Customer Reviews

This Rake of Mine (The Bachelor Chronicles)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I had previously read only one short story by Elizabeth Boyle in the anthology titled HERO, COME BACK. I wrote a review for that book and stated that I loved all the stories except.....yep, EB's. So, why did I buy this book? I obviously did not read my notes before placing the order.

This one (even though it is a full length story) will fare no better with me. I did not like it. If you don't want to find out what happens in the book I would recommend you stop reading now.

I was not enjoying the book, the plot, nor the characters but I had decided to read on because surely at some point Jack would come to realize he shared an historical event with Jane (Miranda) and everything could move on from there. Well! This author asked me to swallow a series of events which do not make logical sense to me. Miranda (Jane) was "ruined" by Mad Jack at the opera when he kissed her. I'm O.K. so far. Her parents (both parents, mind you, mother and father) were so title mad that they saw her ruination as the end of their plans for the future. They banished her to live with relatives but that is not all they did. Now it gets really stupid. They told everyone she had died and even had a funeral for her!!! She (Miranda) did not know this. She lived with one set of relatives until they both died. After moving to live with the second set of relations Miranda rebelled and decided to go teach at the school where she had been a student. Miss Emery made her living teaching and training young ladies from well-to-do families. She would have kept up with how her former students were doing. She read all the papers from London. Are we supposed to believe that she knew nothing of Miranda's disgrace? Are we supposed to think that she did not read in the papers that Miranda had died? How could she not have known, even if it had just been through gossip from her students and their parents? Four years after her banishment Miranda learned that her mother had died through the newspaper. People read those things with a vengeance because it was their most obvious source of news. For Miranda (now Jane) to never know that she had been killed off by her parents was just too much for me to swallow. And to have her hear it from Jack (even though at this point he still thought she was Jane) added a dimension which made me cringe. Her parents were so awful they would prefer to have her dead rather than married to him? Her father thought Jack would just spend all the dowry money so "let's tell everyone Miranda died" instead of accepting his offer of marriage? Yet when her father died he bequeathed his entire fortune to "Jane Porter". The whole book lost me right there.

I read it all. I didn't like it when I started and I didn't like it when I finished, but I was curious about what the author was going to do with all those characters. This book is a part of The Bachelor Chronicles and we met several characters who were obviously in previous books during the telling of this tale. I would imagine that some or all of the girls in this story go on to books of their own. Luckily for me, I don't have to worry about them any more. They can all go do all the improbable things this author can dream up but I will not be participating in the train wreck.

I enjoyed This Rake of Mine from beginning to end. It is a very cute read. There are interesting plot twists and we get to know several secondary characters well. The secondary characters are not boring. The chemistry between Jack & Miranda was very sensual and immediate. Wonderful love story, great characters with an emotionally scarred hero and strong but vulnerable heroine, unique setting, intriguing plot, heart-tugging emotion, excellent writing, intense sensual love scenes, and a superb ending. The plot was interesting and it kept you interested in what was going to happen next. It has intrigue, passion, revenge, and "wow" sensual tension. Most of all is the character development. I love stories that are character driven and not just about lust. I loved seeing Jack & Miranda fall in love. From page one the characters in this charming book reached out and grabbed me. Page after page I just got sucked in deeper until I closed the book with a happy sigh.

All I can say in conclusion is if you like a good, emotional, heart-tugging historical, with characters that leap off the pages, buy This Rake of Mine.

In 1801, Miranda Mabberly has some doubts about her upcoming marriage to Lord Oxley as he and her parents fail to defend her honor besmirched by her future mother-in-law. However, things are taken out of her hands when notorious rake Lord John Tremont blatantly accosts and kisses her at the opera. The nuptials are over and her parents blame Miranda, completely cutting her off.

After five years of begging her parents to let her come home and learning her mother died without anyone bothering to inform her, Miranda writes off her father. She takes a job as decorum teacher Miss Jane Porter at Miss Emily's Establishment for the Education of Genteel Young Ladies. After five years there she has inherited a small fortune so she plans to leave, but not before John visits the school to escort his disgraced niece home. He runs into Jane, but fails to recognize her though she knows him. Edged on by three matchmaking youngsters, John begins to court Jane who rejects the advances of a rake though they soon fall in love, but to persuade her remains impossible.

THIS RAKE OF MINE is an enjoyable regency romance that in many ways is typical of the sub-genre with a rake getting his comeuppance through love. The story line is refreshed by Miranda who gives up on those who should have rallied around her when she concludes that she will always be held culpable for the actions of John. This gives her the courage to move on and not to fear challenging the aristocracy including John and his older brother. Fans will enjoy this fine historical pot boiler starring an admirable heroine and the wastrel she reforms.

