Mary Jo Putney's "The Rake" with Illustrations by J.M.W. Turner

Anne Mammy: I became really involved in this book. Yes, it took place during the Regency era and all the background was very familiar, the clubs, the duels, the gambling hells, the search for an heir or heiress, but it was so much more. I particularly liked the study of the struggle to conquer alcoholism.
I've read reviews complaining that the eponymous hero was not enough of a rake. Well, that's as maybe but he had so many good qualities that one could not help but to be rooting for him. Moreover, after all the whole backbone of the book is that he tries to change from his earlier lifestyle.
I found all the characters very engaging, from little William to Stanton, Reggie's Godfather.
I suppose it could be argued that some strands in the story were a bit too obvious and the outcome did not hold any surprises. Well, possibly, but Regency romances are not thrillers! There was just enough adventure to keep the story rolling along nicely.
I was glad to discover that "The diabolical Baron" told Richard's story, so that is going to be my next read!

United Kingdom on May 23, 2023

amanx: I love MJP's books anyway- but this is truly a wonderful one. Absolutely one of her best, moving, intense and with a depth in the characters rare in this genre. Truly a special book. Has to be read if you ike this author or genre of novel- and itis a 'real' book. Not just a light read ( although it is that too in places) but a real in depth exploration of the deeper and darker aspects of the human psyche. A great book that will stand the test of time.

United Kingdom on Sep 17, 2019

Carol Cork: I read that THE RAKE is regarded as one of the most popular, most beloved historical romances ever written and I can now understand why, because I loved this book and it will definitely find a place among my all-time favourites.

At the age of thirty-seven, Reggie is the archetypal rake – his life having been spent in a continual round of womanising, gambling and hard drinking. But, as details of past events in his life are revealed, I appreciated how much these have shaped his current lifestyle. I like the fact that he does not blame his present circumstances on anyone but himself; he chose the path he took and admits to making unwise decisions. (I could not help thinking how different Reggie’s life might have been had he inherited Strickland all those years ago, and not been denied his birth right by his unfeeling uncle.)

Unlike so many other hard-drinking rakes who regularly grace the pages of Historical Romances, Reggie is an alcoholic, although he has yet to recognise the fact. It is only when he starts to suffer memory losses, which are becoming more frequent and longer in duration, does he accept that his current way of life is slowly killing him. Blaming...

United Kingdom on Aug 24, 2019

Judge Tabor: I purchased this book in 2012 and enjoyed it but didn't really consider it among my top favorites. Lately, I've been doing some re-reading and decided to give it a re-read since I kept remembering that it's one of my favorite reviewer's top regency romance novels of all time. I'm glad I gave it another chance.

I would highly recommend reading  The Diabolical Baron  before reading "The Rake." If you read "The Diabolical Baron" first, you will see a side of our hero, Reginald Davenport, that contributed to his rakehell and dishonourable reputation.

But, it's time for the bad boy to work toward reformation and why not give him a good woman to help him through the process? In the previous book, Reggie was hit hard when, after years of waiting for his uncle to die so he could finally inherit the earldom, a grandson of his uncle shows up and Reggie is left out in the cold. In this book, the new earl calls Reginald to his office and tells Reggie he will no longer pay him an allowance, but he will give him the most prosperous of the unentailed properties for Reggie to do with whatever he so desires with the estate.

Who would ever imagine that Reggie is a...

United States on Sep 22, 2015

Annie Burrows: A good story with some very moving moments. The hero and heroine are both very strong characters, who have to overcome life's difficulties in unconventional ways. My only problem with it really stem from being a resident of England, and wincing at the (American) author's errors. (For example, frequent references to Dorsetshire. When it should be just Dorset) They wouldn't spoil most people's enjoyment of the story though, I don't suppose!

United Kingdom on Dec 28, 2014

Sheila M: "In a way, they were opposite sides of the same coin: the rake and the reformer, both stubborn and proud."

THE STORY: Reggie Davenport is the "Despair of the Davenports". He is a rake and an alcoholic and has done little productive with his 37 years. When his titled cousin gives him his old family estate for his own, Reggie begins to change his life. When he arrives at the estate, he is surprised to find out that his impressive steward is actually a woman. Alys Weston is a lady who ran from her engagement and has lived a decade taking care of herself and now her three wards. When Reggie agrees to give her a chance to prove herself to him, the two begin an interesting friendship. Alys's secrets and Reggie's alcoholism threaten them both.

OPINION: This books, when written, was a groundbreaking novel. To so explicitly have an alcoholic hero who is struggling to become sober as the novel progresses was novel. Such serious themes are more commonplace today and this novel suffers as a result. I liked the story between Alys and Reggie, but I never felt the strong connection with the characters and their journey that would encourage me to read this book again and again. Even...

United States on Dec 24, 2014

Kindle Customer: I've read other books by this author before and enjoyed them, but I really loved "The Rake".

I have to say though that Reggie is a bit of an unlikely hero. An alcoholic gambling womaniser who's killed men in duels, he hated his uncle from whom he was set to inherit a title until a previously unknown heir arrived (story told in a previous book). Said heir gives him an estate, where he finds his estate manager is female. She has her secrets too, and for a while it looks as if there are too many problems in their lives to overcome for them to get together.

But Reggie is a strong man, with redeeming qualities, and gradually his past and his family's are revealed, and he struggles to overcome his failings. He also has a sense of humour, and a surprising sense of right and wrong, which make him genuine hero material.

Alys has a past which has left her feeling unloveable as a woman, but she is a fitting match for Reggie, who needs somebody strong, just as she needs a man she cannot dominate.

The sex scenes are not greatly detailed, but the passion between the protagonists is unmistakeable. The description of Reggie's struggles with his drinking are quite...

United Kingdom on Jul 06, 2013