
Adrift, unmoored, eyes to horizon trained.
All stars I seek fade with the light of day
Yet to this cold prow my body is chained.
Each question I pose, one answer is true—
My guide is the constellation of you.
A handsome, rakish, dirty-talking scoundrel with the soul of a poet; a spirited, charming, witty young woman with a heart of gold; shared illicit adventures; heart-squeezing angst; an achingly sweet forbidden love; and a happily ever after. What more could you ask for? This book was beautifully written and the character development a joy to read. The entire book was just one big bowl of catnip for me ❤️
Careful if you read this… Kieran’s dirty talk is so hot the book should come with a “Possible Spontaneous Combustion” warning 🔥
He groaned. “All I want to do is bite that gorgeous neck of yours. I want to nip at it, sink my teeth into it. Lick it and taste you. My hands burn because they want to wrap around your throat and hold you still as I pleasure you.”
“Would you merely tell me these things,” she whispered, “or would you do them?” “All good seduction involves waiting, love. A little teasing builds anticipation, which is part of the joy of it. But,” he went on when she was certain her body would be reduced to cinders, “after telling you what I want to do, I’d lightly, very lightly, stroke my lips along your throat. As gentle as a sigh, but you’d feel my breath against your skin, and then I’d touch the tip of my tongue to your flesh.”
“I’d go higher,” he continued, his voice deep and rough, “and scrape my teeth to the place just beneath your ear. Perhaps I’d give you the softest of bites, and you’d moan because it wouldn’t be enough. Not nearly enough.”
And he writes poetry, too 😍
On time’s great voyage, I have lost my way,
Adrift, unmoored, eyes to horizon trained.
All stars I seek fade with the light of day
Yet to this cold prow my body is chained.
Each question I pose, one answer is true—
My guide is the constellation of you.
April 12, 2023
Read:4/12/23
3 stars
This was a cute, fun romance! The writing was fast-paced and interesting. I like that the author went for the bad words. It made the scenes more erotic. Though this scenario has been done before, I did enjoy EL 's take on it.
So, nothing special in the plot, this was still a fun read!
3 stars
This was a cute, fun romance! The writing was fast-paced and interesting. I like that the author went for the bad words. It made the scenes more erotic. Though this scenario has been done before, I did enjoy EL 's take on it.
So, nothing special in the plot, this was still a fun read!
March 10, 2022
3.5 Stars
Most of my GR friends were reading this book, and that is why I decided to jump into the melee.
This is my second Eva Leigh book, the first one that I read was An Education in Pleasure in the anthology Duke I'd Like to F.... Now, this anthology is something you should definitely read.
But coming back to The Good Girl's Guide to Rakes, there was nothing wrong with it. Really. The reason for this rating is that I found my attention to be drifting. I kept thinking about Nine Rules to Break When Romancing A Rake. Doesn't bode well, does it?
My Thoughts
- Ms Leigh's writing style balances the emotional with humourous in an engaging manner, and she is not afraid to throw in a dose of explicit steamy content!
- The story was paced well, and it was a quick read.
- The concept was interesting for the time period, trapped by societal expectations and trying to defy convention in order to find and express your true self. It can work wonders for character development and romance, in theory. In actuality, it came across as trying too hard. The "I want to be free" was thrown so many times in my face, I was like, come on, get on with it. It did not flow as seamlessly as Nine Rules did. Yes, I am aware that ideally, I should not be drawing comparisons, but I kept circling back.
- The constant harping on what you are showing the world versus who you truly are, had me shaking my head.
- On the plus side, a secret poet hero (yay!), a rags to riches strong heroine (yay!), sweet chemistry, fun banter, and a cute, believable romance.
- On the downside, idiotic drama, baseless reasons for the bad character, and useless reasons for the family to behave the way they did.
My Recommendation
To be honest, it was a little too cheesy for my taste.
Most of my GR friends were reading this book, and that is why I decided to jump into the melee.
This is my second Eva Leigh book, the first one that I read was An Education in Pleasure in the anthology Duke I'd Like to F.... Now, this anthology is something you should definitely read.
But coming back to The Good Girl's Guide to Rakes, there was nothing wrong with it. Really. The reason for this rating is that I found my attention to be drifting. I kept thinking about Nine Rules to Break When Romancing A Rake. Doesn't bode well, does it?
My Thoughts
- Ms Leigh's writing style balances the emotional with humourous in an engaging manner, and she is not afraid to throw in a dose of explicit steamy content!
- The story was paced well, and it was a quick read.
- The concept was interesting for the time period, trapped by societal expectations and trying to defy convention in order to find and express your true self. It can work wonders for character development and romance, in theory. In actuality, it came across as trying too hard. The "I want to be free" was thrown so many times in my face, I was like, come on, get on with it. It did not flow as seamlessly as Nine Rules did. Yes, I am aware that ideally, I should not be drawing comparisons, but I kept circling back.
- The constant harping on what you are showing the world versus who you truly are, had me shaking my head.
- On the plus side, a secret poet hero (yay!), a rags to riches strong heroine (yay!), sweet chemistry, fun banter, and a cute, believable romance.
- On the downside, idiotic drama, baseless reasons for the bad character, and useless reasons for the family to behave the way they did.
My Recommendation
To be honest, it was a little too cheesy for my taste.
March 6, 2022
Kieran Ransome and Celeste Kilburn strike a deal with the devil when they agree to help one another in The Good Girl’s Guide to Rakes Last Chance Scoundrels, #1; the start of a charming new series
Kieran is responsible for a massive society scandal. Celeste just wants out of her gilded cage that keeps getting smaller and smaller as an Earl’s proposal gets closer and closer. They agree to help one another.
Kieran is the third son of an Earl, and manages to live down to his parent’s low expectations. Kieran has been invisible to his parents almost since birth. The scandal is about the only time they have taken any notice of him and his brother, the spare.
If one is not suited for the church or for the army, there isn't really much left except a dissolute life for the sons of the peerage. If Ransom, his older brother and his best friend don’t find respectable wives in a year, all three will be disinherited as all played their role in the scandal.
Celeste is the daughter of a self-made millionaire. Going against most everything I have ever read in an HR, the Kilburns have been accepted into the highest levels of the ton, but only on sufferance. This is one of the reasons Celeste is one of the most prim and proper young ladies, and why her upcoming proposal from an Earl is such a coup.
The bargain: Celeste will help Kieran regain acceptance to the very best of society and have the chance to meet a respectable girl. In exchange, Kieran will take Celeste, suitably disguised, to his steamy, dissipated side of life; the gambling hells, scandalous art salons and wild fetes.
At times Leigh’s writing is so touching. “Women had very little for themselves in this life. Their worldly goods were usually the property of husbands or male relatives. Their bodies counted as a man’s property as did any children. Females’ reputations belonged to everyone. At the least”
Celeste and Kieran quickly develop an attraction and then a strong hot bond, especially since Celeste seems such a natural entering into Kieran’s milieu. Suddenly Celeste feels as if she can breathe for the first time. Oddly enough Kieran also seems to be a natural entering hidden parts of Celeste’s life.
