Never Romance a Rake

Never Romance a Rake
Liz Carlyle
Pocket, Aug 2008, $7.99
ISBN: 9781416527169

Comte de Valigny and Baron Rothewell play cards with the stake being the former’s beautiful daughter Camille Marchand. However, neither rake factored in the reaction of the stakes. Camille loathes her father who had no use for a female offspring until she turned into a rare beauty he could peddle amidst the Ton. She knows the Baron’s reputation as a scoundrel who prefers spending time with his mistress than any Ton social event. However, he is shocked when his winning comes willingly as she sees the rogue as the lesser of two evils.

As they spend time together, Camille finds herself attracted to the tender caring Kieran. She is able to somehow see past his façade into his soul yearning for more but expecting less. Kiernan is shocked how much he cares for Camille as he sees inside her heart to find the identical darkness covering a yearning for love. However, her father ruthlessly plans to use her as a tool to harm Kieran with a secret about his daughter that she is unaware of; but dear old dad placed his bets against love.

This is an engaging Regency romance starring two likable protagonists who readers will bet against them forging a permanent relationship; he is a true blood rake and she distrusts aristocratic males as her father taught her well. Sub-genre fans will enjoy their battles as love has left both bewildered and frightened while her opportunistic vile daddy dearest sees a chance to win a pot with this pair. Liz Carlyle deals three of kind with this fine NEVER ROMANCE A RAKE (see NEVER DECEIVE A DUKE and NEVER LIE TO A LADY).

Harriet Klausner