Harriet Klausner

I was up till mid-night finished this book. It was pure historical romance with splash of mystery. Miranda's is 'ruined' by a rake and is sent to the country. Jack the Rake is also sent to the country because his brother the Duke has had enough of his embarressements. The book starts nine years after the kiss/ruin. The truth comes out over time and Miranda and Jack must face the truth. If you enjoy this genre I would also check out The Lady Lies The Lady Killer and The Lady's Code by Samantha Saxon.

Where to begin? This story had me shaking my head from page three. Nothing in the *story* is believable. From the mistaken identity to the so-called esponiage storyline. Personally, I couldn't beleive the leap frog conclusions these characters jumped to from moment to moment. (See, Lord John's musings once a man's button fell from Jane/Miranda's sewing basket.) I didn't understand at all how or why Aunt Josephine faked her death. If Lord John and his staff where secret agents, then what's with the musings of selling his unexpected guest. Why wasn't the King, paying for the release of his agents instead of a broke and banished ton member? And who bought Miss Porter decorum act? If getting caught kissing a rake could ruin a woman, what did it say about the four of them sleeping under a single man's roof---for several days? I don't buy a vast land only has one exit from the property--cut across the grass. The romance was comletely lacking. Where was the meeting of minds, becoming friends. Everything was based off a kiss--a drunken kiss at that. What happened to Bruno? He started off as an interesting character and disappeared completely from the book. I think the book would have been better with out the esponiage story. There were too many coincidences. For a while there I thought the ghost of Josphine was also playing matchmaker, too, until you find out she's alive. Then, I was wondering who was whispering all those *remember* in the character's ears. Bottomline, I never connected to any of the characters and found myself just trying to get through it because of the $5.99 price tag. I mean, c'mon, that's almost the cost of two gallons of gas.

This is the first book that I have read of this author and I think it is great. I finsihed it in one day. The plot twists were great. The characters, both the primary and secondary were entertaining. I am going to read more of this author's book because of this book. It moves quickly and the characters (all the characters) are very well devoloped.

I really enjoyed this book. I'm not sure why others gave it such harsh reviews. This book is great and the rest of the series is too. Some people seem confused or think some of the plot to be unrealistic, but it's really not. This book made sense from beginning to end. Anyone who rated this one or two stars should just be ignored because they are way off. If you read this book and enjoy it than make sure you read the other books in this series because as I said they are great.

It is character that always pushes a book from "nice read" to "memorable" for me and This Rake of Mine has characters in spades. Mad Jack and Miranda are a terrific couple and the supporting cast is interesting and well used to advance the main story. I loved the initial set up of how the fact that the hero and heroine's pasts crossed created both of their present conditions. I will be looking forward to Elizabeth Boyle's next book.

I don't care what the nay sayers say, if you have a good sense of humor, which is lacking in a lot of our reviewers; this is a sweet, fun and memorable novel. Ms. Boyle is an entertaining writer. Her characters are delightful and unique.

I enjoyed the conniving students of Miss Jane Porter, aka Miss. Miranda Mabberly, who were determined to make Miss. Porter see that she and Lord John Tremont, aka Mad Jack were meant for each

Miranda Mabberly was engaged to an earl at her parent's request. She had every intention of following through with her parents' plans and at the opera she had accepted her fate to be the earl's bride. Well, until she ran into Lord Tremont, who was drunk but quite amorous. It was during a kiss from Lord Tremont that brought her parents' plans for Miranda's future to a halt. The scandal was unavoidable, especially when the couple was discovered in the compromising situation.

Needless to say, Miranda Mabberly became Miss Jane Porter, a teacher of decorum at Miss. Emery's Establishment for Genteel Ladies.

The proper Miss Jane took three of her students on an outing, for the summer. With her students, Miss Felicity, Tally and Pippin, all headstrong and manipulative, were determined to visit the entire well know properties on their route. Thus, they come across the estate that is now Lord John Tremont's, and where he has been banished to by his brother, the Duke..

Miss Porter recognizes Lord Tremont immediately, after so many years, she still has not forgotten that kiss. Even though he was quite foxed that eventful night, Lord Tremont feels he has met the haughty lady before, but just can't place her with her drab clothes and severe pulled back hair. But, why is he so darned drawn to her?

There is sexual tension between Tremont and Jane/Miranda that is obvious to her students, and if Miss Porter doesn't do something about, well, they will.

The story leads on from there and it is a delightful book that remains memorable. Ms. Boyle always gives great characterization. I read so many books that I often forget it by the time I start the next.

This read was delightful and unforgettable, your will enjoy it.

As another reviewer mentioned, I also bought this book because of Julia Quinn's recommendation. What a disappointment.

First of all, the premise, although it had promise, was poorly drawn out. We're supposed to believe that Lord John pined all these years for a woman he shared one kiss with? And knowing that, that he didn't even recognize her when he saw her again nine years later?

There was little heat between the characters (honestly, by the time they got to it, I was too irritated to care) and too many other distractions going on. The espionage story line was obvious, boring and it's been done. A lot.

Save your money, stick with Julia Quinn's books and not her recommendations.