Leigh adds a bit more oomph to the story when a villain tries to take control of Celeste’s life. She writes a clever solution that has one cheering Kieran and his friends.
The sex is close to the top of the Scoville Heat Units scale, so is the language.
I was annoyed that Kieran thought he couldn’t court Celeste as one didn’t ever court best friends' sisters. Even though said best friend had been engaged to Kieran’s sister. I think this storyline will be book 3 of this series.
Overall I found The Good Girl’s Guide to Rakes to be a fun entry into the HR genre.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper/Avon for sending an ARC for review purposes. The opinions are entirely my own.
Kieran is responsible for a massive society scandal. Celeste just wants out of her gilded cage that keeps getting smaller and smaller as an Earl’s proposal gets closer and closer. They agree to help one another.
Kieran is the third son of an Earl, and manages to live down to his parent’s low expectations. Kieran has been invisible to his parents almost since birth. The scandal is about the only time they have taken any notice of him and his brother, the spare.
If one is not suited for the church or for the army, there isn't really much left except a dissolute life for the sons of the peerage. If Ransom, his older brother and his best friend don’t find respectable wives in a year, all three will be disinherited as all played their role in the scandal.
Celeste is the daughter of a self-made millionaire. Going against most everything I have ever read in an HR, the Kilburns have been accepted into the highest levels of the ton, but only on sufferance. This is one of the reasons Celeste is one of the most prim and proper young ladies, and why her upcoming proposal from an Earl is such a coup.
The bargain: Celeste will help Kieran regain acceptance to the very best of society and have the chance to meet a respectable girl. In exchange, Kieran will take Celeste, suitably disguised, to his steamy, dissipated side of life; the gambling hells, scandalous art salons and wild fetes.
At times Leigh’s writing is so touching. “Women had very little for themselves in this life. Their worldly goods were usually the property of husbands or male relatives. Their bodies counted as a man’s property as did any children. Females’ reputations belonged to everyone. At the least”
Celeste and Kieran quickly develop an attraction and then a strong hot bond, especially since Celeste seems such a natural entering into Kieran’s milieu. Suddenly Celeste feels as if she can breathe for the first time. Oddly enough Kieran also seems to be a natural entering hidden parts of Celeste’s life.
Leigh adds a bit more oomph to the story when a villain tries to take control of Celeste’s life. She writes a clever solution that has one cheering Kieran and his friends.
The sex is close to the top of the Scoville Heat Units scale, so is the language.
I was annoyed that Kieran thought he couldn’t court Celeste as one didn’t ever court best friends' sisters. Even though said best friend had been engaged to Kieran’s sister. I think this storyline will be book 3 of this series.
Overall I found The Good Girl’s Guide to Rakes to be a fun entry into the HR genre.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper/Avon for sending an ARC for review purposes. The opinions are entirely my own.
February 15, 2022
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This a new author to me and the first in a series about a trio of friends that must settle down and find respectable wives. Celeste is the prim and proper sister of one of the trios and a bargain is struck with Keiran to be reintroduced to society after long being a Rake. Celeste's comes from poverty and her father plans a "good" marriage for her to move up the social ranks.
Celeste wants to walk of the wild side before marriage and settling down and this is her and Keiran's story. The story is a bit slow to start as it lays the groundwork for the series. I liked the side characters and look forward to their stories especially Finn. Their adventures and hot and steamy as we watch them fall in love. The twist at the end is a nice touch. I rate it 3.5* and round up.
This a new author to me and the first in a series about a trio of friends that must settle down and find respectable wives. Celeste is the prim and proper sister of one of the trios and a bargain is struck with Keiran to be reintroduced to society after long being a Rake. Celeste's comes from poverty and her father plans a "good" marriage for her to move up the social ranks.
Celeste wants to walk of the wild side before marriage and settling down and this is her and Keiran's story. The story is a bit slow to start as it lays the groundwork for the series. I liked the side characters and look forward to their stories especially Finn. Their adventures and hot and steamy as we watch them fall in love. The twist at the end is a nice touch. I rate it 3.5* and round up.
March 8, 2022
I ABSOLUTELY ADORED this book!!! There was nothing I would change, it’s perfection. Kieran & Celeste are perfect for each other! I LOVE watching a rogue, rake, or scoundrel meet his match and turn into a besotted romantic 😍 Add to this society’s picture perfect young lady and reveal she has a wild and adventurous personality buried under her socially acceptable persona — and we end up with perfection. Loved every word!! I also loved the way the author allowed our characters to be realistic, to get down and dirty, and feel no shame about it!! Did I mention the dirty talk?
It was FAN-F#CKING-Tabulous — loved EVERY word!!
You don’t want to miss this book. I am already dying for the next book in the series 😉
Overall 5+ Stars ⭐️ | 5 Flames 🔥 — A MUST read!!!
It was FAN-F#CKING-Tabulous — loved EVERY word!!
You don’t want to miss this book. I am already dying for the next book in the series 😉
Overall 5+ Stars ⭐️ | 5 Flames 🔥 — A MUST read!!!
March 26, 2023
I've been in a romance rut for a while and haven't been in the mood for the genre (which has been a real bummer, since it's usually one of my favorites!), but I'm happy to say that this one mostly managed to break through the rut and worked out pretty well for me. First, let me say that I ended up listening to the audiobook and the narrator was lovely!
Celeste had my heart from the very beginning of the book, and she only got better as it progressed. She's such a wholesome, genuinely kind character who simply wants freedom to do as she pleases, and the entire storyline made me think a lot about how many women throughout history (and even now) have been kept in cages for no reason other than their femininity. Even though Celeste's family truly does love her, their situation is so standard for their time and setting that they push her into situations she's immensely unhappy in "for her own good".
Kieran, on the other hand, had to win me over. I always start off with a healthy dose of skepticism when it comes to rakes because I worry that they won't truly "reform", but with Kieran, you quickly begin to realize that, despite his reputation, he's respectful and holds consent and free will in very high regards. It doesn't hurt that he's already pining over Celeste when the story begins, but it could've gone south because she's his best friend's younger sister and I worried that too much of his angst would revolve around his friend, and not Celeste's own feelings; thankfully, that wasn't the case at all—Kieran genuinely wanted nothing but Celeste's happiness and freedom. By the end of the book, I was fully rooting for him.
As for complaints: the writing felt repetitive at times (especially in one scene, where Kieran frequently reminds them both that it's "just one night"), and all of the side characters felt like one-dimensional props, especially Dominic. I know we're being set up for his book later in the series, but he was so pointlessly violent and obnoxious that it made me lose any interest whatsoever in reading his book. I might pick up book 2, since I did somewhat enjoy Kieran's brother Finn, but I'll most likely leave The Good Girl's Guide to Rakes as a standalone in my mind.
All of those minor problems aside, this was a fun, spicy read with a lot of really neat settings for Celeste and Kieran's adventures, and I enjoyed the underlying themes of feminism and empowerment tremendously. I definitely recommend this for anyone who enjoys historical romance!
