The Rake (Lessons in Love, Book 1) [Hardcover]

Suzanne Enoch (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 2002

Three determined young ladies vow to give three of London's worst rakes their comeuppance. But when these rogues turn the tables, who truly learns a lesson in love? Once upon a time Viscount Darecharmed Lady Georgina Halley out of her innocence to win a wager, no less! and now he must pay dearly. The plan is simple: She will use every seductive wile she knows to win Dare's heart and then break it. But his smoldering gaze once again tempts Georgiana to give in to desire, and when he astonishes her with a marriage proposal, she wonders: Is he playing yet another game, or could it truly be love this time?

Product Details

• Hardcover: 375 pages
• Publisher: Avon Books; Book Club edition (2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0739425722
• ISBN-13: 978-0739425725
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,236,203 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

A lifelong lover of books, Suzanne Enoch has been writing them since she learned to read. She is the author of two well-received Avon Regencies, The Black Duke's Prize and Angel's Devil, and five Avon Romances: Lady Rogue, Stolen Kisses, By Love Undone, Taming Rafe and Reforming a Rake. Born and raised in Southern California, Suzanne lives a few scant miles from Disneyland with her collection of Star Wars action figures and a Cairn terrier named Katie (after the heroine of her first Regency). She's still looking for her own hero, and hopes he will be handsome, titled, and just a little wicked. Meanwhile, she's currently at work inventing him in her next historical romance.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hysterical and yummy!, June 28, 2002

By 

J. Miller "book lover in CA" (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Rake (Lessons in Love, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

I am so sad that other people found this book lacking. I laughed, I almost cried, and I was thoroughly entertained. I love Suzanne Enoch's books. You never know what to expect and The Rake was a perfect example of this.

Lord Dare is very yummy and once he decides that he wants Lady Georgianna for his own, nothing will stop him, even an ill-placed wager, the fact that the lady in question thinks she hates him, or a debutante set on being the next Lady Dare. Georgianna and Tristan's encounters were witty and fast-paced and exactly what you want to read during the summer or even a cold winter evening. I only wish I could find a man as enchanted with me as Tristan is with Georgianna.

Suzanne Enoch's books are the best and I will continue to read them over and over.

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Lack of spontaneity and appealing characters, June 22, 2002

By 

Desmond Chan (Bishan North Singapore) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Rake (Lessons in Love, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

Could it be her previous book A Matter of Scandal which was a luminous comic riot that set my expectations for THE RAKE to be higher? One thing though is certain though: Suzanne Enoch's latest romance lacks the spontaneity and the appealing characters of the former - and the plot runs predictably to muffle the laughs and wits.

Lady Georgiana Halley is tenacious to teach "a lesson of love" to the notorious rake of the ton, Viscount Dare. You see - Georgiana was cheated of her virginity by Tristan six years ago when she became the pawn in his wager. Feeling bruised and humiliated when she witnessed Tristan ensnaring a new victim, Amelia Johns, she decides to collaborate with Amelia for a payback while promising Amelia that Tristan will propose to her in return. She moves in with Tristan's aunts and finds herself reserving feelings for the reformed rake especially for his love towards his brothers. Tristan sees past the belligerent Geogiana to find a woman still in love with him. When their love blossoms, they face their own doubts. Could it be a shenanigan by Tristan to ensnare her fortunes to ease his dire straits? Could Georgiana be fuelled only by revenge?

Suzanne Enoch moves the comedy of love with her scintillating pace and snappy dialogues. However the plot runs on ridiculous grounds and much of the story revolves too much on revenge plotting, monetary gains and mistrust that spoils the romance. The revenge is juvenile and foolish. There is a lack of sensibility and maturity in Georgiana and Tristan - such as the recklessness of their tryst towars the end. The Rake begins well to start off the laughters in a comedy of manners and romance, but the contrived plot mutes both characters and the wits.

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars No Matter what - Still a Great Book, October 6, 2002

By 

M. Rondeau (West Springfield, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Rake (Lessons in Love, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

I've read the other reviews and have to disagree with the negativity by some of the other reviewers. Suzanne Enoch has created another wonderful story!

At first, I didn't know whether or not I still liked Lord Dare after finding out what he had done to Geeorgiana so many years past. Yes, he was a rake of the worst sort, but you have to realize he was young and dumb, and his worst mistake was to not try to make amends way back then!

Georgiana and Tristan both had a lot of growing up to do and in this novel you saw them both grow and both become nicer people. In Georgiana's quest to teach Tristan a lesson - she learned a lesson as well! You still experienced the same wonderful Enoch sense of humor, the amazingly witty dialog and the very sensual foreplay and sex! The love story was sweet, and I really liked this story and would definitely recommend it to my regency loving romance friends. I look forward to more from Suzanne Enoch in this next "Lessons in Love" series!