Esther 's Reviews > The Rakehell of Roth

Rating 3.5

This story was full of angst, chemistry, heat and frustration.

Isobel and Winter marriage was not a love match. He's got a reputation as a despicable rake and she's a sweet and innocent young lady.

They marry, he consummates the marriage and is gone the next day, leaving Isobel at his fathers country estate. Winter, didn't want to feel what he did on his wedding night. Isobel had high hopes for her marriage, especially because of her wedding night.

Three years latter, Isobel hears of his latest conquest and is involvement in a duel. She's had it. During those three years she's done a lot of growing up and acquiring skills a many kinds. She's going to confront her reprobate husband, she wants a real marriage.

Winter runs a disreputable club. He's got a lot of family baggage, and it's made him bitter and closed off. He's never stopped thinking about his wife unfortunately. *One thing I want to point out for other potential future reader, he does NOT cheat on his wife and I loved that!*

So Isobel arrives in London and arrives at Winter's townhouse to let him know she's in town. And so the story becomes about the push and pull between these two. Well mostly Winter.

There is a lot of chemistry and steam.
It's pretty heavy on the sexy and I skimmed some (not my cup of tea). I did appreciate the chemistry and sexual tension between the two, that's the fun part in a romance for me. There is quite a bit of angst as well.

I was frustrated with the storyline of Winter and his denying his feelings for Isobel. And then Isobel continuing to pursue him and win him over. That got a little old and felt it was repetitive. I liked the secondary characters.

There was a little drama and action with another woman and a villain. And as I am finding more and more in Historical romance this was more modernized. We also have the theme of woman can do anything and everything that a man can do (Annie Oakley anyone??). And my frustration with that is authors are not really incorporating or weaving it into the story is a smooth and or effective manner. What is happening is they are shouting at the reader and clobbering us over the head with it. My opinion and observation that I want to address.

This is my first time reading this author, will read more of her books. I think she has some promising talent and hopeful she will continue to evolve.

I appreciated that this author made each faithful and no cheating. Definitely felt they were soulmates, one of my favorite themes in a romance. The sexual tension was off the charts as well as their chemistry together, which is pretty much what sucked me into this romance.

Oh, I do have one request for the author. PLEASE write Westmore and Lady Jocelyn Capehart's story. Boy, one scene, one little sentence and I'm totally in for their book.