Buddy read with the ever so lovely Sophril! ♥
✨ Representation: queer side characters
✨ Content warnings for:
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Celeste had my heart from the very beginning of the book, and she only got better as it progressed. She's such a wholesome, genuinely kind character who simply wants freedom to do as she pleases, and the entire storyline made me think a lot about how many women throughout history (and even now) have been kept in cages for no reason other than their femininity. Even though Celeste's family truly does love her, their situation is so standard for their time and setting that they push her into situations she's immensely unhappy in "for her own good".
Kieran, on the other hand, had to win me over. I always start off with a healthy dose of skepticism when it comes to rakes because I worry that they won't truly "reform", but with Kieran, you quickly begin to realize that, despite his reputation, he's respectful and holds consent and free will in very high regards. It doesn't hurt that he's already pining over Celeste when the story begins, but it could've gone south because she's his best friend's younger sister and I worried that too much of his angst would revolve around his friend, and not Celeste's own feelings; thankfully, that wasn't the case at all—Kieran genuinely wanted nothing but Celeste's happiness and freedom. By the end of the book, I was fully rooting for him.
As for complaints: the writing felt repetitive at times (especially in one scene, where Kieran frequently reminds them both that it's "just one night"), and all of the side characters felt like one-dimensional props, especially Dominic. I know we're being set up for his book later in the series, but he was so pointlessly violent and obnoxious that it made me lose any interest whatsoever in reading his book. I might pick up book 2, since I did somewhat enjoy Kieran's brother Finn, but I'll most likely leave The Good Girl's Guide to Rakes as a standalone in my mind.
All of those minor problems aside, this was a fun, spicy read with a lot of really neat settings for Celeste and Kieran's adventures, and I enjoyed the underlying themes of feminism and empowerment tremendously. I definitely recommend this for anyone who enjoys historical romance!
Buddy read with the ever so lovely Sophril! ♥
✨ Representation: queer side characters
✨ Content warnings for:
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January 1, 2022
Kieran Ransome created an unintended scandal. Now his father has issued an ultimatum: make a respectable marriage within a year or be cut off financially. Kieran only knows one miss above reproach: his best friend's sister, Celeste Kilburn; and he's hoping she'll help him gain acceptance in respectable circles. Celeste wants the opposite: to have freedom for adventure and not worry about keeping a spotless reputation. Their time together builds their attraction until neither is willing to ignore it anymore.
This is the first book in the Last Chance Scoundrels series, where two brothers and their best friend/nearly brother-in-law must reform and find above board brides. Kieran is up first, and he's much more a soft-hearted rascal than a troublesome rogue. That's not how his parents see him though, and they only have time and affection for their heir - not the spares. Meanwhile, Celeste's father's trade money may have opened some doors, but she's under pressure to keep up a sterling reputation and marry to cement the family's place in society.
I love their bargain: appearance of reform and introduction to proper ladies for him, and adventurous outings for her. Dressing up in a wig and cosmetics, Celeste dubs herself "Salome" and she and Kieran visit a gaming hell and uninhibited parties. Spending this time together, they are able to connect and see the sides of each other that they don't normally get to display. Celeste encourages Kieran's poetry, and he encourages her charity work. They both inspire each other to speak up for what they want in their lives. (4.5 stars rounded to 5).
Tropes: Brother's Best Friend/Best Friend's Sister, Matchmaking, Lessons, Disguised
Steam: 3
* I received an ARC and this is my honest review. #TheGoodGirlsGuideToRakes #NetGalley
This is the first book in the Last Chance Scoundrels series, where two brothers and their best friend/nearly brother-in-law must reform and find above board brides. Kieran is up first, and he's much more a soft-hearted rascal than a troublesome rogue. That's not how his parents see him though, and they only have time and affection for their heir - not the spares. Meanwhile, Celeste's father's trade money may have opened some doors, but she's under pressure to keep up a sterling reputation and marry to cement the family's place in society.
I love their bargain: appearance of reform and introduction to proper ladies for him, and adventurous outings for her. Dressing up in a wig and cosmetics, Celeste dubs herself "Salome" and she and Kieran visit a gaming hell and uninhibited parties. Spending this time together, they are able to connect and see the sides of each other that they don't normally get to display. Celeste encourages Kieran's poetry, and he encourages her charity work. They both inspire each other to speak up for what they want in their lives. (4.5 stars rounded to 5).
Tropes: Brother's Best Friend/Best Friend's Sister, Matchmaking, Lessons, Disguised
Steam: 3
* I received an ARC and this is my honest review. #TheGoodGirlsGuideToRakes #NetGalley
July 19, 2022
Mmmmmm I like Eva leigh and I find her books to be unconventionally sexy but this one started off slow, remained slow, and left me craving for more chemistry or something that could have me care more about the characters getting together.
January 23, 2022
I love finishing a Romance novel and knowing beyond a doubt that the two main characters are made for each other. Kieran and Celeste's story is sweet, sexy, emotional, and so much fun. The side characters are great (I'm looking forward to Finn and Tabitha's book, and I hope Dom is paired with Willa for a second-chance-at-love story), and I thought the villain and the twist at the end both worked really well without being too over-the-top. Overall I would recommend this promising start to the series and look forward to reading more Eva Leigh!
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager via Netgalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager via Netgalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
May 15, 2022
2.5
I don't think I was in the mood for this book and it affected my rating.
I don't think I was in the mood for this book and it affected my rating.
January 28, 2022
ARC provided by NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager in exchange for an honest review.
This was a fun and steamy read. Enjoyed both main characters and their character development.
Well written with just a few spots that drag, but overall pace.
Kieran, our hero has just been given an ultimatum by his father, shape up or else!!! Kieran Father has had enough of his rakish and troublesome ways. He's finally crossed the line and his father wants him to find a respectable woman and marry her. He's given him one year to find this paragon of virtue and then he's to marry her pronto. He's quite the rake our Kieran and he know just who might help him in his endeavor.
Celeste, is our oh so "proper" heroine. She's presented to society a very respectable and proper young lady who abides by the rules. But in reality Celeste is tired of this "role" that's been put on her shoulders by her family. But low and behold opportunity knocks in the form of Kieran. Kieran asks for Celeste help, he needs her to help present to society a respectable man and a reformed rake. Celeste is happy to help, BUT in exchange she want to see the more side of life that is quite so respectable. She's ready to break free for a little bit, okay be a little wild really. And especially before she has to accept a respectable marriage proposal and marry.
What issues is a fun and steamy little love story. The development of their friendship, with a denial of attraction from both of course, to a love affair neither can deny. I loved the character of Celeste, such a wonderful balance of kind, sweet and compassionate. But she has a little bit of a wild streak and naughtiness to her that is just the right balance. Not easy to do but this author does a good job. And Kieran is just the right mix of rake to compliment the heroine.
I did find the beginning a little slow. I had to push through and got into the book after about 1/3 way through and it picked up nicely.
