Title: This Rake Of Mine
Author: Elizabeth Boyle (website www.elizabethboyle.com )
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Historical Romance
Setting: Regency England
Published: November 2005
ISBN: 060783990
Fans: 5 Fans, just for the tension between these two.
Nominated For: 2006 RITA Award in Best Long Historical Romancee

My review…
I’ve been a fan of Elizabeth Boyle’s work for sometime. She amazed me with Once Tempted and continues to do so. This Rake Of Mine is no different. It has everything a historical reader looks for when buying a book. Scandal, passion, and most importantly a reckless rake. Honestly, who can imagine a book without one?

Our story begins with our heroine, Miranda Mabberly, seeking refuge to gather her thoughts. Instead she ends up in the embrace of the infamous rake, Lord Jack Tremont. Now this might not be so bad, if she hadn’t been caught. To make matters worse, it was Lady Oxley who came upon her, who happens to be the mother of Miranda’s betroth.

Fast forward nine years…
What could three young misses be doing behind a partially closed door? Spying on the only rake to get past the steps of Miss Emery’s Establishment for the Education of Genteel Young Ladies, of course. But Lord Tremont, aka Mad Jack, wasn’t there for tea, he is there on business of the most delicate nature. Business that his brother, Duke of Parkerton didn’t see fit to do himself. But as he makes his way through the school, he bumps into a young teacher, who seems to know him but he not her.

Of course Miranda, er, Jane Porter, would remember the man who ruined her nine years earlier. It was something not easily forgotten. She had been sent away as quickly as possible and for the sake of the school, changed her name. She had thought she was well hidden but as it would seem, she was not. Thank heavens, she was leaving the school soon. Since coming into money, she no longer had the need to “hide” there.

Three months later…
Setting out on her journey in the company of three “spying misses”, Miss Porter had thought the trip would be easy enough. After all, she was mostly along for the ride. But the young girls had other plans which happened to include a worthy detour at the recommendation of Mr. Billingsworth’s Accounts of Sussex for the Accomplished Traveller, with Details on Sights for the Artistic and Historical Aficionado. And so they go in search of Thistleton Park to view it’s most impressive Folly.

Reaching their destination, they are greeted not with the hospitable welcome they had expected. Only later is it found out that the master of the house is non other than Lord Tremont. And from what Jane Porter can tell, he is still up to his no good ways.

Will a kiss be the only key to unlocking the true identity of Miss Porter? Can Jack prove that he has changed his rakehell ways? Or will three young misses find themselves in a world of trouble?

I truly enjoyed this book. It was full of adventure, the unknown and best of all danger. If you’ve read it, I hope you found it as enjoyable as I did. If not, I highly recommend you to go out and get a copy. I promise its not one to be missed.

About the author…
Elizabeth Boyle has always loved romance and now lives it each and every day by writing adveturous and passionate stories that readers from all around the world have described as “page-turners.” Since her first book was published in 1996, she won the RWA RITA Award and a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award and saw her last six titles become USA Today bestsellers. For more about this author please visit her website, www.elizabethbyole.com.

Miss Boyles next release, His Mistress By Morning will be released August 29 of this year. So be sure to look for it. Want an excerpt? Click here!

Also, Elizabeth Boyle will be visiting us September 17-23, mark your calendars.

A word from Haven…
I hope you’ve enjoyed this week of reviews. As you can see there are some really great books up for awards at the Nationals this year. Shamefully we couldn’t review them all but instead picked some of our personal favorites. Best of luck to all the nominees.

Have a great weekend everyone.