Rake's Redemption (Five Star Romance) [Hardcover]

Donna Simpson (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Five Star (ME) (August 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786244445
• ISBN-13: 978-0786244447
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,999,631 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

When I was a kid, I thought you had to be someone extraordinary to become an author. I always loved to read and write, but was too unsure of myself to believe that I could ever become a published author. I've been fortunate enough in my life to have someone stand by me and repeatedly tell me I can do it. My advice to anyone who wants to write is, find someone who believes in you and cling to them! It's not an easy road, but it's worth it.

I read mysteries - Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers, among other authors - and then discovered, quite by accident, Regency romances. I suppose it's no surprise that when I decided to try writing seriously, I wrote a Regency. Absentee Heart, my first attempt, was published by Rubenesque Romances in 1997, but is still available online from Blackfriars Publications.

My first *big* break was with Zebra Books, for their Regency line. Lord St. Claire's Angel, my first with Zebra, is still a favorite among many reviewers. I wrote over twenty Regency romance novels and anthology contributions for them, and adored every moment of it.

But I wanted more' I wanted to write longer and more in-depth stories. I wanted to explore a darker side to life, and go beyond the shores and time of Regency England. I love mystery, and feel that every good story is truly a mystery in a sense; even if there is no murder involved in a romance novel (though there actually *may be* in my newest books - wink wink!!) there is mystery in love.

How are the hero and heroine going to get together? Will they know immediately that they belong together, or will they have to suffer and find each other through turmoil? What will happen to keep them apart, and can they defeat every obstacle to come together finally?

I have been fortunate enough recently to move on to write paranormal (werewolf) historical romance for Berkley Books and am loving every second of it. Set in the Lower Saxony region of Germany in 1795, the 'Awaiting' books are a fabulous and thrilling departure for me. The spookiness of a gothic castle in Germany, lies and deception, twisted family secrets and the dark world of weird occurrences makes for a rich and colorful tapestry when woven with human foibles and thrilling, erotic love and lust!

Romantic Times said about my first paranormal with Berkley, Awaiting the Moon, that: 'By mixing a classic gothic with paranormal overtones Simpson has a winner. This impossible-to-put-down romance belongs alongside Victoria Holt, Phyllis Whitney and Daphne du Maurier. Here is a pure classic plotline with just the right touch of the ominous, the perfect amount of suspense and plenty of sexual tension to keep you reading late into the night and finish satiated.'

About the second they said: 'Simpson continues the Wolfram saga as a young woman becomes entwined in dark secrets while threads of werewolves myth, greed, passion, lies and deceptions swirl around pulling you into a tightly crafted paranormal romance with gothic overtones. Victoria Holt would be proud.'

I was thrilled! What an honour to be compared to those writers. As I suppose you can tell, dear reader, I'm enjoying the ride so far... long may it last!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A heroine willing to sacrifice herself for her friends, February 14, 2002

By 

B. S. Andrews "barbiesa" (Toledo, OH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Rake's Redemption (Paperback)

Lawrence, Earl of Hardcastle, is hot on the heels of a young man he believes is trying to renege on a wager. Although he has no need of the young man's estate--having four estates of his own--honor demands that he "persuade" the impulsive young man to comply with his responsibilities.

Unfortunately, he is attacked by highwaymen and left for dead. When he awakens, he is in the humble home of a retired vicar and his beautiful daughter, Phaedra. Having never met a woman so beautiful, intelligent, and good, Lawrence at first is reluctant to let her know his true identity, since his reputation as a debauched rake is widely known.

So when she first learns of his true identity, Phaedra has already had a chance to get to know the man, "Mr. Lawrence," behind the scandalous name. She suspects that he is not a hopeless case, that he has the potential to be redeemed. But when she discovers that the errand that brought him to their village will ruin the lives of her friends, she begs him not to follow through on it. The young man who recklessly wagered and lost his estate is all but engaged to her best friend. The young man's sister, another of Phaedra's friends, is an invalid widow of a fallen soldier, and their mother is incapacitated as well. If their estate is taken away, they will all lose their home and livelihood, and the young baron would certainly never be in a position to marry the woman he loves.