This was a fun and steamy read. Enjoyed both main characters and their character development.
Well written with just a few spots that drag, but overall pace.
Kieran, our hero has just been given an ultimatum by his father, shape up or else!!! Kieran Father has had enough of his rakish and troublesome ways. He's finally crossed the line and his father wants him to find a respectable woman and marry her. He's given him one year to find this paragon of virtue and then he's to marry her pronto. He's quite the rake our Kieran and he know just who might help him in his endeavor.
Celeste, is our oh so "proper" heroine. She's presented to society a very respectable and proper young lady who abides by the rules. But in reality Celeste is tired of this "role" that's been put on her shoulders by her family. But low and behold opportunity knocks in the form of Kieran. Kieran asks for Celeste help, he needs her to help present to society a respectable man and a reformed rake. Celeste is happy to help, BUT in exchange she want to see the more side of life that is quite so respectable. She's ready to break free for a little bit, okay be a little wild really. And especially before she has to accept a respectable marriage proposal and marry.
What issues is a fun and steamy little love story. The development of their friendship, with a denial of attraction from both of course, to a love affair neither can deny. I loved the character of Celeste, such a wonderful balance of kind, sweet and compassionate. But she has a little bit of a wild streak and naughtiness to her that is just the right balance. Not easy to do but this author does a good job. And Kieran is just the right mix of rake to compliment the heroine.
I did find the beginning a little slow. I had to push through and got into the book after about 1/3 way through and it picked up nicely.
April 19, 2024
3.75
Reseña completa: https://masromance.blogspot.com/2024/...
Me ha gustado bastante.
Una novela muy entretenida, con una temática algo tópica pero bien defendida en la que mi único pero ha sido un tema importante que al final la autora defiende sin demasiado cálculo,. Creo que debería haber sido algo más complejo dada la importancia
Por lo demás, una estructura clásica con una interacción muy presente entre los protagonistas y sin grandes tramas secundarias. Su relación me ha convencido y creo que está consolidada
Recomendable
Reseña completa: https://masromance.blogspot.com/2024/...
Me ha gustado bastante.
Una novela muy entretenida, con una temática algo tópica pero bien defendida en la que mi único pero ha sido un tema importante que al final la autora defiende sin demasiado cálculo,. Creo que debería haber sido algo más complejo dada la importancia
Por lo demás, una estructura clásica con una interacción muy presente entre los protagonistas y sin grandes tramas secundarias. Su relación me ha convencido y creo que está consolidada
Recomendable
February 2, 2022
Kieran Ransome has always been a bit of a scoundrel, but when his latest escapade results in a scandal that could damage his sister’s reputation, his parents give him, his brother and their best friend an ultimatum: they must marry respectable wives or be disinherited. Kieran has no idea how to gain entry into the society he has shunned and knows only one lady who might be able to help him.
Celeste Kilburn is much loved amongst the most influential members of high society. She’s spent so much time maintaining her flawless reputation that she is barred from any of the adventure she secretly longs for and she’s desperate for a little freedom from the pedestal she’s been placed upon. When her older brother’s best friend, Kieran, asks for her help rehabbing his reputation, Celeste agrees to help him get the right invitations if he introduces her to the darker side of London.
Kieran and Celeste attend proper musicales and soirees by day while he escorts her, disguised as “Salome,” to variously inappropriate parties and venues by night. But the more time they spend together, the more the thread of attraction between them grows into something more, an inescapable longing to be together. Unfortunately, their midnight romps have not gone unnoticed and their discovery endangers both Celeste’s freedom and any hope she has of establishing a future with Kieran, unless he can find a way to save the woman he’s come to love.
I can honestly say this is the first book in some time that I have truly loved. I adored both Kieran and Celeste as individuals and they were perfect for each other as a couple.
Lately in historical romance it seems like every single book harps on about the struggle of women and how few rights they had compared to men. Of course, this is terrible, but we all know this and it's something we still experience now, just to a lesser extent. For that reason, I don’t always want to be constantly reminded of that when I’m reading a romance story and I get weary of heroines who are ‘independent’ but really just sound like shrewish harpies on the page and wind up standing in their own way and creating their own problems because they don’t want to ask for help. All this to say that Celeste is not like this at all. We still get the same message about women’s lack of choices in this time, but from a different angle, with a heroine who is just as boxed in by her family as she is by society. She is well liked by all and seems happy and well-adjusted, so her family doesn’t think to question whether she truly is happy, and she finally decides to make that happen for herself. I found that to be utterly relatable and I think everyone, regardless of gender or circumstance will be able to resonate with that idea of feeling pressure to please one’s family or fit oneself into a certain mold, even if that mold doesn’t really fit.
Celeste has spent her life, since her family’s move up to wealth and higher-class social circles, ensuring their respectability. All responsibility for the family’s reputation has fallen on her shoulders because of her father and brother, though they didn’t really mean to, they’re merely clueless. Kieran has spent his life seeking pleasure, sensation, and experience from life because he gets almost no notice at all from his family other than when they deride him for his poetry or seeming aimlessness. Beneath his dirty-talking playboy persona there lies a man of deep emotion and depth of feeling, hiding his tender heart behind the rakish façade. Though Kieran and Celeste started their association seeking mutual benefit for themselves, each winds up charmed by the other and seeking things that will bring the other joy. It is as if Kieran and Celeste are the first people to see one another for who they truly are, beneath any societal façade or propriety. Kieran challenged Celeste with new, scandalous experiences that had been forbidden to her and she gave him a place of acceptance in which he could show her every side of himself without fear of judgment or rejection. I also think it was also very interesting that we had a different spin on class differences here. Celeste was the one with a low-class background, having grown up poor in a London rookery, while Kieran was the youngest son of a marquess and grew up with wealth and privilege and yet it is Celeste who is the respectable one trying to help Kieran rehab his reputation and gain society’s acceptance. I also adored the fact that, though Celeste gains her freedom and learns more about how to be both her true self and the lady she shows to society, Kieran is still the one who gets to sweep in at the end and rescue her from the threat against her. If things had played out any other way, it just wouldn't have worked with the same magic. Kieran trying to give Celeste the freedom she craved only to have her actively choose him, when he’d experienced a lifetime of being overlooked by those who were supposed to love him unconditionally…I swoon.
I just can’t see enough about how much I enjoyed the way this story was handled. We do have a villainous element and a big roadblock to the couple’s happiness, but this was dealt with brilliantly, in a way that allowed Kieran to shine, and which kept the angst level low enough that, while I didn’t want to put the book down, I wasn’t too stressed about it, and it never felt like Celeste and Kieran were anything less than inevitable. I hadn’t expected this to be such a slow burn, but the way the tension continuously ramped up between Celeste and Kieran was just delicious and when they did come together, the steamy scenes between them were absolutely fire. I think it’s important to note that not only were they hot, but the care and tenderness between these characters was so clear and well done, with such romantic dialogue. It was just perfect. I loved seeing Kieran’s parents, and to a lesser extent Celeste’s father and even her brother, be put in their places and I hope we get more of that in the next books as well. I loved Finn and Dom as side characters too and I’m so looking forward to their stories.
