Edward Stanhope, the Duke of Thornfield, lives a life of order so when he goes to his library and finds a woman sitting in his chair, he isn’t happy. The confrontation leads to a fiery kiss that ruins them and forces them into marriage. As the wedding approaches, the attraction grows but will it be enough?

This was a very enjoyable historical romance. I loved how smart and sassy Georgiana was, especially towards Edward. Edward is known as a grumpy and aloof Duke. He likes it that way though because then people won’t know his secret. Edward has what I assume is Asperger's syndrome from his description of his problems. He has learned ways to live his life in the public eye without anyone knowing how bad it can be for him. I actually really loved Edward. He is a grump with a heart of gold.

Overall, this was a wonderful historical romance. I loved that while they had their issues at times, this wasn’t a high stress relationship, which is what I really needed this week. Their relationship was slow building, sweet, and filled with intense debates. I can’t wait to read the next book.

Also, I love this cover.

Edward Stanhope, Duke of Thornfield is known for his icy control and arrogance, nobody knows just how hard that control is for him.

Miss Georgiana Bly comes from a loving but slightly strange family. She has no thoughts of marriage, and likes to hide away from crowds.

Our characters seem to come from two very different worlds, but now they must find a way to find some happiness together. She must learn a lot to be worthy of her new life, but so must he.

A very emotional story with unusual characters that will fascinate you from the first to the last page.

I loved it.

I was not sure how to rate this story. On one hand I loved the fact that Edward was different and it is shown so well in this story. He tried really hard to overcome his issues and he did for the most part. I also liked Georgiana and her family, they were loving and she gave all of the love she had to give. I did not feel the connection between these two. It was like they were compromised into getting married and lived that way the entire time. I am not convinced that they lived happily ever after but maybe that was intentional.

Eva Devon creates the most wonderful historical romance! Georgiana and Edward are such a wonderful couple. From their first meeting you can feel the attraction between the two. When caught in a compromising position the two have no choice but to wed. He thinks she will make a lousy Duchess, she thinks he is cold. Can this marriage have more? Readers will enjoy this book from the very first page.

4 stars

An interesting read. Definitely a nod to Pride and prejudice. Georgianna has many sisters. She likes walking on the moors and reading. She shares a bed with her elder sister Elizabeth. She's dismissive of our hero, Edward. Her mother, this time is the reasonable one with the father as the impulsive and likely to cause problems parent. Edward's been promoted to a Duke, though sounds like he's on the autistic spectrum, become obsessive over somethings, doesn't like social situations, needs to have down time alone...and like Sheldon in the Big Bang Theory comes a cropper when Georgianna is in his spot. Having lived a life were people are generally subservient to him, he finds Georgianna's attitude very confusing.

Georgianna works hard to become a Duchess whereas it takes Edward a long time to get with the programme. The passion and romance is well written. I enjoyed the book and will look out for the others in this series.

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

I actually really enjoyed this book. It was short and sweet. Full of romance and just the right amount of heat. I had trouble in the beginning of reading this book, but likely the story picked up and the writing style got better. I really liked the character development too. Overall a nice and easy read.

Loved this book and this author. Sweet without being cloying, steamy without being overwrought. A great read about an unlikely meeting that turns into a love match. A new twist on boy meets girl that resonates,

Like the best regency romance novels, The Spinster and the Rake hits all of the right feelings; cute, cheesy, historical, and sexy. While the first few chapters are difficult to get into, the characters romance is filled with fun banter and teasing. Overall, this book is really cute and fun but it had a few issues with historical inaccuracies and unnecessary subplots.

My biggest issue with this book is that the male main character felt the need to tell his wife about his 'true self'. I think the author was implying his is autistic, but of course this story is set at a time when autism wasn't even named. All that talk about his 'true self' was kind of cringey and I lost interest towards the end of the book. Also, it was never explained why he is considered a rake. The character building was kind of lacking but it was an enjoyable read.

"The Spinster and the Rake" by Eva Devon
Yes, I loved this story. There is never a dull moment as this story unfolds. Follow the adventures as two people from diverse levels of society learn their lessons borne out of love. Because I so enjoyed this story, I think that everyone else will too. Happy Reading ! !
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher. This review is my honest opinion.

