“A Rake’s Guide to Seduction” is a very sweet, enjoyable read by Caroline Linden. Anthony saves his friend’s young sister, Celia, from a thoroughly embarrassing marriage proposal. Celia is young, only 18, and quips that she may be the only woman in London who can handle him. At that moment, Anthony begins to fall a little in love with Celia. Only to have his heart semi-broken when she marries another man.

Four years later, Celia is a widow who wasn’t very happy in her marriage. She and her husband didn’t have any children and she was shut in the country for the length of their marriage, and given the responsibility for caring for her ailing father-in-law. Her mother convinces her to rejoin society and throws a house party to cheer her up. Celia doesn’t miss her husband, she just feels lost now that she has returned to society and is worried about making bad decisions again.

Anthony attends the house party and reignites his connection to Celia. Anthony wants nothing more than to pull her out of her depression and to make her laugh and smile again. Anthony’s reputation is awful, and Celia is the only woman who ever looked past the reputation and wanted to know the real Anthony.

Anthony turns on the seduction and charm and soon they find themselves in a compromising position. But Celia has to decide if she can trust her heart again or if it will deceive her into believing Anthony will be a faithful, devoted husband that she wants.

The chemistry was electric between Celia and Anthony. Anthony waited a long time for Celia to realize that they could fall in love with each other. Very likeable main characters, Celia is very sweet and so sadly melancholy she made my heart ache for her. Anthony is constantly disrespected and lied about, but he turns the other cheek to avoid unwanted confrontations. There is quite a bit of passion between these two, and some steamy love scenes! I really enjoyed this book and will look for more books by Ms. Linden.

Meant to be together but destined to be kept apart, Celia and Anthony have to decide if the love they want is worth the fight it will be. In a world where reputation is everything and feelings mean nothing, which will this star crossed duo chose? A Rake's Guide to Seduction blends playful with sensual and delivers heartbreaking. Ms. Linden has created a romance set in the past but with problems that exist in the modern world. Topics like sexism and issues of social class work their way into the tapestry of colorful characters that make up an enchanting romance.

I believe you have known heartbreak and loss as I have, for no one else could understand the despair one suffers from being so mistaken in love.
The story follows Anthony Hamilton who has been considered a scandalous from the day he was born. His friendship with David Reece, Celia’s brother, has seen him picture Celia as a younger sister. However, at a ball, he meets Celia again and is truly captivated by her, such that he asks for permission to court her. Unfortunately, Celia has accepted another proposal.
What could have been your typical romance, takes an interesting turn as Celia and Anthony meet again four years later after Celia’s husband dies. Celia returns to the family home for a house party, on the insistence of her mother, who is concerned for her happiness.
Whilst Celia grows in confidence due to the presence of Anthony, his sadness is palpable. He is almost resigned to the nastiness of the ton and their whispered comments behind his back. However, this is by no means a depressing story. The relationship between Anthony and Celia is delightful in how it unfolds. Anthony is such a romantic and Celia’s faith in him is such a refreshing feature. This is a book to treasure!

This was a beautifully written story. Believable characters, intrigue, and so much more that you expect from this author.

A Rake’s Guide to Seduction is Celia’s story in the Reece Family Trilogy and a satisfying end to the series. Celia is the younger half-sister to the Duke of Exeter and Lord David. As a debutant, Celia believed she was marrying for love when she married Bertie. Anthony asked to court her, but waited too long. The Duke had just given permission for Bertie to marry her.

There seems to be two parts to the story both written extremely well. Although the book begins by introducing the characters, it quickly moves into Celia’s married life with Bertie. Her journal of wedded life begins immediately following the wedding and ends when her mother comes to get her following Bertie’s death. I loved reading Celia’s thoughts, wishes and, sadly, her hurts from her heartfelt perspective.

Once home, she is surrounded by her family, including her well meaning mom, the Dowager Duchess of Exeter. Although part of a series, this could be a stand alone book, and I was able to draw from the previous books to have a better understanding of the relationship between Celia, her mom and her brothers. It just added a bit to enjoying the family and their lives.

