Another disappointing freebie.Not really bad, not poorly written but not really good either.Both characterization and timelines seemed off to me. Let's start with the characterization. The hero is supposedly a rake. However he's just 24, sometimes behaves as if he just turned 18 and his main achievement to confirm his rake reputation is not having had a relationship for more than 3 months. At 24, it did not seem that weird to me and certainly not enough to warrant such a fake moniker and reputation. In my book, he is not and never would be a real rake. Then the defiant heroine. Supposedly she's 3 years after her come-out that did not occur - hence 20-21. However she behaves with all the maturity of a 16-17 years old. At best! And the brain the size of a pea. How she could have squandered her family money like she did was unrealistic at best and her remedies to that situation completely brainless. Every time she appeared on the page, I wanted to slap her back into reality. TSTL is not an adjective I often use but I really can't think of another better one for her.Her brother is an overbearing and inconsistent ass, who did not seem to be the same age as the heroine at all; though as twins, they should have been. The younger sister made her come-out 4 years after the beginning of the story. And I believed during the whole first part that she could not have been more than 8 years old, 10 if I really stretched it. Wow - what a ride. Lethbridge knows how to put her characters through the paces and dish out the drama. Lady Eleanor, after losing her family's money, is bent on gaining it back before her twin William returns from war. So she dons a mask and a scabbard and patrols the highways late at night to steal what she can to help her sister and herself survive. One night, she holds up the wrong man. Garrick, Marquess of Beauworth (the wicked rake). The two set upon a wild, curving ride. They're both so stubborn and unable to admit their feelings that it takes them ages to finally get it together! But when they do, it's forever. The love scenes in this book were hot, the humor heavy, and the characters deep. Ellie is easily relatable and readers will find themselves quickly falling for the rake with the dark side.
What do You think about Wicked Rake, Defiant Mistress (2009)?
I really enjoyed this book well written twists and turns in it great read great hero and heroine
—Mel12601
Molto semplice, si...ma scorrevole e carino.Una bella lettura dopo alcune poco soddisfacenti.
—Emm0wnz
Started off interestingly but lost the fizzle onwards
—jeanelvira