But the earl just shakes his head and insists that he has no choice but to claim the wager, that his own honor would be impugned if he did not, that the young man will have to live with his shame, that Phaedra, being a woman, cannot possibly understand the way of the world. And while Phaedra is shattered by the devastating blow that is about to be delivered to her friends, the earl is wondering how he can seduce her.

Actually, he doesn't have to do much, because Phaedra, in spite of being a vicar's daughter and a pillar of the community, decides to wager her virginity against the forgiveness of the young man's debt. Well, she loses, of course, and--surprise--now she is required to "pay" the price with her sexual favors, like any common whore. The good news is that she's in love with the earl and not exactly reluctant to be seduced. The bad news is that she will always feel like a whore, even though no one else will ever know about it (unless she gets pregnant, the possibility of which is never mentioned).

While I liked this book a lot, I do feel that the earl's "redemption" takes a little too long to be believable. Or maybe his character is just too far gone to be a believable hero. He's this evil man with nothing on his mind but seducing an innocent young girl and claiming a gambling debt that will ruin the lives of many people and then--bang--he's reformed. At least in Carla Kelly's "Libby's London Merchant," you can see the progression as the hero learns to change his thinking and his lifestyle. And it seems to me that in such a situation, an earl would more likely dispatch a servant or a Bow Street Runner to go after the young man and secure the estate than jump on a horse and gallop hell for leather without even a valet to do the job himself.

As for Phaedra, well, I was a little disappointed that she would do such a stupid thing as wager her virginity without thinking of ALL the consequences, if you know what I mean. I guess her concern for her friends temporarily overpowered her common sense.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable if Improbable Story, March 31, 2005

By 

E. Lynch "romance book fanatic" (Northern Virginia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Rake's Redemption (Paperback)

"Hardhearted Hardcastle" was a good name for the conniving evil-minded "hero" of this story. Yes, he was redeemed in the end, but it was only his reluctance to take the virtue of Phaedra that made me see him as anything but a liar and schemer. Phaedra seemed set on losing her virtue to him - with or without the "helping a friend" game of cards. A little ridiculous -- she was a vicar's daughter and "so good" up till now.

Despite all this, I still found the story enjoyable. I thought the secondary characters were wonderful. Phaedra's father lived with his head in the clouds yet came up with insightful speeches to present to the Earl. Mrs. Lovett was earthy and delightful - one of the few characters in Regency novels that expresses herself so well. She certainly enjoyed taking care of the Earl's personal needs while he was incapacitated!

Donna Simpson's books are hit and miss - some wonderful beyond belief and other's just an ok read. This one is just an ok read. Hated the cover of this book!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Thoughtful and contemplative, April 11, 2003

By 

Susan Smith (A small rural village in the English Midlands) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Rake's Redemption (Paperback)

I have now read four of Donna Simpson's novels and, judging from the reviews posted about all of her books, I think I have read the best of them.

A Rake's Redemption is about just that with a consideration of the power of love in redemption from evil - but to say that does not really do it justice. There is a measure of philosophical reflection in this story that allows the reader to understand how the hero comes to terms with his own past, learns to deal with the results of his own actions and to watch the heroine deal frankly with her own awakening sexuality.

There is also an examination of the rules of life then applicable to men and to women without denigrating either. The H/H also examine the ramifications of gambling and look at the morality of the code of honour then attached to it. Both the Earl of Hardcastle and Miss Phaedra Gillian feel very sincerely that they have the right of moral argument presented but have the grace and courage to learn to see the other's perspective.

There is little action and not a great deal of conversation in this novel and what conversation there is is not fluffy or unfocused - every interaction furthers the moral argument.

I seem to have made some rather heavy comments here but I have to say that I enjoyed this novel immensely - it was a pleasure to watch two people struggle with their hearts and minds over serious issues. Yet, love was always the key here and the growing attraction and deep love that develops between them makes this a very satisfying read.