Customer Reviews

A Lady's Guide to Rakes (Warner Forever)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Meredith Merriweather was ruined several years ago and left at the altar. She now plans to marry a boring, miserly businessmen but not before she finishes a book she is writing called A Lady's Guide to Rakes. She believes she can prevent another girl from her situation by warning them of all the behaviors and habits that will prove whether the man she admires is a rake or husbandly material. She does her research by placing London's most notorious rakes in tempting positions to see if they act as a rake would be expected to act. Her experiments have proven her theory until she marks Lord Lansing, Alexander Lamont as her next test. When he does not take the bait, but instead seems to be attempting to woo her, she is determined to prove he is not reformed. She ends up falling for him and wanting him to act as a rake because she yearns for his touch. When he offers for her, she refuses, she is set on marrying her solid businessman even though he criticizes her and so far makes no effort to offer for her. Alexander is forced into reformation by his father who gives him an ultimatum, clean up his act and find a suitable wife or be cut off financially. What Alexander doesn't expect is not only finding a suitable mate but actually falling in love with her.

I was disappointed in this book from the start. Meredith is a selfish, even cruel person who only thinks of herself. I couldn't bring myself to like her at all. Alexander, is just plain boring. Even reformed rakes should show a little spirit and personality. Even the sex scenes were boring and unimaginative.... I found it to be just blah....and was happy to come to the end....

This book is absolutely adorable!! It's fast paced and funny and the characters are endearing. Meredith Merriweather has been burned by a rake and is determined not to let it happen to other young women so she sets out to research rogues and write a book of advice. The book opens with her in a hot air balloon, spying on Alexander, Lord Lansing, the most notorious rake of all. Well, he used to be. He insists he's reformed, having been threatened with being cut off by his father if he doesn't straighten up. They meet when in an effort to get closer, the balloon crashes and she lands on him. The rest of the book continues at a fast pace, constantly witty with a fun cast of minor characters.

Meredith was not necessarily mean, but she was immature. I never understood her decisions or or why she said the things she thought. She was a bit conceited, and dramatic. She was always upset and irritated at something or someone. The sex scenes were not even tepid. She almost deserved to be with Chilton because they were both so uptight. If you're looking for a good Kathryn Caskie book, this isn't it. But it killed time.

Finally, I see in this third novel by newcomer Kathryn Caskie the growth and experience needed in her becoming a fine regency author. Hanging in there, I've read all three now and consider this a comparable effort to her exceptional debut of RULES OF ENGAGEMENT after the less than stellar LADY IN WAITING.

In sticking with her successful premise of having the two great aunts, Letitia and Viola providing additional comic relief to the antics of the primary character, Meredith Merriweather, as she tries to produce a lady's guide to avoiding heartache by a rake, the author loads up with plenty of ammunition and delivers this with an amusing bang! Meredith is a wonderful heroine; one that the reader will genuinely like, understand and feel sympathy for after having stood up and borne the embarrassment of having been jilted at the alter and ruined by a rake that had no principles of having ruined an innocent in his search for a wealthy heiress.

As therapy in overcoming her heartbreak and shame, Meredith set out to compile a guide in proving her theory of a rakes behavior plus save other innocents from a similar fate. Meredith herself was determined to never again fall prey to a rake, she'd set her cap for the very staid and respectable Mr. Chilton, who'd been courting her for some time. As the final chapter was looming closer she had selected the most notorious rake and scoundrel as her `scientific experiment', Lord Alexander Lansing. Though, she'd heard that he professed to have turned over a new leaf and was now `reformed' she wanted to prove, once and for all that `once a rake, always a rake!'

From an amusing scene of having the very lovely, Meredith Merriweather fall into his very lap from a hot air ballon; and, having had his fathers ultimatum to reform and marry, or be cut off of funds; Alex was about to prove Meredith's theory wrong, and prove to her that a rake could reform and only a rake would make her the very BEST husband and not the very staid and respectable Mr. Chilton.

___ Skillfully, Caskie has taken an old and used theme of the `reformed rake' and given it a fresh new slant in this delightful latest novel in the Featherton sisters' saga. The writing is well done, well researched and if I spotted perhaps a couple of instances that I thought leaned towards a phrase or two that seemed out of context with the period, I can overlook it for the pure enjoyment of a very entertaining read. With a background of colorful and fun secondary characters on top of the very well-matched lead couple, Caskie scores big with this latest entry! [...]

