Customer Reviews

The Rake (Lessons in Love, Book 1)

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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!

Okay, if this is your first Suzanne Enoch book, it's sure to please. As I have read some of her other books, I know that this is not her best or even close.

At eighteen years old, Georgiana Halley was seduced by the notorious Viscount Dare and left heartbroken when she realizes that Dare seduced her for a wager. Six years later she decides to get even with him by making him care for her and then leaving him brokenhearted. So, she and her two best friends concoct a scheme to teach Dare a "Lesson." The lesson works brilliantly, but Georgiana realizes that Dare is not the same person he was six years earlier...P>"The Rake" is at best a pleasant summer read. The characters are likable, but the plot was a bit on the ridiculous side. The whole idea of the lesson was juvenile and unbelievable. Georgiana is 24 years old, but acts like a teenager most times. I have to admit, though, there were a couple of good sex scenes, but not enough chemistry. I mean, after six years of verbal battle between the two, all of a sudden they have to have each other.

SE's dialogue is at times witty and humorous, but "The Rake" is a quickly forgotten book. Her earlier book, "Reforming a Rake," is much better. If you like books like Patricia Cabot's "Kiss the Bride," this book is your cup of tea. But, if you prefer your romance novels to be meatier, try Loretta Chase's "Lords of Scoundrels" (historical) or Linda Howard's "After the Night" (contemporary.)

This was my first Enoch book and I've now read all her books because I loved it so much. She creates great characters who really compliment each other and are a pleasure to read. Dare and Georgiana are equals, all throughout. She's not a simpering miss hoping to catch a man or desperate for a proposal. He doesn't think he has the right to talk down to her or give her orders. Although these two people have hurt each other, they never do so in the cruel, abrasive way found in other "romances."

They have a rough past that they work through and *shock* actually talk about and resolve. Sex does not magically heal all in this book. Neither character forgives the other just because they can't resist the passion between them. Enoch always does a fabulous job of developing great characters you grow to love.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a good romance that doesn't contain subjugation or submissiveness. Not a spanking, rape, or vicious arm-grabbing in sight.

This was not as good as some of her other books and I was somewhat disappointed by the results. Dare seemed to have so much more potential in her other story and I looked forward to reading his "happy ending". Well, there is a happy ending but I feel that it was a result of a formula that the author followed instead of her creative talent. For those of you that have not read any stories by this author it will be a pleasant read but for those of you that are familiar with this author and what she is capable of will be a little disappointed in the end result of this story. This story is not a waste of time just not as great as it could have been.

What a fun book!

This delightfully fun and wicked book opens with our heroine discussing men with two of her friends. After lamenting on the many failures of the males in their circle, and in particular, those of Tristan Dare, Georgianna concocts a short list of rules of behavior for men.

For some time, readers don't know the true extent of Georgianna's dislike of Tristan. Six years ago, he seduced her and stole her stocking to win a wager. She had fallen for him and he left her brokenhearted. However, he decided not to admit to getting her stocking because it would have ruined her. Still, Georgianna has hated him ever since then, though she cannot forget the memory of their passionate night.

Tristan is in dire financial straights. He needs to marry money, and quickly, or else lose his estate and be unable to care for his two aunts and three brothers. Georgianna and Tristan's witty repartee throughout the book is funny and entertaining.

This book reminds me of the sharp and witty dialogue in Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn movies. It's funny and well written.

I hope Robert's story is next. I think anyone who is a fan of historial romance will adore this book, as I did.

Six years have passed since the notorious Viscount Dare charmed Lady Georgiana Halley to give him a ..... kiss (?) ... in a bid to win a wager; Georgiana is utterly devastated and makes it her main mission in life to 1) belittle Dare as much as possible, and 2) save other innocent ladies from this "rake".

Amid many broken fans and trodden-over-sore feet, Dare and Georgiana sort their relationship out .... definitely worth a read ... lots of laughter, spunk, and unusual antics and situations.

I have read a number of other "SE" novels, and was at first disappointed in this novel: believe me after reading "reforming a rake" and "London's Perfect Scoundrel", which are both excellent novels, this book had a huge reputation to live up to .... hence my initial disappointment; however, after re-reading the book it came across heaps better and is definitely a most enjoyable read .... one I will read again and again.

If you like a book with a bit of spunk and sass' .. then I can recommend this book for a satisfying read!

Hope you enjoy the book as much as I have, Kristina

This is the best book I've read in quite a while. I read it in one sitting and loved every page. Dare is probably my favorite rake since Lord St. Vincent in Lisa Kleypas' Devil in Winter.
I liked that this was a bit different from other "reformed rake" books in that the hero and heroine had a history together that the reader isn't present for. Six years ago, when Georgiana was 18, she was courted by Tristan, Lord Dare and gave him her innocence, believing he wanted to marry her. She was livid when she found out it had all been part of a bet.
Dare never bothered to apologize or try to explain things to Georgiana, but he's never forgotten their one night together. Time and circumstances have changed him, but Georgiana doesn't realize that and when she sees him courting another young woman, she fears the girl will suffer the same fate she did at Dare's hands. So, she sets out to teach him a lesson about being considerate of other people's feelings by breaking his heart. What she doesn't realize is that in the process of making him fall in love with her, Georgiana will fall for Dare all over again.
She manages to take her revenge, but once the two are "even," Dare isn't willing to let Georgiana go a second time, no matter what. This time he's determined to have her as his wife.
I loved the clever interactions between the characters and the witty banter that appears throughout the book. The love scenes were steamy and the supporting characters were wonderful. I can't wait to start on the other two books in the series and I'm especially looking forward to reading more about Robert in his book. He has the makings of a great tortured hero.

I read this book in one sitting and immediately started it all over again. Why did it have to be so short?!?

So maybe the prologue is silly, but every word in this book is a treat. Tristan Carroway will always be one of my favorite romance heroes. He is delicious. And Georgiana is wonderful. She is strong, clever, witty, believable, even when she throws a tantrum!

This book is definitely a keeper!