Eva Devon has always been a must-read author for me and I promise you if you read this beautiful story you will love her books as much as I do. Her heroes and heroines are amazing. Edward Stanhope, the Duke of Thornfield lives a very ordered life. He doesn't enjoy Soiree's, parties, picnics, or anywhere that he has to be around large groups, he prefers the company of his dog over most people with the exception of his Aunt who raised him after his parents died. He is an excellent steward of his estates and the people who depend upon him for their livelihood. He is considered to be cold-natured, arrogant, and rude.

Miss Georgiana Bly is a spinster and content with no prospects for her future. She concentrates on keeping her family afloat in spite of her father's foolishness. At one of the house parties her mother insists she attend she has found the perfect hiding place away from the festivities. Finding a good book she settles down to read in a chair by the fireplace when she is discovered by the rudest servant she has ever encountered. He orders her to get out. When she refuses he threatens to kiss her. What happens next will change her life forever.

Edward has autism which in his era was considered madness. He has kept his secret by having places and mental exercises that help him to cope with the outside world that he has to be part of. Georgiana doesn't know and she is bewildered and hurt by his actions. Can Edward trust her with his secret? Will they live their HAE?

A beautiful story about how love can change lives. Edward never expected to fall in love. His handicap has ruled his whole life, now he is discovering that he can let Georgiana into his life and heart and he will be safe with her. The passion is hot, intense, and an intricate part of the story. There are wonderful moments of laughter, frustrating bouts of misunderstanding, and tear inducting heartfelt confessions. I have been reading Eva's books for a long time. This one rates at the top for me. I cannot wait for the next one in the series. Do not miss this one!!!

Oh my gosh, what a fantastically engaging story! I inhaled it in one afternoon because I simply HAD to know what was going to happen next. This was not only a story of falling in love with a spouse, but also finding familial love and the joys it may also bring. (The scene between the Duke and his father-in-law left me gutted.)

This was my first book by Eva Devon but it certainly won’t be my last, and I can’t wait to visit this world again.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

He's a duke who can't stand crowds and is trying to avoid a marriage trap. She's a spinster who's not fond of parties and is sitting in *his* chair in *his* library. And oops, they have to get married.

I found this book to be low angst and very soft. It was a fast read with characters I enjoyed and good tension between the characters. I skimmed through the story like gliding along on ice skates. Part of this may be that there can be a lot of time between scenes which passes without mention.

The hero is neurodivergent - he has trouble reading faces, gets overwhelmed in crowds, and becomes hyperabsorbed in tasks. But that term doesn't exist, so he's considered aloof and icy instead. The heroine comes from a far less prestigious family, so there's a bit of a My Fair Lady story as well, as she needs to be trained up for her new position.

I really enjoyed a lot about this book and think it's a pleasant, easy read. I'm just not sure I'll remember much about it in six months.

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

Edward Stanhope, the Duke of Thornfield, prefers routine in his life and his own company to that of other people. His idiosyncrasies have given him a reputation for being cold which suits him just fine. But when his attempt to find solitude in his private library is thwarted by the strange woman sitting in his chair, their encounter devolves into a battle of wills and ends in a fiery kiss. Unfortunately, his aunt, along with several other houseguests, chooses that moment to enter his private domain and by the end of the night Edward finds himself toasting his engagement to Miss Georgiana Bly.

With no dowry and a family that is barely among the gentry, Georgiana never expected to marry and was content with her books. She’s wholly unprepared to become a duchess and now must spend nearly every moment with the surly duke and his aunt learning as much as she can about her new role. She finds herself surprisingly attracted to the duke and he seems to return that desire, however unwittingly, but as the date of their forced wedding draws nearer, it becomes apparent that connection may not be enough to create a peaceful union.

