I don’t know what to say.

I like the idea of this story and these characters. but it all fell flat. I also didn’t buy a lot of things. I kept feeling like I skipped pages somehow because character behavior just didn’t make sense. Like Avalon and Devan don’t get along. But why? And he starts to like her. But why?

The Thane/Devan relationship was good, but wasn’t as well developed as it could’ve been. Thane’s whole developed as it could’ve been. Thane’s whole character and existence was a little plot moppety. And that’s one of the reasons I typically avoid kids in books.

In the end, I was just disappointed by this. I’m sure some people would like this, but not me.

I liked this book that kept me hooked and root for the characters.
It's a well written and engrossing story with a cast of likable and well thought characters and a vivid historical background.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

This is my fair and honest review, voluntarily given for this ARC. If you are concerned that this is a salacious book, don't be. It is about a woman who helps fallen women and a vicar who is far from a wild, wild rake. well written tale with lots of twists and turns and lots of love in the end, but not descriptive enough to put people off.

I did enjoy this book, storyline was very good.
Avalon is a widow, she never loved her husband, who wasn't very good to her. Now, she wants to help other woman..
Devan is a vicar, sent to watch what Avalon is doing, but somewhere along the lines, he become enchanted with her.

Avalon and Devan are just perfect together <3 While I wouldn't go as far as call this an enemies to lovers trope, the two do have a history of misunderstandings that cause friction on Avalon's side. Strong, independent, compassionate, and a force-of-nature, she's one of my favorite historical heroines. I was unsure how Devan would be as vicar with a reputation as a rake, but Janna MacGregor does an excellent job creating a character who is sexy, flirty, and loving to those around him. There are several twists throughout the book with just enough suspense and trepidation to keep you flipping to the end!

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋
Passionate and intense, Janna never fails to give you all the feels.
I adore this book.

Devon has such a beautiful way with him , an elegance with his reasoning and understanding and he is unfailingly patient with Avalon.
He shows that a man of intelligence and wit can find a deep and meaningful love, at the same time as being a member of the Ton.
So many books show them as rough and ready , sex maniacs that are only out to see how many beds they can visit.
This was both refreshing and different.

Avalon is a damaged soul, badly treated at a young and impressionable age , by both her parents and husband.
She’s raising her family alone , helping her community and trying to help others in need too.
Meeting Devan is an eye opener for her, she believes he’s like all the rest.
Slowly she sees the man she falls in love with.
She’s a sensitive soul easily damaged with a hard as iron shell, but it starts to crack around the new vicar.

Beautiful chemistry and characters that enter your heart and linger , a wonderful book that has the perfect ending.

I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review

This is the story of lady Avalon Warwyk. The brutal betray that she suffered from husband and the woman who saved her from her husband’s angry attack. Lady A went back back home to gave birth to
her son and built her life around her son. 10 years later she has become a powerful woman and dislikes her son’s guardian. She trusts no man and I cannot blame her. Her son’s guardian sends his brother who is a Vicar to go and see what Lady A is doing. Mr. Devan Farris is not happy to do this but his brother the Earl promises him that he can have the position he wants if will go and spy on her. Devan states he will not spy on her for him nor will he lie to Avalon. Devan comes to see Avalon in a new light. and realizes there is more to Avalon than anyone outside her home know.

I have voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this title given to me via NetGalley. This was just a wonderful book to read and it was just easy to lose yourself in the story. I can’t wait to read more from this author.

I thought this book was amazing!!
This is my first time reading a book by Janna MacGregor but it will definitely not be my last! Totally adding her to my must read book list. I loved the combination of innocence and mischief that Janna MacGregor put into this book. I think the characters were very believable and fun, they overcame obstacles and learned things. Plus, the plot was fun and had an interesting set of twists and turns which I loved following. I recommend reading this one!
I give it 4 out of 5 stars for the great characters, the fun mixture of mischief and innocence, and the great ending.

