About the Book:
Infamous rake and Corinthian, Maxim Beaufort, Earl of St. Ive, finding himself in possession of a property in Yorkshire, is unprepared for the changes it will bring into his life. Irresistibly drawn to Elizabeth Granger, the former owner’s daughter, he attempts to help the family, finding himself filling the role of benefactor.
When the house is razed to the ground, he arranges for temporary accommodation for Elizabeth and her siblings on his estate and when Elizabeth rejects his proposal of marriage, he is nonetheless determined to win her over.
However, events and his reputation conspire to thwart his efforts and his course is one fraught with dangers.
Trust does not come easily and determined, to protect her heart, Elizabeth struggles to resist her own longings. At times, their difficulties appear insurmountable but the earl is widely known as ‘The Indomitable’ and the name was not lightly earned.
The Long Story
I spent a good chunk of my life reading historical fiction. I always loved getting lost in worlds of dresses, carriages, handsome men and beautiful women. I jumped at the opportunity to read Lizzie’s Rake.
Statham has a wonderful way of drawing the reader into the era not only through appropriate dialogue but through every word she writes. From the inner monologues of the characters to the descriptions of the places they go, you won’t be able to stop yourself from settling in to Maxim and Elizabeth’s time period.
My one nitpick is I would have liked to have read more about Maxim thinking about Lizzie in the beginning. While his love for her feels authentic, it still feels like it comes on strongly and suddenly. While that is sort of Maxim’s character, I still would have appreciated a bit more build up to his strong feelings.
While I usually hate for a good book to end, my favourite part of this book is the ending. Hazel Statham by no means leaves all the work up to Maxim to woo and wed Lizzie. Towards the end, it is her duty to put some work into the relationship, which I really appreciated. It made the story that much more engrossing.
The Short Story
I am happy to recommend this book. If you are a historical romance fan, then you will enjoy it.
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Rating: 4 Stars
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Lizzie’s Rake
By Hazel Statham
http://www.hazel-statham.co.uk/
ISBN: 978-1601544650
Length: 232 Pages
