LED ASTRAY BY A RAKE

Author: Sara Bennett ISBN: 9780061336911 6/2009 HISTORICAL Publisher: AVON
Time Period: Regency 1837

The hunt is on for the perfect husband . . . Beneath Livy Monteith's icy blonde exterior beats a passionate heart, a heart that will not abide by society's rules. No, Livy will simply not marry the proper young man her parents have chosen for her husband. She'd rather die! But even her friends at Miss Debenham's Finishing School are shocked by the man she desires. Lord Dominic Lacey, the man they call Wicked Nic, is quite handsome, even more notorious, and every bit a scoundrel. Nic thinks he knows all about Livy. She's a proper young lady from an upstanding family, the kind of woman any respectable man would be thrilled to take as his bride—but Nic is not a respectable man. For Livy, even being seen with him would lead to certain scandal. So why is the ravishing innocent doing everything in her power to seduce him? Bedding her would be a delight. But a sinful night with a man like Nic would lead a girl very far astray indeed . . .

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Is there a simple explanation for how everything Sara Bennett writes turns to gold? I think there must be, because I have never had the pleasure of reading so many books by the same author and not being able to voice one complaint! So, I’m supposing that the explanation is that Sara Bennett is a complete genius and loves her job... AND is simply among the best of romance writers.

I love the entire premise of LED ASTRAY BY A DUKE. Olivia Monteith is bound and determined that she will not just willingly be led along like cattle to the chopping block. Livy and four of her friends are determined to go out and find the husbands they want and then watch the unknowing suckers fall like flies as they fall madly in love with them. It seems, at first glance, that Livy is rather mousy and ordinary in temperament, but after the first chapter of this book, I decided that maybe I was wrong. And by Chapter 36 I knew that I was absolutely wrong! Livy is tenacious as a bull; she doesn't give up easy. She sees the man she knows she's going to love forever, and she stops at nothing to scoop him up!

Nic is a fabulous counterpart to our daring, little Olivia. See, he knows Olivia from years ago, and so he also knows that when she sets her sights on him, she is not giving up. But, that certainly doesn't stop him from trying. It is absolutely delicious to watch Nic try to be this great, honorable man pushing Olivia away "for her own good". The thing is, Livy isn't going anywhere, and everyone knows that—including Nic!

I have to say, I thought I knew what the twist was going to be at the end. I was this close to figuring it out, but when I finally did, it was a nice little shocker of a twist! Everything about this book makes it a fabulous read, perfect for the summer. The romance is so clearly defined; the characters have depth, and are angsty, sensual and full of life; and the storyline is fabulous. A perfect book for a summer day at the beach, or just about anytime that you want to unwind and let an author take you away into her very own little world!

Kristal Gorman