The Rake and the Wallflower

Rating:
Summary: brilliant follow up to "The Notorious Widow"
Review: "The Rake and the Wallflower" by Allison Lane continues the sage of the Seabrook sisters, started in "The Notorious Widow." This time, however, the focus is on Laura and Mary Seabrook and their London Season. Now that Catherine, the eldest Seabrook sister has married the Earl of Rockhurst, she can afford to give her sisters a London Season that they both deserve. However, neither Laura, the beauty of the family, nor Mary, the shy bookworm, are truly over the moon at this turn of events. Laura, who has dreamed and schemed of having a triumphant Season, is furious that she has to share it with her dab of a sister; as for Mary, who is both plain and shy, and who has not quite recovered from the unpleasantness that her family suffered at Catherine's enemy's hands (brilliantly chronicled in "The Notorious Widow"), this London Season is proving to be hell on earth, especially when Laura keeps maliciously pointing out all of Mary's shortcomings and flaws in public for all to see and know. And then Lord Grayson, the Earl of Rothmoor, who is both incredibly rich and notorious comes to town.

Laura immediately sets her sights on him in spite of his reputation of being a blackguard where women are concerned: he's supposed to have ruined two young debutantes, and to have actually driven one of them to commit suicide. But, it is shy Mary who actually meets and gets to know the notorious Grayson. And she senses that this is a man much maligned. Furthermore, Grayson seems to be suddenly dodging a lot of near accidents. Too many for them to be coincidence, Mary feels. And she is determined to save Grayson from both the twin threats of his invisible foe and her sister's, Laura's, machinations. Will Mary succeed in her attempts to keep Grayson safe? Or will Laura and Grayson's enemy have their way?

"The Rake and the Wallflower" is an excellent follow-up to "The Notorious Widow." This novel does not have quite that gothicky and malevolent feel that "The Notorious Widow" had, however it is still an interesting read nonetheless, as we follow both Grayson and Mary trying to figure out who is out to get him. And unlike "The Notorious Widow" this novel spends more time on the developing romance between Grayson and Mary. I really enjoyed that aspect of the novel very much. Another thing I liked was the relationship that existed between Laura and Mary. These are two sisters who do not get along very well at all, and Ms Lane does a wonderful job of portraying this not very amicable relationship, snipping, warts and all. And what can I say about the portrayal of self-centered, jealous, living-in-her-own-reality, almost demented Laura? Nothing, except that the Book Huntress is right: it is a gem of a depiction!

"The Rake and the Wallflower" is a truly excellent read, and well worth recommending, and raving about.

Rating:
Summary: A different kind of hero
Review: Allison Lane is an auto-buy for me, and I was quite pleased with her latest Regency, The Rake and the Wallflower. I've read hundreds of Regencies, and it's hard to find one that's refreshingly different, but this one is. The hero is handsome, of course, but instead of being arrogant, he is sweet, kind-hearted, and generous. He is mistreated by society for being a rake, but he isn't one--not really. The heroine likes to tackle her problems head-on, and that's what she does in this book. She reminds me of Jamie Somers in The Bionic Woman--she doesn't wait around to be saved, but gives the hero help when he needs it. I like the book for two particular reasons: it contains many wonderful historical touches about the Regency period, and it successfully avoids being same-old same-old. Come to think of it, all of her books I've read have those qualities. I eagerly await Lane's next book.

Rating:
Summary: Her best novel to date!
Review: Catherine insisted Mary and Laura have a chance to meet possible husbands. So Blake, Catherine's husband (the Earl of Rockhurst) was happy to sponsor his wife's two sisters. Mary Seabrook was much more interested in birds, animals, and natural history than the Season in London. Besides, Laura had all the beauty and quickly became the diamond of the Season. No one even noticed Mary, except Mr. Griffin who loved to inflict pain. But Laura had become more vain and self centered lately. She often made sure Mr. Griffin knew where to locate Mary. Therefore, Mary would find quiet places away from the crush during parties to read or privately sketch.

