Oh Sophie Jordan, you have done it again!

I love Sophie Jordan's writing. Her new series set in Shropshire, The Duke Hunt, has been fantastic so far. I truly enjoyed the second book, The Rake Gets Ravished. What's a girl to do when her wastrel brother bets the farm on a game of cards and loses? Why, she seduces the scoundrel who owns the gaming hell and gets back her family land! But when that selfsame lady also has an attack of conscience and leaves a note that is a giveaway to the theft of the voucher, the owner of the gaming hell will do anything to find her and make her pay...in the most delicious of ways.

However, neither is prepared for the passion and heat between them--and they most certainly aren't ready to lose their hearts.

I loved Mercy and Silas and the hot hot heat that sizzles between them. Mercy is a strong & practical female character, whereas Silas is a successful entrepreneur. They fascinate one another and they are written to care even when they don't feel they are capable. It's definitely one of those amazing found family books that gives you the feels alongside the sensual moments.

I truly cannot wait for the next book in this series!

This review provided for ARC.

The Rake Gets Ravished had a fun and atypical start for a historical romance. Mercy's familial land has been gambled away by her irresponsible layabout brother. Silas is the owner of the Gaming Hell that Mercy hopes to rob. When they find themselves in a predicament, Silas moves in with Mercy for a short amount of time and their relationship begins to grow.

I enjoyed this book, especially Mercy's character which held strong throughout. What I had trouble connecting with was Silas's feelings for Mercy. It felt, early on, that he fell in love with her despite knowing absolutely nothing about her. He works to protect her and prove himself to her, but I couldn't understand why.

Overall 3
Steam 3.5/5
Relationship development 2.5
Plot 2/5
Subplot 2/5

Totally enjoyed this book. Sophie Jordan pulls you in from the first page. Mercy is forever cleaning up her brothers messes. This time it runs her into Silas Masters., owner of the gaming hell her brother owes. After stealing from Silas he tracks her down and the fun begins

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

Actual Rating = 3.25

I've had a mixed relationship with Sophie Jordan in the past, both loving and despising some of her novels. When I saw this ARC I was cautiously optimistic, thinking the summary sounded like good fun, and I'm so relieved that this is now one of my Jodan faves!

While this is technically a dual POV, the narrative follows our main girl Mercy 90% of the time. She's basically the Regency version of a girl boss, running her family's lands and taking care of her baby sister since her parents both died young. Unfortunately, her twin brother is an idiot and loses the family's holdings to gaming hell owner Silas Masters. Mercy takes the situation into her own hands and hijinks ensue.

For full disclosure, this is the 2nd book in a series and I haven't read the first. I didn't feel like I really missed anything by reading them out of order, but I have added book 1 to my TBR.

This is a very character-driven romance, so let's focus on our star players.

Mercy:

"The man and his delicious mouth had broken her brain." Girl, same.

If you couldn't tell from the above quote, Mercy is pretty relatable. She's a hard worker, she's focused, not given to fits of drama, and confused but super attracted to this hot dude that gets shoved into her life. I really appreciated how much of an active agent Mercy was in her own story. With a lot of romances, the plot just kind of happens to the MC. In this book, Mercy actively steers her own life and I found that super refreshing.

Grace:

"No, I am overwrought just as you should be!"

Grace is Mercy's baby sister and the main secondary character of this novel. She's stuck in the country, has very little social interaction and, most importantly, she's 17. Now, I have a 17-year-old sister myself so when I say the following it's with all the love and affection in the world, but 17-year-olds are effing idiots. It's not even their fault, it's the ravages of hormones. Unsurprisingly, Grace is a bratty idiot for a lot of this book, makes some terrible decisions, deals with the consequences, and seems to learn from them. I enjoyed her character and felt she had a really realistic arc, and I'd love if Jordan wrote Grace's story one day!

Silas:

"Innocence was overvalued."

Silas is basically a Regency-era feminist and I'm here for it. Unlike many Regency heroes, he couldn't be less interested in his woman being innocent, respects her work ethic, listens to her decisions, and expects her to listen to his. Basically, he treats her like an equal and I loved it. He's also not the sexually dominant-reformed-playboy-deflowering-an-innocent that's common in this genre. Now don't get me wrong, Silas is no sub. He's just perfectly happy to let his girl have her way with him and I enjoyed it. I would've loved to see more of the story from his POV because we don't get a ton of his character's life outside the relationship, but that's not a huge deal.

