What do you think?
Rate this book
Scandalous Brides #1
A Beginner's Guide to Rakes
All of London is abuzz with the return of the utterly alluring, recently widowed Diane Benchley. Will she remarry? What will she do with her late husband’s fortune? Society is shocked by her announcement—at the Grand Ball, of all places!—that she plans to open an exclusive gentleman’s gaming club in the family mansion. But no one is more stunned than the Marquis of Haybury, Oliver Warren.
Years ago, Oliver and Diane shared a private indiscretion. Now Diane threatens to reveal Oliver’s most ungentlemanly secrets…unless he agrees to help her. A notorious gambler—and rake—Oliver is overqualified to educate Diane in the ways and means of running her establishment. But striking a deal with Diane might just be the biggest risk Oliver has ever taken. This time, the only thing he has to lose is his heart…
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 4, 2011
About the author
Suzanne Enoch
102 books2,563 followersSuzanne was born in Southern California sometime in the latter half of the 20th century. In the way that some people are born knowing they want to be astronauts or cellists, Suzanne always knew she wanted to be a writer. Early dreams of becoming a zoologist and writing true stories about her adventures in Africa were crushed, however, after she viewed a television special about the world’s most poisonous snakes; she did NOT want to write about how she’d been bitten and lost a limb to a cobra. Thankfully at the same time the movie “Star Wars” premiered, and she realized that she could make up adventures and write about them, and not be eaten by deadly predators while doing research.
She dabbled in romantic fantasy writing for a year or two after graduating with a degree in English from the University of California, Irvine, until her affection for traditional Regency romances led her to write one for fun. After several encouraging rejections from publishers, she snared the interest of the world’s best and most patient literary agent, who advised her to revise the manuscript. This ultimately led to the publication of her first book, The Black Duke’s Prize, from Avon Books in the Spring of 1995. A second Regency, Angel’s Devil, followed that Fall.
When Avon folded its traditional Regency line, Suzanne was encouraged to try her hand at historical romance. As she remained keenly interested in England’s Regency period, she decided to attempt another manuscript set in that time. Lady Rogue hit the shelves in March of 1997. She wrote a total of 29 books for Avon, including two anthologies and a five-part contemporary series which received a pair of starred reviews from Publishers Weekly. One of those books, Twice the Temptation, was named one of the five best romances of the year by PW in 2007.
In 2002 her well-known love of all things “Star Wars” led to an invitation to appear on the E! channel in the television special “Star Wars: The Force Is Back”, where she discussed the romance in the movie series and ended up with more air time than George Lucas.
In 2010 Suzanne left Avon Books for St. Martin’s Press, where she continues to pen historical romance novels. Her 31st book, Taming an Impossible Rogue, is set to arrive in March 2012.
Suzanne is known for her humorous characters, sexy bad boys, and whip-sharp, witty dialogue. She currently resides in Placentia, California with several hundred guppies and various other tropical fish, and handful of very loud, spinach-loving finches. And her collection of action figures and statues from “Star Wars”, “Lord of the Rings”, “X-Men”, and “Pirates of the Caribbean”. Everybody needs some inspiration, after all.
www.facebook.com/SuzanneEnoch
She dabbled in romantic fantasy writing for a year or two after graduating with a degree in English from the University of California, Irvine, until her affection for traditional Regency romances led her to write one for fun. After several encouraging rejections from publishers, she snared the interest of the world’s best and most patient literary agent, who advised her to revise the manuscript. This ultimately led to the publication of her first book, The Black Duke’s Prize, from Avon Books in the Spring of 1995. A second Regency, Angel’s Devil, followed that Fall.
When Avon folded its traditional Regency line, Suzanne was encouraged to try her hand at historical romance. As she remained keenly interested in England’s Regency period, she decided to attempt another manuscript set in that time. Lady Rogue hit the shelves in March of 1997. She wrote a total of 29 books for Avon, including two anthologies and a five-part contemporary series which received a pair of starred reviews from Publishers Weekly. One of those books, Twice the Temptation, was named one of the five best romances of the year by PW in 2007.
In 2002 her well-known love of all things “Star Wars” led to an invitation to appear on the E! channel in the television special “Star Wars: The Force Is Back”, where she discussed the romance in the movie series and ended up with more air time than George Lucas.
In 2010 Suzanne left Avon Books for St. Martin’s Press, where she continues to pen historical romance novels. Her 31st book, Taming an Impossible Rogue, is set to arrive in March 2012.
Suzanne is known for her humorous characters, sexy bad boys, and whip-sharp, witty dialogue. She currently resides in Placentia, California with several hundred guppies and various other tropical fish, and handful of very loud, spinach-loving finches. And her collection of action figures and statues from “Star Wars”, “Lord of the Rings”, “X-Men”, and “Pirates of the Caribbean”. Everybody needs some inspiration, after all.
www.facebook.com/SuzanneEnoch
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 217 reviews
November 8, 2011
Who named this book? Seriously, who? It has nothing to do with the storyline. At all. The same goes for the cover. It’s like someone just picked it at random. Ignoring the weird title and cover, this book turned out to be rather excellent. It was completely different than I assumed it would be. I can’t think of another time that Enoch has created a heroine quite like this. I loved it.
Diane was an awesome heroine. I think some readers might not like her because of how cold and manipulative she could seem, but I loved her. She was a woman who had been knocked down in life, only to pull herself up and take control. I loved that we weren’t just told how capable she was, we saw it in every page. No matter what was thrown at her, she took it in stride. It drove Oliver mad how rarely he was able to come out on top in their battles. If he tried to embarrass her or manipulate her, she was always ready to turn the tables on him and come out on top in the situation. At times she came off as a little too bitter but I was too caught up in watching Oliver and Diane’s relationship power struggle to care.
I thought Oliver was a great match for Diane. They were both willing to do whatever it took to win and had no qualms about walking over other people on their way to success. This is not a rare quality in an Enoch hero, but I can’t think of when I’ve ever seen her do such a like pairing with the heroine. The mercenary natures of the characters could have grated if left in less capable hands. The author always keeps us firmly on the side of the protagonists, even when we’re fully aware of the wrongs they are committing. Case in point being the way Diane acquired Adam House.
Oliver and Diane had a past together that didn’t end well. Diane and Oliver have both changed from the people they were at that time, but it’s hard for both of them to forgive and forget that time.
Despite the different tone to this book, Enoch’s characteristic writing style is still there. The dialogue is snappy and you can feel the tension between the two leads. Unlikely situations occasionally crop up but, as with all other Enoch books, the characters approach them straight on and keep the book from veering toward the silly end of things. We were introduced to quite a few intriguing side characters who always managed to steer clear of the dreaded sequel bait role. I’m particularly interested in Greaves and Jenny.
If this is what I can expect from the other books in this new series, I’ll be on them like white on rice. I can’t wait to see what the next book brings.
Favorite Quote:
Diane was an awesome heroine. I think some readers might not like her because of how cold and manipulative she could seem, but I loved her. She was a woman who had been knocked down in life, only to pull herself up and take control. I loved that we weren’t just told how capable she was, we saw it in every page. No matter what was thrown at her, she took it in stride. It drove Oliver mad how rarely he was able to come out on top in their battles. If he tried to embarrass her or manipulate her, she was always ready to turn the tables on him and come out on top in the situation. At times she came off as a little too bitter but I was too caught up in watching Oliver and Diane’s relationship power struggle to care.
I thought Oliver was a great match for Diane. They were both willing to do whatever it took to win and had no qualms about walking over other people on their way to success. This is not a rare quality in an Enoch hero, but I can’t think of when I’ve ever seen her do such a like pairing with the heroine. The mercenary natures of the characters could have grated if left in less capable hands. The author always keeps us firmly on the side of the protagonists, even when we’re fully aware of the wrongs they are committing. Case in point being the way Diane acquired Adam House.
Oliver and Diane had a past together that didn’t end well. Diane and Oliver have both changed from the people they were at that time, but it’s hard for both of them to forgive and forget that time.