Anthony – rake that he is – if he could not have Celia, he will just go on as best as he knows how. She was his best friend’s little sister. But, he still cares for her and now is not going to let her choose someone else again. At the house party her mom has brought together, there are several eligible gentlemen with which Anthony needs to compete. It does not take long for there to be some mischief. Anthony certainly does use his seduction skills to try to persuade Celia he is the man for her. He even helps an acquaintance better his married life with his knowledge of women.

Their HEA is not reached without a good bit of drama. What I like is Celia’s steadfast faith in Anthony no matter. She knows the real Anthony and not the Anthony others say he is. Again, great ending to a great series. I loved that you included a special someone for the Dowager Duchess in the form of Anthony’s uncle. She deserves an HEA, too.

I wonder why all heroines seem to smell of lemons? I think it is strange...what's this passion about lemons? I don't understand.


However, this was not the first time I read A Rake's Guide to Seduction, which was first published in 2008. I really liked it the first time, I had given it 4.5/5 on Goodreads, I had found it very sweet and it's the type of story I love: the hero is secretly in love with the heroine, who's the hero's friend's little sister.

Moreover here, everything charming happens, he decides to ask her brother for her hand after several internal struggles given by the feeling of not being good enough for her, unfortunately she has already received an offer which she had accepted, she is unaware of the hero's feeling and she gets married to the wrong guy, the husband dies after some years of unhappy marriage, she's sad and feel bad because her failed marriage, the hero in the meanwhile has managed to be successful, but he still has a soft spot for the newly widowed heroine, a series of circumstances put them in the same place and he decides to make her happy again and while doing that he realises that indeed he has never stopped loving her...(this is less than half of the novel so do not fret).


The first time I read it, I really liked all of it, but something put me a little bit of, and this is the fact that they get caught after they have had a love moment and she's kind of "forced" to think about marry again. HOWEVER, I don't know why, that didn't bother me at all. I actually think it makes the story more interesting, especially because of the developments that the fact puts in motion. How strange tastes are.


So, this is my new opinion (and possibly last): I loved it. It is one of the sweetest story I've ever read, maybe to Quinn's When He Was Wicked level. For sure the heroes are equally adorable.

The passion between Anthony and Celia, in the story, is amazing; the heroine is great, she definitely becomes a mature young lady throughout the plot and I adored how she wants to protect the hero.



Marvellous.

' A Rake's Guide to Seduction' by Caroline Linden is book Three in the "Reece Family' Trilogy.
This is the story of Anthony Hamilton and Celia Reece. I have read the other books in this series but feel this can be a standalone book. Also please note that this is a re-release with a new book cover, the first release was in 2008.
Celia once thought of marriage with rose colored glasses but after her marriage with her first husband those glasses are off. Now as a widow and a sister of a Duke she has some freedoms but is also much sought after.
Anthony who has always been a friend of Celia brother David always seem to live a crazy life and only had peace when he was with David's family. Now all those years later when he sees Celia again and they actually speak and get to know one another again it brings back feelings for both of them.
Loved this second chance at love story along with this getting a second chance with readers!
"My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."
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I read the second book in this series a long time ago and loved it but did not remember this book which was published a while back. Anthony is not how he is portrayed by others and how many times have we seen a man like this walk away without defending himself all in the name of “it is just not worth it”. Not many and I admired that about him. Celia stands by him no matter what is said and I loved that about her. A wonderful love story. The first half of the book is really slow, but stay with it. It does get better.

He sounds more fun than any of these toffs.

Are you inbred, Euston? Get a clue!

Holy crap, two hundred thousand pounds?! No wonder she has got every bachelor in London sniffing at her.

What the heck is he investing in? Is it really worth living like this?

Bertie sounds like he might be in the closet.

Poor thing, she's the odd man out in her own family now.

Is David her half-brother, then?

