While this is the third of the Mayfield Family Romances, it can be read as a stand-alone. I really liked the redemption plotline and seeing how Harry embraced the opportunity to become better, although not without a struggle and some tough love from Sabrina and her staff. I thought the Lord Damion twist was really interesting--a unique way for Sabrina to help others. The romance was slow and steady and sweet. This was a very enjoyable book.

4 stars.

I read an ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

This is my first novel from Josi S. Kilpack, and it was a fine introduction to the "Uncle Elliot" series.

Harry Stillman is a rake and an addicti, spending his inheritance on gambling, woman, and booze. When he can no longer pay off his debts, he looks toward Lord Damion, a mysterious nobleman who helps disgraced men get off their feet.

Lord Damion, however, is not a lord at all, or even a man. When Lady Sabrina’s cheating husband leaves her, then ends up dying in a carriage accident, she creates a plan to ensure her future security through the secret persona of Lord Damion, and she is quickly becoming the richest woman in England.

This was a wonderfully fluffy story about redemption and love. Harry is a selfish individual who destroys anyone who cares for him, but through Sabrina/Damion's kindness, he's able to realize that he can be more than what people think he is. The romance is a slow burn but a wonderful pay-off at the end. There is very little sexual content, which is actually quite refreshing.

Review excerpted from by blog post over at FanSciHist (https://fanscihist.wordpress.com/2020/01/05/rakes-and-roses-by-josi-s-kilpack/)


My Rating: 3.5 stars

Library recommendation: Recommended for public library historical romance collections.

Warning: Hereafter, you chance spoilers. I will try never to reveal major plot points, but to review any book, you must reveal some parts of the story.

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Number of titles I have read by this author: 1

Love story speed: Slow burn

Relationship dynamics: The Wastrel Rake (H) / The Charitable Widow (h)

Sexual content: None. Kissing only.

Triggers: Spousal abuse (of h, not by H); recounted late miscarriage (h); severe gambling addiction (H); alcohol dependence (H); physical brutality (not by H or h); descriptions of drying out and the DTs.

Grammar/Editing: My ARC had a lot of formatting issues (run together paragraphs, etc.), some word choice issues, verb tense issues, etc. The family pedigree at the beginning of the book is particularly affected by formatting issues.

Review: This quick-paced novel is set in the late Georgian period, which is not explicitly stated, but inferred from the family pedigree and from details given throughout the book. The first half of this book is essentially a quasi-idealized description of an abbreviated (and uncompromising) twelve-step program, which I am not certain will be for everyone. The book also feels like an historical inspirational novel, given how much focus is put on Christian faith and ideals, although the book is not billed as such.

Sabrina and Harry are the main characters of this book. Sabrina is a widow whose husband was extremely abusive, which makes her shy away from the thought of a second marriage. Harry is the epitome of the Georgian wastrel – he is also an alcoholic and gambling addict. She is his saviour. Their relationship begins as she tries to pull him out of the mess he has found himself in, including helping him to dry out, which leads to him thinking that she is an old dragon and her to believe that he is irredeemable. However, they eventually find that they enjoy each other’s company. Readers should not expect a grande passion in this novel. Rather, the characters seem to feel more regard and general attraction to one another. In terms of the supporting characters, some are very much written in a way that suggests that the reader should know more about them, which leads me to believe that they are featured in the previous books in the series. New characters, including the villain, are developed as far as necessary, but not further. This doesn’t stop the villain from feeling menacing when present, although he is easily forgotten when he’s not at the forefront of the main characters’ minds, which detracted from his effectiveness.

Addictions PSA version: Addictions are a significant problem for a lot of people throughout the world. If you, or someone you know, suffer(s) from an addiction and need(s) help, please consider reaching out to an addictions hotline, such as those listed at The Lifeline Canada Foundation’s website.



Full disclosure: I received a free advance review copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the latest installment of Uncle Elliott’s nieces and nephews. Harry is strangely love-able with all his faults. Sabrina is intelligent and while less faulty, still a wonderful character. I like the message of redemption and love. This one is definitely worth a read!

I’ve been hoping for Harry’s story ever since his appearance in Daises and Devotion. I was excited to find out he’d be the main character in the 3rd book of the Mayfield family series.
Poor Harry is a little lost in life. He is a rake, gambler and a drunk. He is on the brink of losing everything.
Our heroine, Lady Sabrina, is a widow. Her husband was abusive and she relishes her independence from a man ruling her life.
I do not like to give too much of the story away by summarizing it but I love what circumstances bring them together and how they strengthen one another.
A sweet and clean regency romance that I really enjoyed reading.

Lady Sabrina had a horrific marriage, physically and emotionally abused by her husband. Harry Stillman makes a mess of his life through his gambling addiction. The pair become unlikely friends and help to heal the pain of their respective pasts. I really like the theme of forgiveness, personal growth and redemption in this book.

Of all the three books in this series, this is my favorite so far.

At the beginning of the story, we find Harry deep in gambling and drink. After he loses his winnings, he's desperate to get a chance to win some more. He owes a great deal of money to a ruthless lender.
When his friend tells him of a different kind of lender, Lord Damion, Harry's not so sure. But, out of options, he realizes it's his only chance.

Lord Damion is not a man. It's Lady Sabrina, whom we meet in the prologue. She has a terrible husband and is afraid of him but, when he dies suddenly, she becomes a free woman of large means.

When Sabrina takes on Harry's debts, she doesn't plan to have any kind of interaction with him, but that all changes when she finds him in an alley after being severely beaten. She takes him in to care of him and this is when their interactions begin.

Harry is at his lowest ever and things only get worse when Sabrina's housekeeper starts weaning him from alcohol.

The dynamic between Harry and Sabrina is all backwards for the typical historical novel of this time period: she's older than him (by five years) and she's got the money, not to mention he's lodged i her home and dependent on her for his care. Their relationship is wildly unbalanced and hard to believe it'll come to a point when it's not so.

This is a story of redemption above all else. Sabrina's growth has already happened, even though she does go through a transformation as well. But it's Harry who turns his life around completely. Through the kindness of Sabrina and her staff, he changes himself and comes to realize he doesn't want to be the alcoholic gambler he's been for so long.

With this setup, the relationship between them moved slowly, as it should be, and the ending was perfect.

One more thing: as pretty as the cover is, it doesn't go with the others in the series. I don't understand the reason for this.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

This is a first time read by author Josi S. Kilpack. Rakes and Roses started off a bit slow in the beginning but picked up tempo further along in the book. As this is an ARC, I thought the plot and written intent was well done. I thought the main characters Sabrina and Harry have had their fair share of disappointments and truely strived to make good of the mishaps that have come their way.

When Harry is injured and ends up in his benefactor's house to heal, made for an interesting coup of how Sabrina would try to work around not leading him to believe that she is his true saviour. Each on opposites ends of attraction, I loved how they came together to find true love in a Society that shuns illegitimates and financially ruined rakes. I also loved Sabrina's independent spirit and standing on her own as a business woman.

A delightful story that ends in a very nice HEA.

Thank you to the author and Shadow Mountain Publishing for this ARC and my fair and honest review. All opinions in the review are my own.

4-Stars