”I am sorry,” he said, trying to keep his voice low and measured. “You were looking for hope, and I was looking for a bit of fun, and when I realized I’d began to care for you far more than I was willing to acknowledge, I ran. Like a scalded dog, I believe you said. I apologize. It’s not nearly enough to say the words, or to confess that leaving you in Vienna stands as the greatest regret of my life, but there you have it.”That’s pretty much their past in a nutshell. Oliver hightailed it out of there with no word and Diane was left to face the financial mess her husband had left her in. Only now she had to deal with a broken heart on top of it. There was no excuse for his actions, but Enoch did an excellent job of showing us his mindset, so it was easy to see why he felt he needed to run. Diane doesn’t make it easy for him to prove himself to her, but he’s nothing if not determined. Even Diane eventually can’t deny how much he’s changed. He was right in saying he would have been a crap husband to her if they had married then. He just hadn’t grown enough.
Despite the different tone to this book, Enoch’s characteristic writing style is still there. The dialogue is snappy and you can feel the tension between the two leads. Unlikely situations occasionally crop up but, as with all other Enoch books, the characters approach them straight on and keep the book from veering toward the silly end of things. We were introduced to quite a few intriguing side characters who always managed to steer clear of the dreaded sequel bait role. I’m particularly interested in Greaves and Jenny.
If this is what I can expect from the other books in this new series, I’ll be on them like white on rice. I can’t wait to see what the next book brings.
Favorite Quote:
”It’s not about what I owe you, Diane. It’s about what you’re worth to me now.”
August 25, 2020
first suzanne enoch book and it was soooooooooooooooooooooo boring.
July 18, 2021
“Pariul pe iubire” este o lectură intensă, plină de răsturnări de situație, cu mult suspans și romantism.
Este povestea văduvei Diane Benchley, Lady Cameron, și a lui Oliver Warren, marchiz de Haybury.
O poveste complexă, plină de răni din trecut încă nevindecate, care îi fac circumspecți pe cei doi eroi. Ea a rămas văduvă și fără un ban la moartea soțului ei, iar Oliver s-a îngrozit la Viena când a constatat că s-a îndrăgostit de ea, astfel că, sărac fiind, a fugit înapoi în Anglia...
Acum, prezentul se anunță a fi plin de surprize, șocante pentru societate, care atrag atenția. Astfel descoperim o eroină puternică și curajoasă, ieșită din normele vremii, care ne ia cu totul prin surprindere.
Suzanne Enoch m-a incitat cu fiecare pagină a cărții, m-a captivat prin ineditul situațiilor în care și-a aruncat eroii.
“Pariul pe iubire” este o lectură plină de romantism, pasiune, curaj și o doză zdravănă de șoc. De neratat!
Este povestea văduvei Diane Benchley, Lady Cameron, și a lui Oliver Warren, marchiz de Haybury.
O poveste complexă, plină de răni din trecut încă nevindecate, care îi fac circumspecți pe cei doi eroi. Ea a rămas văduvă și fără un ban la moartea soțului ei, iar Oliver s-a îngrozit la Viena când a constatat că s-a îndrăgostit de ea, astfel că, sărac fiind, a fugit înapoi în Anglia...
Acum, prezentul se anunță a fi plin de surprize, șocante pentru societate, care atrag atenția. Astfel descoperim o eroină puternică și curajoasă, ieșită din normele vremii, care ne ia cu totul prin surprindere.
Suzanne Enoch m-a incitat cu fiecare pagină a cărții, m-a captivat prin ineditul situațiilor în care și-a aruncat eroii.
“Pariul pe iubire” este o lectură plină de romantism, pasiune, curaj și o doză zdravănă de șoc. De neratat!
March 24, 2012
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz..........DNF
I made it halfway, so someone pat me on the back. What a snooze. Maybe this book only seemed worse than it is because I tried listening to it instead of just reading it. So not only did I get a boring story with characters I could careless about, but I had to suffer through the annoying voice of Anne Flosnik. I should have known better to get a book that she read. I know many like her, but I forgot how annoying her narration is. Still, the story is the story and I can usually over look less than stellar narration, but this one was simply a big WHO GIVES A FLYING F.
The story in a nutshell (before I DNF'd the dang book):
A jilted widow returns to London to open a gaming hall and use only female employees, she black mails her former lover into funding it, meanwhile treating him like a doormat (or worse). We are suppose to excuse her violent tendencies when she shoots the hero (and then they act as if she only slapped him, really?!) or lobs a candelabra at his head.
So is her gaming hall a success? Did the mysterious Earls daughter ever get caught working as a dealer? Did the hero get any more serious injuries or wounds at the hand of the heroine? Was her questionable reputation saved in the end? I have no idea, and I don't care.
Final verdict: DNF
I made it halfway, so someone pat me on the back. What a snooze. Maybe this book only seemed worse than it is because I tried listening to it instead of just reading it. So not only did I get a boring story with characters I could careless about, but I had to suffer through the annoying voice of Anne Flosnik. I should have known better to get a book that she read. I know many like her, but I forgot how annoying her narration is. Still, the story is the story and I can usually over look less than stellar narration, but this one was simply a big WHO GIVES A FLYING F.
The story in a nutshell (before I DNF'd the dang book):
A jilted widow returns to London to open a gaming hall and use only female employees, she black mails her former lover into funding it, meanwhile treating him like a doormat (or worse). We are suppose to excuse her violent tendencies when she shoots the hero (and then they act as if she only slapped him, really?!) or lobs a candelabra at his head.
So is her gaming hall a success? Did the mysterious Earls daughter ever get caught working as a dealer? Did the hero get any more serious injuries or wounds at the hand of the heroine? Was her questionable reputation saved in the end? I have no idea, and I don't care.
Final verdict: DNF
October 22, 2011
Talk about not judging a book by its cover. First, as others have pointed out, the title has zilch to do with the actual story. No clue why she went with this title. Second, the picture looks nothing like the characters. Why, would a woman who always dresses in black, be portrayed in a white dress?! Makes no sense.
Book covers aside, it's a fun read. Some of this has elements of other Enoch works, such as the use of totally implausible scenarios (an axe through the ceiling, anyone?), and the not-implausible male friendships that I enjoyed with her Carroway bros. Yet, if you were to tell me this was one of her books, I'd be surprised. Something about her writing style has changed, and I don't know if it's for the better. This had a real contemporary feel. Had I read a line that went "Oliver then picked up his cell phone to call his friend," I probably wouldn't have blinked twice. It also featured what was probably the most casual gunshot wound ever (um...people died of infection all the time--even flesh wounds would warrant more seriousness), and while Diane's hesitancy made sense, Oliver's didn't. "Uh...I fell in love, and erm, it was kind of scary-like, and uh, I was a little short on funds at the time, so I left." A better backstory on him was needed to better explain his otherwise silly response in Vienna.
I did like the general story though, and I liked the twist with the all-female staff (although I just read something similar in that Ten Ways to be Adored when Landing a Lord). I'm looking forward to the other books in the series (which I'm hoping will include a return of Jenny and Greaves?).
And perhaps most importantly, I think this might be the only Enoch book where she doesn't shoehorn in the word "apoplectic." I complain all the time about her overuse of the word, and now that she left it out, I feel oddly...bereft. Speaking of (...), I suspect this may be her new writing tick.
Overall, I'd give it 3.5.
Book covers aside, it's a fun read. Some of this has elements of other Enoch works, such as the use of totally implausible scenarios (an axe through the ceiling, anyone?), and the not-implausible male friendships that I enjoyed with her Carroway bros. Yet, if you were to tell me this was one of her books, I'd be surprised. Something about her writing style has changed, and I don't know if it's for the better. This had a real contemporary feel. Had I read a line that went "Oliver then picked up his cell phone to call his friend," I probably wouldn't have blinked twice. It also featured what was probably the most casual gunshot wound ever (um...people died of infection all the time--even flesh wounds would warrant more seriousness), and while Diane's hesitancy made sense, Oliver's didn't. "Uh...I fell in love, and erm, it was kind of scary-like, and uh, I was a little short on funds at the time, so I left." A better backstory on him was needed to better explain his otherwise silly response in Vienna.