She burned his love letter?! Gah.

Whoa, that was kinda sexy, Mr. Beecham.

Preach it, Warfield. Rosalind is a snob, and has judged poor Anthony on what she has heard.

Ermm...at least they were done?

The duke and Celia are the only rational people in this family.

He's trying to help you, Percy. You should listen.

Whoo boy. Who knew a foot massage could be so erotic?

Louisa, just because you're unhappy in your marriage doesn't mean everyone else should be as well.

Never go to Vegas, Anthony. Or Monte Carlo.

Is it hot in here? Those two weeks better come fast!

My money's on Ned. Called away "unexpectedly" on an "immediate" matter? That has "setting up an alibi" all over it.

Haha! This is hilarious! Ned was not counting on Celia being so unbiddable.

Go get 'er, Warfield.

Worst father ever.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a wonderful romance between Lord Anthony, who prefers to go by 'Mr.', and Lady Celia. They have known each other since childhood, and been friendly, but not really romantic. Eventually though, Anthony begins to see Celia as a woman, rather than a girl, but unfortunately his timing is not in his favor. Both of these two people experience heartache and disappointment, but continue to go on through life only to meet again as though fate pushed them together, and this time Anthony realizes the importance of persuasion.
This is a terrific regency romance, that I read from start to finish. It's filled with emotion, a twist or two, and some delicious heat between the two main characters. I highly recommend it!

4.5 stars
Celia Reece knew Anthony Hamilton well before he forged his scandalous reputation. The young man she remembers spoke kindly to her, made her laugh, and his devilish good looks always quickened her pulse. But Celia's mother the Dowager Duchess of Essex had other designs that didn't include marriage to Anthony. Celia thought herself in love but quickly learned that she wasn’t now Celia is widowed, and her mother is intent on finding her a new husband so organises a house party..
Anthony Hamilton cannot help it. The way he looks, the way he lives, his past--it all conspires to make him a man men fear, women desire. His name fills gossip circles in a seemingly endless, lurid drama. But he's never forgotten the only woman he's ever truly wanted--yet could never have.
Anthony is an enigma he has a horrid reputation but is quiet, kind & caring. He had to fend for himself from the age of fifteen & at times struggled to survive but he has emerged a self made man. Celia is full of self doubt & has totally lost her confidence blaming herself for Bertie’s treatment of her. A lovely story of two people finding themselves & each other. Celia’s journal is heart breaking & her reluctance to join in is understandable. The anonymous letters are so romantic. The characters are well developed & as the story progresses Anthony’s true character is shown. The plot is well paced & there’s plenty of humour. The story could be a standalone book but does conclude the Reece trilogy

My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Thoughtful look at romance in during the Regency Era.

Caroline Linden originally released this book in 2008. I did not read it then but am very happy I had the opportunity to read it today.
She did a wonderful job on presenting the realities of romance and marriage during that era.
I loved how both Anthony and Celia grew during the course of the story. I thought the dialogue was very authentic and the plot line interesting.

I received an advance reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

This is the first book I've read from Caroline Linden and I have to say that I loved it. I'm very curious as to the first two books in this series now that I have met everyone in the family. The story is a second chance love story between Celia and Anthony. Anthony is best friends with Celia's brother David and has a reputation for being a rake. Their relationship is one that develops first from a family friend into a friendship that might blossom into more. However, when Anthony decides to court Celia, he finds that he may be too late as she has already agreed to marry another whom she is in love with. I really liked Celia as a character and respected the way she matured as well as her very realistic struggles with learning to trust love and herself again. While they each have their own struggles their relationship has other barriers as well, from those who love them and want what they think is best for them, to those that may not care or support them as much as others. Overall, I would highly recommend reading this one if you're looking for a good romance. The book is well written and the characters are engaging and you can't help but want to root for them.

I was super excited when they republished this book. I want to say I love all of Caroline Linden books.
The story is about Anthony Hamilton, who is the most scandalous man. Celia Reece is Anthony's best friends younger sister. So I don't want to spoil the book for anyone so give it a try.

