I loved these two sisters the most and their moxy. and perhaps the rest of the series will be good too.

I loved this book- the two sisters are really great, and I love their gumption. I also enjoy a little antagonism between love interests. I like Leo, and I enjoy a bit of angst in a love story.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.

When Leo, Earl of Salcott, discovers that when he inherited the title, he also inherited guardianship of Clarissa, the heiress daughter of a notorious rake. Thinking it'd be easy to take her to London, and get her married off before long, he doesn't expect that Clarissa would refuse to go without her half-sister, Isobel, whose illegitimate status and lack of a dowry will be hard to explain away. Deciding to pretend the sisters are legitimate, both enter the Marriage Mart, and are a tremendous success. So why is Leo's so angry that Izzy has men flocking to her?

I enjoyed this book even more than the first one, and The Scoundrel's Daughter was a joy to read. I love books that have couples who rub each other up the wrong way the first time they meet, though sparks fly. And that was clearly the case with Leo and Izzy. Their personalities are both very vibrant, and though they might not appear to bring out the best in each other, they do, and I loved the way their relationship developed over the course of the story. The relationship between the sisters was great too, and the fact that Clarissa had fought for years for the same rights and privileges of Izzy was perfect. A great addition to the series, and I can't wait for Anne's next book!

Witty banter, engaging characters, an adversaries-to-lovers romance, and two sisters who outwit our hero at every turn make this Regency romance a delight.

I adored Izzy and Clarissa. It was so heartening to watch the bond developed as children - when illegitimate Izzy was dumped on their father's doorstep following her mother's death - grow stronger as they became young women. I loved that while each woman was unique, and very different from the other, they were also equally devoted to and protective of one another. I want to see more of them and am hoping Gracie decides to write a book for Clarissa. She deserves her own happily ever after!

Leo took some warming up to, with his class-conscious beliefs, but he came around nicely in the end. Even though his behavior was consistent with the times, it did not initially endear him to me. He'd obviously never encountered anyone like Izzy - or Clarissa - before which made their encounters so much fun to observe. Izzy challenged him at every opportunity, managing to turn pretty much everything he believed on its head. Adding in the sizzling, and unwelcome, chemistry between them left him all the more confused, and frustrated, which, of course, made his and Izzy's journey all the more enjoyable for me, the reader.

Fans of Gracie will undoubtedly enjoy guest appearances by some favorite characters from other books. But there are also new characters introduced who comprise a somewhat quirky and entertaining secondary cast. I especially enjoyed Leo's reclusive aunt, Lady Scattergood, his majordomo, Matteo, and his best friend, Lord Randall. I do hope we'll be seeing more of all of them in a future book.

This is the second book in a series. There are some appearances by characters from book one but The Rake's Daughter can absolutely be enjoyed on its own if you choose to begin here.

4.5 stars
ARC received for fair and unbiased review

The Rake's Daughter by Anne Gracie is book Two in The Brides of Bellaire Gardens Series. This is the story of Leonard “Leo” Thorne, the sixth Earl of Salcott and Isoble "Izzy. Leo has return to town to find that he has been mistakenly inherited a ward. That ward is Clarissa Studley who has brought her younger illegitimate sister Izzy with her. This starts their story. I am a big fan of Ms. Gracie's writing so I do recommend this book.

An easy but disappointing love story where I rooted for the heroine to tell the hero that he didn’t deserve her and find her happy ending elsewhere. It just isn’t romantic to read about a man insulting and undermining a woman for her social position, even if he is following period-appropriate norms. Points reduced for an oddly callous suicide reference at the end of the book.

The Rake’s Daughter by Anne Gracie is a Regency-era romance that uses an unusual scenario to give us that riveting tension between love and societal expectations. The story begins with Clarissa and Isobel (Izzy) – sisters by a different mother, daughters of an ill-tempered, degenerate rake. Improbably, and through sheer force of will, they manage to grow up together on their father’s country estate, hiding Izzy from his eyes and his ire when he infrequently visits. When he dies, he leaves his “legitimate” daughter, Clarissa, under the guardianship of the Earl of Salcott, who is no longer the man he knew, but the man’s son of the exact same name, Leo.

