Helpful Score: 1
I thoroughly enjoyed this first book in the Blackthorn Brothers trilogy. It could very well be one of my Top Ten of all time reads. Quirky, lovable characters. Laugh-out-loud moments. Lively pace.
To escape from an arranged marriage to a 'wet-lipped' reverend who is bent on straightening her out, our spirited heroine Lady Chelsea proposes a Gretna Green marriage to Beau (a wealthy, gentleman bastard) who she knows is secretly wreaking havoc on her Earl brother's finances for a past wrong. Beau asks himself what better way to get sweet revenge than by marrying the Earl's sister against his consent? (Beau is also a good guy who can't possible allow this beautiful young lady to be forced into a marriage against her will, even if she is his sworn enemy's sister.) The story is their run for the Scotland border with her brother and the reverend fiance hot on their trail to stop them.
This is the best book of the trilogy. Book 2 was okay, Book 3 was awful (read my review). Just so you know and aren't disappointed when they don't live up to your raised expectations after reading this one which in my opinion was outstanding. Just sayin'.
To escape from an arranged marriage to a 'wet-lipped' reverend who is bent on straightening her out, our spirited heroine Lady Chelsea proposes a Gretna Green marriage to Beau (a wealthy, gentleman bastard) who she knows is secretly wreaking havoc on her Earl brother's finances for a past wrong. Beau asks himself what better way to get sweet revenge than by marrying the Earl's sister against his consent? (Beau is also a good guy who can't possible allow this beautiful young lady to be forced into a marriage against her will, even if she is his sworn enemy's sister.) The story is their run for the Scotland border with her brother and the reverend fiance hot on their trail to stop them.
This is the best book of the trilogy. Book 2 was okay, Book 3 was awful (read my review). Just so you know and aren't disappointed when they don't live up to your raised expectations after reading this one which in my opinion was outstanding. Just sayin'.
Danielle G. (iqb2001) reviewed The Taming of the Rake (Blackthorn Brothers, Bk 1) on + 87 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Review originally posted at Ramblings From This Chick
This was my first book from Kasey Michaels and I thoroughly enjoyed this book even though the title is misleading. I believed that this was going to be a book where the heroine tames the Rake. It could not be more further from the truth.
Oliver 'Beau' Blackthorn, is in no way a rake as the title leads us to believe. I found him to be the complete opposite. Instead of a man who sleeps with gaggles of women and drinks profusely, we find a man that is responsible, cares about his family, and is an all-around good guy. Yes, he's hung up on getting revenge with his rival Thomas Mills-Beckman, the future Earl of Brean, but with good reason. Seven years ago, Beau found himself in love and attempted to propose marriage to the deceitful Madelyn who is Thomas' sister. Thomas intercepted and whipped Beau repeatedly as a warning to stay away. No way would his sister be marrying a Bastard. Now seven years later, Beau has been slowly enacting his revenge on Thomas.
When Thomas attempts to force his youngest sister Lady Chelsea into a marriage she doesn't want to the odious Reverend Flotley, Chelsea decides to get help from the one man her brother hates most, Beau Blackthorn. She knows of Beau's revenge attempts and she believes that if she can get him to run away with her and elope to Gretna Green it will be the answer for both of them. Beau would be able to get the ultimate revenge by marrying Chelsea, and Chelsea would be out from under the control of her dominating brother, and she also gets out of marrying the intolerable Reverend Flotley. Neither really cares for one another, but they decide it's worth it to get what they want.
Along their journey to Gretna Green we learn more about Beau and the type of person he is and where he comes from. We are introduced to his other brothers along with his mother and father. I really enjoyed getting to know his youngest brother Puck. He really is quite witty and always has something to say. I can't wait to read read about his HEA in his future book. He really was such a tease when it came to Beau.
Though the book tends to drag on at times I really enjoyed watching Chelsea and Beau getting to know one another. We are able to see them both develop their feelings, and it was quite refreshing to watch them both fall in love. It wasn't instantaneous, and it didn't feel rushed. I loved watching the banter between them both. I did have some issue with a plot line that occurs towards the end of the book. I felt like it just didn't really go with the story and that it was just thrown in as a set-up for future books. It felt disconnected for me and I could have done without it.
All in all, I really enjoyed this story and the characters that we are introduced to. I can't wait to see what's in-store for the rest of the series.
