Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rakeby Sarah MacLean

rake:–nouna dissolute or profligate person, esp. a man who is licentious; roué.Origin: 1645–55; see rakehell -Synonyms:libertine, profligate, lecher, womanizer(dictionary.com)

I will admit, I had to look up "rake". In fact I just saw my first opera this past winter (Opera McGill production) which was called The Rake's Progress. I thought it was going to be about gardening. (HA! Ok, not really, but when I first heard the title, I did). Aside from a gardening tool, I had no idea what "rake" meant. I had my suspicions, but this book finally made me get off my lazy bottom and look it up.But enough about me and my lack of vocabulary knowledge, let's talk about how brilliantly fantastic this book was. If you know me, you know I do not like romance novels. The one time a friend "bullied" me into reading a Nora Roberts' romance trilogy I was ashamed and hid the books from view as I read them. There is no way I ever would have picked up this book had I not seen the reviews on fellow bloggers' blogs. Each review mentioned how funny and great the book was and I was intrigued. It helped that I already had Sarah MacLean's YA novel (The Season) on my wishlist. I have not bought that one yet as I wasn't 100% sure that I would like it and so I decided to wait for the paperback version to come out (which it will in a couple of weeks).So, I saw this here Nine Rules book in the store and always one to enjoy a book full of humour, I picked it up. I was very wary as I opened up the book to the first page. "This is romance," I said to myself. "And it's a historical romance at that! Why did I ever think I would like this?" I was nervous. Very nervous. But I was also desperate to read something different from everything else I have to read. No paranormal. No serial killers. Just different.I laughed out loud at least three times just in the first chapter. I kept laughing out loud all the way through the book. This isn't goofy-funny, it's clever and witty and romantic. Finally a Victorian-era (is it?) woman who felt exactly the way I would feel about things had I been around back then. Having to bow down to the male's whim and being married off at a young age just for name and wealth! Gah! Why would that have ever seemed romantic and proper? Can you imagine having to wear a corset every day? And go on outings just to see and be seen? Nah, so not for me.Callie is a female character that I will forever adore. She's smart and strong-willed and yet still innocent and sweet. Her romance with the notorious rake Ralston is both amusing and exhilarating. I loved ever single character in this book. I think this is one of the best (almost) 400 pages of story I have read this year.Do you know what this romance book had that most other books, especially paranormal ones, don't? Tasteful sex-scenes. Ok, well, I guess as tasteful as they can be. I am one of the biggest prudes you'll ever meet, and although I did avert my eyes a few times during the more racy scenes, I found they were very well written. It wasn't all "sex-mound-cock" like a few other books I have read. It was romantic. ROMANTIC! How's that for a catch! I didn't feel instantly dirty or grossed out. Mind you I would have been happier if they weren't as many pages as they were, but at the same time, they fit into the story and weren't gratuitous in any way. Well done, Sarah! Thank you for thinking of me and my prudish ways! (I can't even watch soap or diaper commercials, people.)I am most certainly going to be picking up The Season as soon as it hits the shelf at the bookstore near me. I can't wait to read more of Sarah MacLean's work. This book even got 5 stars from me on LibraryThing/Goodreads. That's rare. ;)