Leo has spent a great deal of his young life missing out on the usual young man things, instead caring for ailing father and the family estate. The guardianship is thrust upon him and like every other burden in his life, he feels deeply responsible for shepherding Clarissa’s coming out in London society and getting her married so that she gets the inheritance her nasty father left her. But Clarissa comes with her sister, Izzy, who is a social liability.

What Leo does not count on is both the devotion and inseparability of the two sisters, and his attraction to Izzy, the bastard daughter, who categorically should be undesirable and out of sight. He wants Clarissa to debut by herself, because the ton cannot abide by a bastard. It is just not done. Of course, the sisters have other ideas. And Izzy is so attractive, and smart, and full of life. She really shorts circuits his brain and it is enjoyable to watch.

Leo’s fidelity to rules of society makes him a flawed character. I feel like in many historical romances I’ve read lately, it’s become a requirement that the hero and heroines can see beyond the conventions and morals of their times. But Leo spends most of the novel firmly in his time period, and I admit that makes him frequently difficult to like. In fact, at one point I felt he had dug himself such a significantly large hole with Izzy that he would never be able to fill it. Conversely, the ease with which Clarissa and Izzy subverted the expectations of society seemed a little glib.

I swallowed this novel whole. There are some wonderfully steamy garden scenes, and some fascinating secondary characters, like Leo’s aunt. I’m not sure I yet believe that Leo filled the hole he dug by the end, but he certainly made a start.

CW: allusions to sexual assault
Grade: B+

I wanted to love this book, but the chemistry between the leads wasn't quite it for me. Right book, wrong reader? Perhaps! Still enjoyable.

Her uncle takes illegitimate nine-year-old Izzy to her father's house to dump her off after her mother dies. He throws a fit saying he'll take her to the closest orphan asylum. His legitimate daughter, Clarissa, makes a stand and says Izzy is her sister and she's keeping her. They hide until their father leaves. Avoiding their little-seen father goes on for the next TEN years. The father dies and leaves his estate to a relative making the girls homeless. Leo becomes Clarissa's guardian by mistake. He's horrified to learn of Izzy and tries to buy her off to leave. The girls plan to come out to society together but Leo does everything he can to make it clear he will not be helping this immoral bastard. Instead of being a love interest, he's more of a grumpy father. Which makes it icky when he and Izzy do get together. Of course he blames her. She knows how babies are made. It's her fault for being with him. So many questions. The girls were never allowed to leave the estate. They could never play with other children. All they had was an elderly nanny who slept all the time. How could they even read? Let alone know all the society dances? (it was briefly mentioned they somehow had lessons). It was all rather creepy and would make a great horror movie.

Leo, the newly minted Earl of Salcott, has only just returned to England after a year spent travelling abroad, only to learn that he’s now the guardian to an heiress, the daughter of one of his father’s rakish friends. Along with the heiress comes her half-sister, Isobel, who is beautiful, but illegitimate and with no fortune at all. Leo is tasked with bringing heiress Clarissa out in society and finding her a husband, but Izzy’s illegitimate birth makes it impossible for her to expose her to society.

Unfortunately, the girls absolutely refuse to be parted and insist they will come out together or not at all. For them, it’s worth the risk of ruin when and if Izzy’s true birth circumstances come to light. They frustrate Leo at every turn, but he’s unable to sway them and he’s beginning to find Izzy maddening in other, more inconvenient ways as well.

When Leo must leave town to handle business at his country estate for a few days, he leaves the girls with instructions to stay home and consider their options. On his return, he learns that Clarissa and Izzy have entered society all on their own and they’re both immensely popular. Leo is left with no choice but to step into the social whirl and protect Clarissa from fortune hunters, all the while resisting Izzy’s sharp wit and discreetly fending off the more unscrupulous men who are attracted to her beauty.