Anyone who’s been following my reviews at all lately will know I haven’t written anything so long in quite a while and definitely nothing so gushing as this, so this book was really special to me. I can’t say enough good things about it, but it made me very happy to read and that is truly saying something right about now. This is definitely one I would recommend.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Blog link: https://mustreadalltheromance.blogspo...
Celeste Kilburn is much loved amongst the most influential members of high society. She’s spent so much time maintaining her flawless reputation that she is barred from any of the adventure she secretly longs for and she’s desperate for a little freedom from the pedestal she’s been placed upon. When her older brother’s best friend, Kieran, asks for her help rehabbing his reputation, Celeste agrees to help him get the right invitations if he introduces her to the darker side of London.
Kieran and Celeste attend proper musicales and soirees by day while he escorts her, disguised as “Salome,” to variously inappropriate parties and venues by night. But the more time they spend together, the more the thread of attraction between them grows into something more, an inescapable longing to be together. Unfortunately, their midnight romps have not gone unnoticed and their discovery endangers both Celeste’s freedom and any hope she has of establishing a future with Kieran, unless he can find a way to save the woman he’s come to love.
I can honestly say this is the first book in some time that I have truly loved. I adored both Kieran and Celeste as individuals and they were perfect for each other as a couple.
Lately in historical romance it seems like every single book harps on about the struggle of women and how few rights they had compared to men. Of course, this is terrible, but we all know this and it's something we still experience now, just to a lesser extent. For that reason, I don’t always want to be constantly reminded of that when I’m reading a romance story and I get weary of heroines who are ‘independent’ but really just sound like shrewish harpies on the page and wind up standing in their own way and creating their own problems because they don’t want to ask for help. All this to say that Celeste is not like this at all. We still get the same message about women’s lack of choices in this time, but from a different angle, with a heroine who is just as boxed in by her family as she is by society. She is well liked by all and seems happy and well-adjusted, so her family doesn’t think to question whether she truly is happy, and she finally decides to make that happen for herself. I found that to be utterly relatable and I think everyone, regardless of gender or circumstance will be able to resonate with that idea of feeling pressure to please one’s family or fit oneself into a certain mold, even if that mold doesn’t really fit.
Celeste has spent her life, since her family’s move up to wealth and higher-class social circles, ensuring their respectability. All responsibility for the family’s reputation has fallen on her shoulders because of her father and brother, though they didn’t really mean to, they’re merely clueless. Kieran has spent his life seeking pleasure, sensation, and experience from life because he gets almost no notice at all from his family other than when they deride him for his poetry or seeming aimlessness. Beneath his dirty-talking playboy persona there lies a man of deep emotion and depth of feeling, hiding his tender heart behind the rakish façade. Though Kieran and Celeste started their association seeking mutual benefit for themselves, each winds up charmed by the other and seeking things that will bring the other joy. It is as if Kieran and Celeste are the first people to see one another for who they truly are, beneath any societal façade or propriety. Kieran challenged Celeste with new, scandalous experiences that had been forbidden to her and she gave him a place of acceptance in which he could show her every side of himself without fear of judgment or rejection. I also think it was also very interesting that we had a different spin on class differences here. Celeste was the one with a low-class background, having grown up poor in a London rookery, while Kieran was the youngest son of a marquess and grew up with wealth and privilege and yet it is Celeste who is the respectable one trying to help Kieran rehab his reputation and gain society’s acceptance. I also adored the fact that, though Celeste gains her freedom and learns more about how to be both her true self and the lady she shows to society, Kieran is still the one who gets to sweep in at the end and rescue her from the threat against her. If things had played out any other way, it just wouldn't have worked with the same magic. Kieran trying to give Celeste the freedom she craved only to have her actively choose him, when he’d experienced a lifetime of being overlooked by those who were supposed to love him unconditionally…I swoon.
I just can’t see enough about how much I enjoyed the way this story was handled. We do have a villainous element and a big roadblock to the couple’s happiness, but this was dealt with brilliantly, in a way that allowed Kieran to shine, and which kept the angst level low enough that, while I didn’t want to put the book down, I wasn’t too stressed about it, and it never felt like Celeste and Kieran were anything less than inevitable. I hadn’t expected this to be such a slow burn, but the way the tension continuously ramped up between Celeste and Kieran was just delicious and when they did come together, the steamy scenes between them were absolutely fire. I think it’s important to note that not only were they hot, but the care and tenderness between these characters was so clear and well done, with such romantic dialogue. It was just perfect. I loved seeing Kieran’s parents, and to a lesser extent Celeste’s father and even her brother, be put in their places and I hope we get more of that in the next books as well. I loved Finn and Dom as side characters too and I’m so looking forward to their stories.
Anyone who’s been following my reviews at all lately will know I haven’t written anything so long in quite a while and definitely nothing so gushing as this, so this book was really special to me. I can’t say enough good things about it, but it made me very happy to read and that is truly saying something right about now. This is definitely one I would recommend.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Blog link: https://mustreadalltheromance.blogspo...
February 17, 2022
This was a fun historical romance and a great start to this new series. The book features favorite tropes like brother's best friend/best friend's little sister, forced proximity, and bargain/agreement. I both read and listened to The Good Girl's Guide to Rakes, and I really enjoyed the set up for the novel and the author did a fantastic job laying the foundation for future books.
Kieran and Celeste couldn't be more different on paper, but it becomes clear that looks can be deceiving as they spend more and more time together. I loved the evolution of their relationship and how vulnerable they were with one another. Celeste is trapped in a gilded cage and I was cheering her on all the way as she experienced life and fulfilled her sexual desires. The reformed rake is not my favorite hero, but watching Kieran slowly realize his feelings and fall head over heels was the best. I also appreciated that Kieran and Celeste were honest with each other about their feelings after Lord Montford's reveal, even if the situation felt hopeless at that moment. Things wrapped up quite conveniently, but these two were wonderful together and I loved that the guys all collaborated to make the happily ever after happen. I'm excited to read Finn's book next!
Audiobook Review
Overall 4 stars
Performance 4 stars
Story 4 stars
Zara Hampton-Brown is a new to me narrator and I enjoyed her performance a lot, but I didn't love her male voices. There were times that I had trouble figuring out if Kieran or Finn was speaking if they were in the scene together.
CW: blackmail, strained family/parental relationships, classism
*I voluntarily read and listened to an advance review copy of this book*
Kieran and Celeste couldn't be more different on paper, but it becomes clear that looks can be deceiving as they spend more and more time together. I loved the evolution of their relationship and how vulnerable they were with one another. Celeste is trapped in a gilded cage and I was cheering her on all the way as she experienced life and fulfilled her sexual desires. The reformed rake is not my favorite hero, but watching Kieran slowly realize his feelings and fall head over heels was the best. I also appreciated that Kieran and Celeste were honest with each other about their feelings after Lord Montford's reveal, even if the situation felt hopeless at that moment. Things wrapped up quite conveniently, but these two were wonderful together and I loved that the guys all collaborated to make the happily ever after happen. I'm excited to read Finn's book next!
