Scan barcode
mariahmmm's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Cruelly labelled as an "Indian Elephant" due to her larger figure, Millie Ashton struggles to settle into her new home in England when her heart remains in India. Finally making a friend in Lucy Radley, Millie falls for Lucy's charming brother Alex, the Marquess of Brooke, and a known rake. When Millie and Alex are caught sharing an innocent chai in his home, unchaperoned, the two are seperated to save them from scandal. When illiterate Alex has his brother pen him a love letter, and it's addressed to the wrong person, disaster is in store...
This promising read was such a disappointment.
The unique characteristics of Millie (plus sized) and Alex (illiteracy) were poorly handled. Instead of being used to empower them, they were brushed under the rug. Millie changed so completely in the book to conform rather than remaining the unique loveable woman she was, rapidly losing the weight to be accepted by her family and society (BOO!), removing her nose ring, and being emotionally guilted into remaining in England. Alex's illiteracy was also concealed as a shameful flaw. Why include these defining traits if they're "fixed" and covered up?
The story itself dragged on, with too many plot points squeezed into one book. Many felt half-written. Alex's love of good quality chai made me hope he would show interest in moving to India, where Millie longed to return, but this plotline was seemingly abandoned. The mystery of the flowers seemed to set up the story to lead to a fun secret admirer plotline, but this led nowhere, too.
The Clarice plotline and maze scene were awkward, and I rushed through the rest of the book from that point. The one sex scene felt random and unnecessary rather than the triumphant revelation of long-held emotions it could have been
This promising read was such a disappointment.
The unique characteristics of Millie (plus sized) and Alex (illiteracy) were poorly handled. Instead of being used to empower them, they were brushed under the rug. Millie changed so completely in the book to conform rather than remaining the unique loveable woman she was, rapidly losing the weight to be accepted by her family and society (BOO!), removing her nose ring, and being emotionally guilted into remaining in England. Alex's illiteracy was also concealed as a shameful flaw. Why include these defining traits if they're "fixed" and covered up?
The story itself dragged on, with too many plot points squeezed into one book. Many felt half-written. Alex's love of good quality chai made me hope he would show interest in moving to India, where Millie longed to return, but this plotline was seemingly abandoned. The mystery of the flowers seemed to set up the story to lead to a fun secret admirer plotline, but this led nowhere, too.
The Clarice plotline and maze scene were awkward, and I rushed through the rest of the book from that point. The one sex scene felt random and unnecessary rather than the triumphant revelation of long-held emotions it could have been
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Sexual content, Alcohol, Bullying, and Fatphobia
sarcasticlive's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book was fun for the first half for me, then it got tedious. It was constant miscommunication and messy web of social fuckups. It was still an entertaining read, but I don't think this trope was for me. ALSO, it really irks me that the title is "Letter From a Rake" when the MMC can't read or write...it made me think that this was going to be a writing letters back and forth book WHICH I LOVE, but that wasn't the case. Which may have lead to my disappointment.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia
books_and_more_books_byt's review against another edition
5.0
Letters from a Rake is the first book in the Duke of Strathmore series and is also the first book I have read by the author. It was a wonderful light romance to read. It was faced paced, easy to read and hard to put down. The characters were well developed and it was hard not to fall in love with them. Millie Ashton had just arrived from India and didn’t care for England since she was not the typical debutante. Alex Radley, Marquess of Brooke, was enchanted when he first saw Millie. He managed to embarrass Millie and his family due to his enchantment. Their relationship started off rough and seemed to be bumpy along the way. Will Alex be able to admit his secret to Millie and get himself out of an engagement to a different woman due to a misdirected letter? This was an enjoyable book to read and I am definitely going to read the rest of the series.
slightlyjynxed's review against another edition
3.0
This was my first time with this author, but probably won't be my last if I need something quick, light, sweet, and/or inexpensive in the Kindle store.
Unless I am mistaken, this is the author's first published book. While it does read like a maiden novel in places, it is every bit as polished as some stories that I have read from the big names in the genre. Be warned, though, readers who are all about die-hard historical accuracy will find the vernacular and modern-tone offputting, particularly when coupled with the more traditional Recency romance novel plots and character values.