This was my first time ever reading this author, so I wasn’t sure what to expect, but this story definitely had more of a traditional regency feel to it. There was a little bit of steam, though I was actually surprised to find it when I was by that point expecting a completely closed door. Some of the story did seem to focus an inordinate amount of descriptive energy on some of the more mundane details, something that typically frustrates me and just makes me impatient, but I think it did work here for the most part, as it helped me feel more immersed in the Regency world the author was painting. That aspect also made this rather relaxing and escapist for me. Our hero, Leo, is basically the typical bumbling, clueless man who doesn’t have a clue how to talk to women and, as an added bonus, he doesn’t trust them either. He was pretty much a jerk right up until the very end of the book, to the point that it almost became part of his charm just because he was so incredibly clueless. He really helped the side characters Aunt Olive and Mrs. Price-Jones shine and I loved how they so expertly managed him without him ever noticing. They were hilarious, excellent supporting roles. Perhaps my favorite element here was the relationship between Clarissa and Isabelle. I don’t have a sister myself, but I do know that sisters are often very competitive, so it was nice to see how close these two were and how much they supported each other. Clarissa was very admirable in her happiness for Isabelle and I’m hoping she’ll get her own HEA soon as it is well-deserved. Isabelle was a likeable enough heroine, not especially compelling, but not over the top either. I liked that she stood up for herself and for her sister, especially against Leo’s grumpy, autocratic ways and refused to bend or be separated from her beloved sister. She stood up for herself even when others tried to judge her, but without coming off as shrewish, and I couldn’t help but like that. I must say, I didn’t feel very much romance between Leo and Isabelle, but the physical attraction and enemies to lovers vibes were there, just nothing that ever felt quite as deep as I wanted it to be. Otherwise, the character development here, especially in the secondary characters, was pretty spot on. Overall, though this story was very slow-paced, I did enjoy the escapist nature of it, and I’ll likely read more from this author.

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

I loved this book, with its tight bond between Clarissa and Izzy and the unlikely romance between Leo and Izzy. The book opened with the heart-grabbing introduction between Clarissa and Izzy and didn't let go until I'd read the last page.

Clarissa was the lonely and neglected daughter of the notorious rake, Sir Bartleby. One day a carriage appeared on their estate, carrying the illegitimate Izzy to become her father's responsibility. He intends to dump her in an orphanage, but Clarissa hides her away. Having discovered that Izzy is that coveted being of a sister, she flatly refuses to give her up, thwarting every attempt Sir Bartleby makes to separate them. Ten years later, upon their father's death, Clarissa finds herself the ward of Leo, Earl of Salcott. Though no provision was made for Izzy, Clarissa still refuses to be separated from her.

After a year away from England, Leo is horrified to discover he is Clarissa's guardian. He's even more horrified that Clarissa expects her half-sister to participate in the Season with her. Despite his predictions of scandal, and his attempt to buy off Izzy, nothing will convince them that it can't be done. He takes them to his aunt, Lady Scattergood, because they can't live with a bachelor, who informs him that she won't launch them into Society but will watch over them. In frustration at their stubbornness, he leaves for a few days at his estates after instructing them to stay home and behave.

Neither Clarissa nor Izzy has any intention of doing so. They came to London to find husbands, so they took matters into their own hands. I loved that they were fully aware of the risks but determined to do things their way. By the time Leo returned to London, the two women had successfully launched themselves. Leo was furious but could only hope to get both married before the scandal broke.

I loved the relationship between Izzy and Clarissa. Izzy is fully aware of her situation but loves Clarissa too much to abandon her. Clarissa is on the shy side and having Izzy with her gives her the confidence to handle Society's challenges. Whatever happens, they are there for each other, and the rest of the world can live with it - or not.

