Reviews

Just Erotic Romance Reviews gave me the following fabulous 5-star review for Rake’s Honour...

Title: Rake’s Honour
Author: Beverly G Oakley

Publisher: Total E Bound Reviewer: Barbara McCormick

Rating: 5 Stars
Heat Level: O

Fanny Brightwell must find a husband or be married off to the odious Lord Slyther. Her first attempt at doing so leads her into a compromising position, from which she is rescued by the dangerous rogue Viscount Fenton. Fenton discovers that the memory of Fanny’s kisses haunt him. The two meet at a ball and have an unexpectedly passionate encounter. Afterward, Fenton offers to set her up as his mistress. Since her family’s fortunes rest on her ability to marry well, Fanny must take control of the situation.

The characters in Rake’s Honour, a Regency romance, leap off the page and into the reader’s heart. Fanny is well aware of her obligations to her family, yet yearns to find a husband she can love. Fenton has outgrown his childish excesses and is ready to settle down with a wife. The heat between these two practically sets fire to the pages, a mean trick for an e-book! Ms. Oakley brings the setting and time period to life without lengthy descriptions of society’s strict rules. The sex, oh my goodness, the sex is hot and in unusual settings as Fenton and Fanny must hide what they are up to from the eyes of judgmental society.

Supporting characters like Fanny’s younger sister and her friend and confidante, Lord Quamby, bring added life to a lush story. The pacing is just perfect, keeping you in your chair reading right through to the end. The “mamas” are ever present, placing demands on their children to marry well for family’s sake. In the end, Rake’s Honour is about satisfying society’s demands while still finding ways to remain true to oneself and one’s heart. For these reasons, Rake’s Honour earns an honored spot on my re-read stack.

Read my interview by clicking Night Owl Romance’s banner, below.

BookedUp Reviews gave me - 5 Stars

Reviewer: Dolce Amore

I usually don’t like to read too many historical books because I find them boring, unreal, or full of errors. But this one was wonderful!

Miss Fanny Brightwell has to marry a rich man because her father lost everything before he died. When Alverley, the man Miss Fanny hoped to marry tells her that he wants her just as his mistress, she is devastated; that means that she'll have to marry the pestilential Lord Slyther, but that night she meets Viscount Fenton.

At first, Lord Fenton wants to marry her… however, after some lies by a jealous man and some misunderstandings he believes that Miss Fanny was a consummate lover and he offers carte blanche instead.

What a splendid book! I loved every moment of it. Ms. Beverley Oakley created an original and amazing plot. She keeps our attention through the whole book. And the characters… what can I say? Outstanding! I loved Miss Fanny and adore Lord Fenton. I enjoyed their misunderstanding and I was delighted by their torrid and passionate meetings. And the end… made me burst out laughing. It rocks!

5 stars for her and I can hardly wait to read her new release… Ms. Beverley Oakley, I’m not above begging for more! I expect I won’t have to wait too much longer for it, you are now one of my favorite writers.

Publisher: Total E-Bound

Review Courtesy Of: ManicReaders

Posted by Booked UP

Rake’s Honour Synopsis

No debutante was ever more desperate to escape the clutches of a detestable suitor than Fanny Brightwell.

With just weeks before the end of the Season, London’s most daring debutante Miss Fanny Brightwell must contract a brilliant match or face the consequences-marriage to the loathsome Lord Slyther.

When Fanny unexpectedly participates in a night of stupendous passion with the delectable but notorious rake, Viscount Fenton, his offer of a carte blanche instead of holy matrimony ignites more than just a polite refusal. The time has come for Fanny to take the reins

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Reviews for Rake’s Honour

Rachel Randall's review

May 22, 12

Read in March, 2012

Rake's Honour takes the ballroom historical a naughty step further, reimagining the traditional scenario of the dutiful daughter saving her family through an unappealing marriage to appeal to readers who enjoy more smut as sweetener to their Almack's lemonade.

The characters are at the forefront of the story, and I soon found myself drawn into the extremes of their desires. Fanny is unrepentantly lusty, and likeable because of it. She's torn between familial duty and her own raging hormones, something I think we can all sympathise with! Lord Slyther is fabulously odious as a pantomime villain, and the rapturous horror Fanny finds in him juxtaposes well against the desire she has her Rake.

And ahhh, her Rake, the delectable Lord Fenton. Muscular, passionate, possessing of a good fortune and a healthy appreciation for Fanny's breasts and creamy thighs. When he wants Fanny, you do too; and when they give in to their hunger for each other, well, let's say there's no question their marriage will have (many) happy endings.

Rakes Honour gives good, rollicking historical.

(originally posted at Total E-Bound's March 2012 newsletter)

The following scene takes place after Fanny’s mother has whisked her daughter off to Fanny’s loathsome suitor, Lord Slyther. Slyther has already sired an heir and is happy to take Fanny as a second wife, despite her lack of dowry. The fact that Fanny is compromised plays into his hands.