I did like the general story though, and I liked the twist with the all-female staff (although I just read something similar in that Ten Ways to be Adored when Landing a Lord). I'm looking forward to the other books in the series (which I'm hoping will include a return of Jenny and Greaves?).
And perhaps most importantly, I think this might be the only Enoch book where she doesn't shoehorn in the word "apoplectic." I complain all the time about her overuse of the word, and now that she left it out, I feel oddly...bereft. Speaking of (...), I suspect this may be her new writing tick.
Overall, I'd give it 3.5.
July 16, 2015
Not one of Enoch's best, but the premise was very unique.
Not sure where the title or the cover came from, but this book did not involve a "beginner" in anything nor did the heroine ever wear white (in fact, she almost always wore black and she and the hero have a past and are the furthest thing from beginners or naive lovers).
In this first installment of a new series, Diane is a 23 year old widow who seems much older than her years. She is bitter, cunning, and resourceful. After her husband died, leaving her with nothing, she makes the mistake of falling for our hero, who, after discovering he had feelings for her, ran away like a "scalded dog." Two years later, she has pulled herself together, falsified documents to settle debts and make her owner of her late husband unentailed Adam's House, and laid out a clever plan to open a gaming club run by women. The final piece left is to blackmail the Marquis of Haybury, Oliver Warren, the same man who seduced her and fled, to finance the venture.
Oliver Warren is a smart man. He has never encountered a woman quite like Diane and has regretted running from her. However, he soon realizes that Diane is not the same woman he met two years ago and things get a bit vicious and anything by boring.
At first, I enjoyed this story, but soon the cutting wit got tiresome. I am amazed these two ever really got along. They were so nasty to each other! This nastiness went on for so long and ran so deep that I stopped believing in their love affair. I kept turning pages because I enjoyed the intrigue and the insider look at the workings of a very unique gaming club, but the characters were so unlikeable that I had a hard time believing in the love declaration and final acquiescence of the heroine which finally takes place on the last page!
Enoch is one of my favorite authors, but this was not a winner for me. I really like the premise though so I will be reading the rest of the series. For those who find this premise interesting and plan to read the series, I would check it out since it lays out a lot of valuable groundwork and introduces the heroines and one of the heroes for the other books in the series. If not, then skip this one, unless you like books where the hero and heroine fight the whole time.
Not sure where the title or the cover came from, but this book did not involve a "beginner" in anything nor did the heroine ever wear white (in fact, she almost always wore black and she and the hero have a past and are the furthest thing from beginners or naive lovers).
In this first installment of a new series, Diane is a 23 year old widow who seems much older than her years. She is bitter, cunning, and resourceful. After her husband died, leaving her with nothing, she makes the mistake of falling for our hero, who, after discovering he had feelings for her, ran away like a "scalded dog." Two years later, she has pulled herself together, falsified documents to settle debts and make her owner of her late husband unentailed Adam's House, and laid out a clever plan to open a gaming club run by women. The final piece left is to blackmail the Marquis of Haybury, Oliver Warren, the same man who seduced her and fled, to finance the venture.
Oliver Warren is a smart man. He has never encountered a woman quite like Diane and has regretted running from her. However, he soon realizes that Diane is not the same woman he met two years ago and things get a bit vicious and anything by boring.
At first, I enjoyed this story, but soon the cutting wit got tiresome. I am amazed these two ever really got along. They were so nasty to each other! This nastiness went on for so long and ran so deep that I stopped believing in their love affair. I kept turning pages because I enjoyed the intrigue and the insider look at the workings of a very unique gaming club, but the characters were so unlikeable that I had a hard time believing in the love declaration and final acquiescence of the heroine which finally takes place on the last page!
Enoch is one of my favorite authors, but this was not a winner for me. I really like the premise though so I will be reading the rest of the series. For those who find this premise interesting and plan to read the series, I would check it out since it lays out a lot of valuable groundwork and introduces the heroines and one of the heroes for the other books in the series. If not, then skip this one, unless you like books where the hero and heroine fight the whole time.
December 29, 2019
There is a prequel novella to this book, titled The Wicked One, that gives a bit of background on Oliver and Diane. They start this book with a history and dislike of each other.
Diane has returned to London a widow, after an unhappy marriage. She has received a property from her late husband that was not entailed and she's determined to use it to create a living for herself. She creates The Tantalus Club in the mansion to ensure she will never be destitute and relying on a man ever again.
She doesn't want to, but Diane asks Oliver for help in starting her club. With their history, it can create a volatile environment. Frustration, arguments, and push and pull between two very strong people.
I think you would like this book if
Enemies to lovers is a trope you love
You prefer a strong, experienced, independent heroine
You like your people real, with real flaws
I just didn't love this book. It might just be Suzanne Enoch for me. This is the second book of hers I've tried and I had very similar feelings about both. The characters are strong and quite independent. They make real mistakes. They have flaws. And I think a lot of people will like that about them. But I just didn't find either of them likable. I didn't like them alone, I didn't like them together. Their morals left a bit to be desired for me. While I get they were trying to survive, I just wanted more from them – better behavior or more remorse.
The sex felt completely unemotional and mechanical. I didn't feel the tension. And part of that might be because of their history together. I prefer my main characters don't have a history and things are new to them.
There was a lot of sweetness in this book though, especially through the second half. I thought Oliver's date with Diane was very sweet. And the little bits they started to show each other as their trust grew was enjoyable. I have books 2 and 3 in the series, so I'll be jumping into book 2 soon.
Diane has returned to London a widow, after an unhappy marriage. She has received a property from her late husband that was not entailed and she's determined to use it to create a living for herself. She creates The Tantalus Club in the mansion to ensure she will never be destitute and relying on a man ever again.
She doesn't want to, but Diane asks Oliver for help in starting her club. With their history, it can create a volatile environment. Frustration, arguments, and push and pull between two very strong people.
I think you would like this book if
Enemies to lovers is a trope you love
You prefer a strong, experienced, independent heroine
You like your people real, with real flaws
I just didn't love this book. It might just be Suzanne Enoch for me. This is the second book of hers I've tried and I had very similar feelings about both. The characters are strong and quite independent. They make real mistakes. They have flaws. And I think a lot of people will like that about them. But I just didn't find either of them likable. I didn't like them alone, I didn't like them together. Their morals left a bit to be desired for me. While I get they were trying to survive, I just wanted more from them – better behavior or more remorse.
The sex felt completely unemotional and mechanical. I didn't feel the tension. And part of that might be because of their history together. I prefer my main characters don't have a history and things are new to them.
There was a lot of sweetness in this book though, especially through the second half. I thought Oliver's date with Diane was very sweet. And the little bits they started to show each other as their trust grew was enjoyable. I have books 2 and 3 in the series, so I'll be jumping into book 2 soon.
November 15, 2011
How odd... The title has absolutely nothing to do with this surprisingly rich and delightful read.
For a complete review, visit Affaire de Coeur magazine, online or hard copy,http://affairedecoeur.com/ - October 2011 edition.
December 1, 2011
This book was okay for the most part. I liked the premise of the hero breaking the heroine's heart in the past and then meeting up with her again. I kind of lost interest towards the end though. Also, the heroine behaved a little too alpha female for my taste and wasn't very likable. Some of the scenes were too OTT and stupid, like the heroine shooting the hero for kissing her, and the hero breaking through the heroine's bedroom floor with an axe to get to the her. I'm not sure if I will be on pins and needles waiting for the other books in this series.
April 16, 2012
For the first half of the book, I just did not like either Oliver or Diane and if I wasn't a "completist" I think I would have chucked it in. Luckily the second half was a bit better and hence my overall rating of 2 stars.
Why the dislike? Well, Oliver is a cad, a gambler and a cheat. He was cut out of his uncle's will and went to Vienna where he met Diane 2 years ago, who had just buried her husband and was left penniless and alone in Vienna. He seduced her and then left her when things got a bit intense, went back to London, reconciled with his uncle, became a rich Marquis and continued his womanising ways.
