Liviania’s review of Never Romance a Rake (Neville Family Trilogy, Book 3) by Liz Carlyle
Historical romance release by Pocket Star 22 July 08
I doubt anyone who read the other entries in the Neville Family Series can resist Baron Rothwell’s story. But even those unfamiliar with the other two can enjoy this novel. The plot relies on several cliches, but Liz Carlyle uses them well. This book uses the gambling set up, when the slimy Comte de Valigny offers his daughter for a wager. Kieran doesn’t have much of a conscience, but he knows he’s her best option between the two men at the table. Camille’s willing to take any option if it means marriage and a child. What really makes this trope work is Carlyle examining why Camille would choose to gambled away. She’s a survivor, caught between the legacy of her neglectful and selfish parents ever and a better life – if she marries and bears a child soon. She has no desire to fall for a rake like Kieran, but she finds herself doing so anyways as she manages to observe pieces of his better side. She’s determined and fierce and the perfect match for the self-destructive Kieran.
Carlyle makes Kieran’s character work by not holding back. Like any real person, he’s not all bad. He obviously cares for his remaining family and his servants. They, in return, see his better side and wish he would stop his destructive behavior. However, he is not simply misunderstood. He gladly drinks, gambles, and whores about because he believes he deserves to be punished. His abusive childhood and damaging first love guaranteed his terrible self-image.
Never Romance a Rake retains Kieran’s black humor. While all three of the books involve dark subjects, this concluding volume contains the most darkness. (As such, it contains the least Kemble, as he would be out of place. He still shows up enough to make Camille and I happy.) He’s terribly prickly and unwilling to let Camille into his heart since his lifestyle is finally destroying his health.
In Never Romance a Rake, I wondered often while reading how Carlyle could possibly deliver a happily ever after, when Rothwell’s destiny seemed to be the grave. She did make him suffer for it, although events do conspire to grant Kieran and Camille an extremely happy ending. Some parts seem almost too lucky, but it’s hard to begrudge the character’s their good fortune when they survived some of the world’s worst parenting. It’s a pleasure to watch these two damaged, self-reliant characters learn to trust and love each other.
Grade: B+
Summary:
Baron Rothewell lives a dark, shuttered existence by day, and a life of reckless abandon by night. Scarred by a childhood filled with torment and deprivation, Rothewell cares very little anyone or anything. His life on the edge of ruin suits him—until he meets a man who just might be his nemesis. The Comte de Valigny likes to play deeply and dangerously, but Rothewell’s recklessness is undeterred. Until one night when de Valigny wagers something just a little more valuable than gold.
Mademoiselle Marchand is a desperate woman in a strange land, and her pleading eyes seem to swallow Lord Rothewell body and soul—assuming he still has one. Now the baron must play his hand with the utmost care, for at last something meaningful is at stake . . .
Read an excerpt here.
