Title: ONCE UPON A RAKE
Series: N/A
Author: Samantha Holt
Publisher: Samantha Holt
Publish Date: 11.22.2014
Category /Genre: Historical Romance
Recommended for: 18+ due to sexual content
Grammar/editing: A – near perfect
Received from: Samantha Holt (as an ARC gifted copy)
Goodreads link: Once Upon a Rake
Date completed: 06.04.2015; 01.08.2018
Description from the publisher:
Once upon a time, Little Ellie
Browning swiftly discovered happily ever afters did not exist and rakes were
simply rakes. When the man she had adored for years kissed her and left her
heartbroken and she was forced to marry an elderly earl to save her reputation,
she resolved to put any dreams of fairy tales aside.
Seven years later, the now widowed Eleanor, Countess of Hawthorne, has returned to England after years of travelling and is now part-owner of a cotton mill left to her by her late husband.
But the owner of the mill, and the very same handsome rake who hurt her years earlier, has no desire to let a woman interfere with his business, let alone little Ellie Browning--no matter how fascinating he finds her since her transformation from coltish scarecrow to almost graceful countess.
Lucian is still recovering from the after-effects of one of his mills succumbing to fire, and now he's fighting to save the other in a tough economic climate. He doesn't need this new distraction, especially when, after a series of accidents, it becomes clear someone wishes the mill to close and he has to find the culprit--fast.
With things heating up between Ellie and Lucian, it's apparent that not only is the mill in peril--they are both at risk of getting burned...
Seven years later, the now widowed Eleanor, Countess of Hawthorne, has returned to England after years of travelling and is now part-owner of a cotton mill left to her by her late husband.
But the owner of the mill, and the very same handsome rake who hurt her years earlier, has no desire to let a woman interfere with his business, let alone little Ellie Browning--no matter how fascinating he finds her since her transformation from coltish scarecrow to almost graceful countess.
Lucian is still recovering from the after-effects of one of his mills succumbing to fire, and now he's fighting to save the other in a tough economic climate. He doesn't need this new distraction, especially when, after a series of accidents, it becomes clear someone wishes the mill to close and he has to find the culprit--fast.
With things heating up between Ellie and Lucian, it's apparent that not only is the mill in peril--they are both at risk of getting burned...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ONCE UPON A RAKE is a stand-alone
historical romance.
They were both young and
impetuous. Lucian said cruel words in a
fit of pique, because Ellie had hampered his rakish behavior with a willing
widow.
I loved this story, because even an
ugly duckling deserves a Happily Ever After.
Not that I believe that Ellie was ever ugly. By my own experience, sometimes people are
callous as a means of deflection. In the
end, Lucian proved that he was attracted to her. IMHO, he probably always had been and didn’t
know how to express it at a younger age when he didn’t want marriage.
So, what did this story have? It was an Ugly Duckling story (remember that
childhood favorite?) and honestly the teasers are the ones to be pitied,
because the duck is actually a beautiful swan!
There was a mystery – who is sabotaging the mill and why? Finally, there is a slowly building romance. These elements work together to create an
easy, fun read.
I continue to love everything I have
read that has been written by Samantha Holt.
Note: while I was given this book as a gifted ARC,
my opinions are my own and are given freely.
Also from Samantha Holt:
·
Alrek
·
The Angel’s Assassin
·
Buckle Down
·
Christmas Seduction
·
The Crimson Castle
·
Her Dream Cowboy
·
Her Highland Defender
·
Hunting His Highland Lass
·
Love or Loyalty
·
Must Love Lords
·
Not Another Soldier
·
Once Upon a Rake
·
The Sexy Bartender’s Virtual
Seduction
·
A Summer Siege
·
Warriors
·
The Warrior’s Reward
Bluestocking Brides series:
1.
Amelia and
the Viscount
2.
Julia and
the Duke
3.
Emma and
the Earl
4.
Catherine
and the Marquis
5.
Lilith and
the Stable Hand
Borderland Legacy:
3.
Borderland
Betrayal
The Cynfell Brothers series:
2. Sinful Deeds
5. Sinful Possession
6. Sinful Temptations
Highland Fae Chronicles:
The One Knight Collection:
1.
One Knight
2.
Black
Knight
3.
White
Knight
4.
Highland
Knight
Regency Fairy Twists:
1.
Wake Me
with a Kiss
2.
The Beast
Who Loved Me
3.
Dance with
Me at Midnight
Rogues of
Redmere Series:
2.
When a Rogue Loves a Woman
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