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bugbread's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I enjoy most books for what they are, & I extract lessons from them all. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
Wow, this was so much fun! I met Eva Leigh at Steamy Lit Con & she gave me a copy of this book as part of a fundraiser reward that I purchased, and I am so grateful for it! This historical romance is told in third-person limited, past tense POV of our love interests Celeste Kilbern and Kieran Ransome. Kieran is given an ultimatum from his parents that he, his young brother Finn, and their best friend Dom must marry a “respectable” woman within a year or they will be financially cut off. Celeste is actually Dom’s sister, so this is a best friend’s sister/brother’s best friend trope lol. Celeste agrees to bring Kieran to respectable events to improve his rakish reputation as long as he brings her to the scandalous late-night outings so she can live it up before getting married to an earl. Obviously, with this forced proximity and Celeste taking on a sexy persona of “Salome” as she goes out, they become closer and start falling for each other!
I really enjoyed their connection from the beginning. They both had found the other attractive but knew they were off-limits and as they got to know one another, it became harder and harder to dismiss the truth, that they were a perfect fit for each other. Kieran empowered Celeste to follow her dreams in making a difference in her lower-class hometown, and Celeste embraced the softer, more artistic side of Kieran that he was bashful about sharing with just anyone. They challenged the other to be their best selves, and they inspired each other! Plus, the tension was off the charts, omgosh!!!! I loved the build up to their steamy scenes 🤌🏽
Overall, I’d absolutely read more from Eva Leigh in the future and I had such a wonderful time reading this!
steam rating: 3/5
cw: sexism, misogyny, blackmail
Wow, this was so much fun! I met Eva Leigh at Steamy Lit Con & she gave me a copy of this book as part of a fundraiser reward that I purchased, and I am so grateful for it! This historical romance is told in third-person limited, past tense POV of our love interests Celeste Kilbern and Kieran Ransome. Kieran is given an ultimatum from his parents that he, his young brother Finn, and their best friend Dom must marry a “respectable” woman within a year or they will be financially cut off. Celeste is actually Dom’s sister, so this is a best friend’s sister/brother’s best friend trope lol. Celeste agrees to bring Kieran to respectable events to improve his rakish reputation as long as he brings her to the scandalous late-night outings so she can live it up before getting married to an earl. Obviously, with this forced proximity and Celeste taking on a sexy persona of “Salome” as she goes out, they become closer and start falling for each other!
I really enjoyed their connection from the beginning. They both had found the other attractive but knew they were off-limits and as they got to know one another, it became harder and harder to dismiss the truth, that they were a perfect fit for each other. Kieran empowered Celeste to follow her dreams in making a difference in her lower-class hometown, and Celeste embraced the softer, more artistic side of Kieran that he was bashful about sharing with just anyone. They challenged the other to be their best selves, and they inspired each other! Plus, the tension was off the charts, omgosh!!!! I loved the build up to their steamy scenes 🤌🏽
Overall, I’d absolutely read more from Eva Leigh in the future and I had such a wonderful time reading this!
steam rating: 3/5
cw: sexism, misogyny, blackmail
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexism, and Misogyny
ramakn22's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexual content
readingwithhippos's review against another edition
5.0
So good. I love when the conflict in romance is from outside sources (an evil villain, an impossible situation, society's rules, etc.) instead of between the characters, I can't get enough of the "you and me against the world" thing. Also the hero is a poet, which would normally be quite cringey to me, but the way Eva Leigh builds his character, I absolutely believed him as a poet and it was incredibly swoony. He has this colorful manner of speaking that makes it obvious he is a lover of words, it just fit. I feel like many authors *tell* you their hero is soft and thoughtful and artistic on the inside but Leigh really *shows* you.
ellemoss's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
camilacadibe's review against another edition
5.0
Kieran and Celeste made for a wonderful love story.
And Eva Leigh just became an author I must look out for.
The writing was so great, that I fell in love. I got so emotional reading this. It was funny and charming and adventurous and sexy, all which I expect when I pick up a historical romance. But the vulnerability, the honesty, the emotions took me by surprise.
Kieran was a delight. He was perfect, okay? He is a baby, and a gentleman, and a poet and so full of potential and I love him.
And Celeste deserves everything she dreams of.
I loved the plot, I loved the romance, I loved the resolution.
But what I loved the most is how honest both characters were, with themselves and each other. They didn't avoid their issues, didn't ignore the other, didn't lie and evade... Nothing but treating the other with respect and care and I love it.
Definitely had everything I like in my romance.
And Eva Leigh just became an author I must look out for.
The writing was so great, that I fell in love. I got so emotional reading this. It was funny and charming and adventurous and sexy, all which I expect when I pick up a historical romance. But the vulnerability, the honesty, the emotions took me by surprise.
Kieran was a delight. He was perfect, okay? He is a baby, and a gentleman, and a poet and so full of potential and I love him.
And Celeste deserves everything she dreams of.
I loved the plot, I loved the romance, I loved the resolution.
But what I loved the most is how honest both characters were, with themselves and each other. They didn't avoid their issues, didn't ignore the other, didn't lie and evade... Nothing but treating the other with respect and care and I love it.
Definitely had everything I like in my romance.
rainelle_barrett's review against another edition
3.0
The book has a great story line. I liked the Characters, Finn, Kieran, Dom and Lance. The constant dialogue among these gentlemen in the first few chapters of the book did keep the story moving for me. The story moved smoothly as I imagined the turmoils of being left at the alter and three men who are forced to marry. All this was great, however four chapters in the book Kieran and Cherry haven’t met. To me the beginning of the story was a long background story to the main romance story between Kieran and Cherry.
dukefn99's review against another edition
4.0
Read my whole review at https://novelsalive.com/2022/03/02/4-star-review-the-good-girls-guide-to-rakes-by-eva-leigh/
coppercrane2's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5