The Midnight Rake by Anabelle Bryant

The Midnight Rake
Three Regency Rogues #3

Anabelle Bryant
Historical Romance
Published in 2015

H/h - Phineas Betcham, Viscount Fenhurst/Penelope Rosebery
Setting: Regency England.

Read in July, 2015.

My rating:

3 stars, no full review for this either. This could've been a much better read. It had some hilarious moments involving a macaw and it's equally hilarious lines (very unsubtle attempt from the H's mother, the owner of the dratted bird, to get him to marry ASAP :p). However:

1. The h, Penelope, was a bit of a TSTL. She'd be perfectly fine, then do something that'd set my eyes rolling. She had a suitor that jilted her at the altar and rob her family off of money and valuable stuff, on the same day. When her father dies after the shock of being ruined (mother passed away long ago), she and her younger sister, Aubrey, are forced to come to London since they were in dire financial trouble. Her plan was to seek out that guy and confront him about the money and valuables. I understood she was desperate, so I didn't mind it at first even though she had no idea of what to do, no plans to speak of. I didn't mind it when Phineas's generous and kind mother, The Countess of Fenhurst, took them in but Penelope decides not to divulge everything to veritable strangers. I knew she was ashamed as she held herself responsible for their ruin, so I thought it was fine. Then, she and Phineas finally acknowledge their feelings, with him knowing everything and trying to avenge her. He knew that man to be dangerous and made sure Penelope knew as well. She knew she isn't supposed to be going out, alone, and anywhere near him. Yet, in the end, why would she willingly step into that guy's trap just because he send her a letter stating she meet him urgently... alone? That was so..... *SMH* It didn't work that the author made it look like it was Phineas's fault somehow.

2. This reminds me of something that I forgot to add earlier; Phineas's butler calling the Countess 'Her Grace' in one scene in the beginning... er, isn't that something saved only for Dukes and Duchesses (Her/His/Your Grace)?

3. Why is this story titled The Midnight Rake? Phineas was an adorable H TBH; kind, honest and a veritable gentleman. Not even a womanizer from whatever I saw in this book and the previous installments; so far from what a 'rake' by definition is. The only woman I saw him panting after the whole story was Penelope, which is how it should be, so I don't see the point.

Now I need to know if poor Julia, Phineas's younger sister, has a story or not. After being ignored by her crush Devlin in book 2 and dropped by her spineless suitor in this one, she deserves her HEA! She may come off a bit strong sometimes but I don't think she has harmed anyone to have to suffer so. *sigh*

Duke of Darkness by Anabelle Bryant

Duke of Darkness
Three Regency Rogues #2

Anabelle Bryant
Historical Romance
Published in 2014

H/h - Devlin Ravensdale, the Duke of Wharncliffe/Alexandra Grantchester
Setting: Regency England.

Read in July, 2015.

My rating:

3.5 stars because even after all the things that bugged me throughout, it was an entertaining read. No full review so I'm just gonna try to summarize a bit of what bugged me.

The plot was predictable, characters melodramatic (I did quite a bit of eye-rolling). It wasn't as dark as I thought it'd be, not even by half. I also agree with one review that says Dukes were the highest ranking peer, right after the Royalty, so Devlin being shunned by the Ton for whatever reasons was unbelievable. He was young, handsome with an air of mystery about him. He was as rich as, if not more, than Croesus. Any mama with a marriageable daughter would feel grateful if she could make him her son-in-law. No one cared about a Duke's private life or family drama. They wanted the social status that went with the marriage.

Even Lexi's father's (who is not a peer) dismissive attitude towards him was unbelievable.

Lexi was so 'perfect' in everything (from looks to deportment) that I found nothing special about her. And it felt like Devlin basically fell for her because of her beauty, since that's what he'd been waxing poetics about throughout, over and over again. A case of insta-lust, definitely. Love, maybe... don't know.

Last, but not the least, all the while Devlin stated that he was used to living his life the way he wanted to, society can go take a hike seeing how they treated him due to his family's scandalous past. He wanted Lexi more than anything in the world too. Then why, even knowing Lexi returns his affection, he'd balk several times citing reasons like she's his ward, that the society will shun her too etc. etc? Even when she said she didn't care about any of that? I mean, he lived by his own rules, nothing should've stand in his way to marry Lexi and make her his own! Very contradictory IMO. *SMH*

Good writing and had potentials but, as a whole, wasn't executed well enough.

To Love a Wicked Scoundrel by Anabelle Bryant

To Love a Wicked Scoundrel
Three Regency Rogues #1

Anabelle Bryant
Historical Romance
Published in 2014 (ARC review)

H/h - Constantine Highborough, the Earl of Colehill/Isabelle Rossmore
Setting: Regency London.

Read in May/June, 2014

My rating:

                                              [spoiler alert]

To Love a Wicked Scoundrel is a debut novel by Anabelle Bryant. I was quite impressed with the author’s writing style because it was so seamlessly flowing. Though, at first, I had some issued with the storyline and its characters, I quite enjoyed reading it.

Isabelle has loved living in the country all her life. Though her father was a nobleman, she has never had any interest in the glittering world of London. It’s probably because her mean father never once made it a secret that she was a sore disappointment for not being a boy. There was also times when he’d go and criticize her gangly appearance and plain looks. Isabelle grew up believing all these negativity about herself, now, at 26, thoroughly resigned to becoming a spinster. Her father, recently deceased, remarried a while ago. Isabelle’s step-mother, Meredith, is much younger than him. They too have another daughter, Lily, who is now 6. Yes, Isabelle thought she’s content to spend time in her garden, chasing Lily around the house or listening to her incessant chattering and curious questions; all things she loves and enjoys. But Meredith has another plan for them. Now that she’s a widow, she wants to ‘enjoy’ life to the fullest. She has a target in her mind too- to peruse the alluring charmer and the favorite scoundrel of the Ton, the rakish Lord of Highborough, Constantine or Con, for a whirlwind affair. It’s said in the broadsides that Con is well-known for his rakish pursuits of beautiful widows, if not for his splendid golden good-looks. So Meredith, being a beauty herself, thinks she has a good chance of starting her time in London with a bang!