I thoroughly enjoyed the development of the relationship between Izzy and Leo. I was disappointed that Leo's opinion was influenced by a letter left by the girls' father in which he said terrible things about Izzy. Leo is rude and judgmental to her rather than paying attention to her actions. I loved seeing her stand up to him and push back against his attempts to separate her from Clarissa. Underneath the antagonism that characterizes their early encounters are sparks of attraction that neither wants to admit.

Leo and Izzy know that a relationship between them is impossible. Her illegitimacy makes her ineligible to be the bride of an earl, and she knows it. Leo's attitude is also driven by past experiences with his parents and relationships with other women that leave him doubting his marital future. He and Izzy must overcome their insecurities before they can open themselves up to a future together. I loved their interactions and seeing them grow closer despite their battles.

I loved the scene where their attraction pushed them over the edge. Neither one expected the intensity of their connection and what it meant for them. Leo made the expected offer, being an honorable man but made a terrible mess of it in his nervousness. I ached for Izzy and her feelings of hurt and disappointment. Her reaction was precisely what I expected, leaving Leo stunned and uncertain. I loved his "uh-oh" moment when he realized his mistakes, and his subsequent meeting with Lady Scattergood was fantastic. He knew what he needed to do but not how to make it happen.

At a ball that evening, a friend of their father's made offensive remarks about Izzy. I loved Leo's protectiveness and how he jumped to her defense. Everything he said was true but ambiguous enough to sow doubt. But the clear winner in the race to protect Izzy was Clarissa. Her staunch and unique way of doing so was excellent.

It was fun to see Leo's attempts at making amends with Izzy get thwarted as circumstances seemed to keep them apart. I loved seeing him finally break through the wall of support around her and get to say his piece. I thought he groveled quite well and earned his happy ending. Izzy also finally believed that she could have that future she dreamed of. The final chapter and epilogue were terrific. I can't wait for the next book - I hope it is Clarissa and Race's story!

Anne Gracie is a fantastic historical romance author with such fun and well done plots! I always enjoy getting to read one of her books and this book of course followed suit! I can't wait to read more from her in the future!

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review!

Full of wit, humor and love, The Rake’s Daughter by Anne Gracie is a perfect feel good romance that has you wanting more. The story is about two half-sisters that are the responsibility of Leo, Lord Salcott, and he must find a husband for the legitimate daughter Clarissa Studley, and do something with the illegitimate one, Isobel. The two girls are totally devoted to one another and plan to come out to London Society together or else! When Leo is called out of town to take care of estate business, the girls plan to play while the cat’s away. He returns to find them successfully launched into Society and has to finagle things to keep Isobel’s reputation from harming Clarissa’s chances of marriage.

This story was a delightful and entertaining story. The author created a strong bond between the sisters and your heart felt for both these girls and their lonely childhood. Leo was a little harder to understand but he also had a tough childhood and lacked experience to fully understand his position and the bond the two women had for one another. The romance was a slow build and took a little time for Leo to understand his feelings and how his actions have mixed reactions. I thought it was an engaging plot and a good enemies to lover romance that came to a nice ending. It can be read as a stand-alone as this is the second one in the series. Can’t wait for Clarissa’s story and the nosy neighbor Millie

I received this book for free from Netgalley. That did not influence this review.

I haven’t read Anne Gracie before, but I just finished The Rake’s Daughter and now I have a new Regency Romance author to add to my must-read list.

Isobelle (Izzy) and Clarissa Studley are half-sisters. Clarissa is quiet, shy, pretty, and an heiress. Izzy is bold, sassy, extraordinarily beautiful, and she is illegitimate. Despite the differences that might have pushed them apart, the two are devoted to one another.

Their father was a rake and a truly awful man who did his best to cast Izzy into an orphanage or out on the streets while he was alive. If not for Clarissa’s determination to keep her hidden from his view, he would have succeeded. When he died, he could not deprive Clarissa of the trust her mother left her, but he could cut Izzy off without a penny. Moreover, his will stipulated that Clarissa’s guardian would be the Earl of Salcott, and he left the earl a deathbed letter warning him against Izzy, a spiteful letter full of lies.