Now normally, I would sympathise with Diane. However, in the first half, she came across as this bitter, heartless woman who's only out for revenge. After being left in Vienna, she forged her husband's Will, sold everything except for a London house to pay off her gambler husband's debts (which was why they had to flee London in the first place). Then she went back to London, blackmailed Oliver (with evidence of his cheating in Vienna), to fund her renovations of the house into a gambling club. She believes she was due some compensation from all the hardships she endured because of gambling. She even coldly agreed to a night with Oliver as a business transaction for additional funds, even though she hated his guts.
Luckily in the second half, they do somewhat redeemed theirselves, but to me it felt too little too late. So if you can perservere through the first half, it does have a satisfactory ending.
Why the dislike? Well, Oliver is a cad, a gambler and a cheat. He was cut out of his uncle's will and went to Vienna where he met Diane 2 years ago, who had just buried her husband and was left penniless and alone in Vienna. He seduced her and then left her when things got a bit intense, went back to London, reconciled with his uncle, became a rich Marquis and continued his womanising ways.
Now normally, I would sympathise with Diane. However, in the first half, she came across as this bitter, heartless woman who's only out for revenge. After being left in Vienna, she forged her husband's Will, sold everything except for a London house to pay off her gambler husband's debts (which was why they had to flee London in the first place). Then she went back to London, blackmailed Oliver (with evidence of his cheating in Vienna), to fund her renovations of the house into a gambling club. She believes she was due some compensation from all the hardships she endured because of gambling. She even coldly agreed to a night with Oliver as a business transaction for additional funds, even though she hated his guts.
Luckily in the second half, they do somewhat redeemed theirselves, but to me it felt too little too late. So if you can perservere through the first half, it does have a satisfactory ending.
May 8, 2019
Uneven, slapstick narrative. Diane is a heroine truly wasted on Oliver. Oliver is caught off guard when he first hears Diane has returned to England: "but if-when-he saw her face-to-face, he wouldn't be the one flinching. Not a muscle. Not any muscle. And she'd best keep her pretty mouth shut as well, or he would be forced to do something unpleasant."
He leaves her after a one-night-stand that he initiated a few years back when he first meets her acquaintance. But ok. She's the bad one. It doesn't get better because Diane shoots him after he leans in for the first kiss.
Oliver takes it into stride and they don't mention it afterwards. Later, Oliver cuts through the floor to get into her bedroom and that's another thing that just happens without anyone batting an eye. But what takes the cake is when Diane finds out from Oliver that he left her because he was "too fond" of her.
Now that's the ultimate ghosting fantasy, isn't it? Oliver ghosted Diane because he liked her too much. Please. Let's be adults here. The Beginner's Guide to Rakes, a horrendous title by the way, leaves the reader with the very important question, is Enoch taking the piss?
He leaves her after a one-night-stand that he initiated a few years back when he first meets her acquaintance. But ok. She's the bad one. It doesn't get better because Diane shoots him after he leans in for the first kiss.
Oliver takes it into stride and they don't mention it afterwards. Later, Oliver cuts through the floor to get into her bedroom and that's another thing that just happens without anyone batting an eye. But what takes the cake is when Diane finds out from Oliver that he left her because he was "too fond" of her.
Now that's the ultimate ghosting fantasy, isn't it? Oliver ghosted Diane because he liked her too much. Please. Let's be adults here. The Beginner's Guide to Rakes, a horrendous title by the way, leaves the reader with the very important question, is Enoch taking the piss?
August 18, 2012
This is only my second Suzanne Enoch book, and I realize she's writes witty, fun romances. This one, however, just didn't grab me. Who knows why? I liked it, but I'll probably not read it again.
November 9, 2011
Reading one of New York Times bestselling author Susanne Enoch’s books is like getting a fresh warm chocolate brownie topping it with vanilla ice cream, hot fudge finished with a cherry and taking the first decadent rich bite...delicious. A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO RAKES is a rich sweet decadent indulgence that readers were given last month from St. Martin’s Paperbacks who gobbled each.
Lady Diane Benchley is back in town and has all of London’s tongues wagging. Will she marry? Why is she back? Diane is about to shock the London ton to its very foundation for the beauty has opened an elite men’s club to rival White’s. But not everyone is happy she is back in town causing a stir. The very man who tucked tail and ran from their love affair two years ago in Vienna, Oliver Warren, the Marquess of Haybury is her last hope to find her independence even if she has to blackmail the rogue to do it.
What Oliver Warren thought would be a great fun romp in the bed of a beautiful widow turned out to be so much more. It scared him witless. For the first time in his life he wanted more than a warm delectable body to warm his bed, but his present situation at the time caused him to reject they could have more. Two weeks after the affair began it abruptly ended with Warren returning home inheriting the Haybury title and all of its woes. Once again Lady Diane holds his future in his hands and is black mailing him educating her and her staff in the ways and means in running in such an establishment.
Diane remembers al to well those soaked filled nights drenched in sensual love making and burning kisses. In a fortnight Oliver had taken her heart and shown her what it meant to experience ecstasy and to give her heart away only to wake up to have it crashed to bits against a rock. Diane is firm in she will not let her emotions or the still hot physical attraction that burns like a hot ember get in the way of procuring what she desires most…freedom. But with Oliver living under her roof day and night and under foot trying to elicit her in some rakish whims Diane can only resist so much. This time falling for the rake could awaken her to new heights or break her very soul. In the end they will have to decide if holding on to the past is worth losing the love they have built and find.
Fans of Suzanne Enoch will become enchanted with her latest A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO A RAKE with two very fiercely independent protagonists that butt heads at every turn and charm the socks of readers. Reading I found no major elements that were a surprise but it was the purity of the writing and the unique emotional strength of Oliver and Diane is what drives this story. Oliver Warren, the Marquess of Haybury is not your typical alpha hero. From the beginning Enoch displays Oliver’s imperfection setting readers mind that there is more behind the mask the new Marquess wears. It is with the return of Diane Benchley on the scene that Oliver is faced with the hurts and deceptions of his past.
It takes not only a strong female character to stand against such a prominent figure such as Oliver Warren but strength of courage which is found in the lead character of Diane Benchley, Lady Cameron. After being exiled from England with her deceased husband it takes more than courage to return to a place where you know people will snicker behind you back creating gossip before they had even heard the truth. Enoch delivers an intensely invoking character in Diane for she is determined to succeed in a male dominant Regency world where financial independence was nil or at the hands of the men in a woman’s life. It was the fierce fighting spirit of this character that charged the story forward creating an undeniable current that will have readers charging along with this endearing protagonist to the very end.
With every great chocolate fudge brownie Sunday you need the very best foundation to start building the delicious treat to its conclusion. It is no different when an author creates a story. The supporting cast of characters is the very foundation for a story to bloom and grow. A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO RAKES characters charmed and lures readers into a wonderfully crafted story that has unique twist and turns. The Tantalus Club is a character in and of its self do to the occupants inside. It is completely staffed by a band of eccentric and pleasant woman who are more than what they seem. This band of merry woman gives readers another perspective of the time and what woman ultimately had to do to survive.
Fiction is a genre that takes readers into a realm of possibilities through imagination, creativity, charming dialogue and sweeping lush setting that otherwise a reader would never see. Add in the element of romance and it conjures all sorts of erotic possibilities. For love, people live and breathe by it and would fight to the death for it…in fiction, that is. A BEGGINER’S GUIDE TO RAKES is a romance that take readers on a journey of intoxicating possibilities and what ifs. The element of understanding ones self is prevalent from the start where we meet Oliver at men’s club playing cards with some cohorts. The ubiquitous conversation brings up Lady Cameron aka Diane Benchley which stirs Oliver’s memories of two years ago, of leaving her behind and never returning. This scene is perfect for allowing readers to cling to hope for Oliver flawed character to be rectified. This only happens when the protagonist comes to terms with his past actions and makes restitution in educating Diane and her staff to turn The Tantalus one of London’s premier men’s club in a few short years.
