TITLE: Jilted in January
AUTHOR: Cara Maxwell
SERIES: The Rake Review
SERIES ORDER: 1 of 12
PUBLISHED DATE: 01/01/2024
GENRE: Regency Romance
RATING: ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
The Rake Review is a brand new series/collaboration from multiple authors in the historical/regency romance genre. Each month in 2024, a new book will be released by a different author where a new rake will be raked over the coals by the elusive Brazen Belle. Jilted in January is book one in this series.
BLURB:
No. Absolutely not. Persephone Cuthbert would rather walk over hot coals than say one word to the man who broke her heart—let alone help him.
The author of The Rake Review may have declared him the most marriageable man in London, but Persephone knows the truth. Edward Johns is the cold-hearted bastard who broke her heart. She will not allow him to play her or the unsuspecting ladies of London false.
Except Persephone has made helping people her life’s work. How can she refuse him when a man’s life is in danger?
Ten years ago, Edward Johns jilted the love of his life for the sake of familial duty. He’s hardened his heart to steel, and he has no desire to marry—he intends to leave all of that to his younger brother, Alfred. Until said wastrel disappears without a trace.
Naturally, the one woman in London who can help him is the very angel who has haunted his dreams for a decade. But family always comes first. To save his brother, Edward will keep his hands to himself—mostly, and his heart under lock and key—no matter how bewitching his angel has become.
Jilted in January is Book 1 in the multi-author series, The Rake Review. This steamy second chance, fake dating Regency romance will keep you glued to the page and sweating with excitement—keep a fan handy!
MY REVIEW:
First off, I want to thank the authors of The Rake Review series for allowing me to be one of your ARC readers. I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to see what other notorious scoundrels the Brazen Belle decides to rake over her coals next!
DISCLAIMER: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I absolutely adored Persephone and Edward’s story!! I cried, I laughed, I swooned!
Ten years ago, Persephone Cuthbert and Edward Johns had been in love with each other, until Edward broke her heart and walked away. Fleeing to America, she made helping people her life’s work. Now that she’s returned to London, she wants to continue helping people but also find a husband. Imagine her surprise when one of the people seeking her help is none other than the man that jilted her all those years ago.
Edward Johns has always regretted breaking Persephone’s heart, but he won’t let her reputation suffer because of his ethnicity. Fate seems to give him a second chance when his brother disappears, and the only person that could help find out turns out to be Persephone herself! The question is, will he take it?
I really enjoyed the dynamic between Persephone and Edward. I loved that I could feel Persephone’s anger and heartbreak at having to be in the same room as Edward again. I loved how devious she was when she agreed to help him find Alfred, but only if he agreed to be seen with her in public as to create the illusion that they are together with the goal that it will increase her number of suitors. I loved how, as they spent more and more time together, that their old feelings started to resurface, and we got to see them pine after each other.
Persephone reminded me a lot of Eliza Scarlet from Miss Scarlet and the Duke. I loved her tenacity! I loved how she walked to the beat of her own drum, but still showed vulnerability.
Edward… I wanted to wrap Edward in a big old hug. I think Cara did a really great job with his character in showcasing his love for his family and how he tried to overcome the bias that has plagued him for years! I adored his family and I loved how they, especially his mom, helped him at the end. I really enjoyed the facts Cara dropped in her Author’s Note about the Chinese population in England at that time.
STEAM: The chemistry between Persephone and Edward is prevalent throughout the whole book. Because this is a second chance, I really liked that the smexy stuff was held off until after the 50% mark. I feel like that allowed us to witness their reconnection, and see the characters grow individually before jumping back into bed.
Thank you Cara Maxwell for the advance copy!