A Rake’s Redemption is a Regency romance that showed promise and started off strong. Unfortunately, the second half undoes all the work of the first.

The story follows Inis Fitzgerald,a talented and stubborn young woman, who escapes to London to avoid being forced into an arranged marriage she doesn’t want. She ends up in the employment of Alexander Ashley as his groom, hiding her true identity. Alexander, notorious rake, see an opportunity to humiliate his priggish ducal brother by using Inis. His plan? Teach Inis how to be a true lady then parading her in front of his brother. With the help of his close friend Caroline, he sets out educating Inis. But someone wants her out the way and isn’t beyond murdering her to do that.

The plot is unoriginal at best, having been done so many times before that the reader instinctively knows what’s coming. This could have been saved by engaging characters, but, while initially likable, they quickly lose their appear and end feeling more like caricatures by the end. It doesn’t take much for Alex to find out who is attempting to murder Inis, but the antagonist is hardly intelligent and quite bad at covering their tracks. That aspect of the plot is never truly resolved as the killer flees, never to be heard from, or dealt with, again.

The other conflict involves Inis hiding her identity. Initially, it is easy for her, but once she attends the ball she is easily recognized. This causes her uncle to immediately gather her and drag her home. While initially angry, Alex decides he loves her and follows.

Beyond a tedious, predictable plotline, the leads seem to lack intelligence and common sense, rarely thinking about their actions before diving in head first. Their first sexual encounter is fairly steamy, there is little build up to it. While the reader can clearly see it is coming due to the predictable of the plot, there is no sexual development between the characters before the scene happens.

The icing on the cake was the ending. It almost felt as if the author reached her word count and felt she to wrap things up quickly. There is so much build up to everything for the reader to just be let down. The resolution felt lackluster and too easily accomplished and the epilogue feels even worse. It’s happily ever after consisted of more telling rather than showing that it leaves the reader empty and frustrated.

I enjoyed this read and the romance between Inis and Alex. I liked Inis and his she took charge of her life. I know many women had no choice to be meek back then and couldn't/wouldn't interfere with the men planning their future, so it was refreshing to read about a heroine who didn't sit back and let the men plan for her. I mostly liked Alex, although his plan to get back at his brother through his friends seemed immature and poorly thought out. The many attacks on Inis were unexpected but added to the story as the attacks force Alex (and the reader) to see that he cares for Inis. All in all, this is a nice summer read and is one I'd recommend

Disclaimer: I am shockingly new to the romance genre in general, and seemed to have randomly stumbled into a historical romance binge during my much larger historical obsession.

Pros: The overall plot, Inis's sense of humor, Alex's emotional growth, the ending

Cons: Having quite so many attacks on Inis, but mostly, Inis and Alex's first time seemed really abrupt and out of place after so much build-up and hesitance on their sides, especially for Inis, and then there was a bit of a time skip that also seemed hasty.

I received this novel from net galley and the publisher for an honest review. Thank you!
This novel was an enjoyable read. I enjoyed the characters and the plot.
Inis Fitzgerald is the niece of an Irish duke who has no plans to marry the man her uncle has chosen for her. She is good with horses and stubborn. She escapes to England where she ends up in the employ for Alexander Ashley, a notorious rake. Alex is the brother of a duke and the two do not get along. He was hurt by a woman who he thought he loved but preferred his brother's title. Alex began sleeping with woman of the ton to punish his brother and former betrothed. When he meets Inis, he does not know who she is and she plans on keeping it that way. Alex wants to use Inis to anger his brother by having her meet the Prince Reagent and act like a lady. Inis goes along with the plan and agrees if Alex will pay for her passage to America. Alex's friend Caroline, who was hurt by his brother, agrees to help. However, strange things happen at Alex's home that result in injuries to Inis. This incidents bring them closer, having them each begin to deeply care and fall in love with the other. When Inis' identity is revealed, Alex feels betrayed once again. Will Alex and Inis have their happily ever after?

❤️❤️❤️❤️
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A wonderful book , lighthearted and amusing but with a background of seriousness and attempts in murder .
This Author is great I love the way she writes .
A new favourite I think
I received an advance copy of this book and chose to submit a review