Series:
Ransleigh Rogues (Book 2)
ONLY A TRUE RAKE CAN OFFER HER REDEMPTION
Will Ransleigh, illegitimate nephew of the Earl of Swynford, has the
tall, aristocratic bearing of nobility-and the resourceful cunning of a
streetwise rogue. To clear his cousin's name he is on a mission that
will take him across the Continent into a world of international
intrigue-and the arms of Elodie Lefevre, the society hostess who brought
shame to his family.
Is she seductress, spy, or damsel in distress? In the haze of the
sensual spell she casts, Will has to keep his wits about him and uncover
the true nature of this mysterious Madame....
Good book. Will has gone to Vienna to find the woman behind his cousin's scandal (The Rake to Ruin Her). He is determined to take her back to England to face what she has done. When he tracks her down she is not at all what he expected to find. Instead of a hardened seductress living it up she appears to be a virtual prisoner in a couple of rooms. When he tells her what happened to Max because of her actions she agrees to go to England with him as long as they stop in Paris first. Over the several weeks it takes them to make the trip he is impressed by her ability to maintain the deceptions they use and her cleverness in assisting him in finding solutions to problems they encounter along the way. He does not expect to be attracted to her and is not pleased with it. As they journey he begins to learn more about her and why she participated in the plot. Soon he is torn between wanting to clear Max's name and keeping Elodie safe and with him. I really enjoyed seeing Will do all his disguises and strategies. Hearing about his start in life and the debt he felt he owed Max went a long way in showing the kind of man he was. In spite of his initial anger with her Will soon began to respect her abilities and enjoy her company. The attraction between them also grew and became explosive when they finally gave in to it. This only added to the feelings that Will was developing for her. I loved his kindness and care of her when they left Paris. By the time they got to England he knew that he didn't want to turn her over to the authorities. I loved his long discussion with Max and the decisions he made afterward.
Elodie was a terrific heroine. In the first book she was definitely made out to be one of the bad guys and not a sympathetic character at all. From the beginning of this one she is obviously a victim of circumstances and someone to root for. I loved the way that she handled her first meeting with Will and the way she stood up for herself. She made sure that he knew she would only cooperate if he consented to help her also. She had an amazing mind and was a perfect fit for Will with the way that her experiences matched his. She also didn't expect the attraction between them and wasn't sure what to do about it. As they proceeded on their journey to Paris she was very good at protecting her secrets until she was reasonably sure that she could trust him. Even then she didn't tell him everything but did share information on her childhood that showed him why she was so good at keeping pace with him and his machinations. Upon their arrival in Paris and her attempt to get away from him her final secret came out. Her heartbreak there was so hard to see but her strength in doing was she felt was right was wonderful. She also began to realize that what she felt for Will was more than just attraction but knew there was no future in it. I loved her confusion on seeing Max again and the way that he and Caro treated her. She didn't know what to make of it and found she was allowing herself to think she might have a future after all. I loved the ending and the way that Will worked to make her dreams come true.
Both Elodie and Will had overcome many obstacles to become the people they were now. It was wonderful to see how those obstacles created a bond between them that made them two halves of a whole. I am really looking forward to the next two books and wish that it wasn't so long until they are available.
Series:
Ransleigh Rogues (Book 1)
Once a rake...
Known as "Magnificent Max," diplomat Max Ransleigh was famed for his
lethal charm until a political betrayal left him exiled from government
and his reputation in tatters. He seems a very unlikely savior for a
well-bred young lady.
Except that Miss Caroline Denby doesn't want to be saved...she wants to
be ruined! To Caroline, getting married is tantamount to a death
sentence, and meeting the rakish Max at a house party seems the answer
to her prayers... Surely this rogue won't hesitate to put his bad
reputation to good use?
Good book. Max is back in England after a political misstep that has left his reputation ruined. He and his cousin are visiting his aunt, who is holding a houeparty. Caro is there under duress. Her stepmother really wants her to get married and Caro has no desire to do so. She is happy running the stud that she and her father started. She comes up with the idea that if she were to be ruined no one would want her and she could go back to her life. When she asks Max to help her he declines. When another guest accosts her in attempt to force a marriage Max comes to her rescue but is accused of being the one who attacked her. Though they attempt to avoid it, they do end up marrying. Now they have to decide how to deal with each other.
I really liked Caro. She is an interesting combination of worldly and innocent. Her father treated her more like a son than a daughter so she is used to speaking her mind. She also has never learned any of the things that girls are usually taught and instead knows the ins and outs of the stud business and training horses. That is all she wants to do. I loved the way she came up with the idea of how to avoid marriage, but she did have a bit of trouble realizing that the consequences could be worse than she thought. I loved her conversations with Max about the subject and how easily they related to each other. She also had a wonderful way of standing up for Max whenever anyone tried to say bad things about him. I really loved the way she spoke to his father at the wedding and how much it meant to Max. I loved the way that she was so adamant that he not be blamed for what wasn't his fault and her determination to free him from responsibility. When circumstances then forced her to go to him for help I loved the way that she explained things and gave him the options she did. She really didn't expect to come to care for him and to want to give in to the attraction. Her biggest fear about the physical side of marriage was her fear of dying in childbirth as did so many of her relatives. I really liked the way that she didn't whine and moan and went on with life. She involved Max in her work in case the worst happened which brought them even closer. The more time they were together the more their feelings grew, even though neither wished to admit it.
Max had come home in disgrace and was basically hiding out with his cousin while he tried to figure out what to do. His world as he knew it had come crashing down with the end of all his plans for the future. He was surprised by Caro's proposition and was gentleman enough to refuse to do such a thing. But he was definitely intrigued by her. Behind the horrible gowns she wore he could see how attractive she was. He also found her to be completely different than any other woman he had known. Her honest speech and sense of humor really appealed to him, but he had no intention of pursuing a woman while his life was in chaos. I liked the way he tried to stay away from her while still wanting to make sure she was safe. His rescue of her from the overzealous suitor was typical of his personality even though he was accused of being the one to attack her. He accepted her wishes and did not force a marriage on her but made sure she knew he was available if she needed him. He was stunned at her arrival later begging for his help to save her horses, but couldn't resist saying yes. I loved the way he appreciated how her mind worked when she told him her plan. He was so patient with her as he did his best to seduce her. Their passion was incredible when they did get together which made his surprise at her refusal to continue that much stronger. I loved the way that he returned to her after his trip to Vienna and stayed with her as they got to know each other better. His growing happiness with her did a lot to soothe his soul. I loved his refusal to give up on her at the end and how everything turned out for them.
