The Good Girls Guide to Rakes by Eva Leigh is the first book in a new series; Last Chance Scoundrels. It has a very interesting opening scene to capture your attention.

Keiran, his brother (Finn) and their best friend Dom are told they have to marry or lose all funds. They are being help accountable for their rakish ways by their parents. And not just marry anyone; they have to marry a good girl. The only good girl Keiran knows is Dom’s sister, Celeste. So he asks for her help to introduce him into polite society as reformed.
Predictably you know they will fall for each other. But the authors is not predictable in how it happens. Celeste is about to be married to someone she does not love to keep her family in good standing. So she wants to really live her life before that happens. And she is going to use Keiran to make that happen.

I felt the ending was very well done. I had no idea what Keiran was going to do.
Definitely looking forward to the next books in the series.
Sexual content - 4 several scenes with crude language
Violence - none
Drinking - 3 there was drinking at the balls and some drinking of whiskey at the homes
Language - 4 - profanity throughout the book. F word was use over 30 times, b@stard - 7 times, and many other words.

I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I have read this author before and enjoyed her books. Keiran and Finn help their friend basically jilt their sister Willa because their friend Dom doesn’t think he is good enough. Tired of their antics: Keiran, Finn, Dom's parents give them an ultimate choice - to get married within a year or they will be disowned. This book focuses on Keiran who is a rake and poet. Unable to figure out how to go about attracting a respectable girl he seeks out Dom’s paragon sister Celeste. However, in exchange for help Celeste wants to experience “life” without the confines of respectability. This dirty-talking romance book had something for everyone toss in with a villain. It was fun to read, made you laugh, and flowed easily. The author sets up the “players” dramatic flair… so you must know what is going to happen to the Finn/Tabitha and maybe Dom/Willa. I would recommend this book and look forward to the next books in this series.

I think this is one of the most romantic books I ever read. This book was full of mutual pining, hedonistic fun, and it has my favorite trope which is Hidden Depths.
Kieran and Celeste complement each other. I love how they both are wild spirits. I also think Kieran is Book Boyfriend material. He’s a rake but he has a poetic and romantic soul and I’m all for that. *swoons*
Moreover I also liked the side characters. Kieran, Finn, and Dom are such dude bros but they’re fun and they have each other's back.
Furthermore, the writing is so vivid. I wanted to go to the places Eva Leigh was describing. They seemed so fun!
Finally, this book kept me hooked because the stakes were so high and I had to know how Kieran and Celeste would get out of their dilemma.
This book was one of my favorites of 2022. If you love stories about Rakes and the women they end up down bad for, then this is the book for you!

Such a sweet, steamy, decadent read full of wonderful interactions and, in my opinion, a sweeping romance!

I really, genuinely, loved this book. I eagerly read every page! The way that Leigh wrote the growing connection between Celeste and Kieran, and the way the conflict played out and resolved at the end of the book was incredibly satisfying. I loved Celeste's and Kieran's interactions together! I kept giggling and smirking and their snipes. Their attraction and romance built in a swoon worthy way that kept bringing me back for more. A wonderful book that I would recommend to any romance fan, but especially historical romance fans.

I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Kieran Ransome is a devishly handsome rake who spends his time rejecting polite society and their rules. Unfortunately, this has caused him to be a social pariah. His parents issue an ultimatum that he, Dom, and Finn will all be cut off if they don't marry respectable ladies within a year. Kieran enlists the help of Celeste Killburn to get him accepted back into the welcoming arms of the ton. In return, Celeste wants Kieran to help her experience disreputable haunts at night before she is forced to marry Lord Montford.

First thing, Kieran is oh so dirty. The things he says and the things he does. Just hot. Then he is matched with Celeste who has a passionate hidden beneath her very sedate and proper facade. There were literal fireworks in this book. I won't lie and say I didn't struggle in the beginning because I always struggle with the first book in the series. I think it's just information overload introducing all the characters and the plot. After about 30 percent this really picked up for me, and I found i couldn't put it down. Yes, there was lots of chemistry, but also a lot of feels too. There were layers to these characters that kept getting pulled back exposing their innermost desires and I think I enjoyed that most of all.

