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Thursday, April 5, 2012

Book Review and Giveaway: How to Ravish a Rake by Vicky Dreiling

What happens when a bright but shy maiden gets stuck with a bold, devilish rake?


  • Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
  • Publisher: Forever; Original edition (April 1, 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0446565407
  • ISBN-13: 978-0446565400
Genre: Historical Romance
My Rating:4.25 of 5.0

Publication Date: March 27, 2012
SCANDALOUS DESIRES . . .
Amy Hardwick has one last Season to shake off her wallflower image and make a love match. If she can't, she'll set aside her dreams of romance and return home to a suitor who can provide security-if little else. What she doesn't count on is the inappropriate-and irresistible-attention lavished on her in a darkened library by rake extraordinaire Will "The Devil" Darcett . . .

DEVILISH DELIGHT
When Will is caught in a tryst with the ton's shyest miss, he knows he must offer for her hand. Yet Amy is not the shrinking violet she seems to be. Passion lies beneath her prim exterior and Will is eager to release it. But winning Amy isn't simply a matter of seduction; first, Will must convince her that he's mended his wicked ways . . .


Review:
Amy spent several years as a wallflower but is determined to make this season a success. She is designing remarkable fashions which have already caught the eyes of her friends, other ladies and even some of the men. Even with her cleverness and artistic success, Amy still gets tongue-tied around the gentlemen. The only man that doesn’t intimidate her is the ton “devil.”  She sees right through his arrogant charm.

Will escaped his large family for four years of traveling on the Continent. Now he’s back in town and well known as a ‘devil’ of a rake.  He wants to avoid his family meetings where his elder brother and three sisters meddle and nag. Will plans to go back traveling until his brother asks him to be his steward and tells him the money won’t be provided for more traveling. Will sets out to win the money but ends up with a large debt instead.

Will approaches Amy at the next ball thinking perhaps he can compromise her.  She rebuffs his advances but at a ball a few nights later they are accidentally compromised and forced to wed. Will does the honorable thing proposing to Amy. She is swept along into the marriage but isn’t prepared to consummate the union until they are better acquainted. Will and Amy establish a wager that requires him to court her for three weeks. Will they be able to build a relationship to let their marriage of convenience become a marriage of love?  And what will happen to their fragile trust if they learn of the secrets they are each hiding?

