ABOUT WILD, WILD RAKE:
Wild, Wild Rake, the next sweeping, emotional, witty, and sharp
romance in the Cavensham Heiresses series from beloved author Janna MacGregor.
Her first marriage was
an epic fail.
Lady Avalon Warwyk
never did love her husband. Arrogant, selfish, and cruel, it’s a blessing when
she’s widowed and left to raise her son all by herself. Finally, Avalon can
live freely and do the work she loves: helping fallen women become
businesswomen. She’s lived these past ten years with no desire to remarry—that
is, until Mr. Devan Farris comes to town.
Can he convince her to
take another chance at happily ever after?
Devan Farris—charming
vicar, reputed rake, and the brother of Avalon’s son’s guardian—is reluctantly
sent to town to keep tabs on Avalon and her son. Devan wishes he didn’t have to
meddle in her affairs; he’s not one to trod on a woman’s independent nature and
keen sense of convictions. But she’ll have nothing to do with a vicar with a
wild reputation—even though he’s never given his heart and body to another. If
only he could find a way to show Avalon who he really is on the inside—a good,
true soul looking for its other half. But how can prove that he wants to love
and care for her. . .until death do they part?
MY REVIEW:
Lady Avalon Warwyck was married off to a man she didn't love and he didn't love her. In fact he bed her once and got her pregnant and that was the end of that. He kept a mistress which he ended up flaunting in front of he because that was his love. Then not to long after that she became a widow. She lives freely and helps woman who are in dire straits and become businesswomen. Avalon vows she will never get married again or do as a man says. Then Devan Farris comes into her life. He was sent to spy on her by his brother who is in charge of Avalon's son's fate into his teen years. Devan is also the Vicar and now in her town. He has always called her Lady Warlock. He has a wild reputation with the women. But he has never given his body or heart to anyone and he will prove it to her and show his true self to her.
I really enjoyed reading this book and the characters were a lot of fun together. There was instant chemistry between them.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins for the ARC to review.
Excerpt from Wild, Wild Rake by Janna MacGregor
Avalon read the first line in the letter from her son’s
guardian, Gavin Farris, the Earl of Larkton. By all appearances the words
resembled something innocuous, purely designed to lull a person into thinking
it contained real concern with a touch of whimsical affection.
My
dearest lady, I do hope this finds you and your intrepid son well.
“Avalon, did you hear the news?” Seventeen, on the cusp of
eighteen years of age, Avalon’s sister, Lady Sophia Cavensham, looked up from
her embroidery and smiled. Her gaze darted to her friend Miss Penelope Rowley,
the one and only niece of the wealthiest gentry landowner in the shire. Though
she was two years older than Sophia, Penelope had become somewhat of a fixture
at Warwyk Hall over the last six months since she’d moved to her aunt and
uncle’s home. The two women were inseparable.
Penelope let out a dramatic sigh then collapsed in a swoon
across the pink-and-gold brocade sofa. In the process, she kneed the table,
upsetting the delicate pink china cup and saucer. “Oww.”
Avalon tried to ignore their chatter. The Earl of Larkton’s
correspondence had increased in frequency over the last several months. The
weekly letters were turning into biweekly posts. Each one wanted more and more
control over the Warwyk estate and more decision-making control over her
ten-year-old son, Thane Pearce, the Marquess of Warwyk. She doubled her
concentration on the letter as she read the entire first paragraph.
The
purpose of my correspondence is to inform you that I’ve appointed a new vicar
for the village of Thistledown. The man comes with impeccable standing and
experience. In addition, his educational training is second to none. He’s a
protégé of Lord Bishop Marlowe.
“He’s extraordinary.” Sophia’s dreamlike whisper floated
through the air like a dandelion seed.
“He’s . . . simply exquisite.” Penelope’s voice joined
Sophia’s in a chorus of dazzled fascination.
My
dear Marchioness, it’s my pleasure to announce that my brother—
Avalon swallowed the sudden onrush of bile that marched up
her throat. It couldn’t be. Fate was not
that hateful.
“Mr. Devan—” Sophia sighed.
“Farris.” Penelope finished the sentence and slowly drew her
hand against her forehead as if saying his name caused her to faint.
“No. Not him.” Avalon murmured the words aloud. The
sanctimonious prig had arrived to make her life a living hell. Avalon grimaced
to keep from casting her accounts. Now she was just exaggerating like the
girls. She wasn’t really physically sick, but the news could make a person ill.
“When did he arrive in the village?”
Clueless as to how the news affected her older sister,
Sophia scooted to the edge of the crimson-and-white striped club chair that sat
adjacent to Avalon’s matching one. “Two days ago. Penelope and I just happened
to be walking in front of the vicarage when we saw the Earl of Larkton’s coach
arrive. The new vicar followed behind on horseback.”
Penelope nodded vigorously as if Sophia’s story needed
affirmation.
Avalon wanted to roll her eyes. The two women “never just
happen” to do anything. They orchestrated and connived everything from shopping
to men. God save anyone who crossed their paths. If one of the girls took a
shine to any of the ton’s
marriageable men, then London’s finest would soon understand what it meant to
be hunted.
As the girls continued their chatter, Avalon devoted her
full attention to the rest of the letter. Better to finish the horrid task,
then take a long walk through her gardens. Though it was January and bitterly
cold outside, a brisk hour of exercise would help Avalon clear some of her
unease at the news that Mr. Devan Farris had invaded her village.
I’ve
considered your request that the young marquess continue his studies at home,
but at the age of ten, his interests would best be served by attending Eton
sooner rather than later. That’s where boys turn into men. Your suggestion that
he attend Harrow won’t do. His father had insisted that I promise he attend
Eton. However, since his Latin skills are somewhat lacking, I’ve decided to
hire my brother, Mr. Farris, to tutor him in the subject.
Her blood simmered at the words. The earl’s declaration was
nothing more than gilding the lily. Everyone within fifty miles of London knew
that Devan Farris sought to marry an heiress. Until he found one, the
fortune-hunting vicar thought to use her son’s marquisate to pay double for his
services. Since her son’s estate paid for the vicar’s wages, Mr. Farris would
receive another wage from the coffers for tutoring lessons.
But what really brought her blood to boil was that the smug
vicar would be nosing into her business, and that wouldn’t do at all. She and
only she ruled the parish with a fair and impartial hand. No one, including
Devan Farris, would upset her world.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Janna MacGregor was born and
raised in the bootheel of Missouri. She is the author of the Cavensham
Heiresses series, which begins with The Bad Luck Bride. Janna
credits her darling mom for introducing her to the happily-ever-after world of
romance novels. Janna writes stories where compelling and powerful heroines
meet and fall in love with their equally matched heroes. She is the mother of
triplets and lives in Kansas City with her very own dashing rogue, and two
smug, but not surprisingly, perfect pugs.
SMP Romance Twitter: @SMPRomance
or @heroesnhearts