A Reputable Rake: An Anthology

Her characters are so well developed it's difficult to remember they aren't real. She has a remarkable ability to create a world both vivid and believable. I found myself caring about more than just the main characters but secondary characters as well, and delighted in the interweavings of the story within A Reputable Rake and with other books she has written, namely The Mysterious Miss M and The Wagering Widow, though all the stories stand alone. I now own all five of her books and have bookmarked her eHarlequin The Diamond, for rereading whenever I'm in the mood for intelligent heroes and heroines with heart, and stories that are intriguing with exciting twists and turns, not to mention the well placed clever humor. Brava! Encore!

Cyprian Sloane has a wretched reputation. A known rake, gambler and smuggler, he also worked as a spy. But those days are over. Sloane is determined to be accepted by society and gain respectability. Unfortunately, he meets Morgana Hart, whose altruistic nature is bound to ruin her reputation and his respectability. All Morgana wants to do is save her maid from prostitution. Unfortunately, in doing so, she has acquired a house full of ladies of the evening. Morgana's plan has gone slightly awry. Now, she has placed her reputation in jeopardy. And Sloane's as well. Sloane is faced with a decision. His goal of respectability or Morgana. Unless he can find a way to have both, he must chose one over the other. My favorite part of reading A Reputable Rake was the way in which Ms. Gaston drew me into the story. I was unable to see a tidy resolution to Sloane's dilemma and that's what makes this such a great story. You are turning every page with anticipation to see HOW these two will find their happily ever after. Because, after getting to know Morgana and Sloane, I was desperate for them to find happiness together. Ms. Gaston did not disappoint. I'm a big fan of historical romance. And, I have been missing out on a really great author. If A Reputable Rake is typical of Ms. Gaston's writing, Diane Gaston writes really good historical romances. Now that I've met the characters in A Reputable Rake, I want to go back and read The Mysterious Miss M and The Wagering Widow. Diane Gaston has won another fan! Annabelle Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Diane Gaston, aka Diane Perkins, has done it again in "A Reputable Rake" - a novel nominated for the coveted RWA RITA Award for 2006. It's easy to see why, for "A Reputable Rake" is an outstanding, exciting tale of respectability and the dark side of England's ton life. The characters are enchanting, vividly alive and the story is intriguing, filled with danger and excitement that will keep the reader turning the pages. I literally could not put down this book until I reached the last page, and even then, I wanted more. An excellent, highly enjoyable read I'd recommend to all.

As I anxiously waited for this book to come out, I wondered if my expectations would be too high and I would be disappointed. Needless to say I wasn't, this book meet all of my expectations. Cyprian Sloan our hero is one amazing man!!! (Other reviewers have already described him). Morgana our heroine, is outspoken, caring and speaks her mind. Without realizing it, Cyprian ends of helping Morgana in her latest scheme to help turn four destitute young women into "courtesans". Poor Cyprian all he wants is to be accepted back into society and helping Morgana could just hurt his chances. He has his heart set on marrying Morgana's cousin, who could drive anyone crazy with her chatter. Your fall in love with Cyprian's nephew David, the rest of the "courtesans" and the butler too. I loved the trap that David and Cyprian set up with Cyprian's father and David's grandfather. This book is a definite keeper for me; Ms. Gaston is an amazing writer whose books are different and so creative. If you haven't read The Mysterious Miss M and The Wagering Widow, pick them both up, you won't regret it.

The third book by Diane Gaston, A Reputable Rake, is the best thus far! Turning once more to the seamier side of London Ton life, Diane Gaston tells the story of a rake in the course of redemption and a well-bred young woman treading on the edge of the abyss of social suicide. Cyprian Sloane, gambling partner of Lord Keating in The Wagering Widow, is a cuckoo-in-the-nest and has never been allowed to forget it; his vengeful father even named him Cyprian, meaning whore, in order to embarrass his faithless wife. Excluded from family life, Cyprian embarked on a series of adventures as a young man including, we gather, spying for the government during the war with France. (Sadly this background is largely undeveloped and I wanted to know more as these adventures were fundamental in terms of his character development.) Morgana Hart is the daughter of a diplomat who grew up in the Peninsula during the war and, we are given to understand, witnessed harsh and difficult events. They have strengthened her, however, and she is independent minded and straightforward. In the story, she becomes entangled with four young women who are about to enter the life of prostitutes and Morgana rescues them and takes them into her home. They all seem determined to become "ladies of the night" anyway so she decides that at the very least they ought to become high class courtesans a la Harriette Wilson, the most famous of the Regency demi-monde. She inadvertently sets up a "school for courtesans". Cyprian Sloane, already attracted to her, finds himself living next door to her and although the Ton pairs him off with her silly, flighty young cousin, he finds himself becoming more and more involved in Morgana's life in order to restrain her somewhat naïve efforts to school her girls. However, it eventually becomes clear to him that the reputation he is trying so hard to resurrect is likely to be destroyed by his involvement with her and harsh words are exchanged. The story moves on through excursions to various Ton and demi-monde events and as in every good romance, eventually things get straightened out. The pull of sexual as well as intellectual attraction between these two is strong. Eventually, despite themselves, they find themselves unable to resist each other and the author gives us a highly charged scene of consummation. I do hope Diane Gaston continues at the same pace. As I noted in another review, she brings a strong, polished style of writing, shows evidence of careful research into her setting and period and her own working background enables her to create quite powerful characters and conflicts. Highly recommended.