A Rake's Revenge by Cynthia Breeding is book Two in the Rake Trilogy Series. This is the story of Stephan, the Marquis of Kendrick and Caroline Nash. I have read (and Loved) the previous book, but feel you can make this a standalone book if you wish to do so.
Stephan is out to avenge his mother's death and has taken to pretending to be the bandit Midnight Marauder. On one of his escapades he meets the fiery Ms. Nash. Caroline had a narrow miss on getting married but her father is working to set her up with a older man that she does not wish to be with. Stephan has a new mission to get to know Caroline more. Stephan gets invited to the Prince Regent’s house party where he overhears Caroline trying to talk someone into being in a pretend relationship with her. Of course Stephan steps forward to offer his services but he doesn't want to pretend anything.
Loved Ms. Breeding writing and this book.

Book Title: A Rake’s Revenge
Author: Cynthia Breeding
Pub Date: May 27th, 2019

***ARC was provided to me by Net Galley and the Publisher for a fair and honest review***

Overall rating: 3.5/5 Either accept you don’t know boating terminology or google it

Heroine (Caroline Nash): 3/5 The daughter of a knight who has been jilted in the past. She believes she would be happy not marrying at all.

Hero (Stephan, Marquis of Kendrick): 3.5/5 By trade he is a Marquis with a serious interest in sailing. By night he is the Midnight Marauder, a highway man who steals coins from rich men and kisses from the women they are with. He has dark hair, dark eyes, and a dark mask that keep people guessing who he is.

Plot: 3.5/5 Caroline’s father decides she is to marry the slimy, as old as her father, Lord Trisdale who only wants her dowry to pay his debts. She is ‘accosted’ by the Midnight Marauder on the way home who steals a kiss from her. Stephan decides this is the girl from him and finds his way to the house party she and Trisdale are attending. Posing it as a favor he throws down a gauntlet and openly courts Caroline. In order to win her hand he must win the sailing race against Trisdale. But more importantly will Stephan win the race to Caroline’s heart?

Personal Review: I love the first scene with Caroline and her Midnight Marauder, I kind of wish she finds him when she goes looking for him again (Stephan knows she’s looking and could have made it happen).

After such a intimate scene, Caroline doesn’t really get to spend too much time talking to Stephan freely. There were outside forces keeping them apart during the day but actions from Stephan and from Lady Ann suggest that if you want to sneak into rooms other than your own, then you can. I just wanted more time with them actually together in order for Caroline to fall in love Stephan.

Both make some interesting choices in regards to communicating plans; they don’t communicate at all. Stephan sends Brice with a coded message that Caroline misunderstands. They both make choices for how to act in public but don’t actually tell the other and end up hurting feelings unnecessarily.

This is my fair and honest review, as agreed, in exchange for this ARC. What a delightful read! There was intrigue, deception, loads of criminal activity and in the end, love shines through for a fairy tale ending. This was also a bit different from the standard fare with lots of sailing jargon and a regatta.

What's hard not to like about a historical romance? There were a lot of positive things to say about the read which ranges from the author's writing style, fierce leads characters and well executed end. The secondary characters Tisdale, Ann and the lead heroine father were a little hard to take in at times but their unlikeness help make the story. “A Rake's Revenge” was an overall enjoyable read that I would recommend anyone looking for a good decent historical romance novel to pass the time with.

Sailing through the quagmire of English society is a very difficult dance that is full of land mines if you ever step out of line.
Such is the world Cynthia Breeding has created for her readers. Having read hundreds of historical romances set in this era, I can honestly say I thoroughly enjoyed her take on the subject. Her characters are well-developed and each play an important part in the story. Full of mystery and suspense but sprinkled with snobbery, protocol, and, of course, romance. Be ready to get swept away!

To be honest, I am a bit confused about the title of this one. While yes, Stephan does challenge another man for Caroline's hand, and yes, he does things to thumb his nose at society and traitors, we never really get a clear idea of who he is supposedly seeking revenge against.

Aside from that, it was a decent read. It didn't keep me glued to the pages by any means (aka I was able to put it down and come back to it later), and I found the characters either lacking or entirely too over the top. Also, the romance was not my favorite among the stories I've read recently (honestly, they had ample time to develop their relationship outside of the started as a charade mentality, but never seemed to until they decided they were in love with each other).