A Lady's Guide to Rakes is a tale of a jilted woman, Meredith Merriweather who takes it upon herself to warn off other ladies about dealing with certain members of the opposite sex, mainly rakes, through a guidebook. She has worked for two years to complete her work of warning and knowledge. She has one last subject to study, the most prominent rake in London, Lord Alexander Lansing. Through her dealings with the good Lord, Meredith begins to display feelings for him. She however refuses to come to terms with them as she hides behind a much safer and boring choice. One jilting by a rake is all a woman needs to wise up to their game. Alexander has recently reformed as a rake at the demand of his father. However, he sees Miss Meredith and himself as kindred spirits. He, along with the help of Merediths two charmingly scheming aunts, work to help her choose a path. Her choices are simple, one of love or one of convience. I believe that the story is humorous at parts, but I also felt that the character developement wasn't as well written as it could have been. I did like the book and felt that it was entertaining. I just never felt that it was a page turner that I couldn't put down. It is the perfect beach read.

Ladies, a moment of shame could be prevented, if you purchase my tiny guidebook. I have crossed my T's and dotted my I's, so be wise - read my little red book!

Meredith Merriweather is writing a book on the rakes and rouges of London's Society. She is hoping to help other women avoid moments like when she was jilted by Lord Pomeroy, which by the way was not her fault. Meredith gets this harebrained idea to spy on London's most noted rake, Lord Alexander Lansing, in none other than, a hot air balloon. When the balloon gets too close to the treetops and ruptures, Meredith lands right on top of poor Alexander's chest. This crash-landing, will forever change the course of Meredith and Alexander's lives.

A Lady's Guide to Rakes is by author Kathryn Caskie. This is fairy tale regency that speaks to the heart of gentility, opulence and of course, rakes. Ms. Caskie captured the important nuances that give the readers clear and accurate images of the grandeur during the regency period. Setting the correct mood and tone for this book.

The premise rings like a cut crystal flute, finely tuned and refreshingly clear. When you blend all this together with realistic characters and faultless dialogues, you have a winning historical.

This reader found Juliana's character to be witty and vivacious. Her rake experiments are laughable and endearing. She has truly met her match with Alexander. He may be a torrid rake, but what a lovable one Alexander is! You will find yourself cheering him on, while turning the pages to see what he does next. The cast of secondary characters added the final touches to round out this tale of romance.

This is a wonderfully whimsical tale that the romance audience in general will love! Procure your copy of A Lady's Guide to Rakes by Kathryn Caskie today!

Reviewed by © Janalee Ruschhaupt, 2005
[...]

This is an amusing book with good characters and some good errotic scenes. Writen with some well deployeed dry humor and over all nicely done.

Meredith Merriwether asks the driver of the hot air balloon to get closer so she can research her treatise on rakes with a close up look at how Alexander Lamont behaves towards Giselle the courtesan she hired to accost him. However, the balloon gets too close to the trees and is punctured. Alexander catches Meredith when she falls, but before he could question her or her compatriots she fakes fainting. Alexander carries her home.

Her Aunts Leticia and Viola Featherton argue with Meredith that her rescuer is a reformed rake, but she insists that is impossible. Two years ago a rake left her at the altar and so now she writes the guide to warn other innocent girls to beware of rakes.

Alex's dad informs him though his motives were honorable he compromised Meredith and will have to marry her. Surprisingly the concept does not disturb Alex. He comes to see her, but she informs him that she is betrothed to Mr. Arthur Chillton. Alex does not plan to let that get in his way of marrying Meredith; however, she remains stubborn that a rake is a rake by any other name.

The Featherton sisters (see RULES OF ENGAGEMENT and LADY IN WAITING) are their usual outrageous selves and with their niece's antics make this somewhat typical Regency starring a reformed rake quite amusing and refreshing. The lead couple is a fine pairing as she loathes rakes and considers him the poster boy for rakes. Readers will enjoy this fine historical romance due to the zany cast.

Harriet Klausner