Tall, Dark and December by Tracy Sumner, and part of the Rake Review was a totally delicious tale! I absolutely love Penny and West, and their journey from friends to lovers. This was a great series and I hope that the authors will continue with another year of the Rake Review written by the Brazen Belle, perhaps in the end, we might find out who she is, and perhaps she will find and tame a rake of her own!

Weston Whitaker is an American in London looking for investors. Enmeshed in mechanics and numbers, he's also not adverse to a woman inviting him for an assignation, until the Brazen Belle exposes him and a lady. He needs some British polish and his brother, the duke, knows just the lady to help him, Lady Penelope Anstruther-Colbrook. As the lessons progress, the attraction them eventually leads to many descriptive steamy encounters. Only trust will take them a step forward. Two very likeable characters with their flaws exposed bring more depth to the story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.

My only complaint about this novella is that I wish it were a full length book! Super fun read with a hint of Christmas spirit.

Like everything Sumner writes, I LOVED it! There were a lot of elements that reminded me of Tobias and Hildy’s story. But I loved that romance so I didn’t mind. Low born hero-self made man. Prim and aristocratic, but financially strapped heroine. Sparks fly. 🔥🔥🔥. I highly recommend this for a fast, fun, steamy read with a happily ever after!

I was swooning the entire time. Sumner’s writing sparkles as usual and I couldn’t put this down once I picked it up. This December rake is both decadent and delicious. I loved the banter, the hero’s unconventional backstory and the heroine’s singular determination to keep him at sixes and sevens.
Read this phenomenal release if you love stories that are tender and swoony and full of both heart and heat!

Weston Whitaker, a self made engineer from Philadelphia is in England work on his design for a steam engine and trying to obtain financial backing for his enterprise. He is taken aback when one of his investors backs out when news of his affair with a society widow is made fodder for gossips in the Rake Review. Enter Penelope Anstruther Colbrook, a bluestocking who due to a transgression in her youth, now tutors people on the aristocracy. West is advised to hire Penelope to help him learn the ways of the aristocracy so that he can improve his business prospects. When they meet, there is an instant attraction that develops into a love affair. West has trust issues from his past and Penelope has secrets that she hasn't shared with anyone. Both West and Penelope will have to work hard if their relationship is to survive. Tall, Dark and December is a fantastic end of the year for the Rake Review. I am looking forward to the new year to see what will happen with the Brazen Belle.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

I loved West and Penny’s story! Nobody writes love, desire, and dreamy male characters like Tracy Sumner. They always fight their feelings, but fall harder than ever. West and Penny were perfect for each other and I can’t wait to read Isabelle’s story.

What do you get when you mix a brash, American entrepreneur (who happens to be the illegitimate brother of the Duke of Mercer) who is in London seeking investors for his steam engine with London’s sharpest etiquette tutor who is tasked with bringing him up to scratch? A wonderfully, witty, banter-filled story that will have you smiling throughout the entire book. Both Penny and West have secrets and trust issues, but they eventually realize they are the one to help the other overcome those difficulties.

There were fantastic secondary characters to round out the story - great cameos Tristan and Camille, the Duke and Duchess of Mercer. I loved watching the relationship grow between Tristan and West. I hope Penny’s younger sister Isabelle, who works with the Brazen Belle, gets her own book because something is brewing there, folks. Will we eventually find out who the Brazen Belle is?

If you are looking for a book with a little bit of mystery, lots of spicy bits, and banter galore, you have found the book! Buy the book and curl up on the couch and immerse yourself in the passion that is West and Penny.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for an ARC. I voluntarily read the book and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

West and Penelope get the love they both richly deserve in this utterly delightful romance.

From uncertain first impressions a friendship grew, underscored by an attraction that refused to be denied. West loved to tease Penelope and bring out her wilder side, and I loved every clever barb and loaded look. The fledgling relationship with his brother also provided some very heart-warming moments.

