How to Ravish a Rake

by Vicky Dreiling

[Cocktails and Books]

We first met Miss Amy Hardwick in How To Marry a Duke, when the shy wallflower was chosen to compete in the courting challenge to marry the Duke of Shelbourne. As we catch up with Amy, she's now entering her last season and she's determined to shed her wallflower status. She doesn't think she'll find herself a husband, but she hopes to use her fashion sketches and dresses as a way to spotlight herself and become something a little more.

Will Darcett is bitter that he's been called home by his family. When he's with his family they equally ignore him or butt themselves in his business. All he wants to do is travel. But when he tries to supplement his income in a high stakes card game he finds himself in desperate need of an heiress.

I like how back in the day a way to fix a problem, that you caused, is by finding an heiress. Take the poor girls money and then dump her somewhere never to bother with again. Originally, this was Will's plan, but I'm so glad that his selected heiress happened to be able to see right through all his rakish charms. Damn an open door and a servant with a key when our fearless hero wasn't even trying to be bad but was still caught with a certain quiet, shy, fashion designer.

While on paper Will and Amy might seem like they are all wrong for each other, but it seems they are the only two who can see the other for what they truly are. Amy sees that Will's travels are an attempt by a little boy to get some attention from his family. Will sees Amy as a woman who needed to feel confident in who she is for her to truly shine.

Past deeds rear their ugly head and cause issues between our couple. Luckily (as with any good romance) they were able to take a look at both of themselves and realize they were both to blame for the issues that got in the way. If only real life could end up that way all the time.

Another entertaining read from Vicky Dreiling.