Wild Wild Rake was brilliantly written story about  kindness, trust issues and discovering of falling in love.  I was smitten with both characters from the very beginning, I could honestly well understand Avalon's trust issues after what she went through and her wanting to beeing able to make her own decisions. 

And the fact that Devon would with such ease charm his way into her heart was refreshing. I loved Avalon's wit, courage and kindness just as much as Devon's persistence and devotion to his parishioners. 

It was one truly amazing story.

Enchanting & exhilarating love story...Avalon was verbally abused by her first husband & forced to the sidelines while he carried on with his mistress. After his death, she became friends with the mistress (who was also a madam) & helped women get out of prostitution & find other professions. Devan was a vicar whose brother was concerned with these goings on & also was legal guardian of Avalon's son. This leads to a wonderful story about Avalon & Devan, Avalon's sister Sophia, & many others. Highly recommend reading this book!

Wild, Wild Rake is Book 6 of the Cavensham Heiresses and it's one of the best. Even as the sixth book, it works great as a standalone. This is Avalon and Devan's story, so it's a side shoot of the Cavensham family. Readers of the series met Avalon as the woman who jilted Will. Here we learn why.

Avalon originally was portrayed as a cold, money grabbing, title seeking, gold digger. Now you know not to believe that things are as they seem and it is no different for Avalon.

Devan is the younger son who wanted to be in the military but had to go to the clergy instead. He nevertheless has a reputation as a rake and a ladies' man. Again, things are not as they seem.

Devan's oldest brother is the legal guardian of Avalon's young son, and after some rumors hit, he sends Devan to check up on Avalon. That's where their story together restarts. At one of her lowest points in her life, Devan was there. She's ashamed of that, but Devan did not know it then and is only learning it now years later.

Avalon has to learn how to trust. All of her life, someone else has taken control and told her what to do, without her consent or taking her wishes into consideration. I appreciate that she doesn't suddenly become warm and trusting, just because of Devan. Instead, MacGregor shows how hard it is to overcome a lifetime of hurt.

Devan is a warm, loving character and it is hard not to like him. His big secret is a little bit of a trope that I don't love, but I thought it was handled right. He feels like a person of integrity and not a caricature.

I appreciate the attention given to the women of the time who were forced into prostitution because of circumstances. We used to often see in historical romance, a brothel only in relation to some young man losing his virginity or an evil male mob-like character, or perhaps a few expensive courtesans who are mistresses of the bored wealthy rake. That is not what happens here. We have not only the woman who runs a brothel who is watching out for other women, but we have the woman of rank helping those women, to learn new skills, learn a trade, care for their children. I liked it.

I thought the story and characters were fully engaging and I read this in a day. That doesn't happen often and thus is deserving of a full 5 stars. I recommend this to historical romance fans, regency fans, and fans of MacGregor.