It was easy to forget that this is just a novella, apart from the fact that it was over too quickly. West and Penelope were thoroughly developed as characters and their relationship had enough space and time to develop convincingly.

This book was so much delicious fun and I can highly recommend it if you like steamy historical romance.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Intriguing!

What a delight! Illegitimate half brother to the Duke of Mercer, Weston Whitaker is a mathematical genius and leader in the use of steam power. Not only that he’s as handsome as sin. He’s come from Philadelphia looking for investors in his scheme for minting coins using steam power.
He already had an investor when the offer was withdrawn after he was referred to in the Rakes Review. His acceptance of a Lady’s invitation to a dalliance had been noted. Wes hadn’t been concerned as the lady wanted nothing more than a good time. However, he’d broken one of the unacknowledged rules of society.
Now he has to be polished and made presentable to the ton.
Who better to do it than Lady Penelope Anstruther-Colbrook who’s making ends meet, barely maintaining her position in society by helping young women to know how to conduct themselves. Penny however has ‘secrets’!
What works for a woman should work for a man. Only Whittaker is all man. Penny’s heart and being acknowledges this at their first meeting .
Wes doesn’t know what’s struck him.
Tall, Dark and December indeed! Both Penny and Wes are going down flaming!

A Victory ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

This was an exciting last month of The Rake Review, friends to lovers story. The characters were delightful, interesting, and complex. The plot was very entertaining and engaging with drama, intrigue, mystery, and the excitement of perhaps finally knowing who the Belle is. I enjoyed their humorous and witty banter and their passionate romance with such delicious steam. The ending was wonderful. I highly recommend reading! I heard there's a surprise coming soon....

This was my first read from this author, and I enjoyed it so much!

I loved the dynamic between these two. Their chemistry was palpable, and the banter they shared was so fun to read!

Their romance blossomed beautifully and left me feeling all warm and fuzzy. A perfect read to cosy up with this time of year!

I really enjoyed this spicy historical romance! Penny is a strong heroine and West is a compelling hero. Both have had difficulties in their past that cause them to be stubborn, but it works. The mains have really good chemistry and I really loved that Penny is older than West and unashamed of her past dalliances. She also knows what she wants, and it isn’t foolishness. West is a hot, jacked, brilliant engineer with a passion for steam engines and flouting social rules. Fortunately, Penny teaches etiquette to uncouth Americans! West is also the b-word brother of a duke… and the duke wants to be a good brother! Unfortunately, West is allergic to love… or is he? 🤔

I liked this book a lot. It made me blush, hit me in the feels, never lagged, and I’m glad I read it. Literally no complaints

I realized after I started reading this book that I had not read the previous books in the series. I did go and read the first three, but went ahead and read this one because it was stuck in my mind. It's so good! So reading the previous books aren't necessary before reading this one. I will go back and read the others and maybe this one again. Yes, it is that good.
I love a hero that is self-made and him being an American and half brother to the Duke of Mercer, ( Chasing the Duke, 12 Days of Christmas series) was a nice twist.
Lady Penelope was an easy to like heroine. Struggling to survive and take care of her sister and being prim and proper until the right man showed her it was okay to be herself.
Together, West and Penny fired up the pages. Their attraction was instant and lasted throughout the book. Nothing dull in this book.
Looking forward to Isabella's story and hopefully a story of the Brazen Belle.
Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for an ARC for a honest review.

I went into this on a whim and with fairly low expectations, but was pleasantly surprised! Penny and Wes are genuinely interesting characters and for a novella, it was easy to get immersed in their love story. It was a delightfully steamy way to spend a little bit of time!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Well, if it's a book by Tracy Sumner, it's guaranteed to be hot. West is an American who is a brother to a Duke, and Penny is hired to give him manners. The notable pet is Elizabeth, the cat. Good job, well done. I haven't read the other books in this series, but the way the characters themselves refer to the other rakes, I may need to backtrack.
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

Tall, Dark and December is a fantastic little novella featuring my favourite trope - a older woman/younger man (reverse age gap) story.

