If You Give a Rake a Ruby
Shana Galen
Book #2 of the Jewels of the Ton series
Publication: March 5th 2013 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Historical Romance
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Her Mysterious Past Is The Best Revenge ...
Fallon, the Marchioness of Mystery, is a celebrated courtesan with her finger on the pulse of high society. She’s adored by men, hated by their wives. No one knows anything about her past, and she plans to keep it that way.
Only He Can Offer Her A Dazzling Future ...
Warrick Fitzhugh will do anything to protect his compatriots in the Foreign Office, including seduce Fallon, who he thinks can lead him to the deadliest crime lord in London. He knows he’s putting his life on the line ...
To Warrick’s shock, Fallon is not who he thinks she is, and the secrets she’s keeping are exactly what make her his heart’s desire ...
Fallon, the Marchioness of Mystery, is a celebrated courtesan with her finger on the pulse of high society. She’s adored by men, hated by their wives. No one knows anything about her past, and she plans to keep it that way.
Only He Can Offer Her A Dazzling Future ...
Warrick Fitzhugh will do anything to protect his compatriots in the Foreign Office, including seduce Fallon, who he thinks can lead him to the deadliest crime lord in London. He knows he’s putting his life on the line ...
To Warrick’s shock, Fallon is not who he thinks she is, and the secrets she’s keeping are exactly what make her his heart’s desire ...
I've been a huge fan of Shana Galen for a while and recommend her books to Historical Romance fans looking for refreshing plot and romance. I'd still recommend her, but I have to say I was a bit disappointed with If You Give a Rake a Ruby.
Fallon, the Marchioness of Mystery, is no diamond-in-the-rough in book one, When You Give a Duke a Diamond. She's a ruby—dark, alluring, seductive, full of depth and secrets. But in If You Give a Rake a Ruby, she was a typical Romance heroine—a "gutter-rate" in disguise who didn't think she was good enough for anyone and found love too painful. While I appreciated her survival skills, there was no mystery about her.
Warrick Fitzhugh, on the other hand, has a interesting past. Although he comes from a highly influential family, he's removed from everyone around him, focusing mainly on his duty as a spy even though he's retired. I loved how he wasn't a stud—tall, dark, the stereotypical gentlemen—and how it was his unyielding will that made him so desirable. I, also, really appreciated how the author captured PTSD, in his case. It was moving, very jarring and emotional.
The overall story was good, though not far from surprising. It lacked the mystery I've come to expect with Shana Galen's work. Likewise, while the writing was great, it missed the usual humor, and the love scenes were steamy yet the Romance happened too fast.
If You Give a Rake a Ruby was good but not great. I enjoyed the previous book, When You Give a Duke a Diamond much more. It definitely piqued my interest for book three and Lily's story, though, and I'd recommended it for fans of a little dirty talk, a light espionage plot, and characters with less than perfect pasts.
eArc courtesy of Netgalley and Sourcebooks publishing. Thank you!
I had hoped this would be outstanding, darn and double darn..but with so many books I am going to pass, I want more..LOL thanks for sharing your thoughts!
ReplyDeleteI know. I had high hopes for this one, too. The third book seems it'll be really interesting, though. Lily is more mysterious than all of the Diamonds. I don't blame you for you passing either. LOL. Time is valuable and of the essense. We need to pick books with care; there are so many of them. Thanks for stopping through, Kimba!
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