The Rake Who Rescued Me by Samantha Holt on June 11, 2018
Genres: Historical Romance
Pages: 222
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
Goodreads
Amazon
Dashing and rakish by day, secretive and daring by night, Reed Valentine, Duke of Keswick’s uncanny ability to lie at a moment’s notice makes him an ideal candidate to spy for His Majesty’s Secret Service. But now that the war is over, and Napoleon is exiled to the island of St. Helena, he finds himself adrift. The life of a wealthy nobleman isn’t enough to satisfy him. When the government tasks him with one last mission—to find out who is trying to kill Napoleon—Reed takes on the job with gusto. Disguising himself, he slips into the Romani world while convinced that one of them will know who was responsible for the attempt. Orelia finds herself charmed by the stranger in their midst. When he comes to her rescue, however, that infatuation quickly comes to an end. As far as Orelia is concerned, the Romanis are being used as scapegoats—as usual. She’s determined to prove Reed wrong. Together, they set out to find the truth. With their combined quick tongues and ability to slip in and out of society, it should be easy. But the more time spent together, the harder it becomes to understand—why can’t a duke and a poor gypsy girl be together? Will their wits be enough to carry them through their treacherous journey and bring them together, or will their differences and the danger force them apart?
A daring duke who spied for his country during the Napoleonic War finds himself in need of help from the Romani woman he recently rescued to complete his latest mission. I was happy to pick up new to me author, Samantha Holt’s book featuring a class and race difference romance paired with a large dose of espionage adventure.
Orelia is half-Romani, with the other half her long-gone father’s English blood. This makes her not enough to the rest of the Romani including her mother, but neither is she acceptable to the English. She pretends to tell fortunes when her mother is too drunk to leave their caravan wagon and this brings her into contact with a dashing gent who is more than he appears to be.
Reed is a wealthy, handsome duke and lately his mother has been throwing prospective brides at him right and left even encouraging the women to entrap him into matrimony. Reed prefers his freedom and his double life as a spy for the Crown. His latest mission has him investigating the attempted murder of Napoleon himself. If the late emperor dies in English custody, it might very well re-spark the war. The only clues so far lead to a band of Romani.
At first, he simply wanted to rescue the pretty fortune teller from her abusive mother and the fate that was planned for her, but Orelia might be the help he needs to get answers. She turns out to be much more than that. They are so far out of each other’s social sphere, but there is surprising common ground besides the crackling attraction when they work together.
The Rake Who Rescued Me had a fun premise and romance promise that met my expectations when I picked this one up. There are anachronisms and great improbability, but at heart, it was a light story I found entertaining. Reed might have all the outward advantages, but he can’t appreciate what he’s got and is bored by it all until Orelia, who came from nothing and couldn’t even read when he found her, joins him. She can’t imagine the excessive wealth and power he simply takes for granted and she thoroughly understands where his mother is coming from even if the woman wants Orelia gone. I enjoyed seeing how Reed saw beauty and brains in Orelia when she didn’t and they helped each other. Reed learned a great deal how to treat people and consider their needs even as Orelia flourished under his tender care. I liked that they didn’t act on their attraction until later in the piece when there were other ties between them.
Kudos to the author for including a capable deaf character in Reed’s brother, Noah who ran the large ducal estate, backed him in a ride to rescue, and saw worth in Orelia from the start.
All in all, this was definitely a fairytale-esque story, but I was expecting it and enjoyed what I got. Those who want light and entertaining class difference historical romance should consider this one.
Kindle freebie on January 22, 2020 (currently $4.99 on Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited as of writing this post)
Overall rating 4.00 with 621 ratings and 72 reviews
As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing.Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many wonderful books, authors, and narrators.Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and romance.Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.
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Love the sounds of this esp with an inclusive cast!
Yeah, the inclusiveness came as a surprise in some ways because I was expecting something along the typical lines when I picked it up.
So interesting to hear about a capable deaf character included in this! I wonder if I’ll ever run into a similar character in the coming years. I’m glad you had a blast with this one! It sounds great. 😀
Yes, I was excited to see Noah’s character and how strongly, independent he was. Definitely a fun freebie story. 🙂
Oh, I love when characters act a bit ahead of their time in historicals. As long as the story is a good one, it doesn’t bother me.
I treated this more like a non-magical fairytale so I didn’t mind all that much either. The story was strong enough to carry it.
Glad to hear you enjoyed this light historical romance despite some of the anachronisms and improbabilities contained. Great that it was a freebie!
Yes! One of those lucky freebie gems. 🙂
I am loving the sound of this one. Thanks for putting it on my radar.
Sure thing! Turned out to be a gem of a freebie. 🙂