This book had to grow on me quite a bit. My first impression of the heroine was not a positive one; even if she thought Edward to be a servant, despite evidence to the contrary, her behavior towards him was rather unbearably arrogant and rude. Especially given her own station and her familiarity with people looking down on her, I would’ve expected better and this just made her come off as shrewish. I found the duke’s idiosyncrasies to be achingly relatable and his neurodiverse traits made him interesting and unique, especially in a historical. He had no idea how to communicate effectively with Georgiana, but he kept trying and I loved that. I also came to appreciate Georgiana’s tenacity and her eventual support and understanding of Edward while she also pushed him to grow as a person.

There was clear physical chemistry between Edward and Georgiana, but I loved that they actually worked to learn each other’s love languages and develop a true relationship beyond that physical connection. I liked that these main characters both had issues to overcome individually as well. There was clear influence from Pride and Prejudice here, resulting in an opportunity for Edward to show himself to be quite a good man. The quiet romance between Georgiana’s sister, Elizabeth, and Edward’s best friend, the Earl of Montrose, was quite cute, but I thought Georgiana did let Edward down a bit in this sequence. The writing was rather clunky in places, there were some plot points introduced that went unresolved and a couple of scenes which were a bit over-the-top, but overall, this was an entertaining read with adorably awkward main characters.

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

As the parent of someone on the autism spectrum, I recognized the issue the hero, Edward, Duke of Thronfield, was struggling with. It's never actually mentioned as such (autism wasn't know at the time) but Edward knows he's different. He is used to being thought of as cold and unfeeling, because he is uncomfortable with people and becomes focussed on tasks, ignoring those around him. . Enter Georgiana, a warmhearted bluestocking, who is caught in a compromising position with Edward after she goes into his library to escape from the crowd. The development of the relationship between the two is moving and made for a very enjoyable read..

It all starts in a library, a misunderstanding and concludes with a kiss and an unwanted marriage. Georgiana is a bold and honest heroine and must marry a cold and domineering Duke, Edward. I enjoyed their banter as they grew to know each other. I especially enjoyed reading their passion blossom and lead to love. Edward was a different hero than most and his back story was very intriguing!.

An endearing period piece...
Eva Devon's introduces us to Miss Georgiana Bly and Edward Stanhope, the Duke of Thornfield in her historical romance, The Spinster and the Rake.  While they orbit the same upper swath of society their worlds could not be farther apart.  A match between the two would normally never happen, but neither Georgiana nor Edward are "normal" by the standards of the day, preferring solitude and a single life over the crushing weight they feel when surrounded by a large number of people.  It's this social disorder that brings them unexpectedly together, where they find both an attraction and a challenge in the other.  But a totally spontaneous kiss, caught by Edward's aunt, results in a betrothal that neither are prepared to handle.

The Spinster and the Rake is a fascinating emersion in the upper crust life of England in the late 1700s.  For the most part the characters, setting, and story feel authentic.  There were however a few moments that gave me pause, and my subsequent 4 Star review.  The thought that a single kiss would force a betrothal, when you have already painted Edward as a Rake in the title, seemed a bit of a stretch, in my mind.  I also felt there was some inconsistency in the main characters; reclusive and timid one moment then forthright and strong in the the next.  I believe Eva was going for growth in both Georgiana and Edward, but this transition felt forced and not believable.

From the title you would expect The Spinster and the Rake to be your run of the mill bodice ripper.  While it definitely has many of the appealing traits of those types of historical romances, it is actually a story with much more depth and poignancy.  This is not an enemies to lovers type of story.  Rather it is an example of love growing, little by little, through the process of trust; where the most intimate parts of ones being, that are shared with very few, if anyone, are revealed.  Eva Devon imparts a beautiful message, woven into a wonderfully entertaining period piece; life is so much fuller and happier when you find that person who sees you as you are and loves you more for it.

The Spinster and the rake was a fast paced, fun read. I really enjoyed Edward’s character-especially because I could relate to his dislike of crowds and desire to control things around him. Georgiana was very brave and book smart which was a lot of fun.

I really loved how these two brought out new aspects on each other. They had great banter and arguments but you could feel the chemistry between them.

There was a Pride and Prejudice vibe for sure. Several scenes and lines felt almost verbatim from the movie. It was fun to look for the nods to P&P while reading.

This book was easy to visualize and read. The pacing was fast and overall this was a really enjoying read!