This doesn't beat my favorite Eva Leigh, but it's a close second.

I love finishing a Romance novel and knowing beyond a doubt that the two main characters are made for each other. Kieran and Celeste's story is sweet, sexy, emotional, and so much fun. The side characters are great (I'm looking forward to Finn and Tabitha's book, and I hope Dom is paired with Willa for a second-chance-at-love story), and I thought the villain and the twist at the end both worked really well without being too over-the-top. Overall I would recommend this promising start to the series and look forward to reading more Eva Leigh!

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager via Netgalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Good Girl’s Guide to Rakes is the first book in Eva Leigh’s new Last Chance Scoundrels series. Kieran, his brother (Finn), and his friend (Dom) land in hot water with their parents after creating a scandal that hurts both of their families. They are given an ultimatum - all three must marry a respectable woman within one year, or risk being cut off. Kieran enlists the help of the only respectable woman he knows, Dom’s sister, Celeste. Kieran needs Celeste to gain access to respectable events. Celeste agrees on one condition - Kieran must take her to disreputable establishments and introduce her to the freedoms Kieran and his friends have always known.

I really loved this book. Lately, I have read a lot of old school historical romance and this book really gave me similar feelings! Celeste, as with many OSHR heroines, spends the book finding the power in not only being herself, but also the power in being a woman. Kieran is not the typical alpha rake I expect to read and is exceptionally layered with care and emotion that he only hides from those not close to him. This book is a magnificent setup to the entire series, because the secondary characters in this book are featured so much I am dying to read the rest of the series!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have so little to say about this. It was middle of the road. It didn't do anything particularly great for me. I was frequently bored for a book that is supposed to be about scandalous behavior.

I think this is just such a common trope in historical romances of the good society girl wanting to experience all the fun men can have and the amount of feminism in these stories can really make or break it. Here, it was almost too much. Or rather it was so on the nose that it didn't feel organic.

While I was bored and felt like I was being told more than shown about the characters desires and interests, it was still well written and serviceable if you are looking for a rake story. I'm sure this will probably really work for someone.

In the eloquent words of Eva Leigh, “One Scoundrel down, two more to go! And what a scoundrel, Kieran Ransome was! I think my heart is still pounding from his rakish ways.

This was my first Eva Leigh novel and it won’t be my last. I’ve already added 4 more of her books to my TBR list.

Celeste Kilburn is the most respectable and demure young woman on the Ton. Or at least that’s how it seems to everyone around her. When her brother’s best friend asks her to help him reform his rakish ways to find a wife she agrees under one condition, he must show her what the other side of London night life is like. Once Kieran releases the true Celeste, there’s no way she’s going back to the life she once led.

As Celeste and Kieran realize they have feelings for each other, one rather large problem stands in the way. A very powerful man who intends to have Celeste for himself at all costs.

I couldn’t put this book down! It was fast pass, exciting and those spicy scenes were straight 🔥

Rating: 2.5/5

Style/Trope/TLDR: Reformed bad boy and good girl, Regency romance

Spice: 2.5/5

Kieran Ransome helps convince his friend, Dom, to leave his bride at the alter. As a result, his father and Dom's force Dom, Kieran and Kieran's brother Finn to marry suitably within the year. Dom's sister, Celeste, is trying to experience life before forced into marriage with an earl. When Kieran and Celeste make a deal, what will happen?

This book was not engaging. I didn't really connect to the characters and the story seemed a bit formulaic and didn't have a lot of depth to me. I've enjoyed other books by Eva Leigh more. That being said, if there's an eventual reunion book between Dom and Willa, I will read that.

Kieran Ransome is much like my favorite word (see above): decadent, filthy, satisfying. Tall, dark, triple chocolate dessert. He was just so yummy! It also helped that I knew his character inspiration was Aidan Turner. Yes, the very man I watched 8 hours of The Hobbit films to see. A true tasty slice of man. I also really loved his relationship with his brother and that we was deeply in touch with his emotions. He wrote poetry and supported Celeste’s entire self.