Consequently, Fanny’s powerless motivates her to take bold risks to secure the affections of handsome Lord Fenton ... so he’ll make her his wife.

Rake’s Honour Excerpt

“Your friend must dislike me very much.” What else could Fanny say? Somehow she had to discover the identity of her enemy if she was to salvage what was left of her reputation.

“On the contrary, your friend likes you only too well. Like me, he was vastly put out when the engaging Miss Brightwell felt her beauty and her wit could override her lack of dowry and the scandal of her father, putting her above the likes of...”

“George Bramley!” She gasped the name, fury rising within her like trapped steam about to explode.

Lord Slyther gave a grunt of satisfaction. “I’m glad his name immediately came to mind, for I’d like to think there were no others competing for the role of rejected suitor. Ah, but, Miss Brightwell, your misfortune is that you have miscalculated, and my fortune is that it gives me all the bargaining power in the world.”

Her already great horror was compounded as she felt his hand upon her neck, gently caressing her skin. Frozen, unable to move as she accepted the truth of his assessment, she trembled as she tried to assimilate his words. Until last night, she had conducted herself with all the decorum required by a chaste innocent, hopeful of contracting a suitable marriage. True, she wasn’t decorous by nature, but only the gleam in her eye when a handsome gentleman showed interest would give her away, surely? Not her actions. Her mother had spent her lifetime trying to subdue that reckless, adventurous streak Fanny had inherited from her ill-fated father and, until last night, Fanny could not have been accused of anything that would compromise her reputation.

“It is true, my lord, that I accompanied Lord Alverley to Vauxhall, alone, in masquerade,” she whispered, “but my virtue is unblemished.”

“Surely the boy tried to kiss you.” In the firelight she saw Lord Slyther’s stained teeth bared with prurient interest before he burst out laughing. “You didn’t enjoy it, eh? Well,

that’s good, because as your future husband it’s my job to show you how to kiss. Now stand up, Miss Brightwell, if you please, and face me.”

Fanny rose, silent while her mind whirled at this new and dreadful situation. Her mother was in the next room with Antoinette. When Fanny emerged with Lord Slyther to announce the news of their engagement, Lady Brightwell would clasp Fanny tenderly to her bosom in perhaps the only gesture of genuine pleasure she’d ever extend towards her eldest daughter—the daughter upon whom she was pinning all her hopes. All the family’s hopes, Fanny amended silently. Either she or Antoinette was required to make a decent marriage if the Brightwell family was not to slide into worse than simply genteel poverty. If Fanny was not prepared to sacrifice herself to this horror, there would be no more rubbing shoulders with the haut ton. No, she’d be rubbing the chilblains of some crotchety old woman to whom she’d be paid companion, while Antoinette worked as a governess and their mother lived out her days beholden to her detested cousin, having never forgiven Fanny for failing in her duty .

“Show me your ankles.”

Fanny swallowed down her surprised outrage, only raising the skirts of her cerulean blue lutestring gown when he repeated the command, his voice now cajoling.

He relaxed deeper into his chair with a sigh. “Such prettily turned little ankles, Miss Brightwell.” He patted his heart. “Indeed, you are going to bring me much pleasure in my dotage. Now let me feel your ankle, if you please. That’s right—raise your leg upon the footstool so I may bend forward and caress your pretty little limb.”

At this, Fanny objected while trying not to cry. Never had she been so demeaned in all her life. “With all due respect, my Lord, I committed no sin greater than conversing alone with Lord Alverley.”

“And kissing him.”
“One kiss—”
“Your reputation is besmirched, Miss Brightwell, and only I will be prepared to

overlook it once it becomes public knowledge. Now, if you please, my dear, raise your little ankle over the arm of my chair so I may stroke it for you while we discuss the terms of this marriage you’re in no position to refuse.”

Sucking in a shuddering breath, Fanny raised her leg, hooking her ankle over the arm of Lord Slyther’s chair, bracing herself against the horror of the liberties he was about to take.

When his fat, bejewelled hands clasped her calf and began to stroke the contours up to her garters, just below the knee, she tried to transport herself back to the evening before, when in the arms of the thrilling stranger she had discovered her body’s responses to pleasures unknown. It was no use. Lord Slyther’s loathsome touch put him in the league of some wart-ridden toad, crawling, fat and oily to the touch.

At least she had the protection of a sheath of white silk, but when he tugged at the ribbon of her garter and slowly eased one stocking down to her ankle, she felt her defences all but crumble.

Lord Slyther rested his cheek against the bare flesh of her calf and, as if reading her thoughts, said between laboured breaths, “If you call your mother there will be no wedding and your peccadilloes, Miss Brightwell, will be all over town. Ah, such sweet young flesh. Let me press a kiss to that adorable point just behind the knee. Yes, you’ll have to turn around so I can reach it better.”