A unique blend of clever characterization with strong plot wrapped with an indelible romance that with artful dialogue delivered by igneous three dimensional characters is A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO RAKES is another classic read that Suzanne Enoch’s fans have come to adore.
Lady Diane Benchley is back in town and has all of London’s tongues wagging. Will she marry? Why is she back? Diane is about to shock the London ton to its very foundation for the beauty has opened an elite men’s club to rival White’s. But not everyone is happy she is back in town causing a stir. The very man who tucked tail and ran from their love affair two years ago in Vienna, Oliver Warren, the Marquess of Haybury is her last hope to find her independence even if she has to blackmail the rogue to do it.
What Oliver Warren thought would be a great fun romp in the bed of a beautiful widow turned out to be so much more. It scared him witless. For the first time in his life he wanted more than a warm delectable body to warm his bed, but his present situation at the time caused him to reject they could have more. Two weeks after the affair began it abruptly ended with Warren returning home inheriting the Haybury title and all of its woes. Once again Lady Diane holds his future in his hands and is black mailing him educating her and her staff in the ways and means in running in such an establishment.
Diane remembers al to well those soaked filled nights drenched in sensual love making and burning kisses. In a fortnight Oliver had taken her heart and shown her what it meant to experience ecstasy and to give her heart away only to wake up to have it crashed to bits against a rock. Diane is firm in she will not let her emotions or the still hot physical attraction that burns like a hot ember get in the way of procuring what she desires most…freedom. But with Oliver living under her roof day and night and under foot trying to elicit her in some rakish whims Diane can only resist so much. This time falling for the rake could awaken her to new heights or break her very soul. In the end they will have to decide if holding on to the past is worth losing the love they have built and find.
Fans of Suzanne Enoch will become enchanted with her latest A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO A RAKE with two very fiercely independent protagonists that butt heads at every turn and charm the socks of readers. Reading I found no major elements that were a surprise but it was the purity of the writing and the unique emotional strength of Oliver and Diane is what drives this story. Oliver Warren, the Marquess of Haybury is not your typical alpha hero. From the beginning Enoch displays Oliver’s imperfection setting readers mind that there is more behind the mask the new Marquess wears. It is with the return of Diane Benchley on the scene that Oliver is faced with the hurts and deceptions of his past.
It takes not only a strong female character to stand against such a prominent figure such as Oliver Warren but strength of courage which is found in the lead character of Diane Benchley, Lady Cameron. After being exiled from England with her deceased husband it takes more than courage to return to a place where you know people will snicker behind you back creating gossip before they had even heard the truth. Enoch delivers an intensely invoking character in Diane for she is determined to succeed in a male dominant Regency world where financial independence was nil or at the hands of the men in a woman’s life. It was the fierce fighting spirit of this character that charged the story forward creating an undeniable current that will have readers charging along with this endearing protagonist to the very end.
With every great chocolate fudge brownie Sunday you need the very best foundation to start building the delicious treat to its conclusion. It is no different when an author creates a story. The supporting cast of characters is the very foundation for a story to bloom and grow. A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO RAKES characters charmed and lures readers into a wonderfully crafted story that has unique twist and turns. The Tantalus Club is a character in and of its self do to the occupants inside. It is completely staffed by a band of eccentric and pleasant woman who are more than what they seem. This band of merry woman gives readers another perspective of the time and what woman ultimately had to do to survive.
Fiction is a genre that takes readers into a realm of possibilities through imagination, creativity, charming dialogue and sweeping lush setting that otherwise a reader would never see. Add in the element of romance and it conjures all sorts of erotic possibilities. For love, people live and breathe by it and would fight to the death for it…in fiction, that is. A BEGGINER’S GUIDE TO RAKES is a romance that take readers on a journey of intoxicating possibilities and what ifs. The element of understanding ones self is prevalent from the start where we meet Oliver at men’s club playing cards with some cohorts. The ubiquitous conversation brings up Lady Cameron aka Diane Benchley which stirs Oliver’s memories of two years ago, of leaving her behind and never returning. This scene is perfect for allowing readers to cling to hope for Oliver flawed character to be rectified. This only happens when the protagonist comes to terms with his past actions and makes restitution in educating Diane and her staff to turn The Tantalus one of London’s premier men’s club in a few short years.
A unique blend of clever characterization with strong plot wrapped with an indelible romance that with artful dialogue delivered by igneous three dimensional characters is A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO RAKES is another classic read that Suzanne Enoch’s fans have come to adore.
July 12, 2021
While I liked the writing, I did not like Diane as a character. She was mean, and hateful. There was a part near the end of the book where she did something to someone that was totally uncalled for and needless. I liked how Oliver grew as a character, but Diane left a lot to be desired as a heroine. I'm all for women getting to do what they want, especially back then, but she took it a bit too far.
January 18, 2016
I probably won't be able to do this review or book justice but here it goes. I like the whole premises of the series and we have a lot of intriguing stories yet to be told from The Tantalus Club. The story was well written and engaging. The whole problem was Oliver. At first Ms. Enoch teased and teased about the fact that Diane and Oliver had a past two years ago in Vienna, but we could never get the whole story. Over half way through the book, we don't have it. We have Diane and Oliver engaging in a battle of wills, along with lots of sexual tension. I didn't even like Diane or Oliver at first. But once we got the completed history, Oliver was a b*stard. They have an affair Vienna for two weeks and then he hightails it back to England, leaving Diane heartbroken and shattered.
I mean her husband had only been dead a month, when Oliver comes along and decides she will be his next roll in the hay. When things get intense between the two of them, he takes off. She was left penniless by her husband and at that time Oliver didn't have much money either. But soon after he comes back home he inherits from his uncle, but does he send Diane any money...nope not even a shilling. Yet he tells her he thought about her everyday...really???? Was that while he was climbing in or out of bed with his latest string of mistresses? Dianne even asked why he didn't send her anything and Oliver didn't have an answer for that, so it was glossed over.
Because of that, I couldn't believe in his redemption. Now having said that, this was a good book and since Diane and Oliver are going to be central figures for the next coming books, I can see Oliver turning it around, but it will take time. I get why Ms. Enoch held off as long as she could to tell the complete truth of the story. She needed us as readers to like Oliver before she dropped the hammer, but for me it just didn't work. I did end up liking Diane; she was strong figure and wasn’t going to take any crap off any man anymore, especially Oliver. I am looking forward to Camille and Keating's story. The ladies of the club have drawn me in and I am eager to hear their stories of woe.
I mean her husband had only been dead a month, when Oliver comes along and decides she will be his next roll in the hay. When things get intense between the two of them, he takes off. She was left penniless by her husband and at that time Oliver didn't have much money either. But soon after he comes back home he inherits from his uncle, but does he send Diane any money...nope not even a shilling. Yet he tells her he thought about her everyday...really???? Was that while he was climbing in or out of bed with his latest string of mistresses? Dianne even asked why he didn't send her anything and Oliver didn't have an answer for that, so it was glossed over.
Because of that, I couldn't believe in his redemption. Now having said that, this was a good book and since Diane and Oliver are going to be central figures for the next coming books, I can see Oliver turning it around, but it will take time. I get why Ms. Enoch held off as long as she could to tell the complete truth of the story. She needed us as readers to like Oliver before she dropped the hammer, but for me it just didn't work. I did end up liking Diane; she was strong figure and wasn’t going to take any crap off any man anymore, especially Oliver. I am looking forward to Camille and Keating's story. The ladies of the club have drawn me in and I am eager to hear their stories of woe.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 28, 2011
I'm normally a big fan of Enoch's books, but I found the heroine to be extremely unlikeable. I was eventually able to sympathize with her, but it took the majority of the book to bring me around. I also had a lot of 'But what about' questions at the end. The premise was unique, but the execution wasn't up to Enoch's usual high standards.
January 23, 2012
Oliver and Diane
Loved this book! It was just what I needed to get me out of my slump. Funny dialogue and great characters. I found myself lol several times during the book. Excellent second chance romance.
Loved this book! It was just what I needed to get me out of my slump. Funny dialogue and great characters. I found myself lol several times during the book. Excellent second chance romance.