The letter was meant for the previous earl, who is now deceased.

Leo Thorne is the new earl of Salcott, and he’s appalled to find himself suddenly saddled with the girls. He has no choice but to do his duty by Clarissa – taking her in, hiring a chaperone, and introducing her to the ton so that she can find a husband. But he can’t do that with Izzy hanging about. Illegitimate daughters do not come out as debutantes in Society. He can’t understand why the two girls don’t see that Izzy will hurt Clarissa’s chances. It’s his duty to make sure she does not.

He doesn’t trust Izzy, but he’s fascinated by her.

He has a few things to tend to on his country estate and leaves the young ladies with his reclusive aunt under strict orders to stay put. He hopes a few weeks of boredom will teach them a lesson and convince Izzy to accept a bribe to disappear. Instead, they launch themselves into Society. They are wildly successful, but all three are aware that they are living a lie. When Society discovers that they are hiding Izzy’s illegitimacy, they will all be spurned.

The loyalty and good-heartedness of both sisters and the unfairness of Izzy’s situation makes their scheming understandable and forgivable. Leo’s stodginess stems from betrayals in his past. His ability to admit when he’s in the wrong and apologize make him a strong and likeable protagonist despite his missteps.

Leo and Izzy find their way to one another despite Society’s obstacles. This is a delightful, charming romance. I’m looking forward to Clarissa’s story.

I enjoyed The Rake's Daughter by Anne Gracie. It is the second book in The Brides of Bellaire Gardens series but I think you can read this one even if you have not read book one.

Having recently returned to England, Leo, the new Earl of Salcott, discovers he is now the guardian of an heiress. While not ideal, he is determined he will fulfill the commitment but he wasn't counting on her bringing along her illegitimate half sister with her and he's a bit perplexed as to how to handle the situation.

Clarissa (legitimate) and Izzy (illegitimate) were great. I loved how we got a glimpse of how they came to know each other and from day one, I could see the devotion they have for one another and it was a great aspect to the story. Neither wanted to hurt the other and weren't willing to compromise their relationship for the sake of what the aristocracy thinks is acceptable or not.

Leo empathizes with both but he does everything he can to make them understand what is / is not appropriate but when he goes out of town, Clarissa and Izzy take things into their own hands and essentially launch themselves into society and they do it successfully! With no way to go back, Leo must join in and support. What he doesn't count on is his own attraction to Izzy and sparks fly between them whenever they are together.

I enjoyed how Gracie built out the many relationships in this book. I also think the story itself was engaging and kept me turning the pages. If you're looking for a new historical romance to pick up, consider picking this one up.

This is a sweet romance. Just when he is getting comfortable in his shoes, Leo finds to his chagrin that he has been named a guardian to a debutante. Not only does the young lady in question show up at his door shortly after he gets the news, but she's accompanied by her illegitimate sister. Her more beautiful and enchanting illegitimate sister.
All Leo's efforts to separate the sisters fail including his punishment to stay with his aunt and not to venture out into society. While he leaves for a few weeks to take care of his estates the girls find a way around his injunction and soon begin to enjoy making new friends and attending parties including throwing their own party which is the talk of the town.
Meanwhile Leo and Izzy have graduated from kissing to touching despite his staunch efforts to play the guardian card. His hot and cold behavior has Izzy confused and at times sad. Undaunted the girls continue on their merry way until both Izzy and Leo are forced to confront their feelings.
There are some great characters in this book. The old lady with her dogs and her agoraphobia but she's definitely progressive in her thinking and opinions. The colorful lady who comes to chaperone the girls while she's looking for a man for herself. The neighbor's daughter who is constantly spying on the girls and touting her mother's relationship to a duke.
All in love a fun, quick read that I enjoyed.

