Cold-Hearted Rake (The Ravenels, #1)

by Lisa Kleypas

[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