Nine Rules to Break when Romancing a Rake

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake

Ralston Siblings bk 1

Sarah MacLean

One of the best parts of reading is finding new authors and going on new adventures, and seeing someone else’s take on a certain period in time.

When I started this book I wasn’t sure what to expect of this author but I have to say that I am really glad that I won a copy of this book.

This is Sarah MacLean’s first adult regency book and her second book published. Having read regency era romances ever since I started reading romance’s I can safely say that there is a new amazing author on the scene. She has created rich characters with very real emotions and adventures that completely engage the reader making you wish that you were a part of the story.

A lady does not smoke cheroot.

She does not ride astride.

She does not fence or attend duels.

She does not fire a pistol, and she never gambles at a gentlemen’s club.

Lady Calpurnia Hartwell has always followed the rules, rules that have left her unmarried—and more than a little unsatisfied. And so she’s vowed to break the rules and live the life of pleasure she’s been missing. But to dance every dance, to steal a midnight kiss—to do those things, Callie will need a willing partner. Someone who knows everything about rule-breaking. Someone like Gabriel St. John, the Marquess of Ralston—charming and devastatingly handsome, his wicked reputation matched only by his sinful smile.

If she’s not careful, she’ll break the most important rule of all—the one that says that pleasure-seekers should never fall hopelessly, desperately in love . . .

Callie is officially on the shelf at 28. Her younger sister however has managed to snag a Duke at the age of 18. The night of the party to celebrate the engagement she over hears her sister and her fiancée talking about her and how passive she is. She then has a conversation with her brother the Earl and discovers that he thinks the same thing and challenges her to be more adventurous, she takes the cowards way out and says no. At least for a little while.

Ralston is perfectly content with his life, he does what he wants and could care less about what anyone else thinks about it, of course it helps that he is a Marquis. The only person he cares about is his twin brother Nick. That is until he discovers that he has a younger sister, and that she has arrived in England. Needing someone to help him introduce his sister to the ton, he is at a complete loss, that is until Callie shows up needing his help.

Thus begins the adventure. Watching these two fall in love with each other and become the people that they have always meant to be was very entertaining. This is one of those books that keeps you engaged from the first page to the last page. The characters are engaging and really likable, and leave you wanting more of them. The supporting cast, Callie’s family and Ralston’s family were very entertaining and leave you hoping for their stories to come.

If you are looking for a great regency story than you should definitely pick up this book. This is the first book in a trilogy about the Ralston twins Gabriel, and Nick and their half sister Julianne. Nick’s book comes out in October and Juliana’s book will be out in 2011.

Grade: A