This is a charming story with likeable characters and an interesting conflict. I enjoyed the blossoming courage and strengths in Amy that Will helps to bring out and the hidden tenderness in Will that Amy recognizes. Other characters add interest and fun, especially Will's blunt Aunt Hester. The romance builds nicely and although Will has a healthy sexual appetite the scenes are tastefully done and do not overtake the story. Ms. Dreiling’s pleasantly descriptive writing, humorous situations and witty dialogue make this an easy and enjoyable read. This is the third in a series but would be fine as a stand alone. I recommend this to readers who enjoy when a bright young woman capture and keep the heart of a rake.
~~~~~~~~~~

Amy’s courage:
Until now, she’d thought all of her choices were gone, but she realized she did have a choice. She could decide to make a mockery of the vows she would take or she could do everything possible to make this marriage work. P 152.
Amy’s wisdom:
   “I think people form opinions of others and label them. ... We all take on these identities and let them define us. ...
   “As a child you misbehaved to get attention and took on the identity of a bad boy. You let it define who you are for years, but that is not the Will I know....” P321-322
Thank you to Forever or this book to read, review and share!
This book will be added to my ARC challenge list.

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY FOR A CHANCE TO WIN ONE OF THREE PRINT COPIES:

1. Visit the Author's website and tell me something you found interesting.

2.  For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.

3.  For two extra entries, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.

It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.
(Four total entries possible.)

THERE WILL BE THREE WINNERS.
* This contest is only open TO US and CANADA (Sorry -  I had an ebook "worldwide" clause here when first posted) These are Print copies being given away.
* Limit one win per household.
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on April 20, 2012.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries and announced on April 21 with 72 hours to complete the winners' form.

22 comments:

  1. I visited the author's website...it's such a fun site. And I follow your blog with GFC. Thanks for the giveaway.

    Elizabeth L.
    etrabelsie[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  2. I found out she is a native Texas! Go Vicky!!!

    Old follower - Maria pronounced Mariah

    Tweet: https://twitter.com/#!/Maria_Smith_76/status/187937427082579969

    Thank you much!
    mmafsmith at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  3. I like Vicky's Fun Stuff page - she has music soundtracks for all three of the books in her series.

    I am a follower of your blog (old follower)

    I Tweeted the giveaway:
    https://twitter.com/#!/crazymidwestgal/status/187962022003081216



    junegirl63 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I was interested in the fact that Vicky is a triple finalist in the RWA 2012 RITA Awards for published authors!!
    GFC follower Marlene Breakfield
    marlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  5. The plot device of "compromising" a character has never been my favorite, but you have me thinking about giving this one a try.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Martha,

    Thank you for the lovely review. Best of luck to everyone entering!

    Cheers!
    Vicky

    ReplyDelete
  7. I found out that Vicky set off the security alarm in Windsor castle and that her nickname is Trouble. It sounds like something I would accidently do. Ha Ha! I like historical romance and this story sounds good. Congrats on your nominations.

    GFC follower Rachel Vessar
    Email follower pefrw at yahoo dot com

    rachel at thejeepdiva dot com

    ReplyDelete
  8. I visted and was impressed that Vicky is a triple finalist in the RWA 2012 RITA Award and How to Marry a Duke made the ALA Booklist of Top 10 romances for 2011.

    GFC: Lilian Cheng

    Shared on twitter: https://twitter.com/lilboxism/status/188246536017285120

    lilianxchengATgmailDOTcom
    Lilian @ A Novel Toybox

    ReplyDelete
  9. I found out that she accidentally set off a security alarm in Windsor Castle. That unfortunate incident led her British colleagues to nickname her “Trouble.” Love Vicky's books.GFC follower under Lucvky47 and email subscriber.
    Carol L
    Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  10. I visited the site and love the fun page...and the book covers!
    edysicecreamlover18@gmailDOTcom
    GFC Krystal Larson

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi!!

    the author's website has a very sweet tone of color. i love it!

    GFC (sienny)

    smile_1773@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. Vicky sent off a security alarm in Windsor Castle.

    gfc follower

    https://twitter.com/#!/sweetums82/status/188275672911839233

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love Vicky Dreiling's books and I can't wait to read How to Ravish a Rake! After reading Vicky's webpage I learned while on a tour she accidently set of a security alarm in Windsor castle. How funny! Thanks for a great review today.

    evjochum[AT]aol[DOT]com

    +1 visited website
    +1 I'm a follower
    +2 shared on facebook

    =4

    ReplyDelete
  14. I saw on her blog that she is having a contest where the winner gets the whole trilogy. I really enjoyed Vicky's first 2 books. So if anyone here hasn't read any of her books, this would be a good opportunity to try for the whole set.

    Thanks, Martha, for a chance to win the third book!
    GFC follower
    castings at mindspring dot com

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thanks for sharing this review with us. Vicky is a new author to me and I find this story to be very interesting. I visited Vicky's author paged and found it interesting the Vicky accidentally set off a security alarm in Windsor Castle and that incident led her British colleagues to nickname her “Trouble.”

    I'm a follower of your blog by email.
    Becky
    beckyqward@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. this one was only ok for me, i'm glad you enjoyed it!

    (not an entry)

    ReplyDelete
  17. At the author's page I found that she has playlists for the books in this series.

    Already a GFC follower

    tweet
    https://twitter.com/#!/elaing8/status/188720999645192192

    elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  18. author is a native Texan, she holds degrees in English literature and marketing

    tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. I had forgotten I read "How to Seduce a Scoundrel" Loved that book by this author - ready to read another! (Loved the design on her website, so pretty!)

    brunettelibrarian AT gmail (dot) c-m

    ReplyDelete
  20. I found out from Vicki's website that she was having this blog tour. So I started going down the list to hopefully snag a copy of her new book. I have wanted to read her for awhile. I have her other books on my wishlist! Thanks for the chance!

    Mary
    mary_reiss @ hotmail.com

    Following by email, GFC -Mary @SweepingMe

    Tweeted - https://twitter.com/#!/SweepingMe/status/190642341047050240

    ReplyDelete
  21. I found out that Vicky frequently travels to the UK on business and that she accidentally set off a security alarm in Windsor Castle. :D

    Barbed1951 at aol dot com
    GFC: Barbara E.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I learned that Bath, Stonehenge, and Spencer House are among her favorite places.
    follow on gfc as Helen
    tweeted: https://twitter.com/helldog3/statuses/193106278279692288
    helldog3 at aol.com

    ReplyDelete

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