Customer Reviews

The Perfect Rake (Merridew Series)

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Ever since I read "Tallie's Knight," I've had an immense admiration for Anne Gracie. Here was an author who had managed to infuse her novel with romance, sensuality, tenderness and poignancy. I've always regretted that I have been unable to easily find her other romance novels, so that when I discovered that the first installment in a new series written by her was about to be published, I knew that I had to keep an eye out for this book. "The Perfect Knight" lived up to my every expectation -- here was a book full of tender romance, sensuality and poignancy, complete with a touch of the gothic.

Ever since their parents tragic death, the Merridew sisters have been living with their brutal and heartless grandfather, Lord Dereham. A man driven almost mad with bitterness and anger, Dereham has been beating his five granddaughters for years, as well as isolating them from society. Finally escaping from their mad grandfather, the Merridew sisters make for London and for their granduncle Oswald's house, where they hope that he will launch the elder sisters into society, and where they're devoutly counting on the second Merridew sister, Charity (who happens to be exceedingly beautiful) to contract an advantageous marriage. Their plans, however, hit a snag when granduncle Oswald insists that plain jane Prudence, as the eldest sister, make her come-out before her more beautiful sisters. At her wit's end, Prudence concocts an imaginary engagement to the hermit duke, the Duke of Dinstable. But once again, Prudence's plans hit a snag when she finds, through of a comedy of errors and mistaken identities (you really have to read the book to appreciate this plot gambit), she finds herself engaged in earnest (in her granduncle's mind at least) to the duke's rakish and sinfully handsome cousin, Lord Carradice. As Prudence tries to distance herself and protect her susceptible heart from this engaging rouge, a very smitten Lord Carradice tries to persuade the plain and courageous Prudence Merridew that he has fallen in love in earnest, and that she was fashioned solely for him. Will Lord Carradice succeed in his endeavours? Certainly the poor man has his work cut out for him...

"The Perfect Rake" turned out to be a stellar read, and is definitely going on my keeper shelf. I've always had a soft spot for novels where either the hero or heroine was considered to be plain and was quickly dismissed as not being up to snuff by the sharks that seemed to congregate at Almacks. So that "The Perfect Rake" was truly my cup of tea. The novel was a standout because of several factors -- good storyline, witty and humourous prose style, wonderful hero & heroine, the sensual heat that the hero & heroine generated, and in particular for the tenderness of the love that developed between Prudence and Carradice. But what really made "The Perfect Rake" a memorable romance novel for me, was the character of its sterling and totally endearing hero, Lord Carradice, and how the author portrayed his total captivation for the novel's heroine, Prudence. It's the kind of book that will make one sigh with satisfaction, and make for enjoyable rereading over the years. All in all, "The Perfect Rake" is a superb romance novel that shouldn't be missed, and is definitely worth both the cover price and touting as an excellent read.

Prudence Merridew has four younger sisters, all terribly beautiful. Although she is considered plain, she loves her sisters and would do anything to protect them from their tyrannical grandfather. When opportunity presents itself, Prudence, using forgery and wit, whisks her sisters away to their their Great-Uncle in London. Unfortunately, Great-Uncle Oswald insists Prudence secure a husband before her younger sisters. That Prudence already has a fiance, albeit without her grandfather's approval, is a secret Great-uncle Oswald cannot learn.

Gideon, Lord Carradice, a dashing rake, is amused and intrigued by the spirited young woman that has mistaken him for his cousin, the Duke. Deciding to play along with Prudence and her fictitious story of a secret engagement, Gideon enjoys the farce that ensues, along with the stolen embraces. Finding Prudence enchanting, Gideon's rakish nature struggles with unexpected new feelings. Can he win her heart away from her absent fiance, Phillip Otterbury?

Gideon is not only handsome and sensual, he's very amusing. His perception of Prudence brings a smile to my face. I adore his single-minded infatuation. Smart, witty, and fast thinking, Prudence's stubborn will and loyalty make her a heroine worthy of such a splendid rake!

I am really looking forward to the rest of this series! I must say that while there were times in the story that I wanted to smack Prudence because of her loyalty to the undeserving Phillip, I found the book very satisfying. Ms. Gracie has a talent for adding humor into an already delightful romance. If you are a fan of historical romance, you will enjoy The Perfect Rake.

