Customer Reviews

A Rake's Reform (Signet Regency Romance)

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This is the first book by Anne Barbour I have read, and it would certainly encourage me to seek out more of her books. This is a very entertaining story, with believable and likeable main characters, and also some supporting characters who are very well developed and could even deserve a story in their own right (Robert and Barbara in particular, though possibly also Chloe and John).

Hester and Thorne at first appear to be poles apart, but he is less shallow than she believes him to be and she is less of a harridan than he expects her to be. Even still, when they meet and get to know each other, the sparks fly in all directions! The sexual tension is palpable in some scenes, and Barbour handles the relationship development extremely well. She shows the unwilling but deep friendship which grows between them in parallel to their mutual attraction, and the way in which they come to trust each other, much to their surprise.

And when jealousy rears its ugly head... watch out!

This book is a great traditional Regency. Hester Blayne is a radical who is content to write her treatises in her country cottage. It's not until Charles Trent, Earl of Bythorne (known to his intimates as Thorne), shows up on her doorstep that she realizes that the new "maid" whom she has hired is actually Thorne's wayward ward, Chloe. Quite the rakehell, Thorne has no idea how to deal with his ward. Since Thorne sees that Chloe will have nothing to do with his highhandedness and, in fact, appears to listen to the blistery Miss Blayne, Thorne determines that he must somehow bring Miss Blayne with them to London so that she may provide a guiding hand to young Chloe. Through a series of events, the three return to London, where Hester and Thorne have to navigate the waters of London society...and their feelings for one another.

There are a lot of secondary characters in this book that add to the story, and the secondary romances in particular tie into the story well. Thorne has arranged a match for Chloe, but she resists. He's in love with her, though, and their courtship flows throughout the book. Also, Thorne has been casually courting Lady Barbara for years. In the course of the Season, Hester also finds herself with a suitor. (Thorne can't stand it, and what is this...jealousy??) Little do they know, however, that Hester's suitor is Lady Barbara's erstwhile suitor.

I really like this book - it's one of my "keeper" traditional Regencies that I like to pull out every once in a while to read through my favorite parts. Thorne is a fairly typical rakish hero who doesn't quite know how to handle the firebrand who is Hester Blayne. Hester is pretty wonderful. She's independent, has strong opinions, and she refuses to fall for "The Smile" whenever Thorne tries to pull it out and use it on her. The ending is really sweet and romantic, and it's also satisfying to see the secondary romances between Chloe and John and Robert and Barbara come to an amiable conclusion.

A Rakes Reform is a Regency standard theme about the reforming of a Rake by a bluestocking. All the usual players are represented. Lord Trent also known as Thorne to his friends is the resident Rake that can't control his rebellious ward Chloe. Chloe is the quintessential young Regency miss that has taken up the beliefs and teachings of Hester Blayne one of the women at the forefront of the women's movement. Hester a spinster, writer and lecturer from a well off country family has dedicated her life to the immergence of women's rights and the plight of the poor in English society. And to round out the cast of players you have Thorne's 2 aunts that are useless in aiding their nephew in handling Chloe. Barbara and Robert star crossed lovers in need of some serious intervention if they are to have a HEA, and Hester's quasi suitor Trevor. Thorne and Hester path cross when Chloe decides to run away to Hester's home to avoid a marriage proposal. What happens next has now become de rigueur for this type of theme. Hester is persuaded to leave her tidy little cottage in the country and move to Thorne's London mansion in the capacity of a companion to Chloe with the hope she can influence her to accept a marriage proposal from the suitor of Thorne's choice.

A Rakes Reform was a pleasant read that was well written and moved swiftly without the big misunderstanding to bog it down. What I really like was the evolving of Thorne, Hester and Chloe's characters. In essence they were all reformed and once they realized to see beyond their current beliefs to the endless possibilities life had to offer they became better individuals and were able to give and receive love.

One of the successful elements in this book was that Ms. Barbour not only told a love story, but also went in depth to describe how they fell in love--there were great deal of soul searching and analyzing, and eventually came to a realization of value and appreciating for one another. It could be described as pealing-artichoke-effect, where one really savors the deliciousness of the hearts at the end. A wonderful and a satisfying read.