Also, it should be obvious from my comments on Silas, but this is definitely a steamy read. There isn't a sex scene every 5 pages, but there are some parts that I wouldn't want to read in front of strangers if you get my drift.

This novel did suffer from some info dumps and I would've loved it if there was a bit more plot and/or worldbuilding outside of the romantic relationship, but overall I found this a very enjoyable, quick read.

Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a decent historical romance. I didn't anticipate Silas to be so honorable and accommodating. Mercy was strong, passionate and sweet. It could have used a little more angst and sexual tension. Overall, an entertaining novel.

Sophie Jordan has a way with her writing that is captivating and page-turning. I really enjoyed the sexiness of this romance, and the banter was excellent. It was well-written and I would definitely recommend this to any historical romance addict

This was a wonderful story. Silas was a fabulous hero in the story. I loved everything about his character. I loved the dynamic between he and Mercy. She was such a strong character who wanted to do the right thing for her family. I found the plot and story engaging and fast paced. I am looking forward to Gwen's story.

This book reminded me why I love this genre. It has been so long since I picked up a book like this and I am glad I did. It was surprisingly so good. I really enjoyed the whole experience. Mercy was a strong individual going through everything and Silas, whew he was a handsome gentleman wasn't he. The steamy bits, oh yes I wanted more. Bede can go all the way away as far as I am concerned. I kind of wish they didn't even alude to redemption for his character at the end. I will read the next one and since I havent read the first one I am going to start reading it right away.

I didn’t like this one as much as I did the first book, which I loved. This story started off steamy which is not my preference. I like angsty and the build up of a relationship. Mercy is always picking up the pieces of her brother’s messes. Bede has no honor or respect for his sisters. It’s left to Mercy to keep their home and farm from ruin. In the meantime she is to ruin herself. Silas follows her to her home for his own reasons. From there we are told of a building relationship than actually seeing Mercy and Silas falling in love. We also see Mercy and Silas constantly keeping her entire family from ruin. That’s why this book was just ok. I felt bad for them because everything was on Mercy’s shoulders. I wanted more falling in love. I am glad she got her HEA, though.

Review A great second book in Author Sophie Jordan’s “The Duke Hunt” series. This is the tale of a Rake and a spinster meeting and then slowly falling in love whilst awaiting the outcome of a previous liaison. Mercy is a strong heroine who does what is necessary to keep her family safe and secure, no matter what she has to sacrifice. Silas is the perfect rake and gaming hell owner, yet he is more than just those two things, situations in his past have led him to protect those who matter to him. Though Silas can’t understand it, Mercy has come to matter to him a great deal. Will the spinster who ravished the rake get her fairytale ending?

I loved these characters and the way they met each other. It was fun to have a spinster seduce and ravage a rake with the goal of saving her family. Usually it’s the male MC that is the one doing the plotting and seducing, so it was a nice change. As usual, Sophie Jordan’s writing is flawless and keeps the reader fully engaged in the story. The chemistry between the MC’s is hot as hell! Silas quickly becomes Mercy’s protector which is nice because for so long it has been Mercy against the world.

Overall I enjoyed this story and would recommend!!

4 Stars ⭐️ | 4 Flames 🔥 (l

Gaming club owner Silas Masters, featured in a Victorian era setting paired with Mercy Kittinger, a woman who risks it all to save her family home from said owner’s clutches whet my appetite for expansive dialogue and intellectual conversations fraught with tension. Alas, I was thrust into a first scene where there is absolutely no sexual chemistry between the two leads, absolutely no build up of sexual tension AND the male lead said “No” when asked by the alleged heroine if he’d like to fornicate with her. And the reason for his changed mind to lie with her felt forced and untrue to his inner dialogue. Then, after he discovers her true identity, he demands she marry him?? None of this washed. It was too far-fetched, especially as the “hero” is a seasoned lover with knowledge of how to prevent conception. I was in the mood for a novel reminiscent of Lisa Kleypas’ Dreaming of You, especially because I enjoyed the idea of reading about “average” people from this time period, instead of the typical “lord and lady” fare, instead I received a yarn with no needles.

