HOW TO MARRY A RAKE Author: Deb Marlowe ISBN: 9780373296408 4/2011 HISTORICAL Publisher: HARLEQUIN
When I originally read THE DIAMONDS OF WELLBOURNE MANOR, I had a sincere wish that the stories therein were longer. The Fitzmanning Brood was an odd, interesting mixture of people, all related in some way or another. The anthology focused on the female part of the Fitzmanning's (mostly) and Marlowe chose Stephen of the boys left to focus the story on here. The Stephen of this novel is a more somber fellow, who seems to have become a worrywart in the years since Charlotte's wedding (about two years or so ago, I believe). He decided to take his responsibilities to the estate his mother left him, Fincote, seriously, and let that rule his life. Mae, meanwhile, took his rejection of her, nursed her feelings of unhappiness for a bit and then took off to live her life. Mae was quite obstinate in her belief that she and Stephen could be happy, but she was equally frustrated with his apparent lack of commitment. Some of the ridiculousness from the anthology's premise finds its way into this story as well, but it's nowhere near the level it was. We see firsthand the damage that was wrought by Stephen's father (Manning). Issues that were only brushed upon in the anthology took full root here—such as Stephen's mother and the devastated state she lived in after his father left her. It wouldn't be accurate to say that the Duchess and Manning were intentionally cruel or abusive people. They were very self-involved and very selfish, two people who were not used to the words 'This is wrong' in relation to what they were doing. That sort of reckless care for others' feelings damaged their kids quite a bit, though equal blame can be laid at Manning's legal wife's doorstep (Stephen's mother). Mae was fun to read about and despite Stephen's back and forth behavior, I enjoyed reading their interactions. The chemistry between them that was palatable even in their secondary roles in DIAMONDS was increased, and I enjoyed seeing Stephen discussing something he felt so passionately about (the racetrack at Fincote he was building). The mystery is okay, though it's an almost easy guess what is going on. The real joy is watching Stephen crumble under Mae's patience (or impatience, at times). I've always enjoyed the fact that Marlowe doesn't make her female characters wilting flowers, easily cowed and defeated. Mae is a handful, one that keeps Stephen on his toes and me giggling when he tries to make things right. I do wish there could have more of the Fitzmanning Brood running about, but then again, too many of them tend to make things turn inside out. I hope that this means there may be more in the future with the clan; there's at least two others that could get their own story, after all! Alexandra Cenni |
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