Leo, the new Earl of Salcott, is suddenly responsible for finding a marriage mate for his new ward, Clarissa. However, Clarissa does not come on her own. She is accompanied by her half-sister Isobel. Penniless and illegitimate, Izzy does not have a place in London society. Despite her lack of options, neither sister will accept any separation. To Leo's consternation, Clarissa thwarts Leo's attention to her situation any time he strives to ignore Izzy's needs.

There is a catch here. Leo cannot ignore the amazing draw he has to Izzy. He doesn't understand the chemistry that they share and he does his darndest to ignore it. To complicate matters further, when Leo leaves to attend to business elsewhere, the girls plot a plan that thrusts them both into society equally. How frustrating for Leo once he returns. Scandal is too close to comfort, especially when it comes to how Izzy and Leo begin to recognize the feelings they both have for each other.

The Rake's Daughter follows The Scoundrel's Daughter in the Brides of Bellaire Gardens series. Although I did read the first book in the series, readers will be happy to know that each book is easily read as a standalone novel. However, Anne Gracie's writing is such a delight that I am more than eager to read book three in this wonderful series.

Many thanks to Berkley and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Please enjoy my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/LkECMq8uxMA

From the first paragraph, I knew this book would be a good one. I immersed myself into the book from the first chapter and I cannot say enough good things about this book! Honestly amazing! The writing is incredible and the plot is just one to die for. I am absolutely obsessed with this book. My favorite part would have to be the character development throughout the book. Character development is something I look forward to and this book did not disappoint.

Sparkling with wit, style and charm, The Rake’s Daughter is the latest superb Regency romance from much-loved best-selling author Anne Gracie.

Leo, the Earl of Salcott, gets the shock of his life when, on returning to England, he is informed that he is now the guardian to a wealthy heiress. After finding out that he is now responsible for Miss Clarissa Studley, Leo thinks that he’s had his fill of surprises – until his ward turns up with her half-sister Isobel in tow! Charged with finding a husband for Clarissa, Leo doesn’t think that this will be too onerous an ordeal. Her sister though is a whole other matter as even though Izzy is beautiful, her lowly birth is sure to make all of society’s most eligible bachelors think twice about offering for her hand in marriage.

Clarissa and Izzy might be half sisters, but they are absolutely devoted to one another. Despite all of Leo’s efforts at persuading the sisters to have some time apart, Clarissa and Izzy refuse to be separated – which only serves to increase his ire and frustration! Nothing Leo says or does will convince them otherwise and as if he doesn’t have enough to contend with, lately he has been finding himself drawn to his ward’s stubborn, independent and beautiful half sister!

When Leo is called away to his country estate, he leaves specific instructions to the two sisters to stay quietly at home. However, no sooner has he set foot inside his carriage that Izzy and Clarissa find themselves getting up to no good! The enterprising siblings take advantage of Leo’s absence and launch themselves in society and they are soon the talk of the ton! Leo is furious that he has been disobeyed – especially as he must now enter society to protect Clarissa from fortune hunters and his own heart as he has fallen head over heels in love with Izzy!

Will Leo and Izzy have their own happy ever after? Or are there simply far too many obstacles standing in the way of their happiness?

Regency romance fans will be enraptured by Anne Gracie’s outstanding new novel, The Rake’s Daughter. Her writing is infused with humor, warmth and flair, her characters leap off the pages and the zingy banter, red-hot chemistry, exquisite evocation of the period and heart-melting love story is guaranteed to leave readers with a smile on their face and a tear in their eye.

A first class historical romance from a true virtuoso of the genre, Anne Gracie’s The Rake’s Daughter deserves a place on every reader’s keeper shelf!

✔️ really enjoyed this story - lot of witty dialogue and a cute romance
✔️ loved the sisterly love and dedication between Clarissa and Izzy
✔️ I don’t know why but the character of Millie totally reminds me of the character Nellie in the Little House on the Prairie series ( and I haven’t thought about this series in decades 🤷‍♀️) my fav quote “And my mama is second cousin to a duke.” 😂