Books like this make me realise again why I love reading, totally enjoyable with no hassles attached, loved it. A warm, funny, uplifting writer to celebrate.

Review: The Rake of Tamarix ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Author: Georgina North
Publication Date: 24 January 2023
Publisher: Books go Social
General Fiction (Adult) | Romance

I received this book from Georgina North and Books Go Social, as an advanced eArc for my honest review any opinions that come from this review are my own. Thank you to both the Author and the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

This is a new author for me and I really like their writing style and enjoyed the story overall. It had a pride and prejudice feel to it with other elements thrown into it. The story itself had a great plot the enemies to lovers felt natural not forced or rushed. It was a hell of a ride with these two, but not to the point it wasn't enjoyable. I would recommend this book to others.

A lovely, angsty little palette cleanser. For fans of the genre--and you know who we are--this will check all your boxes.

Most people know where they stand on regency romances. I am a fan of those where I feel like I am interested in the lead protagonists getting their happily ever after. This was one that I enjoyed.
Our titular protagonist has recently been elevated to a titled position. One that means that he is now responsible for land, people and the need for an heir.
There are two main reasons that I have seen being used for characters to be against settling down, and I enjoy the one used here more because it gives a wider scope for the growth arc. If you are a fan of the romance genre in general, I am sure you know the ones I am talking about.
Lucius has come to fix some of his uncle's mistakes and take care of the property. He has a great relationship with his brother and aunt, but that is where his emotions end. He refuses to let anyone else in.
Cressida is part of a (reasonably) large family with just an alcoholic father at the helm. The vicious attacks on her personality were a little abrupt, but once the explanations were done, it made more sense. She doesn't intend to be interested in the new man in town, but their paths continue to cross. There is a lot of practicality in their burgeoning romance. It moves slowly, moves as much back as forwards before it reaches its ultimate conclusion.
I was not expecting too much from the (supposedly) light read, but it was done well, and I liked all the interplays between the various family members. I would recommend this to fans of this genre and also pick up another book by the author if I had the chance.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

It’s not a book I would come back too read again.
It was ok, but just that.
It seemed to just abruptly stop too.
I prefer an epilogue, to end a story well, but this ended mid sex scene.
I wouldn’t recommend

Enemies to lovers? Marriage of convenience? There is nothing I love more and this book is just what I needed. With characters that fly off the page and dance right in front of you, it is perfect for those waiting for the latest season of Bridgerton.

A sweet easy to read regency romance, I really enjoyed this one.

I thought it was really well paced and while the storyline was a little light on I still found my interest held and read this book in only a few days.

I loved both Lucius and Cressida and thought the author did a wonderful job of creating chemistry between the two.

Definitely one I would recommend to fans of this genre.

Beautiful cover for a beautiful story by Georgina North. This is the story of Lucius Anselme and Cressida Ambrose, about choices and duty, love, trust, secrets and misunderstandings. The Rake of Tamarix is an easy to read, engaging, sweet romance. Looking forward for more from this author.

Primero me encantó la portada y luego la historia. La novela debut de Georgina North es acerca de Lucius Anselme y Cressida Ambrose, decisiones, deber, amor, confianza, secretos y malentendidos. The Rake of Tamarix es un romance entretenido y fácil de leer. Espero que hayan otras historias por Georgina North.

I'm writing this review after reading a far few books after this and the only thing that comes to mind is MEH!. Not a good response to a book. I didn't hate it but there was nothing to set it apart from the crowd.

There was nothing particularly likable about the characters and the romance felt forced. There is nothing particularly wrong with the book, it just is not memorable.

I received an arc of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I thought this is an excellent first novel from the author! I enjoyed the writing style and the banter. It had a very Jane Austen feel to it. Marriage forced through misunderstanding and enemies to lovers tropes. I thought the characters were well written and had great chemistry. I think the story is missing some sweet and swooning moments. The angst in the last part of the book doesn’t feel right either as the MMC has some questionable behaviour that is sort of brushed over (read other reviews for spoilers).
Cannot wait to read more from this author!

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this arc in exchange for an unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Books Go Social for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Enjoyable

This was a lovely regency in the vein of Georgette Heyer. It was extremely well written with compelling characters. I will definitely read more from this author.

