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The Taming of the Rake (Blackthorn Brothers, Bk 1)
The Taming of the Rake - Blackthorn Brothers, Bk 1
Author: Kasey Michaels
Charming, wealthy and wickedly handsome, Oliver "Beau" Blackthorn has it all … except revenge on the enemy he can't forget. Now the opportunity for retribution has fallen into his hands. But his success hinges on Lady Chelsea Mills-Beckman -- the one woman with the power to distract him from his quest. — Desperate to escape h...  more »
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ISBN-13: 9780373775910
ISBN-10: 0373775911
Publication Date: 7/19/2011
Pages: 384
Rating:
  • Currently 3.6/5 Stars.
 50

3.6 stars, based on 50 ratings
Publisher: HQN Books
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

j4smine avatar reviewed The Taming of the Rake (Blackthorn Brothers, Bk 1) on + 31 more book reviews
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'.
iqb2001 avatar 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.
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.
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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.
chamber-maid avatar reviewed The Taming of the Rake (Blackthorn Brothers, Bk 1) on
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!

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