July 14, 2014
Better than a lot of HR out there, but the beginning was clunky, and the story and characters never fully engaged me.
April 14, 2017
This had me enthralled the first 10% of the book. And then it hit a wall and didn't move anywhere at all. I couldn't get past the 42% point. It may pick up later in the book but when there was such a mysterious beginning that made me want to jump to the end of the book to see what was happening and where it was going you can't just slow it down again. I didn't actually look at the end so I may come back to this when I forget how exciting the beginning was to see how the story ends.
February 10, 2022
The best thing of this book was the bantering between the H and h. I laughed so much and enjoyed it.
November 9, 2011
You can color me sad, you can color me blue, you can color me unimpressed, you can color me surprised, you just can't Color me Barbra.
I have had an epiphany about myself! I give authors all kinds of latitude when it comes to historical romance novels. Contrary to what it may seem, I'm not really one of those readers that go into a tizzy when historical accuracy and historical romance books don't match - especially in the language and slang department. Let's get serious here - I would probably have a really hard time understanding just what was being said in a novel that was written in the phraseology of the time. So, when I'm reading historical romance and 21st century words/slang slither their way into the story I don't mind - IF I am enjoying the story. However, if I find the story to be less than satisfactory, weird words just start popping out at me and I start to nitpick. I knew I was in trouble with this book when the slang "color me unimpressed" jumped off the page at me. Color me unimpressed! Really! Can anyone really hear those words falling out of Elizabeth Bennet's mouth? So, it was at this point I knew I was losing interest in the story. Oh, and by the way, "calling a kettle black" was legitimate because the term was first recorded by William Penn in the 1600's. However, I did spend the time looking it up, which still means I was having trouble with the book.
So, why did I lose interest in a story by one of my favorite authors? Well, not only did I lose interest, but I was mightily irritated by the two main characters who happen to dwell within the pages of this book. Yessiree, the more I read the more I disliked Oliver and Diane. Let's examine why this book almost hit the wall. And, yes there are spoilers ahead.
Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but I have always been of the opinion that since time immemorial, most men have always tried to put their Mr. Toads in any woman who will let them, or as a friend of mine says, "men would screw a snake if it had knees." And, most men do this without any thought to love, promises, commitment, fidelity. Now, we as women know this... we have it hammered into our head from childhood - don't do any whankey-roo until you have that ring on your finger. Or, words to that effect. So, it is my belief that a woman of the 19th century would have the same armor as we do in this century. Which is why it was beyond my comprehension as to why the heroine in this story reacted to being dumped the way she did. She is a widow of a week or two and she jumps into the bed of a renowned rake and has mind-blowing hot sex for almost two weeks. Then, when he leaves her she is surprised, hurt and turns into this angry bitter woman. T-w-o years later when these two run into each other again, she is still a bitter person and for some reason he is a tad bit hateful. I didn't get it. Unless the heroine was some kind of obsessive psychotic maniac, her reaction was way over the top. And then the bickering, sniping, I hate you routine begins and lasts for-e-v-e-r. I just wanted to bang their heads together. Mix into the antagonism a convoluted "let's set a trap for the villain" plot and an implausible building of a gambling house and genteel women applying for the jobs; is it any wonder I was looking things up in a slang dictionary. And, by the way, even though there may have been text that was considered a thesaurus in ancient Greece, it wasn't until 1852 that the first Roget's Thesaurus was actually published, even though he was compiling it in 1805 - so the mention of a thesaurus list in the book was another throw-out-of-the-story-moment.
I am assuming that there are more books in this series since there were some very interesting secondary characters wandering through the story and I will of course be buying and reading those. Suzanne Enoch is a wonderful writer and usually I love her books, but this one was a struggle and I was very disappointed in the main characters. Better luck next time.
I have had an epiphany about myself! I give authors all kinds of latitude when it comes to historical romance novels. Contrary to what it may seem, I'm not really one of those readers that go into a tizzy when historical accuracy and historical romance books don't match - especially in the language and slang department. Let's get serious here - I would probably have a really hard time understanding just what was being said in a novel that was written in the phraseology of the time. So, when I'm reading historical romance and 21st century words/slang slither their way into the story I don't mind - IF I am enjoying the story. However, if I find the story to be less than satisfactory, weird words just start popping out at me and I start to nitpick. I knew I was in trouble with this book when the slang "color me unimpressed" jumped off the page at me. Color me unimpressed! Really! Can anyone really hear those words falling out of Elizabeth Bennet's mouth? So, it was at this point I knew I was losing interest in the story. Oh, and by the way, "calling a kettle black" was legitimate because the term was first recorded by William Penn in the 1600's. However, I did spend the time looking it up, which still means I was having trouble with the book.
So, why did I lose interest in a story by one of my favorite authors? Well, not only did I lose interest, but I was mightily irritated by the two main characters who happen to dwell within the pages of this book. Yessiree, the more I read the more I disliked Oliver and Diane. Let's examine why this book almost hit the wall. And, yes there are spoilers ahead.
Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but I have always been of the opinion that since time immemorial, most men have always tried to put their Mr. Toads in any woman who will let them, or as a friend of mine says, "men would screw a snake if it had knees." And, most men do this without any thought to love, promises, commitment, fidelity. Now, we as women know this... we have it hammered into our head from childhood - don't do any whankey-roo until you have that ring on your finger. Or, words to that effect. So, it is my belief that a woman of the 19th century would have the same armor as we do in this century. Which is why it was beyond my comprehension as to why the heroine in this story reacted to being dumped the way she did. She is a widow of a week or two and she jumps into the bed of a renowned rake and has mind-blowing hot sex for almost two weeks. Then, when he leaves her she is surprised, hurt and turns into this angry bitter woman. T-w-o years later when these two run into each other again, she is still a bitter person and for some reason he is a tad bit hateful. I didn't get it. Unless the heroine was some kind of obsessive psychotic maniac, her reaction was way over the top. And then the bickering, sniping, I hate you routine begins and lasts for-e-v-e-r. I just wanted to bang their heads together. Mix into the antagonism a convoluted "let's set a trap for the villain" plot and an implausible building of a gambling house and genteel women applying for the jobs; is it any wonder I was looking things up in a slang dictionary. And, by the way, even though there may have been text that was considered a thesaurus in ancient Greece, it wasn't until 1852 that the first Roget's Thesaurus was actually published, even though he was compiling it in 1805 - so the mention of a thesaurus list in the book was another throw-out-of-the-story-moment.
I am assuming that there are more books in this series since there were some very interesting secondary characters wandering through the story and I will of course be buying and reading those. Suzanne Enoch is a wonderful writer and usually I love her books, but this one was a struggle and I was very disappointed in the main characters. Better luck next time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 11, 2011
This was a delightful book set within an interesting setting. I enjoyed Diane and her bold attitude and her cleverness for opening a gaming club with all female members (besides a few burly footman) where the females are treated just as females and not expected to be anything else unless they choose too. There were so little choices for woman born on the wrong side of the blanket or in other unfortunate circumstances, not all of them want to be companions or governesses, that Diane sort of becomes a refuge of sorts for these ladies. And since Diane clearly states all the rules up front for treatment of the women within the club, the gentleman behave as such. But before she can even start up her club, she needs funds as her late husband was a heavy gambler and left her badly in debt. When circumstances force her to turn to Oliver, she reluctantly does so and the sparks from their past fan back alive.