Lord Grayson, Earl of Rothmoor, was considered a rake. Rumor stated he ruined at least two ladies within the last few years. Gossip also stated Lady Constance Turner found herself in the family way and Lord Grayson rejected her, leading her to take her own life! None was true, but Gray stayed away from unmarried ladies.

While hiding from one such lady, he found Mary. Fate seemed to keep throwing them together after that. Then Mary saved his life! Only at that moment would Gray admit two things to himself: he cared a great deal for Mary and someone was out to kill him! Gray would help Mary with Laura's cruelties and help divert scandal on the family name. Mary and Nick (Gray's closest friend) would help prove Gray innocent of all Society's charges, restore honor to his name, and help find out who wanted him dead!

***** Here is Allison Lane's best book to date! I am telling everyone about it! Mary is such a level headed heroine, unlike most, and Laura is the type of two-faced person that everyone loves to hate! I even cheered aloud at one part which made my husband give me a curious look. Very highly recommended! ...

Rating:
Summary: Dull, stilted and boring
Review: I did try to persist with this - mainly because it had received good reviews here but, in the end, because I was so jaw-droppingly amazed at the silly plot.

It all hinges on a family of three sisters and our heroine, Mary, is the youngest. She is shown both as vulnerable and intellectual but she has a mouth on her when she chooses and acts like a 21st century city girl.

Our hero, Lord Grayson, is flawed; the man is made faint at the site of blood - described over and over again. Also, the author uses this as a polemic against blood sports. Oh well. Rather a modern polemic - in those days no one would have given much thought to it at all. Portrayed as a really nice chap, he nonetheless has an overt talent for attracting mentally ill/unstable women. Really! Never came across that in a Regency novel before!

The storyline is a bit thin and I won't bore you with the details. The problem here is that the middle sister, Laura, was the only reason to read this book - shown to us as just about completely unhinged, she behaves so badly that you turn the pages to see what the author will make her do next. I really expected her to be murdered by one of the characters who would scream as the pistol discharges, "Help - get me out of this wretched novel!" Sadly, though hauled off to the country, she lives to fight another day. Surely the author didn't do a sequel to this? I can't bear to look and see. I would certainly not read it in any event!

Sorry - this was a silly, pointless and very boring novel. The characters acted out a storyline that was shallow and ultimately unbelievable and their conversations were so badly done that I truly struggled to finish this effort.

I can't recommend it. Two stars because I've read worse.

Rating:
Summary: Not your average Regency romance, a cut above the rest
Review: I hadn't read a Regency romance in months when I picked up Allison Lane's latest book. I've read many of them, and so many of them quite awful, I was much in doubt that I would be surprised. But Ms. Lane's book did.

Reading the previous book in this series might have helped me, but I enjoyed The Rake and the Wallflower just the same. Lane creates some very strong characters that attract loyalty and fascination rather quickly. Heroine Mary is not your average bluestocking, she's into birds and natural history. Used to being outshone by her beautiful but risk-taking sister Laura, she stammers and makes gaffes often. In fact, she's hiding behind some palm trees at a ball when she meets Lord Gradydon, the book's hero.

Graydon, to be frank, has to be one of the more unique heros I've found in a Regency. True, he's been branded a rake by society but for false reasons. He doesn't spend his time boxing, hunting or gaming. He isn't always buying a new horse. He actually hates any bloodshed and grows sick at the sight of it. The fact that in many instances in the book Graydon is unwell or overcoming a weakness when around Mary is very unusual and got my attention. I also enjoyed the verbal interplay between Gray and Mary, although he seemed to drop his guard around her rather quickly. The author gives the reader ample opportunity to watch this special relationship unfold.

My only tiny complaint was about Laura, the outrageous, spoiled sister. I found it a little difficult to believe that after all her tricks, it took everyone so long to realize what a deeply evil woman she was.

But it pales in comparison to the rest of the book's many fine points. I thought that most of the plot well constructed and found myself having grown quite attached to Mary and Gray. I only hope Ms. Lane will let us revisit them in her next book!