This book made me so sad. So I guess kudos to Erica Ridley for making me cry. But it really hurt seeing Gladys go from a hopeful, wide eyed young girl to someone who was pushed to desperation. The untold part of her story, how scared she must’ve been all alone and facing poverty on the streets, her first client when she was so innocent…it honestly made me so unbelievably sad I don’t actually think the hero even deserves his HEA with her.
Beautifully written and a lot of emotion packed into a short story but this just left me feeling sad tbh.

An easy reading, romantic and enjoyable story. A young 'wallflower' Glady's is swept off her feet by the handsome Rebuen after a chance encounter of mistaken identity however it leads to Glady's downfall as she's disowned through the scandal.

The book revolves around the new and reinvented Gladys who is determined to get her revenge on the man who broke her heart all those years ago. This young wallflower is no shy and unsure virgin anymore! I loved the chemistry between the two characters and it was refreshing to read about a woman making something for herself through the scandal and being determined never to be cast in the shadows again. Of course it's going to be predictable but sometimes that's exactly what we want when it comes to a romantic book!

I really loved Glady's character. She's a strong lead and Rebuen seems to have finally met his match. It seems to be equally about taming the lady as well as the rake!

A great novel for historical romance fans.

4 stars

Definitely prefered this one to book 1. Gladys' parents are desperate for her to wed. They would have prefered to have put forward her more atractive younger sister, Kitty but they turn up at Marrywell May fair having let at least one bachelor, Mr Alsop know that there's land as part of Gladys's dowry. Gladys is a shy wall flower type. She's a bit fascinated by Reuben the resident Rake. Gladys ends up kissed and then Reuben bottles it and leaves without proposing. In the end Kitty marries Mr Alsop and Gladys is thrown out onto the street. The story then jumps 5 years and though Reuben has been searching for his Lady Dawn aka Gladys we find in the interim Gladys has been 'on the game' ....I was very shocked at the change in tone and my only resounding thought for both Gladys and Reuben was venereal disease!!
I prefer Erica's writing (IMO less historical faux pas ) to Darcy's and she writes Reuben well as a misunderstood lonely man and Gladys, again feeling unloved but at least now in charge of her life. I doubt I'll bother with the others in the series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a fun and steamy romp that gave just what it promised -- a former wallflower out for revenge, and a rake who falls hard and sees all the errors of his ways. At its core, it follows some of the same themes found in Ridley's other books- the importance of finding someone who sees you as you are, an emphasis on consent in all things (not just sex), and fun spicy times that are threaded with intimacy and emotional revelation.

Despite some of the darker themes, such as lost "virtue" and an emotionally abusive family, this is a low-angst read that was a lot of fun.

Troubling tale of a Wallflower!

Well I’ve got to say that Gladys Bell’s parents were harsh. In fact it seems they’d been contributing to her lack of confidence all her life. A young woman who has spent four years resigned to being on the wallflower part of the ballroom, who then has the life kissed out of her in the gardens at a marriage fair, naively assumes that the cad will approach her father for her hand. She’s wrong and is left dangling. Not only dangling but ruined.
(I actually never knew that a wallflower is called that because of where they stand in relation to the dancing and why. That was illuminating. Oh, I surmised I knew, but Ridley gives a more coherent explanation than I’ve seen before.)
Of course Gladys assumes that Reuben Medford, heir presumptive to a viscount (apparently the ton’s most notorious rake) will approach her father. It is after all an annual May Day Fair Ball at MARRYWELL! A place where people who are looking for a spouse go!
When Gladys returns to the ballroom looking somewhat disheveled her fate is sealed. To compound her errors she refuses the suitor her parents have drummed up (who wants some land in Wales that’s part of her dowry). Gladys innocently supposed the man who kissed her loves her. She supposed wrong.
Her parents cast her off there and then, right at the hotel, leaving her with nothing. What must she do but turn to the streets. I can’t even begin to comprehend her distress and pain during this time. She’s a young woman without guile. I am appalled at her parents actions. I feel a great sympathy for the girlish young innocent, and Oh So Needy, Gladys!
As it is, she becomes a courtesan and some years later ends up wealthy enough to retire. (Call me a sceptic but that right there is a fairytale in itself. Highly unlikely, but I’ll accept it for the sake of the story.)
Then on to the rake (whom we’re told is really is a frightened little boy inside, frightened that all he touches will leave him, or die. Hence his inability to commit.)
Well here were are, back where Gladys life changed forever. It’s now five years later and Gladys has her chance for revenge for her young, foolish and innocent self. She returns to the scene of her shaming, the Marrywell Fair, take two. Gladys runs rings around Reuben. Although as the story progresses we see they really are alike. Both rather curl up with a book than dance the night away.
Their HEA takes a few more upsets but in the end, alls well that ends well.
There’s some amusing moments. If it wasn’t for my distress over Gladys and her parents actions I’d have had more reason to invest in the plot and I’d have given the book a higher rating. But, I don’t.
I was confused by Reuben who is likeable, but I didn’t buy him. I had sympathy for Gladys but the fairytale is just a bit too much for me. I’m having trouble accepting Gladys’ missing years.
Personally, I didn’t enjoy this story, although others obviously have. It just wasn’t for me.

