Giveaway and Review: "To Tempt a Rake"

As part of the "To Tempt a Rake" blog tour, I have my review and a giveaway of 3 copies of the book, sponsored by Hachette!
"To Tempt a Rake"
 by Cara Elliott

Publisher: Forever
Release Date: Mar 3, 2011

Source: sent by publisher


My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
 
Summary from Goodreads.com:
Kate Woodbridge has spent most of her life sailing to exotic ports around the globe, acquiring an expertise in botany, along with a few less ladylike skills. So when a deathbed promise to her parents brings her to London to seek reconciliation with her grandfather, the imperious Duke of Cluyne, she feels like a fish out of water. Her outspoken views and fiery temper tend to set off sparks in Society-especially with the rakish Conte of Como.

A devil-may-care rogue, Marco finds the alluring and mysterious Kate a tempting target for his flirtations. But when murder strikes at the duke's country house party he begins to suspect that she's hiding a dark secret. He has his own clandestine reasons for offering to help her prove her innocence . . . And so begins a journey of dangerous deception that leads from England to the glittering ballrooms of Vienna, where Marco and Kate must duel with a deadly villain . . . and their own explosive attraction.

My Review:

I really liked the first two books in this series, but this installment fell a little short for me. I felt like the mystery and intrigue outweighed the romance and character development too much for my liking. I wanted to see more interaction between the two leads. As it was, I didn't feel like their relationship was developed enough to be anything more than lust.


I thought Kate's character was intriguing but I didn't care for Marco. Everyone loves a rake, but Marco was almost sleazy and I didn't buy his reformation. Kate was more complex than Marco and I understood why she tried to remain so tough on the outside. She wanted to be able to let down her guard and let someone help her with her burdens but she just wasn't able to let go.


The author wove a very complex mystery with lots of players, but much more time was spent unraveling the clues than getting to know the characters and why the leads loved each other.


Another aspect of the first two books that I missed was the comedy. I think for someone who enjoys a mystery to be a large part of their historical romance, this book might be a good fit.



Main Characters: 3/5
Supporting Characters: 3/5

Setting: 4/5

Romance: 3/5

Uniqueness: 3/5
Cover: 4/5
Writing: 4/5



Bottom Line: I'm still looking forward to more from this author, even though this one fell a little short of her other books for me.




GIVEAWAY RULES:

Hachette books has generously provided three copies of this historical romance for readers of my blog!


All you have to do is follow my blog publicly and leave a comment on this review with your email address!
Please follow publicly or I can't tell that you are following :) Also, if you aren't comfortable leaving your email here, go ahead and leave a comment and then send me an email with your email addy.
 
Extra Entries:


  • +1 Tweet this contest (leave link in comment)
  • +1 Post link in sidebar of your blog (leave link in comment)

Rules:
  • US and Canada only
  • No PO Boxes please
  • Must be a follower to enter
  • Extra entries are optional and can all be left in the same comment
  • Leave a comment with your email address
  • Books will be mailed out by Hachette
  • Ends Thurs Feb 17
Thanks to everyone for entering! Good luck!

30 comments

  1. Looks like a good book!

    Aislynn
    aislynnt(at)gmail dot com
    Knit Purl Stitch Read & Cook

    ReplyDelete
  2. I do love mysteries in my books. Great review dear :) (not an entry)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Too bad it wasn't as good as those other two :( Well it happens, but since it still was good, yay

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks for the giveaway! Please count me in!

    chibipooh(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh! I don't like it when they go more for the mystery than for the romance :( but I did like that she knows about botany and stuff.

    :D

    ReplyDelete
  6. This is definately a book I would like to read.
    Thanks for the giveaway.

    rjofus(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks for the chance to win this.please count me in

    I am a follower

    +1 tweeted http://twitter.com/elaing8/status/34719182851416065

    elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  8. I follow on GFC

    katie_tp@yaoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Great review. Thank you for sharing and the contest. I am most certainly a follower :)

    robin [at] intensewhisper [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thanks for the giveaway. Follower.
    -Vonda
    2much2reid {at} comcast {dot} net

    ReplyDelete
  11. I think To Tempt a Rake sounds like a lovely story and I'm looking forward to reading it.

    Barbed1951(at)aol(dot)com
    GFC follower

    ReplyDelete
  12. Lovely giveaway, my dear!

    femmebird (at) live (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Sounds like and interesting mystery/adventure plot. Please count me in!
    Long time follower :)
    the[dot]distant[dot]light[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  14. I'm a follower and I'd love to win!

    books[a]muggle-born.net

    ReplyDelete
  15. I'm a GFC follower w/ headlessfowl.

    headlessfowl at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Publicly following In the Hammock with Google Friend Connect [Cheryl F. {The Lucky Ladybug}] -- I enjoyed your review and would love to read To Tempt a Rake :) *Thanks* for the giveaway!

    +1 Tweeted the giveaway

    +1 Linked the giveaway in sidebar, More Giveaways

    theluckyladybug[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  17. I am a GFC follower. Thanks for the giveaway! count me in! m.ramey@ymail.com

    ReplyDelete
  18. I have read the other books as well. Can't wait to read this one too!

    bsyb100 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  19. would love to win this book!!
    i'm a gfc follower

    mariannguyen16(AT)gmail(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete
  20. I'd like to be entered. I be a GFC follower.

    alyxandsimon at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  21. GFC follower. I'd love to win this one!

    meredithfl at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  22. Looks like a great read. Thanks for the giveaway.

    GFC follower - Stephanie M

    smccar1 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  23. Enjoyed the review and would like to read the book.
    GFC follower
    Tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/mbreakfield/statuses/36454004007378944
    marlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  24. awesome review deff want to read this book sounds awesome

    Ive been a gfc follower as SiNn

    tweeted :http://twitter.com/#!/Bainesgoddess/status/36544293761974272

    mortalsinn@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  25. I've been wanting to read this one. Thanks for your honest review.
    GFC(Mona Garg)

    monagarg@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  26. I would love to win a copy and I am a follower on GFC ~ Joy
    jhoorm01atyahoodotcom

    ReplyDelete
  27. I have Cara Elliott's first two books in her Circle of Sin trilogy and I hope to read the last book: To Tempt a Rake! :) Thank you for the giveaway!

    P.S. I'm a GFC follower! (YWLiang)


    Email: yiliang0124[at]hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  28. gfc follower (tabathia)
    tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  29. This looks great and I follow

    felecia@twinoaksfl.org

    ReplyDelete
  30. I would love to read this book. Thank you for the giveaway. I am a GFC follower.

    Crystal816[at]hotmail[dot}com

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for your lovely comments!