A RAKE'S REFORM

Author: Anne Barbour ISBN: 9780709084693 1/2009 HISTORICAL Publisher: ROBERT HALE LTD.
Time Period: Regency

When Charles Trent, the Earl of Bythorne and Britain's premier rake, plummeted into Hester Blayne's life, he proved to be as wicked and arrogant, not to say breath-stoppingly handsome as expected. The man actually expected her to take his earnest ward under her wing and persuade the damsel to marry the man of his choice. For his part, Trent found England's premier feminist firebrand absolutely infuriating. She was plain, dedicated to her philosophy and completely unimpressed by his charm. It was not long, however, before Hester realized that beneath Trent's handsome exterior lay a man of sensitivity and warmth. For his part, Trent soon abandoned his prejudice against plain, dedicated firebrands and found himself drawn to Hester's wit, charm and intelligence. And come to think of it, she really wasn't all that plain, was she? The Battle of the Sexes was about to claim two more victims, but who would be the first to concede defeat?

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Anne Barbour sets her historical romance, A RAKE'S REFORM, in Regency era England, where the Earl of Bythorne (Thorne to his friends) is having the devil of a time keeping track of his young ward, Chloe Venable, until he can get her married off to young Mr. Wery. Chloe has, in fact, become enamored of Miss Hester Blayne and her feminist literature and run off to her country cottage offering her services as a maid. Thorne is a quite notorious rake, loving and leaving females right and left, and has no inclination to change his ways. Enter Miss Blayne and her sensible way of dealing with Chloe. She also has quite a nice figure hiding beneath her dowdy garments, and Thorne can’t resist talking her into joining his household as a more age appropriate chaperone for Chloe than Thorne’s aging Aunt Lavinia. Dash it all! He’d have to be daft to think he can win a “Battle of the Sexes” with Hester and her biting wit, but he’s going to give it a go!

Barbour has a way of setting the reader right into the midst of Regency daily life. The landscapes, fashions, class struggles, and ethics are all drawn equally well and the prominent display of humor adds to the enjoyment. We all know Thorne is a goner, but it is so much fun to see him twist and turn for Hester’s benefit. Hester gets her own bit of comeuppance, and that too softens her without diminishing her passion for social justice. Oh, if she could just live her simple life without feeling all weak-kneed every time he touches her! She’s not exactly wanton, but who can tell when she burns with desire as soon as he walks into the room?

A RAKE'S REFORM is several love stories intertwined and the edges are all smoothed out by the end. Everybody has their noses in everyone else’s business and the best intentions are laid for several love matches, which true love manages to transcend. With just the right amount of history, romance, mystery, and some naughty bits thrown in, who can resist a quiet afternoon with a rake and a rebel?

Susan Smith