Oliver ran off after their passionate affair shortly after Dianes husbands death and it devastated Diane but at the same time, made her stronger. Though Diane thinks Oliver left so abruptly to go home to claim his new title, Oliver left for an all together deeper reason that he refuses to acknowledge and leaves these two spitting fire at each other! Oliver is forced to help Diane open her club and together they gradually see how much they can help each other to make a grand success. They do have an issue with Dianes former brother-in-law as the home she is using for the club was to be his and he sets about to prove that Diane forged documents to secure the house. But did she truly forge signatures and if she did, how will they stop it from becoming public knowledge? Together, Oliver and Diane begin to reacquaint themselves and try to find the brief love they once shared all those years ago. If you enjoy stories about past lovers forced back together and the heat is still there all set within a unique setting, grab this one! 4 stars
Side note: I truly hope Suzanne Enoch updates her website soon as it is very out of date. There is no mention of this book that just came out and no info on the upcoming books in the series. I like to go to an authors website to see what is upcoming in a series so its a bit of a disappointment when there is nothing on the site. Real life could be getting in the way but I still feel like it is important to have a semi up to date website. And the cover....it just does not match this book at all, and really, neither does the title. Diane has black hair and wears black dresses for most of the book...never white. She is bold and passionate and mysterious and this cover just doesn't match her in my opinion. It is very pretty but just a bit wrong for this book.
Oliver ran off after their passionate affair shortly after Dianes husbands death and it devastated Diane but at the same time, made her stronger. Though Diane thinks Oliver left so abruptly to go home to claim his new title, Oliver left for an all together deeper reason that he refuses to acknowledge and leaves these two spitting fire at each other! Oliver is forced to help Diane open her club and together they gradually see how much they can help each other to make a grand success. They do have an issue with Dianes former brother-in-law as the home she is using for the club was to be his and he sets about to prove that Diane forged documents to secure the house. But did she truly forge signatures and if she did, how will they stop it from becoming public knowledge? Together, Oliver and Diane begin to reacquaint themselves and try to find the brief love they once shared all those years ago. If you enjoy stories about past lovers forced back together and the heat is still there all set within a unique setting, grab this one! 4 stars
Side note: I truly hope Suzanne Enoch updates her website soon as it is very out of date. There is no mention of this book that just came out and no info on the upcoming books in the series. I like to go to an authors website to see what is upcoming in a series so its a bit of a disappointment when there is nothing on the site. Real life could be getting in the way but I still feel like it is important to have a semi up to date website. And the cover....it just does not match this book at all, and really, neither does the title. Diane has black hair and wears black dresses for most of the book...never white. She is bold and passionate and mysterious and this cover just doesn't match her in my opinion. It is very pretty but just a bit wrong for this book.
June 30, 2012
Lady Diane Benchley's late husband was a dissolute gambler, who left her with nearly nothing after she paid off his creditors. She does posess the deed to his town house in London, however, and has very specific plans to make herself a fortune. Shocking all of polite society, she sets out to establish an exclusive gentleman's gambling club, run and staffed entirely by respectable women.
Oliver Warren, the Marquis of Haybury, has tried to forget Diane for two years, since they shared two incredible weeks of passion shortly after she was widowed. Diane knows only that Oliver abandoned her in Vienna without a word and sped back to England, and his heartless behaviour means she has no qualms about blackmailing him into providing the start-up capital for her club. She intends for him to be a silent, entirely passive partner in the club (once he has used his considerable experience as a very successful gambler to help train her staff).
Oliver has other plans. He's not spent long with Diane again before realising that he was a fool to leave her. Now he just has to convince the woman whose heart he broke to take him back, through fair means or foul.
While the book has an utterably baffling title, which has NOTHING to do with the plot of the novel at all, A Beginner's Guide to Rakes is a lot of fun, and can now be added to my list of delightful romances where the heroine shoots the hero at some point. Diane has very good reasons for detesting Oliver, and being reluctant with trusting any man with her heart. To his credit, and very refreshingly in a romance hero, once Oliver realises the truth about his feelings for Diane, he does whatever he can to make up for his previous misdeeds and sets out to prove to her that he can be trusted.
As well as creating an engaging central couple, who spar most entertainingly, Enoch doesn't neglect the supporting cast, making sure that they are fully fleshed out, making the reader more invested in the creation and continued success of the Tantalus Club. Several of the characters are also clearly going to feature in future books, without their introduction and presence in the story feeling as forced as it sometimes does in planned multi-book series by other authors. The first installment in the Scandalous Brides can definately be recommended.
Oliver Warren, the Marquis of Haybury, has tried to forget Diane for two years, since they shared two incredible weeks of passion shortly after she was widowed. Diane knows only that Oliver abandoned her in Vienna without a word and sped back to England, and his heartless behaviour means she has no qualms about blackmailing him into providing the start-up capital for her club. She intends for him to be a silent, entirely passive partner in the club (once he has used his considerable experience as a very successful gambler to help train her staff).
Oliver has other plans. He's not spent long with Diane again before realising that he was a fool to leave her. Now he just has to convince the woman whose heart he broke to take him back, through fair means or foul.
While the book has an utterably baffling title, which has NOTHING to do with the plot of the novel at all, A Beginner's Guide to Rakes is a lot of fun, and can now be added to my list of delightful romances where the heroine shoots the hero at some point. Diane has very good reasons for detesting Oliver, and being reluctant with trusting any man with her heart. To his credit, and very refreshingly in a romance hero, once Oliver realises the truth about his feelings for Diane, he does whatever he can to make up for his previous misdeeds and sets out to prove to her that he can be trusted.
As well as creating an engaging central couple, who spar most entertainingly, Enoch doesn't neglect the supporting cast, making sure that they are fully fleshed out, making the reader more invested in the creation and continued success of the Tantalus Club. Several of the characters are also clearly going to feature in future books, without their introduction and presence in the story feeling as forced as it sometimes does in planned multi-book series by other authors. The first installment in the Scandalous Brides can definately be recommended.
October 31, 2011
In Ms. Enoch’s latest, The Beginner’s Guide to Rakes, the first paragraph reads: “Very few things in the world could make Oliver Warren, the Marquis of Haybury, flinch. He could count those things on one hand, in fact. The yowling of small children. The squeak of rusted metal. And the mention of that name.”
She had me at yowling.
That name is Diane Benchley. Two years ago, in Vienna, when Diane had just been widowed and made penniless, Oliver and she shared an intensely passionate two weeks which ended when Oliver fled her bed without a word of explanation. Now, Diane, Lady Cameron, has returned to London where she aims to open a gentleman’s club in the only thing her gambling addicted husband left her, a London mansion called Adam House. In order to do so, however, she needs cash: Cash which she plans to borrow — actually demand by blackmail — from Oliver.
Oliver is a man accustomed to getting his own way. When Diane gives him a choice between being banned from every gaming establishment in London (she has a signed statement saying Oliver cheated in a game of cards) or lending her five thousand pounds, Oliver agrees to loan her the money. He does so with two goals in mind. First, he wants to prove to himself he was right to cut and run two years ago. Second, he plans get the proverbial upper hand with Diane. No one, and especially not a woman, is going to tell him what to do.
to read the rest of my review, go to All About Romance:
http://www.likesbooks.com/cgi-bin/boo...
She had me at yowling.
That name is Diane Benchley. Two years ago, in Vienna, when Diane had just been widowed and made penniless, Oliver and she shared an intensely passionate two weeks which ended when Oliver fled her bed without a word of explanation. Now, Diane, Lady Cameron, has returned to London where she aims to open a gentleman’s club in the only thing her gambling addicted husband left her, a London mansion called Adam House. In order to do so, however, she needs cash: Cash which she plans to borrow — actually demand by blackmail — from Oliver.
Oliver is a man accustomed to getting his own way. When Diane gives him a choice between being banned from every gaming establishment in London (she has a signed statement saying Oliver cheated in a game of cards) or lending her five thousand pounds, Oliver agrees to loan her the money. He does so with two goals in mind. First, he wants to prove to himself he was right to cut and run two years ago. Second, he plans get the proverbial upper hand with Diane. No one, and especially not a woman, is going to tell him what to do.
to read the rest of my review, go to All About Romance:
http://www.likesbooks.com/cgi-bin/boo...