Annabelle
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Like Tregatt above, I, too, have been enchanted by this author since her debut a few years ago. Indeed, I wrote the first review for amazon of her first book, The Gallant Waif. I am only sorry her books do not appear with more frequency. However, they are worth waiting for!

Rather than sum up the plot (which, by the way, is quite complicated) I'd rather comment on the characters the author places on her stage. The idea of a family of a family of beautiful sisters with an ugly duckling in charge has been done many times but rarely with such charm. The heroine, Prudence, is feisty, spirited and charming but like her sweet, gorgeous sisters, she is a tortured heroine. The mad grandfather (somewhat over-drawn but nevertheless very fearsome) has been a child abuser and none of the five sisters was spared. However, Prudence has borne the brunt of his ire and the reason why is something I found unique in a Regency novel. I won't spoil it!

Our hero, Gideon, Lord Carradice, is also tortured. He is one of my favourite sorts - the rake with a secret hurt and a heart of gold. He is steadfast and loyal to Prudence and his love for her is satisfying and realistic to the reader. He has looks, charm, a great sense of humour, etc but ultimately, it is his deep and abiding love for Prudence which marks his character.

There is a great deal of sexual tension in this novel - something Anne Gracie has always managed to achieve with great skill. Although nothing happens between the H/H until the end of the novel, you can feel the sizzle between them and the consummation is written with great skill and in the very best of taste. Yes, taste. Too many sexual scenes in romance novels are a tale of gymnastics rather than an expression of love.

I'm looking forward to the next novel in the series - A Perfect Waltz - as I am very keen to meet Prudence and her delightful sisters again. Highly recommended and a keeper!

Prudence Merridew, the oldest of five orphaned sisters, devises a plan for them all to escape their physically abusive grandfather. In a few weeks she will become 21 and, by the terms of her father's will, guardian of her sisters. They flee to London. I don't want to give away too much of the plot but Prudence quickly meets Gideon, Lord Carradine, a renowned rake. Their meeting and those subsequent are full of humour although, as time goes by, they are able to reveal to each other the more painful events of their pasts. Prudence and Gideon are well drawn, delightful characters; you'll enjoy meeting them.

Anne Gracie writes with grace and humour. It is such a pleasure to read a Regency where the characters speak grammatical English and seem to act within the constraints of their time.

Who the heck is Anne Gracie? I had no idea but various people recommended this book so I thought I'd give it a go. The cheesy title and the cover artwork weren't too encouraging (actually, apart from the new Arrow edition Georgette Heyer books, I tend to find most Regencies' artwork is toe-curlingly awful) and so I started the book without expecting too much.

But it was good - very good. Anne Gracie knows how to write, how to keep your attention even though not that much is happening in the plot. Prudence Merridew and her sisters (Faith, Hope, Charity and Grace) live with their horrible grandfather who regularly beats and whips them. They decide they have to escape him before he does them serious injury and whilst he is laid up with a broken ankle. So Prudence with her sisters, a maid and a footman, journey to London to throw themselves upon the mercy of their great-uncle, having faked a letter from his brother first of all.

And their Great-Uncle is delighted to see them and says he will launch them into society - only he has to launch Prudence first as she's plain (the other sisters are stunningly attractive). The problem is that Prudence and their sisters only have six weeks or so until their grandfather is up and about and realises they've gone (the servants were covering up for them). The plan was for one of them to marry within that time so that the others were under the protection of the new bridegroom. But the Great-Uncle's plans will ruin it - who will want to marry Prudence? Besides, she's already secretly betrothed to Phillip Otterbury and so can't accept another offer of marriage - but her Great-Uncle would not approve of Phillip, a farmer's younger son who has been in India for four years, so she pretends she is instead betrothed to the Duke of Dinsdale, a hermit who lives in Scotland.

But, as in all of these novels, things don't go smoothly. The Duke of Dinsdale happens to have arrived in London looking for a wife so Prudence has to go and see him to warn him about the fake engagement. But the dishevelled gentleman she meets isn't the Duke... and thus starts a strange flirtation with Lord Carradine. Of course he wouldn't find Prudence attractive, she knows that, and he's a well-known rake, so she doesn't make much of their time together.

