Gladys was pushed by her family to marry Alsop, a man who wanted her land dowry but had no interest in Gladys herself. Reuben came along and compromised her but failed to follow through with an offer. Gladys was disowned by her family and Alsop married her sister for the land. Gladys had no money or way to support herself so she had to become a courtesan. Years later, Reuben reenters her life and love ensues but can they overcome the hurtful past and move forward? Reuben realizes he has caused Gladys horrible pain and wants to make it up to her. Gladys loves him but her heart is scarred and family support nonexistent.
A heart rending story with a HEA.

Wallflower Gladys Bell is attending Marrywell for the fourth time and finally she is asked to dance by a man interested in her dowry but not her. She accepts his offer and walks into the gardens to calm down when she is set upon by Reuben Medford who has mistaken her for someone else. Gladys is convinced he will ask for her hand and her marriage woes will be solved. When he doesn't show, she is ruined, and her family disowns her. Five years later she is set on revenge on the man who ruined her life. Of course, her revenge doesn't quite work to plan but it does turn out a happily ever after for her.

I've not heard of such a concept as a marriage festival but that is essentially what Marrywell is. Glady was young and naive, of course, but she was also a bit foolish to presume that she will get the offer of marriage. After all, there will always be those who are not decent men. I will admit to being rather shocked at the actions of her family who presumably loved and cared for her up to this point. I would have thought revenge on her family would be equally important.

As for the romance, it wasn't as clear to me there was a romance. There was a lot of lust from both sides early on and the revenge plot did become a means to know one another better. But I wasn't convinced so much of love as lust. Still the "dates" of the two during the revenge plot were entertaining enough to cover for some of the missing bits for me.

Overall, I give this book a tentative three stars. Thank you to Netgalley and Webmotion for giving me an advanced reader copy. I have provided this review voluntarily.

I received an advanced reader's copy of Taming the Rake by Erica Ridley.

This is an enemies to lovers revenge romance story. Gladys Bell has set a plan for revenge in motion after having been ruined by Reuben Medford five years earlier. The story starts off with her being naive and innocent but she undergoes a drastic change as a result of her ruin. While reading I wondered if a woman who'd been in a similar situation as Gladys would've been able to succeed the way Gladys did because as naive and sheltered as Gladys was, it seemed more likely she would've ended up being taken advantage of by anyone she encountered. Still, I liked that Gladys was able to overcome the difficult circumstances she'd found herself in. I found Reuben to be sympathetic despite his flaws. He held beliefs that kept him from having any kind of meaningful relationships with women. I liked that the revenge plot forced Reuben into a different kind of relationship than he was used to while Gladys realizes her assumptions about him were inaccurate. I enjoyed the interactions between Gladys and Reuben as they spent time together and got to know one another better.

Gladys Bell is on her 4th year at Marrywell and her last. She is a wallflower and has never even been asked to dance. Gladys is finally asked to dance, and the gentleman is interested in her dowry of property in Wales. He will marry her for the property. After the dance she go outside to cool off and runs into Rueben Medford who mistakes her for Lady Midnight. After he kisses her, she thinks he will call the next morning early to ask for her hand in marriage. Rueben has no intention of ever marrying. After her reputation is ruined and her parents disown her; Gladys makes her own way.
Rueben is once again at Marrywell after 5 years and Gladys has returned to extract revenge.

She Would Teach This Rake A Lesson

Gladys a young lady and wallflower had never been kissed, never danced until the night of the Matchmaking Ball in Marrywell when she had her first dance and her first kiss which ruined her.

Five years later Gladys returns to Marrywell to get revenge on the man who took away everything on the night he kissed her and being a rake had no intention of marrying her.

Reuben Medford had never forgotten the girl he’s kissed and ran away from him five years previously and now married. Every woman since he’s been with always had a look of her until the day he set eyes on someone he’d never met before but thought it was his long lost lady.

Reuben had vowed never to marry and being the rake he was never spent more than one evening with a lady but Gladys was a challenge and getting to know her was becoming fun!

Such a deep emotional story, you could feel the heartache for Gladys when she found out what he was and the life she had led since but revenge was sweet and he needed to be taught a lesson.

Enjoy this emotional, fun, easy to read story into love but not to be taken too seriously with some passionate and steamy moments.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The main character in this story is a very naive young woman who wants to be asked to dance, to be courted, to be married. Even to be noticed. She is short and plump, and easily overlooked. I had so much sympathy for her, as her mother could be described as a harpy - she never let Gladys forget her shortcomings. She wants her older daughter married off so that she can then launch her second daughter, who is tall, slender, and lovely - the opposite of Gladys.