This was my first book from Kasey Michaels and I thoroughly enjoyed this book even though the title is misleading. I believed that this was going to be a book where the heroine tames the Rake. It could not be more further from the truth.
Oliver 'Beau' Blackthorn, is in no way a rake as the title leads us to believe. I found him to be the complete opposite. Instead of a man who sleeps with gaggles of women and drinks profusely, we find a man that is responsible, cares about his family, and is an all-around good guy. Yes, he's hung up on getting revenge with his rival Thomas Mills-Beckman, the future Earl of Brean, but with good reason. Seven years ago, Beau found himself in love and attempted to propose marriage to the deceitful Madelyn who is Thomas' sister. Thomas intercepted and whipped Beau repeatedly as a warning to stay away. No way would his sister be marrying a Bastard. Now seven years later, Beau has been slowly enacting his revenge on Thomas.
When Thomas attempts to force his youngest sister Lady Chelsea into a marriage she doesn't want to the odious Reverend Flotley, Chelsea decides to get help from the one man her brother hates most, Beau Blackthorn. She knows of Beau's revenge attempts and she believes that if she can get him to run away with her and elope to Gretna Green it will be the answer for both of them. Beau would be able to get the ultimate revenge by marrying Chelsea, and Chelsea would be out from under the control of her dominating brother, and she also gets out of marrying the intolerable Reverend Flotley. Neither really cares for one another, but they decide it's worth it to get what they want.
Along their journey to Gretna Green we learn more about Beau and the type of person he is and where he comes from. We are introduced to his other brothers along with his mother and father. I really enjoyed getting to know his youngest brother Puck. He really is quite witty and always has something to say. I can't wait to read read about his HEA in his future book. He really was such a tease when it came to Beau.
Though the book tends to drag on at times I really enjoyed watching Chelsea and Beau getting to know one another. We are able to see them both develop their feelings, and it was quite refreshing to watch them both fall in love. It wasn't instantaneous, and it didn't feel rushed. I loved watching the banter between them both. I did have some issue with a plot line that occurs towards the end of the book. I felt like it just didn't really go with the story and that it was just thrown in as a set-up for future books. It felt disconnected for me and I could have done without it.
All in all, I really enjoyed this story and the characters that we are introduced to. I can't wait to see what's in-store for the rest of the series.
Eleanor G. (Memom) - , reviewed The Taming of the Rake (Blackthorn Brothers, Bk 1) on + 441 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Excellent, funny,keeps your interest all the way to the end.
I enjoyed this book from our introduction to the humiliated hero at the beginning to the HEA ending!
I love Kasey Michaels' writing style, particularly her witty dialogue. Her heroine in this one was so sassy and a true pleasure to read. She would snap back with the type of retort that most of us think of only after the fact, in the cab. I found myself chuckling several times throughout the story, enjoying both main characters.
Was she a perfect heroine? No. Were there minor flaws in the story? Of course. For example, it seems implausible that the heroine would dash to our hero's house in the middle of the day, knowing full well that to be seen knocking on his door is certain scandal. I would have preferred that she send him some kind of intriguing message to entice him into meeting her in a private location or don a disguise or something. However, once I set aside that personal preference, the rest of the story just flowed beautifully.
It was quite fun to read about the long and winding journey from London to Gretna Green. In the vast majority of HR novels, this arduous journey is relegated to a single paragraph description.
Reader, you are supposed to love our hero's youngest brother--and you will. You are supposed to be intrigued by his middle brother--and you will be. You are supposed to hate her brother and sister--and they are imminently hate-able.
If I have one negative criticism, it is the title of the story. Our hero is a very honorable gentleman. In my opinion, he is not a rake and does not need taming. He's just been waiting around for the right woman to grow up and then show up!
I know that soon I will get to enjoy the stories of the two brothers and I can't wait!
I love Kasey Michaels' writing style, particularly her witty dialogue. Her heroine in this one was so sassy and a true pleasure to read. She would snap back with the type of retort that most of us think of only after the fact, in the cab. I found myself chuckling several times throughout the story, enjoying both main characters.
Was she a perfect heroine? No. Were there minor flaws in the story? Of course. For example, it seems implausible that the heroine would dash to our hero's house in the middle of the day, knowing full well that to be seen knocking on his door is certain scandal. I would have preferred that she send him some kind of intriguing message to entice him into meeting her in a private location or don a disguise or something. However, once I set aside that personal preference, the rest of the story just flowed beautifully.
