Cold-Hearted Rake (The Ravenels, #1)

by Lisa Kleypas

Inheriting not only an earldom, but also an estate riddled with debt and the late earl's three sisters and Kathleen, Lady Trenear, a beautiful young widow, Devon Ravenel engages in a sensual battle of wills with this woman whose sharp wit and determination are a match for his own.

• ISBN10: 0062371819
• ISBN13: 9780062371812
• Publish Date: 27 October 2015
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Imprint: Collins
• Format: Paperback (US Mass Market)
• Pages: 416
• Language: English

Reviews

[Rowena]

Cold Hearted Rake by Lisa Kleypas is the first book in the Ravenels series. It’s a book that I’ve been meaning to read but never got around to until now. What a great historical romance this book turned out to be. I shouldn’t have doubted Kleypas’ ability to entertain me but it’s been so long since I’ve read one of her historicals and I forgot how great she is at writing entertaining characters who make me laugh, happy sigh and love to death.

Devon Ravenel has just inherited an earldom from a cousin he despised. So he’s stuck with a title he doesn’t want, estates that are falling down around their ears and with each passing day, he’s getting responsibilities that he hates. He also inherited his cousin’s widow and three younger sisters. He has no idea what to do about any of it and he doesn’t want to figure it out.

Kathleen’s husband is dead and the new earl that took over his title is moving in and making changes. She needs him to fix things around the estate but he plans on selling the place and she has to figure out her next move…with her three young sisters in laws in tow.

Devon was a solid hero that came full circle. He was a complete douche in the beginning but the more invested he became in Ravenel House and the title that he inherited from his bastard cousin. I thought he was a good brother, and then a good cousin to Ladies Pandora, Cassandra and Helen. He was also really good to his bastard cousin’s wife, Kathleen. Kathleen nagged him into caring and he started caring about more than his family, his responsibilities and everything around him. He started caring the most about Kathleen and he wanted her with a fierceness that surprised him. I really enjoyed seeing him come into his own. He was older and he was overwhelmed but he didn’t shy away from his new life and I loved him for that.

Kathleen started off with such promise. I did love how much she adored and wanted to protect her late husband’s sisters. They were important to her and she cared about them so she took on the responsibility of making sure that they were taken care of in their brother’s absence. I also really liked her form of nagging the present earl into doing his duties.

The romance between Devon and Kathleen steamed up the book. I enjoyed getting to know them both. The slow progress of their relationship over the course of the book was interesting and it was fun. It was classic Kleypas historical romance and I enjoyed the heck out of it. The characters weren’t perfect but they didn’t need to be. I loved how flawed they were, how much color they brought to the story. I enjoyed getting to know Devon and Kathleen, West and the sisters. They were all such great characters and I couldn’t start the next book fast enough. This was an enjoyable book and a fabulous start to a series. I recommend.

4 out of 5

[thebookdisciple]

4.5 swoony stars! Once I really got into the story I devoured this book and am making grabby hands at Marrying Winterborne! Full review will be on The Book Disciple

[stacey_is_sassy]

Not so cold-hearted after all.

Cold-Hearted Rake was everything I hoped it would be. Ms Kleypas has the remarkable ability to make you want to step back in time and live it. You forget about the lack of modern conveniences, medicine and rights of women. You don't mind the idea of no phones or computers and instead have communication that takes hours or days instead of seconds to deliver. It seems extravagant to have someone dress you and set your hair to attend breakfast, instead of seconds to slip on a t-shirt and shorts. The indulgence of a man to hold your hand as you are helped into a vehicle, instead of him hitting the button on the remote and expecting you to open your own bloody door. Lisa Kleypas reminds me that acting and being treated like a lady can seem like a fairytale.

Our Cold-Hearted Rake Devon, has been lumped with the title of Earl, a crumbling estate and huge debts. He doesn't want it and at first makes attempts to sell off whatever he can. He has no desire to manage the estate or the tenants who live there. Modernization hasn't been introduced, which means both the servants and tenants have to work extra hard to do their jobs. He knows that lives would be improved if a few thing were upgraded, but he also knows that funds are needed that he just doesn't have. Surprisingly, his attitude changes when a little, spitfire widow named Kathleen lifts her mourning veil, looks him in the eye and gives him hell.

Kathleen meets Devon and doesn't like what she sees...actually, she likes what she SEES, she just doesn't like what she sees in him. The two of them butt heads frequently and struggle to agree on the best course of action for the estate and the people who live there.

Kathleen was made a widow when her husband of 3 days falls off a horse that he shouldn't have been riding in the first place. Theo, her deceased husband, and Kathleen had been having a disagreement when he went off in a huff. She feels a huge amount of guilt when he dies, and is traumatised because she witnessed the event. Theo's three sisters have been left in her care and she feels responsible in helping them move on. She doesn't like the idea of leaving them with a man who doesn't seem to take their well-being into account.

I enjoyed watching this couple come together. The passionate way they love and the fiery way they clash, makes every time they come together exciting. Devon is stubborn and selfish, while Kathleen can be narrow minded and judgemental. Both of them must learn to curb their impetuous behaviour and think before speaking, to avoid hurting each other.

I enjoyed meeting Devon's brother West, the three sisters, Helen, Pandora and Cassandra and Devon's friend Rhys. Even though he acted wrongly at the end, I felt that Rhys may have been judged too harshly. I hope we haven't seen the end of Rhys and Helen together.

I loved Cold-Hearted Rake from start to finish. Lisa Kleypas has a talent for taking me out of my reality and placing me in a time where men stand when a lady walks into a room and department store shopping is new and exciting. I can't pinpoint the exact reason why her historical romances are one of my favourites, but it's kind of like my first cup of coffee in the morning. Puts a smile on my face, leaves me content and hopeful that there will be more in the future.

To purchase from Amazon - http://amzn.to/1O9kFwP