Caroline Linden’s A Rake’s Guide to Seduction is one of her earliest published titles, having originally appeared in 2008.  It’s now being reissued with a rather fetching new cover (in paperback), and as it’s a book I haven’t yet read, this gave me a good excuse reason to add it to my pile of review books.  This, I quickly discovered, was a very good move, because it’s a lovely, gently moving character-driven romance featuring a young widow who is given second chance at love and the man who has secretly loved her for many years.

Anthony Hamilton, Viscount Langford, was a scandal from the moment he was born.  Almost certainly a cuckoo in the nest, be grew into a wild boy and proceeded to get himself thrown out of three schools, after which, having finished his education at Oxford, he embarked upon a life of debauchery in London, his reputation as a high-stakes gamester and seducer of wealthy widows and bored wives very quickly earning him the blackest of reputations while also rendering him utterly fascinating to the members of the ton.  The fact that he is gorgeous, remarkably discreet and closely guards his privacy only increases his allure.

Anthony – who, owing to his estrangement from his father now chooses to style himself as plain Mr. Hamilton - spent many of his holidays from school at Ainsley Park, the home of his closest friend, David Reece.  David’s younger sister, Celia, remembers Anthony fondly; he’d been like another brother who helped launch her kites and tie her fishing lines.  As he grew older and his reputation grew worse, her mother banned Anthony from visiting, although now Celia is ‘out’, she sees him  from time to time and finds it amusing that he is now so very wicked that young ladies are afraid to do so much as walk past him alone. She has never believed him to be quite as black as he is painted; indeed, her own brothers have not exactly been pattern cards of propriety in the past and she can’t really see why Anthony should be singled out for such gossip and censure.

Celia is young, beautiful, vivacious and, as the sister of a duke, much sought after.  After interrupting her and an over-amorous swain one evening, she and Anthony have the first real conversation they’ve had in a long time and he is suddenly struck by an almost unwelcome realisation – that she’s no longer the little girl he knew and that he’s in love with her and has been for some time.  But it’s hopeless. No brother who truly cares about his sister is going to give her hand in marriage to a man with a reputation like Anthony’s… yet her image is burned into his brain, her lemon scent haunts him and he can’t forget their conversation:

“Anyone who took the trouble to know you would accept you,” Celia insisted ignoring his efforts to turn the subject.

“You’ve gone and ruled out every woman in England.” He leaned over the railing, squiting into the darkness.

“Except myself,” Celia declared and then she stopped.  Good heavens, what had she just said?

The fact that she doesn’t see him as the decadent wastrel society believes him to be gives Anthony the courage to approach her brother to ask for permission to court her – only to be told that he has just sanctioned the betrothal between Celia and Lord Bertram, the young man who has gained her affections.

Four years pass, during which Celia discovers that the man she married was not the charming, solicitous young man she had fallen for, but was instead selfish, disgruntled, unfaithful and very quick to relegate her to the ranks of Things That Do Not Matter.  His death from pneumonia sees Celia returning to her family, but she’s a very different young woman to the one who left amid such happiness and celebration.  Subdued, quiet and depressed, Celia feels out of place and uncomfortable; everyone else has moved forward without her and in spite of her mother’s attempts to make it seem otherwise, Celia can’t pretend things haven’t changed.

Deeply worried about her daughter’s state of mind, the dowager decides to cheer Celia up by arranging a house party to which she invites many of her old friends.  Her intentions are good, but being forced into company with these young women with whom she no longer has anything in common only serves to make Celia feel even more disconnected.  The one bright spot is that her brother David has invited Anthony Hamilton to the party, and even though her mother is obviously not pleased that he is there, he’s the one person outside her family Celia is pleased to see and with whom she feels able to be herself.  And Anthony, who is truly saddened at the change in Celia, determines to make her smile once more and, perhaps, to see if there is any possibility she could be persuaded to throw in her lot with the most scandalous man in society.