Silas Masters owns and operates London’s most popular gaming establishment. He wins the Kittinger farm in a game of cards. Silas finds a mysterious woman awaiting him in his rooms, and he falls for her alluring wiles. When he discovers what she did, he plans to find the nameless woman and make her pay. However, Silas’ plans change once he finds Mercy. She awakens something within him. Can Silas protect Mercy from her brother’s thoughtlessness? What will he willingly give up for her?
Mercy Kittinger works and maintains the family farm. She also oversees her younger sister’s welfare. When their brother gambles away the farm, Mercy does what she must to get it back, even seduce the blackguard. She never thought Silas would follow her home. Mercy tries to forget their one passionate night, but Silas’ presence makes it difficult. However, her brother’s wastrel ways catch up with the Kittinger family. What sacrifices will Mercy make for her siblings? Will she lose more than just her heart?
Silas won me instantly. He plays the sardonic and cold-hearted blackguard, but in truth, he really is a decent man at his core. I admire Silas’ stance on women. He refuses to allow any man to disabuse or take advantage of them, especially in his establishment. Silas even accepted Gwen’s profession when other men disapproved. What I adore the most about Silas is his instant protectiveness towards Mercy. He hated how her family used and treated Mercy and her altruism.
I liked Mercy from the start! She is a woman who is no stranger to hard, respectable work. Mercy refuses to live an idle life like her twin brother and younger sister. Instead, she works tirelessly alongside her employees. I admire Mercy’s selflessness. She purposely puts her siblings’ needs and wants before her own, despite their disrespect. What I like the most about Mercy is her temerity. She is a woman who knows her mind. Mercy does not second guess her wants, especially when it comes to sex.
THE RAKE GETS RAVISHED is the second book in Sophie Jordan’s historical romance series, THE DUKE HUNT. The story can easily stand alone. There is no major ongoing plot happening in the background. I would, however, suggest reading the previous book, only to familiarize with the story’s setting. The couple from the first book, THE DUKE GOES DOWN, does make a brief appearance, close to the end.
THE RAKE GETS RAVISHED is a captivating tale of two souls discovering love during an unlikeliest time. I practically gobbled up this book in one sitting. I could not put it down. I have a hunch on who the author plans to pair Gwen with. I cannot wait to see if my guess is correct!

Another Sophie Jordan book? Sign me up! The Rake Gets Ravished is beautiful and brilliant - a true modern historical classic. Highly recommended!

When Mercy Kittinger's twin brother gambles away the family property, she's willing to do whatever it takes to get it back. The story begins with Mercy sneaking into London's most popular gambling den to steal back the voucher for their home from the den's owner, Silas Masters. When caught by the man himself, she takes on the persona of seductress, despite her lack of worldly experience. The next morning, Silas discovers the theft and chases after the mysterious woman, dead set on providing for her should she be carrying his child.

I found this book to be a major page turner. Despite minor interruptions, I easily finished it in one sitting. The main characters are likable and the steam is undeniable. The one thing I will say is that while the forced proximity trope was done very well, it was hard to understand what the climax was going to be until it was fully upon them. However, it was a lovely read and I truly enjoyed getting a peek into these characters' lives.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I couldn't put this book down, I was iffy at first but the story held strong throughout the book.

This is the story between Mercy and Silas and they have a very unique first meeting. Mercy's brother has gambled away the family farm and his twin sister, Mercy, has gone to the gaming den to try and steal back the note. Silas catches Mercy in his room and thinks she is there for another reason. *wink wink* The chemistry and passion between these two is outstanding and despite the first meeting this is in some ways a slow burn romance. They come together again and slowly a friendship builds between them. I was worried that the story would just fizzle out but it turned into a beauty story. The growth and challenges the characters face add to the story. This is definitely a must read for fans of historical romances.

Trope: rags to riches/enemies to lovers/damsel in distress

This is book # 2 from The Duke Hunt series, although characters from this book holds no titles of aristocracy, and can be read as a standalone.