It was quite fun to read about the long and winding journey from London to Gretna Green. In the vast majority of HR novels, this arduous journey is relegated to a single paragraph description.
Reader, you are supposed to love our hero's youngest brother--and you will. You are supposed to be intrigued by his middle brother--and you will be. You are supposed to hate her brother and sister--and they are imminently hate-able.
If I have one negative criticism, it is the title of the story. Our hero is a very honorable gentleman. In my opinion, he is not a rake and does not need taming. He's just been waiting around for the right woman to grow up and then show up!
I know that soon I will get to enjoy the stories of the two brothers and I can't wait!
Dixie K. (kona-dixy) reviewed The Taming of the Rake (Blackthorn Brothers, Bk 1) on + 27 more book reviews
In books the type of Jane Austen's it is ODTAA (one darn thing after another.) In this one it is "I have a plan."
Am not sure if I was just in the mood for this book or if this was really well written, but the adventure, conversations, and characters were enjoyable all the way through.
Am not sure if I was just in the mood for this book or if this was really well written, but the adventure, conversations, and characters were enjoyable all the way through.
Dawn D. (dawnierie) reviewed The Taming of the Rake (Blackthorn Brothers, Bk 1) on + 87 more book reviews
Liked the story. Characters are believable. Entertaining.
Juliana (philippaj) -
~ THE HEROINE DROVE ME ABSOLUTELY *INSANE* AND RUINED ANY POSSIBLE ENJOYMENT (1.5 stars) ~
I was really looking forward to reading this book, first in Michael's new Blackhorn Brothers Trilogy, because I had read the excerpt and the heroine at that time (however many years before the main story takes place) is an odd girl who apparently loves to read and isn't as beautiful as her sister. "Great," I thought, "just what I love! A bookish and smart odd-duck-out who is not drop-dead-gorgeous." Sadly, none of that describes the adult Chelsea. Adult Chelsea is one of the most annoying and selfish heroines I have ever had the displeasure to read. She made me want to turn violent. Towards a book. Not even a physical one - this was an ebook. Thankfully, my Nook survived the experience and remains unharmed. Proof of my admirable self-control.
The summary and basic plot reminded me of Amanda Quick's Reckless (4 stars), since both books are about younger sisters (the heroines) who end up seeking out the suitors their older sisters spurned years back who now want revenge as a result. In this instance, Chelsea is not in love with Oliver, or "Beau," but rather is trying to escape an extremely unpleasant arranged marriage her brother has set-up. Since she knows Oliver has been bent on revenge ever since being publicly humiliated by her older sister and brother, she figures he'll be happy to help her out since marrying her will be another nail in the coffin.
PRAISE:
There are things that worked with this book. This is the first in a trilogy about three brothers who are all bastards, born into a very odd situation. In this book we only briefly meet the middle brother, but the other one is heavily featured and is very, very funny, adding a lot of humor to the story. Their mother is a traveling actress, their father is an aristocrat, the two are in love with one another, but since the mother didn't want to have to give up acting they never married. Instead, the father and brothers grew up on the country estate and the mother would come every year during the off-season and stay with them.
It was a nice change from the normal aristocrat-seduced-or-raped-the-mother-then-abandoned-her and the hero is always full of rage for his sire. Here, the parents love one another, they both love their children and their children love them, and it's actually their father who is the more selfless and loving parent and their mother who was, in a sense, the parent doing the abandoning. All three of the brothers have left-over resentment regarding this, and understandably so.
I also did like the hero, who had a good sense of humor and was caring and intelligent. He was a little bland and not really that interesting or compelling, but I think that since I SO disliked the heroine, the comparison made him come out way far ahead, despite these failings.
There was not a mystery subplot, which I often appreciate (a mini-one is thrown in at the end, but ended up being more a ploy to meet another character than to add any type of subplot). The book is solely focused on Chelsea and Beau trying to get to Scotland to get married and to stay ahead of her brother, want-to-be-fiance, and sister, who are in hot pursuit. The siblings were pretty horrid and there were some points where I thought that Michaels was going to actually give some depth to the brother and make him an interesting - though very flawed - three-dimensional character, dealing with his internal struggles, but then he would slip back into being an ass again.
The dialogue was decent and there were several funny lines.