This was a wonderful story by a debut author. It's an enemies to lovers, marriage of convenience tale that was well-written and entertaining. Lucien comes to the Berkshire countryside to see to his new estate, and while there meets Cressida. Cressida's aunt takes her out into society, hoping to fi d a suitable match, but Cressida has no interest in finding a husband after experiencing the example her father set for her, and as captivated as Lucien is by Cressida, he has no interest in marriage either. But fate forces them together, and before they can truly appreciate one another, they are faced with misunderstandings and become separated from each other. Absence truly does make the heart grow fonder and it took their separation to realize the feelings they had been developing for each other.
An entertaining and enjoyable debut! I look forward to reading more of this author's work.
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Thanks Netgalley and Pepperberry Press (great name) for the review copy.

There's nothing I like more than regency romance, enemies to lovers, and plenty of bants.

The plot follows Cressida, one of four sisters who have been left orphaned and destitute by an abusive father, who is being introduced to society by her aunt in the hopes of making a good match. The other half of the romance is Lucius, recently come into wealth and a title and as the title suggests, likes to sleep around. Although initially attracted, their romance is complicated by a 'forced' marriage, and their personal baggage puts them at odds.

North delivers plenty to like here, with a slow-burn romance. I'd say the balance is a little off - they were more enemies than lovers for most of the book and the vitriol towards each other seems quite undeserved at times. And if you get annoyed when big conflicts could be solved by characters simply communicating to each other, then this might annoy you.

Good story if you love slow-burn romances, Bridgerton and Pride and Prejudice.

Fun book with a lightness of touch but some serious points to make about marriage then, and the status of women.
I thought that the style was good and the story moved along at a good pace as would be expected in this type of novel

Excellent fun! Just what I wanted from a Regency Romp. Great characters and a fast-paced plot. I devoured this one on a rainy day.

Lucius the Rake is in trouble when he unexpectedly gains the title of Marquis, and the added expectation of producing an Heir. Oh no! He needs a wife!

Cressida, the second oldest sister of the Grange, with no dowry, a suspect parentage, an abusive men in her life everywhere she looks, doesn't want to get married. Doesn't want a husband period. She is bound to see her younger sisters married, avoid her drunken abusive father and the rumours of the town, and be a doting aunt to future nieces and nephews. But when she is caught unawares by herself in a dark room with Lucius, the new Marquis she can't stand, and a conniving Lady wishes to ruin her image, she finds herself betrothed!

Like many, if not most, of the modern day historical romances, this takes large chunks right out of Jane Austen's world, with the fear of being ruined, with the tall, dark, handsome, and completely despicable paramour, and the misunderstandings created, this is a fun little romp that is entirely predictable and unputdownable in equal measure. The splash of colour in the sarcasm and wit of Aunt Bea is delightful, and she works as a wonderful catalyst for the characters. You cheer when she puts the in her place as well, like a breath of fresh air blowing into the otherwise derivative plot points.

The whole point of picking up this book was to read a post-Austen, post-Bridgerton Victorian era romance, so while I say the book is derivative and predictable, those are only plusses because that is what I wanted in this read. The conflict that arises is full of nuances, emotions, and misunderstandings. My one complaint is that the resolution to these wonderfully thick and juicy conflicts was just.... dropped. It's like the falling action, resolution, and ending were all squished together into like, 8 pages. It fell into the tired and sexist trope that sex with a man automatically fixes all conflicts and pardons him of all faults. This book would really benefit from flushing out the resolution a lot more after the sex. The entire book was carried on the emotions of the characters. End with it that way too. Delve into all the complicated, little nuances both with the main characters, and all the nefarious other actors in the book. And for the love of God, tell us whether or not one of the characters lives please!

This is the sort of debut novel that makes me sad that this author hasn't written so many!

Honestly, I loved this book so much. The chemistry between Cressida & Lucius was off the scale. Even though I was well aware of the misunderstandings between them, it still made me cry when they were apart from each other. I'm excited to read more from this author and would recommend this to any fan of historical romance!

5 stars!

While the characters and their individual traumas are quite well-written, the romance is unconvincing, and instead of bantering with each other, Cressida seems to spend her time sniping at Lucius, for no reason at all. The author's clearly inspired by Georgette Heyer's 'Sylvester', but can't pull off the writing, and the plot gets repetitive after a while. This was a disappointment and I expected more.

I tried but this book was so difficult to connect with. I didn't like any of the characters, and did not finish.