Avalon Warwyk didn’t have a very good marriage and is determined not to marry again. Devan Farrris is happy as the vicar in current community. Their lives have been intertwined by occasional meetings in society. When Devan is sent to Avalon’s village to be the new vicar, he must try to tame his The Wild Wild Rake.
After a final confrontation with her husband in front of witnesses and his mistress. Devan is known as the rake of vicars. He has a secret that not even his closest friends know. Asked by his brother to move to a new congregation and to spy on the mother of his brother’s ward, the young Lord Warwyk. Avalon isn’t happy about having one of the people who witnessed her humiliation all those years ago coming to spy upon her. Devan isn’t happy about being uprooted and let’s his brother know that he won’t spy for him. Avalon comes to the vicarage to try to get rid of Devan. She doesn’t want the sudden feelings that have reared their head to be a factor. Devan is honest with Avalon about why he was sent. She doesn’t like the idea of him tutoring her son. As time passes and they spend time helping the village residents. They realize that the other isn’t what they thought they were. They decide to become friends and work together for the good of the village. Their feelings grow but they keep it to themselves. Avalon is surprised by how quickly her son becomes attached to Devan. Avalon is determined to make her next idea for helping fallen women become a reality. Devan has settled into his new congregation and is well liked. A young parishioner thinks that he’s going to marry her and isn’t happy when he shows an interest in Avalon. An upcoming charity event keeps Avalon and Devan in constant contact since he was finagled his way into her meetings about the charity event. Going to check on the wine and Devan comes down to apologize and they’re locked for the night. It brings them closer when each reveals their most private secrets. Avalon doesn’t want to admit to her feelings. An encounter with the young woman who thinks she’ll marry Devan. When at the charity event it becomes obvious to the young woman that he doesn’t return her feelings a plan put Devan’s future as a vicar in jeopardy. It brings his bishop and brother to visit and come up with a plan to safe Devan by having him marry the young woman. The only way out to his predicament is for Avalon to put her reputation on the line to save him. Devan refuses to marry the young woman. Avalon has a meeting with Devan’s brother and bishop and reveals his whereabouts the night in question and makes arrangement for a marriage. Meanwhile, Devan has gone back to the vicarage upset, when Avalon arrives and tells him of the agreement and a marriage takes place. She goes to the young woman’s family and tries to make a compromise and reveal their marriage, she gets the young woman to reveal the real reason behind what she did. When Avalon’s sister goes missing and is presumed to be taking her best friend to visit a house of ill repute to keep her away from an abusive future husband. It’s Devan and Avalon on a drive to London and her deceased husband’s former mistress. They’d become friends working together to help prostitutes and fallen women. They find the two young girls at the mistress’ house. An unexpected visitor shows up and a confrontation ensues resulting in Devan being injured. A romance is begun, and another secret is revealed resulting in a wedding and a future love match. Avalon and Devan tell each other about their feelings. A family expands and a family settles into a future. Two brothers meet and become best friends.
Janna MacGregor continues her Cavenshiem Heiress series with two people who’s lives are similar but not what society thinks they are, When a newspaper article brings attention to Lady Warwyk’s charitable works and brings the man who witnessed who humiliation to her village and doesn’t want him there. Devan isn’t happy about the reason he’s sent to Lady Warwyk’s village. Once they realize that the other isn’t the person, they seem to be the attraction becomes undeniable, they must overcome their perceptions of each other to tame The Wild Wild Rake.

Two caring and giving characters! A vicar hero who actually has religious bents! Devan filled his role as vicar supporting his parish while wooing Avalon, the widowed heroine. Avalon took her negative experiences to reach out to other women in distressful situations. I enjoyed this story as Avalon and Devan found their happily ever after. Janna MacGregor is a wonderful writer!

I received an advanced reader copy but these opinions are my own and voluntarily given.

An okay read. While this author is usually one of my favorites, I will say this work was not. I had a very difficult time staying with the story and forced myself forward. It is a light read and if you just ignore the path of the vicar and the up and down see saw of emotions he causes then you will just relax and enjoy the story. I was given this book via NetGalley. All opinions expressed here are my own. Regards, Anna

3.5 stars rounded up.

Mr. Devan Farris is a vicar with a very rakish reputation, but what most don't know is that his wild ways are a carefully fabricated ruse to keep his meddling brother, the Earl of Larkton, at bay. Devan knows his brother means well with his constant attempts to set him up with lovely heiresses, but Devan longs for a loving match like their parents had and won't settle for less. Despite his frustrations with him, when the Earl asks Devan to transfer to a new parish to check up on his ward, the young Marquess of Warwyck and his mother, Lady Avalon, to ensure she is not spending her son's inheritance, Devan reluctantly agrees; Devan doesn't want to interfere, but he's always found himself unwittingly intrigued by Avalon and takes the opportunity to spend some time with her.