Every year for the last four years, Gladys has been taken to a week-long May Day festival whose purpose is to match couples. Gladys has never even been asked to dance at their local events. This time, Gladys has the misfortune to encounter a man who arranges a tryst with her in a garden. She does not know that he is expecting her sister.

Gladys is discovered in a (mildly) compromising position, and her parents do the unthinkable: they cast her out literally on the streets with little money. Gladys survives and eventually thrives, and vows to avenge herself on the man she blames for her downfall.

I was not a fan of this story. As a woman and a mother, I thought what her family did to Gladys was appalling. The one saving grace is that Gladys did survive and become independent, but I wish she had moved on in other ways too. None of them deserved her, including the careless, intoxicated rake she was attracted to.

I received a review copy of this book from the pubisher WebMotion via NetGalley, and voluntarily read and reviewed this book.

This latest instalment in the Lords of Love series was excellent, although I personally preferred Beguiling the Duke slightly more. Nevertheless, both books are equally superb.

The story kicks off in Marrywell during the Matchmaking ball, a pivotal event in the previous book. Gladys, the female lead, has endured four seasons without ever having a first dance. She is subtly mocked by her mother and ostracized by society due to her lack of wealth and physical beauty. Her family disowns her when they discover her clandestine rendezvous with Reuben, the male protagonist, and she spends the next five years establishing herself as a highly sought-after courtesan. That was quite a lot.

In a somewhat humorous turn of events, Reuben, the notorious rake responsible for the debauchery – doesn’t forget about Gladys, whose face he didn't see clearly on the day "it" happened, but he managed to piece together information here and there that she was to marry some guy – and claims to have spent the five years since their encounter yearning for her, and even resorted to sleeping with her lookalikes.

What I find particularly compelling about both this book and the previous one in the series is how well-developed the female protagonists are from the outset. Their struggles are relatable and engaging, and I appreciate how the theme of revenge was woven throughout the novella.

Although Gladys wasn't depicted in the beginning as an oblivious protagonist, I couldn't help but question how she could have become so enamoured with Reuben on their first night together. While I understand that her initial naivety served to emphasise her later development, I wish this had been more clearly established in the earlier sections of the book.

I thoroughly enjoyed how the female lead's appearance caused the male protagonist to re-evaluate every aspect of himself. Having previously been so self-assured, it was satisfying to see him exhibit a more vulnerable, human side. Gladys had reduced him to a nervous schoolboy, much to my delight. He grew from a preppy (yes, preppy) philanderer with deep-seated issues to a man who knew his worth. I loved this!

As I reached the end of the book, I found myself fully invested in Gladys and Reuben's relationship. What sets this entire series apart is the remarkable ability of the two authors to convey the strong attraction between the couple. Their interactions were engaging and their chemistry was undeniable, and this made their journey all the more captivating. The conversations between the characters were brilliantly written and showcased their compatibility, making their growing affection feel genuine and all the more natural.

This book is an absolute delight from start to finish. The writing is engaging, and the characters are multi-dimensional, and it was so, so easy to become fully engrossed in their story. The descriptions of the setting and the characters' emotions were vivid and evocative, and they drew me in and held my attention throughout the book. I would highly recommend this novel to anyone looking for a beautifully written and thoroughly enjoyable historical romance novel.

I was extremely fortunate to receive an ARC of Erica Ridley's Taming The Rake from Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Miss Gladys Bell and Reuben Medford accidentally meet and kiss passionately when he thinks her someone else. That one accidental embrace on one night ruins Gladys, and has her disowned from her family
She returns five years later to exact revenge on the one man who led her to a life of becoming a courtesan in order to survive. However, when next she sees Reuben, and he is dumbstruck over her, her plan of publicly humiliating him seems to waiver as she notices subtle personality traits that are new. This is a nice story about survival, retribution and forgiveness.

The second book in the Lords of Love series brings us Gladys Bell --- out for revenge! The Rake Rueben Medford ruined her life when he grabbed her in the secluded gardens by mistake, and left her with the idea that he would be offering for her. When he did not, she was disowned by her family.... and now she wants him to suffer for it! Its been five years since that terrible night - and she feels he has forgotten all about it, or just doesn't care. Little does she know that for five years Rueben has been thinking about her too. The story is a quick read and is entertaining in its desire for revenge that is destined to backfire. Thank you to NetGalley and WebMotion for the opportunity to read and review this advance reader copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #NetGalley #TamingtheRake

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this ebook and this is my freely given opinion.