The story continues (and I won't give anything more away) but what's so good about this book is the dialogue. Anne Gracie doesn't spend a great deal of time describing scenes, clothing, people - it's all about conversation and she makes it believable that the hero and heroine fall in love through their shared humour. She portrays how people can slide into love without really realising it and how misunderstandings can persist, especially for Prudence who knows she's no diamond of the first water. This is, perhaps, the only part of the book that didn't work for me - Lord Carradine finds Prudence absolutely beautiful and barely notices her sisters whereas everyone else finds the sisters stunning and Prudence plain. Would such a successful rake really have completely different tastes than the rest of the world? Or is it beer goggles?

Some of Prudence's fears are well written - does Carradine want her as a wife or a mistress? Does he take anything seriously? And his slow change from a rake to a caring and kind man is well written. There are a number of other romantic sub-plots that are very well written too. Anne Gracie is definitely an author to watch and I recommend this book as an enjoyable read.

In 1816, Lord Dereham uses a riding whip in a rage on his seventeen years old granddaughter Faith in the locked attic. Nineteen years old sister Charity sends Faith's twin Hope to get the oldest sibling Prudence to intercede with their abusive grandfather. Charity has welts on her face and Hope on her wrists as both tried to intervene. Pru frees Faith and tells him in eight weeks she will be twenty-one and the guardian of her siblings; they will leave even without a cent. When he hurts himself in a fall while angrily running after Pru, she takes her sisters to the home of their Uncle Oswald where she hopes to find them husbands.

Oswald takes in his battered nieces, but insists Pru marry first. She informs him that she is engaged to recluse Edward, a duke. Pru goes to see Edward to enlist his help, but his rakish cousin Gideon Carradice intercepts her. She thinks he is Edward while he knows she is his beloved and wants her as his wife though his withdrawn cousin seeks a spouse too.

As expected, Anne Gracie provides a wonderful Regency romance that through her ensemble of secondary cast brings to life the era especially the rights of male guardians to abuse and use their female wards. Pru is a courageous person standing up to her violent vile grandfather who blames his late daughter-in-law for her Jezebel ways that killed his son in sin. He takes his feelings out on their children. Fans will appreciate Gideon's efforts to prove to his beloved that he is the man for her, but first must overcome his own duplicity. THE PERFECT RAKE is a near perfect sub-genre entry.

Harriet Klausner

I would have never purchased this book, except for the recommendations of other readers. Such an obvious title--but this is one of the wittiest books I've read all year, with an endearing heroine and a hero worthy of her affection. Anne Gracie has a new fan, and I'll be checking out more of her writing. I laughed and laughed.

With "A Perfect Rake" Anne Gracie truly delivers the goods. I have read many many romance novels over the years and even though a lot of them promised to make me laugh out loud none of them ever has until this one. The dialog in this book is worthy of comparison to Wilde and Coward; brisk, witty repartee furthering the story line with enchanting grace and humor.

When Miss Prudence Merridew finds herself in need of an immediate fiance she latches onto the Duke of Dinstable because it has been said that he's a hermit and unlikely to contradict her statements. She soon learns though that he has come to town in search of a bride and her Great-uncle Oswald is about to approach him demanding a marriage settlement. Prudence hastily takes herself to his home to forewarn him but mistakes his cousin, Lord Carradice, for the Duke. Gideon, Lord Carradice, is intrigued by this bold young woman and is instantly smitten with her.

Prudence insists that she is engaged to a Phillip Otterbury, a man she hasn't seen for more than four years, nor has he written to her for more than six months. Gideon's attempts to discredit the lamentable "Mr. Otterbottom" are delightfully silly yet charmingly endearing.

This book also touches on the subject of child abuse, a very serious issue indeed, but does so with a deft hand that encourages sympathy from the reader without becoming overly maudlin.

This is a book I hated to finish but yet couldn't put down. It is definitely a keeper!

I'm always on the lookout for a great historical romance, and I found it with this book. Fabulous dialogue and a strong story and characters. I highly recommend it.

This book has it all -- plucky heroine, divine hero, evil relative, mistaken identity, and excellent plotting. The tension between the protagonists is excellent, and the writing is both witty and engrossing. The banter between Miss Merridew and Lord Carradice is a joy to read. And the ugly duckling theme is likewise satisfying. After I finished this, I immediately ordered the rest of the series.

Highly recommended!