Rake's Wager

by Miranda Jarrett

Book Overview

Rake's Wager by Miranda Jarrett released on Jan 25, 2005 is available now for purchase. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0373293402
• ISBN13: 9780373293407
• Release Date: January 2005
• Publisher: Harlequin Special Releases
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 4.2" x 6.6"

Customer Reviews

unfinished business

This is the first novel I have read by this author, I was enjoying the story very much, however it left some very loose ends, unless there is a sequel planned. Bolton the villain of the story, kidnapped the son of our hero, threatened his life & that of our hero while threatening to kill either of them, in front of most of the elegant lords in England, the hero punches him a couple of times and that is the last we hear of the villain. Now this Lord Bolton had tried on several occasions to kill our hero, and it is unlikely that he just got up off the floor disgraced and walked away from this situation as unbalanced as he was, and with all those witnesses to his dastardly deeds no mention was made that he was put in prison or reprimanded in any way. Also nothing was mentioned as to how the hero dealt with Lady Anne & her family. Just wish these loose ends had been tied up a bit.

Delightful Regency Adventure!

I've long been a Miranda Jarrett fan, but I'll admit that the premise for this book (a gaming house in Regency London run by the daughters of a country minister) sounded pretty far-fetched for an author who used to write about the American Revolution. I shouldn't have worried. Jarrett's talents make this story completely believable, and a whole lot of fun, too. The workings of the gaming house are well-researched, and I was fascinated by all the details of the card games (surprisingly like Vegas and Atlantic City without the slots.) It's great for a change to have Regency characters who haven't been handed everything in life with their titles, but have to make their own way. The hero wasn't exactly the rake of the title, but he was still pretty tasty, and I just love the three Penny Sisters. I'm sure there's at least one sequal in the works. Can't wait!!

Excellent storytelling from a fine author

Another wonderful historical from the reliable, articulate, entertaining pen of Miranda Jarrett. Cassia, who runs a gaming house with style, meets up with Richard, who needs a little style to turn him and his crumbling estate into something that befits his new status as a gentleman. A fun story with a touch of Cinderella and Pygmalion (reversed, since it's the guy being transformed), and even Trading Spaces, since there's some fun in fixing up his house. Cassia and her sisters have inherited a gaming house from their father, a minister who inherited the gaming place from a reformed gamester, and the girls fix it up and make it fashionable, giving profits to charity as befits minister's daughters. Richard, a collier's son, made a fortune in sugar plantations and investmentsnow he's wealthy, but he's still a bit rough around the edges, and has a few secrets now that he's back in England. Cassia understands him as no one else does, and when Richard meets her, the pieces of his life begin to come together. Coming from humble origins and fighting his way to success, Richard may think he lacks the polish of a born-to-it lord, but he has common sense and integrity, and Cassia is just delightful, a minister's daughter who can rationalize running a gaming establishment, and who is capable of making a polished prince out of the collier's son. He needs her, and she needs him more than she will admit. Sparks fly beween these two, and opposites attract like crazy. Ms. Jarrett creates a wonderful romance featuring two strong and believable characters in a story that is warm and touching. I found the details about gaming establishments fascinating and very well done. I've been reading romances for years, and Miranda Jarrett is one of those authors that I can always rely on for fine prose and fine storytelling.