Barbara's rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
Series: Ruined Rakes #3
Publication Date: 5/23/23
Period: Regency
Number of Pages: 322
This book was a delight all the way through – from the 'meet cute' until the HEA, you couldn't have found two people who were more perfectly suited to each other. He thinks she is a spoiled rotten, privileged product of the ton – and she is, but she is so much more. She thinks he is a stable master at the Duke of Foxwood's country estate. How will very prim and proper Lady Constance manage to totally defeat Mr. Derek? Well, it certainly won't be with demure patience because she has none. It will be with a full-on frontal assault – and he can run, but he can't hide. The book was delightfully witty, humorous, and populated with characters who were very likable and relatable.
Lady Constance Whitmore, the only daughter of the Earl of Buckthorn, is definitely a product of the ton. She is proper, doesn't misbehave, follows appropriate protocols and rules, and she's learned how to make that work so she almost always gets what she wants. She usually tells the truth, but perhaps not all of it, or perhaps it is a tad stretched, or maybe she just totally misunderstands – but she doesn't lie. Telling the flat-out, unvarnished truth - complete with inappropriate words - has gotten her into trouble and banned to Foxwood, the country estate of a family friend. OOPS! Perhaps, though, being banished isn't necessarily a bad thing. She's got freedoms she never has in London – and there is that very intriguing stable master who could give her some lessons . . .
Julian Derek Montgomery, son of a Marquess, grandson of a Duke, and carrying the courtesy title Earl of Westforde wants absolutely nothing to do with the ton. He avoids the ton like it was the plague, yet, here he is, being tempted by a female who is everything he despises about the ton. She is a tempting little morsel though, and he is a gentleman. But . . .
I loved it when we got to the obligatory big scene where they have the big breakup. While that scene in most books seems very contrived to get it into the story, It was very realistic and believable in this one.
I definitely recommend this book as an excellent read. For me though, I REALLY wanted there to be an epilogue – but we didn't even get a wedding. Somehow, I never feel the story is complete until we get the wedding – for me, that makes the HEA believable. At any rate, it was an excellent story with wonderful characters and I just know you'll love it. I sure did.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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