Lady Avalon Warwyck has thoroughly enjoyed independence in her widowhood after a terrible marriage forced on her by her parents. She may be lonely, but she's got her ten year old son and her charity work helping women who've fallen into unsavory professions establish themselves in business. She's never wanted a man's company, but that all begins to change with the arrival of the new vicar. At first, Avalon tries her best to get rid of the loathsome Devan, but soon enough he becomes an integral part of the community. Now it's up to Devan to show Avalon the good-hearted man he truly is beneath his reputation, and help her regain her own confidence.

Devan was adorable in his utter cluelessness about women. Avalon would take several steps forward, only to take great leaps back and while this did grow rather tiresome, especially with her consistent regression to doubting Devan, it was also understandable given her past experiences and how shattered her confidence was. This element also gave sweet Devan more opportunities to shine as he reassured her. However, Avalon was very eager to take on everyone else's problems as her own and at times it was almost like she looked for things to come between her and Devan, even after she supposedly loved him. I kept forgiving her and understanding her motivations, but she just kept on and on. Even with Devan doing everything perfectly and treating her so well, she kept finding reasons to doubt him anyway and seemed not to care if that would hurt him. She'd say hurtful things and fling accusations at him and then retract it and say she didn't mean it, which I can understand to an extent, but the number of times this happened got to be rather tedious. Devan carried this book and though I liked it, it didn't hold up to how much I loved its predecessor.
Nonetheless, I enjoyed this book and will look forward to more in this series and from this author.

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

Janna MacGregor: Wild, Wild, Rake
Wild, Wild Rake hit all the right notes for me: strong female characters, romance, humor, emotions, suspense and some plot twists and turns. This book grabbed me from the beginning with the plight of Lady Avalon Warwyck. Pregnant, Avalon’s cruel husband banishes her to Warwyck Hall so he can install his mistress (Mary owns a brothel) and their child in his London house. His cronies Devon and William witness the scene. Devon calls her Lady Warlock.

Fast-forward 10 years … Avalon is a widow raising her son and successfully managing the estate. She has created a loving and thriving village community with introducing women – the misfits, the forgotten, deprived and those escaping the London streets. William contrives to have Vicar Devon sent to the village to spy on her. Avalon tries to have him dismissed for his reputation as a rake. Devon doesn’t trust her, either. Can they learn to trust each other? Will they learn how past actions shaped their lives? More important, can they learn to love?

I received an ARC from Net Galley for my honest opinion: buy the book!

I have loved this series from the first book I read, "The Luck of the Bride" (3rd in the series) and this one did not disappoint either. Ms. MacGregor has such a wonderfully flowing writing style. Her characters come to life from the pages of the book. In this story, we learn all about Avalon Cavensham Warwyck or Lady Warlock as our hero, Vicar Devan Farris, likes to call her. Avalon has made brief appearances periodically throughout this series; with a little more attention given in the last book, "Rogue Most Wanted". We get to learn about Avalon and Devan's back-stories as this tale unfolds. Avalon has made the best out of a terrible situation and is such a lovely, giving, sympathetic character.

This is a well written, enjoyable, historical romance with well thought out characters.

"Once a wild rake, always a wild rake." She pressed her lips to his "But you're mine."

Having been emotionally abused by her husband, Avalon builds her own life for herself by helping women who most people wouldn't give a second look due to their unsavory past. She vows that no man will ever control her again, especially one that has a reputation as a rake.


This story exceeded my expectations. Not only did at have a really strong main story, the action of the side characters really played into making an exceptional story. Just when I thought I knew what was happening, a delightful twist would occur. It was a fresh perspective on the "typical" historical romance.

I don't want to give away any spoilers, but I really enjoyed the twist on the usual virgin trope.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press

“Wild, Wild Rake” The Cavensham Heiresses by Janna MacGregor
WoW, what a wild read. I loved this story… I could not put it down. This story is full of emotions that will have you in tears and maybe even a chuckle or two, too. I received an ARC of the story from the publisher via NetGalley with the request for an honest review. I do love strong characters with convictions and fortitude. I think you will appreciate the story these characters with the author’s help have created. Happy Reading ! !