How to Rescue a Rake

by Jayne Fresina

[Amanda]

3.5

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

When I stumbled across the latest Jayne Fresina book on NetGalley, I knew I had to have it. I've read all the previous Book Club Belles Society books (including the novella) and one of her previous series, Sydney Dovedale. I was reasonably certain that I'd be pleased with How to Rescue a Rake, and it proved to be an enjoyable read.

Most Jayne Fresina books fall between a 3.5 and 4 star rating for me, and How to Rescue a Rake was no different. The first book of the series, Once Upon a Kiss, was my favorite of the series, and that hasn't changed with this book, but it was nice to see Diana and Nathaniel finally get their romance, since it's been hinted at for the entire series.

The one shining spot in this book was Diana's transformation from meek and obedient daughter to a confident woman. Diana's oppressed not just by the time she lives in, but by her mother's strict rules. She's quiet and overlooked by others, which is something that's relatable, and watching Nathaniel rediscover Diana and be the one to truly see her was sweet.

I couldn't always track how Nathaniel felt toward Diana -- he seemed to switch between angry and not angry (wanting her? desperate to get a reaction from her? dunno) often enough that I was never quite sure where he stood, at least until later parts of the book. After Diana turned down his proposal, he set off and actually made something of himself, but I also would have liked to see him redeemed more in the eyes of... well, everyone.

How to Rescue a Rake was an enjoyable addition to the Book Club Belles Society, and it leaves the door open for more books -- if not in this series, then in a spin-off series. While How to Rescue a Rake doesn't quite dig as emotionally deep as say Courtney Milan, Tessa Dare, or Sarah MacLean, it's a worthy book to spend a quick afternoon with.