I have just finished watching Bridgerton on Netflix and after reading the blurb on this book, thought that this was a similar title to dive into while I await for the next season. I was a bit disappointed, this is not the witty, romantic equivalent it claims to be. The storyline does have a lot of potential—I really wish the author would have latched on and delved deep into character's, as I felt she barely grazed the surface of who they are and where they stand in society. I was immediately drawn to our heroine Georgianna. She was fiery, middle class, and of course loved to read. When she is forced into a marriage because her bravado is a bit too much for the Duke of Thornfield I am right there alongside our girl as she fights her way to learn about the society she really doesn't care at all about.
Unfortunately, that is where my love affair ends. We don't see struggle in society, we don't hear the whispers, we don't see the crushing realization that Georgianna's desire to live a lonely, sheltered life in a bookstore has come to a VERY sudden end.
Honestly, there is barely a plot until you are almost 3/4 of the way through the novel. The tension that the author built up in the first few chapters between the Duke and Georgianna fizzle just as quickly as they start, more of a lighting of a match rather than the slow burn of the woodpile. There is a number of repetitive "he's so great" "she's so smart" comments, but the emotion was flat, those repetitive moments make their impact feel forced rather than truthful. We really don't get much of a plot either as they are both amiable to the marriage in order to "do their duty" and "help their family" so the marriage itself wasn't an obstacle; and neither was the physicality of the couple either -- there was no tension and for Georgianna to be portrayed as a strong, independent thinker, I thought her a bit to eager to be deflowered. In short, there was no character development - they both remained unchanged.
I also was unsure how old Georgianna was supposed to be. In the first chapters, it is mentioned that she is not even out in society yet, however, she is attending this grand ball—women in the time period were usually making their entrance into society around the age of 16, so if she hasn't done so yet, perhaps because her older sister is still unmarried, she could be 16-17 years old at the oldest, or even younger. That also then made me question how old the Duke is, since he seems quite overbearing, due to take a wife, and overall his character seemed far older than Georgianna; and yet he seemed too childlike in other instances.
That brings me to the first substantial plot point of the Duke's childhood; it was too easy solved and glossed over, following the second plot point being an even easier and even more amiable solution to that as well. For those of you who want a quick read, that doesn't require much thought, and is predictable even beyond the genre's scope of thematic needs, then I would recommend to add this to your shelves. That being said, I will not be back for book two. Originally I thought one star, but decided on two stars for the strong beginning.

Ooooh!!! I love a book that gets right into the action from the first chapter!

A matter of mistaken identity finds our icy Duke engaged to a local woman at the edge of genteel respectability when they are found kissing at his ball. Though Thornfield my have the countenance of a block of ice, his sense of honour and duty will not allow him to ignore his responsibilities. This finds our un-likely soon-to-be duchess Georgiana busy learning all the things she will need to know to become a proper and respectable duchess.

Our Duke and Duchess may seem like and unlikely paring, but add some shared interest, honesty and mutual respect and these two are electric. When our icy duke shares his true self and Georgiana accepts all of him, my heart melted!!

I was captured by immediately by our arrogant Duke and our bookish and barely gentry heroine. They have sparks from the beginning and continue to challenge and bring out the best parts of each other, even when they don’t know it, throughout the whole story! This book had all the great elements from Pride and Prejudice and My Fair Lady to make it a must read!

The only thing that had me confused was the labeling of Georgiana as a spinster. She had older sisters, that were not considered spinsters, I feel she was more a wallflower or a bluestocking…

The Spinster and the Rake by Eva Devon is scheduled to release February 9th, 2021.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Entangled Publishing and NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#TheSpinsterandtheRake #EvaDevon #NetGalley #pinkcowlandreads

**I received an ARC on NetGalley, all opinions are my own.**

This book was pretty cute! Let's start with what I loved: autism rep (implied), different social classes trope, and fun antics throughout! This book was clearly very inspired by Pride and Prejudice- there are many similarities, but it didn't take away overall from the plot. I didn't love that the heroine was portrayed as having social anxiety, only for that to disappear as soon as she becomes betrothed to the Duke.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, but I don't think it did anything particularly groundbreaking. I would pick up another book by this author again!