Audiobook Review
Overall 4 stars
Performance 4 stars
Story 4 stars
Zara Hampton-Brown is a new to me narrator and I enjoyed her performance a lot, but I didn't love her male voices. There were times that I had trouble figuring out if Kieran or Finn was speaking if they were in the scene together.
CW: blackmail, strained family/parental relationships, classism
*I voluntarily read and listened to an advance review copy of this book*
January 24, 2022
I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Kieran Ransome is a devishly handsome rake who spends his time rejecting polite society and their rules. Unfortunately, this has caused him to be a social pariah. His parents issue an ultimatum that he, Dom, and Finn will all be cut off if they don't marry respectable ladies within a year. Kieran enlists the help of Celeste Killburn to get him accepted back into the welcoming arms of the ton. In return, Celeste wants Kieran to help her experience disreputable haunts at night before she is forced to marry Lord Montford.
First thing, Kieran is oh so dirty. The things he says and the things he does. Just hot. Then he is matched with Celeste who has a passionate side hidden beneath her very sedate and proper facade. There were literal fireworks in this book. I won't lie and say I didn't struggle in the beginning because I always struggle with the first book in the series. I think it's just information overload introducing all the characters and the plot. After about 30 percent this really picked up for me, and I found i couldn't put it down. Yes, there was lots of chemistry, but also a lot of feels too. There were layers to these characters that kept getting pulled back exposing their innermost desires and I think I enjoyed that most of all.
This doesn't beat my favorite Eva Leigh, but it's a close second.
Kieran Ransome is a devishly handsome rake who spends his time rejecting polite society and their rules. Unfortunately, this has caused him to be a social pariah. His parents issue an ultimatum that he, Dom, and Finn will all be cut off if they don't marry respectable ladies within a year. Kieran enlists the help of Celeste Killburn to get him accepted back into the welcoming arms of the ton. In return, Celeste wants Kieran to help her experience disreputable haunts at night before she is forced to marry Lord Montford.
First thing, Kieran is oh so dirty. The things he says and the things he does. Just hot. Then he is matched with Celeste who has a passionate side hidden beneath her very sedate and proper facade. There were literal fireworks in this book. I won't lie and say I didn't struggle in the beginning because I always struggle with the first book in the series. I think it's just information overload introducing all the characters and the plot. After about 30 percent this really picked up for me, and I found i couldn't put it down. Yes, there was lots of chemistry, but also a lot of feels too. There were layers to these characters that kept getting pulled back exposing their innermost desires and I think I enjoyed that most of all.
This doesn't beat my favorite Eva Leigh, but it's a close second.
February 18, 2022
The Good Girls Guide to Rakes begins as Kieran Ransome and his brother help stop the wedding between his sister and his best friend. Outraged by their selfish and impulsive actions, his parents and the groom’s parents issue an ultimatum – Kieran and the other two men involved in the disaster must marry respectable women within the year or they’ll be cut off. So, Kieran turns to the only respectable woman he knows, his best friend’s sister.
Celeste Kilburn is the very definition of proper. However, she longs for more. So, Celeste and Kieran agree to help each other. She will introduce him to polite society and suitable, marriageable women if he shows her some of the less reputable activities and adventures she longs for. The more time they spend together, the more their feelings for each other grow. What will the pair do when someone learns of their exploits and threatens to reveal the truth?
Celeste and Kieran have a fantastic love story. He is so poetic and passionate and romantic, and his feelings for Celeste are beautiful. There are many incredibly swoon-worthy moments in the story, and one of my favorites is when Kieran reads one of his poems to Celeste. It is clear she is his muse, and the poem is so romantic! That scene epitomizes his feelings for her and shows how deeply moved he is by her. It’s wonderful!
I really like the inclusion of poetry and the way the author used poetry to show Kieran’s growing feelings and trust in Celeste. Kieran’s poetry is lovely, and it’s so moving when he shows Celeste this side of himself, as he doesn’t show it to many. I think this is something Celeste and Kieran have in common – lack of familial support and acceptance forces them into personas that they don’t wholly embrace.
Celeste and Kieran have much in common even though, at first glance, they seem so different. They both feel alone even though they have family around. I like that they both see past the rumors, the personas, and the families’ judgments and see the true person underneath it all. Kieran isn’t a rake, and Celeste is more than a proper debutante. I like that they encourage each other to accept all parts of themselves. It shows how deeply they care for each other and how completely they accept each other, and it leads to some really powerful transformations.
Overall, I think this is a fun, entertaining, and romantic story with great messages, dynamic characters, and some amazingly swoon-tastic scenes! The characters have a ton of chemistry, and there are also hints of potential romances in future books in the series. I’m eager to see how these develop and if the men find their loves before their year is up. Thanks so much to NetGalley, Avon, and Eva Leigh for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Celeste Kilburn is the very definition of proper. However, she longs for more. So, Celeste and Kieran agree to help each other. She will introduce him to polite society and suitable, marriageable women if he shows her some of the less reputable activities and adventures she longs for. The more time they spend together, the more their feelings for each other grow. What will the pair do when someone learns of their exploits and threatens to reveal the truth?
Celeste and Kieran have a fantastic love story. He is so poetic and passionate and romantic, and his feelings for Celeste are beautiful. There are many incredibly swoon-worthy moments in the story, and one of my favorites is when Kieran reads one of his poems to Celeste. It is clear she is his muse, and the poem is so romantic! That scene epitomizes his feelings for her and shows how deeply moved he is by her. It’s wonderful!
I really like the inclusion of poetry and the way the author used poetry to show Kieran’s growing feelings and trust in Celeste. Kieran’s poetry is lovely, and it’s so moving when he shows Celeste this side of himself, as he doesn’t show it to many. I think this is something Celeste and Kieran have in common – lack of familial support and acceptance forces them into personas that they don’t wholly embrace.
Celeste and Kieran have much in common even though, at first glance, they seem so different. They both feel alone even though they have family around. I like that they both see past the rumors, the personas, and the families’ judgments and see the true person underneath it all. Kieran isn’t a rake, and Celeste is more than a proper debutante. I like that they encourage each other to accept all parts of themselves. It shows how deeply they care for each other and how completely they accept each other, and it leads to some really powerful transformations.
Overall, I think this is a fun, entertaining, and romantic story with great messages, dynamic characters, and some amazingly swoon-tastic scenes! The characters have a ton of chemistry, and there are also hints of potential romances in future books in the series. I’m eager to see how these develop and if the men find their loves before their year is up. Thanks so much to NetGalley, Avon, and Eva Leigh for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
February 9, 2022
Synopsis
Brothers, Finn and Kieran, help their best friend, Dom, flee his wedding….to their sister! As punishment, their parents tell them they have to settle down and get married to respectable women within a year or loose all money! Kieran asks Dom’s sister, Celeste, for help mending his reputation. She agrees but in exchange she wants him to take her to some disreputable places so she can live before her pending wedding announcement to Lord Montford. Through their adventures, both respectable daytime events and late night parties, they discover that both of them are not what they seem and start to fall for each other.