A Webmotion ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.

Ebook received for free through NetGalley

Yet another amazing and incredible Erica Ridley book. I adored it and read it in one sitting staying up much too late. Thanks for the early access.

I have always enjoyed Erica Ridley’s books and this was no exception.

Gladys transformation was fascinating. It did make me wonder how often young women were outcast from the family simply from a scandal. Gladys had a better outcome, but the thought of what she had to go through to survive was still heart wrenching. She had to quickly grow up and adapt.

Reuben was a nice enough character. Although I was irritated by how his actions didn’t cause him to much harm.

It was a great easy read. Hard to put down,

Rueben didn’t deserve a happily ever after. He was a jerk and he didn’t redeem himself enough to be worthy of Gladys. I was also very surprised that Gladys forgave him so easily. Her entire life was ruined by his thoughtlessness. She should’ve crushed him like a bug and that would’ve been a better ending.

I *really* enjoyed this one. Great characters, Erica Ridley is a strong writer—her prose is always so smooth and enjoyable. The story was well-paced.

This isn’t a five star read because I couldn’t get past the courtesan thing. Somehow a sheltered, plain daughter of aristocracy went from forced prostitution to a celebrated courtesan? No rapes, no diseases, no pregnancies? Gladys seemed to have very little trauma from an absolutely horrible experience, and I found the light tone surrounding her courtesan years jarring.

Gladys Bell is a wallflower and her parents have given up hope of her finding a suitor. This is her last Season to find a match. When Reuben Medford mistakes her for someone else at a ball they share a passionate kiss in the garden and Gladys believes that she has found her future husband. Unfortunately, Reuben doesn't remember her name and does not propose and Gladys is ruined. She becomes a courtesan when her parents disown her and years later she has come back to get revenge on Reuben.

I like Erica Ridley's writing and I like the characters that she has created in this book. Whilst I did really enjoy this book there were a couple of things that I didn't love which is why I couldn't give it five stars. The secret identity trope is not one of my favourites and I personally would find it very difficult to forgive someone who had lied about their identity and Reuben forgives her quite quickly. I also find it surprising that he did not recognise her especially as he makes a comment saying that she looks similar to 'Lady Dawn'.
I did love the banter between the two characters and liked seeing them to get to know one another.

Overall I really enjoyed this one and I am very excited about the rest of the books in this series.

Taming the Rake is a beautiful, heart-wrenching, heart-breaking, joy of a read! This is my first Erica Ridley book and won't be my last. It was such a wonderful read that I read it in one sitting, in about three hours on a rainy Saturday afternoon. I can't think of a better way to spend a weekend afternoon.
Our heroine, Gladys, meets our hero Reuben, as a wallflower under mistaken identity. Through a series of mistaken identity, mishaps and miscommunication, Gladys is ruined and not in the typical sense of going to the country to her family home for a few seasons-- she is shunned and thrown out of her family ruined, and left alone to make her way in the world.
Five years later, Gladys concocts her revenge, and vows to make Rueben (still a shameless rake) fall to his knees. Through the process, the two star-crossed lovers find their way to each other and it is absolutely beautiful, heart-wrenching and so sweet. I loved them both, my heart went out to them both, and Erica Ridley's writing is absolutely wonderful!
I loved this book, and really recommend to any HR fans! I love how non-judgmental Rueben was, and how he strove to win Gladys. I especially loved how once he learned how thoughtless his actions were, he knew he needed to make changes and in doing so came to peace with the reasons for his previous actions. What a wonderful read!
I received this as an ARC from Netgalley and my opinions are my own-- love this book!

