I had a sudden craving for historical romance and, lo and behold, an Anne Stuart trilogy was advertised on my Kindle. I decided to try it.Now, I’ve only ever read one other Anne Stuart book, but I do like her writing. I think she creates improbable, but satisfying stories and I figured I’d be getting something I could at least enjoy for a few days.I was right, but only just. The premise of the series is that three sisters – heiresses to a shipping magnate’s fortune – are ruined and thrown to the mercies of the world because their father supposedly embezzled all the money from his business and then managed to kill himself in a carriage accident while trying to get away. So no one will have anything to do with them and all their money and belongings has been confiscated. The evidence against their father is thin and they want to find out who the real culprit is, restoring their standing in society and clearing their father’s name. Good premise, but the use of TSTL behavior on the parts of the heroines (and in some cases the heroes) in order to further the plot was a real problem for me.In this first book, Never Kiss a Rake, the oldest sister, Bryonny manages to secure a position as housekeeper to the notorious rake, Adrian Bruton, the Earl of Kilmartyn. He’s a married man and his wife is a lunatic and shrew who sleeps with most men who cross her path and who lives to make Adrian’s life miserable. Bryonny has been a recluse since she was 12-years-old due to some leftover pock marks on one side of her face. Other than that, she and her sisters are raving beauties. But Bryonny’s mother was adamant that Bryonny was hideous because of the scars and no better than a burden. Which, understandable, distorted the young woman’s view of herself.The story ends well, but unresolved, which is why you must read the next book. The overriding arc of investigating the three possible villains (according to the sisters) is what ties all the stories together. It’s not bad. It’s Anne Stuart, after all, but I really don’t like unbelievably stupid behavior as a plot devise. There are so many things that can happen organically if a little bit of thought goes into it, I just don’t have patience for the making someone a moron even if it’s just for one scene so the Big Event can happen. It’s annoying.I’m giving this one 4 stars, although it’s more of a 3.5 – 3.75. I think some of the action could have happened in a more believable manner, but I did like the leads and I was happy for them to end up together. There was some nice dialog and Stuart writes enjoyable love scenes. And since I was craving historical romance at that time, it did hit the spot. I waffled between 2 and 3 stars. I wish I could give a half a star because the book was good enough to finish, it deserves 2.5 stars so I'll round up.--Spoilers--Where to begin, where to begin? Ok, so Whiny....er, Bryony Russell is the eldest of three daughters recently orphaned. She has some smallpox scars on her face and because of that her long passed mother has convinced her she is as hideous as Quasimodo and will die a lonely spinster. Their father supposedly embezzled money from his own shipping company and died when trying to escape. His daughters know this is false because he didn't even drive (horses I guess)and Whiny has decided to play super-sleuth and is going to solve the crime by becoming a housekeeper of their most probable suspect. It always goes well when the upper crust of society tries to pass themselves off as the help.Adrian Kilmartyn is the most handsomest man there ever was and he is trapped in a loveless, nay, a hate-filled marriage. His wife is oh so beautiful and cannot stand to be anywhere near "ugly" people like Whiny,the housekeeper her husband hired. We're suppose to hate this woman. She is vain. She is having affairs under her husband's roof. Yes she knows Kilmartyn's deepest darkest secret and somehow uses it to get almost anything she wants (though what she wants is never made clear). She's not a nice person and I didn't particularly like her, but the author fails to show me, the reader, exactly why we're suppose to HATE her. Kilmartyn isn't much better than his wife. He has his affairs, though he doesn't bring them into the house that he shares with his wife. He is gruff. He says the "F" word a lot. And though he doesn't mess with the staff he knows Whiny isn't really "help" so he comes makes every sexual advance toward her that he can. Whiny believes that Kilmartyn killed her father and later his wife but she can't help but want him in her bed. Really? Just because he's beautiful and says "F*$k" to get her all hot and bothered? Did no one ever tell Whiny that beauty is only skin deep? Oh, and Kilmartyn sees her pox scars and thinks she is beautiful anyway. Because he does know that beauty comes from the inside.Someone of course tries to kill Whiny so then -and only then- does Kilmartyn finally show tender emotions towards this woman.So why did I even finish this book. Well, here is why I rounded up instead of down. I found this story very entertaining. Perhaps not for the reasons the author intended, but it was written well enough that I was able to keep going to see it to the end. Sometimes I like to read a craptastic book to put things into perspective. Helps me to appreciate the 4-Star and 5-Star books even more.
What do You think about Never Kiss A Rake (2013)?
I loved this book! I'd definitely read something else by Anne Stuart!
—Bones
Definitely not as good as her other books. Kinda bleh.
—rituranjan