And Celeste! What a character! Kieran went to her because she was respectable and he needed to become respectable and marry an equally respectable woman. But obviously Celeste wasn’t the respectable woman for him. Couldn’t be! Wouldn’t be! (Reader, it did not go as planned.) In exchange, Celeste wanted to live at night like she wasn’t respectable and didn’t have her family’s reputation on her shoulders. I really enjoyed her journey of self discovery.

Celeste and Kieran made a perfectly wicked pair and I loved their midnight cavorting. There were poetry battles and dirty books and did I mention dirty talk? I loved the big deceit at the end. I was CACKLING! I love me a man who doesn’t run from the problem but makes the problem run from him.

Reader, this book fucks. We love the flavor. I also really appreciate that the dirty talk was mutual and mutually enjoyed. Celeste loved that such a pretty man could be so dirty, and Kieran loved that such a proper woman could be so wanton.

I can’t wait for the next books in the series!! Dom is such a broody muffin and I really appreciated the relationship between Finn and Kieran. I can’t wait to see Finn shine!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶🌶🌶.75/5

*Thank you so much to the author for this advanced copy! All opinions are honest and my own.*

An ultimatum…get a wife or inherit nothing…this is what Kieran is facing. First book in a series, this one was a well paced romance. The steam was savoring but I could have done without some of the “dirty talk” as that aspect often makes or breaks a book for me. All in all the chemistry and characters were on point, and I loved the brother’s best friend trope.

Yes, I truly enjoyed this romance, BUT...I did not think Celeste was a “good girl” she actually cavorted around London as more of a slut. I'm sorry she felt so repressed that she had to go to the other end of the spectrum from being “good” but it really made me not like her very much. As for Kieran, well he was just following his roguish ways while at the same time trying to look more respectable to his parents and the ton. Not because he wanted to reform, only so that his parents would again give him his allowance. Two more unlikeable characters I have yet to read. Okay the story was well written; the author does write good dialog and I did read the entire book to see how it would resolve. So not a bad book, just annoying.

4.5 stars rounded up.

Eva Leigh has done it again!

I hate the term “girlboss” but writing a whole series about a female Victorian gang? Based on a real female Victorian gang?

The female friendships were incredible and the main couple’s chemistry was on fire

Just a great book that I’d recommend to any HR fan. Already can’t wait for the next one!

3/5🔥 (three scenes — one hands, one full, one briefer)

I dont think Ive read anything by Eva Leigh before, and The Good Girls Guide to Rakes was a wonderful place to start. It was a 5 star read and the begining of my journey to read all of her backlisted books.

I loved both Kieran and Celeste, and watching them learn who each other really are behind the scenes and slowly falling in love with each other was really amazing. In the begining of the story we see Kierans sister about to get married, however it seems that she is having some second thoughts, at least it looks that way to both Kieran and Finn. So they do something to help their sister, and the man who is her intended.. and also the boys best friend and help stop the marriage.. This leads to some unintended consequences, their father tells they boys that unless they can marry respectible women by the end of the year they will be completely cut off...

Well this is a bit of a pickle, since none of them are allowed at any remotely respectible events where they might meet ladies. So Kieran comes up with a plan to find the most respectible woman he knows and ask her to help him.. That lady is his best friends sister Celeste, and while she agrees to help Kieran, she wants something in return.. To be shown the best parts of London where respectible ladies arent allowed to go..

The more time they spend together they begin to realize that they arent the people they thought they were. Kieran is definitely a softie underneath that roguish charm, his parents show no interest in him or his brother Finn, so they have practiced not caring what anyone thinks of them at all. Celeste just wants the chance to make her own choices and be free from the expectations of her father. Her family grew up dirt poor, and now that they have money, Celeste is expected to make sure that she is extra careful to not bring any undo scrutiny to her family. They are a perfect match for each other, and their chemistry is scorching, and their story gave me all the good feels.

I can't wait so see who is going to get their HEA next!

I knew this book would be good, but I didn't expect it to be THIS good. Eva Leigh writes both fun and steam and tension and deep emotions so well. I enjoyed this story of wild Kieran and good girl, Celeste, so much. When he asks her to help him repair his reputation as a rake, he doesn't expect her to ask him to help her be a little bit wild in exchange. Their partnership and adventures lead to the best kind of tension and a slower burn than I thought would be in this book. Each adventure lead to a little more longing and by the time their heat exploded - WHEW - it was worth the wait. I can't wait to see what happens next in this series!