This romance novel is set in Merrywell during their May Day festivities, we get to know Miss G. Bell who already attended the festivities to find a husband enough times for it tk be her last time, while there she falls for a Rake. Now ruined she plots revenge. I quite liked the concept of a different setting in that series, added to that the more rural activities and the character development it is a great read and definitely something to recommend!

Taming the Rake (Lords in Love #2) by Erica Ridley
I enjoyed this book of revenge. Miss Gladys Bell has vowed to get even with Reuben Medford for ruining her life. After five years her time has come to get even. There is angst, baggage on both sides, witty conversations, some laughs, tears, lots of sexual tension and some steam, love/hate, leading to a very HEA.
Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Wonderful characters Entertaining Witty Steamy Romantic Unpredictable Tear-jerker Easy-to-read Happily Ever After Page-turner.

Loved this book. It was funny whilst also being so so sad. Gladys has her life ruined, she is disowned by her parents and the cause of it has no idea. Gladys tried to wreak revenge but struggles. She just wants her cat, her books and possibly Reuben. A lovely read.

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily. I absolutely love books about wallflowers being seen for the brilliant and amazing women that they are in Regency romances, and this one was just what a needed with a little twist. I'm not going to tell you about the twist but it's a little heart-breaking and so, in the beginning of the book, I really wanted Gladys to get her revenge.

Reuben has some big lessons to learn, and even though he seems redeemable, a spent part of the book not knowing if I actually wanted him to be redeemed.

The chemistry between the two main characters is point, just as you would expect with this author.

It was a very quick read, I read it in one sitting. I think if it was a bit longer, it wouldn't have hurt the storyline.

In any case, an enjoyable read.

Imagine a time when a kiss and messy hair means your reputation is ruined. And then her parents disown her since she will not find someone willing to marry her. Her dowry is given to her sister and now she is out on the streets with no support. For 5 years she makes a new life with a new name. Now it is time for revenge. The story is an interesting game one visit at a time with a hourglass dripping sand.. The hourglass did make me smile. Good story!

Taming the Rake is a quick read that involves revenge when the man of our heroine’s dreams destroys her reputation by his thoughtlessness. Gladys plans and executes her revenge, but will she get caught in her own web? Is this notorious rake really what he has made people believe? The author has created interesting characters making this an enjoyable read.

The heroine, Gladys, was believable and had my sympathy from beginning to end. I really disliked the hero, Reuben, however. He starts out as a shallow, unthinking jerk and doesn't seem to get much better as time goes on. His epiphany seemed belated and unconvincing. How does someone make such a sudden and complete about face? The problem, I think, was that the story was too short to show their relationship changing as part of a reasonable process. It all seemed too rushed. It did keep my attention though, so I'm giving it 4 stars.

It's soooo good to see a "fallen" woman who made it in the world. I like how Gladys uses her "fall from grace" to her strength and makes the best out of it. She's a wonderful character, very strong. Definitely liked her approach on what her time is worth.

Reuben is the usual Regency rake, misunderstood and hiding his true self by being sought after by half the ton's female population.

The banter between Gladys and Reuben is 'chef's kiss'.

I'm really looking forward to reading the other books in this series.

I really enjoyed this one! I haven't read the first book in the series, but I might have to because this was SO MUCH FUN! I mean, the enemies to lovers tension was exquisite! And the revenge scheme was top notch! I loved both of our main characters, and honestly, I'm not ready for their story to end. I want more of them! Especially because of Rueben. The way he declared his love is the perfect way into a bookworm's heart. Read this, you won't regret it!

Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!