The characters are sweet, if a bit bland, and the plotline is suitable for a new adult-esque historical. It is probably something that six months from now I would be able to tell you the general gist of the story, but would feel like I must be leaving some big part of the plot out for it to have actually been a story arc (even though I really wasn't). There are some rather silly side plots () that are either tossed out at random or mentioned to be later glossed over completely that I found created some discordant moments in the storytelling, but nothing so egregious as it made me want to put the book down.
All in all, a decent lunchtime read and is promising enough that I am curious how the author has developed as her publishing moves along.
Unless I am mistaken, this is the author's first published book. While it does read like a maiden novel in places, it is every bit as polished as some stories that I have read from the big names in the genre. Be warned, though, readers who are all about die-hard historical accuracy will find the vernacular and modern-tone offputting, particularly when coupled with the more traditional Recency romance novel plots and character values.
The characters are sweet, if a bit bland, and the plotline is suitable for a new adult-esque historical. It is probably something that six months from now I would be able to tell you the general gist of the story, but would feel like I must be leaving some big part of the plot out for it to have actually been a story arc (even though I really wasn't). There are some rather silly side plots (
Spoiler
such as the heroine's weight loss or the hero's dsylexiaAll in all, a decent lunchtime read and is promising enough that I am curious how the author has developed as her publishing moves along.
rosynlily's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
aromo720's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
breakawayreads's review against another edition
4.0
Recently arrived in London, Millie Ashton thinks English high society is full of empty headed, arrogant fools. But when she meets Lord Alex Radley, she falls desperately in love with him.
Fearing humiliation and rejection, she decides the only sensible thing to do is take her pride and go home to India. Men like Alex do not fall for girls like her, whereas every girl loses her heart to Alexander the Great.
Alex Radley, Marquis of Brooke rules the ton like a god, but even gods are known to fall for mere mortals. With his wealth and title, wooing Millie should be an easy task.
When his passionate love letter to Millie goes astray, Alex’s life becomes more than a little complicated. He is shocked to discover the price that everyone he loves has long paid in order to keep his secrets safe, to protect him.
Will losing the woman he loves be the ultimate price Alex has to pay when he finally confesses the truth to Millie?
Sasha Cottman writes Regency romance with strong heroines and courageous heroes.
This is a full standalone book in the Duke of Strathmore series.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
I truly enjoyed this book! It was a cute simple read. The chemistry and banter between Alex and Millie were spot on. Millie arrives in London after her father moves the family from India. She was having a hard time making friends in the beginning. She blamed her background some as well as her figure. She was a very curvaceous woman for England's standards. She then meets Lucy Radley and they become fast friends. Afterwards is when she meets our other main character, Alex Radley (Lucy's brother). It was love at first sight for him, as he has never seen a woman like her before in London. They become friends and share a stolen kiss after an evening away from a ball. The next day, Alex has to leave with his family for their annual leave for Scotland for 6 weeks. Millie throws it out of her mind that Alex has any feelings for her and attempts to move on with her life. We find out later that Alex cannot read nor write, so he elects the help of his brother to write a love letter to Millie to confess his love. It ends up going awry in the end. Alex then returns to London to find out that things are not what they seem and will need to fix things in the end with Millie to win her hand.
Overall a good read. One spicy scene towards the end of the book.
Fearing humiliation and rejection, she decides the only sensible thing to do is take her pride and go home to India. Men like Alex do not fall for girls like her, whereas every girl loses her heart to Alexander the Great.
Alex Radley, Marquis of Brooke rules the ton like a god, but even gods are known to fall for mere mortals. With his wealth and title, wooing Millie should be an easy task.
When his passionate love letter to Millie goes astray, Alex’s life becomes more than a little complicated. He is shocked to discover the price that everyone he loves has long paid in order to keep his secrets safe, to protect him.
Will losing the woman he loves be the ultimate price Alex has to pay when he finally confesses the truth to Millie?
Sasha Cottman writes Regency romance with strong heroines and courageous heroes.