West and Penelope are delightful together, hitting it off with some instant chemistry despite their meeting being a business transaction where West is hiring Penelope to tutor him in English etiquette after featuring in the latest edition of The Rake Review. His aim is to garner new investment from the snobby upper classes for his steam engine inventions, while Penelope desperately needs the money to keep her and her sister's heads above water as their finances are in a perilous state.

I didn't always gel with the author's style but still enjoyed the romantic pull here, especially as Penelope is no wallflower. In fact she is a strong driver of the passion and I love that she isn't depicted as a widow (the usual for a woman prepared to experiment out of wedlock in a historical romance). She is someone who enjoyed such encounters and had already experienced the fallout once in her life so knew what was to be gained and risked from any liaison. Her forthrightness and open manner was such a breath of fresh air. I also enjoyed West's burgeoning relationship with his half-brother, the sage advice Tristan provides and West's passionate inability to follow it, all the while knowing he should - this made me chuckle!

I hadn't read any of the rest of the series but the little cliffhanger in the epilogue certainly made me intrigued about Belle's story. Don't worry though - West and Penelope's story is wrapped up fully here.

Thanks to NetGalley, Victoria Editing NetGalley Co-op and the author for an ARC, this is my honest opinion.

This was a strong twelfth entry in the Rake Review series, it had that historical romance element that I was looking for and enjoyed the overall feel of this. The characters were everything that I was looking for and enjoyed the overall feel in this type of book. I enjoyed the way Tracy Sumner wrote this and was excited to read more from them.

5 ⭐️

This novella was soooooo good, and I was honestly a little surprised. Sometimes novellas can feel like incomplete stories, but this didn't feel like that at all. The characters are complex and fully developed even with this abbreviated length. I also loved the older FMC, my fair lady role-reversal plot. not only is it a unique twist on a pretty common trope, these characters had some seriously steamy chemistry (pun absolutely intended). West, an American inventor and bastard brother to a Duke, is not only incredibly sexy but also seriously smart and driven which makes him quite the dreamboat MMC. His confusion and lack of respect for the British aristocracy makes him the perfect foil to Penelope. Her initial stuffiness made me uncertain of her as a character, but boy did she grow on me. She was definitely not what she seemed on the surface and her hidden depth and passion for art was such a nice touch to her character. Not to mention when you learn why she puts on this rigid persona, it's hard not to fall in love with her.

Tracy Sumner writes such great romance and intimacy scenes- especially first kisses, and this one did not disappoint. She blends the emotion and romanticism seamlessly with the sexiness and it ends up becoming such a beautiful scene. Overall this book has all the romance angst with both of our protagonists fated to be with others and with so many very practical odds against them. The conflict is brief but totally works for this story, and Penelope's strength of character in that moment made her a stand-out character for me. I picked up this book, because I'll pick up most anything by this author, and was so happy that I did. There's such a great balance of romance, angst, sexiness, and humor that is so rare to find in a novella. Had it been longer it likely wouldn't have worked as well. While I typically don't give full 5-star reviews, I honestly couldn't find any issue with this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Victoria Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review! The expected publication date for this book is December 1, 2024 and I will post my review on Goodreads on November 19, 2024.

I so enjoyed Chasing the Duke that I had to read the long lost brother story. Weston Whitaker was raised in Philadelphia and not with a silver spoon like his brother the Duke. He returns to London looking for investors for his steam engine. Instead he is all the talk of being Mr. December in the scandal sheets. Taking his brother’s advice he hires a person to remove the rough American edges and become more endearing to the Brits. Expecting an old lady to be his tutor he was surprised at the young beauty before him. Definitely other things besides which fork to use or how to address a Pier is on West’s mind.
A quick read, and yes it’s got some steamy parts. Always love when previous characters reappear. All opinions expressed in this review are mine own.