A Bride for Lord Challmond (Zebra Regency Romance)

Rating:
Summary: A fun read
Review: I enjoyed this book. The story moves along at a good pace and it is easy to fall in love with the characters. I particularly liked Lord Challmond. He is a rake who is forced to change to win the heart of the woman he loves. It is fun to watch as he becomes the kind of gentleman Claire can love.

Rating:
Summary: a very charming confection
Review: This first installment in the 'A Rose for Three Rakes' trilolgy is a very charming, light romantic novel that should satisfy as well as entertain. It all starts with three rakish friends who, while enjoying themselves in Italy, rescue a gypsy from some farmers. The grateful gypsy blesses them with the promise that they will all find true love and happiness before the year's end. The men of course do not believe in the blessing and instead draw up a wager: by June the first, the first 'fool' to fall in love and marry must forfeit one thousand pounds and a red rose. Thus begins the first novel, and Simon Townsled's, Lord Challmond, story.

Returning home to Devonshire after having been abroad for so long, the first person Simon comes across is Claire Blakewell, an old childhood friend and neighbour. When he first sees Claire, she is in the process of royally dressing down his estate manager for abuses and neglect. And while Simon is drawn to Claire's beauty and vivaciy, he naturally does not take well to her charge that he has been neglecting his estate. He considers her to be far too managing for comfort. So that when he later discovers that Claire is actually correct in her charge, he feels chagrined.

Claire on the other hand considers Simon to be the very epitome of everything she despises in a man. Why then does she feel a flicker of excitement everytime he is near? However Claire has problems more pressing at hand. After years of waiting for her to marry and present him with a grandchild, Claire's father has decided to take matters into his own hands and marry again. Unfortunately his choice leaves Claire cold. So Claire comes up with the idea of pretending to pay attention to the men in the neighbourhood to deflect her father from his courtship. Again unfortunately for Claire her reputation as the 'terror' of the county does her no good; an indeed the only gentleman who seems to want to be in her company is Simon. So Claire decides to use Simon for her own ends. Simon knows that Claire is up to something, but what? Will Simon and Claire cease their wrangling long enough to sense what draws them to each other?

This novel was really entertaining. There are several light comedic moments that will definitely bring forth a chuckle or two; and the plot and characters were developed at a nice steady manner, so that there wasn't any uneven pacing that can sometimes mar a good story. Debbie Raleigh does a very good job of depicting the evolution of Simon from a rakish gentleman of society to someone warmer and who comes to genuinely care for his tenants and dependents. Likewise the evolution of his feelings for Claire: the arc from trying to pay her back for using him to actually acknowleding that he does truly care for her, made for satisfying reading.

I enjoyed this first installment very much, and I look forward to reading the other two book in this trilogy. If this book is anything to go by, the next two should make for great reading as well.

Rating:
Summary: Rose for a Rake
Review: This is an evenly paced story starring a rake who doesn't know if he really wants to be a hero and a belle whose disdain pushes him to prove himself. The supporting characters are delightful, a brazen widow on the hunt, a couple of staunch friends who may end up a couple themselves, and a variety of villagers and tenants. Ms. Raleigh's deft touch and amusing turn of phrase keep the pages turning rapidly. The main problem is that it ends too quickly with only the barest hint of what is to come. Definitely a good way to pass the weekend.