I did however LOVE the idea of a Midnight Marauder as well as a sort of Robin Hood pirate, stealing from those who were funding France, and dividing the goods up among the lower classes.

All things considered, I do believe this novel will still appeal to those who enjoy historical romance novels, and I would read more from this author.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

Caroline Nash vows to never again get involved with a man after being jilted by her fiancé George. Especially not the Earl of Tisdale whom her father has chosen for her. The man is a pompous ass and one of Prinny’s set who only wants her for her dowry. To complicate matters, a kiss from the Midnight Marauder unleashes an unbelievable passion that Caroline can’t seem to forget.
Stephan Stoddard, the Marquis of Kendrick, poses as the robbing marauder to avenge his low-born mother, to thumb his nose at the aristocracy & to help his tenants with the proceeds
To be properly introduced to the woman of his dreams, he attends the Prince Regent’s house party. He finds her, begging Brice to pretend to court her, Stephan couldn’t wish for a better opportunity – he’ll happily court her, but he doesn’t want to pretend.
A well written page turning novel with, pirating, highwaymen, a yacht race & of course romance. Stephan has always been attracted to Caroline but after stealing a kiss he’s totally smitten. Caroline is likewise smitten but with the Midnight Marauder however the more she comes to know Stephan the lines between the Marquis & his alter ego are blurred. The characters have depth & on the whole are likeable, I thoroughly disliked Tisdale. I thoroughly enjoyed the book but was left wanting more as whilst one villain was arrested there are still more at large, I hope everything will be resolved in the final book of the trilogy. I also found the ending to be rushed, the lead up had been very good then in a couple of pages it was over & done with
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

I was provided with an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This one was okay for me. I didn't think the title matched the plot, as I am still trying to figure out exactly where the revenge came into play. The characters could have been more fully developed...especially the heroine. Three stars.

This is a great historical romance and I really enjoyed this story. Caroline Nash has no plans of ever getting married. Let's just say that after having her heart broken and subsequent scandal, she is over men. They are not to be trusted. She is finally getting accustomed to her new situation as an independent spinster when her father announces that she is engaged, to be married to someone she despises. Now she must find a way out of this impending disaster because there is no way in hell she'd let her father dictate her life like that. That's how Stephan enters the picture. He was to help her thwart the attention of Lord Tisdale.
Stephan is intrigued by Caroline. She is a strong and stubborn woman with opinions of her own. He also finds her very attractive but his life has other purposes and he can't afford to be distracted by a woman. Unfortunately, things have a tendency of going in the opposite direction to what you where you want them to go. Soon he realizes that he is genuinely interested in Miss Nash and there is no way he'd ever let her marry another man.
It is a lighthearted and exciting story, I really liked the way it's written. I think it's a must read for all historical romance fans.

This was a fun book to read. It was well written, fast paced and kept the readers attention. The story line was amusing, full of drama, and has some unsuspecting twists. This was the first book I have read by this author and I was surprised at how well written it was. I would recommend it.

Caroline Nash has decided that after her soon-to-be betrothed rejected her for another, that she will avoid marriage. However, her father has other plans for her, forcing an engagement upon her to Lord Tisdale. In amongst all this, she is kissed by the Midnight Marauder and begins to wonder more about romance. Little does she know that Stephan, the Marquis of Kendrick, is the marauder, who steals from the rich to give to others.
This romance happened slowly and burst into flames at the end. Both characters were well developed yet I did find that they spent too much time apart. Whilst a great start to the book, their time apart did take away from the romance, yet at the same time, attention was given to the feud between Tisdale and Stephan, and the possibility of being uncovered by the Crown.
I received an advanced review copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

After being abandoned by her almost-betrothed, Caroline Nash vows to never again get involved with a man. Especially not the middle-aged earl her father has chosen for her.
To complicate matters, a kiss from the Midnight Marauder unleashes an unbelievable passion that Caroline can’t seem to forget.
Stephan, the Marquis of Kendrick, poses as the robbing marauder to avenge his low-born mother. But he starts questioning his plans when one of his “missions” crosses paths with Caroline and leads to the kiss of a lifetime.
Like the first book I read of this series this book started off as a very exciting, quick read but somewhere near the half way point it bogged down.. I did finish it but it just wasn't quite the remarkable read I first thought it would be. It was however better than the previous title, A Rake's Redemption, from this series that I had read..
I gave this book 4.25 of 5.0 stars for storyline and characterization.
The hero is a remarkable individual with really good traits that endeared him to me. Caroline is a likeable heroine in spite of the interference of a selfish father, an abhorrent earl, and the machinations of the prince making this a very frustrating read at times.
I received a complimentary ARC of this title to read. This in no way affected my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

This book was a lot of fun. I loved that Caroline had her own mind and wasn't afraid to use it. She and Stephan were great together, throw in the dastardly Alfred and this book keeps you on the edge of your seat to see what happens next at Prinny's house party.