I finished this a few days ago and needed a few days to digest this a bit. I was a bit conflicted about the story, because I wanted to dislike the MMC for his treatment of women, and being such a man-slut rake... but Erica Ridley did a nice job characterizing him in such a way that I empathized with him in the end, and appreciated that it was just a thin facade to hide his own insecurities and that he feels that he has nothing to offer women except sex; that no one truly wants to spend time with him or care about him, beyond what he can offer sexually.

The book opens 5 years before the meat of the story, when the FMC, Gladys, is a young woman, the first born daughter who is overshadowed by her prettier younger sister. She is being pushed to find a husband or lose her dowry, a tract of land in Wales, to her younger sister to stand as her dowry. One gentleman is interested in that land, but not so much Gladys, interested enough to marry her to get his hands on the land. At a ball during the matchmaking festival in Marrywell, Gladys slips out into the gardens and is waylaid in the dark by notorious rake Reuben Medford, who mistakes her for a woman who planned a tryst with him. He and Gladys engage in quite torrid play and kissing, but are interrupted by her family calling out for her. Even though they do not get far, her ravished appearance marks her as being ruined and her family literally toss her out to prevent the stain of her ruined reputation affecting them, when Reuben did not do anything to salvage her reputation.

While I cannot hate Reuben, I do absolutely hate and despise her parents. They were rather horrid to start with, but by abandoning their daughter so abruptly, I quite quickly came to abhor them.

Gladys was forced to take to the streets and fend for herself by becoming a courtesan and for the next five years she became quite successful, enough to become comfortably independent. But she never forgot how her family abandoned her and how Reuben treated her. She planned revenge on him, seeking him out again at the festival in Marrywell.

Reuben, for his part, also was affected by their encounter, somehow not catching the woman's name, but did gather information that she was to marry an acquaintance, and presuming she did marry him in the end. He never forgot her, and how he desired her, and their encounter stayed on his mind for all the years afterwards. When he meets Gladys again, he does not recognize her, but she does remind him of the mystery woman of the past and he desires her... not just to bed, but also to spend time with. She baits him along, but also falls into her own trap in the end.

You have to suspend a bit of belief that a young gently bred woman of the time could be abandoned by her family like that, and become successful, rather than be destroyed mentally and physically. But it does make for a dramatic story. I like how Reuben showed more depth and character, and how he courted her, even though it was outside of his normal game plan. Some of the scenarios were quite touching, but also a bit heart breaking, such as when they were skipping stones, and finding out the back story of how Gladys learned to do so.

In the end, I loved their story. Reuben showed warmth, and more depth than I expected and he truly regretted how his actions harmed her. Which is far more than her parents showed - he may have stained her reputation, but they did the greatest harm by turning her out and forcing her to survive with nothing and no one in the world. I wish there was some kind of justice for their heartless cruelty to their own innocent child.

4.25 stars out of 5.

I usually enjoy all the books by this author but this one is not one of my favorites. I didn't care for the storyline or the characters that much. Pass on this one.

Taming the Rake is the second book in the Lords in Love series. This is my first book by the author.

All her life, Miss Gladys Bell has been wanting to be seen. Her parents certainly do not see her as anything other than a wallflower which is obvious by her mother's disparaging comments. This is to be her fourth and final season, if she can't attract a suitor her dowry will be turned over to her sister and she will return home as she is, unwanted. Her mother finds Mr. Alsop who is willing to think of pursuing marriage with her, only to find out he only wants her dowry which contains a piece of property in Wales that he must have. Gladys is sad to find out he doesn't really want her, but that she is only a means to an end for him. Sadly, she agrees that he can ask her father for her hand tomorrow.

Gladys leaves the dance floor with her intended believing they will chat and get to know each other, but he leaves her with all the other wallflowers. Devastated she heads out the doors afraid she will fall into tears, only to be manhandled by Reuben Medford as she is pulled into a kiss that will change her life from that moment forward.

Gladys wrongly believes that Reuben Medford, the ton’s most notorious rake and future Viscount, will ask her father for her hand the next day. Unfortunately, it goes from bad to worse. He doesn't show and Gladys is devastated to find out that she was seen with him and has been ruined, according to society. She is promptly disowned by her parents and her sister is to marry Mr. Alsop.

Five years later Gladys returns to the scene of the "crime" in order hurt and embarrass Mr. Medford. Now a woman of means she is able to do what she pleases and is determined to see this to a satisfying conclusion. But who will be the victor in this war of wills.