THE TATL HEROINE WHOM I WANTED TO SLAP UPSIDE THE HEAD:
(TATL = too annoying to live)
So none of those things are exactly glowing recommendations and maybe couldn't have saved the book even if the heroine had not been the most annoying, exasperating, self-centered heroine I have read in awhile. Oh. My. Lord. I could not stand that girl! I made 17 Goodreads status updates while reading this book and most of them are about her and my strong desire to do her violence.
The main personality trait that annoyed me, and that which really kicks the story off, is her utter disregard for what anyone else wants. She wants to escape this arranged marriage and that is completely understandable; the man she's engaged to is basically a crook, a religious man who pretends to be pious but really just milks her brother for money and entertains wildly archaic opinions regarding women, with a disturbing desire to punish and abuse them. Not nice. Agreed.
Chelsea breaks out of her locked room and goes to Beau and forces him to elope with her. Forget that maybe he doesn't want to marry her. Forget that though he wants revenge, maybe he doesn't want to tie himself to her for life since they don't even know each other. Forget that maybe he's in love with someone else and she could be ruining everything, having now basically compromised herself and forced his hand. He's not, but she doesn't know this - nor does she even ever ask! She shows up and literally just tells him to pack so they can go. Luckily, they end up falling in love and getting a HEA (big surprise), but frankly, I'm not sure why that happens because how Beau could want to tie himself to this woman for the rest of his life is absolutely beyond me. It's inexplicable - unless he's a masochist.
Also annoying in her treatment of him was her consistent "I'm saying no, but please understand it as yes" attitude. She gets annoyed with Beau when she continuously tells him to not put the moves on her, not look at her when she's not completely dressed, and not touch her ... and he obeys! God forbid. I understand if she doesn't want to be forward and that's in keeping with the times, but you don't have to play unbelievably hard to get and adamantly tell him to back off and then be upset when he actually listens to you. Contrary, contrary woman - or rather girl, because no maturity whatsoever.
She is pushy, orders him around, guilt-trips him when he hasn't done anything wrong, and forces him to completely overhaul his life for her even though they barely have a passing acquaintance. She also giggles frequently, which is SUCH a pet peeve of mine; our heroines are not prepubescent, okay, they can laugh for god's sake, they don't have to giggle. She's supposedly strong, then he glimpses this vulnerability because her chin quivers or she tears-up or some other such nonsense, but then she gathers herself and oh how admirable, what a woman. Are you kidding?! What a woman?!?! She's a selfish witch on wheels. She should cry; if I were her I would want to cry also. So yes, I found her entirely unlikable and could not imagine why the hero fell in love with her. Not a great feeling to have for the heroine.
BOTTOM LINE:
Sorry to say it, but I wouldn't even recommend getting this book from the library, unless you're really into self-imposed torture or have a perverse fondness for TATL heroines. Chelsea was annoying and selfish; I was completely unable to like or respect her and could not begin to fathom why the hero would fall in love with her or want to bind himself for eternity to that shrew.
* This review is of an advance reading copy provided by Harlequin through NetGalley.
I was really looking forward to reading this book, first in Michael's new Blackhorn Brothers Trilogy, because I had read the excerpt and the heroine at that time (however many years before the main story takes place) is an odd girl who apparently loves to read and isn't as beautiful as her sister. "Great," I thought, "just what I love! A bookish and smart odd-duck-out who is not drop-dead-gorgeous." Sadly, none of that describes the adult Chelsea. Adult Chelsea is one of the most annoying and selfish heroines I have ever had the displeasure to read. She made me want to turn violent. Towards a book. Not even a physical one - this was an ebook. Thankfully, my Nook survived the experience and remains unharmed. Proof of my admirable self-control.
The summary and basic plot reminded me of Amanda Quick's Reckless (4 stars), since both books are about younger sisters (the heroines) who end up seeking out the suitors their older sisters spurned years back who now want revenge as a result. In this instance, Chelsea is not in love with Oliver, or "Beau," but rather is trying to escape an extremely unpleasant arranged marriage her brother has set-up. Since she knows Oliver has been bent on revenge ever since being publicly humiliated by her older sister and brother, she figures he'll be happy to help her out since marrying her will be another nail in the coffin.
PRAISE:
There are things that worked with this book. This is the first in a trilogy about three brothers who are all bastards, born into a very odd situation. In this book we only briefly meet the middle brother, but the other one is heavily featured and is very, very funny, adding a lot of humor to the story. Their mother is a traveling actress, their father is an aristocrat, the two are in love with one another, but since the mother didn't want to have to give up acting they never married. Instead, the father and brothers grew up on the country estate and the mother would come every year during the off-season and stay with them.