Caroline Linden has created a truly beautiful love story between two people whose lives haven’t been easy or turned out as they hoped.  Celia’s depression is sympathetically and realistically presented, as is her growth from someone blinded by a childish ideal of love to a more mature woman who is able to recognise and accept real, deep love and affection.  Her worry that because she made the wrong choice once she may do so again is understandable, but ultimately, she doesn’t allow that fear to control her and I found her willingness to open her heart again to be admirable.

As for Anthony… well, he’s dreamy.  *sigh* He’s no saint, but he’s no rake, either; his reputation is largely the result of gossip and misunderstanding which, because of his reluctance to discuss it has become a self-perpetuating myth.  Over the years he has learned to ignore what is said of him; as he tells Celia, even if he told the truth, nobody would believe him.  One of the loveliest moments in the book is the point at which Celia realises he has never had anyone in his corner to stand up for him, and then determines she will be that person.

The romance between Celia and Anthony is beautifully developed, and there’s never any question they are perfect for one another and that their love for each other is genuine.  The author writes with insight about society marriages of the time through the words and attitudes of Celia’s friends who have become bitter and bitchy; and I rather liked the hint of a romance blossoming between her somewhat starchy mother and Anthony’s big, braw, Scottish uncle.

The book’s one flaw is in the sudden plot twist thrown in near the end, which is why I ended up not giving the book a straight A grade; the story doesn’t really need it, although I did appreciate it as an opportunity for Celia to show her faith in Anthony in the face of the doubts exhibited by everyone around her.

Caroline Linden is a ‘must-read’ author for me these days, and she’s one of a handful of historical romance authors who is able to craft a satisfying love story that functions within the social conventions of the time and in which the characters are believably rooted in the nineteenth century rather than being a group of twenty-first century people in period dress.  Finding time to read favourite authors’ back-catalogues is difficult given the number of new books I read and review, but I’m really glad I made time for this one.  A Rake’s Guide to Seduction is highly recommended.

Buy Now: A/BN/iB/K

This is an excellent historical romance with heart, humor and even a little mystery thrown in at the end. I loved Anthony and did not like how misunderstood he was by most, not counting Celia and her family (except for her mother!). I also enjoyed how Celia was Anthony’s champion and never believed he was as wicked as the gossips made him out to be. I now need to go back and read the first two books in the series to see how her brothers won their wives and would definitely read more by this author.

I read a copy of this book provided by Net Galley in return for a fair review. I originally read this book when it was first published and have a copy of the paperback on my keeper shelf so I was delighted to have the opportunity to read it again and to review it to spread the word about how good it is. This is my favourite book in the trilogy, all of the stories are wonderful but I have a soft spot for Celia and Anthony. They meet when Celia is a child and Anthony is the very kind friend of her older brother. When Celia grows up and makes her debut they meet once again become friends each becoming aware of the other but fate conspires against them falling in love. They meet once again several years later Celia as a young widow wounded by a failed marriage and the death of her husband and Anthony whose reputation is so black that Celia’s mother goes on full attack to protect her daughter. Their journey to HEA is full of twists and turns but all that much more rewarding because of their struggle to find it.

I didn't read the first book in this series but I didn't feel like I was missing anything. We learn from the beginning that Anthony Hamilton (he refuses to use his courtesy title) is something of a rake. Well, he's a giant rake. Or so the gossip says. But people have been gossiping about him since his birth (is he really his father's son?) so who knows the truth?
Celia Reece thinks she knows. He's a good man. But can she really tell? She made such a bad marriage the first time, it's hard to tell. But he seems to be different from her first husband in so many important ways. Then, they're caught in a compromising position and (somewhat) forced to pretend to be engaged.
And I didn't think the plot really needed this point. It seemed... out of place in the rest of the book. But it wasn't so jarring that I stopped reading. This was a fast, fun, and fluffy read and I generally enjoyed it.

Three and a half stars
This book came out August 29