Horrified, Fanny gasped, “You’ve already determined the terms of our marriage with my mother?” She squeezed her eyes shut as Lord Slyther put his hands on her hips and drew her closer. Clutching the hem of her skirt, he raised it thigh high and she braced for the wetness of his lips against her skin.

“At great length, Miss Brightwell. Indeed, she was most forthcoming, offering me first your younger sister, Antoinette, whom she described as much more manageable.” He chuckled as she shuddered at the touch of his wet tongue upon the sensitive flesh behind her knee, while he steadied her, his stubby fingers digging into her thighs. “Less likely to cause me problems. I told her I had eyes only for you.” He had to stop to draw in another shuddering breath. “Turn around again, Miss Brightwell, so I can see your face. That’s right, yes...and just what I’d hoped to see. Fear. Innocent creature though you are now, I intend to keep you true to your adoring and—as long as you play your cards right—indulgent husband.”

Fanny fought hard not to cry. She was helpless. Her mother would not come at her screams, she knew that, for her mother had all but sold her to this loathsome creature.

End of Excerpt

MR Review

Rating:

Reviewer: IvyD

Review:

Fanny Brightwell is desperate to make a match that will please her mother. If she doesn’t she’ll be betrothed to the corpulent and repugnant Lord Slyther, a truly apt appellation.

A chance encounter with a virile, handsome masked pirate at a Vauxhall Garden masquerade sets in motion events that will either raise Fanny to the heights or dash her, and by extension her family, on the rocks below.

Fanny Brightwell is trapped and desperate, her emotions are vividly conveyed; especially when the contrast between the man she desires, Lord Fenton, and the man her mother has forced her to become betrothed to, Lord Slyther, is so stark. Unlike most other girls of her era Fanny wants to feel something other than revulsion for her husband. This desire and desperation leads Fanny to take chances. Fanny is an intelligent, witty heroine. Never did she come across as mealy or wimpy. She always discovered her backbone, bucked up and fought back. My kinda heroine.

Said chances lead Fanny to Felix Linley, Lord Fenton. Fenton has returned from his wild oats sowing to find a bride and settle into the duties required of his title, not the least of which is an heir. If only he could find someone who intrigued him, kept his attention and interest; someone like the masked Lady of Troy he’d “rescued” at Vauxhall Gardens.

Fenton is handsome, intelligent, sexy, and honorable. He’s all you could wish for in a hero.

Fenton and Fanny come face to face, unmasked this time, at Lord Quamby’s ball. Fenton discovers the woman who so captured him isn’t a Cyprian as he’d imagined but a true lady of the haut ton.

Fanny is terrified Fenton will reveal their encounter, thereby ruining her chances with even Lord Slyther, leading her family to destitution and life on the streets.

Other than the hero/heroine, my favorite character is Lord Quamby. I confess to a fondness for eccentrics. He’s the catalyst for so much of the daring from Fanny that ensues.

What started as a predictable easy read wasn’t. Rake’s Honour delighted me by sweeping me along on Fanny’s daring attempt to live life on her terms with a man of her choosing. I actually laughed at endings wicked little twist.

Reading Rake’s Honour is time well spent.

Lady Lovett's Little Dilemma Review

by Melissa at Melissa’s Mocha’s, Mysteries & More: http://tiny.cc/2oczhw

Book Description: Eight years of marriage has not dimmed Cressida, Lady Lovett’s, love for her husband, but the birth of five children has cooled her ardour.

Now rumours are circulating that the kind, dashing and seemingly ever—patient Justin, Lord Lovett, has returned to the arms of his former mistress and Cressida believes her choices are stark—welcome her husband back to the marital bed and risk a sixth pregnancy she fears will kill her, or lose him forever.

With the astonishing discovery that methods exist to enable the innocent Cressida to transform herself into the vixen of her husband’s dreams without expanding her nursery, she seeks to repay the woman responsible for her empowerment...only to discover her unlikely benefactress was, and perhaps still is, her husband’s mistress.

My Review: Confession. My favorite erotic historicals involve a husband and wife. I'm just old fashioned that way. This is a wonderful novella about a couple whose passion for each other hasn't dimmed, yet their marriage is in trouble because of Cressida's fear that another pregnancy will kill her, as it did her mother. At a time when women were expected to behave in a certain way, she is forced to suffer in silence. When her jealous and trouble-making friends and family members insinuate her husband is seeking comfort elsewhere, Cressida ends up making a discovery that changes their lives forever...and for the better! Madame Zirelli is such a great character, her story so tragic, and I really enjoyed the bond she formed with Cressida. A very spicy, yet very sweet, true love story.