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This was a new author for me and I have to say that I was not a huge fan of this. This is about a rake that has been told he has to find a wife and Celeste is trying to find some freedom from her responsibilities. They make a bargain to help each other. The story had a good premise but I just felt like this dragged on. It took me awhile to get through it. I really did not get into it until 80% into it. Then the story got interesting but overall just not a huge fan.

MY REVIEW:

This book starts at the wedding of one of the main characters sister. Keiran and his brother Finn like to get into crazy things and live a wild life. So imagine his surprise when his dad basically forces him to get married. He is appalled but has no choice.

He also has no clue where to start his reputation is so messed up from his prior scandals, that no respectable woman wants to marry him. So he thinks that getting Celeste, his best friends sister to help him will change his reputation seeing how she's one of the most respected women in London.

Celeste has always had a crush on Keiran but she knows he's less than respectable and has never really noticed her. Her family started with humble beginnings and worked their way up to where they are and their respectability is based on her. It’s a tough burden to bear but she will do anything for her family.

But when Keiran tempts her to help him she comes up with and idea of her own to get what she wants to. She want to see the things that she isn't allowed to see the scandalous side of London. It is only fair right?

Keiran has no choice but to agree, much as he doesn’t want to. Keiran starts to see Celeste as a woman with her own mind and thoughts and realized that she's not at all what he thought she was.

He starts to enjoy his outings with her and starts to fall for her even though he knows he shouldn’t.

“You only like me this way because my garments are practically indecent.” His smile widened. “Much as I adore your scandalous clothing, when you’re Salome, you become the woman who’s been inside you all this time. I do love to see her.”

Celeste loves seeing the forbidden side of London and who better to see it with than the man she has had a crush one. She starts to come out of the shell of being and innocent and starts to become a woman that Keiran finds irresistible.

He’d never, until this moment, wanted someone as much as he wanted her. Hunger for her had taken him over, replacing every part of him. The beat of his heart was now desire, and his lungs were fiery need. He was acutely aware of every inch of his body, just as he was aware of every inch of hers—the beads of perspiration along her cheeks, the widening of her pupils.

The chemistry between the character is intoxicating, making you want to keep reading.

“When I’m with you, my muse doesn’t just speak to me. She sings. Yet never believe your sole purpose is to be my inspiration. Let me inspire you to reach the heights you were destined to climb. If I can be the smallest part of your journey, I’ll die a man fully content. Because I love you.”

With Keiran, Celeste finds her true self and the woman she really wants to be. She finds a way to stand up for herself.

And Kieran also finds his true self with Celeste, she creates a safe space for his to be who he really is without fear that he will be judged.

WOULD I RECOMMEND:

This book was a surprise to me, I really enjoyed it. This was a great book I definitely recommend!

I loved watching Celeste become the woman she was destined to be and Kieran becoming the man he wanted to be.

There was so much expectation for both of them whether it be good or bad, it was great to be able to see them find comfort from one another.

I really loved the slow burn that really developed the characters and helped me to really fall in love with them.

I am so excited for this series and really am looking forward to Finn's story which is the next book in this series. I also want to see how far this author takes us, I would love to see Dom's (Celeste's brother and Kieran's best friend) story too!

I really wanted to love this, but unfortunately I feel it's going to be pretty forgettable. Tropes were great, I appreciated the focus on consent, and the diversity, but this just really fell flat for me. Definitely don't go into this one expecting historical accuracy, which isn't an issue for me but for others to be aware. The high points for me were the spunkiness of the heroine, and the amount of times our poet hero says F**k.

**Free copy of this title provided by publisher, all thoughts are my own**

What a complete and utter delight this book was! I loved everything about Celeste and Kieran. Celeste was such an amazing woman and I loved watching her dazzle everyone she met. Unlike so many historical romances, it felt like (at least in the beginning) we followed Kieran, Finn, and Dom more than our heroine and I, for one, am here for it. I can't wait to see what's in store for Finn in the next book. Eva Leigh *never* disappoints.