This is a full standalone book in the Duke of Strathmore series.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
I truly enjoyed this book! It was a cute simple read. The chemistry and banter between Alex and Millie were spot on. Millie arrives in London after her father moves the family from India. She was having a hard time making friends in the beginning. She blamed her background some as well as her figure. She was a very curvaceous woman for England's standards. She then meets Lucy Radley and they become fast friends. Afterwards is when she meets our other main character, Alex Radley (Lucy's brother). It was love at first sight for him, as he has never seen a woman like her before in London. They become friends and share a stolen kiss after an evening away from a ball. The next day, Alex has to leave with his family for their annual leave for Scotland for 6 weeks. Millie throws it out of her mind that Alex has any feelings for her and attempts to move on with her life. We find out later that Alex cannot read nor write, so he elects the help of his brother to write a love letter to Millie to confess his love. It ends up going awry in the end. Alex then returns to London to find out that things are not what they seem and will need to fix things in the end with Millie to win her hand.
Overall a good read. One spicy scene towards the end of the book.
alejandra_guerrero's review against another edition
1.0
I couldn’t like the characters. MMC is very irresponsible, and I just couldn’t understand why he was so smitten with fMC after one interaction. He just had to look at her to be rendered speechless as his little head (the one between his legs) took over his body. FMC was “not like other girls”, and I just hate that kind of “heroine”. She’s lifted up by putting every other girl down. And her friend is just the same, because you can’t possibly be nice to other people if you like clothes and jewelry. She doesn’t like it in London, and is determined to be miserable there until she can go back to India. How did she plan to accomplish that escapes me. Also, how can no servant of her household possibly know who the coat of arms of a carriage belongs to? It was the butler's job to know, for chrissake! That was another thing that bothered me, the fMC spoke about and treated the servants in a very condescending way, like they were nothing but stupid, uneducated gossips. I made it to about 30% and I just lost the motivation to continue. I have better things to read. Besides, the title makes no sense. The MMC didn’t even bother to write a note to go with the multiple flower bouquets he sent, let alone a letter, so why the hell is this called “Letter from a Rake"?
lady_aquarian's review against another edition
4.0
What a wonderful book! Once I read the summary I knew I had to read it, and I devoured it in one night. It features a hero and heroine who are both unconventional in just the right ways. Alex is handsome and good with the ladies, but he also falls head over heals for Millie and never wavers. After reading so many romances where the H/h don't get along, it was wonderful to read a story where they both fall for each other quickly. And their romance is believable; you appreciate their friendship as well as their love. Millie is a wonderful heroine because she is unconventionally beautiful and outspoken, but she is not a wilting flower or socially inept. She is fleshed out and relatable, and when she was mad at Alex and she seemed to be changing herself out of grief, I got angry with her, but I also understood her and sympathized with her.
Most importantly, the story doesn't rely too much on standard miscommunication to create drama. The conflict with Alex's letter arises from conditions unique to this story, and even though the characters fumble their way through reuniting, I never felt like the author was purposefully making them obtuse for the sake of conflict.
I couldn't stop reading this book once I started, and it has earned a place in my keepers pile!
Most importantly, the story doesn't rely too much on standard miscommunication to create drama. The conflict with Alex's letter arises from conditions unique to this story, and even though the characters fumble their way through reuniting, I never felt like the author was purposefully making them obtuse for the sake of conflict.
I couldn't stop reading this book once I started, and it has earned a place in my keepers pile!
yeriwithaj_'s review against another edition
4.0
A nice change of pace.
It's been a long while since I last read a historical romance and Letters from a Rake was just the thing to get me out of an annoying book funk.
I don't recall ever reading anything by Sasha Cottman before and I am definitely kicking myself for it.
This book is well-written and thought out. The characters well rounded, likable, entertaining and lovable.
I really loved Millie.
The story was perfect for the mood I was in, light, romantic, a bit of drama and humor thrown in. All in all a great read.
I'm excited to read the next in the series.
It's been a long while since I last read a historical romance and Letters from a Rake was just the thing to get me out of an annoying book funk.
I don't recall ever reading anything by Sasha Cottman before and I am definitely kicking myself for it.
This book is well-written and thought out. The characters well rounded, likable, entertaining and lovable.
I really loved Millie.
The story was perfect for the mood I was in, light, romantic, a bit of drama and humor thrown in. All in all a great read.
I'm excited to read the next in the series.