Historical
The Last Rake In London
By Dottie
Jul 16, 2008 - 10:03:32 AM

In 1908, Sally Bowes, the eldest daughter and sister to Connie and Petronella, is the owner of the Blue Parrot, the most successful nightclub in London.  The prominent businesswoman was married once before, but she had been on the verge of divorcing her abusive husband when he suddenly died of influenza.  It did not matter that she was the injured party, the almost divorce robbed Sally of her place in polite society, forcing her to make a new place for herself in the world.  Despite Sally’s ice cool appearance and widow status, she is inexperienced when it comes to men.  Her father’s tragic death left her filled with guilt so she tries to make up for it by taking care of her sisters although they are grown women now.

Jack Kestrel, of the ancestral line of the Dukes of Kestrel, is considered to be the last Kestrel rake.  Banished at a young age over a scandal involving a married woman – the only woman whom he ever loved, he still feels such guilt over her death that he will not even speak of her.  During the time of his banishment, his allowance was cut off.  However, Jack became a self-made man and made his own fortune.  Now he is back in London.

Looking for the beautiful Miss Bowes, who is his cousin Bert’s latest mistress and also described as “a woman greedy enough to blackmail a dying man,” Jack goes to the art exhibit where he is led to believe he will find her.  However, he mistakenly believes Sally Bowes is the one he is seeking.  When he discovers that her sister Connie is really the blackmailer, he threatens to ruin the Blue Parrot unless he gets the notes back.  Though he desires Sally, he does not know if he can trust her or if she is also involved in this fiasco with her sister.  As they wait for Connie to return from her night out on the town, Sally agrees to have dinner with him.  Waiting for Sally to dress for dinner, Jack gambles at her tables in the Blue Parrot.  By the time Sally is ready, Jack has won a fortune from the house.  Fearing that this is his way of ruining her business, she entices him to take her to dinner and thus, stop his gambling.  However, to her surprise, he has an offer for her, all his winnings for one night with her.  Sally does not understand the attraction she feels towards this man she has just met, especially since he is threatening her business. Will she take him up on his offer?  Can she keep him from ruining her business?

THE LAST RAKE IN LONDON is a steamy, enjoyable historical romance.  I could not put this book down and read it in one sitting.  Readers will be engrossed in the story as they watch Jack and Sally work together to overcome their vulnerabilities and give in to their attraction for each other, though they do not understand the strength of the desire they feel for one another.  The witty dialogue, sizzling, seductive romance, irresistible secondary characters and the well-matched hero and heroine make this a memorable read – one that stays in the memory for some time.  THE LAST RAKE IN LONDON is a book that I will keep to read repeatedly.