It was a nice change from the normal aristocrat-seduced-or-raped-the-mother-then-abandoned-her and the hero is always full of rage for his sire. Here, the parents love one another, they both love their children and their children love them, and it's actually their father who is the more selfless and loving parent and their mother who was, in a sense, the parent doing the abandoning. All three of the brothers have left-over resentment regarding this, and understandably so.
I also did like the hero, who had a good sense of humor and was caring and intelligent. He was a little bland and not really that interesting or compelling, but I think that since I SO disliked the heroine, the comparison made him come out way far ahead, despite these failings.
There was not a mystery subplot, which I often appreciate (a mini-one is thrown in at the end, but ended up being more a ploy to meet another character than to add any type of subplot). The book is solely focused on Chelsea and Beau trying to get to Scotland to get married and to stay ahead of her brother, want-to-be-fiance, and sister, who are in hot pursuit. The siblings were pretty horrid and there were some points where I thought that Michaels was going to actually give some depth to the brother and make him an interesting - though very flawed - three-dimensional character, dealing with his internal struggles, but then he would slip back into being an ass again.
The dialogue was decent and there were several funny lines.
THE TATL HEROINE WHOM I WANTED TO SLAP UPSIDE THE HEAD:
(TATL = too annoying to live)
So none of those things are exactly glowing recommendations and maybe couldn't have saved the book even if the heroine had not been the most annoying, exasperating, self-centered heroine I have read in awhile. Oh. My. Lord. I could not stand that girl! I made 17 Goodreads status updates while reading this book and most of them are about her and my strong desire to do her violence.
The main personality trait that annoyed me, and that which really kicks the story off, is her utter disregard for what anyone else wants. She wants to escape this arranged marriage and that is completely understandable; the man she's engaged to is basically a crook, a religious man who pretends to be pious but really just milks her brother for money and entertains wildly archaic opinions regarding women, with a disturbing desire to punish and abuse them. Not nice. Agreed.
Chelsea breaks out of her locked room and goes to Beau and forces him to elope with her. Forget that maybe he doesn't want to marry her. Forget that though he wants revenge, maybe he doesn't want to tie himself to her for life since they don't even know each other. Forget that maybe he's in love with someone else and she could be ruining everything, having now basically compromised herself and forced his hand. He's not, but she doesn't know this - nor does she even ever ask! She shows up and literally just tells him to pack so they can go. Luckily, they end up falling in love and getting a HEA (big surprise), but frankly, I'm not sure why that happens because how Beau could want to tie himself to this woman for the rest of his life is absolutely beyond me. It's inexplicable - unless he's a masochist.
Also annoying in her treatment of him was her consistent "I'm saying no, but please understand it as yes" attitude. She gets annoyed with Beau when she continuously tells him to not put the moves on her, not look at her when she's not completely dressed, and not touch her ... and he obeys! God forbid. I understand if she doesn't want to be forward and that's in keeping with the times, but you don't have to play unbelievably hard to get and adamantly tell him to back off and then be upset when he actually listens to you. Contrary, contrary woman - or rather girl, because no maturity whatsoever.
She is pushy, orders him around, guilt-trips him when he hasn't done anything wrong, and forces him to completely overhaul his life for her even though they barely have a passing acquaintance. She also giggles frequently, which is SUCH a pet peeve of mine; our heroines are not prepubescent, okay, they can laugh for god's sake, they don't have to giggle. She's supposedly strong, then he glimpses this vulnerability because her chin quivers or she tears-up or some other such nonsense, but then she gathers herself and oh how admirable, what a woman. Are you kidding?! What a woman?!?! She's a selfish witch on wheels. She should cry; if I were her I would want to cry also. So yes, I found her entirely unlikable and could not imagine why the hero fell in love with her. Not a great feeling to have for the heroine.
BOTTOM LINE:
Sorry to say it, but I wouldn't even recommend getting this book from the library, unless you're really into self-imposed torture or have a perverse fondness for TATL heroines. Chelsea was annoying and selfish; I was completely unable to like or respect her and could not begin to fathom why the hero would fall in love with her or want to bind himself for eternity to that shrew.
* This review is of an advance reading copy provided by Harlequin through NetGalley.