Tropes
forbidden love, best friends sister, marriage mart, Titled hero, virgin heroine, ton society, rake hero, childhood crush, forbidden love, beauty and the beast, quid pro quo, rages-to-riches
The Plot
I thought the plot was clever and had such depth. As it started, I assumed it would be a simple friends to lovers tale, but the way the characters completely morphed and revealed themselves when around each other was so amazing and sincere. Celeste and Keiran are the first to see each other as who they really are and want to be. It definitely pulled at my heart strings; doesn’t everyone want someone to truly SEE them as they really are and not just what they present to the world?!?! Eva Leigh did a great job of making their discovery of each other sincere and not rushed or even surface level.
The Heroine
Celeste was born in poverty but her family has since moved up the social ladder. She lives a very nice, comfortable albeit boring life that she compares to be being trapped in a cage. She is almost-engaged to a handsome, boorish man, but he doesn’t make her heart flutter like Keiran does. She feels (and reinforced by her father and brother) that it is her duty to be a perfect, respectable lady so they don’t loose their social standing, including marry well, specifically Lord Montford. I really liked Celeste’s character. She knows what she must do, but she vows to live for herself and experience things before she can’t.
The Hero
Kieran’s family has put him in the box of rake, trouble maker, spare to the heir, but he is so much more. He acts the way he does because his family believes him to be that person and nothing more. They tease him about his poetry and even burn his notebooks. His mother barely notices him. Watching Celeste morph into her real self, he realizes who he really is as well. He is completely deserving of having major angst as a character, but Eva conveys just enough of his inner turmoil that I wasn’t annoyed or felt sorry for him. It made me love him all the more!
The Sex
Yes. Yes. Yes. Eva Leigh is a master at describing not only the physical, but the emotional as well. Again with the sincere and believable, at times I felt I should look away because it just felt so intimate…but of course I hung on every word!
Stand Out Moment
Goodness, their were several! When he tells her in great detail what he would do to her if he were to seduce her, her reciting, from memory, scenes from a scandalous book, the entire evening at the theater when he reveals himself a poet…
Who Would Like This
Those who desire a very steamy read but with characters that have real depth. You don’t always get both with romance books!
Final Thoughts
The storyline was amazing, the love genuine, the sex descriptive, the characters deep…I can’t wait to read it again!
Brothers, Finn and Kieran, help their best friend, Dom, flee his wedding….to their sister! As punishment, their parents tell them they have to settle down and get married to respectable women within a year or loose all money! Kieran asks Dom’s sister, Celeste, for help mending his reputation. She agrees but in exchange she wants him to take her to some disreputable places so she can live before her pending wedding announcement to Lord Montford. Through their adventures, both respectable daytime events and late night parties, they discover that both of them are not what they seem and start to fall for each other.
Tropes
forbidden love, best friends sister, marriage mart, Titled hero, virgin heroine, ton society, rake hero, childhood crush, forbidden love, beauty and the beast, quid pro quo, rages-to-riches
The Plot
I thought the plot was clever and had such depth. As it started, I assumed it would be a simple friends to lovers tale, but the way the characters completely morphed and revealed themselves when around each other was so amazing and sincere. Celeste and Keiran are the first to see each other as who they really are and want to be. It definitely pulled at my heart strings; doesn’t everyone want someone to truly SEE them as they really are and not just what they present to the world?!?! Eva Leigh did a great job of making their discovery of each other sincere and not rushed or even surface level.
The Heroine
Celeste was born in poverty but her family has since moved up the social ladder. She lives a very nice, comfortable albeit boring life that she compares to be being trapped in a cage. She is almost-engaged to a handsome, boorish man, but he doesn’t make her heart flutter like Keiran does. She feels (and reinforced by her father and brother) that it is her duty to be a perfect, respectable lady so they don’t loose their social standing, including marry well, specifically Lord Montford. I really liked Celeste’s character. She knows what she must do, but she vows to live for herself and experience things before she can’t.
The Hero
Kieran’s family has put him in the box of rake, trouble maker, spare to the heir, but he is so much more. He acts the way he does because his family believes him to be that person and nothing more. They tease him about his poetry and even burn his notebooks. His mother barely notices him. Watching Celeste morph into her real self, he realizes who he really is as well. He is completely deserving of having major angst as a character, but Eva conveys just enough of his inner turmoil that I wasn’t annoyed or felt sorry for him. It made me love him all the more!
The Sex
Yes. Yes. Yes. Eva Leigh is a master at describing not only the physical, but the emotional as well. Again with the sincere and believable, at times I felt I should look away because it just felt so intimate…but of course I hung on every word!
Stand Out Moment
Goodness, their were several! When he tells her in great detail what he would do to her if he were to seduce her, her reciting, from memory, scenes from a scandalous book, the entire evening at the theater when he reveals himself a poet…
Who Would Like This
Those who desire a very steamy read but with characters that have real depth. You don’t always get both with romance books!
Final Thoughts
The storyline was amazing, the love genuine, the sex descriptive, the characters deep…I can’t wait to read it again!
February 21, 2022
4 stars (pub. date 2/22/22)
You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.
This is a fun, steamy historical fiction set in 1818 London, England. Kieran Ransome is the third son of an earl. He, his brother Finn and their friend Dom are notorious for their drinking, carousing and crazy antics. When the men's latest antic results in a massive scandal, their fathers issue an ultimatum: each man must find a respectable woman and be married within one year's time or they will be permanently cut off from their family money and inheritances.
Not wanting to be responsible for Finn and Dom's destitution, Kieran develops a plan to talk Dom's sister Celeste. She is one of the most respectable woman in London and he wants her to introduce him to the right women in the best social circles so he can find a respectable wife. Celeste is suffocated by polite society and yearns for adventure. She agrees to introduce Kieran around, if he will show her the scandalous side of London.
As they spend time together, their attraction naturally grows until they can't ignore their desire for each other. I really liked the MCs. Celeste is strong and fierce and knows her own mind, meanwhile Kieran isn't half as roguish as he pretends. He is immediately attracted to Celeste's brashness, and she appreciates his tenderness. I enjoyed the couple's flirtation and their attraction develops slowly and in a natural way. There are a few steamy scenes in the book, but most of the book is dedicated to the romance between the main MCs.
I really enjoyed this book. It is written well, and is a quick and easy read. This is book one of a trilogy and the next book will focus on Finn and his quest for a bride. I look forward to reading it once it's released.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager. All opinions are my own.
You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.
This is a fun, steamy historical fiction set in 1818 London, England. Kieran Ransome is the third son of an earl. He, his brother Finn and their friend Dom are notorious for their drinking, carousing and crazy antics. When the men's latest antic results in a massive scandal, their fathers issue an ultimatum: each man must find a respectable woman and be married within one year's time or they will be permanently cut off from their family money and inheritances.
