Customer Reviews

A Rake's Guide to Seduction (Zebra Historical Romance)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the third in a series about the Reece family from this author. Lady Celia Reece is recovering from a disastrous marriage. Her family is concerned about her depression and her mother arranges a house party where her old friends and some eligible men are invited. Anthony Hamilton, Celia's brother's friend from school days is included in the party. Unknown to Celia, Anthony has been interested in her since before her marriage. The characters from the previous books are present, but their presence is natural and not intrusive.

This was a lovely, well-written book. The character development is wonderful - we truly understand Anthony and Celia, their attraction to each other and what makes them the people they are. Even the secondary characters ring true. This is my favorite type of romance novel - the characters and their relationship drive the plot.

My only criticism is that a secondary mystery plot pops up in literally the last couple of chapters. It felt like a last-minute addition, and didn't add to the story. Also, the author muffs British aristocracy titles and modes of address in one case, a nit, but an hour on wikipedia would be enough to understand how it works.

One of the best parts about reading A RAKE'S GUIDE TO SEDUCTION were the many parts where Linden had a chance to include a Big Misunderstanding or other ridiculous contrivance and didn't. Instead she delivered a believeable and sweet romance.

Well, that is except for two short and bizarre subplots at the end. Those could have easily been cut because they didn't even further the main plot. They were just there and completely unlike the rest of the book.

What the rest of the book is, is the slow build of a relationship from quasi-friendship to love. Anthony first saw Celia as a woman four years ago, but he was too late: she already agreed to marry Lord Bertram. However, she marries too hastily and she and Bertram's marriage slowly dissolves. Then he dies, leaving her a widow and a shell of her former self.

Celia's mother hosts a party to revive her spirits; David, Celia's brother, invites their mutual friend Anthony. He eventually admits he's still attracted - perhaps in love - and begins to subtly court her.

Despite being known as a rake, Anthony is a decent man who made his fortune on his own, if in a creative manner. He respects Celia and doesn't succumb to the jerk factor present in many alpha-male romance heroes. Celia starts a bit silly, but she matures during her unhappy marriage.

Quick and entertaining, A RAKE'S GUIDE TO SEDUCTION is a fabulous Regency saddled with an awful title.

From In Bed With Books

Fabulous steamy historical romance from Caroline Linden. "A Rake's Guide to Seduction" explores the story of a woman who learns the difference between infatuation and love. The hero is strong, complex, and misunderstood. The heroine grows into a woman who learns her own strength and stands up for and by her man. The plot flows as smooth as aged whiskey, and the ending will put an ear-to-ear grin on your face. Now, I'm off to make sure I have copies of Linden's other books to put on my keeper shelf!

Anthony Hamilton is A rake with A bad reputation he cannot live down. Even when he tries to be the man that A woman like Celia Reece deserves, he can't escape all the unwanted attention that he gets because everyone [especially the women] is fasinated by all the gossips about him. The only woman's attention he can't seem to get is Celia, the one woman he's willing to change for. Celia fell in love and married someone else but soon ended up with A broken heart. After her husband dies she goes back into society with A sad and heavy heart. Anthony tries his best to help her to be the happy vivacious girl she used to be and uses all his rakish ways to do it. When they are caught making love Celia wants to make sure they would suit before jumping into marriage again.

I will start off by saying that CL is A very good writer but Anthony and Celia's courtship was just too slow to garner any enthusiasm out of me. It took them much too long to get together and through half of the book I couldn't decipher celia's feelings for Anthony. The excitement and chemistry that I love to see between the H/H was not there [especially on Celia's part]. For much of the book, she showed Anthony nothing but A casual friendship while he pined away for her. she gave the impression that she could take him or leave him. Even the way she saw him was different from the way other women saw him. They raved about his looks while she thought he was handsome but not extraordinarily so. I guess I wanted to see sparks flying and more excitment for him coming from her. Even before she got married in the begining to another man, the attraction was more from Anthony than from her, and she actually fell in love and married someone else... so there you go. The one thing that I admired in this book was the character development, and I will try another book from this author because of it.

I enjoyed reading this book in the beginning and then at the end, but in the middle of the book, I found myself skipping pages. Perhaps it is a personal preference, but when I buy a romance book, I want to read primarily about the main characters and not as much about the supporting characters. To me, there was far too much time spent on the Dowager Duchess, Celia's mother, and various other characters in the book. I longed to see Celia and Anthony together more. I understand this was not possible during her marriage to Bertram; however, I felt the book did not quite live up to Ms. Linden's previous book, What a Gentleman Wants. I adored this book! The main characters spent a lot of time together, even if all of their interaction was not pleasant. Overall, A Rake's Guide to Seduction was an entertaining, quick read, that could have benefitted from a bit more editing. I so wish it had more interaction between Anthony and his beloved Celia.

I was given A Rakes guide to seduction recently and was intrigued. I haven't read any Caroline Linden before and have been let down a bit by the genre recently. This book felt wonderful to read. It allowed me to immerse myself in the era without the information feeling forced. I haven't felt this since some of Julia Quinn and Joanna Lindsey's historical's (which I only read about a year ago).

I enjoyed reading about Anthony and Celia. They were a passionate couple that leapt off the page. The story was dynamic and never felt slow or forced. I know it seems odd, but I really hope that Celia's mother gets her own story. She needs a HEA, a complete one. Maybe she could be given her own short story?

This book is by the best in the series. I loved the hero. I loved that there was a history with them and it was not the average "jolt of lightning" at first sight or touch.

I really enjoyed this book. It was so nice to have a love story that is believable. The build up between Anthony and Celia from acquaintance, to friendship to more was sweet and I loved it. I liked the slightly slower pace of the story cause it give the readers a chance to know the characters and understand where they are coming from. I wish there were more books out there like this.

I loved this book lots of depth in the characters and the plot. Anthony and Celia have known each other for years and have always thought each other friends. Anthony is known gambler and rake and Celia is the perfect girl of the society. Life take some interesting twists for both of them - I love the diary chapter. Always well written - Enjoy!

I would also suggest; What A Rogue Desires (Zebra Historical Romance)What A Gentleman Wants (Zebra Historical Romance), What A Woman Needs (Zebra Debut), can't wait for A View to a Kiss due out February 2009.

A romantic drama with lots of angst and well-drawn emotions overflowing the pages.

Caroline Linden has created 3-D characters who you can really feel for.