TITLE: Her Rake Fiancé
AUTHOR: Mariah Stone
SERIES: Dukes and Secrets
SERIES ORDER: 2
PUBLISHED DATE: 8/29/2023
GENRE: Regency Romance
TROPES: Fake Engagement, Rake/Wallflower, Pretty Woman vibes, Slow Burn, He Falls First, Class Differences, Virgin Heroine
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
BLURB:
Lord Richard Seaton will do anything to find his missing brother—even confront criminal lord Thorne Blackmore. Thorne’s price for information? Something Richard’s wounded heart vowed never to marriage. And not to one of the stunning debutantes chasing him but to Thorne’s bluestocking sister, Jane.
Shunned by the ton thanks to her scandalous brother, Miss Jane Grant runs a school that saves Whitechapel children from the gallows. Unwilling to abandon her students for marriage, a fake engagement is her only escape.
Jane offers to dig up the information Richard needs before the wedding. But they must keep their deal a secret or endanger Richard’s family and face Thorne’s wrath.
Braving society to convince the ton of their love, Richard protects Jane from judging matrons. And from elegant soirees to glamorous balls, Jane casts aside her gray dresses for vibrant silks and transforms into the lady she was born to be.
Soon, the reforming rake is falling under his blossoming wallflower’s spell…and into her bed.
But when Thorne learns of their deception, will Richard live to marry the fake fiancé who has become his true love?
MY REVIEW:
DISCLAIMER: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was another fantastic read by Mariah Stone. I am absolutely in love with this series and I devoured this book in two days!
This story is a continuation, of sorts, from the events that happen in Book 1, All Duke and Bothered. Each couple gets their own story, but an overarching plotline starts in Book 1 and continues throughout.
After the discovery in book 1, Richard’s family is seeking answers and they’ve tasked Richard with finding them. When he meets with Thorne Blackstone, instead of answers he leaves engaged to Thorne’s sister Jane with the promise that if the wedding happens, answers will be given.
Jane doesn’t feel like she belongs in Richard’s world and gets him to agree to breaking off the engagement if she can get him the answers he’s looking for before their wedding date. However, the more time they spend together, the harder it is for them to admit that they’re not falling for each other.
I fell head over heels for Richard and Jane in this story! I loved that Richard fell first! I loved seeing Penelope and Preston again, and getting to know Calliope a little more. Her story is next and I'm so excited to see what adventures lie in wait. Not sure for her, but for the entire Seaton family!
I also really enjoyed the side characters that were introduced in this series. The way Mariah wrote them, and how involved they were in this story, makes me wonder what Mariah has up her sleeves for their characters; in future books in this series, or a completely new series!
After two books, Mariah has become a one-click author for me!
If you enjoy regency romance, I highly recommend you check this series out. I can’t wait to read more about the Seatons in future books!
Thank you Mariah for the advance copy!