Not wanting to be responsible for Finn and Dom's destitution, Kieran develops a plan to talk Dom's sister Celeste. She is one of the most respectable woman in London and he wants her to introduce him to the right women in the best social circles so he can find a respectable wife. Celeste is suffocated by polite society and yearns for adventure. She agrees to introduce Kieran around, if he will show her the scandalous side of London.
As they spend time together, their attraction naturally grows until they can't ignore their desire for each other. I really liked the MCs. Celeste is strong and fierce and knows her own mind, meanwhile Kieran isn't half as roguish as he pretends. He is immediately attracted to Celeste's brashness, and she appreciates his tenderness. I enjoyed the couple's flirtation and their attraction develops slowly and in a natural way. There are a few steamy scenes in the book, but most of the book is dedicated to the romance between the main MCs.
I really enjoyed this book. It is written well, and is a quick and easy read. This is book one of a trilogy and the next book will focus on Finn and his quest for a bride. I look forward to reading it once it's released.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager. All opinions are my own.
March 27, 2024
Thoroughly lovable. I really enjoyed this book so much and looked forward to reading it again each time I put it down...what more can we ask for as book lovers? 🤷♀️...I often get put off by many current writers putting obviously modern day themes of political correctness (🙄) in their HR's, but this book had a thread of sensibility woven in that was completely palatable and refreshing, not preachy or contrived. It was written with finesse and care and you could tell it was full of heart...as well as being wickedly sensual. Love me a giving Hero with a filthy mouth😉 The characters in this one stick with me, as does the story. The pacing was perfection. Anyone looking for a fresh, memorable, all around solid, modern historical romance start here. Very romantic, uplifting, and downright hot. My first Eva Leigh and I'll definitely read more.
💗💗📚
💗💗📚
February 22, 2022
4.5 stars rounded up.
Eva Leigh has done it again!
3/5🔥 (three scenes — one hands, one full, one briefer)
Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy. This review was left voluntarily.
Eva Leigh has done it again!
3/5🔥 (three scenes — one hands, one full, one briefer)
Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy. This review was left voluntarily.
February 24, 2022
3.5 ⭐️
My second book by Eva Leigh and while I don't think it was as memorable as Waiting for a Scot Like You, this was quick fun. It had the best friend's sister trope: the hero is a rake in want of a reputable wife, and the heroine wants to explore the darker sides of society before marrying herself to a lord. They help each other with their respective missions and of course, they catch feelings.
I was totally intrigued in the beginning though, where the heroine's brother was supposed to marry the hero's sister but he then jilted her at the altar. Now that was the story I unexpectedly wanted and I could already feel the angst, it was great. Can't wait to see what Eva Leigh has in store for us next!
*ARC kindly provided by the publisher Avon via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
My second book by Eva Leigh and while I don't think it was as memorable as Waiting for a Scot Like You, this was quick fun. It had the best friend's sister trope: the hero is a rake in want of a reputable wife, and the heroine wants to explore the darker sides of society before marrying herself to a lord. They help each other with their respective missions and of course, they catch feelings.
I was totally intrigued in the beginning though, where the heroine's brother was supposed to marry the hero's sister but he then jilted her at the altar. Now that was the story I unexpectedly wanted and I could already feel the angst, it was great. Can't wait to see what Eva Leigh has in store for us next!
*ARC kindly provided by the publisher Avon via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
February 22, 2022
What a great start to a new series!!
Eva Leigh brings us three disastrous rakes who have to get their lives in order and marry before their families cut them off.
Don’t you just LOVE historical romance? Premises like this always suck me in and make me giddy. Rake forced to reform, a debutante who is itching to be free of societies expectations, deals and trades and feelings and scandal.
These are a few of my favorite things!
You seriously can’t go wrong with these tropes and Eva Leigh delivers a lot of heart and heat with this one. And so many little hints about book two and three I just cannot WAIT to get my hands on what’s next!!
Thank you Net Galley and Avon for the ARC, review is my own.
Eva Leigh brings us three disastrous rakes who have to get their lives in order and marry before their families cut them off.
Don’t you just LOVE historical romance? Premises like this always suck me in and make me giddy. Rake forced to reform, a debutante who is itching to be free of societies expectations, deals and trades and feelings and scandal.
These are a few of my favorite things!
You seriously can’t go wrong with these tropes and Eva Leigh delivers a lot of heart and heat with this one. And so many little hints about book two and three I just cannot WAIT to get my hands on what’s next!!
Thank you Net Galley and Avon for the ARC, review is my own.
July 18, 2022
The Good Girl's Guide to Rakes was one spicy historical romance. I went into this book pretty blind and didn't expect at all what I got, it was so much more! I do love a good love story between a notorious rake and innocent debutante. My first Eva Leigh book definitely didn't disappoint!
At first glance this is a pretty straighforward premise that has been done a lot in historical romance: Rake Kieran Ransome needs to find a wife but has a terrible reputation so he turns to the most proper woman he knows, which just happens to be his best friend's little sister, Celeste Kilburn. She agrees to introduce him to the right people in society during the day if he shows her the wild and scandalous side of London at night. And so a deal was made.
Like I said before, the premise of the story isn't one that hasn't been done before in this genre but I did really enjoy reading it. And what made all the difference were the two amazing main characters. I absolutely loved them whether they were together or had seperate scenes. The both of them saw each other so clearly and accepted them wholly, something what both of their families didn't really do.
And the romance! Ugh! So hot, sexy and dirty. Literally got nothing negative to say about that. This author absolutely knows how to write spicy, fan-yourself, scorching scenes. I could've continued reading about Celeste and Kieran for many more chapters!
I, for one, can't wait to start the next book which is about Finn Ransome (Kieran's brother) and I know it's going to include a marriage of convenience. My absolute favorite trope in historical romance. I'm so excited!
At first glance this is a pretty straighforward premise that has been done a lot in historical romance: Rake Kieran Ransome needs to find a wife but has a terrible reputation so he turns to the most proper woman he knows, which just happens to be his best friend's little sister, Celeste Kilburn. She agrees to introduce him to the right people in society during the day if he shows her the wild and scandalous side of London at night. And so a deal was made.
Like I said before, the premise of the story isn't one that hasn't been done before in this genre but I did really enjoy reading it. And what made all the difference were the two amazing main characters. I absolutely loved them whether they were together or had seperate scenes. The both of them saw each other so clearly and accepted them wholly, something what both of their families didn't really do.
And the romance! Ugh! So hot, sexy and dirty. Literally got nothing negative to say about that. This author absolutely knows how to write spicy, fan-yourself, scorching scenes. I could've continued reading about Celeste and Kieran for many more chapters!
I, for one, can't wait to start the next book which is about Finn Ransome (Kieran's brother) and I know it's going to include a marriage of convenience. My absolute favorite trope in historical romance. I'm so excited!
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