Let me just say this book is gem! it held my attention right from the start. I adored this so much that I completed the book in 1 sitting. Let me introduce the characters. Our H is Silas Master and our h is Mercy Kittinger. Silas is very rich and a powerful man. He's the owner of The Rogues Den a gaming establishment he built from the ground up. I loved Silas Masters! He's the epitome of a bad boy with a good heart. He's dangerous and deliciously irresistible! Mercy kittinger is the caretaker for her family. When her dad passed away, he left everything to her twin brother. Her brother is lazy, dumb, and irresponsible. With that being said she's left with all the responsibilities of handling everything in the household, including farm work, and paying the workers.

Mercy's brother had gambled all their money away, including their home and property. It was up to her to save her family from becoming homeless. Her plan is to dress up as a easy woman to blend in and go to the gaming hell where Silas lives. She then will make her way to his private rooms and steal back the voucher to her home. Everything that she planned out went smoothly until she's harrassed by a drunken gambler. Silas comes to her rescue and she immediately feels quilty and is attracted him. But she continues with her plans. She goes to his private chambers, and finds the papers she's looking for but gets caught. Silas comes in and she immediately seduces him with the skills that surpasses a seasoned courtesan. She's a virgin but uses her memories from her brother's books. Oh my this part of the book is extremely hot. To her she felt giving up her virtue didn't mean anything because she never planned on getting married. But she wanted to experience carnal pleasures because this would be her only chance. She thought one night would be enough and boy she was wrong

Anyways he wakes up and shes gone but It didn't matter to him. It was only sex. He didn't know her nor cared. He continues on with his day and starts his work by looking at documents only to notice an apology note with a simple "I'm sorry" and one document was missing. Then his maid shouts and asked him if he was injured. He goes and look and there's virginal blood on his sheets. He knew now at this point he was tricked and seduced. But he couldn't get over the fact that she was a virgin and why she would give up everything. He was going to go after her.

A few days later he pops up at her home in the orangey wheres she's at and surprises the hell out of her. Things get heated. They both argue, lost it and kissed.

He's not leaving either because he wants what his and she might be carrying his child. He told her if she was with child he would be there for her and the baby no matter the circumstances.

Ok no more spoilers!

I truly enjoyed this book! The characters and relationship build up was awesome. The characters were well written all around with a exciting plot to go with it. Their HEA was well deserved. Silas is such a giving person with a kind heart. I definitely recommend this book to everyone! It's a must and I can't wait for the next book to come out.

The title The Rake Gets Ravished is a perfect title for this steamy tale. When Mercy decides what she wants she throws herself into getting it with everything she is. Silas on the other hand is use to being in control of ever aspect of his life, so when they come together there are fireworks. The chemistry between Silas and Mercy is off the charts.

Sophie Jordan is a master at what she does. I'm always excited to see she has released a new book.In this book I love how it can go from steamy to having you laugh out loud. One instance was, "She moistened her lips, hoping it was an enticing measure and she did not look like a cow back at the farm licking its lips with an enormous and inelegant tongue." I absolutely adore the quirkiness of the way Mercy thinks. Excellent!

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was not particularly fond of the first book in this series so I almost passed on this one. For the most part I’m glad I did not. This one features the owner of a gaming hell, a trope I am particularly enamored of, and a very capable woman. The steam factor is there from the very beginning and is nicely maintained through the book. My only real complaints are that Silas could have had more of a danger factor and that the ending was boring. In fact, the epilogue is so heavy handed in the hint at the next book that I feel like I don’t even need to read it.

When her brother loses their family farm to Silas, the owner of a notorious gaming hell, it's up to Mercy to get it back. She'll do anything it takes even seducing Silas. When Silas finds out Mercy has fooled him, he's determined to get revenge, but the more he gets to know her the closer they become. Recommended.

Mercy's ne'er-do-well brother has gambled away their family home and farm, and she's determined to get it back--even if it means seducing gaming hell owner Silas. When Silas finds that the mysterious woman who appeared in his rooms the previous evening has stolen the voucher he won from a customer, he sets out to recover it and make her pay. But when the journey leads him to a small farm with a warm, loving family, including the intrepid Mercy, he begins to rethink his revenge.

I enjoyed this more than the first book in the series. The conclusion felt a bit rushed, but the main characters had great chemistry. Silas is great at defending Mercy without fighting her battles for her, and Mercy brings Silas out of his protective shell.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.