This was a wonderful and entertaining story. I loved how Gladys was able to turn the tables on Medford. Both of these characters were such fun as they engaged in war with each other for their own reasons. I enjoyed the easy-to-read writing style. It was a fun and fast read, thoroughly entertaining. Looking forward to reading many more from this author.

Good start to new series. I enjoyed the revenge storyline of Gladys. She had her heart broken, her reputation ruined and her family disowned her due to the reckless behavior of the most notorious Rake of London, Reuben, Five years later she plans her revenge against Reuben at the same place of her downfall. Now she is a mature women and not the young debutante of the past, she has learned some tough life lesson.
Reuben has an endless line of women wanting him, but one night is unforgettable. Was only a short interlude and only a very passionate kiss. No matter how many women he can’t forget her.
I love the banner between the characters, a bit of a stretch that shy Gladys of the past became the revenge seeking Gladys. Thank you NetGalley for this eARC. I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an Advance Reader Copy of this story. #NetGalley #TamingtheRake

Unfortunately. This book was a miss for me.
The hero is a careless doofus who really didn’t deserve redemption. He carelessly tuned at least on girls life and then went about his business until she showed back up to make him pay.
Her family was absolutely terrible. The life she fell into when she was cut off was just glossed over.

I have read many of Erica Ridley's books and I am always drawn to them. While the writing in this book is just as good as her others, the plot of Taming the Rake didn't speak to me as many of her other books have. The revenge plan Gladys has didn't feel at all authentic and on many levels didn't really make sense. Reuben is smitten with the woman he kisses in the gardens years ago, has never forgotten her, but doesn't recognize her when he sees her again years later? I also don't really understand the need to make Gladys a courtesan. The years are skipped over, and I would have liked to see more of her growth as a person during this time, and maybe it may have explained some of her actions more. On one hand, she is thankful for the position she is in, she isn't angry about the choices she has made, but yet she is so dramatically plotting to have Reuben fall in love with her? I can't understand if she resents her choices, or if she was at peace with them. It doesn't feel completely fleshed out. I will always continue to read Erica Ridley's books, but this one was just okay for me. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to provide my honest review.

Erica Ridley does it again. A fun romance perfect for a quick break from the real world. I couldn’t put it down and finished it in one sitting- Ridley makes it easy to get lost in the regency world.

This book had a lot of potential but did not execute well. There was a lot of telling rather than showing. I didn't really understand much less believe how or why the 2 MCs fell in love. For a book promising revenge and much needed comeuppance, both seemed in short supply. It's like the idea of the book was there but it wasn't fleshed out well enough. I needed more from it, from both the characters and the romance itself.

Wallflower Gladys was ruined by rakehell Reuben Medford at a matchmaking festival; five years later she returns with a vengeance and her own seduction skills to crush him, but can she follow through?

I loved the story, the writing, the MCs, and that she included a beer tasting! I love visiting breweries and getting tasting flights so this was written for me. Add a pining MMC with low self-esteem and a pesky hourglass...

Gladys' survival was a bit jarring and could have used a little more information, and Reuben's self-esteem issues could be explained a tad more but overall I enjoyed reading this SO much that it didn't bug me that much.

This is the second book in the series about the town of Merrywell's marriage festival. Gladys Bell is in her last season and needs to find a husband. While at the dance, she goes into the garden and Reuben, who is a terrible rake mistakes her for someone else. When her parents find out, they disown her. 5 years later she goes back to the festival to exact revenge on Reuben. This is a great enemy to lover's read. Looking forward to the rest of the series.

When you start a game of revenge, be sure your heart knows it is a game. This story is sad, witty, funny and will keep your attention. Miss Gladys Bell, a known wallflower in her fourth season, is mistaken for someone else while out in the garden at a ball. Reuben Medford, a known rake, is kissing her when they are discovered by three ladies who can't wait to spread the scandal. Gladys thinks Reuben understands he is to make an offer for her to save her reputation the following day. Another man does come to offer for Gladys, but he only wants a piece of property which is her dowry. Gladys refuses, but as the day goes, she realizes Reuben is not coming. Her parents throw her out of the house penniless. With no money or anyone to help. she becomes a countesan. Five years later, Gladys has made enough money to retire and is determined to get her revenge on Reuben Medford. Little does she know Reuben has never forgotten the encounter in the garden. Even though he could not remember her name, he looks for her where he goes. What will happen when Gladys puts her plan into place. Will Reuben remember her as she goes by a different name now? Who will win the game of revenge? You will need to read to find these answers and more.