November 16, 2011
A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO RAKES by Suzanne Enoch is an interesting historical romance set in Regency England.Book #1 in the new “THE SCANDALOUS BRIDES” series. It has scandal, passion, love, romance,gambling,an indecent proposal,secrets,a bit of blackmail,a rusque business,a past indescretion,sweet sensuality,an exclusive gentleman’s gaming club opening in the family mansion. This is the story of Lady Diane Benchley,recently widowed,alluring,and determined to never be impoverished again,she decides to open a gentleman’s club. And the Marquis of Haybury, Oliver Warren,handsome,sexy,a past gambler,who Lady Diane threatens unless he helps her open her gentleman’s club to reveal a past secret. Together they embark on an adventure in the biggest risk of their lives. Not only opening a successful gentleman club but also losing their hearts. A fast paced story that will capture your heart with these characters who are intriguing,with a well written plot. “A Beginner’s Guide to Rakes” will appear to historical romance readers along with readers of Regency England era,and who enjoy a new take on an old vice. A great,fun read. Received for review from the publisher. Details can be found at St. Martin’s Paperbacks,published by St. Martin’s Press and My Book Addiction Reviews.
May 18, 2020
This book has not aged well IMO. I think that the author set out to write a feminist heroine (at the end, the heroine states she's ready to take on a partner) but there are so many things in the book that negate that fact.
The biggest issue I have with this book is the lack of consent. We get absolutely 0% inward or outward development from the heroine Diane that she even likes the hero, calling him "evil" & "Satan," and "liar" constantly. And when he outwardly flirts with her, she replies very strongly that she is not interested. Then we get to the really, really, icky part.
Anyhow, Diane isn't getting off easy in this review either, because her character is just plain mean. She's mean to Oliver, she's mean to her workers, she's mean to everyone she encounters, and honestly, she's so so so so so angry because of three things that just don't have enough umph to them to me:
These things have THEREFORE RENDERED HER UNABLE TO TRUST ANYONE IN THE WORLD EXCEPT HER FRIEND GENEVIVE, but we shall never know the true nature of her relationship with Genevive because it's swathed in mystery and doesn't get her own book (a pity). She and Oliver have such a vicious hatred for one another from page one, and when you "learn" the secret behind their hatred...well, it leaves a LOT to be desired. It's just so....weak.
Diane also makes some really anti-feminist statements (not that a book has to be super feminist, but I like the books I read to make me walk away feeling that some good empowerment came out of the book, and it's something that I'd like younger women to read), saying things like, when asked about all the women whose livelihoods she would take running a gambling house and taking money for their husbands....she basically replies "every one for themselves" and I'm not here to think about other people. I ranted about all the feminist stuff for 20 minutes on my podcast, so if you want to hear all the quotes, I recommend you check out Tea & Strumpets for the full rant. The author also overused the device of having the men call women "chits" to the tune of 82 times in the book. I get it - but it's way, way, way, way overdone and it feels quite brash.
There were three quotes that I quite loved, and wished that they weren't in a book that I disliked so much:
“Determination does not make a business successful, my dear.”
“Men who flee my bed so swiftly they leave their waistcoats behind aren’t permitted to call me ‘my dear.’”
“That man is a terror.”
“No, he’s formidable. But so am I.”
“I’m to protect you, my lord,” she returned, her soft voice touched by a half-dozen accents but settling on none of them. “If Diane were to murder you, it would upset our schedule.”
Anyhow, overall the writing was fine, I just think that the characters and story were not successful or fun to read. I would have not finished this book had we not chosen to read it for our podcast. It took me 5-6 sittings to slog my way through it. I gave it a 1/10 because...it fulfills the definition of a book, but it's not a book I'd want to read or would ever recommend to anyone.
I have heard from quite a few people that the second book in this series is a world away and a wonderful read. I may have to try and see if I agree!
The biggest issue I have with this book is the lack of consent. We get absolutely 0% inward or outward development from the heroine Diane that she even likes the hero, calling him "evil" & "Satan," and "liar" constantly. And when he outwardly flirts with her, she replies very strongly that she is not interested. Then we get to the really, really, icky part.
Anyhow, Diane isn't getting off easy in this review either, because her character is just plain mean. She's mean to Oliver, she's mean to her workers, she's mean to everyone she encounters, and honestly, she's so so so so so angry because of three things that just don't have enough umph to them to me:
These things have THEREFORE RENDERED HER UNABLE TO TRUST ANYONE IN THE WORLD EXCEPT HER FRIEND GENEVIVE, but we shall never know the true nature of her relationship with Genevive because it's swathed in mystery and doesn't get her own book (a pity). She and Oliver have such a vicious hatred for one another from page one, and when you "learn" the secret behind their hatred...well, it leaves a LOT to be desired. It's just so....weak.
Diane also makes some really anti-feminist statements (not that a book has to be super feminist, but I like the books I read to make me walk away feeling that some good empowerment came out of the book, and it's something that I'd like younger women to read), saying things like, when asked about all the women whose livelihoods she would take running a gambling house and taking money for their husbands....she basically replies "every one for themselves" and I'm not here to think about other people. I ranted about all the feminist stuff for 20 minutes on my podcast, so if you want to hear all the quotes, I recommend you check out Tea & Strumpets for the full rant. The author also overused the device of having the men call women "chits" to the tune of 82 times in the book. I get it - but it's way, way, way, way overdone and it feels quite brash.
There were three quotes that I quite loved, and wished that they weren't in a book that I disliked so much:
“Determination does not make a business successful, my dear.”
“Men who flee my bed so swiftly they leave their waistcoats behind aren’t permitted to call me ‘my dear.’”
“That man is a terror.”
“No, he’s formidable. But so am I.”
“I’m to protect you, my lord,” she returned, her soft voice touched by a half-dozen accents but settling on none of them. “If Diane were to murder you, it would upset our schedule.”
Anyhow, overall the writing was fine, I just think that the characters and story were not successful or fun to read. I would have not finished this book had we not chosen to read it for our podcast. It took me 5-6 sittings to slog my way through it. I gave it a 1/10 because...it fulfills the definition of a book, but it's not a book I'd want to read or would ever recommend to anyone.
I have heard from quite a few people that the second book in this series is a world away and a wonderful read. I may have to try and see if I agree!
December 11, 2011
I wasn't certain I was going to like this one at first. Oliver and Diane have a painful history and when this book starts they truly do not like or trust each other. There is plenty of wit but it is more of the sarcastic, biting kind, not just banter. However, as they come to spend more time together the wounds begin to heal and their relationship turns from dislike to a tenuous partnership to friendship and love. And as this happens their conversations become more playfully witty and less cutting but still maintaining a bit of an edge that suits theses two characters. Their physical attraction is never in doubt but it takes each of them a long time (particularly Diane - with good reason) to lower their emotional guards. This was my first Suzanne Enoch and despite my rough beginning with it I ended up enjoying it immensely and I'll certainly be looking into her backlist.
July 27, 2016
Suzanne is a wonderful writer, but this book left me cold. I did not care for either main character and didn't care what happened to them. I found the female to be too calculating and the male to be too submissive. I hated the scene where she shot him. And where in the world did that title come from? It had nothing to do with the story and was not mentioned in the story anywhere. I had just finished reading her series of books about the men who belonged to the Duke of Stoneville's club and was hoping to read more of them. Suzanne had the hook but did not follow through. I noticed that she changed publishers and wondered if that had something to do with the differences I found in this book. If so, then her new publisher certainly did nothing to help her.
September 9, 2015
Not the best by Suzanne Enoch. I found it very difficult to get into this storyline for the heroine was constantly irritable and cranky. Penniless widow who was suddenly dropped by her lover (our hero) two years earlier comes to London to open a gentleman's club. He's funding it because she's blackmailing him. Much happens, they can't resist each other, but she needs convincing he's changed. Not bad, but not great either, and can't understand the title, has nothing to do with the story! Still, I will read the novella that tells their story two years earlier while lovers in Austria and what went wrong.
3/5
3/5
August 30, 2022
Fantastic! Funny, sexy, heartwarming and totally enjoyable. Loved both of the main characters as they argued, kissed and struggled with themselves to their HEA. Best scene - the one where Oliver knocks a hole through the floor and ceiling above Diane's apartment so he can reach her faster.
As other reviewers have noted, the book's cover and title have absolutely no connection to the story.
As other reviewers have noted, the book's cover and title have absolutely no connection to the story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 217 reviews