Never Trust a Rake

by Eileen Putman

The Arrogant RogueThe uncrowned king of broken hearts, Gabriel Sinclair is rescued from an untimely end by an angel. But golden-haired Louisa Peabody is not only the most beautiful woman he's ever... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0380802899
• Release Date: July 1999
• Publisher: Avon
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.9" x 1.0" x 4.2"

Customer Reviews

Gabriel finds salvation in the arms of a real-life angel.

Gabriel is a lord whose heritage was denied him by his father's madness. After his father's death, Gabriel escaped his island prison and went to London for many years of debauchery and hell-raising. A wild bet sends him to a convent to cut off a lock of a nun's hair, but while there, his purpose is misininterpreted and he finds himself in a hangman's noose. (I have to admit I found this an unlikely situation...a lord sentenced to death for supposedly raping a nun?)Fortunately, a man-hating reformer and her assistant mistakenly rescue Gabriel in the nick of time. Although the last thing he wants to do is get involved with this crazy woman and her "flowers", he allows himself to accept her offer of a large sum of money to help rescue a woman from a prison ship. As Gabriel gets to know Louisa, he finds himself attracted to her soul as well as her angelic beauty. But he is a convicted felon, a lord without a castle, a man emotionally scarred from his childhood. How can they have a life together?From Louisa's point of view, Gabriel seems the epitome of everything she despises about men. But then she begins to see behind the cynical facade to the deeply scarred soul and realizes that she has the power to help him become a whole man again. And, surprise of surprises, he can help her get over her own past and deep-seated bitterness toward men.The first part of the book reminded me of some of my favorite Amanda Quick novels, but the plot seemed to bog down toward the end and my attention waned. The submarine stuff at the end just didn't fit in with the rest of the story. And it was just too easy for Gabriel to get his death sentence reversed. Nevertheless, I did enjoy the book and look forward to any others by this author.

Adventure for Regency innocent.

Louisa Peabody had saved a group of women prisoners from a terrible fate. All she wanted to do was to give these women a better life outside of prison. Gabriel Sinclair thought Louisa was too innocent for her own good. He felt one should have a little adventure in life. This love story is slow to develop, but the conflict and tension are strong and sometimes quite funny.

PLEASE DON'T JUDGE THIS BOOK BY THE COVER!

So the cover's awful. The hero looks like he's the second Golem monster. The heroine looks like she's wearing a bad wig. But please don't let it turn you off. THIS IS A WONDERFUL BOOK. Despite some flaws, this book is a gem. Trust me. Brilliant dialogue, exciting adventure, and the funniest nuns in any romances you'll ever find. Oh, and the love scenes are good. Just don't let the cover shoo you away. Look out for my review on the Avon Books page in July.

Humorous Regency with a deep message

In 1818 London, notorious rake Gabriel Sinclair now realizes the first law of dealing with the other sex. Rakes must never mess with virgins. Due to a bet, he was trapped inside a monastery filled with girls and nuns. Now the "Fallen Angel" finds his neck in a noose as one of the largest crowds in recent years attends his public hanging. In a mix up, do-gooder Louisa Peabody and her cohorts rescue Gabriel instead of saving a woman from the fates of Newgate as they planned. Gabriel thinks he died and ended up in a hell occupied by six women, five brats, and a giant eunuch. Once he learns the truth, he decides he must have his angel even if she is the first female immune to his charms. Instead, Louisa demands he assists her and her merry band of women with their endeavor to rescue other females who have fallen victim to unfair male laws. Money persuades Gabriel to assist the group. However, he finds himself motivated by love for the one woman who, at least outwardly, rejects his advances. How can a no-gooder prove to a do-gooder that they belong together while pushing forward women's rights? NEVER TRUST A RAKE is a very intriguing Regency romance that focuses on the lack of women's rights during the early nineteenth century. The lead protagonists are an interesting pair, who will remind readers of Guys and Dolls transferred back to 1818. The support cast amplifies the feel of the period even as they propel the plot forward. Award winning author Eileen Putman provides an invigorating novel that deserves fan acclaim for its exciting plot with a deep message cleverly incorporated into the story.Harriet Klausner