Great male characters with plenty of testosterone to make this a perfect escapist read. While the book was a fun read I was able to put it down and return to it. On the other hand I do want to read the others in the trilogy. Recommend to Regency readers.

A good story, but a bit slow. Caro is fabulous and Stephen is all man. They've known each other for a long time, but now Stephen wants her forever. I would have liked less house party and less rush at the end, but still loved the characters.

Since her almost-betrothed threw her over for another, Miss Caroline Nash has sworn off men and marriage. But her father has other ideas and wants to have a titled grandson, so he promises Caroline to the aging and pompous Earl of Tisdale who only wants her for her dowry, but has the Prince Regent's support due to his position within the prince's inner circle. To make matters worse, an encounter with the mysterious highwayman, the Midnight Marauder, awakens an unexpected passion in Caroline that proves impossible for her to forget.

Stephan, the Marquess of Kendrick, uses his nighttime activities as the Marauder to get back at the ton for their poor treatment of his lowborn mother and their ready willingness to blame him for his older brother's tragic death. He's shocked when a steamy kiss with Caroline Nash leaves him wanting more for the first time ever.

Stephan attends the Prince Regent's regatta and house party to renew his acquaintance with Caroline and winds up agreeing to pretend to court her in an attempt to fend off the unwanted suitor her father has chosen. Stephan is thrilled at the opportunity, but his intentions are genuine, not pretended. However, with his nefarious activities drawing more attention, especially from the vindictive and desperate earl, who has the prince's ear, Stephan's secrets may land him in hot water before he can uncover a traitor to England and dash his hopes at love as well.

Between Caroline's selfish father and the abhorrent earl, not to mention the machinations of the prince, this was a very frustrating read. I know this was indicative of the time, but her father's callous treatment of her and total disregard for her wants or safety was appalling. Also, as per usual, our main characters didn't do themselves any favors by failing to communicate with each other.

Despite the annoyances of this one in some places, there was good tension throughout that made me want to stick with it and overall I enjoyed if, even if the ending was perhaps a bit too rushed to be wholly satisfying.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book really didn’t do it for me. It started out good but then went downhill from there. Honestly I thought the house party would never end. Any the ending then was rushed and I was left feeling bereft. Thank you to netgalley for the ARC.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is probably a really good book if it's your sort of thing but it just wasn't for me. The hero and heroine have known each other, though not well, for a while and yet after one kiss, he suddenly decides he absolutely cannot live without her. I love a slow burn and this was definitely not the book for me. Everything happened far too quickly. 1 star.

A slow burn as Caroline and Stephen come to know each other more over the course of an extended house party. There’s piracy, a midnight marauder stealing kisses and jewels, an unwanted engagement, and political intrigue. Tisdale makes for a wonderfully hateful villain. You can’t help but despise him. Stephan, Marquis of Kendrick, is a true Robin Hood type and is truly loveable in his quest to gain Caroline for himself. Caroline is strong willed, intelligent, and kind. A happily ever after and justice served makes for a wonderful book. I thoroughly enjoyed this and will be reading more of Cynthia’s works. Her writing style flows well and hooks you right away.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. I was pleasantly surprised. The book, while predictable, was completely enjoyable and captivated me immediately.
Caroline has found herself being forced into an engagement to the Earl of Trisdale, a man only interested in her for her dowry. Desperate for a way out she makes a deal with the Marquis of Kendrick to pretend to court her and challenge Trisdale for her hand. Kendrick, who is secretly playing at being a Robin Hood type pirate, stealing from the rich and giving to the poor, agrees to court Caroline but soon finds he is no longer pretending, but wants her for himself.
The book had a bit of mystery, a bit of adventure, and lots of romance. The perfect combination for an enjoyable read.